Page 29 of Phoenix

“My son is dead,” Jule’s grandfather said. “What could be worse than that?”

“More deaths,” the chief replied. “John Jones is not your average criminal. He is incredibly intelligent and incredibly ruthless. The Knights have a presence in the prison system that’s in constant communication with their people on the outside. We know where Jones is and we have enough to prosecute him, but if we do that while leaving the Knights intact, even if we get a conviction, he’ll have no trouble running the organization from the inside and, more than that, he is almost certain to lash out and take revenge.”

“Revenge on who?” his mother asked.

Tor had been hiding from his father for years. If he was willing to go after his only son, a son that allegedly matteredto him, he’d have no compunction about killing any person he thought stood in his path.

As he predicted, the chief said, “Anyone he perceives wronged him along with their friends and relatives.”

Jule’s mother gasped.

“That’s not where we are now,” the chief was quick to explain, holding both hands out. “I assure you that we are being vigilant in tracking any risks to your family and there are none at this time. But to keep it that way, we need to have a meticulous case.”

“What kind of case?” his mother asked. She was a civil litigator, not a criminal lawyer, but discussing the details of a lawsuit put her in her element, which gave her a sense of control, and that relaxed her. She’d have lost her mind if she had known what little control she had actually had over Jule when he was a child. Hell, she’d lose her mind if she actually knew the person he was as an adult.

“When we act, it won’t be against Jones alone. We will arrest him along with all of his first and second tier lieutenants. At that point, we’ll be able to turn his scouts in exchange for deals. The Knights will be eradicated, completely and permanently.”

As aggravated as Jule was about the delays, he could see the wisdom in the chief’s approach. But wisdom didn’t equate to success. “How do you plan to do all of that if you haven’t been able to make any progress on that infiltration you promised us going on six years ago?”

“We haven’t been able to get our people in the door in the volume we’d hoped, but we are imbedded in Jones’s organization. That is how we’ve gathered the information I mentioned, and it is how we are building an airtight case. This has been slow moving, but it is progressing. I’m asking for your trust and patience as we do our jobs.”

Punching the chief of police wouldn’t do a damn thing to move things along and get Tor home, so Jule ground his teethtogether, crossed his arms over his chest, and tried to breathe through his rage. He was only partly successful. “Trust is earned and we have been plenty patient. Five, going on six, years patient.”

“Julian.” His mother looked decidedly uncomfortable.

Chief Montez, on the other hand, looked amused. “You’re in law school, is that right?”

He didn’t realize his mother or grandparents were in close enough contact with the police chief to share personal information unrelated to the case. “What does that have to do with any of this?”

“Do you plan to follow in your parents’ shoes?” he asked.

His grandparents both beamed and his mother lost her worried expression.

“Yes,” his grandfather said.

“He’s at the top of his class at UCLA,” his grandmother added.

“We’re very proud of him,” his mother said.

“Hell no,” Jule snapped.

His mother put her hand over her mouth and his grandmother gasped.

Unperturbed Chief Montez, asked, “What do you plan to do with your career, son?”

“I am not your son. And I plan to defend the people your office harasses.” The people he had grown up with. His friends. His family.

Chief Montez laughed. “I can see it.”

“Although I may not be able to find a job if you handle all your cases as efficiently as you’re managing this one.”

“Julian Sterling, that is enough,” his mother said.

“Yes, it is.” The entire meeting had been as pointless as the supposed investigation. He pushed his chair back and stormedout of the office, more disheartened and infuriated than he had been when he had walked in.

Chapter 9– Age 26

“I understand that you want to forge your own path, and you don’t feel like you can do that at my firm or your father’s old firm, but there are other options,” his mother said. “I spoke to my parents last week and your grandmother reminded me again that there’s a place for you at the company. Your grandfather can take you under his wing, and when he retires in a few years, you’ll be able to run it.”