They had been driving around for a while, just goofing off on their way back from Cutter’s Ridge where they had gone 4-wheeling. Something they did often. The truck was covered in a thick layer of mud and gunk, and they didn’t look any better. But that was just fine by them. They liked playing in the dirt. They had been in the dirt their whole lives. Why should now be any different?
They had just come off the little access road that ran alongside the old abandoned railroad tracks on the edge of town, heading toward the main thoroughfare when his little brother tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey, Darryl … there goes one of them Kellys,” he said, motioning with his chin.
He looked in the direction his brother had indicated, scanning the area with eagle eyes until he spotted her. The attractive girl walking across the parking lot about 100 yards away and going into the UDF store.
“You sure that’s one of ‘em?” his other brother asked.
“Yeah. That’s the one with the dog,” he said.
Darryl smiled to himself as he slowed the truck down. He had just been thinking that it was time to up the heat level a little bit on this operation, and this looked like the perfect opportunity.
“What do you say we get in a little target practice, boys?”
*
Levi sat looking over the notes from his meeting with Detective Lawrence from Benton. It had been an informative session, but unfortunately, not a very productive one. They had exchanged all the information they each had on their respective cases, and they talked at length about it, but neither of them really had much more to go on then what they already knew. The pawn shop in Benton even had video cameras inside the place, but the perps all wore hoodies, and the footage was grainy and inconclusive. And Levi had thought it best not to mention his theory about what was going on with the Kellys, mainly because he knew how gossip spread in police departments, and he didn’t want whispers that someone was out to get the Kellys finding its way out onto the street. That was the last thing they needed.
He had spoken to Lieutenant Andre about it though, and at first the man had been skeptical of his theory that the first sledgehammer hit at Marina’s store was actually a part of this whole Kelly family vandalism thing. But once he listened to Levi’s explanation and took the time to look over the individual reports filed by various Kelly family members, he began to see the pattern that Levi saw forming himself, and he had given him the go-ahead to expand the perimeters of his investigation and explore a possible connection. And Levi had been hard at work at it ever since. Except for when his mind was preoccupied trying to sort out the whole Stacy debacle.
He simply couldn’t make heads or tails of it, and he was beginning to think that maybe Jeremiah and Marina were right and Stacy was nuts. He had no clue what she was thinking or what she might be planning. And he was a little bit irritated with himself for not knowing. He had loved her once. He knew her well. Or at least, he thought he had, and he felt like he should be able to tell what was going on with her. But the simple truth was that he had obviously never really known her as well as he thought. So he had no idea what this sudden string of visits was all about. And honestly, he didn’t really care. As long she stayed away from Marina, and kept the crazy to herself, he didn’t care anymore. And he didn’t have the time to waste thinking about it. He had a case to concentrate on.
He sighed as he pushed thoughts of his troubled ex-girlfriend from his mind and turned his attention back to the notes on his desk. Then he reached into the breast pocket of the dark blue dress shirt that Marina had insisted he wear this morning, saying that it brought out the color of his eyes, and pulled out the phone number that she had jotted down for him last night. Her Uncle Mitch. Mike Kelly’s older brother who had retired from the Eastwood Police force eight years ago.
That had been almost four years after Levi had become a cop, and he remembered seeing Mitch Kelly from pictures, but he had never had the pleasure of actually working with him. In fact, Levi didn’t even remember formally meeting the man. And he felt a little weird about calling him up out of the blue and asking for his help, but he reasoned that it wasn’t unlike calling any other police station … like he had with Detective Lawrence from Benton. Plus, Mike Kelly had left him a message that he had given his brother a heads up, so he knew that Mitch was expecting his call.
Not willing to tie up one of the station’s lines, he picked up his cellphone and dialed the number. It rang three times before it was answered by a gruff-sounding male voice.
“Yes?”
“Uh, hello,” he said somewhat awkwardly. “This is Detective Levi Hawks, I’m calling from the Eastwood PD. Is this Detective Mitch Kelly?” he asked, addressing the man by his former title.
“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,” the voice replied, suddenly sounding a lot less gruff. “You must be the yahoo that’s dating my brother Mikey’s daughter.”
Levi was stunned to silence. Was that how Mike Kelly had described him to his brother? He wasn’t sure how to move past the uncomfortable statement, and then he heard the soft chuckle on the other end of the phone.
“I’m just messing with you, kid. I know my little brother can be a son of a bitch sometimes, but he didn’t describe you that way,” Mitch said. “In fact, he had some very nice things to say about you. Including the fact that he’s happy Marina’s finally dating someone with a brain. He’s been real worried that she might end up with one of those artsy fartsy types, you know?”
“Uh … sure,” Levi mumbled.
“But you, he really seems to like,” Mitch continued, and Levi could hear the smile in the man’s voice. “You know, he’s been bragging to me about how Frankie did something smart, nabbing herself a real up-and-comer at the department. He can’t say enough about how much he respects this John Myles character she’s getting ready to marry. And I thought he was sure going to have a problem on his hands with Marina and whatever joker she brought home. But then she went and surprised us all, didn’t she?”
“Um …”
“I’m telling you, Mikey is damn-near tickled pink about you two,” Mitch said, continuing to ramble on about his and Marina’s relationship status. “He tells me he worries a lot less about his wayward daughter now that she’s with you. And he hasn’t said as much … but I know it pleases him that she’s chosen to be with a cop. Makes him feel like all of her bravado over the years was just for show, and that maybe she doesn’t dislike him as much as she may have let on. Makes him feel like both his girls really do love him after all, you know?”
Levi was taken aback by the man’s open, friendly manner, and his willingness to talk so freely about private family matters. With no prompting from him, Mitch Kelly had just laid out the entire contentious relationship between Marina and her father. And he had offered Levi the rarely seen side of the story - Mike’s side. And from his brother’s frank words, Levi instantly understood that Mike wasn’t the heartless monster Marina believed she grew up with. He loved his daughters, and he obviously cared what they both thought of him. And Levi knew that love had to extend to his two sons as well. But for whatever reason, the man just couldn’t seem to express that love to his children. Not in any kind of fashion that they understood anyway.
“Yeah, I can see your point,” Levi answered, still thinking it over.
“So … I understand you’ve got some questions for me about an old case of mine or something?” Mitch said.
“Yes, sir, I do,” Levi answered, getting his head back in the game. “Recently there have been a small string of burglaries in Eastwood and Benton where the perps tunneled their way in by taking sledgehammers to the back wall of a few businesses. Marina’s store was the first to be hit, and in that case, the perps didn’t take anything, but they did several thousand dollars' worth of damage.”
“Did they damage the other locations?” Mitch asked.
“No. Not like the job they did on Marina’s place. I mean, apart from the hole in the walls of course.”
“But they robbed those places?” Mitch asked.
“Yes. At each of the other locations they made off with a few hundred dollars' worth of stuff - cash, jewelry, DVDs and video games,” he answered. “Mike said there were similar crimes a few years back, and that he thought you might know more.”
“Well, what I can tell you is that there was a similar crime spree in Eastwood about ten years ago, and I was the detective on that case, so Mikey’s right. I remember that case very well.”
“Well, I’ve been checking through our system, looking for info on this case, but some of those older files just haven’t been uploaded yet. And with my case load I just haven’t had the time to go to the basement and wade through it all,” Levi said.
“I understand …”
“So whatever information you can give me would be a huge help, Detective Kelly.”
Mitch chuckled. “You just call me Mitch, alright.”
“Alright, Mitch. What can you tell me?” Levi smiled. He liked Marina’s uncle. He was honest and straightforward, and he put Levi completely at ease.
“I can tell you that the old sledgehammer crime spree was a family affair that was led by a man named Able Huddleston. He had been in and out of jail his entire life. A career criminal with a rap sheet five miles long. And for stupid shit like purse snatching, petty theft, breaking and entering. Of course, by the time his little sledgehammer run was over, he had graduated to grand larceny and armed robbery.”
“Armed robbery?” Levi asked in surprise.
“Yeah. He pulled a couple of B and Es where the homeowner happened to still be inside, unbeknownst to him at the time. Nowadays they call them ‘home invasions,’ although I guess technically the perp knows the homeowner is inside with those. But anyway, he kept his head and didn’t kill anybody. That’s all I can say for him. Those two crimes went unsolved until we had him in custody for the sledgehammer case and ran his prints through BCI to see what came up.”
“Wow. Okay. So, about the sledgehammer case …”
“It started out slowly, sort of like what you’re seeing now with hits on small time marks - a couple of stores in the strip mall, a small coffee shop that stayed busy all the time. Then all of a sudden, they upped their game, starting hitting a few of those same-day loan places. I knew it was only a matter of time before he got bold enough and cocky enough to try a real bank.”
“Yeah, that’s been my worry too,” Levi said. “Um, you mentioned that this was a family affair back then?”
“Yep. Able had three sons who were all juveniles at the time. But that didn’t stop him from teaching them everything he knew,” Mitch said. “They were little punks back then, each of them working on rap sheets to rival dad’s. The oldest, if I remember right, was only about sixteen years old when we caught up to them. The other two were maybe thirteen and fourteen, or something like that. But when we finally caught them, dad readily admitted that they had done each of the sledgehammer jobs together as a family.”
“So what happened to the Huddlestons?” Levi asked.
“Well, all three boys got sent to juvie, but I’m not sure about their time,” Mitch answered. “Dad, of course, got sent up to Statesville. Ten to fifteen I think was his sentence.”
“So, there is a real possibility that he could be out by now,” Levi reasoned.
“Yeah, I suppose so,” Mitch replied.
“Hey, Mitch, tell me something … besides the fact that you were the one to catch them, was there any kind of bad blood between you and the Huddlestons back then?” Levi asked.
“Well … I had arrested Able Huddleston once before, back before I became a detective,” he said. “But I wouldn’t call that bad blood.”
“The arrest back then … what was that about?”
“It was nothing spectacular. He had been working the Eastwood Park area, snatching purses for a couple months. Department wanted to get a handle on it, so they put two or three of us on patrol in the park,” Mitch explained. “But that was years before this sledgehammer thing. I’m not even sure he remembered I was the one who arrested him that time. It’s not like being arrested was something new for him.”
“Yeah. So you don’t think he made the connection?”
“I doubt it. Why do you ask?” Mitch asked him.
“Well … I was just wondering if maybe Papa Huddleston was carrying around a personal grudge against you,” Levi replied.
“A personal grudge?” he repeated. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the strange stuff my boys have been telling me about would it?” Mitch asked after a slight pause. “The brick coming through Ryan’s living room window. Payne’s slashed tires, Colin and Spencer’s car windows.”
“Yeah, actually it does,” Levi answered.
“I understand Mikey and Julia have seen some vandalism too out at their place?”
“Yes, and Storm and Ethan as well. In fact, I’m actually working a theory that the sledgehammer hit at Marina’s store might have been a part of this whole thing.”
“Oh, so you’re wondering if Able Huddleston is taking his hatred of me out on my family?”
“Something like that,” Levi said.
“And what makes you think the hit at my niece’s store was connected to the string of hits against the family?” Mitch asked.
“Well, because nothing was stolen during that incident. At the other sledgehammer hits, the perps walked away with several hundred dollars' worth of cash and stuff. But at Marina’s store the focus seemed to be more on trashing the place, which they did a pretty good job of. It almost felt personal. Just like these hits against the family.”
“Hmm. It’s a good theory, but … I can’t say it holds water. If Able Huddleston has a grudge against me, I don’t know about it. Then again … I did have a big hand in sending him to prison. Before this he had only ever done time in city or county lockup, so … I suppose you could be on to something.”
Levi felt the small ripple of relief spread throughout him, and he wondered if it was odd that he felt a sort of vindication at Mitch Kelly’s acceptance of his theory.
“I can see now that everything Mikey said about you is true,” Mitch said.
Levi’s ears perked up. What had Marina’s father said about him? “Um, what … what did Captain Kelly say about me?” he asked almost timidly, and he rolled his eyes to himself when he heard Mitch laughing.
“Just that Marina had gone and found herself one very smart cop. He likes you, Levi. But I don’t know if he’s ever going to get around to telling you that himself, so … just know that he’s Team Hawks, alright? As long as you’re good to his baby girl, he’s rooting for you.”
He could not contain the smile that suddenly overtook his face at the knowledge that his girlfriend’s father - a real hard ass, take-no-shit type of guy - approved of him dating his daughter. “Thanks, Mitch. Uh, for everything.”
“You’re welcome. And if you have any more questions, or another crazy theory you want to bounce off of somebody, don’t hesitate,” Mitch said.
Levi smiled as they ended their conversation and hung up. And he tried to focus on the notes he had taken about the Huddlestons while they were talking, but all he could think about was the fact that Mike Kelly approved. He knew it was stupid, but for some reason, that knowledge made his day.
He shook it off and got back to work. His next step was to look into Able Huddleston, and he knew that he needed to begin with the man’s last known address - the state penitentiary. He put in a call to the prison and had just left a message when Lieutenant Andre approached his desk.
“Hawks!”
The man looked slightly rattled when Levi looked up at him, and he frowned as he wondered what was up. “Yeah?”
“Listen, I know you’re working a possible connection angle between the sledgehammer robberies and the recent Kelly family trouble.”
“Yeah?” Levi repeated.
“Call just came in … Frankie Kelly was just shot at. In front of the UDF out on Lenhart Rd.”
“Is she down?” Levi asked anxiously, getting to his feet as he felt the cold grip of dread take hold.
“I don’t know the details, but a bus was just dispatched.”
“Shit,” he muttered as he turned and dashed from the detective’s bullpen.
He didn’t even think to look for Storm as he sprinted down the hall and out the door. Had he been in the bullpen when Levi rushed out? He couldn’t remember. But surely Lieutenant Andre would have informed Frankie’s brother before he told him, right? He couldn’t think about that now. He would get to the scene and worry about informing Frankie’s family after he had more information.
What was Frankie even doing on that side of town, out on Lenhart Road? He couldn’t figure it out as he sped through the streets with his lights and sirens blazing. He didn’t think her regular beat took her out that far. Plus, it was 11:30 in the morning. Shouldn’t she be at home sleeping? He knew that her regular shift ended at 7 am, so she and John should be at home fast asleep by now.
John!
Shit. Did John even know? Should he call him? Maybe he should swing by the house first? No. He would stick to his planned course of action, getting to the scene as fast as he could and assessing the situation. Then he would worry about who to call.
He made his way to the edge of town, his mind going a million miles an hour. And when he pulled into the parking lot of the place he spotted several police cars and one unmarked cruiser. The ambulance was sitting off to the side, and the place appeared to be crawling with cops. He threw the car into park and jumped out as his eyes scanned the scene.
“Kelly!”
He called out because he spotted Storm across the lot. But in doing so, he also got the attention of Ethan and Ryan Kelly as well, and he was met with a chorus of tense acknowledgments.
“How is she?” he asked, addressing anyone within earshot.
“I’m fine!”
He turned toward the sound of her voice and let out a heavy, relieved sigh. Frankie sat at the back of an open ambulance looking very annoyed as a paramedic wrapped a bandage around her left upper arm. He looked back at Storm, who flashed him an answering glance of relief, and then made his way over to her.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.
Frankie gave him a roll of her eyes and a tired sigh. “Bo and I were coming from the K-9 training grounds, and I stopped to get a gallon of milk and some coffee creamer on my way home. As I was coming out of the store, about twenty yards or so from my cruiser, I heard the shots ring out. First one hit the carton of milk, as you can see,” she said, gesturing to the huge spill on the ground. “I drew my weapon, but … I never could tell where the shots were coming from. People at the gas pumps were screaming, Bo was going nuts inside the car. It wasn’t until after I saw the truck speed out from the alley that I realized I was hit. But luckily, whoever the hell it was isn’t a very good shot; it’s just a flesh wound.”
Levi looked at the medic tending to her arm, looking the man in the eye.
“She’s okay, Detective,” he nodded.
“So how many shots were there?” he asked her as Storm, Ethan, and Ryan gathered around.
“I heard at least three,” she answered.
“And you said you saw a truck?”
“Yeah, it came roaring out of the alleyway over there, tires squealing, and went east.”
“You get a make and model?” he asked, taking mental notes.
“Late model Ford F-150 Raptor, dark blue, covered in mud,” she replied.
“Please tell me you got a plate number,” he said.
“Just a partial due to all the mud.”
“That’s better than nothing,” he said, pulling out a small notepad to jot it down.
“Hey, Hawks, Storm mentioned you were working this case now … all these hits against the family. You think this is part of it?” Ryan asked.
“Yes, I do,” Levi answered looking up at him.
“He said you might be calling my dad for some information,” Ryan continued. “Have you done that yet? Was he able to give you anything you can use?”
“Yeah, I talked to your dad about an hour ago. And actually I think he might have been a huge help. He gave me some information that I’m already looking into. I don’t know for sure if it’s what we need, but … it’s the only lead we’ve had so far. I’m expecting a call back any minute that might tell me a whole lot more. Who’s running this show here?” he asked.
“I am,” Ethan spoke up.
“Good,” he said, nodding in Ethan’s direction. “Make sure the evidence techs comb that alley really good too, would you? I’m going back to the station to wait for that call.”
“I’m on it,” Ethan replied.
“You go home and get some rest,” he said to Frankie.
“I want in when you find whoever’s doing this to us,” Frankie said.
“Well, that may or may not be today,” Levi said dismissively. “And you just came off of your eight-hour shift and did three or four hours of K-9 training. Go home, Frankie! Don’t make me call Myles,” he said as he turned to go.
“Oh, no you don’t, Hawks. That is not fair,” she snapped, hopping down off the bus and following after him. “First of all, don’t you ever threaten to sic John on me again; I am not a child! And secondly, I’m fine; it’s a damn flesh wound! And it’s not even in my gun arm. This bastard didn’t damage my car or my property, Hawks. He fired a gun at me! If he were a better shot he might have killed me.”
“Fine!”
Levi stopped walking and turned around to face her. Why were the Kelly women so damn determined all the time? And the moment the thought formed in his head, he knew the answer. They were determined and tenacious and strong-willed because they had grown up in a family that was heavy with testosterone, and they’d had to fight every single day just to keep from losing themselves. And Marina’s unwavering drive and determination was one of the things he loved most about her. He smiled slightly and shook his head as he looked at her sister.
“Fine. Consider yourself on call. Now please go home and get some rest. I promise if something breaks today, I will call you.”
Frankie smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“Emotional blackmail,” Levi said with a scowl on his face. “That’s what this is, you know.”
“What are you talking about?” Frankie said, giving him an exaggerated shrug of her shoulders.
“I’m in love with your sister. You’re in love with my best friend. This is emotional blackmail,” he explained, and Frankie could see the smile he was attempting to stifle. They stared at one another for a beat, and then he shook his head again. Without another word he turned and headed to his car as she stood giggling at him.