Chapter 39- Tracking and the Trial
Finch looked up as Brandi and Reese came into the library. "Find anything?" Brandi asked, kissing his cheek.
"I found a few things about SP-9. Well, this isn't a street gang, this is a multinational corporation. SP-9 is active in at least 18 countries in Europe, Asia," Finch said.
"After Interpol took down the old Pruszkiew Mafia, they got smarter. Started hiding their tattoos, studied military discipline, computers," Reese said.
"They have almost no digital footprint," Finch said.
"Almost? But they do have something, right?" Brandi asked anxiously.
"I have yet to find anything that could help us find Gates' son," Finch said, absently stroking Brandi's hand next to his.
"Then focus on her, Dad. Somehow this girl and that gang connect. Like I said last night, my best guess, whoever she's sleeping with is high up in SP-9. I bet her boyfriend knows where they're keeping Sam," Brandi said, indicating Angela's mugshot and an internet headline.
"Finch, Brandi has a point," Reese said, grabbing his jacket.
"While me and Brandi are checking into the girl, what'll you be doing?" Finch asked.
"Tracking down the rest of them," Reese said, walking out.
"Well, that's that/ Come on, Dad. I told Gates I'd be in the courtroom, sitting next to you," Brandi said, pulling him up.
Brandi and Dad sat down, Dad gripping Brandi's hand tightly. "Uh, Dad, we are seated. You can let go of my hand now," Brandi suggested. Dad smiled briefly at her and kissed the palm of her hand.
"Someone might recognize you," Dad said, playing with a few strands of her hair.
"Dad, Moretti won't shoot me in public where there are witnesses. A coward like him, it's not his style," Brandi said.
"Probably right, sweetheart. But Moretti wants you dead. I'm your father. I have to protect you. The day you were born, I promised your father and mother I'd always protect you if something was to happen to them. He even made me promise that if he and Kate died and you were still a baby, I'd take you in and you'd grow up thinking I was your father," Dad said.
"I think that now, Dad," Brandi said.
"Yes, but you wouldn't have known at 1 or two that I was ever your uncle," Dad said as Gates entered the courtroom and Dad finished cloning Angela's phone.
"All rise. The honorable Judge Gates presiding," the bailiff said and they all rose. "Be seated."
Gates looked at something in front of him next to his gavel and then at Angela. "In the matter of the People Vs. Angela Markham court is now in session," Gates said as he looked at Brandi briefly. Brandi nodded briefly by way of support.
The first witness was O'Bryan. To Brandi's relief he didn't look over at her. "I've observed a white SUV driving erratically at high speed. My partner Katherine Finch stopped the vehicle for a possible DWI," O'Bryan said, relating the accident.
"And what did you and your partner see when you approached the car?" The prosecuting Lawyer, Ramirez, asked.
"Kate noticed it and pointed it out to me, Blood. On the front left fender," O'Bryan said brusquely.
"Objection. Facts not in evidence/ Also his partner was murdered a few weeks ago. Saying what Detective Katherine Finch did is not relevant," Angela's lawyer spoke up.
"Sustained," Gates said.
Ramirez looked at Gates as if he were nuts before continuing. "Uh, how did the vehicle look?" Ramirez asked.
""There was front-end damage. A red fluid that appeared to be blood-" O'Bryan started to say.
"Objection, Your Honor," Angela's lawyer said, standing up.
"Sustained," Gates said. Ramirez looked confused and flustered.
"What happened then?" Ramirez asked.
"The defendant got out of the vehicle/ She appeared to be intoxicated-" O'Bryan started to say.
"Objection," Angela's lawyer interrupted/
"Sustained," Gates said.
"Your Honor," Ramirez finally complained as Gates removed his glasses.
"Counselor, I'm gonna give you some time to better prepare your witness. Resume at 10 A.M. tomorrow," Gates said, banging his hammer on the gavel.
"That went well," Brandi muttered as she and Dad stood and Dad tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and Gates went to his chambers.
"I am inclined to agree with you, my dear. But at least Sam O'Bryan didn't see you." Dad said as they walked and he gently stroked her hand with his other hand.
"You're right, Dad, but isn't that what you wanted? This way he can't lie about not seeing me?" Brandi asked, feeling tears come to her eyes.
"Too late. Hello, Brandi, Harold," O'Bryan's voice said sarcastically behind them. Brandi and Dad turned to see the huge Irishman behind them.
"Hi, Uncle O.B.," Brandi said with a watery smile.
"Hey, kid. Where have you been? Everyone at the department and even Guido has been worried about you," O'Bryan said, mentioning the owner of an Italian eatery that Brandi and her mother used to eat at every weekend. Guido had been a criminal who had gone straight and was one of Kate Finch's CI's.
"With my dad," Brandi said. O'Bryan gave her a puzzled look.
"Brandi, your Pops died ten years ago. He was a First Responder on 9/11 who lost his life helping people," O'Bryan said.
"Not Peter Finch. I didn't mean him. I meant him," Brandi said, indicating Dad.
"Harold. So that's why none of us could find you. You adopted her, Harold," O'Bryan said.
"Yes, I did, Sam. My brother and Kate were your friends, but Peter was my brother. Kate broke my heart when she took Brandi and never let me see her again," Dad said, squeezing her hand in his elbow tighter.
"I don't blame you for that. You are her uncle by blood. I'm just her uncle by her adopting me as such with four or five other kids who lost their mothers or fathers on the same day," O'Bryan said.
"Thank you, Sam," Dad said.
"So, Uncle O.B., what do you know about Angela Markham?" Brandi asked, changing the subject.
"Not much, kiddo. Your mother and me arrested her for getting drunk at a party and hitting someone with a car," O'Bryan said.
"How out of it was she?" Dad asked.
"Pretty out of it, Harold. She was unable to walk a straight line, her voice was slurred, and she was giggling like you the first time you ever lied to me," O'Bryan said to Brandi.
"Well, we'd better figure out what's happening. I saw Angela's face briefly. The lunatic was gloating," Brandi said as her phone rang and O'Bryan walked away.
"Well, I'd better go. Talk to later, Brandi, Harold," O'Bryan said.
Brandi pressed the call button and held it so she and Dad could hear. Dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they listened. "Judge Gates," Gates said over the connection.
"I am disappointed, Your Honor," the same man who had called Gates the night before said over the phone.
"How did you know I was here? Did she tell you? Who is Angela Markham to you anyway?" Gates asked, sounding a little nervous.
"You don't want your son back, is that it?" The voice taunted him.
"Let me talk to him," Gates said.
"Not until you stop stalling," the man said with a steely voice.
"Look, I have to do this the right way or the DA can appeal/ You want her free, I have to make sure she stays that way," Gates said.
"Do it right. And do it fast. And don't forget what you're playing for," the man said and then hung up. Brandi's cell then beeped. Brandi pulled up a picture of a little boy who sat huddled.
"Now what do we do, Dad?" Brandi asked, turning to her father.
"We follow Angela. Come on, sweetheart," Dad said, grabbing her hand as they followed Angela outside. "We're running out of time, Mr. Reese," Dad said, panting slightly.
"Did you and Brandi pick up anything on Angela?" Reese asked over the earwigs Brandi and Dad wore.
"Going through her contacts and e-mail even as we speak. Any progress with the gang?" Dad asked, accessing his phone.
"I got an address from Leon Turski. On my way now," Reese said as the cell phone in Dad's hand rang.
"It's as good as done," the man who had Gates's son said over the phone. Brandi stood beside her father to better hear.
"You think I'm stupid? It's not done until I'm free and clear," Angela snapped.
"This is bad for business. My clients are asking questions," the man said.
"That's not my problem," Angela said, sounding like a spoiled, selfish, two-year-old brat.
"You are the problem. My whole operation is in jeopardy because you had too many shots," the man said angrily.
"Unless you know someone who can do what I do, our deal stands. Once you get the charges dropped, I go back to work. Business as usual," Angela said, hanging up the phone.
"Well, that answers a question or two. One, Angela is part of SP-9, and two, she knows what they're doing to Gates and his son. But how do we stop them, Dad? Mom couldn't," Brandi said. Dad rested his large hand on the back of Brandi's neck, wrapping strands of her dark hair around his fingers.
"We'll figure out something, Brandi," Dad said.
"Maybe Uncle John will find something at the address Leon Turski gave him. Maybe something there can hurt them," Brandi said as they walked through the park.
Dad kissed the side of her head gently. "Have I mentioned how much I love you, Brandilyn?" Dad asked.
"Every day since I came to live with you a month ago?" Brandi asked with a brief grin.
"Well, it's as true now as it was a month ago. It's also as true now as it was the day you were born and your father and mother let me hold you," Dad said, picking up her hand and tucking it into the crook of his arm.
"I love you too, Dad," Brandi said, rising on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek.
"Let's go get something to eat. Is there anything you'd like?" Dad asked.
"Well, I see a Red Robin over there or Cbarro's pizza. Either one sounds great," Brandi said.
"Brandi, stop trying to give me indigestion," Dad said.
"Oh, please. If I was gonna give you indigestion, I would have suggested Taco Bell or McDonald's," Brandi said as they continued to walk.
"How about Panera Bread? The soup and sandwiches are pretty good," Dad said.
"I've never had it, but I'll give it a try, I guess," Brandi said.
"That's my girl," Dad said, kissing her forehead with a smile.