She had to disappear.
CHAPTER FIVE
The alarm buzzed as the steel door swung inward. Big Jim Berkley watched the guard motion his lawyer through the doorway, whispering something to him as he entered. Jonathan Drury appeared pale, his skin carried a sheen of sweat, and he’d bet his palms were clammy to the touch. Nodding vigorously to the guard, Jonathan stepped the rest of the way into the visiting area. Big Jim wasn’t worried. It was probably the guard’s routine warning to stay on his side of the table, and far away from the dangerous prisoner. Blah, blah, blah. He chuckled. Like he’d do anything to upset the applecart at this stage of the game. Nobody in their right mind was stupid enough to rock the boat when they were trying to get out of this cesspit.
Jonathan Drury, his attorney of record, and one of his most loyal followers, had finally finagled, wheedled, and bribed enough people to get Big Jim a new trial, and he wasn’t going to screw around and get himself stuck back into solitary. There was too much to get done if he ever wanted to see daylight again as a free man.
Jonathan slid onto the seat across from him, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead and onto his cheek. Big Jim grinned, pleased he still instilled fear in the man. Thus far, the other man had been incompetent, allowing the feds to build a rock solid case against him, though he hadn’t been able to figure out who, besides his dear niece, had practically handed him over like a prize pig on a platter complete with an apple in his mouth to the feds. There wasn’t a shadow of doubt somebody had flapped their jaws, probably to save their own hide. But find out he would—and they’d pay dearly for betraying him and his cause.
“Do you have news for me?”
Jonathan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement. The gold, wire-rimmed glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, and he pushed them up, his hand trembling slightly, but enough Big Jim could see it. A cold smile touched his lips, and Drury’s skin took on a sallow appearance.
“There’s no sign of your niece, sir.” The nasally whine of Jonathan’s voice grated, but he dismissed it, focusing instead on the actual words.
“Nothing? You’ve had two years to find her. How hard can it be to find one woman with no friends and no family, boy? At least no family that’ll help the no-good traitor.”
“I—I’ve got everybody working round-the-clock, trying to find her. The last time anybody saw her was in Lincoln. Since she slipped out of the hospital, she’s stayed off the grid. Nobody has used her ID, credit cards, nothing. Not under any name we’ve got for her.”
Big Jim bounded from his chair, and paced back and forth on his side of the table, careful not to give the guard watching his every move a reason to interrupt his alone time with his attorney. He wasn’t allowed visitors regularly, and the only way to keep in touch with his followers was through Drury, the little wimp cowering before him. Though he had to admit, ever since he’d been arrested, Drury had come through time and again, stymying all the federal government’s attempts to put him away for the rest of his life. Maybe he wasn’t a useless sack of skin after all. He’d reserve judgment—for now.
“Has there been any news on the trial date?”
“Umm, I’ve submitted a motion with the court to have the case expedited. Of course, the Department of Justice isn’t happy with me, and wants to delay as much as possible. It’s obvious they’re hunting for Sharon, too, but they’ve had even less luck than we have in finding her.”
Big Jim focused his gaze on the attorney, watched with satisfaction as the man squirmed in his seat. Oh, how he missed the power he’d held in his hands with his most loyal followers, the ones he’d led like sheep wherever he pointed them. A few carefully chosen words here and there, and they’d worshipped the ground he walked on. He’d have that feeling again, and soon, because nobody was gonna keep him pinned behind bars much longer. One way or another, he’d be a free man.
“Put more men on it. I want answers, and I want them now. Sharon was never the smartest girl, and I doubt much has changed. She’ll pop up soon, and when she does, I want you ready. You’d better make sure we get to her before the feds, or it’s all over. Do you understand? I can’t stomach betrayal, especially by family. We have to make an example of her, so others know they can’t get away with disobedience.”
“Sir, umm, there might be a problem with that. We’re kinda…low on funds. The money left in the one account the feds didn’t freeze is almost gone.”
Big Jim let loose a bellow loud enough to have the guard swing open the door and step through. “Everything okay in here, Mr. Drury?”
Little piss-ant. Should be asking me, not this sniveling coward.
“Everything’s fine. Get out.” Big Jim motioned for the guard to close the door when he didn’t move fast enough.
“It’s okay, Officer. No problems here.” Jonathan nodded and pointed to Big Jim. “He was a little upset with the delays in scheduling his new trial.”
“Keep it down.” The guard closed the door, but Big Jim could see him standing outside, peering through the glass. He rolled his eyes, and brought his attention back to Drury.
“All your accounts are still frozen. We can’t touch any of the funds, sir.”
Big Jim pulled out the chair and spun it around, straddling it. He steepled his fingers along the back, his lips pursed as he thought. A smile curled his mouth upward, and he chuckled.
“I bet
