pull the ‘he’s lying because he’s getting ten years off his sentence’ or some such thing. The defendant is a hit man and won’t talk, even though he was offered twenty years if he gave up the person who hired him.”
“What did they need Hunt’s testimony for?”
“Tying two cases together, in San Antonio and Houston. Hunt testified that he hired the defendant in a cold case, and that case is linked to the Houston case and possibly others.”
“Hunt was probably given immunity for his part in hiring a hit man.”
“It’s still irrelevant,” Felicity said. “Hunt has life in prison in California on the conspiracy to murder a peace officer. There are federal charges pending. But this is all I know about the DEA case.”
It was fishy as far as Lucy was concerned—if only because it brought Hunt to Texas. To the same prison that Sean was in.
“Hunt was scheduled to be transported back to California on Monday. The only thing I know about the breakout I already told you. The FBI is taking over the investigation, and Houston PD is not happy about it.”
“FBI and the marshals,” Lucy said.
“Word gets around.”
“I need to know everything about the investigation into Mona Hill’s murder.”
“Banner isn’t going to tell us. I’m Sean’s lawyer.” She looked at her phone. “Damn, this is Garrett again. I have to talk to him.”
“Go.”
Felicity stepped out and Lucy called Nate. She told him everything she knew.
“I should be there,” he said. “This damn SAPD farce of an investigation.”
“That’s what the Hunts wanted, Nate. To keep you tied down. But they don’t know I have Patrick, and Kate’s on her way.”
“Maybe I should stay with Jesse.”
“You and Aggie find Brad and Elise. I trust Leo, and Elise could very well lead us to her father—and to Sean.”
“Are you okay?”
“No. I’m not okay because I know that Sean is in very real danger. They won’t let me anywhere near the search for Sean, but if I can get the Mona Hill files, I can prove he’s innocent of murder.”
As she spoke, the door opened. “Don’t be so sure of that.”
Lucy glanced up and saw Detective John Banner with a woman Lucy assumed was his partner based on the fact that she glared at Lucy as if she were the criminal, and she had a badge clipped to her belt.
“I have to go,” she said to Nate and ended the call.
She didn’t want to talk to them now, or ever. Her fear for Sean grew with each passing minute, but she was trapped at the jail, waiting for Patrick to return with answers, waiting for Felicity.
Banner said, “I have news about the transport.”
“And?” She wished she didn’t sound so desperate.
“One corrections officer dead, one wounded. The wounded officer gave his statement. I think you might want to come with me.”
“I’m fine here.” Dammit, where was Felicity?
Formally, Banner said, “We’re still conducting the investigation. The officer gave a statement before he went into the ambulance that a blowout—and he believes the tire was shot out—resulted in the bus being forced off the road. The radio was out, they couldn’t call for help, and the bus crashed as they exited. One prisoner had a key to unlock the shackles, and one prisoner had a gun that evidence suggests was taped under one of the seats. That prisoner shot and killed the driver. That prisoner was your husband.”
Lucy stood. She started toward the door and Banner blocked her way. Trapping her.
“I’m not done!” Banner said.
Lucy didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Sean would never kill a cop. He would never plan an escape like this.
“I can have you arrested as an accessory,” he said.
Lucy laughed, otherwise she would scream. He was baiting her. He wanted her to get angry, to yell at him, to “slip up” and incriminate her husband. To show fear.
And dear God, she was scared. If the cops thought that Sean had killed a cop, he was in danger from the authorities and from Hunt.
Felicity walked in through the door. “Move out of my way, Detective,” she said. She was the smallest person in the room but clearly commanded authority.
He stepped aside.
“Do not talk to Agent Kincaid,” she said.
“She’s not a suspect, I can talk to her. Or are you claiming spousal privilege?”
“She has spousal privilege,” Felicity snapped.
“She’s a sworn officer, she has a duty and obligation to report any crime she knows about even if it’s her husband who’s guilty.”