Fighting Destiny 7

Chapter 13 Squeeze

"

Linc Potter was a tall thin scarecrow of a man with collar length dark hair streaked with gray that always looked like it needed washed. He had a long lined face and dark eyes. He wore a pair of dark pants and black button front shirt with no tie. When he put on a jacket, it was a black leather motorcycle jacket. Looking at him, it was hard to imagine that he was a top assistant district attorney for the government.

He was standing at the white board looking across the large small conference room at the wall filled with pictures and names of all the major players in what was going to be his career making weapons bust of the Sons, the Real IRA and the Galindo cartel. He was frowning. His case against the Sons and the rest was going all to hell and he didn't know if he could salvage it.

It seemed increasingly unlikely, but he had a little more time before his supervisors would discover that fact. He needed to come up with something before that happened.

There was only one other person in the room. Agent Carson was a bland man of average size, in his mid thirties with thinning blonde hair with dark eyes that peered out at the world through thick glasses. He was looking over a printout and occasionally circling something.

Agent Anderson walked into the room after entering the pass code into the door lock.

"I've got some bad news," Anderson said.

"Is there any other kind?" Linc asked wryly.

"Otto Delaney murdered a nurse yesterday. His statement is now worthless," Anderson replied.

"Son of a bitch," Linc said quietly without heat. He was a mellow kind of guy and this was about as angry as he got.

"Weren't we planning on trying to turn Bobby Munson to replace Juice for the current part of RICO now that Juice bailed out?" Agent Carson asked looking up from his work.

"Yes, we were. Now, it doesn't matter. We don't have past crimes and we don't have present day. Our case is probably dead and the fortunate Sons are fortunate once more," Linc said.

"There might be something we can use . . . " Anderson said.

"Tell us," Potter said. "Don't keep me in suspense. You know how I hate that."

"Tara Knowles, Jax Teller's old lady, may have some involvement. Delaney said she gave him the crucifix he used to stab the nurse to death," Anderson said.

"Did she admit to it?" Potter asked.

"No, she denied it."

"That doesn't matter if she gave it to him or not. She just needs to think we can prove she gave him the crucifix and she's going down for manslaughter. We can squeeze her. She just had a baby. She isn't going to want to go to prison and be away from the kid."

"You really think she's going to turn on Teller?" Carson asked.

"If we squeeze her hard enough and if she thinks she's going down for manslaughter, we've got a chance. Gentlemen, our case may still be alive. I'm going to meet with DA Patterson to discuss how we're going to play Dr. Tara Knowles," Potter said with a flicker of a smile on his lips.

When he finished with Dr. Knowles, she was going to believe they had a case against her and she was going to jail. She'd sing to avoid prison and being separated from her children.

"

"***

"

Tara was waiting anxiously for Jax to get back from work. He was late and she always worried that he was in danger. Since the MC had begun selling more advanced weapons, he was bringing home a lot more money, but with it came a lot more danger. He couldn't get out of SAMCRO fast enough for her.

The boys had been fed, played with, read to and put to bed when Jax finally returned home some time after nine o'clock. While he took a shower, Tara tossed the salad with her homemade cilantro ranch dressing, added croutons and sprinkled it with shredded Parmesan cheese. She put the pork chop and rice casserole into the oven to reheat it.

Jax had on lightweight athletic pants with a SAMCRO T-shirt and his blonde hair was wet from the shower.

"Did you eat?" he asked.

"I waited for you like a good little wife."

Jax grinned and pulled her close for a kiss.

"I missed you all day today," he said.

"It's nice to know that marriage hasn't killed the romance."

"I'm going to give you plenty of romance tonight, baby," Jax said.

"You're all talk Teller," she retorted.

Jax winked at her.

"We'll just see about that."

Tara waited until after dinner before she told him about Gemma's visit.

"I know something's wrong," Jax said as they headed into the bedroom to watch a little TV. Let me guess. Gemma."

Tara was sitting with her back against bed's headboard and Jax was sitting on the bed facing her.

"Yeah, she came by and told me that if we didn't scrap our plans to leave town, the police were going to learn about the cross."

"Son of a bitch. She's going to keep her damned mouth shut."

"I told her that rats get killed. I also told her if she tells the police anything, she'll never see the boys again."

"Damned right. I'll have a talk with her tomorrow and if I don't like her attitude, I'll talk to Clay about keeping her in line. You didn't do anything wrong. This is all on Otto."

Tara nodded.

"I'm just scared. Gemma's never liked me and I could see her trying to come up with a way to let the cops know about the cross without letting it get back that she was the source."

"Tara, you have to keep to your story and don't let the cops rattle you. If they want to talk to you again, tell them you want an attorney."

"Won't that make me look guilty?"

"No. Anyone who knows how the police work get that having an attorney is for your protection. Say under the worst possible case, Gemma tells the cops that she gave you a crucifix that Luann had given Otto because he was going to recant his RICO confession.

"You deny it and explain that Gemma is upset that we are leaving town and taking the boys. She'll do anything to keep us in Charming including making up a story about you."

Tara's hand shook as she tucked a strain of hair behind her ear.

"She worries me. I'm just afraid of what she will do to try to keep us in Charming."

"It's going to be OK. If she even thinks about testifying, Clay can't afford to have his old lady testify in court. He'd get kicked out of the MC for not dealing with his old lady who has turned into a rat. If it comes to it, I'll take care of her myself. I give you my word Gemma will not testify. It's going to be OK."

Tara nodded. She desperately wanted to believe Jax, but she knew how ruthless Gemma could be.

Just as Jax began to comfort Tara, Abel called out that he was scared. Jax got him and carried him to their bed. Tara soothed him and got him back to sleep. Jax returned him to his bed and was finally able to get romantic with his wife.

Tara tried to focus on Jax, but she feared that their future was just too bright; something was bound to go wrong.