Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I live in the suburbs of Kansas City Kansas and our KC Royals are in the World Series, which means I'm watching baseball. Plus today was the Clasico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. I love soccer. So yeah, I skipped writing for quite a few hours this week and enjoyed sports. My apologies! GO ROYALS! (sorry Giants fans)
Chapter 33 – The Apple Doesn't Fall Far
We watch as Detective Cochran walks toward us. He looks like he might be sick to his stomach at any moment causing my heart to sink. It feels like everything is moving in slow motion. It's like being trapped in a horrible nightmare. My subconscious is getting louder by the second as the emotional castration continues. I fucking failed him. This is my fault. How did I miss putting a CPO on Luke given his condition and well-publicized friendship with Ana and Ray? I fucked up. Whatever happened to Luke is my fucking fault. It was my responsibility to make sure everyone Ana cared about was protected and I missed one who I stared at day in and day out for years.
Cochran stops and orders the six uniformed officers to secure the perimeter and under no circumstances enter the crime scene. He then makes a call on his cell phone. Even though he's a good twenty-five feet away, I can hear him ordering the coroner to remove five bodies and gives them Luke's address. Sadness, disgust, anger, and sorrow are evident on his face. It feels like he's taking forever getting over to us to make one of my worst nightmares official.
I wish I felt that dazed, numb, detached sense some people get when they go into shock. Me? I've seen too much when I served in the military, but right now, I would kill to feel numb. I glance over at my team. I'm certain the overwrought expressions on their faces, isn't too different from my own. Ray is barely holding it together as Ana falls completely apart. Grey takes her from Reynolds arms and holds her close as she sobs uncontrollably. All her father can do is rub her back. Both Grey men are pale, but Christian is hanging on by a thread, while Carrick mechanically goes into lawyer mode and watches everything around him as if he can see every molecule surrounding him. Flynn is attempting to help tend to Ana, but the more he talks, the more distraught she becomes.
By the time Cochran approaches, Ryan and Reynolds are standing on either side of me. "Well Cochran?" I snap at him.
The detective gazes at the three of us before rubbing his eyes. "This is an active crime scene. I need you to pull our of the driveway so coroner and the forensics team can get in and do their job."
"What about Luke?" I practically yell at him. I know he can't officially tell me anything, but fuck, I'm the one that called him and provided the access code to the gate and townhouse.
Cochran's hands are trembling slightly as he struggles to contain his emotions. "Families need to be notified first. You know how this works Taylor."
"Fuck you Cochran!" I yell grabbing the detective by his jacket lapels and slam him against the SUV. I don't give a shit that two uniformed officers are rushing to his defense. Thankfully Ryan and Reynolds pull me off of him first and the detective waves the uniforms away. "He's our friend – part of our team. This is fucking bullshit," I swear at him before clutching his lapels again.
The detective roughly removes my hands from his clothing. His sorrow replaced by anger. "You aren't the only one who is personally invested in the events that took place in that fucking townhouse Taylor. You forget, I've known Luke for a decade. He dated my fucking sister at one point, ate at my families table repeatedly, and a really good friend. So back the fuck off and for once follow the god damned rules or I'll throw your sorry ass in jail for interfering with an active investigation. Do I make myself fucking clear?"
All the three of us can do is glare at him as Carrick Grey joins us.
"Is there anything you can tell us detective?" Carrick asks in work mode.
"Mr. Grey, you need to have the security team back off the premises now as the entire property is an active crime scene," the detective orders. "There is nothing more than I can tell you at this point in time as the investigation is just beginning. Right now I have five dead bodies in that house. It was a fucking massacre in there." Cochran's voice is cracking with emotion. He pauses to regain control. A minute later, he continues. "You know the procedure Mr. Grey. This incident is part of a much larger investigation. I know all of you are aware of that. This crime scene is part of a multi-state, multi-agency investigation. I would say we are five to ten minutes away from this place swarming with media as this is going to turn into a national headline because of the assholes at the fucking Texas Parole Board."
"Is fucking Morton in there?" Ryan asks.
The detective looks at us but doesn't answer, though he does give us an almost negative shake of his head.
"And Luke? Is he one of the five?" I can't help but ask again. He ignores my repeated question. It takes all of my self-control not to lose it and pound his sorry ass into the driveway. The only thing that stops me is I know I couldn't help Grey and Ana if I were in jail for assaulting a police officer.
"Hey," Cochran snaps at me, pulling me from my thoughts. "Take Grey and his girl back to wherever you are staying while Escala is off-limits. The last thing you want right now is to be caught up in the media frenzy. Do you hear me?" I nod and he continues. "When we're done processing the crime scene and notifying families later this evening, I'll call you. By then I should be able to provide limited details. The forensics team and coroner will be here in less than five minutes, so I really need you to move the vehicles off the property and not block the gate."
I'm on autopilot now. Fuck, I think we all are. We manage to get everyone back into their respective vehicles just as the coroner arrives with two trucks and the first few members of the media begin setting up outside the gate. We head back to West Union. Halfway there, Ana stopped sobbing and is now sitting borderline catatonic between Christian and Ray in the back seat, while Flynn is riding shotgun.
A few minutes later we're parking at West Union. It's just all a big blur. I barely remember the drive here. We make our way into the apartment and plant ourselves in the living room. Carrick gets on a three- way call on the phone with Dr. T and Elliot, informing them to come to West Union immediately and to pick up Kate and Mia along the way. He told them he would explain when they got here. We could hear Elliot question him causing Carrick's emotions to finally got the best of him. He bellowed into his phone, "I wouldn't be telling you to get here now if it weren't important. For once just shut up and do as you're told. There's shit-storm brewing and we need to batten down our hatches here at West Union. Do I make myself clear? And keep close to your CPOs and bring them up with you." There was a pause, after which, Carrick merely snapped "Good" before ending the call.
I was grateful Gail was taking an afternoon nap when we arrived. Since the attack at Escala she's been plagued by nightmares and barely sleeping. I also didn't want to break the news about Luke to her because I still didn't want to believe it myself. Luke was dead and it was my fault. There was no denying that because I was in charge of the entire security operation. Glancing around the penthouse, I can see the numbness creeping into the people around me. I almost feel jealous of that feeling, but that little voice in my head reminds me that I'm responsible for this pain, so I deserve to feel the full impact of it.
When Ana begins to get hysterical again, Flynn sedates her before Grey carries her into her bedroom. He returns a minute later, fills an ice bucket, grabs a decanter of scotch, and some glasses and then sets it onto the living room coffee table. After telling us to help ourselves, he serves himself a tumbler with a few ice cubes, downs it quick and refills his glass before taking his seat again. We all take at least a double, even Welch, who rarely drinks. We're a room full of grieving men, so we drink in silence as we're lost in our own grief-filled thoughts. This is how we cope or should I say, attempt to cope.
By the time Dr. T, Elliot, and Mia arrive with their CPOs, we're all at least three drinks in and I'm still waiting for a hint of numbness to kick in. "Where's Kate?" I ask.
"She couldn't get off work due to some big breaking story," Elliot explains as they all stare at us with concern. "What's going on?" He gazes around the room and I can see panic on his face. "Where are Ana and Gail?"
"Resting," Christian mutters half-dazed.
"Everyone please take a seat," Carrick requested as he rubbed his eyes.
I for one was glad he took the initiative to get everyone seated to explain. Right before he began, Gail came into the living room. Her eyes immediately met mine after she scanned the people in the room. All I could do is pull her into my lap as I sat on a chair at the dining room table. I knew she wasn't going to handle the news well. Ever since she lost her husband years ago the topic of loss was a difficult one for her. I can't say that I blame her. Sawyer's loss would bring that back to the forefront of her heart and mind.
As Carrick began to explain what happened, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me. When Carrick finally stated that Sawyer was dead, Gail wrapped her arms around me but amazingly she held in her tears. She instantly appeared numb and in denial, offering to make coffee for everyone. They declined. I knew it would all hit her later when we were alone. It's how she was wired.
Mia Grey always had a slight crush on Luke. She was in tears instantly as she sunk into Elliot's arms. Normally jovial Elliot was devastated. It's odd doing the work we do, but you're around the same people eight to twelve hours per day, so only it's natural to form some type of an attachment. Before moving to Escala, new CPOs on the Grey payroll start out jumping between watching different family members or shadowing another more established member of the security team. Luke wasn't the exception to that rule, though he did spend an inordinate amount of time with Elliot in his first year on the payroll due to a threat against both Grey Construction and GEH over a large project. Most of the Grey family accepted CPO surveillance as a fact of life, though they dislike it. During the time with Luke, Elliot claimed to have a blast. I get it. They were cut from similar molds, though Luke in many ways was more serious. Hell, they even spent time shooting pool on Luke's nights off and continued their friendship until today. Until fucking today and it's my fault. I feel like a broken record that I can't turn off.
After a long, emotional discussion with the Grey Family, it was decided everyone would remain here for the remainder of the weekend. We knew Detective Cochran would be heading our way some time this evening with what we hoped would be answers, but who really knew what he would tell us.
Gail cooked dinner for everyone with help from Mia and Grace. Most of us just pushed the food around our plates. Even Grey, who is normally a card-carrying member of the empty plate club. Kate was still nowhere to be seen, but texted Elliot occasionally that she was still following a lead on her story. By now the ambush at Luke's townhouse was national news with four of the seven Texas parolees found dead on site. That left five of them accounted for between the attacks on Escala and Luke's place with Morton and Smith as yet unaccounted for along with whoever was bankrolling the operation out of Seattle.
We'd watched some of the live coverage from the police investigation. Cochran was right to push us away from the crime scene. We weren't gone more than thirty minutes before it hit the local news and less than ten minutes after that it was national news. Grey had been on the phone with his PR Department at GEH as soon as the news broke informing them of the situation. We knew it would be until at least morning until Luke's name became public, along with his ties to GEH.
The live coverage was awful as the first thing we saw were four bagged and ready bodies loaded into a coroners van. A minute later another bagged body was brought out and loaded into the second coroners van. There was no missing the second one was Luke due to the height and build. What were the odds of someone built like him and at his above average height being killed in Luke's house? The first four bags contained bodies that were significantly shorter and nowhere near as muscular as he was. Once both vans pulled away, heading in the same direction, I had to get up and head out to the terrace for some fresh air. It was all just too much to process. It was either get fresh air or ask Flynn for something to make me numb. I was trying to avoid that at all costs given the entire security team was devastated.
By the time Detective Cochran arrives it's nearly ten p.m. Ana's been awake for an hour, declined dinner, and silently sat outside on the patio looking completely and utterly lost. Flynn had her medicated with anti-anxiety medications and emotionally numb would be the appropriate operative words to describe her state. I'm jealous. The living and dining rooms are packed between the Grey's, the Steele's and the different security teams. Cochran grabs a dining room chair and heads toward the living room as Ana wanders back inside.
"What do you have for us detective?" Carrick asks.
"Forensics is putting the attack at some time between three and four a.m. based on the state of the bodies and what we managed to salvage from the destroyed security CPU," he begins. "They disabled the security system by using Smith as an employee of the alarm company under an alias. He's now in jail being held without bail. With the primary alarm security system effectively disabled, they quietly forced the front and back doors while Luke was sleeping."
When the detective stops for a minute, he glances in my direction, which to me means whatever happened is going to be disturbing. "Ana, Mia, and Dr. T, are you sure you want to hear the details?"
Mia and Dr. T head toward the library after replying negatively. Ana merely sat there, staring at me looking lost before she softly replies, "Yes Taylor." I can't help feel allowing Ana to listen to the gory details is a mistake, but it's not my place to issue ultimatums. Hell, part of me doesn't want to know the details either.
"Based on the secondary security system footage, we know that Luke woke up before they got to him and managed to shoot one of them before they shot him in the shoulder. He was subdued and his arms were cuffed to the back legs of a chair in the living room where he was drugged, questioned, and beaten for the better part of an hour for information not just about Miss Steele and her father, but also about Mr. Grey's security. Based on the footage, we believe he revealed nothing. One of his attackers received a phone call and apparently was given order to take him somewhere. When they were getting him ready to be moved, Luke managed to get free and all hell broke loose."
The detective took the tumbler of scotch Carrick offered him and takes a long gulp. We all turn toward the elevator when we hear the familiar chime indicating someone had arrived. As Kate Kavanagh walks into the penthouse, it's clear she knows what happened to Luke. Normally she's composed and well put together, but right now, she appears exhausted, angry, and isn't wearing a stitch of make up. We all give her a welcoming nod. None of us really trust our voices at this point. She stands behind the couch with her arms crossed as the detective continues.
"Luke was in really bad shape at that point but managed to take the asshole out that had been interrogating him. The wound on his shoulder was bleeding profusely at that point, but he secured the knife they were using on him as a weapon and took a second intruder down. There was a struggle for a gun and at one point Luke was slammed face first into the wall by the front door. Finally Luke managed to get his hands around the wrists of the guy and when the gun went off Luke was leaning against the wall to remain upright, while the guy bled out in minutes from a bullet wound in the upper thigh. Luke then turned and shot the last guy in the chest."
The detective paused once again and covered his face with his hands. "Luke never realized Morton was in the townhouse. He could barely keep himself upright as he turned toward a sound with his gun drawn and both men took shots. Morton took a shot to his side, while Luke went down shot in the chest. He didn't stand a chance. Morton managed escape."
As the detective continued describing the massive amount of blood coating large sections of the main floor of the townhouse, I couldn't help but wonder if he was talking more to try to rid himself of the horrific images he'd seen when he first stumbled upon the scene. Anyone with experience at war knows that feeling all too well. Those images would haunt him in his nightmares for years to come if not the remainder of his life.
"I spoke with Luke's father, who is notifying the rest of the family," the detective continued sadly. "He asked me to convey a message to both Mr. Grey and to you Taylor."
We both look at the detective and nod for him to continue. I couldn't help but notice that the more the detective spoke, the more intense Kate's glare became. If looks could kill, the detective would burst into flames before disintegrating into ash before our eyes.
"The family demands no contact whatsoever with anyone associated in any way with the Grey organization. Given the unstable situation here in Seattle in terms of Morton, he's asked me to accompany the body, when it's released from the coroner back to Texas for a family only private funeral," Cochran explained. "I am literally accompanying the casket to Texas and flying back. I'm not even leaving the airport in Austin."
"We have a right to attend our friends funeral," Ryan snapped.
"The family has the right to set the terms," Carrick commented tiredly. "Under the recent circumstances, their reaction is understandable. We can arrange a private memorial service here for his local friends. Right now we must allow his family to grieve however they see fit."
"What's the latest on fucking Morton?" Reynolds asks.
"We have units stationed at all of the local hospitals in case he seeks care. We have also issued burst faxes and emails to notify physician providers to alert the authorities if he seeks care." He paused once again and finished off his scotch.
"Any luck tracking the pay off money from Texas to Seattle?" I ask.
"The FBI has narrowed down the suspect list, but are still working on it. They want to ensure they have it right beyond a shadow of a doubt before making an arrest. In Texas though, the parole board members who received pay-offs have been arrested and are being held without bail."
"I have a question detective," Kate muttered with barely contained anger. We all turned our attention toward her in shock at her vehemence. The detective merely nodded nervously. "I heard from a highly reliable source that the FBI have taken someone into protective custody. There was at least one person who walked away from the townhouse alive. Deny it all you like, but it's true and I can prove it."
"If I were you Miss Kavanagh, I'd choose my next words quite carefully," Cochran warned her, but there was no missing he was nervous.
"Tacoma," she smirked. When the detective fidgeted, she continued. "The minute I realized what was going on, I called in a few favors in Texas and Vancouver. All of the Sawyers are on the move and heading toward Tacoma. Lacey Sawyer is already at Madigan Army Medical Center. Her parents and siblings are due to arrive within the hour."
Kate pulled out her cell phone and started scrolling through pictures. The first is of both coroners vans leaving the townhouse. After watching the media coverage earlier, that image was already burnt into our retinas forever. The next few were taken from inside a moving car as the two coroners van's split up a few blocks from there. "Why would they split up if both were heading toward the morgue? It's against policy to make other stops once the van had cargo."
She paused and stared directly into the detective's eyes. "I elected to follow the second van. And pray tell detective, where did that lead me?"
"I think you've said enough Miss Kavanagh," he snapped.
Kate laughed wryly, which gave me a glimmer of hope. "I can say it here in company where it will be held in confidence or I can put my face on the local news tomorrow and spill my guts there. It's your choice Detective. I get that you are trying to protect people, but take a look around this room and tell me you don't see the grief and emotional devastation surrounding you."
"I need to make a call first," the detective countered before stepping out onto the patio for privacy.
"What the fuck is going on Kate?" Grey snapped at her. She handed him her phone and we all gathered around and quickly scrolled through the pictures…
-The coroner's van pulling up to the emergency department at UW Med Center.
-The removal of a stretcher with a male patient with their face obscured by a ventilator mask, at his side was a familiar, yet hysterical, redhead with his hand in hers – Mackenzie Donaghue
-The stretcher greeted by a military medical team and immediately taken to the helipad and placed into a military chopper.
-She then opened her email and showed pictures sent to her of the same helicopter touching down at Madigan and the patient being offloaded. Mac was always at his side with his hand in hers.
Luke's fucking alive. I can't help but sigh with relief and glance at Ana. Her dazed eyes meet mine seeking confirmation. All I can do is smile and nod. When her tears flow, Ray pulls her into his arms and rubs her back. We all hear her mumbling thank God repeatedly. You can feel the sense of relief fill the room.
"Sit," the detective ordered, grabbing Kate's phone and stuffing it into his pocket. "What's said here remains between us. Do I make myself clear?" We all nodded. "Luke was taken to Madigan and is alive but critical. He is officially in protective custody, along with Ms. Donaghue. While she didn't overhear anything of importance, Luke heard and saw enough that his testimony is going to be critical in building our case long term. Ms. Donaghue arrived from Scotland unexpectedly last night as she'd received word of the attack on Escala and his involvement. She went from SeaTac to Luke's and was there when Morton's team entered. He managed to get her into the safe room before all hell broke loose. When I arrived on scene, he was barely conscious but provided me the name of the person he believed was masterminding this mess based upon what he overheard while they were interrogating him."
"Who?" Grey demanded angrily. The stare down between an average guy and Grey would have left anyone else cowering, but not Cochran. He merely glared right back at him.
"Right now the FBI is dedicating their IT professionals to trace the pay offs from our suspect to Texas," Cochran explains. "The FBI is currently searching for the suspect, who conveniently disappeared from his office earlier today. You've been cleared to return to Escala as of tomorrow morning," Cochran informed us as he headed toward the elevator. "We've posted a few officers in and around this building and Escala once you return until this situation is resolved."
Ana jumped up from the couch, wiped her eyes, and grabbed the detective by his arm as he was leaving. "You'll keep us informed on Luke's condition?"
He nodded before stepping into the elevator. As the doors were closing, he glanced at Kate and said, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree Kavanagh. Your dad should be proud. I can already see that you're going to be a pain in my ass long term."
"You can count on that detective," she replied. As the door closed we couldn't miss him mumbling about the fucking pain in the ass media.