Sins of Justice, page 1
Sins of Justice
Brooks Family Saga
Book Two
Maggie Cole
Pulse Press Inc
This book is fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. All names, characters, plots, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
* * *
Copyright © 2020 by Maggie Cole
* * *
All rights reserved.
* * *
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Please note. May contain situations that may be sensitive for some readers.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Acts of Manipulation
ACTS OF MANIPULATION
CAN I ASK YOU A HUGE FAVOR?
More by Maggie Cole
About the Author
Prologue
Ryland Brooks
* * *
One aim. One pull of the trigger. One bullet. That’s all it took to end a man’s life. My reaction was quick, merciless, and final. I don’t even know the name of that man. All I see now is his face, frozen in death. His body lies in a pool of his own blood.
For ten years, I owned a gun. Every week I went to the shooting range and practiced. My aim became so good that I could hit the bullseye every time.
You think you know who you are. That if the time comes to take action, you’ll take it, and if it’s justified, there won’t be any guilt. But I was wrong. Dead wrong.
My family’s protection drove me to buy a gun, learn how to shoot it, and finally use it. When I aimed, I aimed to kill. I did it to save my brother. I would do it again to save Beckett or anyone in my family, but the repercussions of knowing I’m a murderer are harsher than I can bear.
And I’ll never know his name. We blew all the evidence up. Any scrap that could have been in the explosion is certainly at the bottom of the sea, lost forever, buried in the sand.
After the explosion, I don’t remember the rest of the boat ride back to the island. I woke up at Hudson’s and vaguely remember him telling me that he gave me a melatonin to sleep.
“Ryland?” Beckett’s voice tears me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm?”
“Agents Lòpez and Drake are here.”
Who is Drake? Where is Daniels?
“Drake?” I turn and see an angel in front of me. Fiery red hair that brushes her shoulders, green eyes with flecks of light, and luscious, heavenly lips.
She holds her hand out. “Agent Drake.”
Agent Drake. Nothing is registering.
She’s dressed way fancier than what you usually see on the island and definitely on my jobsites. The navy dress hugs her curves, and my eyes drift to her pert breasts, curvy waist, and perfect legs.
Even her kneecaps are sexy.
Agent Drake. Oh shit. Pull it together, Ryland.
I lock eyes with hers and shake the hand that she’s offering me.
“Ryland.” Javier sticks his hand out, and I slowly release hers, breaking eye contact with her.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Javier peers closer. “The storm yesterday interfered with our cell phone service. I didn’t get your message until this morning. Is everything all right?”
“Is everything all right?” I don’t know. Is it? Will it ever be?
Hudson steps closer to Agent Lòpez. “You shouldn’t be here. We had a deal with Daniels.”
Javier nods. “Yes. Of course. It’s just that Ryland sounded desperate to speak with us yesterday. He didn’t answer his phone when I called several times this morning.”
Desperate to speak with them.
I gaze at Beckett as if he can somehow make sense of all this.
Yesterday. Everything happened yesterday.
“Can we talk privately? This really isn’t a good place,” Hudson says to the agents in a low voice.
Yesterday, when I made that phone call, I wasn’t a murderer. I clench my jaw and blink hard, trying not to cry.
Agent Drake is holding something out to me. “Here’s my information.” I reach for it and lock eyes with her.
Do you know I’m a murderer?
God, I have to get out of here.
I turn and walk away, not able to be near anyone so beautiful and angelic when I’m a cold-blooded killer.
1
Chloe Drake
* * *
Air so thick I can hardly breathe suffocates my lungs, and I have to remove my suit jacket that is sticking to my skin.
How the hell did I end up stuck in Florida in the summertime?
Late last night, I received a call from my boss. “Agent Drake, pack your bag. Agent Daniels is needed on another case. Meet Agent Lòpez by noon tomorrow at the Sarasota Airport. Your flight leaves first thing tomorrow. I’ve uploaded the case files and your plane information.”
Agent Lopez. How long has it been?
“Sir, I’m not finished working my current case,” I told him.
“It ties into what you’re working on. This involves the head of the Twisted Hearts.”
My pulse beat faster. “Jimmy Cline?”
“Yes.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll review the information tonight, sir.”
“Good. It’s time we put this monster behind bars. We have no room for error on this, either. I need you and Lòpez to wrap this up once and for all.”
“Yes, sir.” I hung up the phone and immediately opened my laptop and reviewed all the documents.
Pictures of Skates and his gang members were in the file, along with a mug shot taken over ten years ago of a boy named Beckett Brooks.
Seventeen and tried as an adult. My gut flipped at the thought.
According to the file, Ryland and Hudson Brooks, Beckett’s brothers, claim his innocence and have been working with Agents Lòpez and Daniels to take down Skates and a cop named Henry on Anna Maria Island. The file shows Beckett Brooks was released on parole about a month earlier for good behavior.
Why has he never claimed his innocence if he didn’t do it?
I shut the laptop and threw a week’s worth of clothes in a suitcase. Then I set my alarm to wake up at three a.m. to catch my flight.
I spent most of the night tossing and turning.
Twisted Heart cases are all I’ve worked on in the past four years, and I’ve seen the destruction Jimmy “Skates” Cline has wreaked all over the country. The opportunity to take him down is one I relish. If I have to squeeze the trigger and kill him, I’d be okay with that as well.
The flight was quick and on time. Agent Lòpez is waiting on the curb, and I throw my bag in the back seat and hop in the front.
Javier and I were in the same FBI class at Quantico and are still good friends.
“Javier.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “How have you been?”
He grins, flashing dimples. “Good. How long has it been, Chloe?”
“Too long. Since...” My heart pounds hard.
It’s been over two years. You need to move on.
He clears his throat. “Flight good?”
“Fine. Tell me, how do you stand this heat?” I fan my face.
He laughs. “You get used to it. I’ve been down here so long, I don’t even notice it anymore.”
He wears tan pants and a coral button-up shirt with rolled sleeves.
“Are suits a no-no down here?”
“No suits in the summer.”
“Great. I’m in trouble.”
Glancing at me briefly then back at the road, he says, “You’re fine in just your dress.”
My tank dress matches the suit coat I took off. It’s lined, and I feel like I’m sweating to death.
“I think I’m going to need to go shopping.”
Javier chuckles. “Did Caruso send over the intel?”
I nod. “Up to speed.”
“Good. Ryland Brooks left a message last night, but the power went out, and phones were acting up. I didn’t get the message until this morning. We need to pay a visit.”
“What was the message regarding?”
“New information on Skates, but the message was jumbled due to the storm.”
I tap my fingers on my thigh. “What’s your take on these Brooks guys’ stories?”
Javier takes a deep breath. “Daniels and I have been working with them for three years. They claim their brother never professed his innoc
“Henry?”
“Yes. He’s their dad’s best friend and apparently was in the building during and after the murder. Due to that and Skates’ dad having connections at the Florida state police level, Beckett won’t talk.”
“So a seventeen-year-old kid said nothing, in order to protect his family?”
Javier nods. “That’s their story.”
“For over ten years?”
“Yep.”
I whistle. “And you believe them?”
He shrugs. “Ryland and Hudson seem legit and honest. We’ve never spoken with Beckett. From everything they’ve told us, there are a lot of holes in the murder conviction.”
“Any other cops on the island involved?”
Javier shakes his head. “As of now, it appears that it’s only Henry.”
We drive over a bridge, sparkling turquoise water on both sides of us. A dozen bright kayaks are lined up on shore, and several people are on paddleboards. A dog jumps and catches a Frisbee.
“Wow. You don’t see this in Virginia.”
“Wait until you see the sand on the beach. It’s pure white, and you can stand in the ocean up to your neck, wiggle your toes, and see them.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“I guess I’ll need to get a bathing suit, then.”
Javier gapes at me. “You didn’t bring one?”
“Didn’t think about it.”
“You need to go shopping.”
It doesn’t take long to cross the causeway and arrive on the island. Javier turns down several side streets, and we pull up to an oceanfront house under construction. Two trucks marked Brooks Brothers Construction are in the driveway along with other workers’ vehicles.
Javier parks behind one of the trucks, and we get out. As we walk up to the house, several of the workers stop and a few whistle. I realize I’m dressed pretty ridiculously for island life, and the weather is so muggy I already have drops of sweat bursting out on my skin.
My three-inch heels aren’t doing me any favors, either, as I sink in the dirt walking up to the front door.
Two men with light-brown hair who resemble brothers are reviewing plans, and another man, who has similar but darker features is standing next to them but staring off into space.
While all three are handsome, I peer at the man who seems lost in thought. Muscular shoulders, matching arms, and a lower body fills out his jeans just right. My heart races. He’s gorgeous. I can only see one side of his face, but he’s panty-melting eye candy.
You’re on a case. Get your head out of the gutter, Chloe.
I’m assuming one of the two men hovering over construction plans is Beckett Brooks. He is an older version of his mug shot, and no longer the scared-looking boy in the picture. The other two I’m guessing are Hudson and Ryland.
The man I assume is Beckett turns. “Can I help you?” It’s not unfriendly, but it isn’t welcoming, either.
The man holding the plans spins.
The other one continues to stare off into space.
Javier holds his hand out. “Hudson, how’s it going?”
Hudson takes his hand and nods. “Agent Lòpez.”
I hold out my hand. “Agent Drake. I’m replacing Agent Daniels.”
Both men stare at me, assessingly.
Hudson finally says, “This is my brother Beckett.”
We all shake hands.
“And this is Ryland.” He points to the third man.
What is he thinking about?
Beckett pats Javier on the shoulder. “Ryland?”
“Hmm?” He raises an eyebrow at Beckett.
Beckett gives Ryland a strange expression that I can’t place. “Agents Lòpez and Drake are here.”
“Drake?” Ryland turns, and I hold my breath. Dark eyes, a chiseled face, and lips meant for kissing make my heart beat faster. His skin has a golden glow, I’m guessing from working outside, and everything about him screams raw man.
I hold my hand out. “Agent Drake.”
Heat burns in his eyes, and he swallows hard. His calloused hand grabs mine, and my stomach erupts in butterflies.
“Ryland.” Javier sticks his hand out, and Ryland slowly releases mine, breaking eye contact with me.
“What are you doing here?” Ryland asks.
Javier shifts. “The storm yesterday interfered with our cell phone service. I didn’t get your message until this morning. Is everything all right?”
“Is everything all right?” Ryland repeats, almost as if he isn’t sure.
Hudson steps closer. “You shouldn’t be here. We had a deal with Daniels.”
Javier nods. “Of course. It’s just that Ryland sounded desperate to speak with us yesterday but didn’t answer his phone when I called several times this morning.”
Ryland slowly stares at Beckett, as if in a trance.
“Can we talk privately? This really isn’t a good place.” Hudson motions toward our car.
“Sure.” I peek back at Ryland, who’s clenching his jaw and blinking.
Is he sad?
Did something happen?
I take out my cards and hand them to each man. “Here’s my information.” When I give it to Ryland, he scans my eyes, turns, and walks away.
Beckett and Hudson glance at each other. Hudson leads us to our car.
“Ryland was going to tell you yesterday that Skates is hiding out on Casey Cline’s yacht. We just found out,” Hudson says.
“We actually already suspected that,” Javier says.
“What else did Ryland want us to know?” I ask.
Hudson shrugs. “I’m sure that’s it. I’ll find out and get back with you.”
He’ll get back with us? Not Ryland? What is he hiding?
Neither Javier nor I say anything for a moment. We stare at Hudson. I have to give him credit. He doesn’t flinch.
“I think it might be best if we hear from Ryland what he wants us to know,” I tell Hudson.
His expression stays hardened. “Sure. I’ll tell Ryland to call you.”
“Good. Please do,” I respond.
“Please make sure you adhere to the deal we made with Agent Daniels. My family’s safety is important.”
“Sure. Sorry about the mix-up,” Javier says.
Hudson spins and walks away.
Javier and I exchange a glance and get into the car.
“Is Ryland always like that?” I gesture where he’s standing with the same expression on his face.
“No. Ryland has never acted like that.”
“Do you think something happened? It strikes me as odd that he would leave an important message and then not attempt to call you again or seem to remember it.”
“Agree.”
“Hmm.” I sit back in my seat, and Javier starts the car and backs out.
2
Ryland
* * *
If you didn’t do it, Beckett would be dead.
How can you feel guilty for saving your brother? Beckett didn’t deserve to die.
But you murdered a man. You still should pay for your sin.
The turquoise water laps at the shore. It’s a place I’ve always loved, something that has always been able to calm me down whenever I felt angry or sad about Beckett being in prison or anything else in life.
Now it’s tainted. It may have been miles away from here in international waters, but I’ve spilled blood in it.
I will myself not to cry.
Beckett is alive. That’s the only thing that matters. I would do it again if I had to.
