Page 41

Chapter 40

“Whoa.” Mari stared at Camila for a long moment before looking back at Colin. The detective had stopped by to check on the two of them as well as update them, and the news wasn’t what Mari had been expecting. She sat at the island top in his kitchen and he moved up next to her instead of sitting down. “I’ve been mentally prepping myself for testifying against him.”

Colin simply nodded, but his eyes looked more murderous than anything. She guessed he’d just been fantasizing about doing worse to Gary Sewall. Mainly because he’d told her more than once he wished he’d just killed the guy.

Who Mari was now trying to think of as just Sewall instead of Gary, her longtime client. “He’s really dead?”

“Yep. Killed on the bus to prison. The judge denied him bail and he was being moved for safety reasons. He was supposed to be transported alone, but there was a last-minute pickup that looks very planned to me, but that’s above my pay grade.”

“Good,” Colin grunted.

Mari glanced up at him, not exactly surprised by his savage tone. He’d made it clear what he thought of Sewall. And fine, she hated him too. But it was still hard to reconcile that with the man she’d flown for years. The man she thought she’d known, had spent countless hours with. The facts about some of his life had been real. But the man behind the mask—she hadn’t known that Gary at all. The one who’d pulled a gun on her with no issue, had planned to kill her and likely dump her where she’d never be found.

“Can you tell us what was on the flash drive?” Mari asked.

Camila glanced around as if she thought someone might overhear, even though it was just the three of them in Colin’s house. Then she took off her jacket and sat at the island to face them. “Between us?”

They both nodded.

“I don’t know everything, but since I’ve helped the DEA in the past, and because you’ve been claimed by Redemption Harbor Security as one of their own—”

“Well, I have flown them out of trouble before.” Mari sniffed slightly. She was one of them as far as she was concerned. Unofficially.

Camila just grinned. “Exactly. My contact let me look at some of the files and filled me in as best he could. Sewall has been building an empire for years. It’s a little terrifying how well he embedded himself in New Orleans society and beyond. And it will be no surprise to you two to know that he had more than a handful of judges in his pockets as well as law enforcement. Through blackmail mostly. And, if you watch the news later tonight, don’t be surprised if a scandal about a certain Mississippi senator comes out concerning fraud and a whole lot of other nasty stuff. He’s already making plans to resign.”

“Wow.”

“Yep. There’s a lot more though. He’d basically created layers upon layers to insulate himself, to make it look like a new cartel was making moves so that it would never come back on him. He’d already made so much money with running drugs, artwork, guns and even people that it’s insane he still wanted more.”

“For some people, there is no such thing as enough. They’re just greedy to their bones,” Colin said.

Camila nodded, her expression grim. “Exactly.”

“What about his daughter?”

“Heidi from Five C’s? She hates him and is giving the DEA everything possible she can on him. She tried turning him in years ago, but he tossed her into a psychiatric hospital with the help of dirty judges, lawyers and medical professionals . Though I use that word lightly.” Camila’s tone was filled with disgust. “There are a lot of people who are going to go down because of this. Some might get away, but a lot of assholes will be going to jail.”

“And Ackerman just shoved that USB in my backpack? Why?”

“We don’t know for sure since no one can ask him. But the theory is that he knew that he was being watched so he hid it in your backpack. Which makes sense. Maybe he’d planned to get it from you later. Sewall admitted to the DEA that Ackerman took something from him. Files. Says that he copied something off his hard drive and left a trail. And the only person he was with after he did it was you. And since Sewall’s men couldn’t find anything on Ackerman’s person, he had someone search your place. When that didn’t give him anything, he sent people after you.”

“What about the two people in custody? The hired guns. Are they going to be a problem for Mari?” Colin asked.

“Oh, no, I almost forgot. They’re dead too. Killed in holding. It’s clear that Sewall made a lot of powerful enemies over the years and someone is cleaning house. The DEA isn’t a hundred percent sure who’s behind the killings, but they have a good idea it’s linked to a cartel. And it won’t come back on you.”

Well that was something. “And hiring me was just part of his elaborate cover?”

“Seems so. You were essentially part of his surface life. He was a political consultant who flew all the time, worked with a reputable pilot, gave to charity, yada yada. And clearly he built his cover well—that life was real . He just happened to have another life where he made money off the pain of others. From what I’ve been hearing, people he’s worked with for years are shocked about what’s coming out about him. I have a feeling there’s going to be a documentary about his double life one day.”

That wasn’t something Mari had any interest in, but she said, “Thank you for filling us in. Will his daughter be okay?” She’d heard from Bradford that the woman had been over-the-top rude, but it made sense now. Sewall had forced her to work for him, had basically controlled her entire life. And his loving wife? That had been a lie he’d told Mari years ago. His wife had died in a car accident when his daughter was six. Who knew if it had been an accident at all.

“I hope so. She’s been incredibly cooperative. Seems she hated him more than anyone. No wonder.” Camila shook her head slightly. “I have a feeling she’ll end up in WITSEC and start over. Who knows.” She slid off the chair and grabbed her jacket. “I’m going to let you both rest but reach out if you need anything. And if you want help planning Magnolia’s baby shower, let me know. You’ve had a lot going on.”

“You’re the best, and I will.” She hugged her friend, then turned to Colin, feeling completely drained. “Can I give you a gentle hug?”

“Always.” He wrapped his arms around her oh so softly and she was careful not to hold him as hard as she wanted.

“It feels like it’s really over,” she whispered.

“Yeah. Though we still have to tell your brothers about us. ”

She looked up at him. “We’re waiting.”

“Fine. Sneaking around might be kind of fun.” He paused, his smile fading. “Once I can actually do anything physical, anyway.”

“Six to eight weeks!”

“It’ll be sooner than that.” Determination stamped his expression.

She scoffed lightly. “We’ll see what your doctor says.”

He just grinned. “We will see.”

Yeah, and she was going to win this one, because no way was she letting him do anything to screw up his recovery. Even if she had to threaten him with Kim justice to make him behave.