“Nope.” Sean took out a stack of black-and-white photographs also kept safe in plastic wrap. “These were taken by a friend of mine, and I am in some of them, but I’m just sitting around and talking. Or waiting. There are a couple of Eddie and Tyson that are interesting.”
“Incriminating?” Force asked.
“Not enough,” Sean acknowledged. “But the senator doesn’t know that. Yet.”
“Who took the pictures?” Raider asked.
“Bobby Janetz, who was just a photographer. Did families, some sports events, school dances. We met up at a gambling hall, and he thought it’d be fun to help me gather a little evidence to keep safe. I paid him well.” Sean handed over the pictures to Raider. “He died about a year after taking these pictures from some weird cancer. Right before I met your mother.” He looked at Brigid. “She would’ve liked him. Nice guy. Smoked cigars all the time, and they were the stinky kind.”
Raider set the pictures down and dropped the plastic from the journal to a chair. Then he started flipping through it. Dates, names, and specific crimes were all recorded in heavy, precise handwriting. “You started recording these crimes way before you met Brigid’s mom.”
“Yep,” Sean said.
Brigid leaned around Raider to look at her dad. “So you were planning to get out even before meeting Mom.”
Sean’s expression sobered. “Guys in my line of work didn’t last long, and I figured I’d need some security. I wasn’t loving the life, but I wasn’t sure what to do next. So yeah, I guess I was planning a way out, even if I didn’t know which direction to take.”
The relief that crossed Brigid’s classic face warmed Raider’s chest.
Brigid frowned. “We can just make copies of all of this before handing it over. I don’t see why they want it so badly.”
“They might believe Raider will keep their secrets,” Force murmured. “Worst case scenario for them? They’ll need to know what we have, in order to figure out a countermove, if necessary. Politicians deal with information, and right now, the senator doesn’t have it. It’s that simple.”
Raider cleared his throat. “I can convince them I’m on their side, and they’ll figure they can blackmail me after we do a little business together, so they won’t care if I have copies. It makes sense to work with me on this. So, let’s not waste any time.” He set his cell phone on the table and dialed a number.
“What?” a low voice snapped.
“Raider Times calling for Eddie Coonan. I’m not at the bottom of the ocean.” Raider slipped his New York accent into place.
There was a shuffling, and Eddie came on the line. “Well, shit. We’ve been looking for you for hours. How are you, buddy? Somebody stole my boat, and I’m thinking it was you? Should I call the cops?”
Raider sighed audibly enough that Eddie could hear him. “You’re not being recorded, and at some point in this life, you and I are going to discuss you kidnapping my woman and then launching a missile at a boat. Do you have any idea how long it takes to swim across that bay?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, except I think you just admitted you stole my boat,” Eddie drawled. “How is the pretty Irish lass? Does she miss me already?”
Irritation clawed through Raider’s gut. “She’s well out of town and your reach, Eddie. I protect what’s mine.” There was enough truth in the statement that Raider didn’t have to force a growl into his tone.
Brigid shook her head and grabbed his arm. Oh, if she thought she was going anywhere near Eddie again, she’d lost her mind.
Raider ignored her and continued with Eddie. “But for right now, you should know that I have the journal, tapes, and photographs that Sean Banaghan has kept safe all these years.”
Silence ticked for a couple of moments. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Humph.” Raider flipped through the journal, looking for an interesting entry. “Here’s one. April third. Eddie and somebody named Geo Beneto met and discussed the distribution of cocaine on the east side. They want to take out a rival dealer, and they came up with a plan. Said plan is recorded on tape C, about halfway through.” Raider took the tapes and shook the bag loud enough even Eddie could hear them. “I haven’t listened yet. It’s harder to track down a tape recorder these days than you’d think.”
Eddie was quiet for a couple of heartbeats. “Who else knows about the tapes?”
“Just Sean, Brigid, and me,” Raider lied easily. “They’ve gone underground and don’t want anything to do with you.”
“But you do,” Eddie said.
“Yes. I could use your laundering facilities to clean my, ah, clothes.” He had to at least sound like he didn’t want to be recorded.
No movement sounded over the line. “I have your word you won’t make copies?”
“Sure,” Raider lied.
“Right,” Eddie muttered. “Regardless, I need to know what you have. Keep in mind I reward loyalty, and considering you want into the business, you don’t want to double-cross me. So, you’ll bring the journal and tapes?”
