Her Baby Plays Cupid

Chapter 9 Figuring Things Out

Leah's POV cont.

Both Greg and Carly stared at me, mouths agape, slowly processing what I had said.

"You what, now?" Carly gasped. "What?"

"I think that Luca Garabaldi is Gary. A nickname, so to speak. Not only that, remember the shooter only once mentioned Andrea by name. The rest of the time he said 'you touched what wasn't yours'. In the past, anytime Luca spoke to me he always stressed that I was his. As if I was a possession. Also, he would have known who Andrea was seeing. I mean, come on. He's the head of security for Cole Industries. You can't tell me he didn't know about Jake's cousin's affair with Andrea."

Liam had pushed open the office office door to let us know they had watched the video, hearing my the last of my statement. "I just caught the tail end of that, Leah. Come back to the living room and repeat that to Connor and Colin."

I repeated my statement, the sureness of my supposition settling in my bones. As the seconds ticked away I could see the same thing was happening with the rest of them.

"Just to clarify," Carly mused. "You believe Luca Garabaldi is the Gary the shooter was referring to. The same Luca Garabaldi who has long been planning to use you to gain access, then control of the Murphy organization. According to the video from three years ago, he had something to do with the death of your parents. Once married to you, Leah, he will eliminate your three brothers. He is also planning on ousting Elio Moretti, all with the blessing of Jeremy Cole."

"That about sums it up, yes." I confirmed. "I could be way out in left field with my assumptions, that's why I asked for the meeting with Mr. Moretti, Mr. Cole, and whoever 'Gary' is. It's also why I thought it was a good idea for Jose to initiate an investigation into the events of yesterday. Why I want my brothers and you two at the meeting."

"Holy f**k!" The words exploded from Liam. He was practically frothing at the mouth. "Are you telling me that if you had married Luca Garabaldi three years ago that he would have tried to kill the three of us?" He twirled his finger between Connor, Colin, and himself.

"Probably the four of us by this time. As well as Elio Moretti. As long as I wouldn't marry him, we were safe. I do have a few more things that need figured out. How deep is Jeremy Cole involved in this? Was Andrea's death really an accident or was it staged? Also, Matthew Jacob Turner? What part did he really play in all this? Were they really having an affair? Or was it staged in order to bring Jake into the mix?" I threw those questions out for the others to think about.

Greg jerked upright, his eyes flashing with comprehension. "You know, I couldn't understand why Jake and I were dispatched to that accident. There were several other units closer to the accident scene. Something didn't feel right about the scene. It was a hit and run, a drunk driver, according to Jake's cousin. But when I think about it, I don't see how Andrea could have been thrown out of the car to land the way she did. Then the accident reconstruction team showed up far faster than anticipated. So did the ambulance."

"Sounds like a set-up," interjected Colin. "Anything else jog your memory?"

Greg's eyes glazed over for a few moments as he mentally replayed the scene in his mind. "Well, when Jake knelt down and checked her pulse, I heard him say 'that's strange' then 'when did you say the accident happened?' That's the time the ambulance pulled up and basically pushed Jake out of the way."

"Are you sure she was really dead?" Connor chipped in.

"Positive. Too much blood and grey matter on the ground around her head. A couple of the wounds were still oozing." Greg grimaced as he mentioned this.

"Greg, you said you took the cruiser's dash cam and Jake's body cam. Are you referring to the actual units? Or did you just download the footage?" If he had the actual units, then the footage from the whole time on shift would be available.

"My gut instinct was on high alert so I took the complete units. As per protocol, I stripped the body cam off Jake before the ambulance got there and loaded him on the gurney. While the EMT's were working on Jake, I went back to the cruiser and dismantled the dash cam. Took it and the recording device with me. Stashed it in my kit bag, then gave the bag to Carly when I met up with her on my way to the hospital. That's how she knew to get you. She put my kit bag in her work vehicle."

He looked down and then back up, capturing my eyes as he spoke. "The fact the chief was at the hospital waiting last night was unusual. The guys and I made sure he nor the lawyer from Cole Industries there with him, could approach you. They both left as soon as the doctor reported Jake had died on the table. One of our squad actually commented that it was the news the chief wanted to hear."

"Interesting. So, to confirm, there is no way the department has seen any of the videos? Didn't anyone ask why those things are missing?" Liam asked.

Giving me a sly grin Greg shook his head no. "I haven't spoke to anyone from the department since we left the hospital last evening. Even then it was only about Jake and our concern for him. Carly was the one that called our squad chief this morning to let him know I've had to take emergency stress leave. If and when I'm asked about those things missing, I'm going to say the shooter and his accomplice took them, holding me at gunpoint after they shot Jake. Who's going to say any different?"

Even with all the grief, pain and stress pressing down on me, I couldn't help but laugh at Greg's nonchalant attitude. I could see his point though. It would make sense for the shooter and his accomplice to remove any evidence of their crimes. The fact they left Greg alive is a message in itself. That being they could have killed him too, but chose to leave him alive as a witness that 'Gary' and the Coles had a very long reach. Knuckle under or die.

Liam nodded his head a few times, a habit he had that let those in the know understand that he had come to a decision. "Leah, I think we've got a lot to think about tonight. Do you think your boss, Mr. Morales, would be willing to facilitate an early, and secret, meeting with Elio Moretti? Just Elio, you three, Jose, and me? The sooner the better."

'It's fairly late now, so I won't be able to talk to him until some time tomorrow. Is that okay?" I stiffled a yawn, feeling tired beyond belief.

"That will be fine, little sister. We," he tilted his head towards Connor and Colin, "are going to head out now. You get some sleep. You also," he looked at Greg and Carly. "Are you staying here tonight, or?"

"We're going back to the Graystone Security building. The three of us are staying in the employee guest suites until after the funeral." Carly responded, a wan smile on her face. Exhaustion was hitting us all.

"Alright. Leah, call us as soon as you have the secret meeting arranged. Love you, little sister. See you soon." He embraced me in a warm brotherly hug, which was followed by similar hugs from the other two Murphy boys, then as quietly as they arrived, they left.

I gathered up the other things I needed. I already had taken my easily carried electronics, all my legal documents and such earlier this afternoon. I packed the rest of my clothes and personal items into suitcases, included Jake's t-shirt, then we headed out the door. For some strange reason, I didn't think I would be coming back here to live, at least not right away.

Keith and the other men going off shift was waiting for us in the corridor along with the guard for the new shift.

"I'll drive you three back to the building in the team's SUV, okay? The other three going off shift will follow in Carly's SUV. Jose messaged a bit ago and suggested a bit of extra protection wouldn't be a bad thing." He shot Greg a sideways look before adding. "Apparently someone didn't get a message that he should have earlier today. Seems a certain man doesn't respect the fact that Leah here just lost her husband. Seems to think she's his for the taking."

"What the hell?" Carly muttered as she dug her vehicle keys out of her purse handing them over to one of our collegues.

"What the hell is right," Keith agreed. "We are going down to the parking garage and leaving in the team SUV from there These three will wait a few minutes then take Carly's vehicle from the outside parking lot. We have an addtitional team on standby who will follow our vehicle. Let's go."

The guys each carried a suitcase for me, stacking them in the back of the SUV. They took the elevator back up to the lobby, while we got into the vehicle, preparing to leave.

"Leah, can you scrunch down on the floor? My gut is telling me that you need to stay out of sight. If someone's watching, let them think you stayed in your own place tonight."

The thought of being watched sent chills down my spine.