The Aftermath: Chapter 1

Richmond, Virginia

Friday, April 13, Commonwealth Attorney Alex Burnett died.

Minutes before his demise, Alex placed an envelope with a single word printed 743 times across a piece of paper inside the concealed lining under the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Only one other person knew of the hidden area; therefore, he knew the document was secure. Alex zipped the lining, placed the flap over the opening and made a mental note to send a message about the envelope. That tickle he experienced whenever he found a piece of evidence that had the potential to break a case had kicked into his gut. The word had no meaning to him, nor did it appear to be connected to his case, however his gut was telling him to hold the piece of paper close to the vest until the connection made sense.

Alex checked his watch. Hell, he was late. Gathering his trench coat from the passenger seat of his Ford Mustang convertible, he stepped out of the vehicle that had become his pride and joy. Thinking of the piece of paper he had yet to deem as evidence, Alex decided he would get his friend Nate to check out the word in the morning to see if he could determine the significance, if any.

Alex took the stairs up from the parking garage. He was already an hour late for his date. Yes, with work behind him for now, he was focused on dinner and a little tender loving care. He was certain his dinner date would be beyond pissed by the time he reached the restaurant. He smiled thinking of ways he would convince her just how apologetic he was.

Alex reached the lobby of his condominium just as the rain started to kick in. The security officer, Jim, threw his hand up in acknowledgement.

“Long day, Mr. Burnett?”

“A longer night, if I’m lucky.” Alex smiled and waved at the man as he quickly walked over to the elevator doors.

With a swipe of his hand in front of the pad on the wall, the doors opened with a swoosh and closed just as fast as he stepped inside. Alex pushed the button to the twenty-seventh floor, pulled out his cell and sent a message to Nate to call him first thing in the morning. He then sent a message to his brat of a sister telling her he would see her tomorrow at the lawyer’s office.

It was just the two of them now that their mother had died. Janice Burnett-Taylor-Porter, his sister, was going through her second divorce battle and he wanted to be there to support her. At forty-five, he was still the caring big brother. Always there to protect and comfort his now thirty-five-year-old sister, no matter how spoiled she was. Yes, he’d had a hand in making her that way, but it couldn’t be helped. He loved her.

Alex did not bother to look up when the elevator doors opened, his fingers gliding easily across the phone, as he walked towards the door of his condo. The hallway was empty as usual for that time of night. The entire level encompassed four condos, each 2100 square feet of luxury living. He had just been elected Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Richmond, marking his last days as a detective in the Major Crimes Unit of the Richmond Police Department. Now, two years later, he was in a good position in life. Ready to begin to settle down with one woman, maybe have a child or two. All he had to do was convince that one woman, whom he had loved for years, to fulfill his dream. Until then, he would enjoy the single life with vigor. If all went according to his plans, this date would be his last…just not the way he thought.

Alex opened the door with the palm of his hand on the pad. Walking into the living room, he threw his coat across the white leather sofa as the door closed. Walking promptly towards his bedroom, a quick shower and a change of clothes were the only things on his mind.

“Bedroom lights on,” he ordered his smart device as he pulled his tie from around his neck. He froze the moment he stepped into his bedroom.

A naked woman was lying on his bed. Taking a step forward, he took a good look at her. She was young, Hispanic, with long black hair and marks on the heel of her right foot. He did not recognize her, and she certainly was not his date.

Someone had been in his place. His instincts kicked in and he reached for his gun. No, he was no longer a cop, but he still carried his weapon as if it was an extension of him. His thumb released the latch securing the gun in his holster, just as the hairs on his neck stood up. They were still here.

He pulled his weapon sweeping left to right, checking every corner of the bedroom. Taking steps towards the closet, he stepped inside, glancing towards the back where he knew secrets lay. 

From behind him, a muscular arm circled his neck, placing him in a choke hold. Alex elbowed the assailant in the abdomen. As he turned to confront the man, he felt a prick break the skin on his neck. Cool liquid entered his vein as he swung the butt of the gun across the man’s face. Then, he felt nothing.

“What the…” A tranquilizer of some kind, he thought as the words trailed off. His body immediately stopped fighting. With the question still lodged in his throat unable to escape, his eyes were wide open, seeing the man who had subdued him; yet, not understanding why. Alex’s unfired gun slumped to the floor along with his body. Then, another man stepped from the recesses of his closet into his line of sight. Their eyes met. Recognition was immediate.

“Hello Alex. You are going to die, in a minute or two. Know this is not personal. It is a part of the master plan. If you were still a detective, you would not have been on our radar. But you’re not;” he shrugged his shoulders, “well, here we are.” The man stared down at him.

 Alex tried to speak, to move, but his body did not respond to the command from his brain. Master plan? The question rolled through his mind. He could feel his body shutting down, one organ at a time. He knew Nate had to be warned about this man, but he was about to take his last breath. There was nothing he could do.

His mind traveled to his sister Janice. Who would be there for her? His mind wondered as his mother’s smiling face appeared before him, and his father’s right beside hers.  She would be okay. Nate would watch over her. His thoughts turned to Regan. His beautiful Regan. The woman who he had planned to ask to be his wife. Now, that day would never come. The time they wasted giving each other space to build their careers… they could have done it all together. Now, it was all being taken away because of a master plan.

The cop in him had questions. What was the master plan? Who was behind it and most importantly, why? What was the motive? Right before death captured him, his last thought was that he would find a way, from heaven or hell, to speak from the grave to bring this man to justice.