Chapter 50 - Finding Out - Part 2 of 3

Leroy was busy getting the bar ready to open for the after work crowd and waiting on Candy to come in when the phone rang.

It was his PI. He hoped like hell he had something. If not about Miranda then - then at least about Newt’s girlfriend. The sooner that was resolved the better.

“Hi Garrett,”

“Hey Chapman," said the voice on the other end of the line, "I have something for you. We finally hit the jackpot.”  

“You have something on Miranda?” asked Leroy not believing he finally had found something.


“Not over the phone. I'm in Twinbrook. Can you meet me at the diner?”

“Sure. What time.”

“An hour?”

“Okay. I just need to call in Candy.”

* * * * * *  * * * * * 

Leroy saw Garrett sitting at a table in a back corner at the old diner. He slipped the waitress $50.00 and asked her not to let anyone sit in the table next to them before sitting down with him.

“Hey Garrett, why all the cloak and dagger?” he asked as he sat down next to his PI.

Garrett laughed at Leroy. “Great minds think alike dude. She just made a cool $100. I already paid her to keep us ‘alone’. But man, this whole thing is bigger than just you and me. Phones could be tapped. I don't think they are on to us, but better safe than sorry.”

“What whole thing?” he said throwing up his hands.

“Did your girlfriend ever tell you what her father-in-law actually did for a living?”

“No. We never discussed the details just that her husband was supposed to take over someday and he hated it. Why, what does that have to do with Reid?”

“It's an import/export business,” explained Garrett looking smug and ignoring Leroy's question, “He facilitates the movement of goods across the border. He warehouses and validates shipments as they go back and forth.”


“So," said Leroy wanting him to get to the point.

“Murdock is on the take," said Garrett, "He turns a blind eye to illegal and stolen goods being moved and is paid handsomely for it. Most of his warehouses are legit and clean. But there is one where this activity takes place.”

“Holy shit,” said Leroy, “But, still, I don't understand what this has to do with Reid.”

“That's where it gets complicated. Newt is - or was - the sole heir to Murdock’s business. And right now, his children are the heirs to the business after Newt. The boys were supposed to take over after their father and in fact would have been expected to get jobs there right out of high school. It was important for old man Murdock to have a clear, strong line of succession so there would be no turf wars.”

“Still not following,” said Leroy confused.

“Well, now that is has been exposed that Reid is also Murdock’s son, he has just as much right to the business as Newt and is probably even better suited for it based on his activities with you. If Reid and Kate got together, then they could kick Newt out and Reid could take over and Murdock’s grandsons would still be the eventual heirs to the business or maybe they would produce their own kidlets. Miranda and her husband would most certainly benefit as well.”

“So Miranda had a reason to frame me to get me out of the way?”

“Perhaps, but that's not what happened,” replied Garrett grinning, “Chief Conner, Miranda’s husband, is a dirty cop. It's almost like it's common knowledge around Twinbrook but no one has the guts to go after him.”

“Yeah, I've heard the rumors,” said Leroy with disgust evident in every word.

Garrett continued, “Conner knew the Murdock Corporation was a way to traffic illegal goods and occasionally used their services when he would skim from drug and weapons busts. He just had no idea Reid was Murdock’s kid. He figured out Murdock was Miranda’s brother-in-law because he met her twin sister Cassandra. Then not too long ago, when he found out about his stepson’s true lineage, he must have thought he stumbled into a goldmine. I can only imagine how much he was drooling when he figured out Reid was dating Newt’s wife.”

Leroy was dumbfounded. Poor Kaitlin has no idea what she stumbled into 19 years ago when she slept with Newt Murdock. Knowing her as he did now, he could see how she allowed herself to be taken in by him. “Damn, so you’re saying Chief Conner did this then?” asked Leroy.

“You’re getting warmer Chapman. When he found out that Reid was Murdock’s kid, Conner blackmailed him saying he would tell his wife and son the truth. The best we can piece together is he wanted in on the action. Murdock did give him a little. But I think it benefited Murdock more having someone on the inside so that's why he didn't tell Conner his wife already knew about his infidelity. What Conner didn’t tell Murdock was that he knew where Kaitlin was. He kept that to himself. Too bad he didn't get to use it. Evidently he wanted to be sure Reid and Kaitlin were together again before he cashed in on that little nugget.”

Leroy wanted Kaitlin to file for divorce now, before all of this came out. It could get really ugly. “So you have proof of this?”

“We have a witness that will testify that he stole items from your bar and set the fire to get you out of the way at the request of the Chief. He says he can produce evidence to back his story. If he can get immunity and go into witness protection, he will testify against the Chief on this as well as several other incidents that have remained either unsolved or another innocent person took the fall. Seems the Chief told him you were like a cancer, you just keep on coming back more annoying than before and he wanted you gone for good. Evidently he also set you up for the robbery so Reid wouldn't have you as competition but that isn't worth pursuing. Miranda wanted Reid to be the center of attention and whatever Miranda wants, Miranda gets. She was the key to his eventual partnership/takeover of Murdock's business.”

“Fuck…” murmured Leroy under his breath.

Garrett smirked. “Fuck is right Chapman. Listen, I expect the Chief never thought Reid would get convicted. In fact, he needs his stepson cleared of these charges in a bad way. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Murdock got together to try and pin it on you again, especially since you and Kaitlin are together. It would pave the way again for Reid. Murdock knows Newt has moved on and is a lost cause. He needs Kaitlin to be with Reid and to push for him to take over. At minimum, they will be filing an appeal while trying to plant more evidence against you - or worse.”


“Damn…” said Leroy and leaned back in his chair to digest all that he had learned. He needed to get Kate away from that family now. “How soon can you start the process?”

“We have to be careful. Move slowly so Murdock doesn't catch on. So, Chapman, be careful, and watch your back. If anyone suspects you know anything, your life could be in danger. More than a couple of his adversaries have conveniently disappeared.”

“Why can't things ever be fucking easy?” said Leroy then remembered Newt’s girlfriend. “What about the redhead?” he asked with a sigh.

Garrett laughed, “Well, it seems Newt has been in therapy and decided to become a model citizen. We hacked into his therapist’s records. Seems he had a come-to-Jesus meeting with himself and realized what a jerk he was and has been working towards becoming a new man. Part of that involved telling anyone he dated that he had abused his wife and was still married because she ran away with their kids. Seems the redhead you described is indeed his new squeeze and she has actually gone with him to a couple of his sessions.”

Leroy couldn't believe it. Once an asshole, always an asshole is what he had always heard. “I'll be damned,” was all he could say. But at least Kaitlin wouldn't need to confront her and they could let sleeping dogs lie. Thank God for small favors, he thought, and maybe it will encourage her to file for divorce now.

Garrett looked at him and said, “We will be stirring up a hornet’s nest but nothing we do will lead back to Murdock. Just the Chief. But it should get Reid cleared of all charges. The Chief wouldn't survive a day in prison if he tried to bring down Murdock with him. Murdock doesn't directly have anything to do with it anyway except as a possible motive. I am going to the FBI with this and we are trying to get our guy into the witness protection program if he cooperates. Sadly, Murdock will remain untouched.”


“Wait...even if we can get to Conner, won't Murdock still be after Kate and the kids? Will we be in danger? Especially if they are helping each other.” asked Leroy more worried than before.

“If Reid is released, and Murdock goes to prison, probably not. But Chapman, if anything happens, you two might need to disappear.”

“Uh, there are more than two of us Garrett...there are six of us, not including her oldest son and his family.”

“Once Reid is released and Conner is behind bars, I think you will be fine. We'll keep our ear to the ground. Do you want me to post a security guard at the apartment?”

"Yes. Shit. I thought this was almost over," said Leroy.

Garrett stood up and shook Leroy’s hand, “Sorry man. I had no idea,” he said apologetically, “Sit back down, you look like you could use a drink. I'll ask the waitress bring you one on my way out and slip her another $50 to leave you alone,” said Garrett and laughed again. “I'll add it to your monthly invoice,” he said as he turned and left a dumbstruck Leroy sitting at the table.

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