Part 85 (1/2)
”It's the new America. The government has the power to rescind rights under these laws. They can hold you for 48 hours without explanation. And they intend to. It gets worst.”
”How? How could it f.u.c.king get worst?” Keith asked.
”They're taking you to Riker's Island.”
”No! Get Cain Gatlin in here. He'll tell them. Listen to me. It's all a f.u.c.king mistake. The money stolen was by Andrew. We set him up. Together.”
”Tell me everything, Keith, and don't leave anything out. Everything!” James said.
Cain sunk low in the seat at the back of the cab. He took a deep breath once it pulled away. The weight of his soul lessened. He felt the first cool wave of freedom cover him. He closed his eyes. Rachel was missing according to the Feds. She'd jumped from some bridge and drowned in a river. Cain chuckled. He knew so little of his mother. But he knew one thing. Rachel could beat the h.e.l.l out of any man, woman, or child when it came to the backstroke.
Once, when he was seven, his little brother fell off of some benefactor's boat as it zipped along the deep blue waters of the ocean. Rachel dove off, having seen Joseph go over first. Cain yelled for the man driving the boat to stop. After several seconds he did, and they circled the sea, backtracking.
She surfaced out of that ocean with her baby held in her arms. It was the only thing that either of her sons could reflect on to know of her love. She swam with them both back to the boat. His mother could swim. She was out there somewhere. Free.
”Good luck, Mom,” he said. They were both free now.
”Where to?” The cabbie asked.
”Just keep going. Waiting on a call,” he checked his watch. Rachel had laid it all out. How choices would lead to freedom. He would need something more powerful than money or allies. He was short on both if he was to go after the great Andrew Hollingsworth. So Rachel advised him to use the one force that Andrew couldn't beat, the federal government. So he went to the Feds and confessed. He put himself on the line first, fat enough bait to weight the hook. The Feds took a nibble and then demanded proof. Cain dug up his and Andrew's skeletons. Now he had their attention. From there, the rest was easy. His conversations with Andrew on the tapes, the transfer of monies to the accounts that neither men knew about and their signatures on the fake land deals and contracts would compound all the legitimate evidence he had on Andrew Hollingsworth. It was done, all of it. The tipoff to the press was the cherry.
Just as he thought, his cellphone rang. Cain smiled with relief. ”Hi, beautiful. How was your day?”
”Where are you? Are you okay? I saw you on TV. Keith was arrested. You were arrested?”
”I'm in a cab, thinking of you.”
Simone paused. ”Huh? You're out of jail?”
”I'm out.”
”But how? So fast?”
”It's over. Justice, for us both,” Cain replied.
”My G.o.d, Cain, what have you done?”
”I need to see you,” he said.
”Okay, yes. I want to see you. Keith gave me the annulment. I'll have it in a few days,” Simone gushed into the phone. ”I was never married. That's what the state of New York says. Keith Livingston never happened.”
”Good. Let's celebrate,” Cain said, wearily.
”You okay?” Simone asked.
”I'll explain when I see you.”
”Maryanne? What about her?” Simone asked.
”I'll explain when I see you.” Cain repeated.
”Then come to me,” Simone challenged.
”I'm on my way.”
To Keith Livingston's horror, neither his attorney nor his father could prevent his fate. He was forced like some common criminal on a bus, and then transferred to another station where he was then sent to the dreaded Rikers detention center. In a s.h.i.+rt and tie, he sat amongst men he wouldn't think to spit on if they were on fire. They were then collected and herded to a room where they were forced into rank orange jumpers. But Keith was soon separated. He was led away in chains and shackles down a hall to a grey steel door. He was forced in by an officer, made to sit in a chair, and then chained to the bolts in the floor.
Detective Alverson stood off in a corner. He stepped out of the shadows with a snide smirk, his hands shoved down in his pockets.
”What are you doing here?” Keith demanded.
”I should ask you that question. The respectable Keith Livingston held on a federal warrant at Rikers? Does the Mayor know of the company he keeps?”
”You had something to do with this?” Keith narrowed his eyes. ”Oh wait, you're just some local flunky cop. You came here to gloat. What? Are you following me around now, trying to be man enough to fill my shoes with my wife!”
Alverson laughed. ”Not quite. Your attorney, James Madison, let us know where to find you and how to find you. I'm just facilitating a meeting. One that's long overdue.”
”What the f.u.c.k are you talking about? You did this to get at me for Simone? For my wife!”
Alverson's brow rose. ”You don't know your wife at all.”
Keith shook his head. ”No, you don't know her. She'll fall back in line. She always does. And I'll have your f.u.c.king badge for hara.s.sment. Once this is all cleared up, it's you and me, detective.”
”I was never f.u.c.king your wife, Mr. Livingston.”
”Whatever.”
”It's true. In fact, there was someone there before I could get the chance.”
Keith's eyes narrowed again. ”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”That white boy, the one on the news that got arrested with you today. His name is what? Cain Hollingsworth or Gatlin? Yeah, he's the one giving it to her.”
”That's a lie.”
Alverson shrugged. ”You're the liar, bro, not me. Now my time is up. You got a visitor.”
”THAT'S A f.u.c.kING LIE!” Keith pulled on his chains. The force caused them to jerk hard against the bolts in the floor. Alverson walked out, but another walked in. Through his rage, he didn't see him clearly at first. But he knew him.
”Been waiting for us to meet for a long time.”
Keith's nostrils flared. ”Charles Wilson?”
”That's right. You know me, but I've never had the pleasure to meet you.” Charles walked around the table to sit across from Keith. He was a tall man, even more imposing in person. Keith had never met him. Simone would flip if he even hinted at a meeting. Charles Wilson was known and respected by many. He'd convinced his family that Simone was worthy of marriage just because she was his daughter.