Chapter 57
Sandesh could not get used to how artificially bright Mukta’s lower-level office was. And colorful. The space insisted on merriment. But Sandesh couldn’t forget it was also the center of dark pain and anger and plotting.
He also couldn’t forget this dual nature had been the upbringing of the person he loved, the person looking a bit wary sitting on the seat next to him.
Leland stood behind Mukta, who leaned cupped hands against her desk. “Justice, we have some bad news to impart.”
Justice put up her hands in a stop gesture. “If it’s worse than ‘your school was bombed by one of your traitor siblings,’ I don’t want to hear it.”
Leland, his usual ramrod straight posture, ran a hand through military-short silver hair and cleared a throat that did nothing to ease the rasp in his voice. “We believe your father is involved with the traitor.”
What? That was the way they were going to go? Not, “Justice, we’re very sorry your father has been murdered.”
Justice shook her head. “Cooper? He’s drugged out. Not capable of conspiring with anyone.”
Mukta slid a bracelet up her arm, then another. “He’s capable of following instructions, coming to see his daughter, and reporting back to the Brothers. He’s capable of meeting with one of your siblings, following their orders, and getting in touch with Walid.”
Justice reached for the locket around her neck. She clasped it. “You think Cooper helped whoever betrayed us?”
“More than that,” Leland said. “We think he was a go-between, informing Walid and taking money for the job. We also believe he helped orchestrate the attack on the school.”
“The attack? You think he worked with Walid?”
Damn, these people liked to keep stuff to themselves.
Mukta Parish shook her head. “No. All signs suggest the attack was an inside job. Few would have the knowledge to avoid security. And though the traitor could have passed this information to him, I sincerely doubt Walid would target areas devoid of people.”
“In fact,” Leland said, “we believe the drone attack was the family member’s plan.”
“What proof do you have it’s not Walid?” Justice asked. “Gracie thinks this is all strategic. Keep us in the school. Keep us busy. Get rid of the kids. And then Walid can move forward with a second attack.”
Mukta and Leland shared a look. Mukta uncupped her hands, laid them flat on the desk. “I believe our gentle Bridget is behind everything. There was written evidence in Cooper’s apartment, communications between them. Not only that, she and Cooper were part of the same Buddhist temple. And she has implicated herself with prior statements and by repeatedly advising her siblings to resist training.”
Come on. They were really laying a lot on Justice right now. This seemed cruel. This was not how he’d have handled this. Give her a chance to understand Cooper was dead, then break it all down.
Justice drew in a sharp, pained breath and shook her head. “Coop. Bridget and Coop? Are you sure it’s her? Dada is sleeping with her informant. Tony is so angry. And Gracie practically gave me Walid’s plan of action. She’s also a tech genius. Could easily access computer info like my GPS. And how did Bridget operate the drones?”
Leland tugged at the button on his suit coat’s sleeve. “According to the FBI, the drones were preprogrammed. She could have hired someone for that. As for the GPS, we don’t know.”
Justice shot to her feet. “This isn’t horseshoes, Leland. We find out. We bring Bridget and Cooper in. We question them.”
Enough. What was this game? Sandesh grabbed Justice’s hand. She looked down at him. “He’s dead, Justice. Cooper was killed. I found him tortured in his apartment. Most likely by Walid.”
Justice sat with a pained sigh. “Tortured?” She stared at him, then her eyes narrowed and turned on Leland. “You dragged Sandesh into this?”
Sandesh put a hand on her knee. She was shaking. “I was asked to go. No dragging involved. And no danger to me. Leland had the place cleaned. Made it look like Cooper had taken off for good.”
The tension around her eyes didn’t ease. In fact, it tightened. “Cooper. I almost believed him. And now he’s taken another of my sisters.”
Technically, it wasn’t Cooper who’d started it all. But it was probably easier for her to blame him than her sibling.
Justice bent forward, hands against her stomach. “I hate him.”
It might not sit well with her, but she should know what he suspected about Cooper. Sandesh got out of his chair and dropped to his knees. He smoothed out her hair. “Justice. Judging by his condition, Coop resisted interrogation. And you should know, he painted pictures of you and Hope. They were all over the apartment. I think—”
Her head shot up, nearly hitting him. “Don’t. Don’t say it.” She wiped angrily at her eyes. “He was an asshole. And Bridget. Bleeding heart. She brought Coop here. Probably hoped we’d have a relationship. Macro-view. Like she has more of the bigger picture than anyone else. Please. She’s so much into peace that she won’t even eat dairy from a cow. That has to screw with your head.”
Macro-view?
Leland moved around the desk, pressed a button on the phone. “Tucker, where is Bridget Leigh Parish?”
There was the clicking of a keyboard, a moment of silence, and then, “In her office.”
“Have someone bring her to Mukta’s office on 4B. Posthaste.”
He clicked off. Leland exhaled a sound coated with age and regret and acceptance. “While we wait, I think we should discuss how we’re going to eliminate the very real threat Walid still poses.”