Ties That Bind Her (Appleman's Gap Book 2), page 11
“It’s okay,” Malik said, his brown skin and strong features pleasing to Laurel’s eye.
She’d thought he was an incredibly handsome man when they’d met, and she still admired his good looks. He seemed like a truly decent guy, too, if a little young for her. Focusing on the task at hand, she pushed those thoughts aside. She was happy with Brad, anyway. Wasn’t she?
“What’s our next move?” Laurel asked.
“You tell us, boss,” Malik said.
“No, you two have been on the ground, involved in this investigation for nearly a week,” Laurel replied. “I appreciate your insight. You tell me.”
Laurel always enjoyed mentoring younger agents. It had become one of her favorite parts of the job.
Bolstered by the vote of confidence, Samira pulled up a map on her tablet, showing various locations of interest. “We continue the surveillance and try to narrow down The Dark Hand’s location. We’ll coordinate with local law enforcement for the raid, but we need to move quickly. The longer he has the baby, the more dangerous the situation becomes.”
“Do we have an ID on this guy other than The Dark Hand? I presume his momma didn’t name him that,” Laurel said.
“Not yet,” Malik replied. “DNA found at the scene didn’t match anything in our database.”
Laurel sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Alright, we need to get a positive ID on this guy. Let’s focus on gathering more intel and putting pressure on his associates. Someone’s bound to crack.”
Samira nodded, scrolling through her notes. “We have a few leads on potential associates who might know something. We’ve been monitoring their communications, and one of them has been acting nervous. He could be our way in.”
Laurel leaned forward, her eyes sharp. “Who is he?”
“Jerome Swenson,” Samira replied. “Small-time crook with ties to The Cradler’s operation. He’s been seen frequenting a bar downtown. We’re planning to bring him in for questioning.”
Laurel nodded, her mind buzzing with possibilities. “Good. Let’s make sure we handle this delicately. We don’t want to spook him or anyone else in The Cradler’s circle.”
Malik added, “We’ll set up surveillance at the bar and track his movements. If he leads us to The Dark Hand, we can make our move.”
Laurel stood. “All right, let’s get to work. Samira, coordinate with Detective Nolan and set up the surveillance. Malik, keep monitoring the communications. I’ll reach out to our informants and see if we can get any additional information. Stay close. We’ll reconvene in a few hours, when I’ve had a chance to comb through the case file. I’ll ask for crime scene details then. Be ready to report.”
Samira and Malik nodded, gathering their equipment and heading out to execute their plan. Laurel watched them go, feeling a mix of pride and anxiety. They had a solid lead, but there was still so much that could go wrong.
Eighteen
A blank sheet of white paper waited on the desk as Cornelius stared at it expectantly. With a black pen clutched firmly in hand, he intended to write a bucket list of things he wanted to do before he died.
“It’s morbid, I know,” he said to his imaginary dog. “Call me crazy, but I feel the need to do this. Either I’ll be actually dead soon because The Cradler and his goons got me, or I will have reinvented myself and the old Cornelius will be dead. Whichever way it plays out, I figure I should get clear on what I want.”
He wrote number one in big letters: Live in a warmer climate than New York. That made him laugh, which was good. He’d been taking himself too seriously.
“Really, though,” he said out loud. “I could live a lot of places. The Charleston area was great. But at the end of the day, Appleman’s Gap, Tennessee is my home. I want to get back there and make peace with the people I love. I can’t see myself living anywhere else. So, Sully, that means you had better like swimming in the lake, hiking the hills, and hanging around my family’s apple orchard. Get ready. I plan to keep you busy.”
Number two came easily: Get a black lab puppy. There, he had officially claimed his desire for a canine companion. Now he wouldn’t have to feel quite so foolish talking to an imaginary friend. That friend would be live and in the flesh—and fur—one day soon.
Number three was also easy to choose: Reconcile with Maureen and live as a happily married couple again. That one would be much harder to make happen. Not only had Cornelius betrayed her by faking his own death and letting her grieve, but he’d fathered a love child with Linda Peterson and another one with Jamie Beck. The fact that Jamie was twenty-three wouldn’t help matters. Maureen had been publicly embarrassed when it had come out that Sarah Peterson was Cornelius’ daughter, and he hadn’t been there to comfort her. He could only imagine how upset she’d be when she found out about Jamie. With Mack Roberts on Maureen’s arm and whispering sweet nothings in her ear, it would take a miracle for Cornelius to win her back. He intended to try his damndest.
Number four: Repair the relationship with his kids. That would take a lot of doing. He was working on it with Laurel and Mikey, but Maggie, Hazel, and Ryan needed attention, too. Not to mention, he needed to start a new father-daughter relationship with Sarah. He intended to be involved from the beginning with Jamie’s baby. Regardless of how they came into this world, each of his children deserved to know a loving, available father.
Number five: Convince the townspeople of Appleman’s Gap that faking his death was for a good cause and make them believe he was a good man at heart. Cornelius knew there would be misunderstandings, but he hoped that in time, his friends and neighbors in town would love him again. He had been their Chief for so long. He wanted to maintain the good reputation he had built. He wanted people to like him.
“Wow, boy,” Cornelius said. “I’m only on number five and already, I’m overwhelmed. These items are no small tasks. I’ve really screwed up my life.”
He stared at the paper for a few moments, letting the weight of his choices settle in. He knew the road ahead would be tough, but writing down his goals made them feel more tangible. More achievable. He took a deep breath and continued.
Number six: Make amends with the people I've hurt. This included more than just his family. There were friends, colleagues, and townspeople who had been affected by his decisions. He needed to face them, explain his actions, and ask for their forgiveness.
Cornelius had a hunch he knew who the informant Jimmy had mentioned was—a former colleague named Victor Garton.
Vic had been a detective in Appleman’s Gap for over two decades. With Cornelius as Chief, the pair had brought dozens of criminals to justice. Vic had been there when The Cradler’s father, Lucien Somerset, was terrorizing Middle Tennessee. He’d known about Laurel’s kidnapping, and had helped bring her home safely.
The thought of Vic doubting him was hard for Cornelius to take, but Vic had expressed concern about Cornelius’ methods on several occasions. He thought Cornelius was bending the rules too much and taking too many liberties in pursuit of Lucian and his network. It was why Vic had eventually left Tennessee and took a job at a police department in Florida. It made sense that he’d be a whistleblower, if he thought that Cornelius was up to no good.
“That’s going to be a tough one,” Cornelius mused. “Vic is like a dog with a bone, once he gets his mind set on something.”
He moved on. Number seven: Find peace within myself. Cornelius knew that all the external changes and reconciliations would mean little if he couldn’t find a way to forgive himself. He had to let go of the guilt and regret that weighed him down and learn to live with his choices.
Hopefully, he’d make better decisions in the future. No more affairs. No more love children. In fact, a vasectomy wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Cornelius set the pen down, feeling a bit lighter having put his thoughts on paper. He stood up, stretched, and decided to check on the bread he had baked earlier. The scent still lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of simpler times.
As he sliced another piece and spread butter over it, he thought about Maureen again. He longed to hear her voice and to tell her everything that was happening, but he reminded himself that it was too dangerous. Instead, he decided to continue with his list, adding a few lighter goals to balance out the heavy ones. He picked up the pen again and smiled as he wrote.
Number eight: Ride a horse on a mountain trail. He had always enjoyed horseback riding, and the idea of exploring the mountains on horseback sounded like a peaceful and exhilarating experience. Ideally, this was something he and Maureen would do together, while they were still young enough to do it safely and enjoy the experience.
Number nine: Hang glide over the Smoky Mountains. Cornelius chuckled at this one. It was something he had always wanted to try, and now seemed like the perfect time to add it to his list. The thrill of soaring above the mountains would be a memory to cherish. This item seemed the most outrageous. Aside from repairing the relationships with his family, this one would certainly be the scariest. He wasn’t a big fan of heights.
Number ten: Dive in tropical waters. He had never been much of a beach person, but the idea of diving into the clear, warm waters of a tropical location intrigued him. The vibrant underwater world would be a stark contrast to the cold, snowy environment he was currently in. Besides, how hard could it be? There would be a guide to help him navigate the experience, right?
Number eleven, a bonus: Publish a book of recipes. Cornelius had always enjoyed cooking, and over the years, he had collected a variety of recipes. Putting them together in a book would be a way to share his passion for food with others and leave a lasting legacy that was more enjoyable than anything he’d ever do in law enforcement.
He set the pen down once more and looked over his list. It was a mix of serious and fun, and it felt like a true reflection of the life he wanted to lead. Cornelius knew that achieving these goals would take time and effort, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope for the future.
Suddenly inspired to move around, Cornelius used his new phone to play some music. He chose “Friendship” by Chris Stapleton.
Bouncing out into the hallway, he skipped and spun, pretending that Sully was there with him. The easy strums of the guitar and Chris’ raspy voice made it feel like he was back in Tennessee. Reaching the main living area where there was more open space, Cornelius closed his eyes and held his hands out down low, where Sully’s paws would be. He looked ridiculous, dancing with an imaginary dog, but what did he care? No one was there to witness the spectacle.
As Chris sang about the kind of friendship to last a lifetime, Cornelius let himself feel happy and free.
Satisfied with his personal progress when the song was over, Cornelius turned his attention back to the work that needed to be done. The Cradler and his network were still out there, and he was committed to bringing them down. It wouldn’t hurt his chances to please Laurel and Mikey, either, as they considered opening a detective agency with their old dad.
Returning to the computer that had been set up for him, he logged into the secure network and began reviewing the latest updates.
"We've got this, Sully," he said quietly. "We've got this."
Cornelius was immersed in his work when a sharp knock on the door pulled him back to reality. His heart rate spiked as he set the pen down and quickly stood, glancing around the room. He wasn't expecting anyone.
Before heading to the door, he walked over to a drawer in the small office. He opened it and retrieved a handgun, checking to make sure it was loaded. He tucked the gun into the back of his waistband, ensuring it was easily accessible but out of sight.
With the gun securely in place, Cornelius cautiously approached the door, peeking through the peephole, but saw no one. He slowly unlocked and opened the door, looking around the snowy yard. No footprints in the fresh snow. No signs of movement, other than a beautiful red cardinal perched on the heavy branch of an evergreen tree.
He was reminded of the heron at James Island County Park in South Carolina and the way the bird had seemed to offer its support. Even though it was silly, he felt like this red bird was willing to give him a moral boost, too. He quickly nodded his thanks.
His suspicion grew as he closed the door and bolted it. He made his way to the security console in the office, intending to review the camera feed. He pressed a few buttons, and the monitor flickered to life, but instead of showing a live feed, it displayed a blank screen with the words "Signal Lost."
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath. Whoever had knocked had also disabled the cameras. This wasn't some random act. It was someone who knew what they were doing.
Cornelius grabbed his phone and immediately sent a secure message to Jimmy’s number, detailing what had just happened. Jimmy was out of town, but his messages should have been set to forward to someone.
Cornelius knew he needed to be on high alert. His safe house was compromised.
He went back to the kitchen, retrieved a knife, and tucked it into his waistband alongside the gun, feeling a familiar sense of urgency and paranoia. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As he paced the living room, his mind raced with possibilities. Was it The Cradler's men? Was someone else involved? He needed to stay vigilant and prepare for the worst. Cornelius decided to do a thorough check of the house, ensuring all doors and windows were locked and secure.
When that was finished and everything checked out okay, he returned to the office and opened a secure line of communication with Laurel and Brad. They needed to be aware of the situation and take any necessary precautions. As he typed out the message, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for dragging his family into this mess. But he knew they were strong and capable. They would get through this.
Afterward, Cornelius took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. He couldn't afford to panic. He returned to his desk and stared at the list he had made earlier. It felt almost surreal to think about those goals now, with danger lurking just outside.
The knock on the door had shaken him, but it also reinforced his resolve. He was determined to rebuild his life and protect his family. He just needed to stay one step ahead of whoever was after him.
PART THREE
Cooperation Makes It Happen
Nineteen
As Laurel sat back down at the desk Brad had set up for her in the corner of the conference room, her phone buzzed with a message from him. It felt good to be back to work, but she was walking a fine line between the world she’d known and the one unfolding for her Brad, and their baby.
You okay?
Laurel smiled, typing a quick response.
Yeah, just a lot on my mind. We’re making progress, though. The baby’s name is Alexia Nicole.
It took Brad a minute. Three dots appeared on and off as he was typing, but nothing came through for what seemed like forever.
Our baby?
No, silly. I wouldn’t name our baby without consulting you. Alexia is the name of Tiana’s baby. Kanesha was here and told me.
Good. I wasn’t sure what to say, for a minute.
We’ll talk at home tonight. That is, if Jamie doesn’t interrupt.
Babe, stop it. I won’t let her interfere.
Laurel set her phone aside and took a deep breath. She wasn’t so sure. She couldn’t think about Jamie now, though. They were making progress in the investigation, but the clock was ticking. Every moment they delayed was another moment Tiana’s baby was in danger. With Jimmy away, it was on her to make things happen.
She reviewed the case files once more, making notes and formulating a plan. They needed to act fast and smart. There was no room for error.
If only the baby wasn’t pressing on her bladder. At first, pregnancy hormones had kept her running to the bathroom. At this point in the pregnancy, the weight of the baby was beginning to cause more trouble. That would only get worse. It was a preview of just how much Laurel’s life was going to change.
“Suck it up, Dane,” Laurel said quietly to herself. “Plenty of pregnant women work.”
While lounging around at home all day had been a luxury, she knew she couldn’t do it forever. At least, she knew she shouldn’t do it forever. People needed her. They needed the particular set of skills she possessed to investigate crimes and see that the guilty were brought to justice.
Before Laurel could get too far into the files, Samira and Malik returned. They had been part of the initial investigation into Tiana Douglas’ murder, and she needed to be brought up to speed on the details of exactly what had happened the day Tiana’s body was found and processed.
This was the nitty gritty stuff. The stuff that Laurel had less of a stomach for, now that she was pregnant. It had to be covered, though.
Malik had attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he’d studied forensics at the Body Farm. Even though he was a young agent without a lot of field experience, he was well qualified.
“Welcome back,” Laurel said to the agents. “Thank you for giving me time to look over the files.”
They nodded and smiled.
Laurel hoped that her demeanor was friendlier than Jimmy’s. Maybe it was a result of having been raised in the South. Whatever the origin, she figured that Samira and Malik appreciated it. Jimmy was a good guy at heart, but he could be exhausting—especially during the middle of a tense investigation.
Samira pulled out her tablet, bringing up the latest reports and images from the crime scene. She was all business.
“All right, Laurel, here’s what happened,” she said. “When we first arrived at the scene, it was clear that this was a highly organized and premeditated crime.”
