Revealed: The Missing Years
Page 27
Harry shifted his footing. That was what he wanted. The last few times he’d tried to access anything, even from within the bureau, his access had been denied. There were ways to access cases through backdoors, but there was always the possibility that such digging could set off alarms and alert others to his activities. Harry cleared his throat and said, “I know I screwed it up—I screwed it all up—but that doesn’t negate the fact that I know this case backward and forward. I know that Claire said she was running from Catherine London. She believed that the woman was a threat to her, her child, and even to Rawlings. Ms. London scared Claire enough to force her to disappear. Now Claire’s been charged with attempting to murder the woman. Sir, surely you see that somehow this all came to a head. Right now, everything I’ve read makes Ms. London out to be a saintly, kind woman who’s been victimized by Claire and Rawlings. Before I left the case, I heard audio of Rawlings’ confessions. Everything he confessed to doing was in conjunction with London. We can’t sit back and let those local-yokels prosecute either of them without coming forward with our information.”
SAC Williams shook his head. “Son, this case has moved past you and even me. What the FBI reveals is not up to either one of us.” He leaned forward. “However, I will say, it’s refreshing to have you speak about testifying for both of them. If nothing else, you’ve made personal growth. That may temper my response to the insubordinate way you entered my office.” He motioned to a chair. “Have a seat. I have the feeling you know more than you’ve let on.”
Harry exhaled and sat facing the SAC. He stretched his long jean-covered legs out before him. Being between assignments, Agent Baldwin was currently working daily at the San Francisco field office and living in Palo Alto. “I may have done some more research in my spare time.”
“Perhaps the bureau isn’t monopolizing enough of your time. We can always use more desk jockeys if research is your new forte.”
Ignoring his comment, Harry continued, “It didn’t and it still doesn’t make sense. I’m not talking about Claire. I may still believe that her decision to go back to that ass—I mean man—was a bad and possibly dangerous move, but that isn’t what’s been eating at me and keeping me awake at night.”
“Go on.”
“I’ve listened to Rawlings’ confessions over and over. The evidence doesn’t match his statements.”
“I’m listening.”
“Sir, will this go any further? You said the case is beyond both of us. Will what I tell you make a difference?”
“Let me be the one to decide that. You obviously believe you know something. What is it?”
Harry looked down momentarily before bringing his bright blue eyes back to the SAC. “If you decide to take this beyond this office, and if it’s possible, I’d like to be officially back on the case.”
SAC Williams didn’t verbally reply; instead, he nodded. It wasn’t a promise but it wasn’t a refusal. It was a spark that gave Harry the fuel to share his research and intuition. Harry began, describing in extensive detail Tony’s confession: his claim to have paid someone to sabotage Simon’s plane.
“Rawlings couldn’t say how the transaction worked, other than that he initiated contact with someone who took his money and promised results. A few weeks later, Simon’s plane crashed. To Rawlings the transaction was complete. It’s rather narcissistic of Rawlings to believe he had that power, but I guess not surprising. What bothers me was the NTSB’s final analysis of Simon’s plane.”
Williams lifted his brows, wanting Baldwin to continue.
“The NTSB didn’t find any evidence of tampering.”
“Why was this not discussed earlier?”
“I didn’t bring it up…” Harry confessed “…because I wanted to see his ass rot in prison for what he did. I didn’t care if it made sense or not. The man paid to have my best friend’s plane sabotaged. Simon Johnson wasn’t only my friend: he was my sister’s fiancé. He was a good man who didn’t deserve to have a hit put out on him simply because he wanted to close part of his life before he moved on to the next. I also hated what Rawlings did to Claire. So, even though I knew the evidence didn’t fit, I was happy with Rawlings’ confession.”
“What changed?”
“I’ve done some messed-up things in my life. My priorities have been skewed, but every time that happened, it was in favor of the bureau. I gave up the rights to my daughter. I told Ilona, and myself, that I did it to keep them safe. I’ve backed away from commitment with Liz and anyone else because I never know where my next assignment will lead or if I’ll come home. Again, I’ve told her it’s for her. I don’t want to leave her hanging for months or years on end. While all of that is true, it isn’t the full truth. Can I assume that you know what I mean?”
SAC Williams nodded. “Yes, son, the day we take that oath we’re all married, and the FBI is a bitch of a wife. She demands all of your attention.”
Harry’s lips formed a straight line. His characteristic grin and blue-eyed smirk disappeared behind his solemn expression. “I agree. The FBI is my other half, and I can’t ignore that the bureau stands for something other than revenge. I chose to give up my life to uphold the laws of this land. It’s more than that. I believe in that oath that I took years ago. That doesn’t mean I didn’t screw it—figuratively and literally,” he added with a slight upward turn of his lips, “but I can’t sit back and watch a man take the blame for a crime he didn’t commit. Don’t get me wrong: Rawlings is guilty. He hired someone with the intent of ending Simon Johnson’s life, which is conspiracy to commit murder. But in this case, it was just that—conspiracy. Simon’s death did not result from a sabotaged plane. In my opinion, his crash was related to an overdose or perhaps a poisoning. I’m not sure.”
SAC Williams shook his head. “Son, this case has moved past you and even me. What the FBI reveals is not up to either one of us.” He leaned forward. “However, I will say, it’s refreshing to have you speak about testifying for both of them. If nothing else, you’ve made personal growth. That may temper my response to the insubordinate way you entered my office.” He motioned to a chair. “Have a seat. I have the feeling you know more than you’ve let on.”
Harry exhaled and sat facing the SAC. He stretched his long jean-covered legs out before him. Being between assignments, Agent Baldwin was currently working daily at the San Francisco field office and living in Palo Alto. “I may have done some more research in my spare time.”
“Perhaps the bureau isn’t monopolizing enough of your time. We can always use more desk jockeys if research is your new forte.”
Ignoring his comment, Harry continued, “It didn’t and it still doesn’t make sense. I’m not talking about Claire. I may still believe that her decision to go back to that ass—I mean man—was a bad and possibly dangerous move, but that isn’t what’s been eating at me and keeping me awake at night.”
“Go on.”
“I’ve listened to Rawlings’ confessions over and over. The evidence doesn’t match his statements.”
“I’m listening.”
“Sir, will this go any further? You said the case is beyond both of us. Will what I tell you make a difference?”
“Let me be the one to decide that. You obviously believe you know something. What is it?”
Harry looked down momentarily before bringing his bright blue eyes back to the SAC. “If you decide to take this beyond this office, and if it’s possible, I’d like to be officially back on the case.”
SAC Williams didn’t verbally reply; instead, he nodded. It wasn’t a promise but it wasn’t a refusal. It was a spark that gave Harry the fuel to share his research and intuition. Harry began, describing in extensive detail Tony’s confession: his claim to have paid someone to sabotage Simon’s plane.
“Rawlings couldn’t say how the transaction worked, other than that he initiated contact with someone who took his money and promised results. A few weeks later, Simon’s plane crashed. To Rawlings the transaction was complete. It’s rather narcissistic of Rawlings to believe he had that power, but I guess not surprising. What bothers me was the NTSB’s final analysis of Simon’s plane.”
Williams lifted his brows, wanting Baldwin to continue.
“The NTSB didn’t find any evidence of tampering.”
“Why was this not discussed earlier?”
“I didn’t bring it up…” Harry confessed “…because I wanted to see his ass rot in prison for what he did. I didn’t care if it made sense or not. The man paid to have my best friend’s plane sabotaged. Simon Johnson wasn’t only my friend: he was my sister’s fiancé. He was a good man who didn’t deserve to have a hit put out on him simply because he wanted to close part of his life before he moved on to the next. I also hated what Rawlings did to Claire. So, even though I knew the evidence didn’t fit, I was happy with Rawlings’ confession.”
“What changed?”
“I’ve done some messed-up things in my life. My priorities have been skewed, but every time that happened, it was in favor of the bureau. I gave up the rights to my daughter. I told Ilona, and myself, that I did it to keep them safe. I’ve backed away from commitment with Liz and anyone else because I never know where my next assignment will lead or if I’ll come home. Again, I’ve told her it’s for her. I don’t want to leave her hanging for months or years on end. While all of that is true, it isn’t the full truth. Can I assume that you know what I mean?”
SAC Williams nodded. “Yes, son, the day we take that oath we’re all married, and the FBI is a bitch of a wife. She demands all of your attention.”
Harry’s lips formed a straight line. His characteristic grin and blue-eyed smirk disappeared behind his solemn expression. “I agree. The FBI is my other half, and I can’t ignore that the bureau stands for something other than revenge. I chose to give up my life to uphold the laws of this land. It’s more than that. I believe in that oath that I took years ago. That doesn’t mean I didn’t screw it—figuratively and literally,” he added with a slight upward turn of his lips, “but I can’t sit back and watch a man take the blame for a crime he didn’t commit. Don’t get me wrong: Rawlings is guilty. He hired someone with the intent of ending Simon Johnson’s life, which is conspiracy to commit murder. But in this case, it was just that—conspiracy. Simon’s death did not result from a sabotaged plane. In my opinion, his crash was related to an overdose or perhaps a poisoning. I’m not sure.”
