“Yes,” Marcus said going into his briefcase. He handed Agent DeBreeze the CD and copies of the client lists. Agent DeBreeze looked over the list carefully before passing them on. “Would you mind telling me how you were able to obtain these items, Mr. Douglas?”
“I got the information from Mondrya Foster. She is or was VP of operations at Hudson.”
“You said was?” Agent Rietman said.
“Yes, she was murdered recently during a robbery at Starbucks. However, I have information from a source, who wished to remain anonymous that leads us to conclude that Ms. Fosters death was not a random act but was intended to keep this information from getting to me.”
Agent Rietman immediately picked up the phone and requested all information pertaining to the death of Mondrya Foster. As the agents looked over the client lists, Marcus and Carmen sat quietly, exchanging glances. At the moment, Agent Grant came into the room. She smiled at Marcus and Carmen as she walked over and whispered something to Agent Rietman. Whatever it was she told him raised an eyebrow. “We just got back the preliminary report on your car. Ms. Taylor, I see the car you were driving is registered to Roland Ferguson.”
“Yes, he's my brother-in-law. The car belonged to my sister.”
“Would you mind walking me through the accident, Ms. Taylor?”
“Okay, we had just left,” Carmen was about to mention Jamara's name, but remembered her reluctance to be involved with law enforcement. “Driving down Stone Mountain-Lithonia and I was about to stop at the light when I stepped on the brake and it didn't work.”
“How long have you been driving the car, Ms. Taylor?”
“A little more than a week, I guess.”
“Have you had the car serviced during that time?”
“No. What's this about?” Carmen asked.
Agent Grant sat down next to Carmen, “Ms. Taylor, we checked out the car and your brakes had been tampered with.”
“What did you say?” Marcus asked.
“The brakes on the car were tampered with,” Agent Grant said.
“How?” Carmen asked.
“The brake line was cut. And it was cut in such a way that it would be very hard to tell when it was done.”
“How is that, Agent Grant?” Agent DeBreeze inquired.
“The cut was so small that the brake fluid just leaked out over a period of time. You see, each time you stepped on the brake a little more fluid sprayed out until there was none left to stop the car.”
“Okay,” Carmen said slowly. “So what you're saying is that somebody tried to kill me?”
“Yes, Ms. Taylor,” Agent Grant said quietly. “That's exactly what I'm saying.”
Carmen dropped her head in her hands. Marcus gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Mr. Douglas, this is excellent work you've done here. If this disk contains what I think it does,” Agent Ward rose to his feet again. “We'll be putting Mr. Bill Hudson in jail where he belongs and for a very long time. But, there is one thing that bothers me.”
“What's that Agent Ward?”
“What does any of this have to do with Ms. Taylor's sister being murdered?”
Carmen looked up at Agent Ward. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is; Hudson and his company are involved in money laundering. And he is probably deeply involved in murder to cover up those activities. For instance, John Heard and Coleman Wilson, you heard of them? Wilson was a senior exec at Hudson.” Both Marcus and Carmen nodded their heads, remembering Joanne Henley mentioning their names in connection with the story she was working on. “Heard was an FTC investigator. I received a memo from him stating that Wilson was willing to go on record and tell all he knew about what's going on over there. But the very next day one hangs himself and the other chases sleeping pills with vodka. So we got Suzanne Collins found dead in her office, butt naked. Her husband Frank is the only suspect, but he commits suicide, case closed. Now you've made us aware of,” Agent ward looked around the room.
“Mondrya Foster,” Agent Grant said as she handed him what information they were able to get. “She gets this information to you, and she is shot in a robbery,” he glanced at the report. “No suspects. You folks following me yet? Ms. Taylor, you're sister was murdered violently. All of the other murders connected with this case all follow the same pattern. So I'll ask you again, what does any of this have to do with your investigation?”
Marcus looked at Carmen and then at Special Agent Ward. “Nothing.”
ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS