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“Things seem to be coming along. I met Sarah yesterday. I have the report for you.”
“Go ahead,” I say, a tard impatiently.
"Sarah's contact at the Miami PD has delivered some new information," Father O'Malley begins, pausing for a moment to let the gravity of the situation sink in. "She believes it's crucial that you both be informed of it immediately."
"Please, tell us what she's found," I urge him, feeling a little irritated that this is taking so long.
"According to her report, Castello has agreed to help the police in a sting operation," Father O'Malley says, his voice low and careful. "The premise is Castello is to tell Jimmy that he knows a hacker who can track you down through credit card usage and website logins. Inspector Jenkins suggested setting up a meeting between the mastermind behind all this and the supposed hacker, who is actually an undercover cop, if the powers that be in this convoluted mess up will take the bait, but if not, Inspector Jenkins hopes they can catch the actual masterminds some other way . . . Castello and Jimmy apparently are just the low-hanging fruit —worthless muscle . . . Sarah’s words, not mine.”
"According to Sarah, Castello insisted on a small deposit," Father O'Malley continues. "He said the hacker wants 15K in used twenty-dollar bills, and he needs fresh photos of you since he got rid of the last ones. It seems like they're trying to gather as much evidence as possible."
"If Jimmy gets the go-ahead from his higher-ups," Father O'Malley says, "Inspector Jenkins and his crew will stage a shooting to make it appear as if you've been killed. A skilled makeup artist will create a mask using a mold of your face, making it nearly impossible to detect any discrepancies on TV.
"Once the fake shooting takes place, they'll package a severed finger and ear from a cadaver lab in Miami and put them in a manila envelope," Father O'Malley pauses for a moment, his eyes filled with something that looks like disbelief.
"According to Sarah, the envelope will be coated with a special invisible chemical, and anybody whose hands come into contact with the envelope, like handling it, their hands will turn to a red color when a special agent is applied to it. This is how they intend to catch the perpetrators. I’m sorry, Liam, I’m not doing a very good job of explaining this. All this science and technology goes right above my head, I’m afraid."
Tony and I look at each other wide-eyed.
"Let's hope it works," I say, feeling sick to my stomach at the thought of someone handling pieces of real human remains in my name. "I don't know what this world has come to," I say in total disbelief.
"Indeed," Father O'Malley agrees. "All we can do now is pray."
"The plan is, three months from now, with the help of the police, you will get “killed,” then Castello will set the trap for his masters," Father O'Malley continues in a shaky voice. "Three months gives the whole project believability. The cops will set the locations and have a surveillance team at every vantage point.
“The day after the shooting, Castello will demand a meeting with Jimmy and give him the manila envelope. After that, Jimmy will be followed and kept under surveillance until the envelope exchanges hands.”
As I process this information, I can't help but feel a mixture of relief and trepidation. The plan seems well-thought-out, but I know that one small mistake could bring the dominos cascading down fruitlessly and everything going up in smoke.
Chapter fifty-two
THE DOMINOES FALLING: MARTIN.
LIAM
Finally, the day has arrived. I sit by the phone, waiting for any intimate news from Father O'Malley. Minutes drag into hours, and every passing second feels like an eternity. My heart races in my chest, and I can hardly breathe.
At last, the phone rings, and I snatch it up, my hands shaking. "Father?"
"Everything went according to plan, Liam," he says, his voice steady and calm. " Jimmy and your project manager, Martin, were apprehended during the exchange. They're in custody now, and Castello is being moved into witness protection. That is the final deal he made with the cops. Apparently, he knows where a lot of bodies are buried—what world we live in."
A wave of relief washes over me, and I let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, Father," I manage to choke out, tears streaming down my face. "Thank you for everything."
"God has been with us all along, Liam," he replies softly. "Now, it's time for you to begin rebuilding your life."
“Not yet, Father. We still don’t know for sure who hired Martin, if he was indeed hired, or why he would want to kill me. There are still so many questions, and until these are answered, I cannot get my life back.”
“That is true, but I think we are close now . . .”
“Only if Martin talks.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Father, I know I am crossing a line here, but would it be possible to ask Sarah if her guy would get her the actual transcript of Martin’s interrogation? I am going to say something that might offend you, but I am desperate to hear this from the horse’s mouth. Would it be possible for Sarah’s guy to get us the tape or the transcript of the interrogation? I am willing to pay anything. I considered Martin almost a friend . . . at the very least, a trusted colleague. How could I have gotten it so wrong? I find this very troubling. How could I not have seen it . . . how could I have been so wrong?”
“Don’t beat yourself up too much. After all, how many of us walk around thinking people we know and are close to us are actively trying to kill us? I will ask Sarah. On this, I am just the middleman. I will not pass judgment.”
“I appreciate that, Father. Sorry for putting you in an awkward position.”
