32

 

Sloan stared through the two-way mirror into the small room. Phillip MacNelson fidgeted. His chair sat against the back wall. His leg bounced every few seconds, and his hands shook. He continually pushed his fingers through his hair causing most of the spiked ends to lay flat. He’d tried to convince the officers at the scene it was a case of road rage, but deep in Sloan’s gut, he knew someone had tried to kill the jittery man.

Word had come down Tab Hainsworth shot himself earlier that morning. Teddy had been right about his guilt. If he’d turned to God instead of alcohol, he might have made it through.

“He seems awful nervous in there. Do you think he’ll blame Hainsworth?” Raven unbuttoned her blue blazer so her badge showed.

“Who knows?” Sloan shrugged. “Shall we see what he has to say?” He walked into the room and leaned against the wall farthest from MacNelson. Raven sat at the table across from him.

“Mr. MacNelson,” Raven started. “Why don’t you tell us about this morning?”

“I don’t want to talk about that. I want immunity.” Phillip again pushed his hand through his hair. “I have information about the murders at the Jetty. I can give you a motive for why Sprague did it.”

Phillip’s tune had changed since he’d been brought in. His fear getting the better of him. The man’s hands trembled, and he went from sitting upright to slouching back against the chair.

“We have enough forensic evidence to convict Sprague several times over. A motive is unnecessary.” Sloan talked in a low tone. “So why would we care what you have to offer?”

“I know who hired him.”

Sloan raised himself off the wall. “If you’re talking about Tab Hainsworth, it really wouldn’t do any good to offer you immunity to testify against him.”

Phillip’s eyes grew twice their normal size. “Did you make a deal with him already? If so, he probably lied to you. I’ll tell you the truth.”

Sloan stunted a laugh. With politicians, fat chance of that happening. “Mr. Hainsworth hasn’t made any deal. At least not with us. He did a press release explaining your and his involvement in the shootings.”

“He’s a liar. I knew nothing about it until after it happened.” Sweat burst out over Phillip’s forehead. “I didn’t have any reason to kill any of those people. He did.”

“Too bad testifying won’t do you any good,” Raven said. “But you did just admit to being a party after the fact.”

Sloan bent down and placed one hand on the table. The other rested on the back of Phillip’s chair. “You’re going to spend some time behind bars, and it won’t matter how loud you shout out about old Tab. You see, I got a call on the way over telling me Tab Hainsworth shot himself about two hours ago. He died in transit to the hospital.”

Phillip’s mouth hung open. They had him. The information Tab Hainsworth sent to the paper would only help with a conviction.

“I could testify against Sprague’s attorney. He blackmailed us.”

“File a complaint with the Florida Bar.” Sloan returned to the wall. “If you get lucky, you might end up sharing a cell with your buddy Jack Sprague.”

“Maybe you’d like to see what he did to his last cell mate,” Raven said. “And he wasn’t near pretty as you.”

Phillip leaned back. Sweat trickled from his forehead to his chin. “OK, OK. I’ll give you better than Sprague and Tab Hainsworth, but you have to promise me protection.”

“What can be better than Sprague and Hainsworth?” Raven leaned forward on her elbows.

Sloan took two steps forward. The look in MacNelson’s eye said he had something big to offer. The terror behind his façade spoke volumes of the fear he had about releasing the information.

Phillip sucked in. “How about the real reason for all those killings. A land deal on Roosevelt Boulevard involving Edward Kellerman.”

 

****

 

Sloan stood in the hallway, still shocked by MacNelson’s confession. What people wouldn’t do for power and money. They should all be locked away and the key lost.

“Do you believe all that?” Raven shook her head.

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Sloan marched to Sergeant Daniels’s office to give him an update. He didn’t get a word out before Daniels’s met them at his door.

“We got some trouble at the courthouse.”

“Is Teddy all right?” Sloan’s shoulders tightened.

“She’s fine. Right now, she’s at the state attorney’s office surrounded by Marge and a couple officers. We’ve got us a dead security guard. An officer found her in one of the back rooms. There’s no proof Sprague is involved but her neck was broken and her gun’s missing.”

“I’m heading over there.” Sloan turned to go. “Raven, you get back up and take care of the outer perimeter of that courtroom.”

Sloan didn’t wait for her to respond. His gut told him something bigger than a dead security guard was about to go down.

 

****

 

Teddy pushed through reporters’ microphones to get into the courthouse. Marge Grappling marched on one side, Claire on the other. Two JSO officers guarded from behind. Once inside, she waited in the outer hallway for the courtroom to open so everyone could enter. Her nerves were frayed like yarn played with by a cat. She’d spent the better part of the morning discussing her testimony with Marge. She just needed to tell the truth. That wouldn’t be a problem.

Relief came when Sloan stepped off the elevator. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it.”

“I won’t let you go through this on your own.” He kissed the side of her head. He glanced up and down the hallway.

“Is anything wrong? You seem nervous.”

“I’m just making sure no one’s going to jump out at us.”

“I’ll be fine as long as you’re here.”

“That’s only because you can’t imagine Claire standing in the back flapping her arms up and down.”

“I don’t know,” Claire said. “I’m a pretty good flapper.” She demonstrated with her arms.

Teddy laughed at the idea. Her stomach did a flip. She needed to get away from some of the reporters milling about. “Do you know where the bathroom is?”

“Right this way.” Sloan led her to a room around the corner.

Marge followed her in. “Are you all right?”

“Having to get up before all those people is wreaking havoc with my system.”

A concerned look crossed Marge’s expression.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to splash some water on my face.”

“I’ll meet you in the courtroom.” Marge nodded and left her.

The cold water slapped her to attention. It did little to help her upset stomach. She used her fingers to comb her hair into place, then left the bathroom. Sloan was just outside the door.

“How are you really?” He took hold of her hand.

“I’m fine. A bit queasy but hopefully that’ll pass. I’d hate to vomit on the stand. That’d be so embarrassing.”

Sloan laughed before giving her another kiss. “It’d definitely give the news something different to talk about. Imagine the speculation.”

“I’d rather not, but thank you for bringing that up.” She nudged him with her elbow. “I guess we’d better go.”

Teddy straightened her shoulders before walking into the courtroom. She sat behind the state attorney’s desk next to Claire.

“Hey, Sis.” Ryan walked up behind her. “I thought I might be late with all the reporters taking up the parking.”

“What are you doing here?” She reached back and hugged him, grateful for his presence.

“I thought you could use the support of your family. Jason couldn’t get off but said to tell you he’s here in spirit.”

Warmth carried over Teddy. Her apprehension lessened at having her brother and close friend with her. Of course, the most important safety net she had was the hand of the man she loved.

People huddled in the back. Attorneys readied papers in the front. Her skin crawled whenever Fred Slaughter glanced her way. She wondered what he had planned when she took the stand.

At exactly nine, they brought Jack Sprague in. He glared at her. Teddy cringed when they removed the handcuffs and shackles from his hands and feet. Her grip tightened on Sloan. Jack Sprague’s dark blue slacks and white shirt beneath a perfectly pressed jacket made him appear more like a business man than a killer. Even his shoes shined and his hair was combed back.

Sloan’s hand tightened around hers sending a blanket of security through her. Ryan patted her on the shoulder, showing his support.

Everyone rose when the judge entered. His dark brown hair and brown eyes gave him a youthful appearance. The black robe he wore swung around his calves with each step.

Teddy waited while the jury was brought in and two other witnesses testified. She tried to keep her attention up front but her peripheral vision caught Sprague’s stare. Every time she glanced his way, he had a fixed angry look. His lips shut so tight they were almost invisible. A shiver ran over her body. Something inside told her this ordeal wasn’t over just yet.

 

****

 

Sloan patted the pocket over his heart. Elation came over him when he felt the box. Once Teddy testified and they got some alone time, he’d ask her to marry him. He only hoped the ring fit. And that she said yes. The warmth of her hand in his made him want to hold on for the rest of his life. Even with the tension, there was a sparkle about her.

She’d trembled when Sprague first walked in. The closer it got to her testifying, the more anxiety danced into her eyes. Sloan knew if he told her about the dead guard, it would only make things worse. His own heart was pulsing so loud he was surprised no one else heard it.

She fidgeted in her seat and crossed and uncrossed her legs. Would it have been better if she waited in the hall? Then she wouldn’t have Sprague’s constant glare on her.

Sloan surveyed the area. There were two aisles of seats. Only two ways in or out. One in the back of the courtroom and one at the front where the judge entered. If Sprague tried to escape, he’d go out one of those. Sloan tapped away on his phone to Raven who covered the outer perimeter.

She returned the text. “Nothing new.”

Sloan gave Teddy’s hand an extra squeeze just to remind himself she was safe.

He turned his head to catch Ryan’s attention where he sat on the end of the aisle behind Sloan. Ryan’s nod indicated they were on the same wavelength. Something was about to go down. And when it did, Teddy would be right in the middle.

Finally, Teddy’s name was called. Sloan rose with her and gave her hand an extra squeeze. She pulled her blazer down, held her chin up, and stepped through the swinging gate.

A shot echoed in the courtroom. The court reporter screamed. Teddy crouched. Fred Slaughter slumped at the defense desk. Someone yanked Teddy backwards. A hand held her throat, squeezing.

Sprague had her in his grasp. A gun pressed to her temple.