Page 20

CHAPTER 20

So, Kristopher Brower is with Brotherhood Protectors now. And he is here in Knoxville? Bogdan switched off his laptop’s computer screen and sat back. He had thought about asking Samuels if he could kill Kraft for his disrespect, but killing Kristopher Brower would be so much more rewarding.

Because only three months ago, Kristopher Brower and his team had helped take down Balaur, a Romanian child trafficking operation stationed in Bucharest, named for a multi-headed dragon from Romanian mythology. A creature that preyed upon and destroyed everyone and everything that stood in its way. And people thought Dracula was scary. Balaur found, kidnapped and transported children as well as men and women all over Europe to answer the needs–sexual or labor–of those willing to pay the price. Things had become so much easier when the Romanian government had become less involved in trafficking and Balaur was able to operate with little interference from the local and national authorities.

But then that special forces from the U.S. Army arrived and stuck their noses where they didn’t belong. Among them Kristopher Brower, who spoke Romanian so fluently one could swear he was a native. In four years, he and his team dismantled what Balaur spent more than twenty years building, and had cost Balaur millions of dollars, including Bogdan’s very generous cut.

The problem had been that the U.S. team was very good at staying hidden and working underground. Bogdan had only caught a fleeting glimpse of Kristopher Brower once in all that time, just before the tall, dark-haired man had jumped onto the plane carrying away fifty children selected for those with deep pockets and warped tastes.

But now the photo his Bucharest contact had just supplied, confirmed that the man Bogdan had seen getting out of that old black-and-white car at Mercy Phillips was indeed Kristopher Brower.

That the U.S. army unit escaped after freeing Balaur’s captives still stuck in Bogdan’s craw. At least he had kept some of the best children himself, the ones he’d smuggled into the United States and planned to hand over to The Cadre in the next few days.

And Brower was guarding Suzanne Bennett? To be able to kill them both at the same time for all the trouble they had caused Bogdan proved that there was a God in heaven after all.

“And Mercy thought someone had deliberately taken the Campbell sisters out of the shelter after meeting with her on Christmas Eve?” Lucinda Gonzalez, regional director of Family Services of Tennessee asked. Even with her voice pitched low, her anger was hard to miss. “That they hadn’t run away?”

“Yes,” Suzanne said. “She said she would have taken them from the shelter on Christmas Eve, but David had some kind of stomach bug. She didn’t want to expose them to it, and they knew she was coming back for them Christmas Day. Can you let their mother know what’s happened?”

“As soon as we finish here,” Lucinda promised. “What’s next Charles? Will the youth shelter remain open?”

Suzanne shifted her gaze from Lucinda to look at Charles Tattersall, Regional CEO for Tennessee Cares. His neatly groomed hands were folded together on top of the meeting room’s long table, looking every inch the executive in his tailored suit and carefully brushed silver hair. But a mixture of sorrow and anger knotted handsome, kindly features, drawing his eyebrows together.

“First, Lucinda,” Tattersall began, “let me say unequivocally, I am appalled by all of this, and you may be sure I will immediately dismiss Perry Thompson, our regional VP and who acts for me when I am away. He should have contacted me as soon as the Campbell girls were found to be gone.”

“Thank you for that,” Lucinda said. “It’s been four days since they went missing, with no report of them being seen. And I support Mercy’s belief that those girls did not run away.”

“Secondly,” Tattersall continued, “KDP has the cooperation and complete support of Tennessee Cares to help find the Campbell girls and bring Mercy Phillips’ killer to justice.”

Why isn’t he mentioning the Clark sisters? Or has Lucinda not dealt with their case manager yet? Suzanne swallowed her questions and instead asked, “Where were you when this was happening, Mr. Tattersall? Why did it take so long to contact you?”

“I can’t explain Perry’s behavior in not reaching out to me, Ms. Bennett,” Tattersall said, a hint of annoyance entering his voice. “But to answer your question, I was in Nashville at a Tennessee Cares planning meeting for a New Year’s fundraising event here in Knoxville.”

“Could this not have been done by Zoom meeting?” Lucinda asked.

Tattersall ran his hand over his hair and sighed. “Our CEO, Abner Graham is very old fashioned and absolutely hates the Internet. No amount of pleading got him to agree to do Zoom. So, off to Nashville–which is where Graham lives–I go. At least it was the day after Christmas. My grandchildren would never have forgiven me if I’d not been there on Christmas Day. I got back late last night.”

“And what was Perry Thompson’s reason for not calling you?” Lucinda asked.

Tattersall scowled. “That he didn’t want to interrupt TC’s planning meeting. Idiot!”

“How big of an event is this, Charles?” Elaine asked. “I’ve heard good things about it.” Her eyes looked tired, and Suzanne hoped her fiancé Griff Tyler was nearby. Elaine looked like she needed a hug.

“Huge, Elaine,” Tattersall replied. “Since Tennessee Cares is new to East Tennessee, we decided months ago to hold it here in Knoxville. We wanted to show off what is in my mind, the loveliest part of the state. But since I’m originally from Greeneville, I’m biased. Hundreds of sponsors are donating items of great value for both an open and silent auction. We’re hoping to raise at least a half of a million dollars for new programs that will reach out too many more families, including a new medical clinic around the corner from our office.”

“Sounds like a lot of work for one person,” Kristopher commented and even in the short time she’d known him, Suzanne knew he didn’t like Tattersall. It wasn’t the man’s sophisticated appearance or demeanor. He was just too smooth. But then a man in his position, one who spoke to large groups and helped raise larger sums of money, would need to be.

“You have no idea,” Tattersall replied. He tilted his head to stare at Kristopher. “I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“I’m her bodyguard,” Kristopher said evenly. “Someone learned she talked to Mercy Phillips hours before she died and then someone tried to kill her as well.”

“Dear Lord!” The color drained from Tattersall’s face. “I had no idea it had come that. Who would do such a thing?”

“That,” Kristopher said, “is what we’re trying to find out.”

“Lucinda,” Suzanne began, and had to swallow the tears clogging her throat. “Do you know who Mercy named as her emergency contact? The police couldn’t find anything like an address book at her home and her cell phone was smashed.”

“And who will identify her body?” Kristopher placed his hand close enough to Suzanne’s she could feel its calming warmth, and she realized her heart was pounding. “She and Mercy were friends,” he added. “She shouldn’t have to do that.”

“Both those unhappy duties fall to me,” Lucinda said sadly. “I have her parents’ contact and travel information, so I’m going to reach out to them today. She also named me David’s temporary guardian if something happened to her, including giving me medical power of attorney if needed. Thank God, he’s healthy. Are we finished here? I’m meeting Sergeant Miller at the morgue when we are.”

“Well, I for one, am going to go kick some ass,” Tattersall announced. “Perry Johnson is about to be handed his head on a platter without a reference. Tennessee Cares has spent too many years taking care of children for this to happen.” He gave Suzanne a sympathetic gaze. “You and Ms. Phillips were friends?”

“Good friends,” she said. “Very good friend.”

“The state has lost one of its best-case managers,” Lucinda said sadly. “I don’t know how we’re going to tell the children and youth on her case load. They’ll be heartbroken.”

“Then again, you have TC’s full support in the search for her killer,” Tattersall announced as he stood. “I hope Perry at least remembered to send you an invitation to the gala, Lucinda. If you will all excuse me?”

He left and it was a minute before Elaine asked,” Lucinda, what do you know about Charles Tattersall? I’ve worked with him a bit, and he really seems to know his stuff. He seems awfully calm in all of this.”

“He’s been in the child welfare industry for years and is highly regarded by almost everyone,” Lucinda described. “He helped found TC years ago and made it what it is today. I think he started the first one in Memphis because that’s where his wife wanted to live. He’s known not only in Tennessee but around the southeast.”

“One of the good guys?” Suzanne asked.

“Absolutely,” Lucinda said. “We need someone like him on our team. Sgt. Brower, why do you have that look on your face?”

“He was awfully defensive, don’t you think?” Kristopher sat back, and moved his hand, taking its warmth with him. His expression suggested that like Suzanne, he had a lot more to ask but was keeping his questions and comments to himself.

“I would be too, if I were in his position,” Lucinda said. “Especially with this fundraiser coming up. The proverbially shit is about to hit the fan.”

“I bow to you ladies experience.” Kristopher smiled and inclined his head. “We’ll be off, then. With everything that’s happened, I don’t like us being away from the safehouse for too long, even with Bailey driving us back.”

“Bailey?” Lucinda asked. Her voice and features were calm, but Suzanne had no doubt she was exhausted and wondered if she’d ever had to identify the body of an employee.

“A Brotherhood Protector backup,” Kristopher explained, and Lucinda nodded, and the meeting ended.

But once they were safely in the car, Suzanne gently prodded Kristopher with a gloved finger. “OK, Kristopher with a K, out with it. What’s on your mind?”

“Why do you think,” he said, stretching out those very long legs, “Ms. Gonzalez didn’t mention Henry Tate to Tattersall? If TC runs the shelter, shouldn’t he know about all the state case managers who place children there?”

“One would think,” Suzanne replied. “She’s probably keeping it in house until she talks to Tate because technically she’s his boss. Whatever Tattersall is going to do to Perry Johnson is nothing compared to what Lucinda will do to Henry Tate.”

“Going to do some ass-chewing?” Kristopher wiggled his eyebrow.

“Lets’ put it like this,” Suzanne said. “I hope for his sake, Henry Tate is on vacation or he’s picked out the music he wants played at his funeral. He’s going to need it.”

“Good for Ms. Gonzalez.” Kristopher slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Is there a reason you didn’t tell Elaine about what happened to us today?”

“I’ll tell her on Monday,” Suzanne said. “She’s worried enough about me as it is. And Mercy was her friend too.”

“Not tomorrow?” Kristopher asked softly.

“Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest,” Suzanne reminded him. “Monday will be soon enough. With the two of you watching out for me, I’ll be fine. Let’s go back to the safehouse.”

“Good idea,” Bailey agreed from the front seat. “I’m getting hungry. And we need to be there when Kristopher’s new wheels are delivered.”