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Sheppard understood why he asked. Of all the young men he had mentored while in prison, Karl Halifax had been the one most resistant. He had been a nice enough young man. However, no matter how hard Sheppard had tried to point Karl in another direction, namely, to pursue a profession other than that of a loan shark, he refused to take it.

But then Sheppard recalled that year after he finally got out of prison when his sentence was overturned. He had needed Karl’s help when his wife’s ex-husband tried his hand at extortion. Karl had stepped in without hesitation and come through for him. Locke, Shogun, and Macayle knew that too.

“Yes, I still believe Karl’s story,” he responded.

The three men nodded, and then Shogun said. “Then that’s good enough for us.”

Macayle slid off his sunglasses and said, “The sooner we talk to Karl, the better.”

***

A few hours later, Karl sat behind the table facing the four men. He had known Sheppard would come, but damn, he hadn’t expected the other three. He knew of their reputation as attorneys. It was hard to believe the five of them had once served time together at Glenworth Penitentiary.

He never forged a close relationship with the three men. They were younger and had entered the prison system a few years before he left. Because of his attitude, they saw him as negative energy and kept their distance. Quite a few others had, too. Even today, Karl knew he was the one inmate everyone assumed Sheppard Granger had not managed to save.

They were wrong about that. Sheppard had saved him. His influence had impacted his life more than any of them knew. After prison, he returned to Mississippi and to the only profession he had known, that of a loan shark. A year later, remembering all of Sheppard’s mentorship, he decided to put distance between himself, his father, and his uncle to establish his own loan shark operation in Tampa, when he couldn’t convince them that violence and taking advantage of others were not the way.

That’s when he not only began operating on the right side of the law, but also on what he felt was the right side of humanity. He eventually began doing more to help his clients than to put the screws on them. It made him feel good to offer interest rates on his loans that were less than what the bank charged. Not only that, he found ways to assist those who couldn’t seem to get out of the rut of getting back on their feet.

Then Nyla entered his life. She shared that mindset, and together they pledged to help others less fortunate any way they could. It was as if their lives were meant to be connected, not only for that purpose, but because they needed each other at the time in a way few understood. He was convinced she was his lifeline and soulmate.

He had to believe that, in the end, the truth of everything that happened that night in the warehouse would be revealed, and he and Nyla would one day live the life they wanted and deserved.

He had to believe that.

***

“Tell us your side of the story, Karl,” Locke Dangerfield said, removing a recorder from his briefcase and setting it on the table in front of them. He hadn’t seen Karl in years. At least not since the day Karl Halifax walked out of Glenworth a free man after serving his time and left the rest of them behind.

Locke recalled that Karl was about five years older than he, Shogun, and Macayle when they arrived at Glenworth. He had been considered extremely private, with an attitude problem, and refused to let anyone get close…except for Sheppard.

But even then, Sheppard hadn’t gotten close enough to help him turn his life around. Locke couldn’t help but think that if he had, they wouldn’t be here now, visiting Karl in a locked room at the Tampa Police Station.

Karl began talking, and the recorder began capturing everything he said. Locke listened attentively and knew the others did, too. Karl was saying that a couple of months ago, while eating lunch at the Lemon Drop Café on Elm Street, a man approached him and identified himself as Agent Tim Murray with the FBOC, a branch of the FBI that dealt with organized crime. He had the regular credentials to prove it. An official card that contained his photo, name, and serial number, and a gold-colored metal badge.

The man carried himself as an agent, didn’t make small talk, but offered what Karl considered a deal of a lifetime. Namely, a chance to expunge his past criminal history. He wanted that more than anything because of Nyla Roker, a woman he met a few years ago, fell in love with, and intended to marry. Although Nyla had told him time and time again that his past didn’t matter to her, it mattered to him. He felt that she deserved more.

Locke kept his face neutral but couldn’t help wondering why it always took a woman for some men to decide to get their shit together. Why couldn’t it be because starting a new life was something he had wanted to do?

Karl continued talking. “I told him I would think about it and get back with him, and I called him back a few days later. The switchboard answered officially and connected me to him. We met again somewhere else. This time it was a rural country road, and another man was with him. An agent named Gregory Altmann. He showed me his credentials as well. They had come up with this plan.”

Karl then outlined the plan. Namely, how he was to meet Barcos at the empty warehouse, after putting it out on the street that he wanted to be included in the man’s illegal activities. He had met with Murray and Altmann earlier that day, and they wired him up and gave him the revolver to use if he needed to do so. They claimed they would be stationed in an FBI van within a mile of the warehouse and recording the entire conversation between him and Barcos.

Karl took a break in telling the story to release a deep breath. “How could I have been so gullible? They seemed so believable. Even that night at the warehouse, everything seemed to be going well. Barcos was just about to pat me down when he got that call. He pulled out his gun first, and I fired in self-defense. Within minutes, all hell broke loose. The warehouse was surrounded by local cops who claimed the purpose of my meeting with Barcos was to kill him to take over his territory.”

Karl rubbed his hand down his face. “I tried explaining it was an FBI sting operation. However, when they contacted the Bureau, they said no agents Murray or Altmann were working for the FBOC. The wire they had taped to my chest underneath my shirt was not connected to audio equipment anywhere, and the gun they had given me to protect myself had been registered in my name months ago. I knew then it had been a setup. Someone wanted Barcos dead, and they used me to do it.”

Locke nodded, glad Karl had deciphered that much. “Anything else you think we need to know?”

“Yes. Donnie Barcos warned me that if the meeting at the warehouse was a setup, he ordered his men to kill me. I’m not worried about a hit being placed on me, but I am worried about Nyla. I told her to go somewhere I know she will be safe. It’s imperative that she remain there and that no one finds out where she is.”

Locke nodded again. “Our law firm will represent you, Karl, and I will be the lead on the case and the investigation. Shogun and Macayle are already knee-deep in other cases.”

“Why are you guys doing this?” Karl asked.

The three understood why he asked and had no problem giving him a truthful answer. “Because Sheppard asked us to,” Shogun replied.

Karl nodded, glanced at Sheppard, and said, “Thanks, Shep.”