Blood Money Page 2

  He took off his suit jacket then walked towards the interrogation room door and threw his jacket over the camera then started to unbutton four buttons on his shirt.

  "SAY, MAN!!!" I yelled.

  Before I finished what I was going to say he took a black box off the back of his pants and a wire from underneath his button-up shirt then walked over to me. When he reached my side he pointed at a green light on the black box and hit a switch that turned the green button red.

  "My name is Chadwick Brown and I'm trying to help you man, that's all. Just let me ask you something, are you dead?" he asked buttoning back up his shirt.

  "No," I said looking off to the right.

  "My sentiments exactly, your wife is in the other room right next door and guess what she believes?"

  "I don't know what?" I asked dryly.

  "She believes her husband is dead."

  I knew Stacey was unfaithful but to believe I was dead was confusing and alarming. What would make her think that is what I really wanted to ask but I didn't, I kept my mouth closed and prevented from saying anything out loud. Even though I'm the man I am now I'm a hood dude, I mean I did grow up in Hiram Clarke, I know all about the cops and how the game is played.

  "I know you're wondering to yourself, how is that possible? How could she think I was dead? Were you not worried about why you were in the hospital? Did anything not dawn on you? I don't have to lie to you man, I just left your candlelight vigil in front of your home."

  "What the hell are you talking about? We agreed just last week to work things out that she loved me and so do I... I mean we have had our differences but..."

  He held up his hand in a stopping motion while I was talking then put it down.

  "Mr. Wallace your wife was trying to set you up."

  "Ridiculous!! Where's my lawyer?"

  He didn't even respond to me, instead he walked out then within seconds he was back in with a TV on a cart with a VHS player underneath it.

  "You have a mighty fine way of getting people to talk, look I don't have anything to hide."

  "A multimillionaire as yourself I'm sure you don't, but you see..." he said walking over to the other side of the table that I was sitting at, "your wife does." he said taking a remote from off the top of the TV then pressing play.

  I watched as they set up a scene at my home with yellow police tape as if something happened, I sat back in my chair and exhaled but with all the breathing I did there was nothing and I mean nothing that could prepare me for what was next. I watched as Stacey's car pulled up on the curb next to the driveway of our house get out the car and start yelling.

  "WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED??"

  She acted so distraughtly when the officer said I was dead I couldn't believe my eyes. I covered my mouth in disbelief then lowered my head shaking it.

  "This isn't really adding up," I whispered.

  "Okay... would you like to see more?" He asked pointing the remote in the direction of the box television turning it off.

  "No! Nooo!!! How could she?? Whaa... why??? I'm not understanding this. I gave her everything and then some."

  Instead of giving me an answer he walked right back over to the TV stand pulled out another VHS tape and popped it in then sat down across from me pressing play with the remote.

  On that video was a guy who looked unfamiliar to me at the time, sitting on the driver side while Stacey was sitting on the passenger side and Roberto sitting in the back. I watched and listened as I heard all three of them speak of me like I was less than nothing.

  "This is your third time coming to me, after this I'm done. You wasting my time Stacey, do you want it done or don't you?" the driver asked my wife.

  "Of course I do! I wouldn't be contacting you if I was not going to follow through," she said laughing like I was just an insect.

  "My fee is half a million dollars." the driver said slightly looking at Stacey then looking back at Roberto.

  "You will get your full amount when I, the grieving widow leave her husband's funeral, I'm not inarticulate I pay you when the jobs done."

  "I'm just going to let you know up front, my services are not to be toyed with, the less contact we have the better chance you have to get away with this, have you told anyone else your plans?"

  "Nope just me and him." I heard my wife respond quickly nodding her head in the direction of Roberto.

  To watch all this unfold in front of my own eyes was the craziest stuff that I'd ever seen, it was playing out to me like a scene out the movies except this was my life. I turned my chair more towards the television in disbelief and listened.

  "Roberto, podría salir del auto por favor?" the driver asked.

  "He just asked him to step out of the car." The detective said in a whisper.

  "I took Spanish from 9th grade until my sophomore year in college Detective, but thank you for your translation," I said never taking my eyes off the TV.

  Roberto never said anything, he just nodded his head and did as he was asked then closed the back seat passenger side door.

  "Are you sure you can trust him?" the driver asked as soon as Roberto got out.

  This whole time Stacey was attempting to set me up to be killed for only half a million dollars she never looked unsure of herself until he asked her that question.

  "What do you mean? Of course, I trust him!" Stacey sat back stretched out her legs crossed her arms and looked out the window.

  "You really don't trust anyone do you?" he asked leaning in just a little now showing his face.

  "WAIT!" I yelled standing up. "Stop the tape!"

  "Calm down Sebastian, you don't want to continue watching it? Is it too much," he asked with a slight smirk.

  I had to be losing my mind was I going crazy??

  "No, I want you to rewind it now please just a second."

  Detective Brown aimed the remote towards the TV re-winded it just a little then press play as I walked up closer to the box screen TV. Put my hand on it and lowered my head.

  "You can stop it now," I said in a whisper.

  "Are you sure?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

  "JUST STOP THE GOT DAMN TAPE!!! Please?" I asked. I felt dizzy and overwhelmed confused, just everything all at once. "Can I have a drink of water?"

  Detective Brown looked at me confused nodded his head stood up and walked out, when he came back in I was on the floor trying to catch my breath.

  "Mr. Wallace??? Mr. Wallace are you alright?"

  I nodded my head yes and motioned for the water, with every gulp of that water I felt my breath come back. I finished the water then scooted back against the wall closing my eyes resting the back of my head on it.

  "Mr. Wallace focus for a second, what on that video cause you to react that way? Think back."

  "I don't have to think too hard Detective, the man that's sitting on the driver side of that vehicle is my twin brother."

  Chapter THREE

  Detective Brown:

  After Mr. Wallace ID'd the driver as his brother I was more confused than when my lieutenant gave me the case. I excused myself from the interrogation room went and sat at my desk then covered my face with my hands.

  "How's everything going detective?" Paige asked me softly putting both hands on my shoulders.

  "Frustrating." I moaned. "I have the wife denying that she tried to set up husband, the lover clinging to life in the hospital and the husband not wanting to believe the wife tried to set him up until I showed him the video oh by the way in which he was still blind to until he sees his twin in the driver seat talking to his wife which I personally believe in an attempt to set him up," I said shaking my head.

  "But I guess on the bright side at least no one is dead," Paige said walking from behind me to the front part of my desk.

  "Yeah, I guess you're right," I said sitting back interlocking my fingers, as soon as I said that my desk phone rang. Paige and I looked at each other before I answered it and said hello.

  "Detective Brown?
" the voice on the other side of the receiver questioned me.

  "This is he may I ask who I am speaking with?"

  “Yes, my name is Shatoya."

  "Okay, Shatoya... Do you have any information about the Wallace case?"

  "Of course I do Mr. Brown, Roberto Hernandez just died about. 3 hours ago, I am calling from Memorial Southwest Hospital," she said.

  "He succumbed to his injuries from being rolled over by what looks like to be an SUV."

  "Rolled over?"

  "Yes sir rolled over."

  "But I thought he was poisoned."

  "Oh yes he was, he was dying when he was hit but he maybe could have been saved had he not been run over."

  "Well this case is even more serious than before, thank you Shatoya and I'm going to try even harder to bring justice to his family."

  "You don't have to convince me of anything sir, his family now that's who needs the reassurance." she said before hanging up.

  "What time do you start patrol, Paige?"

  "Shit in about 30 minutes what do you need me to do?" she asked lowly.

  "Find the brother, I need him."

  I collected my thoughts then headed back to where I was holding the wife. As soon as I walked in she stood up defensively.

  "Can I go now?? I need to start planning my husband's funeral."

  "Mrs. Wallace have a seat," I said moving my hand in a downward motion. "You will be released as soon as I figure out what I need to." I lied. "Your lover, Mr. Hernandez just passed."

  She sighed a bit then spoke, "Can you assure me that whoever did this to them will be put away for life??? Better yet done the same way they were done?"

  I took a moment to respond, it was hard for me being a man not to knock her right on her ass knowing that she was the one to cause all this bull shit and drama. So instead I played along with her stupid ass game and assured her that the killer would be found.

  "Mrs. Wallace, I need to ask you something, did you and Mr. Wallace have any enemies?" I asked.

  "Well... I didn't want to say anything but yes he was so envious and conniving that I think he could have done this," she said looking off.

  "Why wouldn't you mention it before?"

  "Well detective, I've had such a hard time with his family, me saying something would cause more damage than anything. Besides me and this person were a little close."

  "Close like what?" I asked getting antsy.

  "Like sleeping together close, for a long time."

  "So you were sleeping with your husband, your cook and who?"

  "I know where you're getting at and just because those things occurred does not mean I killed my husband." she answered.

  "Once again Mrs. Wallace I didn't say or insinuate you did," I said lifting my left eyebrow.

  "Have you ever thought there was someone else that would gain much more than I would?? Someone who was next in line to everything?" she said leaning in closer.

  "Who is the third person Mrs. Wallace? Who is the other person you were sleeping with?"

  My patience was running out and all I needed her to do was name a certain person, Identify that that was the person that Mr. Wallace said he'd seen in the car.

  "May I have another cigarette?" she asked politely.

  I hit the pack letting one shift its way to the front then took a deep breath as she lit it and exhaled.

  "The man you should be searching for, the other man that I had been sleeping with and so much more to gain from my husband's murder is his twin brother." she said sitting back taking a long drag with a smirk.

  "You seem to be enjoying this Mrs. Wallace I have to admit."

  "Sir let me be honest with you, you are barking up the wrong got damn tree, you can poke prod and all that other shit but let's be honest here, really what have I done wrong but be his wife? When I found my lover..."

  "Which one?" I asked stopping her in mid-conversation.

  "Mr. Hernandez is who I'm speaking about when I found him, the first thing I did was call the cops my husband being dead in the house, was just coincidental. I didn't poison him or what have you," she said taking a shorter drag from the cig when something clicked to me.

  "Whoever said he was poisoned, Mrs. Wallace?" I asked.

  We sat quietly for 2 minutes looking at each other when suddenly my walky-talky started going off.

  "Officer Paige calling to Lieutenant Brown over."

  "Excuse me for a moment." I smiled walking over to a corner in the room, I could have walked out but I wanted her to know that I knew what she was saying to me was a bold face lie and I knew it. I wanted her to hear what I was about to be told. My gut told me the brother was in but not as deeply but then again I could be wrong…

  "Brown in over..."

  "I found him, I found the brother. We're headed to you right now."

  "That's perfect! Put him in holding four I still have some loose ends I need to get cleared."

  "Got it I'm on my way... Oh and Brown?" Paige said over the walkie-talkie. "I have the mother as well, she said that they have some things to tell you that would surely shut down your whole case." I looked at Mrs. Wallace and smiled then spoke back into the walkie-talkie.

  "That's great Paige, hurry and bring them in, over."

  After I finished talking I turned my attention back to Mrs. Stacey Wallace then walked over to her slowly.

  "There is nothing more I have to say to you until I speak with Mr. Wallace's brother," I said putting my hands on the table in front of her.

  "His brother is a weed head, low down and dirty, and my mother in law..." she said doing air quotes. “She has NEVER liked me and I'm pretty sure if they looked in her system about 3 weeks back it WILL show she has drugs in her system as well." she laughed, "Do you really think their testimonies will put me away?"

  "Stacey..."

  "I prefer Mrs. Wallace thank you." she leaned in smirking.

  "You aren't deserving of that name, so like I began, Stacey when this is all said and done I'm sure you will not be as certain as you are now. But that's cute, I know what you did and all for the love of money. Was he not giving you as much as you required, doing what YOU wanted him to do? Or was it something else? "

  She just sat back and laughed at me, she thought she had covered up all her tracks that she hadn't been found out, that I was some sort of dummy and I think that's what pissed me off more than her stupid ass responses. What I did next was unlike me. She continued to laugh as I stormed out of the room and walked into the next room uncuffing Mr. Wallace then pulling him out of his seat.

  "I apologize in advance, Mr. Wallace," I said grabbing him by his arm.

  "What is going on?" he asked.

  I stopped in my tracks then looked at him.

  "Your wife thinks you're dead sir!!! We found your brother and in order to get her to confess this is the only thing I have to do!!"

  "Which is what???" he said snatching his arm away from me.

  I sighed and looked at him then squinted my eyes, "With everything I showed you, with everything I've just said you still have your doubts?"

  "With everything you just showed me with everything that's been said sir I still have my doubts, I know she loves me despite what she has done in the past."

  This whole case was irritating me and so was this couple, to me there was no way in hell he could be believing that his wife had nothing to do with any of this unless he was in on it. I had to think quickly, weed out the people that were involved and those who weren't.

  "Mr. Wallace, I know you want to believe your wife has nothing to do with this and so do I but with your help we can figure out the truth, you are worth 45 million dead and only 25.1 alive, on top of that 45 million did you know that Mrs. Wallace took out of life insurance policy on your 5 months ago in the amount of 6 million dollars?"

  He looked off a bit then back at me and finally responded, "She really tried to kill me didn't she?"

  "Yes sir, I believe she did, but I have your brother comi
ng in and so is your mom."

  "So what do you need me to do?" he asked genuinely.

  "Follow my lead Mr. Wallace and everything will go the way it should I promise you."

  He nodded his head in agreeance and followed me to the room next door where I had his wife held. I motioned one of the other lead cops to get Mr. Wallace and sit him in front of the television where he could see and hear what I was asking his wife while I put back on my microphone and jacket. I didn't even get my foot good in the door before Stacey had something smart to say.

  "Let me ask you something." she smirked as I walked in taking a seat in front of her.

  "Did you really think what you did affect me any? Ohhh I have the brother and mother... I'm bringing them in...” .She said mocking Paige. “That truly has no effect what so ever, his mom never liked me and she's just going to go with whatever it is any of her boys say. She's weak and nothing they will ever say or do affect me." she laughed. "You will have to pull Sebastian out his grave to get me to testify and a good luck on that officer." she laughed again.

  I took a deep breath and smirked before answering.

  "It's funny you said that Mrs. Wallace... That is what you wanted me to call you right?? Mrs. Wallace??"

  I couldn't wait any longer she had gotten too cocky and already I was done with her games.

  "Come on," I yelled out knowing my colleagues heard and as watching me on camera. "Was that what you wanted to stick with? You see, in your mind, you've killed everyone you thought off, your lover, your husband and you wanted to frame it all on the brother who is on his way might I add." I smiled. "But you never thought out one thing, what would happen had somebody lived," I said standing up walking to the door and opening it, Mr. Wallace just stood there not saying a word while her eyes bulged out.

  "Sea.... Sebastian baby is that you?? Oh I'm so glad you're alive!!! Come here... Tell them I had nothing to do with this." she pleaded but he kept quiet and just stared.

  "Baby, come here, please... Don't believe any of this, you know me!! I love you, please. You know what, your brother and your mother did this! They never wanted to see us together you know that." she said holding out her arms. "Love please come here."