The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (65 page)

The agents thought they had struck it rich.  Steve looked at Jeff, and Jeff nodded. 

“
Mr. Staples,
”
Jeff began. 
“
If there is something that you have that will help us close this case, we can help make sure
you
are protected.  We
’
re not interested in hurting an innocent man.  Let
’
s face
it,
your family has taken a beating in the media the past few days.  I
’
m sure your lawyer has advised you to hand over the tape and we can work out any silly misunderstandings.
”
 
All three men looked over at Archibald
’
s lawyer.  The lawyer nodded once.  Archibald looked back at the agents and sighed.  He put his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor.  The entire time all Archibald could think of was how he duped the FBI, yet again.  After a minute or so of this, Archibald finally nodded at his lawyer.  The lawyer reached into his briefcase and produced a tape and a tape recorder.  Archibald put the tape in and hit play.

“
Sir, this is Luke McDonald.  I work as a
S
ecret
S
ervice Agent for Lisa.  Yes sir.  She told me to call you if I needed any help.
”

Archibald looked at the two agents. 
“
Can you use that and protect me?
”
 
Archibald asked.  The two agents assured him that he was safe.  Archibald smiled.

“
Gentlemen, this is great cooperation.  If I may; you know I own many financial institutions, and I think I need to forgive the loans of those who serve the public every day.  May I make you two my first, of many, whose loans are forgiven because
they
serve and protect this country?
”

The two men looked at each other.

“
Ah,
”
Archibald said. 
“
I think you
’
re worried how things could look?
”
 
The two agents nodded. 
“
How about we just don
’
t tell anyone.
”
 
Archibald snapped his fingers and his lawyer came over. 
“
I need you to look into these
two gentlemen
’
s
private
student loans and forgive them,
”
Archibald said.  The lawyer nodded and took down some information from the two agents.  Archibald took a drag off of his cigar.  I may have lost Chet, he thought, but I have two more who are more loyal than he ever was.

The Moores

Chapter 79

As John and Jessica were helping Rosa out of the car, Chet and Trip pulled up to the Moores.  Arthur came outside.  He had a concerned look on his face.

“
John,
”
Arthur began,
“
What is going on?
”

“
This young lady may have the motherload of evidence on Archibald,
”
John answered.  Arthur
’
s face nearly split with a smile with that information.

“
Well
,
come inside then
,
dear,
”
Arthur beamed. 
“
Consider yourself a guest as long as you need to be.
”
 
John touched Arthur at the elbow.  Art
hur turned around and saw John m
otion to stay back.  As Trip passed by John also stopped him.  When they were alone, John spoke.

“
Look, I know what I
’
m about to suggest is highly irregular.
”
 
John turned to Arthur. 
“
Arthur, can we hide Rosa here?  I think she might be what we need to bust Archibald, and I believe there is a leak in the FBI that leads straight to Archibald.
”
 
John looked at Trip after that statement.  Trip winced as John said it, but didn
’
t disagree.

“
How much does she know
,
John?
”
 
Trip asked.  John smiled broadly. 

“
Archibald thought she couldn
’
t speak English and said anything and everything in front of her.
”
 
Trip stared at John for a second, and then began to chuckle.

That conceited fool said everything in front of her, didn
’
t he?
”
 
Trip asked.   John looked down to the ground and then back at Trip. 

“
Trip, she heard something between Archibald and Veronica.  Archibald told Veronica that Bruce killed
Thelma.
”
 
Trip
’
s face went blank.  John continued. 
“
Tri
p
, you know it
’
s all inadmissible, it
’
s hearsay.  Bruce didn
’
t admit it in front of anyone, it was Archibald saying it.
”
 
Trip nodded.  His face was unreadable. 
“
Trip, for all we know, Archibald knew she could understand English and they said the things they did to set up Bruce.
”
 
Trip looked at John and slowly nodded.  John hated this.  He knew from the earlier conversations he had with Trip that Trip believed Bruce was capable of the murder.  John just didn
’
t see it, but that was the problem.  With Bruce, John couldn
’
t see anything. 

Arthur had been listening intently to the conversation.

“
Trip,
”
Arthur began. 
“
I will be glad to house this young lady as long as it takes.  You know and I know if she did hear something and Archibald thought she couldn
’
t understand English and that soulless ghoul gets ahold of her, we
’
ll never see her alive again.
”

Trip and John both looked at Arthur.

“
Soulless ghoul?
”
 
John asked.  Arthur laughed. 

“
Sorry, John, but that man is the epitome of evil,
”
Arthur responded.

Rosa and Madeline came out of the house together.  They looked like long lost friends the way they were talking and laughing.

“
Uh, Arthur,
”
said John. 
“
She may be staying for a very long time.
”
 
John pointed behind Arthur to the two ladies.  Arthur turned and looked.  After a few seconds he turned back to John.

“
Did you say she used to be a housekeeper?
”
 
Arthur asked.  John nodded. 
“
I think I just found a new one.  What do you want to bet she
’
s about to get a healthy raise?
”
  
Arthur was chuckling.  John shook his head, and clasped Arthur on the back.  Trip decided to head back to DC along with Chet. Chet started to leave, when he stopped
and said something to Trip.  Trip nodded.  Chet walked back to Arthur.
             

“
Thank you
,
sir,
”
Chet said holding out his hand.  Arthur smiled as he shook it. 
“
I promise you there won
’
t be a need for a second time.
”
 
Arthur smiled broadly.  Jessica hugged Arthur.

“
Thank you
,
Arthur,
”
she said still holding his neck.

“
You know it was my idea,
”
John said.  Jessica let go of Arthur and punched John on the shoulder. 

“
You didn
’
t dodge,
”
Jessica said.

“
You hit like a girl,
”
John responded.  Jessica drew back to swing and John instantly moved. 

“
Chicken,
”
she said as she walked toward the house with Arthur.

“
John,
”
Trip said coming up behind John. 
“
Are you sure you
’
re sane, dating her?
”
 
John grinned broadly.  He turned to Trip.

“
I
’
ve never claimed to be sane
,
Trip,
”
John responded.  Trip clapped John on the shoulder and headed toward the car.  Chet joined him and they took off to DC.  In the morning the group would go question the Senator and try and figure out what their next move was.  John looked around the estate and then toward the house.  He realized his current. . . .
girlfriend
,
for a lack of a better word, was getting very chummy with his dead wife
’
s parents.  John shook his head.  It sounded like something on a daytime talk show.  John headed inside.

John and Rosa headed into Arthur
’
s study.  John and Jessica had agreed
,
for the time being
,
that she didn
’
t need to question Rosa.  Jessica knew she could get a little carried away, and Rosa hadn
’
t done anything wrong, that they knew of.  Jessica was standing in the kitchen with Madeline.  They were having a glass of tea and pleasantly chatting. 

“
I think it
’
s time you and I had a serious talk,
”
Madeline said.  Jessica was a little worried.  Madeline smiled. 
“
Jessica, if Arthur and I are in any way standing in front of you and John having a relationship . . . please tell us.  That young man has been through enough, and you have been like the second daughter we never had.  Jessica, Sam thought the world of you.  I know she would approve of you two.  Now I may have said too much, but I don
’
t think so.  I think you needed to hear that, but if I was wrong and overstepped my bounds, th
e
n I am sorry.
”
 
Jessica took a last drink of her tea, and sat down the glass.  She was looking down at the glass, trying to gather her thoughts.  She looked up at Madeline, smiling.

“
Well, since we are going to attack the subject head on, and not dance around it, thank you.
”
 
Jessica looked Madeline straight in the eye. 
“
I know you or Arthur never meant this, but part of me feels like I
’
m the outsider, and I know the three of us have had a much better relationship the past three years than you, Arthur and John have.  I care for John.  I want to see where this thing between us goes, but I don
’
t want to make things worse here for John.
”

Madeline came over and hugged Jessica.  Madeline released her and had one arm around Jessica
’
s shoulders. 
“
As far as I
’
m concerned you
’
re a part of this family,
”
Madeline said. 
“
Now, what can I tell you about that boy?  Trust
me,
he was a handful before the drinking.
”

“
Well,
”
Jessica began.  Madeline smiled. 
“
I was thinking about cooking something for him one of these nights.  He
’
s always complaining he can
’
t get a good home cooked meal.
”
 
Madeline put her hand to her mouth to cover the smile.  She started to move toward the other side of the kitchen, Jessica continued. 
“
And he goes on, and on, and on, and on about this food that I
’
ve never cooked.  I can cook all sorts of things, but  . . .
”
She paused looking at Madeline for the word.