“Thanks, Luis.”
“Sure.” He flicked a glance at Emily. “She’s special to you?”
Brady ignored the heat climbing into his face and nodded. “Yeah, she’s special.”
“All right. Go.” They shared a fist bump and Brady jogged back to Emily.
“Come on.”
“What?”
“I’m going with you.”
“What happened to the dive?”
He shot her a tight smile. “I got permission to sit this one out. Sorry to call you out here for nothing, Linc.”
Linc slapped him on the back. “Not for nothing. I’ll follow you to the Gilstraps’ home just in case you need some backup.”
22
Where is she?” The broker slammed a fist on the table and raked a hand through his hair. His eyes rested on his friend who’d walked in thirty seconds ago.
“We spotted her out at Lake Wateree with her boyfriend cop. They’ve been out there for a few days now.”
“Then why not grab her? I want her dead! She’s the only one alive that can ruin me. The boat and the flash drive are at the bottom of the lake. As long as it stays there, I’m safe. In the meantime, she’s my loose end and I need it tied up ASAP.”
“We couldn’t get close enough. They had lookouts all around the place. She’s got so much coverage, you’d think she was a celebrity or something.”
“No, she’s just a woman with the power to put me in prison the rest of my life.” He wanted to hit something. Something other than his desk. Something like his brother’s scarred face. He took a deep breath.
“Frankly, I don’t think she knows anything,” his friend said.
“Burnett said Gilstrap was in the process of sending those texts before he stopped her,” he said. “She knows.”
“Then why haven’t the cops arrested you?”
He frowned. “Because they can’t find me. This house is in my grandmother’s name, not mine.”
His friend leaned forward and clasped his hands between his knees. “Here’s what I think. I think Gilstrap sent those lake pictures to Emily, but Emily doesn’t know which lake.”
“Even if she doesn’t, it won’t take her long to figure it out. That Gilstrap woman wouldn’t have sent her those texts if she didn’t think Emily couldn’t figure out what she meant.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it. She—and Hightower—are the last dangling threads and I want them snipped.” He walked to the window and looked out. This home sat gracefully on the gently sloping hill of one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Columbia. The rock wall surrounding it gave him a measure of security. As did the multiple security cameras and the crew who monitored those cameras 24/7. “Things were never the same after my parents divorced. All of this is their fault, you know.” He turned back to the window and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“So you’ve said. Many times.” A sigh filtered from the man. “But come on, man, we’re big boys. We made the decision to live this kind of life because we love money and will do whatever it takes to have a lot of it.”
The broker laughed. “You never were one to blame others, were you?”
“Why blame others when I’m the one in control?”
“Good point.” His gaze went back to the window. Two illegals worked in his garden. “He changed his name, you know. After the divorce. Dad took me and Mother took him. They hated each other.”
“I know. I was there, remember?”
“We were pitted against one another from birth. I suppose a showdown is inevitable.”
“Dude, you’re wallowing. You need to get out of this house and take your mind off things. Business is going well, you’re making more money than ever. The cops can’t find you. What’s to worry about?”
“Blackmail,” he snapped. “Blackmail is a big worry for me.”
“Yeah, I guess there’s that, but as long as those pictures are at the bottom of a lake, what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, he’s looking for those pictures too. And if he finds them, I’ll be right back where we started with Kingman.”
“Kingman must have been telling you the truth. If your brother had more pictures, you would know it by now.”
“Exactly. Which means I have to get to them first.”
“It’ll happen. We just have to bide our time and wait for the right moment.”
“Biding our time is costing me money.”
“You’ve got plenty of it.”
An annoyed snort escaped the broker. “That’s beside the point. I shouldn’t be spending it on this.” He rubbed his chin. “No, as much as I want him to suffer, I think it’s time for him to die.”
His friend stood and placed his bourbon glass on the coaster next to the wingback chair where he’d been lounging. “Then I’d better get busy. We’ve got some work to do in coming up with a plan to rid you of your brother. I’ll keep you informed.”
The door shut and the broker swigged the last of his own drink while his mind dismissed any plan his friend might be working on. It was time to form one of his own.
When Brady pulled the car in front of the Gilstrap home, Emily’s fingers tightened around the door handle. Their white Honda was in the drive along with several other vehicles. Maybe Mrs. Gilstrap really hadn’t had time to call her back. Frowning, she climbed out of the vehicle. Linc pulled up and parked behind them, where he’d stay as an extra set of eyes for protection.
The curtain in the dining room moved and she caught a glimpse of Heather’s mother. The drape snapped back into place and the front door opened. “How dare you! How dare you come here?”
Emily froze. Brady’s hand gripped her bicep. She blinked. “Mrs. Gilstrap?”
“Heather’s dead and it’s your fault.” She jabbed a finger at Emily as tears streaked her cheeks.
“What?” Emily gaped.
“Ellen!” The sharp command from the man behind her had no effect on Heather’s mother as she continued her charge toward them. Brady pulled Emily back.
“Ellen, stop it right now!”
A former Marine, Eric Gilstrap’s drill sergeant snap halted the woman in her tracks. He reached her in four strides. “We talked about this.” His voice softened.
Tears tracked Mrs. Gilstrap’s cheeks as she glared at Emily. Never had Emily ever seen such a look on Heather’s mother’s face and it devastated her. “Please, Mrs. Gilstrap. What do you mean? Why is it my fault? You called me and left me those messages concerned about my safety. What’s changed since then?”
Heaving with her emotion, Mrs. Gilstrap couldn’t speak. Emily turned pleading eyes to Mr. Gilstrap.
He sighed. “Come inside. No sense in standing out here in the cold.”
It hit Emily at that moment just how cold she really was. Probably more so from the shock of Ellen Gilstrap’s accusation than from the weather.
Emily shot a glance at Brady, who squeezed her shoulder and stayed close as they stepped inside the Gilstrap home. Mr. Gilstrap whispered something in his wife’s ear and she nodded, shot another look over her shoulder at Emily and Brady, and headed for the kitchen. A woman Emily thought might be Heather’s aunt from the West Coast slipped an arm around her sister’s shoulders.
“Let’s go in the den,” Mr. Gilstrap said. “Mark is on the way from Virginia. He should be here in the next hour or so.” Mark, Heather’s brother.
“What about Shelly?” Emily asked. Heather’s sister lived in Tennessee, working as an accountant for a prestigious law firm.
“She’ll come this weekend.” He shook his head. “I sure thought Heather would have shown up by now.” He cleared his throat.
Brady held out a hand. “Sir, I’m Detective Brady St. John.”
“Detective St. John? I asked Detective Carlisle to keep me updated.” Fear flickered in his eyes and he shot a glance into the kitchen, where his wife pulled water bottles out of the refrigerator. “What’s going on? Have you heard something about Heather?”<
br />
“No sir. Unfortunately, that’s not why we’re here.”
“I see.”
Emily frowned. “Please, tell me why Mrs. Gilstrap thinks Heather’s disappearance is my fault?”
He turned kind eyes on her. “It’s not your fault, Emily. Heather came by the house the day she disappeared and was bent out of shape about something. She wouldn’t say what exactly, just that she was working on a story that you’d come across and promised her the exclusive. At first Ellen thought you both had disappeared, then when she got your call and learned you were safe, but Heather possibly wasn’t, well, she started stewing on it and got it in her head that you shouldn’t have given Heather such a dangerous assignment.”
“But I didn’t. I mean, it wasn’t an assignment. I don’t give Heather assignments anyway, her boss does. I just told her a few things about something I’d found at work and simply asked her opinion about it. I knew she’d done a story on human trafficking not too long ago and I needed her feedback on some things from the financial perspective. She took it upon herself to do some digging and confirmed some of our suspicions—including the identity of one of the men involved. And then she disappeared. And I was taken too.”
Mr. Gilstrap’s eyes widened. “You said something about that in your initial message, but we didn’t have time to discuss it Saturday night. What happened?” She explained, and he blew out a low breath. “Emily, honey, I’m so sorry. And I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thank you. But I’m so worried about Heather.” Her voice cracked on her friend’s name. “Everyone’s trying to find her.”
He nodded and his throat worked a moment before he cleared it. “Don’t worry about Ellen. She’ll come around. Deep down she knows none of this is your fault, she just needs someone to be angry at right now.”
“I guess I can understand that.” And she could. At least the needing to be angry part. She’d love to express her anger, her outrage, her pure fury at the people who were doing this. “Can you think of anything that would help us?”
“No, nothing.”
“What about her camera?” Brady asked. His phone rang and he glanced at the screen before sending the call to voice mail. “Or her laptop?” Emily was glad he didn’t stop to take the call. “We found some pictures that she took,” Brady said, “but she had her geotag option turned off when she sent them.”
“I know she probably had her good camera with her at the time,” Emily said. “Do you know where it could be?”
“You two need to leave now.” Ellen Gilstrap stood at the entrance to the den.
“Honey—”
“No, Eric, I’m not staying quiet this time.” She turned a cold gaze back to Emily. “Get out of my house and don’t come back unless you have Heather with you.”
Tears clogged her throat and Emily couldn’t respond. She ran from the room, through the foyer, and stopped at the front door. Brady’s shout echoed behind her. He caught up with her at the door.
Even though she was upset, she had more sense than to go barreling outside and give someone a clear shot at her. But she wouldn’t stay in Mrs. Gilstrap’s home one minute longer than she had to. Not because she was angry at the woman, but because it was obvious her presence caused Heather’s mother extreme grief.
Emily leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. “What do I do about that?” she whispered, more to herself than him.
“Exactly what Heather’s father said. Don’t blame yourself.” He took Emily by the hand and went out the door, keeping her behind him. Linc nodded at them from his truck.
Brady’s phone rang again and he ignored it until he got Emily into the truck, then with another glance at his demanding phone, he grimaced. “Sorry, but I’ve got to take this call before we leave.”
“Sure.”
He answered as he hurried to the driver’s side and hopped in. She only halfway listened as she pondered Mrs. Gilstrap’s reaction. How could she believe that Emily would deliberately put Heather in danger?
“Toyota Camry?”
Emily sucked in a harsh breath and laser focused on Brady. “What color? Silver?”
He nodded, his eyes darkening with an emotion she couldn’t put her finger on.
“Where?” she demanded.
He shook his head.
“Where?” Emily insisted.
Brady closed his eyes for a moment. “All right. I’m on the way. I’m going to suit up. See you in a few minutes.”
Emily gripped his forearm. “Tell me.”
“We can tell David he can quit searching for Heather’s car.” He sighed. “Two scuba divers found it.”
“Scuba . . .” She swallowed, unable to finish repeating his words. “Where!”
“At the bottom of Lake Murray.”
Brady twisted the key and the engine purred to life. “We don’t know that Heather’s with the car, so let’s not panic yet.” He caught Emily’s hand in his. “I’m going to drop you off at the station where you’ll be safe and head to the site.”
“No. I’ll ride with you.”
He hesitated, then shrugged. “I won’t argue with you. I know you’ll insist, but I don’t think it’s a very wise idea.”
“Probably not, but I’m still going. I need to know.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “I know.” He wouldn’t be able to talk her out of it. “You’ll have to stay in the truck.” He placed his hand back on the wheel.
“That’s fine. As long as I’m there.” She paused. “How do they know it’s hers?”
“One of the divers got the plate number and looked it up on his phone. When he realized the police were searching for that car, he called it in.”
“Right.” She shuddered. “What if she’s with the car, Brady?”
“Just pray she isn’t.”
“I’ve been praying.”
He pulled into the entrance to the park, followed the directions he’d been given to the dive site, and found he was the first to arrive. With a flash of his badge, Brady was allowed onto the scene. He parked, spotting the boat out past the long dock. If the car was in the deep area past the dock, someone had driven it off the end.
Brady turned to Emily. “I’m going to meet up with the team. Stay in the truck, please?”
She nodded, but he easily read the turmoil she was trying to control. He squeezed her hand and climbed out of the truck. Conflicted between wanting to dive and wanting to stay with Emily, he headed toward his team members who were already were gearing up. The others would be rolling in any second.
Luis walked toward him, already dressed in his dry suit. “Ready?” Because Luis was one of the deputies who worked with the coroner, he’d be the one to assist with recovering any bodies. Should there be any in the car. He was praying for an empty car.
Brady nodded. “Ready.”
“You sure you’re going down then.”
“I have to. If Heather’s down there, I want to be the one to break it to Emily.”
“Mary Beth’s got your rope.”
“Got it.”
He glanced back to the truck. Emily sat staring at the boat and he didn’t even want to imagine what was going through her head. Actually, he didn’t have to imagine it. He went to her and she rolled the window down. “Are you going to be all right?”
“It depends on if Heather’s in that water or not.”
“Yeah.” His throat tightened at the rampant fear in her eyes. “Keep praying.”
“I haven’t stopped.”
He kissed her. A quick press of his lips against hers that he hoped conveyed comfort and a silent promise to be there for her no matter what they found.
Her eyes filled with tears and she sniffed and nodded. “Go.”
He grabbed his gear and went, but not without a look back over his shoulder. She sat, shoulders straight, eyes on the water, jaw set. He could only hope God listened to her prayers better than he’d listened to Brady’s.
The other divers were there looking at
the sonar pictures and discussing the best strategy for raising the car. Once Brady and Luis examined the vehicle for evidence, they would hook it up to the cables that would pull it from its watery grave.
Brady finished donning his gear for his dive, made his final check, then gave Mary Beth the okay sign and lowered himself feet first off the end of the dock. Luis followed him. Normally they’d let the boat take them to the dive site, but the car was just a few feet away from the dock. It made sense not to stir the murky lake water any more than necessary.
Once in the water, they dove down, allowing time for their bodies to adjust to the change in pressure. The water was surprisingly clear for lake water. The fish swam around him, curious, but not venturing too close.
Their descent continued, stopping every so often to adjust. Finally, he could see the vehicle resting on its hood. “Based on the depth and location of the car, I’d say it was pushed off the end of the dock,” he told Luis. “Engine pulled it down, it flipped, and there she rests.”
So many variables factored into how far a car would travel once it hit the water. The fact that this one wasn’t too far away from the end of the dock indicated it wasn’t running when it went off the end. The slight slope of the dock would allow gravity to help send it over.
“We’ll know if it’s in neutral,” Luis said.
Being able to communicate on dives as complicated as these made Brady all the more grateful for the voice technology they now had. Interpreting hand signals could be time consuming and frustrating.
Brady gave a kick and drew next to the rear passenger window. A quick glance inside showed it empty. While he wanted to be relieved, he wouldn’t be until they examined the trunk and found it empty as well. He checked the gearshift. “Neutral.”
“Pushed then.”
“Yep.”
Brady kicked to the back of the vehicle and checked the trunk. A piece of cloth stuck out of one side. “Look.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t know. Could be the sleeve of a jacket?”
“Aw, man.”
Code of Valor Page 22