Simply Lies

Chapter 80

“What the hell are you doing, Earl?”

“Getting what’s rightfully mine.”

“This is Langhorne’s mob money.”

“Nothing personal, but this is my money and I’ve waited a long time for it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I helped Harry clear out of WITSEC. We were supposed to meet up and he was going to give me my share, but that asshole never showed. Been looking for him for over twenty years. And I finally found him right here in this house.”

“Wait a minute — you killed Langhorne?”

“Ran into him when he was coming out of that little hidey-hole of his in the library. I was fair. I gave him a choice. Tell me and he dies with no pain. Don’t tell me and he dies awful. He chose the poison.”

“And when Sullivan approached you?”

“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to piggyback on your efforts. Found out you were really good at finding hidden money.” He motioned at the trunks with his light. “And I have to say you lived up to your rep.”

“You can’t get away with this. Sullivan is on his way.”

“Jesus, get with the program. I never called him.”

“My mother knows you and I left together.”

“Which means I have a little unfinished business back at your house. Don’t worry, it’ll be quick. And I won’t touch the kiddies. And now, we have to take care of you.”

“Drop it, Beckett,” the voice called out.

Beckett whirled to see Wilson Sullivan and two uniformed officers, guns drawn, emerge from the darkness.

Beckett cursed under his breath and put his gun down. He eyed Gibson. “You set me up, you bitch.”

Francine appeared next to Sullivan. “Hey, Earl, remember me? Francine?”

Beckett’s eyes took her in. “Long time no see.”

He smiled. And Gibson did not like that smile.

Francine stepped up to Beckett and kneed him in the crotch.

“Hope the reunion was memorable,” she said as the man dropped to his knees, moaning.

The next moment a series of gunshots were fired from the open doorway. Two slugs hit one of the uniformed officers, and he collapsed to the floor. Another round hit Sullivan in the shoulder and he went down, too. The other officer fired back at the doorway.

Gibson pulled her pistol from her ankle holster, but Beckett had already recovered. He grabbed Francine and his gun, and pulled her out of the wine cellar. Gibson heard a click.

She raced to the door and found that it was locked. “Francine!”

Gibson looked around, and saw that the cop who’d been shot was dead. His colleague was bending over Sullivan, who was panting heavily and holding his arm.

She ran over to him. “How bad?”

“In and out, but it’s bleeding like a bitch. Who fired those shots?”

“Beckett obviously didn’t come alone.”

Gibson said to the officer, “Tourniquet his arm, and call an ambulance and more backup.”

She ran over to the door, and fired two shots into the lock, then kicked at the door and it popped free.

She did a turkey peek to see if they were waiting to gun down anyone who came out of the cellar. With the coast clear, Gibson ran after them.

She was now back in Jersey City cop mode, running down another suspect.

Only this one had a hostage.