Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard (shoe dog free ebook .txt) 📗

“Since his incarceration is largely due to your testimony and efforts, I’m going to give you privacy with the inmate.”

He nodded and stepped through the door before closing it. Not that it should matter whether he stayed or gave them privacy, but Terra felt restrained in the man’s company.

Jack crossed his arms. “No wall or window separating us here.”

“Because Joey isn’t a violent criminal. That’s why he’s in Club Fed.” Another name for a white-collar, or a low- or medium-security, facility.

“Given the reasons we’re here,” Jack added, “I’m not so sure. I don’t like this.”

“We wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think there was a chance he could give us information—something he was able to hide from the task force. Something that will help us in this murder investigation.”

Jack’s response was to stand in the corner.

Terra’s heart rate jumped. She worked to calm her breathing and appear relaxed so Joey would remain relaxed too. “Everyone involved in Joey’s group was shut down. But his isn’t the only artifact-trafficking organization out there. I just want to see if he can offer up anything else.”

“He’ll want a reduced sentence in exchange.”

She pursed her lips, then said, “He only got eighteen months as it was. But as I said, I have some leverage.”

“Right. The mother. I look forward to watching you work.” Jack hitched a grin and, oddly, that reassured her.

It was taking too long for him to arrive. Was he refusing to see her? She might as well tell Jack what she’d wanted him to see firsthand.

Terra lowered her voice. “Joey is a twentysomething computer nerd who still has acne. He looks much too young to have been such a big player. But it was because of his tech-savvy skills and love of digging up artifacts from a young age that he was able to grow a far-reaching trafficking organization.”

“Interesting. So, he’s close to his mother.”

“He lives with her, yes, well, not while he’s incarcerated. She’s sick, and he partly used his talents for illicit gain to care for her. She didn’t know anything about his activities, and when she found out, it almost destroyed her.” Terra hated that awful part of the investigation.

“And you’re okay using that relationship as leverage?”

She heard the incredulity in his tone.

“I hope it doesn’t go that far, but two people have been murdered. Pauline died indirectly. Relax, I’m not a monster.”

The door opposite from where they had entered opened and in stepped Joey DeMarco, looking no worse for the wear. His eyes widened, then his brows shifted into a deep frown. He grudgingly plodded over to sit and stare at her.

“Hey, Joey. You look good.”

“Prison life hasn’t been so bad. Not what you wanted to hear, I bet. What are you doing here?”

“I’ve set you on the straight and narrow path, Joey. I hear you met Jesus.”

“Yeah. So? I’m attending a Bible study.” He suddenly stared at his hands, and his expression softened. “Okay, yeah. I’m doing okay. I guess maybe I do owe you for that.”

“I’m glad I could help.” Terra paced herself.

“You haven’t explained what you’re doing here.”

Here goes nothing. Or everything. Her palms grew moist. “I’ve come to ask for your help.”

“Help from me? You’ve already taken down my whole organization. I’ve got nothing to offer you.”

How much should she share? If it meant preventing another murder, then she would be up-front. “Joey, two people have been murdered.”

His eyes shot to hers, then to Jack, who shifted in the corner. “What? And you think I know something about that? Well, you’re wrong. I don’t know anything.”

“And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Terra saw that thought in his expression, but she pressed on. “Maybe not, but you know names. You know someone is still out there. Someone we didn’t get.”

Joey stood and the chair fell back. He moved to the exit and raised his fist to pound on the door.

“I’m going to see your mother next.” Terra hadn’t wanted to pull that card so soon, if at all.

He held his fist in the air but didn’t knock on the door. Then he dropped it.

Joey returned to the table and sat. He hung his head, then lifted his pubescent-looking face and leaned closer as if he would whisper a secret.

“I’m out of here in a few months. I’m doing my time. I’m changing my ways. I don’t need you messing up my home for me. I don’t want to go home to find my mother still angry at me, or mad over whatever you think you’re gonna tell her. Remember, she has a heart condition. This whole thing almost killed her. That’s on me. I admit, that’s on me, but it would have been fine if you hadn’t interfered.”

Shame washed through Terra. “I know. I understand. Please . . . I would not have come to you if I wasn’t desperate. I don’t want anyone else to die. Your crimes never amounted to murder, Joey, so if you know something, you need to share that information. You don’t want to be an accessory to that.”

“Is that a threat? Because I can’t tell you anything yet. I need more, like why did you come to me with this?”

Terra leaned in too. She and Joey were close. Jack sat down in the chair next to her, a show of intimidation and protection.

“If two people have been murdered,” she said, “then someone could be shutting down loose ends and moving shop. Or they’re feeling threatened in some way. Who is it? Who is moving your kind of contraband through Montana?”

Joey’s face paled, and his acne turned bright red. “I don’t know anything about Montana. Even if I did, and I told you anything, then I could be threatened next. My mother’s life threatened.”

Terra leaned against the seat back and drew circles on the table. “You know something, Joey. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Before you took me down, I was trying to expand my operations.”

“Expand? What are you saying?”

“You have to think bigger.”

Terra shook her head. “I