I knew Kendrick well enough to realize he was flushing out the rats.
“I’m not your enemy with this, Kendrick. I swear to you that I’m not dirty. But you’re right in that there are those I suspect who are. I’ve had a feeling for a long time that you somehow managed to get yourself involved with this vigilante group. After fighting for months to try and find an in road, my thoughts drifted to what the Justice Served vigilantes might do. Call me a horrible person. I don’t give a shit at this point. So, I threw caution to the wind. If that’s what you want to call it.” Jackie was exasperated, scanning one side of the road then the other. “I think you’re the only person who can help expose the members.”
“Then what about Darren?”
“He told me months ago to leave it alone because there was nothing to go on.”
“Did you know he was involved with the Privileged?” I asked.
Jackie shook her head. “Not until after Denise walked into my office. He barely looked at the file and said there was no case. Send the girl packing and get back to work.”
“That’s why you brought her to me.”
“I was grasping at straws at that point. The moment he realized I’d talked to you, he threatened me. So, I did what I could to protect Denise. Now, this. Who is the girl lying in the morgue, Kendrick? I could tell you both recognized her.”
Kendrick and I shared a look, his nod giving me the go ahead.
“That’s Janey Devonshire. Her father owned Devonshire Holdings, the man who killed himself.” My answer surprised her. “He was a member himself, also someone who’d provided land and buildings to the club to use for their kinky parties and auctions. Then either he came to his senses, or his worth had run out. They had him killed. She was made up to look like my sister. She doesn’t look like that in the sketches we sent. Same hair style and color as my sister’s.”
Kendrick took a deep breath. “A warning.”
We shared a look and I nodded.
“How do you know all this?” Jackie was stunned at what I’d suggested. While I was suddenly on the receiving end of one of Kendrick’s famous looks, I wasn’t sorry for what I’d spouted off.
Something about Jackie told me I could trust her.
“They are cleaning house, Jackie. Whether or not they realize I’m onto them I can’t be certain. What I do know is that there are dozens of young women who were either kidnapped or lured into a nonexistent modeling gig and I assure you that Darren isn’t interested in putting a stop to the group because he’s one of them. So, you’re going to need to make a choice very soon. Either continue covering for your boss and face the consequences along with him, or we combine forces and bring justice to the people who deserve it.” Kendrick was just as gritty in his demand.
“You don’t know how connected Darren is,” she pushed.
“And you have no idea what Kendrick is capable of, Detective Abbott. I do. Without his help, I’d be some sex slave for a monster.”
Her expression softened. “You need to be very careful. Both of you. I don’t know how you’ve managed to infiltrate the organization and in truth, I don’t want to know because I’m guessing you’re crossing every line out there. That would mean I’d need to arrest you.”
“Am I? Crossing every line? Maybe that’s what it takes, Jackie. You can try and stop me if that’s what you really want, but I don’t think you do.” he asked, goading the hell out of her.
She looked away, closing her eyes. Something in her past was pushing her to fight against everything she knew. “You’re only one man.”
Jackie’s warning only made Kendrick smile. He flashed his eyes in my direction, winking as he did.
“I don’t need to be careful, Jackie. I have the law on my side. Remember? Now I’ll let you think about your options. I have no doubt given my interference that the lascivious club will be scrambling to find the snitch from within. Mistakes will be made and I’ll be right there waiting for them to happen. In the meantime, be prepared for several additional dead bodies to turn up on shore.”
“I don’t need to think about anything, Kendrick. I took an oath just like you did to follow not only the laws of this land but a basic moral code. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring down everyone involved.”
“Is that what this is to you, Jackie? An oath?”
She almost faltered. “That’s what it must be.”
“Then get ready, Jackie, because the shit is about to hit the fan.”
She didn’t try to follow us, but I could sense she was watching closely.
“That was a performance,” I told him as he opened my door.
“Was it?”
“Yes, and she still doesn’t know just how talented you are.”
