The Aftermath Read online

  Paula looked at the paper that was on the table then smiled as if pleased with herself. She picked up the pen and signed the document. Sitting back, she smiled. “The name you want is Christian Vaughan.”

  At the mention of the name Skylar slowly turned to Nate. To his credit, he did not blink; he gave no reaction, he simply met her look.

  “Would you be able to pick him out of a lineup?” Nate asked.

  Paula laughed. “You will never get Christian to do a line up, much less get into a room with you. The man is connected to the Pentagon, ex-military General.”

  As she made the statement, pieces of the puzzle began to fit for Nate. The chips were the property of the Pentagon. Boom, the ex-military general Christian Vaughan is the connection.

  Skylar pulled out her phone. Pushed a few buttons then turned it to Paula. “Does this man look familiar?”

  “Ahh,” Paula smirked. “You are further along in your investigations than I thought. He doesn’t look quite that youthful these days. But, I would say that is a younger version of Christian Vaughan.”

  Skylar exhaled, then put the phone away. She stood and stretched. “I think this is a good stopping point for tonight.” She reached for the signed document.

  Paula picked it up. “I will hold on to this.”

  Skylar shrugged. “You do understand that immunity impairs your right to invoke the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as a legal basis for refusing to testify. You will have to give full and truthful testimony to a grand jury when called upon to do so.”

  “Of course, I understand that. I am a judge after all,” Paula said then left the room with the paper in hand.

  Skylar glanced at the camera. “I want to note the witness has been read her rights and received the explanation of what immunity requires and has acknowledged she understands, because she is a judge, after all.” She smiled at Nate.

  “I wonder if she knows only the Attorney General, or his designated Assistant can grant permission for immunity?” He questioned.

  “Who knows?” Skylar shrugged. “With a little push I’m sure I can get the AG to agree.”

  “I don’t know if I agree with it,” Regan stated. “The young man who brought this case to life, he was on his way to college. They are systematically destroying promising young lives with this madness. I cannot agree with this.”

  “Did you not hear what she said? There are others that are doing the same thing. There are other judges and other prison systems with children who are being impacted. We have stopped her; now, we need a path to stop the others.” Skylar exhaled. “She is providing us with a path.”

  In a virtual standoff, they both turned.

  “Nate, what do you think?” Regan asked. “Where do you stand on this?”

  “Hey, you’re a judge and you are a federal prosecuting attorney,” Nate chuckled not wanting to get between the two women. “I am the low man on the totem pole here.”

  Skylar waved his response away. “Oh please, the only person you are beneath, in your mind, is God.”

  “That is true.” Nate smiled. “But I think you two are missing a key component to the decision-making process.”

  “And what is that?” Regan asked.

  “Do either of you honestly believe that the DeFazio organization or the leaders at Peaceful Intervention are going to let her live long enough to testify?” He raised an eyebrow as the two stared intently at him.

  The two women looked at each other. Skylar shrugged. “I have no issue with that. What about you?”

  Regan nodded. “Sounds reasonable to me. Isn’t it also reasonable to think that Wyatt Chambers was replaced at Peaceful Intervention Emergence? Vaughan would not step in to run the place. He has a larger role in the planning of all of this,” Regan summarized. “Who took over at their headquarters?”

  “Evan Welch, according to their website.”

  Nate smirked.

  “You know him?”

  “We have met.” Nate nodded. “He is a part of what they call the ‘superior race.’”

  “But with all we heard tonight, we have no connection to him and the women, or Alex’s death,” Regan stated.

  “Okay, let’s back up.” Nate inhaled. “We know that Tess has connected Alex, Kavanagh, and the women’s deaths. We all agree that those deaths are connected to the women from the prison facilities. Those facilities are run by the head of Peaceful Intervention. I’m telling you just like Wyatt Chambers, he is the one running the show. And just like Chambers, it looks like he is going to get away with it.”

  “Chambers didn’t get away with it; you killed him,” Regan reminded him.

  “Only because he came after me,” Nate stated. “We didn’t have him. We had identified him as a person of interest, but if he hadn’t come after me, he may have avoided being charged.”

  “Well, we will be able to charge the administrator for what happened to the women,” Skylar sighed. “It would be great if we actually did have live witnesses.”

  “According to these employment contracts all decisions related to the activities at the individual facilities are at the discretion of the administrators.”

  “The administrators can be replaced. We have to find a way to cut them off at the knees or this is going to happen again.” Nate shook his head. “These people are smart; they are organized and have to be connected to get away with ruining Black and Brown kids’ lives. These people are dangerous.”

  “I agree, Nate. We can’t leave it at this. There has got to be something we can do,” Regan sighed.

  “They have been one step ahead of us at every turn,” Skylar added. “It’s like everything they do is calculated, accounts for consequences, and has a strategy to avoid legal vulnerability. We must find a way to trip them up. The fact that they are getting away with this has my nerves crawling under my skin.”

  Nate sat up. “Let’s crawl under theirs. Where’s the copy of the Commonwealth’s contract with Peaceful Intervention?”

  Regan moved some of the documents she had spread out on the table. “Here it is.” She handed it to Nate. “What are you looking for?”

  Nate glanced over the document scanning quickly over several pages. “This.” He smiled. “I know how to get under their skin.”

  40

  Sitting in his home office reviewing the orders received from Level Ten regarding the next infiltration, the alert buzzed on Christian’s cell phone; it was an indication the private office phone was ringing. An issue had surfaced. Before answering, he glanced around his home to ensure the area was clear. The domestic help had been known to walk in at inopportune times. Confirming the area was clear, he walked to the bookshelf against the back wall of his house, placed his palm on the fifth book on the shelf, then pulled it down. The door opened. Stepping through, he turned to watch as the door closed behind him. He sat at the small desk and answered the call.

  “Level Twelve,” he answered.

  “Level Sixteen, CAR1” the response came.

  “Activated less than 24 hours ago. I did not anticipate contact this soon.”

  “Task one completed; however, there is a complication. Attempts to gather the information were blocked. Request precautionary measures be implemented.”

  “Exposure level?”

  “Zero, at this time; however, detection may be imminent.”

  “Go around it.”

  “The roundabout will take weeks, maybe months.”

  “Unacceptable. Explain.”

  He listened, nodded then disconnected the call.

  With that, he pulled out a laptop from the desk drawer, searched the name he was given, printed a picture, and then placed it on the wall next to Chief Williams. He dialed the number 743-RPD2, then waited.

  The call was answered on the first ring.

  “Level Fourteen.”

  “Level Twelve,” Christian stated then gave a name, “Initiate code blue.”

  “Level Fourteen, confirm.”

 
; Christian hung up the call then placed another by dialing 743-CAR1 and waited.

  “Level Sixteen,” the call was answered.

  “Level Twelve,” he responded. “It will be handled.”

  “Roger that,” Level Sixteen replied and then call. Whitaker looked up to see members of his party waiting for him at the entrance to RPD Headquarters. He walked through the parking lot, reaching the bottom step to the entrance. “My apologies, I had to take that call.”

  “It is a busy time for us all,” Lt. Stinger stated as he nodded towards his partner, Officer Armstead, who was also on a call.

  Officer Armstead ran up the steps joining them as the doors swung open. “Sorry about that. I had to take that call.”

  “Everything okay?” Lt. Stinger inquired.

  “Personal stuff,” he replied as they walked through the door.

  Commonwealth Attorney Whitaker showed his ID to the desk sergeant, then proceeded with Lt. Stinger and Officer Armstead into the corridor heading to the door with Major Crimes Division posted above.

  Nate was getting out of his car after the meeting with the Judge. They had a pathway. He went to Chief Williams’s office to update him on the findings. He was so hyped; he did not bother to knock on the door. Nate nodded at the secretary then walked in closing the door behind him.

  “Chief, I just came from an interrogation of Judge Paula Reid. Do you remember her?”

  “I do,” Chief Williams looked up at him.

  “The prison system Peaceful Intervention Emergence is behind the women in the morgue, and I am willing to bet my annual salary they are behind Alex’s murder too.”

  Chief Williams sat back. “Tell me what you have.”

  “The man, who coordinated the judges’ names, is…get ready…Christian Vaughan.”

  The Chief closed his eyes. “Tell me he is not related to Detective Vaughan.”

  “I wish I could, but I can’t. Christian Vaughan is his father…and there’s more. He seems to be well connected so high up that a federal prosecutor cannot obtain his files. Chief, this case is connected to white supremacy. And it may go deeper than we know.”

  “What proof do you have the prisons are connected to White supremacy? You cannot take Paula Reid’s testimony on its own. We need probable cause to even get a search warrant to even walk in that building. We need witnesses that can collaborate what you got from the Judge.”

  Nate walked out of the Chief’s office pissed. He knew they were going in the right direction, but they had to get more. His cell phone buzzed.

  “Reigns.”

  “It’s a no go on my end. We need witnesses to back up what Reid told us.”

  “I got the same thing on my end.”

  “Okay,” Skylar exhaled. “Are you free tonight?”

  “For a date?”

  “You can call it whatever you want, but we need to talk away from people.”

  Nate checked his watch. “Yes, we do. We need to sort through what we have and come up with a plan.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Six at Southern Kitchen on 2nd and Leigh Street,” he replied as he walked into the unit.

  “Reigns,” Captain Daniels called out.

  Nate looked up to see the Captain motion at him from his office. “Got to go. See you there.” He ended the call.

  “Nate.” Cory jumped up from his desk to intercept him. “Do I have your support on this?”

  Nate realized he could not let on what they had uncovered. Some way, he had to stay calm.

  Nate shrugged. “I will tell them what I witnessed. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “Listen, Nate. I can’t lose my job behind this.”

  “Did you kill him?” Nate asked.

  “No,” Cory objected with a pissed off look.

  “Then you don’t have anything to need support on,” Nate replied as he walked into Captain Daniels’ office.

  “Detective Reigns, meet Acting Commonwealth Attorney William Whitaker, Lt. Stinger and Officer Armstead from Internal Affairs.”

  Nate held out his hand to Whitaker, Stinger and Armstead, shaking each. “Gentlemen.”

  Captain Daniels took a seat behind his desk to speak to Whitaker. “You asked me to make him available, there he is.”

  “Thank you, Captain Daniels. I appreciate your cooperation,” CA Whitaker began. “Detective Reigns and I know each other. We have appeared across the table in court on several occasions. Isn’t that right, Detective?”

  “We have,” Nate replied thinking the record against the racist son of a bitch was 6 to zip, his favor.

  “Detective, we have a few questions on the Burnett investigation,” Lt. Stinger stated. “Commonwealth Attorney Whitaker insisted on being in on the questioning.”

  That explained why Stinger was acting standoffish. They had just met and talked yesterday, but from his actions, Nate surmised Stinger did not want Whitaker aware of that. “Whatever I can do to assist. I’m sure the Captain advised you that I am the lead detective on the case.”

  “That is why I’m here.” Whitaker looked at each of the other three men in the room with his brow scrunched. “Now, no disrespect intended Nate, but I know how close you were to Alex, and I have to ask, is there a possible chance of conflict of interest here? I mean, you were his best friend, after all. What if something negative or derogatory about Alex’s life comes to light? How are you going to handle that?” He shrugged. “If it was my friend, I would want to protect him and his family from anything that could muddy his name.”

  There was silence in the room as all eyes turned to him.

  A smirk appeared on Nate’s face. Keeping in mind what the Captain had warned him about, he took a deep breath then looked at Daniels.

  “Has something come to light to question my handling of the investigation?”

  “No,” Captain Daniels replied.

  “Lt. Stinger?” he asked.

  “No,” Stinger answered.

  “Then I am unclear on the line of concern. I don’t believe there is anything in my record to show I would cut corners on any investigation. I go where the evidence leads.”

  “I have no doubt about that, Nate…”

  “Detective Reigns,” Nate corrected him.

  Whitaker chuckled. “We are not in a courtroom, Nate. We are not equal here. I am the Commonwealth Attorney. You are a detective. This case will be directed by my standards.”

  “If I remember your presentations correctly, that bar is quite low, William.”

  “Mr. Whitaker,” the Captain interrupted the exchange, “unless you have a reason to question Detective Reigns’ ability to work this case, I have no reason to pull him from it.”

  “I firmly believe, to keep the integrity of the case intact, Detective Reigns should be removed from it. He could prove to be a hindrance in court. Any defense attorney could easily argue prejudice against their defendant by pointing out the friendship between Burnett and Reigns, Captain. The validity of any evidence discovered by Detective Reigns could be put in question for the same reason. That is all I want to point out.”

  “Your point is taken, is there anything else?” Daniels asked.

  “If you will not take my advice on this issue, I insist Internal Affairs be kept abreast of every step that is taken,” Whitaker ordered. “Without assurance of the integrity of the evidence, I will move to rule this case as a murder suicide. There has been no indisputable evidence to the contrary.”

  “We have not found anything to support that hypothesis,” Lt. Stinger offered. “In fact, we are finding just the opposite. The man had everything to live for – a newly elected position that resulted from five years of hard work. According to several people I spoke with, there was a woman he was planning to settle down with. He had everything to look forward to. He was not the type to be distraught over something that may have been accidental. Let’s say all or any portion of that is exaggerated; the ME indicates Burnett was poisoned, not strangled.”

  Nate watch
ed as Whitaker’s face displayed three different shades of red each time Stinger added to his rebuff.

  “Until I have evidence and an ME report stating that, I’m sticking with the murder-suicide. You have twenty-four hours before I make a ruling on moving that conclusion forward. As to the in-custody death of Liam Kavanagh, I believe Detective Cory Vaughan is being investigated. From the report, he was in the presence of you, Captain, and other members of the squad. I do not foresee any reason to bring him up on charges at this time.” Whitaker nodded, “Captain, gentlemen,” then he frowned at Nate. “Detective Reigns,” then left the office.

  “Is it me or does that man have a hard on for you?” Officer Armstead asked.

  Nate, along with the other men in the room, stared at Armstead, then chuckled.

  “No, he’s got it in for you Reigns,” Captain Daniels stated. “Now that you are reporting directly to the Chief, I suggest you make him aware of this visit and watch your back.”

  41

  Stinger, who chuckled along with the others, walked over to close the door to the office. He turned to Nate.

  “Since the acting CA saw fit to bring up the in-custody death, I need to ask you some uncomfortable questions about your partner, Cory Vaughan. Since two of his Detectives were involved, Captain Daniels has asked to be present for both interviews. Do you have any objections?” Lt. Stinger asked as he pulled out his tablet.

  “No.” Nate liked, and to some extent, trusted Stinger’s dedication to the job. However, he was not one to offer up testimony one way or another. Rather than saving both of them, sometimes he would let Stinger ask his questions and respond accordingly. “What do you need to know?”

  “Do you trust Cory Vaughan?” Stinger asked.

  “No,” Nate replied. He could see the disapproval on Captain Daniels’ face in his peripheral vision.

  “Can you tell us why?”

  “He is too eager to please the brass. He’s arrogant, hardheaded, and a royal pain in my ass.”

  “As most new partners are,” Stinger nodded. “Are there any specific incidents you can cite?”