Justice Lost (Darren Street #3)(63)

“And how does the money get from all these people to Corker?”

“My informant tells me he just goes out and collects it. He isn’t shy about it, either. He’s like one of those small-time insurance salesmen who shows up at your house every month to collect the premium. Hell, he drives his cruiser, from what I understand.”

“And what about Morris? How did he get his cut?”

“Jim Harrison was his bagman. Morris apparently had enough brains not to do business with the sheriff directly. He had Harrison collect the money. Harrison was just another loose end they tied up.”

“And the girl? The Saban girl?”

“Morris was supplying her with drugs, but that isn’t why they killed her. I think they killed her because they were afraid of what Morris may have told her.”

“Yeah, pillow talk has gotten more than one person killed,” Howell said. “And you didn’t want to go to the Knoxville TBI because you figured since it’s been going on for so long, somebody there must be involved?”

“I know the TBI has good informants. Hard for me to believe your guys didn’t know anything about any of this, especially with all the time that has gone by.”

“It’s funny, you know,” Howell said, suddenly taking on a semi-philosophical air. “These criminals have it made. I mean, you take these guys, for example. Probably doing a couple of million a year, maybe more, just off the gambling. Then you add the drugs and sex, and the numbers just go out the roof. But it’s never enough for them, is it? They always need more. Always have to get greedy. And when they get greedy, somebody inevitably gets killed, and when somebody gets killed, they bring attention to themselves, and eventually their machine breaks down and everybody winds up either dead or in jail.”

“So what do we do about it?” I said. “I’ve told you pretty much everything I know.”

“I guess we’ll have to bring folks in from all over the state and start from the beginning. We’ll have to infiltrate the groups, identify the major players, start getting things on tape and on video. It’s going to be a big case.”

“And it’s going to take a long time.”

“No way around it,” Howell said.

“That’s what I figured.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not a problem. I was just hoping to get some relief or some closure or whatever you want to call it for the Brewer family. I’d like to know what became of him.”

“We’ll find out eventually.”

“Yeah, I suppose we will. So what do you want me to do? Do I just go about my business and leave them alone?”

“That would look too suspicious. Talk to the sheriff. Tell him as long as there isn’t any more violence, you’ll call a truce and let things stay as they are. But you don’t take a dime. We’re clear on that, right?”

“I don’t want any of their money.”

“And you might tell the sheriff he could throw you a bone by producing Gary Brewer’s body, if there’s a body left to produce. At least that’ll look like some progress is being made. In the meantime, I’ll mobilize my agents. We’ll bring people in from Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, all over the state. You won’t even know they’re here, and neither will the agents in the Knoxville office. And rest assured, Mr. Street, I’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on in the Knoxville TBI office. I won’t stand for corruption of any kind, even if it’s just turning a blind eye.”

“So you’ll coordinate this entire thing from Nashville?”

“I will. It’ll be top secret. Very, very few people will know about it, and those will only be people I can trust.”

“Good,” I said, and I stood up. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll ask your man to take me back down the mountain. I’m freezing.”

Howell stepped toward me and reached out his hand. “You’ve done the right thing here today. Thank you for trusting us.”

“Any chance I can ride back without the hood?” I said.

He shook his head. “Sorry. We have to keep you in the dark about some things.”





CHAPTER 36

Claire called me at work around six to see whether I’d be home at seven. I told her I should be there by then, and an hour later, she showed up at my place holding two bottles of wine and a bag of takeout from the best Chinese place in Knoxville.

“This is a pleasant surprise,” I said, reaching out to help her. She was dressed casually, but she looked as beautiful as ever.

“I’m afraid it’s going to be bittersweet,” she said. “I’m here to say goodbye.”

I invited her in and we opened the wine. The food didn’t seem appealing at the time. We sat down on the couch as I filled a couple of glasses.

“I’m surprised,” I said. “I knew you’d head back eventually, but now that the time has come, I don’t quite know how to feel. Do you really need to go back to the swamp? The job offer still stands.”

“I appreciate it,” she said, “but I’m not even licensed to practice law in the state of Tennessee. I haven’t taken the bar.”

“That’s an easy enough fix.”

“I will admit to you that I’ve looked through some materials,” she said. “I don’t think I’d have any problem passing.”