Journey to Justice: A Kamira Jackson Mystery (Cold Case Chronicles Book 5) Read online

  Journey to Justice

  A Kamira Jackson Mystery Book 5 Cold Case Chronicles

  Kacie Clement

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  About the Author

  Other Books by Kacie

  All Copyright Reserved ©

  2020 by Kacie Clement

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

  Kacie Clement 42936 State Hwy 210 Aitkin, Minnesota 56431 www.kacieclement.com

  Publisher's Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author's imagination: localities and public names used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Journey to Justice was written by Kacie Clement. -- 1st ed. ASIN:

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter 1

  Detective Kamira Jackson stood on the lanai of the seaside condo in Aruba, gazing across the calm turquoise sea. Lifting the hot cup of coffee to her lips, she grinned. It was the last day of her honeymoon, and Kamira felt bored and feeling very guilty about that. The honeymoon was a long time coming after a tough case when a skeleton was discovered in the basement wall of the church on her wedding day. Guilty as she may feel, Kamira was glad they were going home tomorrow morning.

  Kamira nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her cell phone ring. Picking up the phone, she saw the name Jack Thomas on the screen. She smiled. Jack was the Chief of Police of the Shadowbank Police Department and her best friend.

  “Good morning, Jack. Everything okay at home?”

  “Everything is fine. I needed to talk to you. A new case has come up, and I wanted to talk to you about it. Do you have a few minutes?”

  Kamira, with a wide grin, felt her pulse quicken. “I have all day, Jack. Terrance, Billie, and Keisha are at the Casino for the day. Billie has been winning all week, and Terrance is losing, so they are trying their luck at the roulette tables today.”

  “You didn’t go with?” Jack asked.

  “No, I have no interest in sitting in a casino. I thought I would pack things up to leave in the morning. Tell me about the case.”

  Kamira settled in the rattan chair on the lanai.

  “Well, I’m on a tight timeline here, Kamira. An attorney, Ben Granger, came to see me last night. He is presenting a case to the Mississippi Supreme Court trying to overturn a death penalty case.

  The man’s name is Gregory Campbell. They convicted him of a capital crime murdering three people twenty-five years ago and has been in the State Prison in Jackson since his conviction.”

  Kamira squished her eyebrows together in confusion and said, “So what does that have to do with me?”

  “Granger doesn’t believe Campbell is guilty. He’s scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in three weeks. Granger wants to use your cold case skills to help prove Campbell’s innocence.”

  “Seriously, Jack? After twenty-five years, this attorney thinks he is innocent. Why?”

  “Ben Granger went over the case with me last night. It looks like there were pieces of evidence not presented to the court. Plus, get this, an all-white jury tried and convicted Campbell. Gregory Campbell is black. It looks like the prosecution was flawed from the beginning and tainted throughout by racial discrimination.”

  “An all-white jury? In 1996? I guess I’m not surprised. Who was Campbell supposed to have murdered?”

  Kamira smiled. She heard Jack shuffling papers in the background. Her heart fluttered. She would start strong when she returned to Shadowbank.

  Thank God, she thought. As much as she loved her newlywed husband, two weeks on an Island left her feeling stifled, trapped, and surrounded by water. She didn’t like the water.

  “It looks like Campbell had worked at the hardware store for ten years. He was convicted of killing Henry Tate, the Monroe Hardware store owner, a sixteen-year-old kid, Jackson Smith, who had just started a summer job there the week before, and Bessie Miller, a customer. Headshots killed all three victims. They claimed Gregory Campbell was a disgruntled employee, but Granger said Gregory claims he wasn’t even there. He had the day off.”

  “Why me, Jack?” Kamira asked honestly.

  Jack laughed. “Granger said he heard of Detective Jackson’s skills in solving cold cases. He knows you’re an ex-FBI agent, and he will pay the Department for your time and skills. Granger says he needs the best. He needs an answer today, Kamira.”

  Kamira was silent for a moment. “Please, tell Granger I will take on the case. I will be back tomorrow. Can you set up a meeting on Monday morning right away? Also, he needs to bring everything he has on the case. What about Terrance?”

  Jack’s shoulders tightened. “Terrance will work with me, Kamira. We need to discover who has taken the lead in the State Line Mob. Word is they are expanding their organization into Louisiana and Georgia.”

  “Wonderful. I imagine you heard this from Vittoria DeLuca?” Kamira asked.

  “Yes, the old headquarters of the State Line Mob burned to the ground this week with two of the DeLuca men inside. I have my hands full trying to prevent a full-scale DeLuca crime family vs. the State Line Mob war. Terrance and I can handle that. Say, I have something else I need to talk to you about.”

  Kamira, her voice rising, said, “There is more?”

  “It’s about Billie. Willie Mae came in yesterday. The attorney for the Buchanan estate contacted her.”

  Kamira stood from her chair, running a mental tally of what could possibly be wrong. She began pacing the lanai. “What do they want with Billie, Jack?”

  Jack could hear Kamira pacing. At least he envisioned her pacing. He knew her well.

  “I don’t know. The attorney wouldn’t address the issue with Willie Mae. She is not a happy woman right now. I guess she let him have it. He wants to meet with Billie as soon as he gets back. Can you relay the message?”

  Frowning, Kamira answered, “I will. Contact Granger, set the meeting up, keep Willie Mae calm, and I will see you tomorrow afternoon, Jack. I am supposed to be meeting Terrance and them for lunch and will explain things. See you, Tomorrow Jack.”

  Kamira disconnected the call and moved towards the shower. She needed to get ready to meet with the others.

  At the Casino, Terrance, Billie, and Keisha were settling in at a round table on the terrace of the Casino’s restaurant.

  Billie, taking Keisha’s hand, said, “Tomorrow we go home to our little Clifton. It has been an adventure.”

  Keisha laughed, “Yes, I think it is time to go home.” Looking at Terrance with a sly grin, she continued. “I think Kamira is a bit bored.”

  Terrance laughed. “I agree, but I wish someone could explain to me how a woman on her honeymoon with a fantastic husband, such as myself, finds time to bust a pick-pocketing ring for the hotel? That woman never stops.”

  Billie grinned widely. “Once an FBI agent, now detective, that is who she is. I thought it was amusing watching her stakeout everyone in the place. When the woman tried to pick her pocket, I watched Kamira's famous body s
lam move, tossing the woman into the pool. Then watched her save the woman from drowning. That took the cake.”

  “That’s my wife!” Terrance replied proudly. He looked up to see Kamira entering the terrace.

  Standing, Terrance pulled the chair out next to him, kissing Kamira’s cheek as she sat down in the chair.

  “I have news,” Kamira said.

  As the server delivered fresh drinks, Kamira looked around the table. She looked at Terrance, who sat back in his chair, sipping an umbrella drink.

  Kamira heard him say, “So you have a fresh case?”

  Kamira, surprised, answered, “Yes, I do, but I will tell you more about that over dinner.

  Terrance, someone burned the State Line Mobs business office to the ground. The house they held Willie Mae in. Two DeLuca men were inside. They didn’t make it.”

  Terrance sat up, stunned. Looking around the table, he said, “We’re walking into mob war when we go home tomorrow.”

  “Not yet, I don’t think. Jack seemed calm about it. He said he was working closely with Frank Gallucci. Now for the second part of my news.

  Billie, Willie Mae contacted Jack. I am not sure who it is, but there is an attorney for the Buchanan Estate, and he wants to meet with you when we get back.”

  Billie and Keisha grabbed hands, looking at each other. Billie turned towards Kamira. “Did Jack say what they want?”

  “No,” Kamira answered. “Jack said it sounded like Willie Mae drilled him hard, but the guy wouldn’t give up any information.”

  Keisha looked at Billie and said, “It’s okay if they want the five million Alyce Ann Buchanan gave us before she died, so be it.”

  Smiling peacefully, Keisha looked at Billie and said, “What were we going to do with the money, anyway. Since the house burned down, we have been okay staying with the Bellow sisters. We’ll look for something that we can afford for our family.”

  “Hey, anything you guys need. We have your backs.” Terrance said.

  The hotel manager brought each of them a platter of lobster, shrimp, and prawns, along with a chilled bottle of wine.

  “Compliments of the hotel. We appreciate your work in solving the pickpocket crime ring. Are you sure, Detective, you do not want to stay in Aruba? Work as our head of security?”

  Kamira laughed. “I am sure. Thank you for the meal.”

  The manager of the hotel nodded and walked away while the others started eating their meals.

  Billie said, “So what’s your fresh case, Kamira?”

  Kamira frowned and said, “An all-white jury convicted a black man for the murder of three people. The State has him scheduled for execution in three weeks. Ben Granger’s scheduled to present the case to the Mississippi State Supreme Court next week. He is working on getting the death penalty overturned. Granger wants me to investigate the original case. He does not believe the man is guilty.”

  Terrance shook his head. “Sounds like we’re both going to be running full blast when we return home.”

  Back in Shadowbank, Mississippi, Willie Mae, who was both Billie’s mother, and Kamira’s aunt, was on the phone with Vittoria DeLuca, head of the New York DeLuca Crime family.

  “Vittoria, I am sorry about your men. Is there anything I can do?” Willie Mae asked.

  “No Willie Mae, Frank is handling all the arrangements.”

  “Well, Vittoria, it’s time we figure out who is now in charge of the State Line Mob.”

  Vittoria rubbed her head as she listened to Willie Mae. The two had become quite close in the last year.

  “Willie Mae, I don’t want you worrying about that right now. How is baby Clifton? Billie and Keisha will be back tomorrow.”

  Willie Mae giggled. “I love my new grandson, but at my age, caring for a newborn is trying. Vittoria, will you be arriving before we leave on our European tour earlier than expected?”

  Vittoria said gently, “Now, Willie Mae, I told you not to worry. Everything is being handled. Frank and Jack are in constant contact. Giovanni and Rico are there with you and baby Clifton. You are safe. Now I must make a few calls, before I join my husband, Howard, for dinner. I will call you in a few days. Please don’t worry, my friend. Goodnight, Willie Mae.”

  Willie Mae hung up the phone. Hearing baby Clifton cry, she went over to soothe him back to sleep. As she held Clifton in her arms, she wondered what Vittoria meant by saying everything was being handled. That is exactly what worried her.

  Chapter 2

  Kamira exited the plane to see her auntie Willie Mae smiling at her. Smiling back, she rushed across the gate to take her auntie in her arms.

  “I missed you, Auntie! How was your time with our little Clifton?”

  Willie Mae smiled. “We will talk about that later. For a girl who hates the water, tell me how you survived two weeks on an island? Did you even go near the water?”

  Kamira took her arm to lead her to the others. Bending down, she whispered in Willie Mae’s ear, “You know better than that Auntie, I was not going anywhere near that ocean and those Jelly Fish.”

  Willie Mae ran her hand down Kamira’s cheek. “Girl, you were six years old. Believe it or not, the Jelly Fish are not looking for you. You live in Shadowbank and on the coast. I thought you might have gotten over that fear.”

  Kamira laughed. “Have you ever seen me go near the water? Those Jelly Fish know who I am. I am positive they have a hit list with my name on the top of their list.”

  “I guess you won’t like the new key chain I bought you,” Terrance said. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a key chain with a dangling Jelly Fish.

  Kamira jumped back, seeing the rubber Jelly Fish dangling and moving on the key chain. Her eyes narrowed. “How did you know?”

  Terrance, laughing, replied, “Your Auntie told me.”

  Kamira looked at Willie Mae, shaking her head. She winked, and said, “Traitor.”

  Willie Mae displayed a wide grin. “The Bellow sisters have dinner ready. Let’s eat, and you can tell me all about the pick-pocket case. I understand you had to jump in a pool to save a girl who tried to pick-pocket you. I would have liked to have seen that, Ms. No water ever.”

  Kamira, laughing, looked at her husband. “Traitor.”

  Terrance took Kamira on one arm and Willie Mae on the other. “Let’s go, women. I am hungry. I hope Hattie made her famous Jambalaya.”

  Sitting around the dining table at the Bellow, sister Billie and Terrance shared stories about their snorkeling adventures and the sea life they saw.

  At the end of the story, Willie Mae said, “Alyce Ann Buchanan’s memorial service is coming up. I think we all should attend. She gave her life to this family. We owe her that.”

  Kamira nodded. She knew that Willie Mae had spent a few days in the basement of that house with Alyce Ann’s dead body. Her heart hurt from the pain it caused her auntie.

  “I agree, Auntie. Alyce Ann was the one good thing in the Buchanan family. She was and is a part of our family. Uncle Clifton would expect us to be there.”

  Willie Mae’s face filled with sadness, remembering her first husband, Clifton Buchanan. She was again feeling anger at how his brother Percy shot him in cold blood because he had married a black Creole woman and dared to have a child with her, tainting the Buchanan blood.

  Billie rose and wrapped his arms around Willie Mae’s shoulders. “We will be there, Mama. We may not claim to be Buchanan’s, but father would want us there. If for any reason, the most important would be to show how strong this family is.”

  Everyone around the table nodded in agreement.

  After the guests had left, the Bellow sisters, Keisha, and Billie, were putting Clifton down for the night. “Keisha, can you handle this? I need to talk with my mama before she goes to bed for the night.”

  “Yes, I think I will rock this little guy to sleep. Do me a favor. Make your mama go with you tomorrow, Billie. I want to stay home with the baby. I’ve missed the last two weeks of his life.”

>   Billie nodded and walked out of the nursery. He found his Mama straightening the tablecloth on the dining room table.

  “Mama, will you go with me tomorrow to visit that attorney? Keisha wants to stay home with Clifton. I doubt I will ever get that baby out of her arms.”

  Willie Mae rubbed the back of her neck tiredly. “Yes, son, I will go with you. If that attorney tries to get one over on us, he is going to get what is coming for him from me.”

  Billie took hold of Willie Mae’s hand. “Let’s go to bed, Mama, after two weeks with Clifton. I know you need a good night’s sleep. Thank you, Mama.”

  Willie Mae tapped Billie’s hand and let him walk her to her bedroom.

  Early the next morning, Terrance found Kamira sitting on the back porch with two mugs of coffee.

  “Morning, love, you’re up early this morning,” Terrance said, smiling.

  Kamira looked up at the sky. She was gazing at the brilliance of golds, oranges, and pinks of the sunrise over the Gulf.

  “Yes, I have to start strongly today. Ben Granger is meeting me at nine this morning to go over the case. What does your day look like?”

  Frowning, Terrance replied, “Jack and I are meeting this morning about what happened over the past two weeks. It’s imperative we find who oversees the State Line Mob and take them down before the DeLuca family moves in.”

  Taking a sip of her coffee, Kamira said, “I’m surprised they haven’t retaliated already.”

  “I am too. Jack said last night he’s held Frank back, but he can’t do it much longer. Frank told him, if he doesn’t show force, the family will look weak.”

  Kamira nodded. “Let’s enjoy our coffee now. I’m betting that when we reach the office, we both better be sporting our running shoes.”