Chapter Twenty-Four
Jasper’s phone buzzed. “You in position?”
Vick had texted him from the car. Since Simon prowled around the courthouse, they thought it best if she stayed out of sight. They’d finally made it to Dallas, and Jasper was already at the courthouse.
On the way there, he’d stopped at a rest area so they could both get cleaned up. Jasper didn’t regret their rendezvous on the side of the road. It’d eased his stress level, and Vick seemed more relaxed, too. Now, they could both concentrate on the task at hand.
Another text. “Jasper? What’s going on?” Okay, maybe she wasn’t that relaxed.
“Yeah, I’m here. Waiting on Rodriguez to take a piss.”
“Gross. And don’t worry, I found the perfect diversion. Text me when you get him in the bathroom. Meanwhile, I’m gonna play around with their security cameras and erase our presence here.”
Vick was providing technical support on this mission. She had her laptop and a Wi-Fi connection in the SUV. Earlier he’d taken pictures of the FBI agents escorting Rodriguez so she could identify them.
“Will do.”
Jasper had stolen a security guard uniform from the staff lounge. The polyester beige eyesore was loose, but it’d work. He set up fake guard duty on the third floor of the courthouse, where the trial was located.
The place was crowded with reporters and family members eager to see justice done. Jasper kept his head down and tried his best to blend in. Every now and then, he walked by the courtroom so he could hear the proceedings and sneak a peek.
Rodriguez was a short man in his early forties with a mustache and short black hair. For someone who’d supposedly killed dozens of people, he didn’t appear so threatening. Neither was his protection detail. All three FBI agents were wet behind the years, probably straight out of Quantico, which is undoubtedly how they’d been assigned this shitty job.
Jasper glimpsed Simon earlier. The smug bastard was smiling as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Jasper couldn’t wait to wipe it right off his face.
After four hours of hanging around, the judge declared a short recess and Rodriguez was taken to the men’s room by a blond haired male agent.
Vick said the fed's last name was Wexler. Jasper texted her and strolled over to the bathroom door where another agent stood guard.
The man stepped in Jasper’s path. “Use the bathroom down the hall.”
“Are you kiddin’ me? I gotta take a piss, man.”
The agent glanced at his uniform and heaved a sigh. “Fine, but make it quick.”
Jasper sailed past the first checkpoint. When he got inside, Rodriguez was being patted down by Wexler.
What the fuck? In case he’d picked up any weapons in the hallway?
Wexler glanced up but paid him no mind when Jasper picked a urinal a couple feet away and unzipped to keep up the pretext.
Vick replied. “On it. Agent Wexler has a home security system. This is going to be fun.”
And then Wexler’s cell went off, a rapid-fire set of whistling text messages. He checked the screen, a frown forming on his face.
Then Wexler got a call.
Jasper schooled his features into a blank look and tried his best not to laugh.
“Hey, man?” Wexler asked.
“Yeah?” Jasper glanced over.
“Hey, I gotta take this. Can you keep an eye on him?” He nodded to Rodriguez.
“Sure.” Thank you, Vixen. Now, he just had to act fast.
Wexler walked a few feet away, pacing as he listened to Vixen who had his undivided attention. Jasper had no idea what she was up to, but Wexler looked worried.
“Hey,” Jasper whispered to Rodriquez who grunted in reply. “I need to talk you.” He kept his voice low and even.
“Leave me the fuck alone. Can’t a man take a piss in peace?” Rodriguez hissed the words.
“Hear me out.”
“Look, I ain’t been in prison long enough to settle for cock, so you can just—”
“It’s about your lawyer.” Jasper kept an eye on the agent.
Wexler was occupied. “Hold up. What kind of alarm went off? The smoke and the carbon monoxide detectors? Is there some sort of malfunction?”
“What about him?” Rodriguez asked.
“He ain’t doin’ such a good job, huh?”
“What’s it to you?”
“We both gotta problem with Simon.”
“Do we?” Rodriguez asked.
“Simon’s after my friend.”
Recognition dawned. “The Crimson Creek girl?”
“Yeah. She don’t like Simon, and neither do I.”
“So? I don’t give a fuck.” Rodriguez turned away.
“You should. He’s been sidetracked lately and your case ain’t goin’ so hot. You’ll get the death penalty if you’re convicted.”
“What do you want?” Rodriguez zipped up and walked over to the sink.
Jasper trailed after him. “Call off your guy.” He made a show of washing his hands, hoping the water would further muffle their voices.
“Why would I do that?”
“Simon needs to get his head back in the game.”
Rodriguez smirked. “Seems to me he’d be just fine, if the girl was his. Or if she was out of the picture altogether.”
Oh fuck. Men like Rodriguez wouldn’t think twice about shooting an innocent woman.
Jasper glanced back at Wexler, who’d just ended one phone call. Another cell in his jacket pocket went off, probably his work phone.
I could kiss Vixen. “Or, there’s an easier solution.”
“Like what?”
I’m runnin’ out of time. He wouldn’t get another shot at Rodriguez, so he had to lay it all on the line.
“Or, I could take care of your lawyer and then we’d both be happy. If he were to have an, er, accident, you’d get another attorney and a new trial.”
Rodriguez didn’t say anything, but his eyes widened.
Jasper rubbed the back of his neck. Sweat had pooled between his shoulder blades. Wexler was still yakking on the phone, but the call could end at any moment.
“How do I know this isn’t a set-up?”
“You don’t, but it isn’t. I’m riskin’ a lot to talk to you. This is one of those win-win situations. If you don’t retaliate against me or mine, I can make both our problems go away.” Jasper snapped his fingers. “Like that. What do you say?”
After a moment, Rodriguez nodded. “Then we have a deal, but if you don’t clean this up, and I mean make it fuckin’ squeaky clean, I’ll have my guy finish it. And it’ll be spotless by the time he’s done.”
“I’ll take care of it by the end of the day.” Jasper would see to it personally.
Wexler ended his latest call.
“He’s all yours.” Jasper nodded to him and then walked out.
All he had to do was kill Simon. Vixen wouldn’t be happy with this plan, but there wasn’t another way out of this.
***
“Mr. Wexler, I’m lookin’ at my computer screen, and I’ve pinpointed a malfunction with your system. They were just false alarms. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience, but we’re going to give you a credit on your next bill for fifty dollars.” The agent give her an earful, but she cut him off. “Whoops, my other line is ringin’. I have to go now. Goodbye.”
And then she hung up.
Vick snickered. Sometimes, my job is too much fun.
And then her cell buzzed. “It’s taken care of. I’m headed to the parking lot. See you in a few.”
Oh, thank God. Vick read Jasper’s message a couple more times, just because she couldn’t believe Rodriguez had agreed to their proposal.
Vick took off her heels and relaxed, lounging back against the seat in the afternoon sun pouring in the window. Suddenly, Vick felt sleepy. She was free, in the clear, well, nearly anyway.
Simon would back down once he realized he didn’t have a thug to do his dirty work and after she’d told him that she’d be seeing Jasper from now on.
And it’d all happened without any bloodshed. Or had it…?
Vick tensed.
Jasper hadn’t explained how he’d gotten Rodriguez to agree to the plan. What if Jasper had agreed to kill Simon?
A knock on the window startled Vick, and she dropped the phone. It landed on the carpet with a thunk.
She turned to Simon standing there.
Oh, God.
“Roll your window down so we can talk.” His voice was muffled through the glass.
Earlier, she’d locked the doors and Jasper said he was on his way. For a second, she didn’t know what to do. Call Jasper? Shimmy into the driver’s seat and take off?
Nah, time to end this.
Vick shook her head. “How’d you find me?”
“You forgot one of the security cameras, Victoria. I cruised by the guard station and spotted you sittin’ all by your lonesome in the car. Thought I’d keep you company.” His eyes narrowed. “I rewound the tape and figured y’all were up to somethin’. What’s your friend doin’ inside? Tryin’ to talk to Rodriguez?”
Vick ignored the question. “How thoughtful of you.”
“So, Jasper’s still talkin’ to you?”
“Yup.” Vick resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him.
“And he forgave you for bein’ my whore?”
She ground her teeth together. Simon wanted to provoke her into doing something stupid, like rolling down the window.
“Actually, Jasper and I are together now. Why are you really here, Simon?”
He smirked. “I took out a little insurance against these kind of shenanigans.”
Her stomach plummeted. “What kind of insurance?”
“Tell me, have you heard from your brother lately?”
Oh God. Jack hadn’t returned to Brighton Place, so she’d assumed he’d gone on another drug binge. But what if Simon had him?
“What’d you do to him?”
“You love him so much, yet you haven’t even checked on him. Isn’t Jack the only family you’ve got left?”
“Simon, what did you do?” She clenched her fists.
“Why, nothin’ yet.” His eyes glittered. “If you come with me, of course.”
“Where?” She glanced around the parking lot. No sign of Jasper yet.
“Your new place.” He must’ve seen the question in her eyes. “The apartment I leased for you on Third Street I got you a spot on the top floor, I know how much you enjoy a pretty view.”
“What about the trial?” She stalled for time.
“As luck would have it, my associate is handlin’ the proceedings the rest of this afternoon so I can devote all my time to you.”
Jasper was nowhere in sight. Vick was running out of options.
“Are you comin’ with me, or do I have to do somethin’ we’ll both regret?” He slammed a palm on the window.
“Okay, okay, let me grab my shoes.” As she reached for her discarded heels, Vick fired off a text message to Jasper. She hoped it’d be enough of a clue for him to follow. “Third Street Simon.”
And then Vick opened the door.