At the morning briefing, the night crew said they’d found knives, duct tape, and zip ties in a tote in a bedroom closet.
Forensics passed on that the van lit up like a Christmas tree after Luminol was sprayed in the rear area. They had gathered blood and hair samples that would be tested against the remains of the bodies we’d found.
Royce had gotten word that the state police were making headway. They’d heard through reliable sources that an underground group of people might be working out of Augusta in the organ-trafficking trade. Their officers would work hand in hand with the FBI on that side of the investigation.
I couldn’t wait to sit across from Ted—or T. J. as we’d known him over the years. I’d never had any inkling that he was capable of cold-blooded murder for profit and wondered if everything began after Chase came to town. According to their profiles, Chase was older by two years, and if it was true that the parents hadn’t done much child rearing, Chase could very well be the leader, the parent figure, and the one who’d called the shots from childhood on. I hoped to find out everything as soon as our meeting wrapped up.
It was after eight thirty by the time the meeting adjourned. Rue and I headed to our jail wing and asked the guard to put each brother in a separate room. Our intentions were to interview Ted first. He was sure to be uncomfortable talking to us, and maybe that would work in our favor. If he was indeed the follower rather than the leader, it could be easier to persuade him to talk, especially if we told a few white lies to get him going.
After we were given the go-ahead, Rue and I watched T. J. through the one-way glass before entering the interrogation room. He appeared jittery, and that was good. Sitting alone in a cell all night without Chase telling him what to say and how to act had likely given Ted plenty of time to think about his actions and the consequences. He had to know he would likely spend life in prison, and I was sure that scared the shit out of him. We would be his friends, his allies, but only if he leveled with us. Chase couldn’t help him anymore.
He glanced up when we entered the room. What looked like a mix of anger and disappointment was written across his face. I wondered if the disappointment was only because they had been caught and not because of remorse. Their dreams of living the high life had evaporated into thin air. He returned his attention to his folded hands and kept quiet. Rue and I took seats across from him and stared until he finally looked at us.
“So, Teddy, or would you rather be called T. J.? I mean, that’s the guy we’ve known for two years. The friendly bartender who didn’t look like he had an evil bone in his body.”
He remained silent.
I continued. “We’ll call you T. J., then. Anyway, it looks like you’re up shit creek. Chase ratted you out, said you had a dream about a great way of making money and invited him to come to Savannah so you could carry out that fantasy. Something about you being sick and tired of living such an ordinary life. Something about your parents? What was that about?”
“That bastard. It was his idea, every bit of it. It’s all lies except the part about our parents. They were ordinary people—actually lowlife losers—who got lucky. My old man won big at the casino, their home away from home. We were in our early teens and rebellious like most kids that age, and our folks quickly realized that we hindered their new lifestyle. They cleaned up well when money was involved, but Chase and I were still an embarrassment. Mom and Dad began associating with rich people who didn’t have two punk sons who lacked ambition. Those people had kids in boarding schools in other countries. Chase and I were home alone most of the time and raised ourselves. We caused even more trouble as we got older, but then Chase moved to Macon for a girlfriend.”
“That had to be tough, but then Chase came back into the picture. He wanted that rich lifestyle, too, and told you about his new idea, right?”
T. J. nodded. “Chase was the leader our whole lives. He left Macon, returned to Savannah, and told me the plan. We could be rich, just like our parents were. I was afraid, but he said to think of it as hunting. We’ve killed animals before and gutted them right in the field. Once the money started coming in and was in front of me, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I was committed. It was like a drug, and we were going to buy a huge boat and live the life of leisure.”
“There’s always consequences, but deep down, I’m thinking you wanted your parents’ approval.”
He ignored my comment. “Are we going to prison?”
Rue chuckled. “What do you think? You’ve murdered at least three people that we know of and sold their organs for profit. Are there more?”
“Not that I was involved in.”
I gave Rue a concerned glance. “Meaning?”
“Like I said, it was all Chase’s idea. I don’t know what he did before he came back home. You’ll have to ask him.”
“You don’t sound remorseful.”
He shrugged. “Too late for that now. What’s done is done. What about all the money we earned? I’ll need a good lawyer.”
I pulled back. “Wow.” I was dumbstruck and could barely think of what to say.
Rue took over. “You didn’t earn it. You murdered for it, and life doesn’t work that way, kid. You’ll get a public defender and likely never see the light of day again. Hopefully, that money will go to the families of the people you and your sick brother slaughtered. They have loved ones to bury.”
I looked at Rue. “I don’t know about you, but I’m done here. I feel the need to wash up.”
“One more question before we go,” Rue said. “Where are Gina’s remains?”
“We tossed them in a dumpster in Augusta, but I don’t remember where.”
Rue shook his head. “And who are the buyers?”
Teddy smiled. “That was two questions. I’m done talking without a deal.”
“Nope,” I said. “There aren’t any deals on the table. Karma is a bitch, T. J.”
He rattled his fingers on the table. “I’m not following.”
“Chances are good that you and your brother will get shivved in prison. At least, I hope so. Maybe you won’t die, and maybe you will. Either way, you’ll feel the same pain those innocent people felt when you stuck your blade into them.”
Rue and I stood and walked out. We didn’t look back, and I didn’t want to waste another minute of my life by talking to Chase. There was no way he was remorseful. Hell, T. J. wasn’t, and his mind was still on the money. Lawrence and Bentley could take over. I was done.