Howard leaned close to her ear and whispered something that made Fallyn tighten her jaw.
“I might,” I said.
Howard snapped his spine straight, darting his brown gaze my way. “You do?”
I was ready to blow this joint. “Just come out and ask whatever it is you need to know.”
Feds and their secrecy made me want to jump out of the seventh-floor window. I was already about to explode, since I had to keep looking at Fallyn while I thought about her naked, me deep inside her, and the fact that she had outsmarted me.
Fallyn opened her mouth, and I held up my hand. “Jason Williams, aka Steve Montgomery, worked for Brian McCauley as a mechanic at one of his dealerships and befriended a coworker, who got him hooked on drugs. Then one day he was found dead from an overdose. Police questioned Brian and his employees but had no evidence to charge anyone for the death.”
“That’s public knowledge,” Howard said.
Kelton nodded at me.
I rested my forearms on the table. “Here’s what’s not. You should look within your ranks for the answers you’re seeking.”
Fallyn and Howard exchanged a knowing look.
“Do you know who Duke is talking about?” Kelton asked.
Agent Howard opened a folder and slid a photo over to Kelton and me. “Have you seen this man before?”
In the photo, Neal Fitzgerald and Brian were talking—or rather, arguing. I knew why. When Brian had learned what Neal had done to Jason, he’d almost strangled the DEA agent because Brian knew he would get blowback. The law had been watching him like a hawk for months.
“Once,” I said. “At Brian’s dealership. He’s DEA. Neal Fitzgerald.”
“Did he kill my brother?” Fallyn’s hazel eyes were filled with tears.
“As far as I know, yes. But you’ll have to ask Neal yourself. My information is secondhand.”
“Mr. McCauley is my client as well,” Kelton said. “He’s willing to testify to what he knows to be true.”
Brian could be setting himself up for other charges, such as drug trafficking, but he was prepared to accept what came his way. With Rosario in jail, her drug and gun businesses were dead in the water.
“Did Neal confess to murdering my brother to Brian?” Fallyn asked, muscles tense.
“I believe so, but again, you’ll need to go to the source.”
“Are you willing to testify as well about Jason’s death?” She brushed a tear away.
Kelton cleared his throat. “Ms. Williams, I’m very sorry for your loss, but we’re here about my client’s involvement with that stolen gun shipment and nothing more.”
“Talk to Neal,” I said to Fallyn. “Also, Brian has witnesses who saw Neal and your brother arguing outside Brian’s dealership. That’s how Brian found out that Jason was an undercover operative. Brian planned to fire your brother, but then he was found dead.”
Fallyn tore out of that room like the Flash, the door slamming shut in her wake.
“I guess we’re done here,” Kelton said, standing.
Howard also rose. “Not so fast. Once I talk to the DA, Duke will be brought up on charges of conspiring with the Colombian cartel to sell illegal firearms. We’re going to hold Duke until we can get a warrant for his arrest.”
Kelton buttoned his suit jacket. “Are you telling me that you’ll have the warrant within twenty-four hours? That’s how long you can hold him, and I doubt you’ll reach the DA and a judge by then since it’s Christmas weekend. I would also like to remind you that Mr. Hart cooperated with the Boston PD during the incident at the junkyard. Not to mention, he saved your agent’s life. Finally, Detective Hughes has one of his men on Duke.”
“If that’s true,” Howard asked, “where is he?”
Kelton chuckled. “Outside by my car. Do you honestly think that Duke can do anything inside a federal building?”
Agent Howard collected his folder as a long beat of silence filled the room, his nostrils flaring. “Mr. Hart, you’re lucky you have Detective Hughes on your side. We’ll be in touch.”
