“Actually the Chinese say the same. In fact, they have disclaimed any ties to you at all. Indeed, whatever property you owned in China has now been confiscated by their government, or so we’ve been told. And the U.S. government has impounded all of your property and assets in this country. The same for our global partners, including all your friends in the Middle East who are doing their best to forget who you are because they are about to be hit with severe sanctions. And a certain prison in Myanmar? It’s been visited by Interpol agents, and its prisoner population was found to be, well, interesting, to say the least. It’s now been closed and a major investigation started. So right now, you have zero assets. But rest assured, you will be provided with a public defender. And Beijing will not escape this scot-free. They will take a hit on the world’s stage, for sure.”
Lord said, “But with Victoria Steers dead, how can you prove anything? Who will take the word of a murderer like Rhett Temple?”
“Steers previously recorded all her testimony against both of you. And Nash provided a treasure trove of evidence as well.”
“My lawyers will never allow that evidence in. And if Steers can’t testify in person, that’s too bad.”
“No, itwillbe admissible because we also have video of you shooting her.”
“That is absolutely impossible,” exclaimed Lord.
“Why, because you swept it for bugs and used jamming signals?” Morris smiled. “That would work for most surveillance operations, but not the one we employed. DHS and NSA have some amazing backdoors to every tech manufacturer in the world, Mr. Lord. Trust me when I tell you that we have the goods. All through warrants, all legal and admissible. We have you dead to rights for the murder of Victoria Steers. That will allow her video testimony to come in.”
Morris looked down at his file. “Bail will never be granted, so you’ll be in prison for the duration before trial, which might be years away.” He rose and closed his file. “FYI, we’ve already made dozens of arrests of your major coconspirators, closed down fourteen major distribution centers, confiscated five billion dollars’ worth of contraband, and shut off the financial pipelines for half of the world’s major drug suppliers. And these folks are falling all over themselves to cut deals and testify against you and Masuyo Steers. And Beijing is fully back on their heels and offering all sorts of goodies to us too. All in all, a nice day.”
“Then why did you want to meet if there is nothing you need from me?” demanded Lord.
Morris leaned down to stare at the man. “Because I wanted to tell you to your face that you are royallyfucked.” He lifted his middle finger to the man. “And that’s for Walter Nash, who most definitely got the last laugh.”
He walked out.
CHAPTER
85
MAGGIE AND JUDITH NASH SATside by side in the front row of a small church in southern California.
Next to them was a closed casket set on a church truck.
The mother and daughter had been reunited weeks earlier, and the moment had been emotional and sob-filled. They had clung to each other for hours.
Behind them sat Shock, his large body bowed and his features full of grief. “I’m so sorry,” he said to them as he leaned forward.
The women turned to him, teary-eyed, and they each placed a hand on one of Shock’s broad shoulders.
“Isaiah, you did all you could for him,” said Judith. “Without you helping he never would have survived as long as he did.”
Shock said, “He was just like his daddy, you know. His motor ain’t ever quit. And all he talked about was you two. How much he loved you and all.”
“He never quit, on anything,” said Judith. “And I can’t believe I was. . .unfaithful to him.”
Maggie shuddered when her mother said this. But she put her hand on top of Judith’s and gripped it. “We all make mistakes, Mom. All of us.”
“I’m so sorry, Maggie. For everything.”
“We still have each other. That’s what Dad would have wanted. Okay?”
Shock said, “And you got me, too. No lie.”
Then he slipped his hand into his pocket and took out the necklace and locket that Judith had worn around her neck and then left at the spot where she believed her daughter’s remains had been discovered. “They found this with Walter’s things. I know he would want you to have it back, Judith.”
She took it from him, opened the locket, and looked at the picture of her daughter on the day she was born. “Thank you, Isaiah.”
They all rose, went to the closed casket, and put their hands on it. Judith’s legs started to buckle. Shock quickly gripped her by the shoulder and held her up.
Two FBI agents came forward from the back of the church and led mother and daughter out to waiting cars. Shock walked out to his rental car and stood there. The casket was rolled out and placed into a hearse, and it was driven away as Shock, Maggie, and Judith somberly watched.
There would be no burial. They had been told that Nash’s remains had already been cremated, and the urn was inside the casket. His ashes, the agents had told Judith and Maggie, would be given to them before they left to fly home.