Honorable Death

by Linda S. Prather

  “I can do it.” I swung my legs out, took a deep breath, and grabbed the doorframe to heave myself out.

  “Damn it, Kacy, swallow your pride for once and let me help you.” Dave slammed the door behind me and placed an arm around my waist.

  “Keep this up, and you’ll have a lot of praying to do tonight,” I whispered as I leaned on him.

  “Yeah, well, God’s used to it. Been on my knees more in the last five years since I teamed up with you than all the years before.”

  Dave helped me to the couch, where I lowered myself slowly. “I am beat,” I said, “but one of us should check on Claire later.”

  “You’re not going anywhere except to bed. You need anything before I leave?”

  I held up the packet of painkillers. “Glass of water.”

  Dave returned in minutes, and I ripped open the package and took both pills. Knowing someone was listening made it was easy to feed them exactly what I wanted them to know. “Whoever is doing this must be desperate to go after Claire. I feel like a jerk for getting her involved.”

  “The next time you decide to ditch me and play a joke, think twice.” Dave winked and grinned. “You got a secret lover I don’t know about?”

  I shook my head before I remembered we were playing to an audience. “I was checking out a lead on Simon and figured Primm was still following me. When I told Claire you were driving me crazy and I wanted to get away from you for a while, she jumped right in and took over. Hiding the phone in different places was her idea.”

  “Any luck with your lead?”

  “No. When Simon and Kyle were running together, they had a dealer they used. I thought he might know something, but he died last year. I don’t guess it matters now anyway. Simon’s dead, and from what he whispered, he didn’t know Kyle had been killed. I’m positive he didn’t know anything about what Kyle was doing. We’re right back where we started—nowhere.”

  “What did he whisper?”

  “It was stupid. He told me to tell Kyle it had been fun.” I struggled to my feet. If Kurt was listening, we’d given him enough for tonight. The information on Kyle’s murder hadn’t been printed in the paper yet. Kurt had no way of knowing whether Simon knew or not. If he believed that Simon didn’t know Kyle was dead, then he would believe that Simon hadn’t told me anything of importance. Dave was taking a little too long to gather his things. “You’re not going home, are you? You’re planning on sitting out there and watching my house the rest of the night.”

  The guilty look on his face answered my question. “You might as well sleep on the couch. There’s extra pillows and blankets in the hall closet. If you wake me before noon, I’ll shoot you.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  I woke to the aroma of fresh coffee, opened one eye, and glanced at the bedside clock. Twelve thirty. Groaning, I rolled my legs off the bed, sat up, and cradled my head in my right hand. How the hell do people who drink do it? I had a massive lack-of-sleep hangover, and my head was pounding. I’d barely made it to bed and kicked off my shoes before passing out. I groaned again as Dave’s voice carried from the kitchen, singing a nineties rap song. I hate rap. What the hell is he saying anyway? Ego tripping?

  Dave was wearing my pink apron, swiveling his substantial backside, and flipping pancakes when I dragged myself to the kitchen. His voice rose to a high pitch as he sang off-key. “I’m the life of da party.”

  “For God’s sake, Dave, shut up.” I walked to the counter for a much-needed dose of caffeine. “You’re waking the dead.”

  He turned, a huge smile crossing the chubby features. “Good morning, beautiful. Breakfast is almost ready.”

  I flopped into the nearest chair. “Don’t be an ass, and please tell me you don’t dance like that for Martha.”

  He sat a plate piled high with pancakes covered in syrup and a side order of bacon in front of me. “Mostly for the kids. I’ve got other dances for Martha.”

  I downed my first cup of coffee. The image of Dave doing a sexy striptease was a little more than I could bear in my present condition. “Too much information, partner.”

  He refilled my coffee cup and joined me at the table, his own plate double the size of mine. “How are you feeling?”

  “About like I look.” I took a bite of pancake and grimaced. “Think you used enough syrup?”

  “Never too much syrup. And if you feel that bad, I should take you to the hospital.” Dave forked up a pancake and stuffed it into his mouth whole.

  I nibbled on the bacon and raised an eyebrow. “That bad?”

  Dave nodded. “You look like somebody ate you for supper last night and vomited you up this morning.”

  “Forget it, Dave. You’re not getting my plate.”

  We finished breakfast in silence, cleared the table, and cleaned the kitchen. Dave took off the apron and hung it on the nail near the stove. “What do you want to do today?”

  Aware of our nosy listeners, I poured it on thick. “I need a shower, then if you don’t mind driving me, I’d like to make a call on Simon’s parents. He was Kyle’s best friend throughout school, and I feel I owe it to them. I promised Kurt… Dad I’d stop by and see him and Mom. If they do want to start over and try to be a real family, then I need to do my part.” I shook my fist at Dave, who was busy doing his Three Stooges routine of slap, slap, slap. “You could use a shower yourself. Pick me up in forty-five minutes?”

  “Works for me.” He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. “Need to change that bandage too. Wear something with short sleeves. I’ll grab Martha’s first-aid kit while I’m home.” His face turned serious as he reached the front door. “Lock this behind me, and take your gun to the shower with you.”

  After I clicked the lock and watched Dave drive away, the silence closed in around me. Then the noises intruded. Even the smallest, like the ticking of the clock, seemed magnified. I realized it was the first time I’d been alone since finding Kyle’s body. Needing to shut down my thoughts and turn off my mind, I headed to the bedroom for clothes then to the bathroom. I’m okay.

  Undressing quickly and removing the bandage from my left arm, I turned on the water as hot I could stand it and stepped into the tub. I didn’t tell them. Kyle’s… little… girl. I should have saved Simon. The sobs hit fast and furious, shaking my body and shattering my control. Sinking to the floor of the tub, I huddled in the corner, drew my knees to my chest, and screamed out my pain.

  Dave cleared his throat for the second time in the last five minutes.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Yeah, well, you don’t look okay. You should put this off until tomorrow or, better yet, wait for the funeral and pay your respects.”

  “Kyle has a daughter. That’s what Simon whispered right before he died.”

  Dave did an about-face, his mouth gaping open. “These jerks are looking for a little girl?”

  “The road, Dave. I’m not ready to die yet.”

  He turned his attention back to the sharp curve we were entering. The screaming, crying fit had gone a long way in clearing both my soul and my head. “I think Kyle stole something, and he was trying to blackmail Kurt and maybe others. His little girl could be sick, and he needed the money for her. I don’t know why, but they were looking for Simon to find her.”

  “I can see how that would have helped them before they killed Kyle but not now. It don’t make sense.”

  “She could be used for leverage. Or they think Kyle left whatever he stole with her.”

  “Leverage against whom?” Dave turned in to the long, tree-lined driveway leading up to the Wilsons’ two-story brick ranch. “Thought you said they were as rich as the Langes?”

  “Leverage against me. And they are. Just not as show-offy. They don’t flaunt their wealth.”

  Dave parked on the driveway and cut the motor. “What exactly are we doing here?”

  “Until we know for sure who’s behind this, I can’t even try to locate Kyle’s daughter. Too many people are watching
me. I’m hoping Mr. and Mrs. Wilson will let me go through Simon’s things. Maybe there’s a picture or postcard or something. I need to know where she is and that she’s safe.”

  The front door opened, and Mr. Wilson waved.

  “When this is all over, I want to come back and tell them the truth, and what their son died for. They need to be proud of him.” I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door. “I should warn you: they’re huggers.”

  “I love huggers.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Charles Wilson wrapped his arms around me. “It’s good to see you, Kacy. Thank you for coming and for what you tried to do for Simon.”

  I wiggled out of his arms. “This is my partner, Dave Capello. Dave, this is Simon’s father, Charles Wilson.”

  “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  Dave stuck out his hand, and Charles pulled him in for a brief hug. “Melanie is in the sitting room. Would you like coffee?”

  “Coffee would be great, Mr. Wilson.”

  “Go on in and keep Melanie company. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Nothing much had changed in the Wilson household since the last time I’d been there four years ago. Charles and Melanie weren’t possessions people. They preferred to spend their wealth traveling and helping others. After Simon’s drug problems developed, they’d donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to build and expand rehab centers. One look at Melanie, and it was apparent where Simon’s tiny stature came from. She stood as we entered and opened her arms. I towered over her four-foot-three-inch frame, and as much as I hated hugging, I held her for an extra minute or two and whispered words I hoped were comforting.

  Melanie stepped back, grabbed a Kleenex, and wiped her eyes. “Thank you for coming, Kacy. It means a lot to us, and I know it would mean a lot to Simon. I was horrified to hear about Kyle’s death. They both had been doing good for the past few years, and we assumed all that was behind us.”

  Her words were a shock, and I opened my mouth, only to be pinched on my good arm by Dave. “Kacy seems to have forgotten her manners. Dave Capello, Mrs. Wilson. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Melanie smiled and waved us both to the couch as Charles came in with a tray. “At times like this, we tend to forget manners. Please, sit down.” She sent a loving glance to her husband. “There’s a chocolate cake in the refrigerator, Charles. Perhaps our guests would like a slice?”

  The thought of anything sweet after those pancakes made me want to vomit, and I kicked Dave, daring him to say yes. “Coffee is fine. Black.”

  Charles placed the tray on a scruffy-looking end table and poured four cups. He passed them around then took a seat next to his wife. “I assume this isn’t simply a social call.” He laid a hand on Melanie’s thigh. “We’d like to help in any way we can. Do you think Simon’s death was connected to Kyle’s murder?”

  I nodded and sipped my coffee. “We don’t know the connection yet, but nothing else makes sense. When was the last time you saw Simon?”

  Melanie squeezed Charles’s hand before answering. “It was a few months ago. Right before we went to Africa to help with the children’s orphanage we sponsor there. He was all excited about whatever he and Kyle were investigating.” The smile that lifted her lips was one of tenderness and love, and her gaze became a distant stare. “He told us they were playing detective, and once they had it all together, Kyle would take it to you.” The eyes that sought mine were clouded by mist. “I haven’t seen him that excited for years. I guess they didn’t get that far.”

  The cup in my hands was shaking, and Dave took it away and placed it on the coffee table. “You said earlier that Kyle and Simon had been doing good for the past few years. When is the last time you saw Kyle?”

  “The same day.” Charles sipped his coffee. “I was showing Kyle the plans for a new wing at the children’s hospital while Melanie and Simon gathered some of his things.” He ran a hand through the same ratty brown hair that had haunted Simon since birth, a frown pulling his brows down. “I’d forgotten, but Kyle left a box in the garage. Said they needed to keep it in a safe place for a while. I guess I should turn it over to the police now. Do you suppose it has something to do with their deaths?”

  Excitement coursed through me, and my voice was one octave above a squeal. “You didn’t tell anyone about this box, did you?”

  Charles shook his head. “No. Like I said, I forgot it was there. Otherwise, I would have given it to your father when he stopped by yesterday. I’ll go get it for you now.”

  The news my father had stopped by the day before sent spider legs racing down my spine. “We’ll go with you. It may be nothing, and if it is, we don’t want anyone to know you had it.”

  Charles’s face paled slightly. “With all that’s happened, I guess that makes sense.”

  A drone flew over as we made our way from the house to the detached garage, and I looked at Dave and saw the same question in his eyes that was running through my mind. Innocent or killers watching? Either way, I was glad we hadn’t allowed Mr. Wilson to bring the box to us.

  Charles opened the door and flipped on the lights. “Let’s see, I think I put it over here behind this year’s records.” He moved several boxes and nodded. “Here it is.” He lifted out a file storage box that looked exactly like all the others, except it wasn’t labeled. “Do you want to take it back to the house?”

  Dave and I screamed “No!” at the same time, and Charles backed up a few steps. “The two of you should tell me what’s going on.”

  “I wish we knew, Charles. The one thing we know for sure is Kyle had something that someone out there is desperate to find. He was tortured for hours before they finally killed him. So was the woman he was living with, and the apartment was torn apart. The same thing would have happened to Simon if he hadn’t killed himself. Anyone with any knowledge or any connection to Kyle and Simon are in danger. A drone flew over, and we don’t know if it’s someone watching you or kids out having fun. If I were a betting person, I would bet it’s someone watching you or us. It might be a good idea if after Simon’s funeral, you and Melanie traveled for a while, not staying in one place for too long.”

  Charles set the box on a table against the wall. “What’s your father’s part in this madness, Kacy? We haven’t talked to him in years, and he’s called and visited twice in the last week.”

  For their own protection, I had to tell the Wilsons what I suspected. If it turned out wrong, I would have a lot of apologizing to do. “We haven’t told anyone else, but Dave and I suspect my parents are involved in Kyle’s death. We think he may have been blackmailing them or at least trying to.”

  Charles placed his hand on the box. “My son died because of this too. I want to help.”

  Dave shook his head. “That’s not a good idea, Mr. Wilson. They’ve killed Kyle and his girlfriend, almost killed a young woman who did nothing more than hide Kacy’s phone, and caused Simon’s death. Whatever Kyle took, as Kacy said, they’re desperate to find it. And they aren’t leaving any witnesses behind.”

  “If what you’re saying is true, we’re already involved.” Charles lifted the lid from the box and pulled out a stack of manila file folders. “Melanie and I have resources you may not have. We’ll do our own investigating and help, with your approval or without it.”

  With a fleeting look at Dave, I shrugged. We could argue more, but I was dying to see what was in that box. “We might as well work together.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Jesus.” Dave glanced through another file. “There must be hundreds of missing kids here. These articles go back twenty plus years.”

  A knot in my gut told me they went back exactly twenty-nine years. The year Kyle and I were adopted by the Langes. The files had been organized by country, then state and age of the child, from youngest to oldest. The articles detailed children who had been snatched from a hospital nursery shortly after birth or from their bedrooms at night before the age of three. I felt sick, and I coul
d tell by the look on Charles Wilson’s face he was feeling it too. The profit margin for illegal adoptions was astronomical, and if the articles were any indication, finding children wasn’t a problem.

  The last file contained pictures of twenty young women and newspaper articles depicting their disappearance in the past five years. My heart skipped a beat when I flipped the next to last photo to reveal a beautiful young Asian girl. Her name was Yoshekita Saito, and she’d disappeared five years ago. Yoshe.

  “When did Simon straighten up and stop using drugs?”

  “About four years ago.” Charles placed the files back in the box. “It was right after you rescued Kyle from those loan sharks. That’s when they both decided it was time to turn their lives around. Melanie and I put them in rehab.” He ran a hand through his hair, causing it to stick out in all directions. “Kyle took computer classes. I offered him a job at one of my facilities. I told him he should contact you, but he said he wanted to wait until he could make you proud of him again.”

  The drone flew over at the same time my cell phone rang. “It’s Kurt. I’d better take it.” Sliding the answer button, I leaned against the table. “Hello.”

  “Kassandra, are you all right? We stopped by your house to check on you earlier.”

  “I’m fine. I decided to visit the Wilsons and pay my respects. Charles has been showing Dave and I the plans for his new hospital wing. They’re dedicating it to Simon.”

  “Are you still planning on coming by? Mother and I would love to see you, and I’d still feel better if you stayed here until Kyle’s killers are caught.”

  “Dave is playing chauffeur today. If he isn’t busy, we’ll be by in an hour or two.”

  “I’ll be more than happy to send a car for you.”

  “Dave is giving me a thumbs-up, Dad. We were heading back to the house for a slice of chocolate cake. We’ll be there soon.”