Dark Tribute--An Eve Duncan Novel

by Iris Johansen

  “Twelve,” Jock said curtly as he punched the button. “But I need to see those videos right away. You don’t need me.”

  “You’re right, but I need to keep you from intimidating those security guards. That’s not helpful. So you can stay with me until you’re a little calmer.” He got off the elevator. “And I’m going to have to tell Eve what I saw here or she’ll come herself. You can tell me if I missed anything.” He glanced at him. “Because I’m sure you didn’t miss anything.”

  “No.” His lips twisted. “I have the entire suite memorized. Every detail.” He opened the door to Cara’s room. “Every drop of blood. But if you need help, I took photos.” He stepped aside and let Joe precede him. “Go in and get it over with.”

  Joe braced himself as he slowly toured the suite. It was agonizingly painful to see the blood and the evidence of violence. This was Cara, who had been with them since she was an eleven-year-old girl. Bright, gentle, and full of dreams and music, and only wanting to be a part of a real family. He cleared his throat. “You’re right, plenty of blood.”

  “You haven’t seen all of it.” Jock went to the side of the bed next to the windows. “This one is the most interesting.” He gestured to an object on the floor. “And might tell us something.”

  It was a violin lying in an open black-leather case.

  Joe couldn’t even tell the wood or color of the violin because of the blood. The bridge and strings were coated in blood and the note-shaped F-holes from which all sound issued were filled and overflowing with blood. He felt sick as he stared down at it. “My God.”

  “That was my first reaction,” Jock said. “Until I realized it isn’t Cara’s violin.”

  “What?” Joe’s gaze flew to his face. “Are you sure? All that blood…”

  “I know her violin. Cara’s grandfather gave it to her while she was being held at his estate in Moscow. Kaskov might be a murdering son of a bitch, but he loves music, and he gave her an instrument that was worthy of her. When I found a way to break her out of there, she couldn’t take the violin with her.” He shrugged. “So I stole it and brought it to her later. I became very familiar with that violin.” He nodded at the violin on the floor. “And that’s not it. But I couldn’t find it anywhere in the suite either. That means wherever Cara is, the violin went with her.”

  “And what is this one?” He was looking at the blood overflowing the F-holes on the body of the violin. “And whose blood is that?”

  “That’s the first thing you’re going to have forensics check. But it’s not going to be Cara’s,” he said through set teeth. “It won’t be hers.”

  “I hope to God you’re right,” Joe said as he turned away. “Come on, I’ll take you down to security.” His phone rang, and he glanced down at the screen. “And there’s Kimble with forensics. I’ll send them up here to get to work.”

  “Blood type, first,” Jock said.

  “Even though you’re so sure it’s not Cara’s?” He shouldn’t have said that. He’d learned denial never helped, but he could see that Jock’s emotions were raw, and he was suffering. But Joe was also in pain, and he was going to have to tell Eve if that blood was Cara’s. “Never mind. You know I wouldn’t do anything else.”

  “I know.” Jock didn’t look at him. “But I have to be certain. And you might tell them to check the left F-hole on that violin. I thought I saw an initial half covered in the blood. It might be an ID.”

  “Now you tell me.” He was dialing Kimble back as he headed for the elevator.

  CHAPTER

  3

  Jock spent most of the next hour examining the videos of the cameras aimed at the twelfth floor and the lobby. Meanwhile, Joe checked the register and phone records for anyone checking in or out between five and eleven in the morning.

  Joe’s phone rang fifty-five minutes after they’d reached the security office. He glanced at the ID. “Kimble.”

  Jock tensed. His gaze zeroed in on Joe’s face for any hint of expression. No expression, dammit.

  “Thanks, Kimble.” Joe hung up and turned to Jock. “The blood in the suite is AB-positive,” he said. “Cara is type O.”

  Jock closed his eyes. “Thank God.” Then his eyes were open, and he was gazing back at the videos. “We’ve got a chance then. He could have just killed her in the suite and smuggled the body out of the hotel. He didn’t do that, he had something else in mind. She could still be alive.”

  “But why the blood?”

  “How the hell do I know? He wanted to confuse the issue? Make us look for a corpse instead of a captive?” He was flipping through the video shots. “Nothing suspicious in the halls.” He went rigid as he checked another area. “Wait. The stairwells. The cameras were disabled between the twelfth floor and the valet parking lot in the basement.” He was quickly checking the video feeds from the basement parking lot. “Blank,” he said savagely. “But only from that stairwell to the exit to the street. Nothing to trigger anyone to come down and check on it.” He got to his feet. “But someone might still have seen something. I’m going down there and question everyone who came near that—” He stopped as his gaze was caught by something else on the video. “What the hell?” He bent over the machine, his entire body galvanized, focused on the figure in the shadows several yards from the stairwell. Then his fingers were flying over the keys, magnifying the image.

  “What is it?” Joe leaned forward, his gaze narrowed on the video. “It’s still not clear enough. What do you think you’re seeing?”

  “It’s clear enough for me. You can get your experts to make the details pop even more, but I don’t need it.” He was checking the time on the video. “It was 6:40 A.M. And he’s heading for that stairwell. Very smooth. Completely professional.” Then the shadowy figure reached the zone near the stairwell where the cameras had been disabled. He abruptly disappeared.

  “You know him?” Joe asked harshly. “Who the hell is it? If you don’t tell me who the son of a bitch is in two seconds, I’ll break your neck.”

  “I do know him.” Jock was running the time forward on the video. “And so do you. Though not nearly as well as I do. I’ve had time to study him. We’ve had several encounters over the years.”

  “Who?” Joe bit out. “Now!”

  “Nikolai.” He’d finished running the video up to the present time and he turned back to face Joe. “The chief assistant and enforcer of Cara’s loving grandfather, Sergai Kaskov.”

  Joe froze. “What?”

  “You heard me. No one could be more loyal to Kaskov than Nikolai. He’s worked for him for decades. He’d die for the son of a bitch.” His lips tightened. “And I’ll be glad to oblige him. As soon as I get Cara back from him.”

  “You think that Kaskov ordered him to take Cara?”

  “I don’t see him doing it without orders. That was Nikolai in that video. He went up the stairwell but didn’t return that way. You should find out how he got her out of the hotel.”

  “I don’t need you to tell me what to do.” He was frowning. “But it would be much simpler for him to kidnap Cara when she goes to visit him this summer. This is … extreme.” His lips twisted. “Though Kaskov probably knows you keep an eye on her during those little intervals. You’ve never made it a secret. I admit I was even grateful.”

  “Then you should have kept her from going,” he said flatly. “She never listened to me. Now look what’s happening.”

  “I don’t know what’s happening, and neither do you. You just want to go out and kill someone and get Cara back.”

  “Exactly.” He turned away from the video cameras. “And I will. Do you know where Kaskov is, or should I tap my sources?”

  “I’ll check with Interpol and a few of my own contacts.” He reached for his phone. “I suppose it’s useless to tell you to stay out of this, Jock. Kaskov is very powerful, and there’s no doubt that he’s capable of performing any crime under the sun. But when I was looking at that evidence in Cara’s room, it didn’t look
like him. Nor this Nikolai if he was the one taking the orders. That gown torn in pieces with all the blood … It had an element of savagery. Kaskov isn’t savage.”

  “As far as we know,” Jock said. “We do know he’s head of a Mafia group who deals in practically every kind of crime known to man. He could be anything. That’s what I kept telling Cara. Every time she sees him, it’s a risk.” He shook his head. “I’m going after her.” He met Joe’s eyes. “And I know you are. But you should let me handle Kaskov.”

  “Screw you.”

  “Just a suggestion.” He got to his feet. “These days I’ve noticed you try to stop and think before you go in for the kill. Very admirable, but not efficient.”

  “While you tend to revert to instinct and that training that nearly destroyed you,” Joe said. “Cara would hate to know that she’d caused that to happen.”

  His lips twisted bitterly. “Then maybe she’ll finally learn her lesson and stay away from me. We’ll have to ask her after I get her back.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be in touch. I suppose I should tell you that I’m going to stop by your place and see Eve. Cara might have talked to her about her plans to meet with Kaskov. I’ll try not to upset her.”

  “Of course you’ll upset her. It’s Cara. But Eve wouldn’t have it any other way.” He shrugged. “But watch out for Michael. He might not be quite as understanding.”

  * * *

  “Joe called and told me you’d be coming,” Eve said as she watched Jock climb the porch steps. Her arms were crossed tightly across her breasts as she tried to control herself. Showing Jock the panic she was feeling would not do either of them any good. “I don’t know what I can tell you. I talked to Cara a few times this month, but I can’t remember her talking about Kaskov except that one time yesterday afternoon.” She grimaced. “And then I made her defensive, and she didn’t say much.” Her gaze was raking his face. “You look like hell.”

  “Surprised?” He’d reached the porch. “You don’t look very far from that yourself. I didn’t expect anything else. But I decided to face you anyway. Just in case I could jar you into remembering anything that could help.”

  “Face me?” Then she remembered the last thing she’d said to Jock when he’d phoned her. Something about Cara’s not hiding in her suite unless what he’d done was pretty damn bad. “You thought I’d blame you for this?”

  “Why not? I am to blame. I should have protected her. I knew Kaskov was a threat.”

  Eve stared at him in frustration and aching sympathy. Of course he would feel responsible. He’d always protected Cara from every threat since they’d first met. And she could tell he was feeling the torment of that failure now. She had seen him like this before, and she was immediately on the alert. He would be driven and reckless and totally lethal. “There’s no way you should blame yourself, Jock. We don’t even know what happened yet, but Cara has never expected you to be—”

  “I expected it of myself.” His eyes were suddenly blazing. “And I failed her. So don’t tell me what she expected. Just help me get her back.”

  The demons had truly been loosed, and she took an involuntary step back. “I’ll do everything I can. You’re not the only one who cares about her. Stop acting as if you are. Now sit down on that swing, and I’ll pour you a cup of coffee. Then we’ll talk.” She stared him in the eye. “I’d take you into the house, but you look like you’re burning up inside, and I don’t want Michael to see you like this. It might upset him.”

  He nodded slowly. “Which is exactly what I told Joe I’d try to avoid with you.” His lips twisted. “I’m not doing so well, am I? I’ll try not to compound it by upsetting Michael.” He dropped down on the swing. “But I don’t need coffee.”

  “No, you’re operating on pure adrenaline at the moment,” Eve said as she sat down in the wicker chair next to the swing. She concentrated on keeping her hands from trembling as she poured herself a cup from the carafe. “But I’m not there yet. I’m still shaky and scared and bewildered.” She lifted her cup to her lips. “Mostly scared, and Michael is going to sense it. He always does.” She gazed at him. “So I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me something to make me less afraid.” She moistened her dry lips. “Any tiny little detail will do.”

  “I don’t believe she’s dead.”

  “Now that’s a big detail.” Eve had to steady her hand as she took a sip of coffee. “Why?”

  “Because it doesn’t make sense that Nikolai would be ordered to eliminate her. I don’t know why Kaskov had him take her, but unless he had a reason that would benefit him in some way, he wouldn’t kill her. Kaskov never does anything that lacks reason or purpose.”

  “Unless his reason is that he’s gone wacko. He’s a criminal, Jock.”

  “Possible. Not probable. He’s brilliant and very practical. I’d rather look to Kaskov for a reason.” He added calmly, “Before I cut his heart out.”

  “And put Cara in a position where she could get killed by one of Kaskov’s men? Don’t you dare do that, Jock.”

  “I’ll be careful. I can be careful, Eve. I know all the ways.”

  Eve shivered. “I’m certain you do. I don’t want to hear about it.” She added, “Now ask me what you need to know about Kaskov and let me get back to Michael. Otherwise, he’ll be out here asking you questions.”

  “And I know how persistent he can be when he wants to know something. Where was Cara going to spend her month with Kaskov?”

  “Somewhere in Arizona. She didn’t say where. But that wasn’t going to be for another two months.” She frowned. “Kaskov wouldn’t be foolish enough to take her there? He’d know she might tell me. She was always honest about letting him know that she confided in me.”

  “She’s always honest about everything. No, he probably wouldn’t take her there. But it’s somewhere to start. He usually rents the properties where he takes Cara. I can usually track down what real estate he’s been considering lately by using my contacts in Moscow.”

  “For heaven’s sake, the situation isn’t remotely similar. Kidnapping is hardly the same as a pleasant month in a resort somewhere.”

  “It’s a place to start,” he repeated. “She hasn’t mentioned anything else he’s spoken about?”

  “I told you, I’m sure I didn’t give the impression I wanted to cut his heart out, but she knew I didn’t want her to see him. That didn’t encourage her to bring him up in casual conversation.” She shrugged. “She was more defensive than anything else when she spoke about him. She said they had nothing in common but the music, but she felt sorry that she had it to give and he didn’t. She said it made her sad. He grew up with his mother at a Gulag labor camp in Siberia. She was a musician, and he wanted to be a violinist. One of the guards smashed his hands with the butt of his rifle. So he told Cara he had to find another direction.”

  “I’ve heard the story,” he said impatiently. “Only Cara would feel sorry for a mob kingpin like Kaskov.”

  “He’s her grandfather. And I think it’s mostly that she knows how it would feel to lose her own music. Besides, she hasn’t got any other relatives. And she’s grateful to him for saving Michael and me. She can’t forget it.” She looked down into her cup. “Though I wish she would. She’s been Kaskov’s hostage for too long.”

  “Not after I find her. You’re not going to have to worry about it again.” He got to his feet. “Unless you can tell me anything else I’ll be on my way. I have to contact Palik about—”

  “I want to see the photos.”

  He froze. “What?”

  “Joe said you have photos of Cara’s hotel room. I want to see them.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “I don’t care what you think. Cara belongs to us. I have to be part of this hideous thing that’s happened to her.” She held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

  He slowly reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone. “There’s no sense you looking at them.” He handed the phone to h
er. “Joe can tell you what forensics says about—” He saw that she was starting to flip through the phone, and said quickly, “The blood’s not Cara’s. Joe checked.”

  “He told me,” she said dully as she gazed at the photos one by one. The blood … The torn lace gown … The coated strings of the violin. “It’s horrible.”

  “I told you that you shouldn’t look at them.”

  “No, you were wrong. I should have looked at them.” She was forcing herself to look through them again. “Monstrous. Twisted. Insane.” She felt sick. “And Kaskov might be terrible in many ways, but he’s not any of those things.” Her chest felt tight. “He didn’t do this. Whoever caused this … ugliness was insane.”

  “It was Kaskov. Nikolai was there.”

  “I can’t help it. You’re wrong. I wish you weren’t.” She sat up straight in her chair. She felt as if had to brace herself. “Because this is much worse.” She looked him in the eye. “I know about insanity and monsters. I’ve dealt with them for years. Every time I work on one of those children who were savaged by one of them, I get to know them better. I know how they think and what horrors they enjoy and the way they react.” She said jerkily, “Do you actually think I just let my sculptures go back to the police and close my eyes? I couldn’t do that. I follow every case and make certain that justice is done. But that means I have to know those monsters, what they do, what they are.” She added bitterly, “I probably know more than an FBI profiler by now. I’ve studied thousands of crime-scene photos, I can tell you what those murderers are feeling by the blood spatters on the wall.” She shuddered as she tapped his phone. “This is a monster.”