The wood splintered and gave with one shoulder crash, and the smell of urine and feces permeated the air.
“Jesus,” Dave whispered as we rushed toward the figures trussed up on the bed.
“Flanders, we need an ambulance!” I screamed as I checked for a pulse on the little girl. “She’s alive.” My voice trembled as badly as my hands as I peeled off the duct tape across her mouth.
“The boy’s alive.” Dave’s voice was a whisper, and he moved from the young boy to the woman. “She’s alive too, just barely. Another day, and it would have been a different story.”
Flanders appeared in the doorway. “Ambulance is on its way. Looks like we need two.” He quickly placed the call. “What else can I do to help?”
“Find something to cut the ropes, and some clean blankets.” I gagged and broke a nail as I struggled with the bindings on her feet and hands. A tear fell on her face, and I gently wiped it away. “I’ve never wanted to kill anyone as much as I want to kill this bastard.”
Dave didn’t have to say anything. The stony set of his jaw and the darkness in his eyes said it all.
Flanders returned with a knife, and in minutes, we had the bindings removed and stretched out their legs slowly. He held out an evidence bag. “Drop the ropes in here.” His voice was strained. “Best not to move them too much until the paramedics get here. You two should get some fresh air. I’ll stay with them.”
I knew he was right. The urine and feces would have eaten into their flesh, and the clothes would be plastered to their body. I swiped at another tear as Dave’s arm went around me and pulled me toward the doorway. “Come on, kid. There’s nothing more we can do here.”
Officer Tedrow was standing guard, and I motioned toward the trailer. “Go help Flanders, or at least keep him company.”
Sirens were getting closer, and Dave and I walked away from the trailer, seeking fresh air that wasn’t filled with the stench of rotting fish. “Do you think they’ll make it?”
“I’m praying for them.”
The ambulance roared into the trailer park, followed by two local patrol cars. “Why don’t you call Martha and the girls? I’ll fill in the paramedics.”
Dave strolled away, already reaching for his phone. The emotion in his voice when he whispered “Hey, honey” broke my heart.
If we get out of this alive, I’m gonna get a dog.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
It was after four in the morning by the time we finished our reports and headed back to our station. The ride was silent, with the air conditioner blowing and the windows cracked. The smell of those fish had sunk into our clothes and hair.
Flanders broke the silence. “Got a message from Ted. He did a general search for Carl Lunsford but came up empty. He’s going to head out to the prison and see if they’ve got any video of the guy entering or leaving.”
A spark of hope flared in my chest. “Let’s hope they do. We need a break. I have a feeling they’re planning on clearing out soon and starting up somewhere else.”
Dave grumbled something under his breath.
“What did you say?”
“I said the bastard won’t go anywhere until he kills you. That’s been his plan all along.”
Silence set up again until we reached the station. “I’ve got patrols going by your house every thirty minutes.” Flanders climbed out. “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from Ted.”
“Thanks, Sergeant. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Today.” Dave corrected me. “It’s five o’clock.”
We sat for a moment until they were safely inside the station. “I’m exhausted, but I don’t think I can sleep. We need to find Greg and my father.”
“Didn’t Marcone say Angela Stacy was looking into Carson’s adoption?” Dave pulled onto the highway. “Maybe she told her daughter what she was doing.”
I sniffed the air and grimaced. “I think we’d better stop by the house, shower and change, although I might save these clothes to put on for my meeting with Park and Carson.”
“You’re not gonna apologize, are you?”
“Not until hell freezes over.”
Dave grinned and headed home. “That’s my girl.”
~ ~ ~
The hospital was just coming to life with the morning shift when we entered the front doors.
“Hate the smell of these places,” Dave mumbled as we stopped by the desk to retrieve the room number. “That and nursing homes.”
I punched the up button on the elevator. “No nursing home for me. I plan on going out in a blaze of glory.”
“Not if I got anything to do with it.” He stepped into the elevator and pressed Three. “I hope she’s awake.”
I had little doubt that after being confined in that coffin, Janice Stacy was wide awake. It had taken me months to actually sleep through the night, and there were times I still woke up afraid to open my eyes. “She’ll be awake. Let me go in first in case she needs to dress.” I knocked on the door and waited a moment.
Mrs. Wallins opened the door, her face creasing in a huge smile. “Oh, Detective Lang and Detective Capello, Janice will be so glad to see you.” She took my arm and pulled me inside the room. “Janice, honey, look who’s here.”
A fleeting smiled crossed the pale face, but the green eyes were haunted and filled with shadows. “I was hoping you’d come by. I’m not sure I thanked you for saving my life.”
“No thanks necessary.” I approached the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Weak, but the doctor said I could go home today. I twisted Greta’s arm, and she finally agreed to come with me.”
I smiled at Mrs. Wallins. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Janice pulled herself up farther in the bed. “I know you were hoping I would remember something, but I haven’t. It all happened so fast, and they kept a black hood over my head while they were building the box.”
“They?” Dave came closer to the bed. “Did you recognize the voices?”
“No, and I tried. I was sure it was Carson.”
Voice recognition wasn’t as good as a visual identification, but it would still go a long way in court. “If you heard his voice now and he was one of the men, do you think you’d recognize it?”
“Yes, I’ll never forget their voices.”
“When are you leaving?”
“The doctor said I could be discharged after lunch. We booked a flight for six this evening. Why do you ask?”
“We have a meeting with Carson at five this afternoon. We’ll record his voice. If you can identify him, then we can arrest him for your kidnapping and attempted murder. That will buy us enough time to prove he’s involved with the killings.”
Greta approached the bed and took Janice’s hand. “We could stay one more night. Especially if it gives them a chance to put that animal behind bars.”
Janice lay back against the pillows and sighed. “All right, but just one night.”
“Did your mother ever talk to you about the case she was investigating?”
“No, but it kept her awake at night. She had a suspect, but she never told me who it was. She was killed shortly after she came back from Oregon.”
“Oregon? Do you know why she went to Oregon, or where?”
“She was following up a lead. I don’t know what she found out, though. I think it was Salem.” Her voice was growing weary.
“Get some rest. If all goes well, we’ll see you this evening.”
Greta walked with us to the elevator. “Poor thing. I don’t think she’s slept a wink since it happened.”
“Make sure she talks to a therapist. It does help.”
“I’ll be sure to do that. I’d best be getting back. Hate to leave her alone with her thoughts.”
We stood by the elevator and watched as she rushed back down the hallway.
“I know Dad said he had someone watching Mrs. Wallins, but maybe we should call Flanders and have him put a couple of guys on the two of them.
” I studied the waiting room and nurse’s station. “Just in case.”
“I need to use the men’s room. Wait for me.”
I understood what Greta meant by being alone with her thoughts. As soon as Dave disappeared around the corner, mine went crazy. Greg’s missing, Dad’s missing, and we haven’t heard from Ginger. Carson had to be livid by now. He hadn’t expected us to find Janice in time to save her—or Mrs. Thornton and the children. And he hadn’t expected us to join forces with the department. He studied me. Hot-headed, Lone Ranger Kacy Lang who didn’t need help from anyone.
I glanced down the hallway to Janice Stacy’s room. Angela Stacy had gone off on her own to investigate Carson, and if I checked, I would bet Detective Lewis had been a loner too. It wasn’t just women in power—it was women who took matters into their own hands and pissed off the men around them. Easy prey for a man like Carson.
Dave came around the corner, and a smile lifted the corners of my lips. This time, he made a mistake. I’m not alone.
“Two officers on their way up. I also called the hospital to check on the Thorntons. They’re all in bad shape, but they’re gonna make it.” He peered into my face. “Something happen while I was gone?”
“No, I just realized how much I love you.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.
“Call Flanders back and have him put out an APB on Ginger. If we hurry, we can get four to five hours’ sleep before we have to meet with Carson and Park.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Any word from Flanders on Ginger?” I poured my third cup of coffee and downed it.
“Nothing yet.” Dave groaned and sipped his second cup. “Did we fight? My head feels like somebody used it for a baseball.”
“Four hours of sleep in two days will do that to you.” I glanced at the clock. “We’ve got an hour and a half, and neither of us has eaten since yesterday. Arlene’s or Micky’s?”
“Arlene’s. She’ll give me doughnuts.” He grinned as I picked up my purse. “You look like shit.”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“Sign of manhood.” Dave locked the door behind us and headed for the car. “Give me the recorder.”
I dug it out of my purse. “Why?”
“Because you’re a hothead and will forget to turn it on.”
I tossed him the recorder. “Why does everyone think I’m a ticking bomb about to explode?” I climbed in and fastened my seat belt, not really expecting an answer.
“Look in the mirror.” Dave chuckled and started the car. “When you get mad, your soul disappears, and horns come out.”
I remained quiet, but not for the reason Dave thought. I was too used to his teasing to let it hurt my feelings. Carson had been playing with my emotions ever since he arrived. “How do you get rid of a demon?”
Dave’s mouth gaped open, and he stared at me. “You serious?”
“Doesn’t really matter if I’m serious. Let’s assume Carson thinks he’s possessed by this Baykok thing. What would a priest do or use to cast it out?”
Dave turned his eyes back to the road and hit the brakes hard as the light turned red. “They don’t make that public knowledge. You ever watch The Exorcist?”
“A bunch of girls rented it in high school. I laughed so hard when the head started spinning that they kicked me out of the room.”
“Don’t blame them. Nothing funny about that movie. Exorcism ain’t something to be messed with. That’s why it’s only done by priests.” The parking lot was empty, and Dave parked in front.
I needed to choose my words carefully. The last thing I wanted to do was insult Dave’s faith. “Hear me out, okay? The consistent clue in all the murders has been the Christian connection. If Carson thinks he’s possessed, then he would also know some of the things that could hurt a demon. That’s what I need to know.”
“Holy water, crosses, the name of Jesus.” Dave shrugged. “That’s about all I can think of.”
“Where can I get holy water?”
Dave groaned. “You’d have to ask a Catholic priest for it, but he’s gonna want to know what you’re using it for.”
I grinned and opened my door. “Then I’ll tell him.”
We must have looked worse than we thought, because Arlene offered to fix us a huge breakfast. We ate every morsel and finished another pot of coffee. Dave patted his stomach. “You need to learn to cook, Lang.”
“That’s what microwaves and restaurants are for.” I glanced at my watch. “We’d better get a move on it.” I dropped several twenties on the table and waved at Arlene. “What’s for dinner?”
“Chicken and dumplings,” she called from behind the counter.
“Yummy.” My phone rang, and I followed Dave to the door. “Detective Lang.”
“Where are you?” My father’s voice sounded strained, something I didn’t remember ever hearing.
“Headed to the station to meet with Park and Carson. Is everything okay? Where’s Greg?”
“Is Dave with you?”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
“Let me talk to Dave.”
I handed the phone to Dave. “He wants to talk to you.”
Anger pushed my feet toward the car. I’d never expected Marcone to use the same tactics of punishment as Kurt Lange. Just because I couldn’t answer him when he said he wanted to be in my life doesn’t give him the right to ignore me.
I turned, tempted to grab the phone out of Dave’s hands and scream out my rage. The paleness of his face and slight tremble to his hands stopped me cold.
“Keep us informed.” He ended the call, something akin to pity in his eyes as they met mine. “Greg’s missing.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Wait! You can’t go in there.” Sharon Thompson was rushing after me as I charged toward Park’s door.
There was something cathartic about releasing pent-up anger, and mine was boiling over as I jerked open the door. The object of my obsession sat in the chair beside Park’s desk.
“What the hell are you doing, Lang?”
I ignored Park as I stomped toward Carson, grabbed him by the front of the shirt, and jerked him up. “Where is he?”
“Where’s whom, Kacy?”
The laughter reflected in his eyes and his condescending tone were like gasoline poured on an open flame. I shoved him backward and balled my right fist. “You know exactly whom, you creepy liver-eating son of a bitch.”
The connection would probably have broken my hand, but I’d never know, as Dave’s arms went around me and pulled me away from Carson.
Park was livid and on his feet. “I told you, Lang, one more episode, and you’re finished. I want your badge and your gun. You’re fired.”
Dave leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “Not now, kid. We’ll get him—you have my promise on that.”
Tossing my badge on Park’s desk, I unclipped my holster and removed my gun, holding it lightly in my hand. All I have to do is point and shoot. Strong fingers closed over mine and removed the gun.
“Get her out of my office, Capello. You can team up with Sims and Gardner until Stevens gets back.”
Dave placed my gun on the desk then placed his beside it before removing his badge. “Unless you get Carson to talk, Stevens won’t be coming back.” The arm still tight around my shoulders turned me toward the door. I heard the clink of metal hitting the desk before the words I’d never thought I would hear coming out of Dave’s mouth. “Kacy Lang is my partner, and if she’s fired, you can go fuck yourself.”
Somehow, we made it out of the station and to the car before the total absurdity of what had occurred hit me, and I started to laugh. “Jesus, you told Park to go fuck himself.”
Dave guffawed. “And you called Carson a creepy liver-eating son of a bitch. Jesus, I thought you were gonna kill him.”
Leaning forward, I grabbed my stomach and groaned. “Trust me, I wanted to. We’d best get out of here. If anyone is watc
hing, they’ll think we’ve lost our minds.”
“Where to?” Dave started the car and drove out of the lot.
“I need to stop and buy a cross, and we need to go by a Catholic church and pick up some holy water.” I looked up Derek’s number on my cell phone. “Call Flanders and let him know what’s going on. I’m going to try to reach Derek.” My voice cracked as I finished. “We have to tell him about Greg, and we’re going to need all the help we can get on this one.”
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