“Got one more stop to make.” Dave held up the recorder. “I got Carson on tape.”
The phone rang three times. “Agent Stevens.”
“Derek, it’s Kacy.”
“Hey, Kacy, I was just getting ready to call you. I’ve been trying to reach Greg. He left all these crazy messages for me.”
I swallowed hard, the words sticking in my throat. “Greg’s missing. We need your help.”
The friendly voice was gone, and the tone on the line was professional. “Fill me in on what’s going on.”
I brought him up to speed on the case. “If you call Marcone, he may be able to tell you where Greg went missing from. Greg was working with him.”
“He was my next call. He left a message for me this morning.”
“What do you know about Ace Carson?”
“Not much. I’ve never worked with him. Give me a couple of hours, and I’ll dig up everything I can and head your way.”
“Be careful, Derek. People who look into Carson don’t seem to live very long.”
“If he’s got my brother, Carson’s the one who’d better be careful.”
The line went dead, and I blinked the mist from my eyes before turning to Dave. “Did you reach Flanders?”
“He’s putting out an APB on Greg.”
We arrived at the Carlisle. “We can’t arrest him now, even if Janice can identify the voice.”
“We still need to build a case.”
“Let’s do this then.”
Janice and Greta were waiting for us in the lounge. The hope in Greta’s eyes was painful to look at. “Did you get it? We booked a later flight. I want to be here when you put that bastard behind bars.”
“We got it.” I sat down beside Janice and took her hand. “It’s short, so close your eyes and listen.”
Dave hit Play, and I kept my eyes on Janice’s face. “Where is whom, Kacy?”
The hand holding mine tightened, and her eyes sprang open, wide with fear. “That’s one of them.”
Four feet of balled up energy leapt from her chair and let out a whoop. “We got the son of a bitch.”
“Please, sit down, Greta.”
She did as I asked, but anger riddled her voice. “Why ain’t you going after him?”
“It’s like Janice said—there’s two of them. He has our partner.” I gazed into her eyes, pleading for understanding. “If we arrest him, his accomplice will kill Greg.”
Her shoulders sagged, and the air whooshed out of her lungs. “I’m sorry.” Tears filled her eyes. “You know he’s already dead.”
“I can’t accept that, Greta. I have to believe I can save him, and if I can’t, I’m going to kill Carson.”
Her arms came up, and she pulled me in close for a hug. “Then you go save him, honey, but I’ve got a favor to ask.” She let go of my neck. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a bullet. “Once your partner’s safe, you put a bullet right between that bastard’s eyes, and you tell him that’s for Mannie.”
On our way out, we stopped to talk to the officers to arrange for continued surveillance. Janice and Greta were checking back in, and no amount of coaxing was going to change their minds. “I’m going to call Carson and offer a trade.”
“The hell you are.” Dave slammed his fist on top of the car. “I’ll hogtie your ass before I let you do that.”
“Hear me out, Dave.” I opened my door and slid into the seat. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but the longer Greg was held hostage, the smaller the chances were we would find him alive.
Dave flopped in the driver’s seat, slammed his door, and started the car. “I’ll hear you out, but it ain’t gonna change my mind.”
“The FBI has equipment we can only dream about. Once Derek gets here, he can wire me up or put a GPS on me, and you can follow, swoop in, and save the day.”
“I don’t like it. What if he kills you before we get there?”
“He won’t. He likes to make his victims suffer. He’ll want to make me watch him kill Greg first, and he’ll do that slow and painfully.”
“Where to now?”
“Arlene has chicken and dumplings. I can’t think of anything better for a last meal.”
“Damn it, Kacy.”
“I’m kidding. Let’s eat, then you can buy me a cross. After that, we’ll stop by a church for some holy water.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dave was quiet as we ate. I knew he didn’t like my plan, but it was our best chance of getting Greg back alive. He would be fine once he made his decision. “I’m stuffed.”
“That stuff’s not good for your liver. You trying to piss Carson off?”
“Shame I’m not an alcohol drinker.”
Arlene cleared our plates from the table. “Coffee?”
“No, thank you. We’ve got places to go and people to protect.” I reached for my purse, and Dave shook his head.
“I’m buying.” He rose and placed a hundred on the table. “Keep the change.”
What the hell is he up to? I coughed. “That’s a hundred.”
“I know.”
Arlene’s face broke out in a huge grin. “You want a box of doughnuts to go?”
Dave chuckled. “You know me too well. Throw in a couple of cups of coffee, and we’ve got a deal.”
I followed him to the counter as he shuffled his feet, wiggled his hips, and whistled a tune. He’d made up his mind, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like it. “You don’t throw money around, so what are you doing?”
“Grabbing my last meal.” He took the doughnuts and motioned to the coffee. “Make yourself useful.”
My cell rang, and Park’s ID flashed on the screen. “You’ll have to get your own coffee. It’s Park.” I picked up a cup and hurried outside before answering. “I don’t work for you anymore, so what do you want?”
“I’m just letting you know Stevens is fine. He called in fifteen minutes after you left.”
“Was Carson still there, or had he already left?”
“What difference does it make? Stevens is on a beach in Florida.”
I gritted my teeth. I bet if I looked in the mirror right now, those horns Dave talked about are coming out. “It makes a big difference. If he’d already left, then the call is a fake.”
The only sound over the line was Park’s ragged breathing. “I want you and Capello back in my office right now.”
I had my answer, but at least we knew Greg was still alive. “Screw you, Park. I’m going to save my partner.”
“Lang!” His scream was loud enough for Dave to hear it even without the speaker on.
Dave raised an eyebrow and unlocked the car. I shrugged and turned off my phone. “He said Greg called fifteen minutes after we left.” I patted my hair, feeling around the top of my head.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to church. Figured I’d better pull my horns back in.” I grinned and opened my door. “Greg’s alive. Right now, that’s all that matters.”
Taking the box of doughnuts from Dave, I placed them in the back seat. “You’re not getting any until you tell me what you’re up to.”
“Been thinking about your plan.” Dave started the car and headed downtown. “Might work, but not with you.”
“Forget it, Dave. We’re not using you as bait.”
“Hear me out.” He parked in front of Lilly’s, an expensive jewelry store. “Carson is never going to trade Greg for you as long as I’m still out here. He’ll know it’s a trick and that I’m gonna find you. He has to believe you’re all alone with nobody to turn to.” Dave opened his door. “You think about it. I’ll be back in a minute.”
My cell rang, and Derek’s name popped up. “Damn you, Capello, I hate it when you’re right.” Swiping the answer key, I caught myself just in time not to say “Detective Lang.” “Hey, Derek.”
“I’m at my mom’s. We’ll meet you at your house in half an hour.”
“Greg’s alive. He called the statio
n after we met with Park and Carson.”
“Where is he?”
I could feel the excitement in his voice. Good news is supposed to follow bad, but I’d already messed that up. “We don’t know. Carson left before the call came in. His accomplice must have Greg and made him place the call.”
“Best not to use our phones too much. We’ll talk when we get together.”
Dave climbed in his seat and handed me a small bag. “One cross, guaranteed to ward off demons.”
“Did your rich uncle die or something?” I pulled out the box, noting the price tag. “Jesus, Dave, I can’t take this. All I need is something that looks good.” Dropping it back in the bag I handed it to him. “Go get your money back.”
“Nope.” He started the car and pulled away from the curb. “And you better not lose it. Been saving for that for the past six months. It’s Martha’s anniversary present. Be a good girl and put it on.”
A lump formed in my throat as I lifted the silver chain holding the cross. “When’s your anniversary?”
“Monday. So this better be over by then, or Martha is gonna kick my butt.”
I placed the chain around my neck, the cross lying next to the locket Greg had given me. “It will be. Let’s go get some holy water.”
~ ~ ~
“You’re not Catholic, Miss Lang. What is the purpose of your seeking holy water?”
I looked to Dave for help. He smiled, shrugged, and turned away from me. I’m going to burn in hell. “It’s a long story, Father Brown, and we’re running out of time.”
“I believe God provides time to those who need it.”
Jesus. “Dave?”
“Tell him the truth. What have you got to lose?”
“We’re trying to catch a killer. I think he believes he’s possessed by a demon. If he believes that, then we can use the holy water to scare him.”
Father Brown smiled. “You’re not a believer, are you?”
“I’m not a nonbeliever.” I waved to Dave. “My partner has enough faith for both of us.”
“But your partner isn’t the one who will be using the holy water, is he?” Father Brown rose. “You say this man believes he’s demon possessed. What are you going to do if he is? Are you emotionally and mentally prepared to fight a demon?”
I thought about lying and saying hell yes. I was already going to hell—what difference would one more lie make? Something in Father Brown’s deep-blue eyes gave me pause, and I found myself telling the truth. “No, but I have to try. Otherwise, someone I love is going to die, and this killer will move to another area and do it all over again.”
“Wait here.”
“Thanks a lot for the help,” I spewed out to Dave as soon as Father Brown left the room. The glimmer in his gray eyes and huge grin should have warned me.
“I knew you loved Greg.”
“I was talking about you,” I grumbled. “Although I’m beginning to change my mind about that. Is there another church close by?”
Father Brown came back into the room, carrying a small bottle. “I admire your courage, Miss Lang. I also admire your honesty. Love is the reason I’m giving this to you. If you truly have love in your heart, then go and use this to stop the evil.”
“Thank you, Father Brown.”
“I would encourage you to read Psalm 53. And if you find you do not need the water, you must promise to return it to me for disposal. That’s very important.”
“I promise.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“I need to call Derek and tell him we’ll be late.” I tossed my purse in the car and dialed the number. The call went to voicemail. “Derek, it’s Kacy. We’ll be late.” The clammy fingers of death that were always with me clawed at my guts as thoughts I’d tried to keep at bay crept in. “Do you think Greg’s okay?”
“Carson and his accomplice have him. I ain’t gonna lie to you and tell you he’s okay.”
The heart-shaped locket lying between my breasts felt icy cold. “I have to believe he’s okay.” My voice cracked, and I took a deep breath. “Any other thought would drive me crazy.”
Dave didn’t answer, and he didn’t have to. Losing a partner was like losing a limb. Every time I moved and everywhere I looked, I felt the pain of loss. “Dad will find him.” I closed my eyes and whispered, “He has to.”
“I may have to rent that spare room of yours.” Dave picked up on my pain and as always pulled me away from it.
“Park will take you back.”
The words didn’t quite carry the conviction I’d wanted to convey, and Dave grunted. “If he don’t, Martha’s gonna have my hide.”
“We could always go to work for my dad.”
Dave ran a hand through his thinning hair and shook his head. “You maybe, not me. Too old and too fat.”
I grinned and punched him in the arm. “Dave Capello is my partner, and anybody that hires me and doesn’t want to hire him can go fuck themselves.”
“Jesus. Language, Lang. We just left a church.” Dave kept his eyes on the road. “Profile?”
“Brothers, late twenties or early thirties. Both are athletic, strong, and…” I searched for the word I was looking for.
“Crazy?”
“Not crazy, but mentally and emotionally unstable. Most likely abused physically, mentally, and sexually as young children.”
Dave shook his head. “I ain’t giving these guys an excuse. Evil is as evil does. Doesn’t need a reason. Endgame?”
I contemplated my answer. “So far, the killers have targeted me emotionally. Dredging up memories that would open old wounds. If Carson’s endgame is to dishonor me, the scene in Park’s office should have satisfied that need. All that’s left is putting a bullet through my brain and devouring my liver.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime, partner.” My thoughts were still culminating and going through the process. “The second killer won’t stop until he’s caught. His mind is twisted, and he enjoys physical torture. His ties to Christianity haunt him, and he’s probably into self-mutilation, as well.”
“You think Carson gave a true profile, or was he throwing us off the trail?”
“He mixed it up. What he didn’t say was we’re looking for a Carson look-alike with tattoos, scars, and a cross hanging around his neck.”
“That should be easy enough.”
“Sarcasm isn’t your forte.” My phone rang. “It’s Myriah. Hello.”
“Kacy, what the hell is going on? Sims and Gardner just charged into my office for reports and said you and Dave were fired. Please tell me that’s not true.”
“Long story. I’ll tell you about it later. Anything new on our victims?”
“James and Worthington were killed by massive doses of heroin. Emily was bled out. Those are the things in my report.”
“And off the record?”
“I called a friend in Massachusetts and gave them a heads-up on Janice Stacy’s kidnapping. I felt they had a right to know since her mother was one of their detectives.”
I glanced at Dave, my hand tightening around the phone. “Are you going to tell me or keep me in suspense?”
“They’re taking another look at their original suspect, Ace Carson. Isn’t that the profiler working this case?”
“Yes, and our prime suspect at the moment.”
“Well, I have a feeling they’ll be putting some pressure on Park. I’ve got a good mind to call him myself and tell him what an idiot he is.”
“Don’t. We’re in enough hot water already. Gotta run, Myriah. I promise we’ll talk soon.” I stored my phone and brought Dave up to date. “I’m not sure if that helps or hurts us at the moment.”
“Helps. If we miss the mark here, hopefully, they’ll track him down.”
I turned to stare out the window. I hope if the bastard does cut out my liver, he chokes on it.
~ ~ ~
“Looks like you’re not the only one that knows how to pick a lock.” Dave parked behind the car in
my driveway. A cruiser was parked on the side of the road.
“And it looks like we’ve got a full house.” I hated the thought of facing Derek. It didn’t help that he and Greg were twins. Looking at him would be a painful reminder of what Greg was going through.
Dishonorable Death Page 16