“I…”
“You lie one more time and I swear I’m gonna go off on you like a bull in a china shop,” Zach said charging over. Kelly was quick to get between them.
“Come on, Sanders. Give us a name,” Dalton said, urging him.
He shook his head.
“Oh enough of this shit,” Zach added. “He’s not going to say anything because he’s a coward. Plain and simple. All he cares about is his career. Well, your career is over so you might as well do the right thing before whoever is behind this shows up and puts a bullet in your head. In fact, saying something now might actually keep you alive.”
He frowned, his eyes bouncing between them. “You’re media.”
Zach chuckled. “Give this man an award!” He started clapping near his face.
Kelly crouched near him. “Look. You want to take your family and get out of here — we’re not here to stop you but if you want to keep your career, keep your family safe and stay above ground, we’re probably the best chance you’ve got. Give us names. Tell us what happened. What you know. Where she’s buried and who killed the Lewis family and I promise you, I will make sure your name remains off the table.”
Dalton could tell Sanders was thinking about it. He glanced over at the house where his wife was looking out the window with one of his kids at her side.
“You run. They’ll find you. But give us something to work with here and you might avoid what happened to Grossman,” Dalton said.
Douglas sighed. “His name is Angelo Gafino. A mobster from Jersey. Said he went way back with Jack. They knew each other since they were teens. He set him up, drew him out using Ms. Grant. I don’t know if he intended to kill her but he had every intention of putting Jack in Holbrook.”
Dalton shook his head. “Angelo? But he’s dead. Newspapers covered it at the time of Roy Gafino’s death.”
“No, he’s very much alive.”
Kelly chimed in. “And the Lewis family?”
“Do I even need to say?” He paused. “No, Winchester wasn’t guilty of that. After pulling him out of the wreckage they took him to the home, put the knife in his hand and called the cops. The rest, well, that’s litigation and digging up Winchester’s past.”
“And Grossman?”
“Grossman and I were friends for years. Angelo paid us.”
Zach roared with laughter. “Fuck. I knew it. You lawyers don’t do shit for free. Intimidation. Please! When have you ever seen a lawyer intimidated?” Zach snorted as he walked away.
Dalton nodded. “Do you have a contact for Gafino?”
He nodded and reached into his pocket.
“Hey!” Zach said. “Careful.”
“It’s just my phone.” He took It out and brought up his contacts. Kelly took down the number.
“And the vehicle?” Dalton asked.
“I can’t be sure about that. Though I heard them mention a lake.”
“The woman. Dana?”
He got this pained expression and his chin dropped. “Inside the vehicle. From what I heard, she was still conscious and alive after the crash. Barely, but alive. One of them mentioned she was muttering Jack’s name.”
“And?”
Sanders closed his eyes. “They let her bleed out.” He shook his head and swallowed hard. “I imagine if she’s in a lake, it would have to be nearby. Somewhere they could dump the wreck fast.” He shrugged. “Sorry, that’s all I know.”
“You piece of shit,” Zach said looking over. “And you talk about wanting to keep your family safe. What about that woman? Huh? What about her?”
“Zach,” Kelly said. “Drop it.”
He shook his head. “I’ll be in the vehicle.” He kicked some of the gravel and left them in silence.
Dalton looked towards the house. “That your wife?”
He nodded.
“Does she know?”
He shook his head. “No. Look, I can’t testify to this. They would put me away for life. My kids need me. My wife needs me.”
Kelly took a breath and looked around. “Take your family. Get out of town. Don’t come back until you see this information hit the news.”
“You’re going to release this? Do you know what they will do?”
“I’m not going to sit on it,” she said.
Sanders got up and brushed himself off. “It doesn’t matter. Even if you find the vehicle, drag it out and have a body. You still have Winchester at the murder scene holding the weapon. No court in this land will give this the time of day. The evidence is circumstantial at best. This lady, her son died, right? In San Francisco.”
“You know about that?”
“Yeah.”
“They will just say she was depressed, suicidal or that Winchester put her in the vehicle. My advice… get out of town as well. Get far away from this situation. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. These people can’t be stopped. And Winchester, well, I’m sorry but he’s on his own.” With that said he walked into the house and called out to his family. Dalton stood there for a moment thinking about Karen. Was she safe? Would they have to leave behind the mission? Would he always have to look over his shoulder now?
They strolled back to the vehicle and got in.
“Please tell me you got all of that?” Zach said as he fired up the engine and pulled away.
13
He was treated like a young boy ushered into the principal’s office to receive a stern warning for bad behavior. Jenkins and Porter forced Jack to sit, a task he didn’t make easy while Chapman prepared a fresh brew. The subtle nuance of nut and chocolate was invigorating. Coffee was considered a luxury in a place like this. They served a weak batch in the mornings, as that was the only time patients were allowed a cup — of course it tasted bitter and metallic.
“That will be all, gentlemen,” Chapman said, waving
