All three officers ignored their vociferous protests as they buckled them in for the ride to the airport.
“Where are you taking us? I want to see my children! I have rights. Get me a lawyer!”
Neveah closed the door in her face. “I need to return the rental, and then where should I meet you?”
“We’ll follow you to the drop-off and deliver you to the tarmac.”
“Excellent, thanks.”
Back in her rental car, she headed to Spokane International Airport. On the way, she called Gonzo to let him know the women were in custody and they were headed to the airport. “Trisha is screaming for her kids.”
“Oh well,” Gonzo said.
“What a mess. That poor little boy will never forget his mother holding a gun to his head.”
“How’d it go down?”
“I think she’d drugged the other two, because they were asleep on the floor next to her. I said I wasn’t sure they were breathing, and when she looked over at them, I jumped on her, knocked the gun out of her hand and got the boy out of there.”
“Whoa, look at you go. Nice job.”
“I didn’t think too much. I just went for it.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“How’s it going finding the guys they hired to do the job?”
“We’ve got Jesse Best’s team helping to track them down. I’ll keep you posted and will have your flight met at Reagan when you land.”
“Thanks for all the support.”
“We didn’t do much. You’re the one who got it done out there. We’ll wait to brief the media until you can do it.”
“Oh, um… Really?”
“Hell yes, this is your arrest, Detective.”
“Okay, thanks for the warning. I’ll need a good five or six hours to mentally prepare for that.”
Gonzo laughed. “You just tackled a woman with a gun. Handling the press will be nothing after that.”
“If you say so.”
“See you soon. Safe travels.”
After she returned the rental car, she was picked up by the marshals and driven to a special gate that led to a private jet on the tarmac.
Both women were still screaming and crying and threatening their jobs with the lawsuit they planned to file.
Neveah’s favorite was when Trisha said, “I’m a breastfeeding mother! This is an outrage. I have rights!”
She wanted to remind Trisha that her husband had had rights, too, which had been taken from him by her and her sister’s craven desire to be rid of him and cash in on the insurance money.
Neveah was usually empathetic toward others, almost to a fault, at times looking past obvious red flags to try to see the best in people. This time, she saw two women who were about to get everything they deserved after taking Dale’s life in such a depraved fashion.
They were belted in for takeoff when her phone chimed with a text from Jeremy. How’s it going? Did you get your case wrapped up?
She replied with a brief summary of events. We’re on a flight with the U.S. Marshals now, escorting the suspects back to DC for arraignment. The guy’s wife is wailing because she’s been taken from her kids. I’m trying to feel bad for her, but after she held a gun to the head of her son and drugged the other two, I’m glad she’s out of their lives.
