Never Tell (May Moore Suspense Thriller 2)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Back at the Fairshore police department, the entire building was abuzz. Police vans were parked outside. Media vans were converging.

FBI officials worked shoulder to shoulder with the local police as the suspects were processed.

May was still shivering, even though she’d managed to change into dry clothes and Owen had loaned her his spare jacket, which was a few sizes too big, but comforting and warm.

Despite being cold, she felt a warm glow of satisfaction. The teams had captured all the key people involved in the trafficking ring. All of them were now in FBI custody, including the kingpin of the operation, Lewis Brooks. With no notice or warning that their operation had been due to be raided, everybody had been on site and no evidence had been destroyed. There would be sufficient proof available to make sure all these evil people went into prison for many years.

From outside, she heard shouting and screaming as Bert Reed, who’d been in a cell in the local prison for the past two hours, was loaded up into a van, ready to be transported to the main FBI headquarters in Minneapolis. Lewis was currently being questioned by the FBI agents who’d flown in from Minneapolis, and would then be transferred to the same place.

This case was now out of their hands, but May couldn’t have felt prouder that as a local team, not only had they gotten to the bottom of it, but they had also arrested Lewis Brooks.

She had no idea what would happen to the hotels. She guessed that the new hotel, the Lakeside Heights, would certainly go no further in its build. Perhaps it would be sold at some stage. At any rate, she felt glad that the campsites and surrounding restaurants would now have the chance to revive and thrive again. Freddy Featherstone would hopefully soon be back to full operational capacity.

There was only one missing piece to the puzzle and May shivered again as she thought about it.

The killer had disappeared.

Even though the police and FBI had immediately embarked on a manhunt of the area, it had brought no results. The woman who had slipped back like a shadow to inflict her revenge had disappeared again.

But May wasn’t surprised. She’d managed to live like a shadow for years already.

She’d killed two people who were guilty of horrendous human rights violations, and who had blood on their hands. May didn’t think she would kill again. Even though Zinaida was now wanted by the FBI, May doubted they would ever find her. She personally believed she’d procured an alternative ID a long time ago, and was going to melt back into her invisible life, satisfied that she’d meted out her own justice.

As a policewoman, May couldn’t approve of this. But as a sister herself, she felt differently, even though she wasn’t prepared to look at her mixed feelings too closely.

Had she been in Zinaida’s situation, May wondered what she would have done.

Sheriff Jack bustled into the back office where May had just finished filling out the last of her reports.

“What a day this has been,” he said. “We’ve got a media conference lined up for tomorrow. I think we’ve just about gotten through everything here now.”

He gave May an approving nod. “I must commend you for your exceptional work on this. You didn’t make the mistake of stopping too soon, but followed your instincts and made sure that you had investigated all the gaps in the case. By doing so you uncovered a massive criminal operation that was about to rapidly expand, and saved many lives. Your efforts have already received positive feedback and commendations from around the state and beyond. I believe the governor wants to thank you personally at a later stage.”

“That’s amazing.” May couldn’t have felt more proud at her boss’s praise.

“The only missing piece in the puzzle is the escaped killer. But there is no direct evidence linking the woman you described to the crimes, or even any accurate information on her identity, as her passport was not among those we found. So from a logistical perspective we could not have taken this further, and we did everything we could to conclude the case. I think that with the entire trafficking ring in custody, the public will be reassured that the killings were an inside job and that no further killings will occur.”

“Agreed,” May said.

Sheriff Jack turned to her partner.

“Owen, you did a fantastic job. I am proud of the way you supported May, and your questioning of the hotel manager was impeccably done. You acted with courage and initiative.”

May saw Owen stand taller in pride, and felt grateful for her boss’s words of praise, and that he always took the time to commend each member of his team.

“I think it’s time to knock off.” Jack looked at his watch. “The press conference is at nine a.m. tomorrow. See you then.”

May walked out, feeling proud and pleased, if still slightly wet and cold. She couldn’t wait to get home and get warm.

“See you tomorrow morning. Well done,” she said to Owen.

“It was a privilege to work with you on this, May,” he said sincerely. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

“Me, either,” she said, smiling, feeling suddenly warmer.

They stood facing each other and then Owen did something surprising.

He leaned in and gave May a quick, strong hug.

It was unexpected, but May had to admit that his arms around her for that brief moment felt good. She hugged him back, hard. And then, without saying another word to each other, they climbed into their cars and set off for home.

May spent the five-minute trip reliving every moment of the intense day she’d just had. It had been a rollercoaster ride of note. She’d had to face her very worst fears, diving into the lake, rescuing trapped people, coming face to face with the killer.

She let out a deep breath as she pulled into her driveway. As she stopped the car, her eyebrows shot up in amazement.

Her sister was sitting on her front porch, in one of the two wicker chairs.

Kerry had a pack of beers with her, and a selection of takeout food. May’s headlights gleamed over her blond hair.

She climbed out of her car feeling shocked.

“Kerry! What are you doing here?” she asked.