“No,” I said as I shook my head and leaned back in the chair. “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize him.”
And I really didn’t.
“This is one of our agents. He is undercover working the Ramos case. From these notes, the agent was close to shutting him down but unfortunately, he hasn’t checked in with his handler. Not even after Mr. Ramos’ death. We aren’t sure if Mr. Ramos somehow found out he was an agent or there’s something else going on.”
“I—” I started then snapped my mouth shut.
I didn’t know this man but I knew of him. I’d heard Ray talking about killing an FBI agent. That was how this whole thing started.
“I didn’t know him. I didn’t even know about anything Ray was involved in. Don’t ask me how I was so blind, I’m still trying to figure that all out myself.”
The agent smiled at me in a sad sort of way.
“You know something?” he asked.
“Nothing that is really going to help you. But I came home early one day and Ray was in his office with another man. One of his bodyguards, he was there that night when they all were shot.” I took a deep breath and shook my head. “Anyway, I overheard Ray saying that he’d found out there was someone from the FBI acting as one of his crew and that he needed to know if there were any more. I had no clue what he was talking about since I didn’t know… about any of the things he was into. But Ray had said something… well, it was pretty clear that he’d killed whoever it was. He— he had blood on his shirt.”
“And that was how you found out about what Mr. Ramos did?”
I shook my head.
Then I went on to tell the agent how I didn’t know anything other than the fact that Ray was a killer. I knew he was into something bad, but I hadn’t found out how bad until everything was over. When he asked me about the shooting, I told the same story I had before. I left Silas out. I always would.
“So, what you’re saying is that Mr. Ramos hit you so hard that you lost consciousness?” he asked and there was something in his tone that was telling me to sayyes.
“Yes.”
“And when you regained consciousness, everyone was already dead and the police were entering the premises.”
“Yes, sir. I panicked seeing all the bodies. I didn’t know what happened and there was a gun next to me so I grabbed it. I don’t even think I was aware that I had. I don’t even know how to shoot a gun.”
All those years living with an outlaw motorcycle club you would have thought I’d learn. But I never really wanted to. I was handy enough with a knife. Or anything else really, as long as I could get my hands on it, I could turn it into a weapon. That was all I had to defend myself on the streets, and so, it just kind of stuck.
“Thank you for coming in today, Miss Fowler,” he told me with a friendly nod. “I’ll have all of this squared away by the end of the day. It seems that you aren’t any help to the case at all. I appreciate you clearing that up.”
“Thank you?” My voice came out a little higher like I couldn’t believe that was it. Was I really free now? Could I get my life back?
Okay, yeah, like I wanted whatever I hadback. My past was just one big mess.
But I was free to move forward.
“I’ll make sure that you’re able to return to the residence you shared with Mr. Ramos if you’d like to collect your things. Shouldn’t be a problem since it looks like he put it in your name a few weeks ago.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked looking at him like he was crazy.
He opened up another folder and thumbed through until he found what he was looking for. Then he slid the paper across the table to me. I looked down at the copy of the deed for the condo and it was clear as day right there in front of me, the place was mine. Complete with my signature at the bottom, though I’d never signed such a thing. I could tell right away it was forged, but I couldn’t deny that is was done by someone who knew what they were doing. It was scarily close.
“Who is this?” I asked pointing to a name next to mine.
“Mr. Ramos had a few aliases. I’m assuming that’s one we don’t know about.”
“Oh, okay,” I said still in a state of shock.
I couldn’t understand why he would have done this. Why would he put the place in my name? I’d probably never get the answer to that question. Maybe that was for the best because knowing my luck, there was some super shady reason behind it. I was definitely getting rid of that place as soon as possible. I didn’t want my name tied to anything having to do with Ray Ramos once this shit was straightened out.
“Like I said, I’ll make sure the crime scene is released by the end of the week so you can go back.”
“That’s okay,” I told him with a shake of my head. “I don’t want to go back there.”
