Page 38 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Fletcher rubbed his hands on his jeans. “Why? What does she want to do with this town?”
“It’s not her, but I didn’t know that right away.” Decker closed his eyes. His chest moved as he took in a heavy breath. “I told her I didn’t have time for whatever games she was playing.” He blinked. “A week later, a packet came to my house. Inside it, there was information on all of you…and Baily.”
Fletcher pounded his fist on the table.
“Relax,” Dawson said softly. “Go on.”
“Also inside were fabricated images of me taking bribes from city officials. A couple of images of her face, beaten, with a note that stated that if I didn’t do what she wanted, she’d ruin me—and that she had more dirt. More things on me that would not only bury me but put me in prison.”
Fletcher glanced between Dawson and Decker.
Dawson rubbed his index finger and thumb over his chin, like he always did when deep in thought. “I gotta ask. Any chance these things are true?”
“No,” Decker said. “But I was scared. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Poor kid from Miami. Grew up with nothin’. I’d come here. I’d watch. Observe. And I’d report back, just like I was told. But then, the old Crab Shack burned down, and things changed.”
“She asked you to put in a bid,” Fletcher said.
Decker nodded. “I’ve been trying to find a way to claw myself out of this mess. And then, yesterday, I thought. Fuck it. I don’t care. None of it’s true. A good lawyer would be able to help me prove that, so I told Tessa I didn’t give a shit. To go ahead and burn me.”
“Ah, so that’s what that phone call was all about in front of the coffee shop,” Fletcher mumbled.
“I didn’t realize you’d heard, but yeah,” Decker said. “Only, now it’s worse.”
“Worse how?” Dawson asked.
“Tessa got someone else involved. Someone who doesn’t just threaten. They call in hitmen to do their dirty work, and people don’t ever find the bodies.” Decker fiddled with his cup.
“That’s a big accusation.” Dawson leaned forward, elbows on the table, his cop attitude coming off his skin.
“But it’s the truth.” Decker held Dawson’s gaze. He didn’t waver. Didn’t back down.
Fletcher was almost impressed.
“I know these people. I grew up in Miami trying to avoid people like them. People who took advantage of the less fortunate. I watched as my neighbors were offered things that were too good to be true. All they had to do was trust. Sign on the dotted line, and we’ll solve your money problems. Before you know it, you’ll be able to afford college for little Johnny. It’s all a lie. All one big scam to control the streets of Miami and other cities like it.” Decker exhaled.
“Are we talking a cartel?” Fletcher asked.
“Oh, they have connections to cartels.” Decker cocked his head. “They work with them, building a stronger pipeline of drugs, guns, and human trafficking into the country.”
“I’m starting to wonder if you’re not connected,” Dawson said.
Decker raised both hands. “I swear to you I’m not. I just know this shit because I’ve got two cousins and an uncle in prison because they worked for these people.” He sighed. “They know the right buttons to push. And they’ve been pushing mine for years, I just didn’t know it.” He shook his head like a wet dog. “I couldn’t believe it when they called. I mean, I knew they were behind everything the second I was sent here, and Baily was involved. Whatever made me think I could put them, or the hold they have on my family, behind me, I don’t know. But Baily’s not going to be able stand against them either. These people are powerful and?—”
“Wait a second.” Fletcher lowered his chin. “Who exactly are we talking about?”
“The Barbaros. Ken’s in-laws,” Decker said flatly.
“What the fuck?” Fletcher and Dawson stared at each other for a long stretch while that all settled in.
Hitmen. Drugs. Miami. It didn’t make sense.
“Are you saying the Barbaros are running drugs through Miami?” Dawson asked. “They don’t live there.”
“They have a manufacturing plant there, and it’s right near one of the bigger ports. They also have one in Jacksonville, Virginia, Delaware, and a couple in California, as well as Texas.” Decker waggled a finger. “I grew up near that plant in Miami. I did my best to avoid it and the people working there. Only I had lots of family who couldn’t. Money was tight. Jobs scarce. I got lucky. Or so I thought.”
“Let me ask you this.” Fletcher held Decker’s gaze. “Did you steal Baily’s gas? Break into her apartment?”
“Don’t lie to us,” Dawson added. “It will just piss me off.”
