by Mary Stone
The team had been focused on the wrong man all along, just as she had suspected.
“Albert, if your plan is for me to drive you both somewhere, wouldn’t the best option be for you to sit with Dr. Baldwin in the back seat?” Autumn suggested, dizzy from the unrelenting surges of horror shooting through Philip’s body. “That way you’d never lose sight of either of us.”
The bald man observed her with a blank, emotionless gaze for a moment before repeating himself to Dr. Baldwin. “Get. In. Now.” The gun tapped against Philip’s forehead as Albert spat each word.
With no other choice, Autumn assisted Philip as he eased into the trunk. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, their green eyes meeting with an unspoken agreement of doomed comrades.
Philip had to get into that trunk, or they were both going to die right then, right there. Mercy was not a part of this abductor’s persona.
Albert slammed the trunk lid down with a hearty push. The stocky, well-muscled orderly continued to aim his gun at her with his other hand.
He was strong…physically fit to the point of daunting intimidation. Taking him down, even without the firearm to stop her, seemed nearly an impossible feat. If she took him off guard, perhaps. But she had a rather solid premonition that Albert wouldn’t let his guard down for a second.
“Your phone. Now.” Albert held out his free hand toward her.
Autumn had known this request was coming. She’d intended to somehow thwart Albert’s plan before the moment arrived.
Fail.
She pulled her phone from her bag in a slow, cautious motion and placed it in the outstretched palm.
Albert powered the device off, nodding toward the car. “You’re driving. Get in.”
She obeyed, attempting to stay calm and make no sudden movements. That gun was too close.
And Albert was too far gone.
He knelt at the open driver’s side doorway, continuing to face her, and reached under the dash just left of the steering wheel. Two seconds of tinkering later, he pulled out a tiny device that Autumn recognized as a fuse.
Her heart sank as he tossed the fuse over his shoulder. He’d disconnected the navigation system so that no one could track her car. With her phone off, that little gadget had been her last lifeline.
Though everyone had seen this man as a lowly orderly, he was highly intelligent and organized. Autumn sought to find a chink in his armor, but with the black hole of the barrel in her face, her heart was racing too frantically for her to think.
Fight or flight.
The problem was…neither of those were a current option.
Albert pulled a crumpled piece of copy paper from his pant pocket. “Directions. Follow them.” Autumn smoothed out the page and identified that he had indeed printed out a route to…somewhere.
She sat in silence as he ducked into the back seat, lying low so as to stay concealed. He pulled the hatch partially down, allowing himself a view of the trunk and the quivering grown man inside.
“Go time. I’ve got my gun pointed straight at your back, and you should know that your seat cushion won’t help you out with that one. And if you should get the urge to give the game away, think again. I will blow that piece of shit’s brains out if you so much as swerve in the wrong direction. Don’t doubt me. I’m not a liar.”
Autumn inhaled, forcing herself to retain composure. A simple shift into drive, and then they were exiting the garage.
Was she doing the right thing? Taking off toward the BAU or police station would at least ensure they didn’t end up six feet underground in the dense Virginia forest.
But Philip would most definitely not survive the detour. She wouldn’t either.
Albert wasn’t blowing smoke. He was more than ready to shoot Dr. Baldwin if she deviated from the ordered path. Philip would be dead, and there was no guarantee that she would be able to get away from Albert before joining the doctor in the afterlife.
Granted, she was aware that Albert wasn’t taking them on a leisurely day tour of the scenic countryside. Whatever awaited them…wherever they were going…his intentions were dark.
As she drove farther and farther away from the heart of the city, Autumn decided she was doing the only thing still within her power to do.
She was giving herself and Philip more time to stay alive.
24
Aiden’s phone buzzed on his desktop. He glanced at his screen, not recognizing the number. Cup two of his morning coffee wasn’t drained quite yet, but when had that ever mattered? Mornings, afternoons, evenings, and often throughout the midnight hours…information was being shared to, relayed by, requested from him.
He figured he was due for a vacation in the near future, but what would he really do with the time off? He’d think about the job and fight restlessness right up until the minute he walked back into the Richmond Field Office.
A tap of the speaker button, and he gave his standard greeting, “Special Supervisory Agent Aiden Parrish.”
A vaguely familiar voice boomed into the confines of his office space. “This is Victor Goren, Justin Black’s public defender. With all due respect, I would like to know who’s running this federal shitshow of yours. Dr. Autumn Trent was supposed to meet with my client at nine sharp this morning. Lo and behold, she was a no show. Again.”
Aiden frowned. He hadn’t known Autumn was meeting with Justin today, and just the idea of that kid put him on edge.
But Autumn wasn’t “his” employee, and when they weren’t running a case-related task together, he didn’t keep the doctor under lock and key. He wasn’t her babysitter or technically even her boss.
“I apologize, Mr. Goren, but I can assure you that if Dr. Trent was unable to make the appointment, there is a good and valid reason.” Aiden tapped his pen on a notepad.
Yes. The last time she was unable to visit that sadistic little bastard, she’d had a rather unexpected run-in with a very dead hospital nurse.
“I should hope so. I believe the fact that Justin Black is mentally ill has not escaped you nor the rest of the Bureau. These constant cancellations have a serious effect on my client’s well-being. An unnecessary effect, in my opinion.” Goren sounded as though he might be sporting his own mental break in the near future.
Anyone assigned to defend Winter’s little brother is bound to lose their mind eventually.
Aiden closed his eyes, reminding himself that his interactions with Goren needed to be nothing less than civil. For Autumn’s sake.
“I will check into the matter, Mr. Goren. I’m positive that Dr. Trent will be calling you herself as soon as she is able.” Aiden heard the hint of annoyance in his own tone, but Victor Goren was obnoxious if he was anything. Fake polite was better than zero polite.
“Oh, I hope she does. I have quite a few things to say to her.” Victor ended the call.
Aiden reached for his coffee once again, then stopped, his hand suspended in midair.
Autumn would call Goren as soon as she was able. She didn’t skip out on clients nor responsibilities in general. And if Goren was calling him, then the attorney had obviously tried to call Dr. Trent beforehand. With no luck.
She hadn’t shown up, and she hadn’t called, and she hadn’t answered?
That wasn’t Autumn’s usual modus operandi.
Aiden decided to call his redheaded colleague himself when his phone buzzed again. This time, he knew the number.
“Chief Lewton. How can I help you today?” Maybe a new lead in the hospital murders or something along those lines.
“Well, I have some troubling news,” Adrienne began.
Aiden sat straighter in his chair. “Yes?”
“One of my officers made a bit of a bad call.” Adrienne cleared her throat. “He was supposed to keep guard while Dr. Baldwin cleaned out his office, and then escort him from the building. Dr. Trent apparently showed up and relieved him of his duties. She stayed to supervise…alone…and now neither of them is anywhere to be found.”
“They’re missing?” Aiden stood, grabbed his iPad, and tossed the contraption in his briefcase.
“I’m not sure we can use that term yet but—”
“You can’t find or reach either of them?” Aiden finished for Chief Lewton.
“Correct.” Though this wasn’t her direct fault, Adrienne’s voice dripped with guilt. “He’s been reprimanded—”
“I’d like his name and badge number emailed to me directly. My team and I will be arriving at the hospital in the next fifteen.” Aiden ended the call and typed a rapid text to Chris and Mia while charging down the main hall of the BAU.
Drop what you’re doing and meet me in the parking lot. We’re going to the State Hospital. Baldwin is missing.
He hesitated, then finished the message.
So is Autumn.
Adrienne met them at the hospital entrance. Her grave expression did nothing to mollify Aiden’s apprehension.
“Still no sign?” He barked the question.
She shook her head. “We’ve searched the parking lot and the parking garage. Dr. Baldwin’s car is still on-site, but my officers can’t seem to find Dr. Trent’s.”
Aiden stiffened. “Your officers can’t seem to do a lot of things, Chief.”
Adrienne bristled at the comment, but Aiden ignored her reaction. This wasn’t her fault, and he was aware of that. He still didn’t have to pretend everything was coming up roses this morning.
“I sent teams to Dr. Trent’s and Dr. Baldwin’s Richmond apartments. Both were empty, and both were undisturbed. Well…except for an accident left behind by her little dog. My officer said the cat seemed pissed that her kibble bowl was empty.” Chief Lewton’s dismay was evident, and it only served to charge Aiden up even more.
We will find you.
“Agent Parker, recheck the parking lots, front and back, and scour the parking garage. Dim lighting could have hidden something important during a casual search by undertrained eyes.” Aiden refrained from shooting Adrienne a glare. “Agent Logan, recheck Dr. Baldwin’s office. Look for any signs of an argument or struggle, as well as any of Dr. Trent’s belongings that may have been left behind.”
Chris and Mia took off in separate directions, leaving Aiden and Adrienne alone.
“You cannot blame this solely on my police department, Agent Parrish. Dr. Trent walked into that room of her own free will. Her idea,” Adrienne defended her team before he’d even begun an attack.
“I’m not going to play the blame game with you, Chief Lewton. We need to focus on finding Philip Baldwin. He is our only suspect thus far in a double homicide case, and he has a special abhorrence for Dr. Trent.” Aiden pictured Autumn jumping from the helicopter in Florida not so long ago.
And Dr. Trent has a spectacular way of throwing herself into dangerous situations. Literally.
“You think he intends to harm her?” Adrienne posed.
Aiden pressed his lips together. “I certainly don’t believe they went picnicking, Chief Lewton.”
“There’s the possibility that they’re not together at all.” Adrienne’s voice was hopeful.
Aiden’s gut was not.
Too many red flags. A red flag parade.
“I’d like for you to question any and all employees who worked in the administrative wing this morning. Nothing formal. Fast. Thorough.” Aiden walked at a quick pace toward the all too familiar hospital stairwell door.
“And what are you going to do?” Adrienne called after him.
“I’m going to speak with Justin Black.”
“I could bring him to a meeting room,” the guard stationed on Justin’s floor offered. “Shackle him up for you.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Aiden put his hand to the doorknob of Justin’s room, mentally preparing himself to deal with the little horror.
The guard leaned in conspiratorially. “He’s been a bit, well, extra unstable as of late. I would advise the shackles.”
Aiden glanced through the observation window. Justin sat on his bed, thumb in mouth, staring at the floor. “Like I said, that won’t be necessary. I won’t be long.”
I won’t be long because Autumn may not have “long.”
Justin’s hand dropped to his mattress. Saliva hung from his chin. “I know you.”
Aiden crossed his arms, not needing nor wanting to approach the boy. “Agent Parrish. And I know you as well. I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you are going to answer them in a clear and concise manner.”
Justin burst into giggles that had the hair lifting on the back of Aiden’s neck. “Clear and concise…he demands of the mental patient.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “I demand it of an intelligent criminal who has single-handedly murdered an unknown number of victims yet avoided all prosecution thus far.”
The giggling ceased. Justin’s sharp blue eyes focused on Aiden. “You appear to be upset, Agent Parrish.”
“Do I?” Aiden held his ground, knowing his expression was indifferent and that Justin Black would like nothing more than to make him lose his temper.
“You do. Something bad happen to one of your federal tough guys? I vote for Agent Dalton getting his throat slit. Or my sister getting gang raped. Both at the same time would be preferable.” Justin gave him a pleasant smile.
Aiden’s jaw clenched. The bastard was perfectly coherent. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. Agent Dalton and Agent Black are in splendid condition. They’re probably together right now, having a romantic brunch.”
Justin bared his teeth and released a low growl.
“I’m here about Dr. Trent. You were supposed to see her this morning, or maybe you did see her this morning?” Aiden wasted no time with the questions now that he had pushed Justin off-center.
Always the mind games with this kid. Simultaneous offense and defense.
Justin appeared confused for an instant before his expression shifted to angry. “She didn’t show up. She never shows up. She said she’d try to help me, but she doesn’t really care. She’s just like the rest of them.”
Aiden noted the genuine bitterness in Justin’s voice. The younger Black sibling’s instant vexation told Aiden the only piece of information he needed.
Justin hadn’t seen Autumn. Justin wasn’t responsible for her disappearance. Not this time.
“Thank you. That’s all for today.” Aiden turned to leave.
“That’s it?” Justin screamed across the room. “You ask me about that bitch doctor and then you just leave? You’re all the same! Abandon, abandon, abandon!”
Aiden faced the young man with a calm stare as he gave the door a firm double tap. The guard opened the door in immediate response, and he exited the room.
The latch clicked, along with the automatic lock, and Aiden peered through the observation window once more.
Justin was off his bed, repeatedly throwing himself against the concrete walls headfirst while shrieking, “Abandon! Abandon! Abandon! Abandon!”
Aiden stepped aside as a nurse and orderly rushed into the room, no doubt to administer a fast-acting sedative. He squared his shoulders and made straight for the stairwell.
There was a large sense of relief in knowing that Justin hadn’t harmed Autumn. Aiden was positive that the insane young man hadn’t even laid eyes on her that day.
But he wasn’t a single step closer in knowing where else to look.
He cleared the first flight of stairs and halted at the landing, his phone buzzing in his suitcoat pocket. Chris. Aiden swiped with haste. “Parker?”
“I’m on the ground floor of the parking garage,” Chris relayed through labored breath. “There are a few boxes of Baldwin’s office crap down here. But no Baldwin. I rechecked the parking lots too. Her car isn’t here, Agent Parrish.”
“Call Mia. Have her meet you in the garage. I’m on my way as well.” Aiden took the stairs two at a time, ending his call with Chris only to dial Sun.
“Yeah,” came Sun’s rude but expected greeting…especia
lly for him.
“I want a trace on Dr. Trent’s car navigational system and phone. Immediately.” Another flight cleared. No pause on the landing.
“On it. She okay?” Sun’s cold voice betrayed a hint of worry.
“I don’t know. We can’t find her.” Aiden ended the call, slinging his phone back into his pocket and picking up speed.
Bursting through the ground floor door into the parking garage, his first observation was Mia’s troubled countenance. The second was Chris’s slumped posture, which communicated his bewilderment without a word.
They both turned toward him. Chris pointed to the trio of askew boxes. “Nothing of Autumn’s. Just Baldwin’s belongings.”
Mia knelt down, scanning the contents. “She didn’t leave anything behind in the doctor’s office either. And no signs of a scuffle. Zilch.”
Aiden turned the information, or lack thereof, over in his mind. The minutes were ticking by with expeditious efficiency.
“Dr. Baldwin wouldn’t have just left his property here, right? He’s a control freak. Even if he didn’t want this stuff, he would have thrown away the contents or set them on fire or something.” Mia’s assessment was disturbingly astute.
Aiden turned in a circle, hoping some clue would jump out at him.
Where are you…where are you…where are you…
Aiden’s phone vibrated against his side. He seized the device and hit the speakerphone as Sun’s name lit up the screen. “Where is she?”
“I wish I could tell you. Both GPS systems have been disabled. No phone. No car.” Sun shared the bad news with blunt flatness, but Aiden knew Agent Ming a bit too well. In the last five or so minutes, her worry had transformed into alarm.
Autumn could be labeled as “missing” now, at least unofficially. But her absence wasn’t the issue so much as his growing conviction that she was in the presence of a humiliated and vindictive as well as equally vanished Dr. Philip Baldwin.
25
“You’ll want to mind the speed limit, Raggedy Anne. Too fast, I shoot him. Too slow, I shoot him.” I nudged the gun deeper into the back of the driver’s seat.