The Mourning Missed Read online

  “Then you’re also aware that you cannot waive their reading,” Brimmer replied. “In fact, attempting to interfere with a Federal Officer in the performance of duties will be added to the charges if you interrupt me again.” The judge fell silent until Brimmer asked if he understood his rights.

  “I understand my rights and I waive all of them,” he huffed. “I’ve done nothing wrong, as will prove out in court. Then I will have you tossed out of the FBI on your ear. I don’t need to be handcuffed, I’m cooperating with every request,” he complained when a team member began to apply the restraints. The member simply continued with his task and the judge ceased all resistance.

  “Where is Phillip?” Lilly asked as she strolled into the room.

  “What is she doing here?” Pemberton demanded, apoplectic. “She has no right to be here and I demand she be removed from my chambers immediately.”

  “You’re in no position to demand anything,” Lilly shot back. “Besides being the head of an organized criminal conspiracy in this city, you’re guilty of coercion on at least 20 counts. You have forced many young people into service delivering or selling drugs as their only option to hard jail time. Many of them were for misdemeanor first-time offenses. I wonder what’s in the suitcases?” She said as she sauntered over to where they sat by the door.

  “You can’t touch those, they’re private property and I do not give you permission to search me or my possessions,” the judge shouted. “Keep her away from those,” he screamed at the DA as he lunged toward Lilly. The team member caught him by the arm, which wrenched it painfully behind his back as he pulled forward. His scream of pain was accentuated by the cough of a silenced pistol.

  All heads turned as three mercenaries entered from the courtroom access portal, the first one focusing on his second target. The first bullet struck the judge in the center of his forehead. The second bullet hit the SWAT leader in the neck as he was already dropping toward the floor. The other two mercs were targeting the remaining team members, who were now returning fire from crouching positions in the middle of the room.

  The SWAT team was carrying AR platforms chambered in 300 Whisper and the mercs weren’t wearing body armor. Two of the three fell before the onslaught and the third had just lined up on Brimmer when three rapidly-fired rounds struck him in the chest. The force pushed him back against the wall, where he slid down to the floor as he struggled with the knowledge that his life force was ebbing away. Lilly stood in the basic isosceles stance, a wisp of smoke curling from the barrel of her pistol.

  “Get a medic in here, now,” Brimmer scream the order as he dropped to the floor next to the team leader. “Stay with me,” he shouted as he pressed his hands to either side of the man’s neck. Blood flowed from around his fingers, and the man’s eyes fluttered shut. “Stay with me,” he screamed again. “Where’s the medic?”

  Paramedics rushed into the room and began rapidly treating the mortally wounded man. Twin IVs were run while packing gauze was forced into the entrance and exit wounds. Intubation proved problematic and they had to try three times before they successfully established an airway. “Push the plasma and saline,” Lilly heard one tell the other, just before two more Emergency Medical Technicians arrived with a gurney. The four hurriedly loaded the man and hustled him to a waiting ambulance.

  “Officer down in the courtroom,” another member called from the portal. “Stab wound to the chest.” Two of the departing paramedics peeled away from the gurney and moved back toward the other wounded man.

  “Where would they be holding Phillip?” Lilly asked Diamente. The DA had dropped behind the judge’s desk when the shooting had started. He now rose shakily to his feet and motioned for her to follow him. Moving down the main hall to a side passage, they stopped at a steel door. A video doorbell was set in the frame and he pressed the button.

  “State your business,” came the terse response.

  “I’m District Attorney Diamente. I’m here for the release of Assistant District Attorney Samuels. Open up,” he commanded while holding his credentials up to the camera.

  “There’s no one here by that name,” came the same terse reply.

  “You’re impeding a Federal kidnapping investigation,” Diamente informed the faceless voice. “Do you really want to go there? Open the door now or face the consequences.”

  A metallic clack was accompanied by an electronic buzzing and the door popped open a few inches. Grasping the handle, the DA pulled it open.

  “THERE’S NO ONE IN ANY of the cells,” Lilly said when they finished walking the short hallway and peering in all six cells.

  “That’s what I tried to tell you,” the court corrections officer said sarcastically.

  “I have it on the highest authority that ADA Samuels was brought in here at 8:27 this morning,” Diamente said harshly. “Where is he?”

  “I have no idea,” the sullen man replied.

  Lilly stepped in and thumb-webbed the man in the throat, dropping him to his knees. “I don’t have time to play twenty questions with you, asshole,” she screamed in his pain-distorted face. “So, unless you want to stop breathing permanently, tell me where the fuck they took Samuels.”

  Grasping his spasming throat, the guard gestured toward the office he had come out of once he’d buzzed them in. Rushing in, Lilly scanned the surfaces of the guard room and found a clipboard with a transfer order for the county jail filled out with the word indigent written where the name should have been. Grabbing it, she took it back and shoved it in his face. “Are you trying to tell me they took him to county lockup?”

  The man was just beginning to be able to draw air through his tortured windpipe, so he only nodded. Lilly dropped the clipboard in his lap and headed for the door.

  “You know I’ll probably have to seriously discipline you for assaulting that guard,” the DA puffed as they trotted toward the front of the building.

  “If we find Phillip, in time and unharmed, you can have my shield for all I care,” she panted.

  When they got back to the DA’s car, the driver’s window had been broken out and a familiar cell phone lay on the seat amidst the broken safety glass. As the DA reached in, it began to ring. Flipping it open, he held it to his ear and said, “Diamente.” Taking the phone away from his head, he handed it to Lilly. “He wants to talk to you.”

  “What?” Lilly demanded as she angled the phone alongside her ear so the DA could hear as well.

  “If you want to see Samuels alive, stop your investigation,” the deep male voice commanded. “I don’t care about the judge, you can have him. That just means more territory for me. But if you interfere with my organization again, I’ll send Samuels to you in pieces and then I’ll start on everyone else you care about.”

  “Hey, asshole, why don’t we settle this face-to-face?” Lilly demanded. “You’ve got a lot to answer for. You’re not afraid of your own daughter, are you, Daddy?”

  Twenty-Nine

  “I HAVE NO ONE ELSE to turn to,” Lilly told Clint as she sat on the sofa in their tiny apartment.

  “Hey, you’ll always have me,” he teased.

  “I know, and I love you for being here. But I’m ultimately still only five feet tall and 100 pounds,” she reminded him.

  “Maybe it’s time to find out if Colonel Hollister meant what he said at the courthouse,” Clint suggested. When they had discovered Samuels had never made it to county lockup, Lilly had felt like the world had been yanked out from under her. Sarge was dead and Phillip might very well be. She now had nowhere to hide and no one to turn to. The Commandant had told her she always had a home at the Academy and a friend in him.

  “I’m going to call him,” she decided.

  “Yes, Lilly, how are you?” The Commandant said as soon as his assistant put her through.

  “Actually, I’m not very good, if the truth be known,” she replied.

  “How can I help?” Hollister asked immediately. Lilly released her breath without realizing she
’d been holding it.

  “I have nowhere to go,” she admitted. “I mean, I have an apartment, and for all intents and purposes, I still have a job. The DA is debating on whether to discipline me for the way I questioned the guard at the courthouse. I have no idea where the investigation is going at this point. Not having someone to bounce ideas off is actually the hardest part.”

  “I have two vacant instructor berths and I need a hand-to-hand trainer,” the Colonel informed her. “Marty said many times he learned as much from you as he taught you. How would you like to work as a contractor for me, at least temporarily, until we can figure this all out?”

  “If that means what I think it means, I’d be happy to provide whatever contributions I can make,” Lilly offered.

  “Good, I’ll expect you for dinner at 7, where I’ll reintroduce you to the staff,” he suggested. “We’re having pot roast tonight and it’s an old Academy recipe. Come early; we have a lot to discuss.”

  “Yes, sir, I believe we do.”

  “THAT REALLY WAS GREAT pot roast,” Lilly concurred as they walked the hallway from the staff mess to the command section.

  “I’ve asked my three troubleshooters to join us for after-dinner refreshments,” he informed her. “As I understand it, you don’t drink alcohol. So, the day Marty was killed was an exception?”

  “Yes, sir, I needed something to shock my system, to break me out of the downward spiral I was locked in. I kept seeing Sarge turning toward me and yelling run just as those butchers gunned him down from behind.” She paused, remembering again. “That is one debt I will carry until I die or I’ve destroyed the Bloods in Montrose City.”

  “I’m right there with you, young lady,” Hollister confided. “I’m furious about how that happened, and nearly as much that the three of you felt the need to try and do it all on your own. We’ll have no more of that from here on out, agreed?”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied, appropriately chastised.

  “We’ll need to have regular planning sessions for the near future if we’re to finish what you three started,” he finished. The Rangemaster walked in from an adjoining hallway.

  “Sgt Andersen, so wonderful to see you,” Lilly effused as she offered her hand.

  “We’ll have none of that now that you’re staff,” Andersen said, brushing her hand aside as she pulled her into a warm embrace. “I’m a hugger, and it’s Gloria when we’re alone or just with staff.”

  “When can we have a conversation about long-distance shooting?” Lilly asked straight out. “There’s so much about the dynamics I don’t understand.” A look Lilly didn’t see passed between the willowy blonde and the Colonel.

  Since when do you want to be a sniper? Clint asked in her mind.

  Butt out for now, I’m trying to be social, Lilly replied in kind.

  “We can do that starting tomorrow morning on the range before classes begin, if you’d like,” Gloria replied.

  “Aiko-san, thank you for coming,” the Commandant graciously welcomed his next guest.

  “It is always my pleasure to drink your scotch, Colonel,” the Armorer replied, smiling.

  Extending his hand, he smiled at Lilly and bowed ever so slightly. “Senji, when we’re among friends.” Lilly took his large, calloused hand and held it warmly between her own. He was only a few inches taller than she but built like a fire plug. A mild frisson of energy seemed to pass between them and Senji raised one eyebrow indicating he had felt it also.

  That was interesting, Clint commented in her head.

  Quiet, Lilly snapped back.

  “Carl, I’m glad you’re here, now we are complete,” Hollister said in greeting to his number two. Major Simmons offered Lilly his hand and said, “Carl, si’l vous plait.”

  “Ah, parlez vous Francais?” Lilly asked in here best Cajun French.

  “Mais oui,” Carl replied. It was hard to tell if he was Black Cajun or an islander from his features and accent. An obvious bodybuilder, she noted he was what gym rats generally referred to as a T.

  Clint was silent. Are you sulking? Lilly asked her soulmate. I’m sorry if I was rude. He remained moot.

  “We are gathered tonight to update the plan put in place by our late friend Martin Bacchus, the now missing ADA Phillip Samuels, and this delightful young firebrand, Lilly Jackson. Let us begin,” the Commandant suggested. “Lilly, please bring everyone up to date on as many aspects as possible. Leave out no detail, as we are all starting from scratch on what this is and where it is going.”

  Two hours later, Lilly’s tongue was tired and her brain was numb. The five of them had argued, discussed, and offered counterpoints until they had what all agreed was a well orchestrated plan of attack. Lilly fully understood now why Marty had said the Colonel was very sharp. There was only one more subject to broach before the night ended.

  “There is one more detail I need to divulge and I’ve left it to the last because some or even all of you may have a little difficulty accepting it,” Lilly began. Everyone turned their attention to her; from the tone of her voice they knew this would be significant.

  “First, let me say, I’ve never been made to feel more welcome.” Smiling at each of them in turn, she pressed on. “Both Phillip and Marty accepted what I’m about to tell you because they witnessed it firsthand. You will all have to be more like Thomas and take this on some faith.” Turning to Gloria, she started slowly. “Do you remember Clint Parsons?”

  “Of course I do,” she smiled sadly. “So promising, so brilliantly intuitive. We had several lengthy conversations about martial policy and process where his insight was spectacular.”

  “Agreed,” Carl added. “I also had several stimulating conversations with him and Gloria used exactly the right word; insightful. Wise beyond his years.”

  Senji had only met Clint once and had not spoken with him at length, so felt like the odd man out. “Whatever it is, Clint’s reputation is well established. Please continue.”

  “Gloria, do you remember when we were talking about the hierarchy and first effective use of the pincer movement by Hannibal against the Romans at Cannae?” Clint asked. “You said it was originated in concept by Sun Tzu but he feared using it. I never knew that part.”

  “Did Clint tell you all the details of the conversations we had?” Gloria asked, smiling but obviously a little put off. “I mean, we all knew you two were an item, but why would you talk about something as esoteric as that?”

  “We never did,” Lilly replied. Before Gloria could reply, Clint turned to the Deputy Commandant. “Carl, remember when we were discussing the trials of leadership and I asked you about who you thought the greatest leader of all times was?”

  “Ah, Lilly, you and I never had any such discussion, but Clint and I did,” Carl replied, affronted. “Duane, what’s going on here?”

  “Marty shared something with me he said I wouldn’t believe and I think I’m actually seeing it in demonstration. Clint, go ahead with what you were saying.”

  “Clint? What?” Gloria and Carl uttered in confusion.

  “I was saying, Carl, that I had said I thought the greatest leader this country had ever seen was George Washington. You countered with the leader who had the greatest impact on America was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Lilly stood expectantly, ready for she knew not what.

  “Fascinating,” the Colonel mused.

  “I’m confused,” Gloria said, shaking her head.

  “Okay, then what did I say was my reason for my opinion?” Carl asked heatedly. He didn’t know where this was going, but didn’t care much for cheap parlor tricks.

  “You said Washington may have forged the heart of America, but MLK touched its soul.”

  “There are two of you in there,” Senji exclaimed. “I have heard of this but never witnessed it before today. This explains much.”

  “Two of what in where?” Gloria asked, now completely baffled.

  “Please, allow me to explain,” Lilly interjected. “Are any of yo
u familiar with Plato’s teachings on the soul?”

  “Actually, I am,” Carl replied, surprised. “I studied it in seminary before I decided to become a cop instead of a priest.”

  “All heads turned to him. “Seminary?” Gloria gasped.

  “I sensed that about you,” Senji said to Carl, grinning. “Just as I felt contact with the other within her when we touched earlier,” he said, turning to study Lilly intently.

  Lilly went on to explain the theory as best she could. Then she described the spell used to locate Clint, foregoing the details of the contents or application. Finally, she described how she had absorbed his spirit and how Clint could increase her strength and agility dramatically. “Who here is the best arm wrestler?” Lilly asked, seemingly out of the blue.

  “That would be Senji,” Carl replied immediately. “He has beaten so many local contenders in Montrose City, very few will actually challenge him. He’s even won a few statewide contests.”

  “Okay, then let’s arm wrestle,” Lilly suggested.

  Senji readily agreed but Gloria scolded him. “Senji, shame on you. You may hurt this little woman, or maybe even break her arm.”

  “No, I sense in her a great strength,” he replied, smiling. “Let us see.” And he sat down on the floor on one side of the coffee table, a heavy oak model with stout legs. Lilly dropped to the floor on the other side, placing her slender arm upright against his massive one. “Just don’t hurt me too much,” Senji grinned. “Carl, start us off, please.”

  Carl placed both hands on either side of the clenched fists joined in the center of the table as if he had done it many times. “Ready; go.” When he pulled his hands up and away, Lilly slammed Senji’s arm into the table top. She did it so abruptly, all Senji could do to prevent a strain or more serious injury was rise up off the floor following his forearm.

  Everyone in the room burst into cries of amazement and astonishment. Senji rubbed his triceps tenderly and smiled. “Thanks for going easy on me; you could just as easily have dislocated my shoulder.”