Suffer (4 page)

EVAN ROSE AS THE sun was peeking over the horizon. Grabbing his phone off the bedside stand to see that he didn’t miss any calls, he sighed in relief that Kate had made it through the night; sighing again, knowing Kate’s parents had yet to arrive.

He dressed with speed and returned to the hospital less than two blocks from his hotel. Evan rounded the corner in the waiting room to see Grey on his laptop and Paul in the same chair as the night before. He also noticed a man in a dark suit standing at the entrance to the OR. Another was napping a few seats away from Grey. When he walked passed, he saw the telltale clear plastic tubing emerging from his collar and ending in an earpiece.

“How was your night?” asked Evan.

“No news is good news at this point,” replied Grey. “The nightshift nurse came through and talked to us about an hour ago. She agrees that Kate is one tough woman. There’s no improvement, but she didn’t go backwards either.”

“Thank God,” exhaled Evan. “I gotta tell you that you were right. I passed out as soon as I hit the bed. I woke up in that weird place of not knowing where I was or why I was here. For a second or two, I actually believed it was all a dream. When I figured out it wasn’t, it was like getting punched in the gut all over again. How is he?”

“We talked for a little bit, but he keeps to himself over there,” answered Grey. “I figured I’d give him some space, hoping he might doze off. But I don’t think he closed his eyes even for a minute.”

“I take it the two guys in dark suits are yours?” asked Evan.

“Yeah, they got here thirty minutes after you left. I’m letting that one catch a nap so he can relive the other. I only have them for about another thirty-six hours. After that, I cut them loose and the locals take over protection duties.”

“Does that include Paul?”

“I doubt it,” replied Grey. “But that’s why you and I are here. Consider yourself deputized.”

“Good Lord, you are tired,” said Evan. “I booked several rooms at the hotel including one for you,” he said, handing him a room key. “Go use it now.”

“I think I’ll stick around until the docs come by with an update.”

“That wasn’t a request,” said Evan. “I’m gonna need you fresh and clearheaded when Kate’s family arrives. Try and take Paul with you.”

“Okay, boss.”

Paul refused to leave the hospital and nobody pressed the issue. Before Grey went to the hotel, he stopped at a liquor store to pick up a bottle of Irish whiskey. He never drank on the job, but it helped erase enough images from his head to find some sleep when his day was over.

He poured a glass and fell into a recliner after getting settled into his room. With the curtains drawn and lights dimmed, he kicked off his shoes and took his first sip. He was asleep in the chair before he took a second.

It wasn’t normal for a ringing phone to startle him awake, but Grey shot out of the chair when he heard his cell. Without looking at the caller ID he answered, “Grey speaking.”

“
Hey, buddy
,” greeted Evan. “
Did you sleep well
?”

Confused, Grey rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. “I guess I did. Damn, feels like I just closed my eyes.”

“
Yeah, about six hours ago. Abby is on her way up from the parking deck and Kate’s parents will be here soon. Thought you’d want to know.
”

“Yes, I did. Thank you. How’s Kate?”

“
They’re moving her from the recovery room to the ICU. The doc said they couldn’t detect any internal bleeding. They believe they repaired all the holes. Again, no improvement, but I think it’s a good sign.
”

“Yes, it is. I’ll see you in thirty,” said Grey, ending the call. He was back at the hospital in twenty.

Six hours earlier, there were five people in the large waiting area outside of the OR. When Grey returned, it was filled to capacity. His eyes were drawn to Paul first. He was in the same seat looking out the same window. Evan was talking to a woman he assumed was Abby, but couldn’t be sure since she had her back to him. Grey fixated for a moment on a man and woman talking to the FBI agent posted at the entrance. His instincts told him they were the local investigators. He decided to check-in with Evan first.

“Hi Abby,” greeted Grey when he was close enough to be sure. He hadn’t seen her since she moved to Massachusetts eight years earlier. She attended Boston University and fell in love with Bean Town. She said it had more history and character than the southern cities where she grew up. Grey was convinced she left Atlanta to put serious distance between her and her overbearing father.

“Hi, Grey,” said Abby without changing her somber expression. “I just got here and my mind is racing so forgive me if I seem blunt, but what are you doing here?”

“Excuse me?” replied Grey.

“So much for being subtle,” added Evan.

“I’m sorry, Evan, but I still don’t understand,” said Abby, turning back to Grey. “My nephew was murdered and my sister is hanging on by a thread while the monster that did this to them is still out there. Why aren’t you looking for him?”

“It’s complicated, Abby,” said Grey. “The FBI isn’t investigating because the state hasn’t asked for federal help. I believe two of the people who
are
investigating are standing over there talking to my agent. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll try to get you some answers.”

He walked away, leaving Abby standing beside Evan. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

“What happened to giving him a chance to explain the circumstances?” asked Evan.

“Because I’m irritated and he irritates me,” said Abby. “That’s why. You and Paul are two of the sweetest, most loving guys I know. How do you put up with a heartless egomaniac like him? If you were in the FBI, you’d be tracking that murderer to the ends of the earth without an invitation from the state. You’d do it because he hurt someone you cared about.”

“You think he’s heartless because he has shitty social skills and rarely gets emotional,” said Evan. “He’s always even keeled and never gets excited about anything. You’re basically right, Abby, but you don’t know him like I do. He’s always been that way. On Christmas mornings when we were kids, Paul and I would be losing our minds when opening presents, but not Grey. He’d be excited as hell on the inside, but you’d never know it from what he shows on the outside.”

“I get it, he’s your friend,” said Abby. “But he couldn’t care less about Kate and Caleb. All he’s ever had or wanted in his life are you and Paul. If one of you were lying in that recovery room, he’d kill the guy who put you there without a second thought.”

“Not only are you wrong, but that’s not fair,” said Evan. “He loves Kate and Caleb as much as I do. The guy who did this to them has no idea the amount of pain that’s coming his way. I guarantee it, Abby. This is what he’s good at and I wouldn’t want anyone else on the planet in my corner or Paul’s. Please just give him a chance.”

“Special Agent Collins,” said the FBI agent posted at the door, “These are Detectives Joel Pembrook and Carol Stein of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”

“Pleased to meet you both,” said Grey.

“Is there somewhere we can talk that’s a little less crowded?” asked Carol.

They walked down the hall to the elevator lobby. ”Agent Collins,” said Carol.

“Please, call me Grey. Do you guys have anything?”

“We have some promising evidence collected from Kate,” said Carol. “A very persistent CSI was able to get a fingernail scrape off of her while she was in the ER. We got a call that the lab was already able to determine that it is human skin with trace amounts of blood. We don’t believe either of those belong to her.”

“That’s impressive,” said Grey. “It would’ve taken our labs a couple of days to come back with those results.”

“We’ve also recovered saliva off all three forks from the dinner table at the scene. It’s going to take a few more days to process the evidence for DNA, but we wanted to keep you informed.”

“I have to tell you, I didn’t hold high hopes this case would make it to the fast track,” said Grey. “I didn’t exactly get a warm welcome from the locals at the scene.”

“Two minutes after we were assigned to the case, we received a call from Chief Tony Hill,” said Joel. “He asked as a personal favor that we keep you in the loop without seeming too friendly. I’m guessing he told you about Sheriff Doyle, correct?”

“Chief Hill is a good man, and yes, he did,” replied Grey.

“Well, off the record, Sheriff Doyle is an asshole,” said Carol. “On the record, he’s one of the most popular and respected law enforcement officials we have in the state. He just hates the feds after they smeared some egg on his face.”

“The bottom line is, the guy runs a tight ship in one of the richest counties in Florida,” added Joel. “His county is second only to Disney for annual revenue generated for the state. Keeping things quiet and the wealthy property owners in the Keys happy makes him a very powerful man. Trust me when I say he knows it. If he knew we were talking to you, we’d be checking parking meters until we retired.”

“I appreciate it,” said Grey. “I really do. I had to promise my own boss I’d steer clear of the investigation, but that man sitting over there is more like my brother than my best friends. He’s had a bad couple of days, and I need to find the guy responsible for that. I hope you can understand.”

“We do, Grey,” said Carol. “As soon as we find out anything, you’ll be our first phone call. Consider it a professional courtesy, but in return we have to ask two favors from you.”

“Shoot.”

“You don’t flash your credentials to anyone,” said Joel. “If you have to poke around, you do it like a ghost. If you have to ask anyone a question, you go at them soft. When the time comes go at someone hard, you let us do the pushing.”

“Sheriff Doyle isn’t an idiot by any stretch of the imagination,” continued Carol. “He considers this a very high profile case, and he’ll have his own fingers in the bowl. You’re only going to have three friends in the State of Florida, Grey: Me, Joel, and Chief Hill.”

“I’m crystal clear on that,” acknowledged Grey. “You guys are on point, and I’ll be the quiet guy watching from the corner. I won’t make a move without you knowing it, and I’ll turn over anything I find. You have my word.”

“That brings us to the second favor,” said Joel.

“Well, it’s the real reason why you’re here,” said Grey. “I can’t guarantee any results right now.”

“So you’re on board with what we need to do?” asked Carol.

“I am.”

IT ONLY TOOK A FEW minutes for the Florida investigators to secure a conference room on the same floor as the ICU. Grey knew it was important an interview be conducted with Paul as soon as possible. All three investigators shared the same belief that Paul may know the attacker. Grey also knew he was risking the trust he had built over a lifetime of friendship. He had no idea the direction Paul would take once it was obvious they were trying to pull information. At that point, moving in any direction was better than standing still.

Evan, Paul, and Grey entered the conference room where Joel and Carol were already set up. He directed them to their seats, putting Paul between himself and Evan. He introduced everyone and wasted no time getting to the point.

“We all need to give them a sample for DNA comparison as well as our fingerprints,” said Grey. “We’re not suspects, but they need to be able to identify all the sources in the house. It’ll make it faster to figure out if the unsub left any evidence behind.”

Even though the investigators already had access to Grey’s fingerprints and DNA through the FBI, he wanted to be the first to offer up the samples. Evan and Paul followed Grey’s lead and submitted to the request. As they were fingerprinting Paul, Grey motioned for Evan to walk towards the door. Grey could see the apprehension on Evan’s face.

“You can go back to the waiting room,” whispered Grey. “This shouldn’t take long.”

“What’s going on?” asked Evan. “Why do I have a funny feeling he’s in trouble?”

“He’s not,” replied Grey, “but we’re going to be asking some pretty uncomfortable questions. Paul may be a little more at ease if you’re not in the room. You have to trust me that I won’t let anything happen to him.”

“Of course I trust you,” said Evan. “It has nothing to do with that. It’s them I don’t trust.”

“I understand. We won’t be long. Come get us if anything changes with Kate, okay?”

“Sure,” answered Evan, looking over at Paul. “Take care of him.”

Evan left the conference room and Grey took a seat next to Paul. “These are Detectives Joel Pembrook and Carol Stein. They need to ask some questions that are going to help them catch the man that did this to Kate and Caleb. I’m going to be right here beside you, buddy. If it becomes too much, we can stop at any time. Will you talk to them?”

“I was with you when this happened,” said Paul. “I don’t know how I can help.”

“The questions are going to be about who he might be,” said Grey. “Not what he did. We already know what he did.”

“Mr. Freeman,” said Carol, “I have an eight-year-old son. I can’t even begin to imagine how you feel right now, and I want you to know we will not rest until we find the man who took Caleb from you. You have my word.”

“What’s his name?” asked Paul.

“Patrick,” replied Carol.

While Paul and Carol were speaking, Joel’s cell phone rang. He excused himself from the table and walked into the hall. He returned less than two minutes later.

“Excuse me,” said Joel, ending their conversation, “Carol, I need to speak with you and Grey for a moment. Paul, could you give us the room, please?”

Paul left the three investigators alone in the conference room. “I just got off the phone with Sheriff Doyle,” said Joel. “They lifted a fingerprint off one of the forks and we got a hit.”

“You’re kidding,” said Grey. “He left a fingerprint?”

“Looks like it,” said Joel. “The Sheriff is already securing search and arrest warrants. Our SWAT team is mobilizing as we speak.”

“Who is it?” asked Grey, hoping to get an answer. “Where are they picking him up?”

“There’s no way in hell I’m telling you, Grey,” replied Joel. “You know I can’t. To answer your next question, no, you can’t come with us. You know that, too.”

“You’re killing me, Joel,” said Grey, “but I understand. I won’t say a word to anyone until you tell me he’s in custody. I won’t jeopardize the arrest.”

“We need to leave now,” said Carol. “See if you can get Paul to answer a few of those questions we were going to ask. We still need to figure out the motive if this is our guy.”

“Will do,” said Grey. “Both of you be careful with this one. We all know violence isn’t a problem with him.”

The three investigators left the conference room. Joel and Carol headed for the elevators. Grey headed back to the waiting area, but hesitated when he turned the corner. Kate’s parents had arrived. He waited a moment before walking into the room where Stan, Maggie, and Abby Coleman were talking with Evan.

“Nobody has seen her since we arrived, Stan,” said Evan. “Not even Paul. She was in surgery for almost twelve hours and they only moved her in here a little while ago.”

“I don’t care,” said Stan. “I need to see my daughter and I need to see her now.”

“Dad, they know we’re out here,” said Abby. “They’ll come get us when she’s settled in.”

“What do you know?” asked Stan, noticing Grey. “Who did this?”

“I don’t know,” said Grey. “Florida investigators are following some leads. They’ll contact me as soon as they find out anything.”

“Why aren’t you and the FBI helping them?”

“The state hasn’t asked for our help,” replied Grey. “I can’t get involved until they do. And even if they do, I won’t be the lead investigator because I’m too close to the victims.”

“Victims?” said Stan, taking a step closer to Grey. “You mean my daughter, Kate.”

“You know what I meant. Yes, your daughter, Kate, and your grandson, Caleb. I know their names, Stan.”

“Caleb?” asked Maggie, surprised. “Where’s Caleb?”

Grey turned to look at Evan and Abby. “Don’t look at them,” ordered Stan.  “Look at me, Grey.”

“Mom, I need you and Dad to sit down,” said Abby, stepping forward.

“No, we won’t sit down! What the hell is going on here?” asked Stan. “Answer my wife. Where’s Caleb?”

“Caleb was in the house with Kate,” said Grey, being the first to confirm their fear. “He didn’t survive the attack. Caleb is dead.”

Stan stood motionless, staring at Grey. Maggie buckled at the knees and was helped into a chair by Evan and Abby. Stan turned to look at Maggie and sank into the seat next to her. Maggie buried her head into Abby’s shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Stan,” said Evan, kneeling in front of him. “We didn’t want to tell you over the phone. We thought it best if Abby was here with you.”

“My grandson was murdered?” asked Stan in disbelief.

“Yes, he was,” said Evan.

Stan sat stunned for a moment with his arm around Maggie. He attempted to fight back tears that Maggie was letting go into Abby’s shoulder. He clenched his teeth and looked around the waiting room. His eyes locked on Paul, sitting motionless in his chair by the window. He stood with purpose and walked over to him.

“Stand up,” said Stan.

Paul turned his head and looked up at Stan with vacant eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Like hell you are,” said Stan, balling his fist. “This is your fault.”

“I know,” whispered Paul.

Before Evan and Grey could move in closer, Stan began punching Paul in the face. Paul made no attempt to defend himself, and accepted each blow. Abby screamed at her father to stop as Evan pulled him away.

“I’m going to kill you with my bare hands!” cried Stan, “I swear to God!” Evan wrestled the sixty-five-year-old man out of the waiting room and into the hall.

Grey took a knee in front of Paul and placed his hands on the sides of his friends bleeding face. He lifted his head so they were eye to eye. Paul was crying, but it had nothing to do with the pain of his swelling eye.

“Look at me,” said Grey with a slight smile. “Look at me, Paul.”

“He’s right,” said Paul, defeated. “You know he is.”

“He’s been an asshole since the first day we met him,” said Grey. “You know
that
.” He pulled his friend in close and wrapped his arms around him. “None of this is your fault. You’re a mess right now and you’re going be for a long time, but none of this is your fault. Don’t let that prick get in your head, buddy.”

Grey held Paul until the crying subsided. He left for a moment and then returned with ice wrapped in a towel. Two hospital security guards entered the room, but were waived off by the federal agent posted at the door. He motioned for Grey to meet him in the hall.

“Is your friend okay?” asked the agent.

“Yeah, it’s just a small cut, but he’s gonna have a nice shiner,” said Grey. “Thanks for handling security. And if you see that old man come back in here without me, shoot him in the leg.”

“Roger that,” chuckled the agent. “I’d love to stick around to see what happens next, but we just got a call that state troopers will be taking over. They should be here in twenty minutes. My boss is sending us home, but you just say the word and I’m staying. Same goes for my partner.”

“I appreciate that, but we’ll be okay here.”

Grey turned to see Abby and her parents standing in the lobby waiting for an elevator. He started moving toward them. Evan recognized the look on Grey’s face and tried to stand in front of him.

“Abby’s taking them to check into their rooms,” said Evan as he passed by. “Grey.”

“Go sit with Paul,” said Grey, never breaking stride.

The elevator doors opened and Abby and her parents stepped inside. Grey reached in and pulled Stan out. “Wait for him in the lobby downstairs. He won’t be long.” Before Abby could protest, the doors closed, leaving Grey and Stan alone in the lobby.

“What in the hell are –.”

“Shut up,” said Grey, towering over Stan. “It’s my turn to be an asshole.”

He stepped in closer, leaving only a few inches between them. “He found them,” said Grey. “Caleb, his son, was tied to a chair with his throat cut. Kate, his wife, was unconscious and tied to the bed with her face nearly ripped off her skull. She was lying in a pool of her own blood.”

Stan closed his eyes and lowered his head. “Don’t you fucking look away from me,” said Grey, pulling Stan’s chin up. “He found them. And you decided a good man who saw that deserved a couple sucker punches. You disgust me. I always thought you were a coward, and now you just proved it to me.”

“My daughter is –”

“Alive,” said Grey. “His son isn’t. Believe it or not, you piece of shit, he needs you and Maggie. There’s nothing I can do about it, but you’re his only family now. What I can do is make you a promise. If you come back up here and go at him again, every cop in this place will turn his back while I beat you bloody in front of your wife and daughter. Do you understand me?”

“I do.”

“This is behind us now,” continued Grey. “Nobody will know about our conversation except you and me. Go get settled in across the street, calm your ass down, and get back here as soon as you can. The first thing you’re going to do after is sincerely apologize to Paul. You’re going to give him a hug and then you and Maggie aren’t going to leave his side. If you’re going to say anything to me now, choose your words carefully.”

Stan stood silent for a moment before speaking. “I am sorry,” he said with tears welling in his eyes. “I will apologize to Paul and I won’t leave his side. My child is in a coma and I just found out my only grandbaby is dead. Yes, I lashed out in the wrong direction. You can’t imagine my pain.”

It was a point Grey couldn’t argue. The elevator doors opened, revealing Abby standing alone inside.

“Let’s go, Dad. We need to get Mom to the room.”

Abby spoke to Stan without taking her eyes off of Grey. She knew he wouldn’t tolerate her dad’s outburst and wouldn’t hesitate to return the favor. In her eyes, she just saved her father from a beating. Stan stepped inside the elevator and turned around to face Grey.

“I always keep my promises, Stan.”