Honorable Death

by Linda S. Prather

  “Coffee sounds good.”

  I poured him a cup, although I doubted he would drink it. He was already eyeing the lists. “Who put this together?”

  “My brother, Kyle, and his friend Simon Wilson did the initial work. Simon’s mother and father sorted it into the lists you’re looking at.”

  “This is amazing.” Derek flipped through the pictures of the missing women. “I’ve seen one or two of these cases.”

  I passed him the coffee and took a seat. “I don’t know how much Greg has told you.”

  “Not much.” Derek sat and sipped his coffee, his eyes still on the lists. “Why don’t you bring me up-to-date? I’d like to talk to your brother later, and Simon and his parents.”

  “Kyle was tortured and murdered last week, along with the woman he was staying with. Her name is on that list. Her little girl was taken. Simon killed himself to keep from being tortured.” I pointed to the paperwork. “When I went to pay my respects to Simon’s parents, they remembered the box Kyle had in the garage. Articles related to the missing children were inside, along with the pictures of the women. We put two and two together.” I paused more to give myself time to think than to give Derek time to digest the information. “We think Kyle stole the lists of names of either the people involved in this or who adopted the stolen children. Maybe both. We also think my parents are involved.”

  “Wait until you hear who her parents are.” Dave poured himself a cup of coffee. “But don’t let the names fool you.”

  Derek raised an eyebrow. “Who are they?”

  “Kurt and Katherine Lange.”

  “You guys don’t play in the little leagues do you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Do you have any evidence of their involvement?”

  “Nothing but a gut feeling, plus the fact Katherine said Kyle called her and wanted a million dollars. The way she said it, it sounded like he was trying to blackmail them.”

  “And you don’t have any idea where those lists are?”

  Derek was watching me closely. He didn’t know me, nor did he have any reason to trust me. “I haven’t seen Kyle in four years. Until I talked to the Wilsons, I didn’t know that he’d cleaned up his act, gotten off drugs, and was turning his life around. I don’t have a clue where he would have put them.”

  “Off the record, we’ve been trying to get a break on illegal adoptions for the last three years. Every time we’re close, witnesses wind up dead or disappear. I suspect that’s because there are some high-profile people involved. Your parents may be two of them.” He tapped the notes. “This will help a lot, but we need to find those lists or whatever it was your brother took. Where are you on his murder case?”

  “We’re looking for a man named Jonathan Drysdon or Min Wong.”

  The temperature in the room dropped, and Derek’s eye’s enlarged. “Where did you hear that name?”

  I wanted to be honest with him, but I wasn’t ready to turn Fabian Marcone over. “We arrested a man named Zavier Sevier for murdering one of our officers. He told me I would suffer the same fate as my brother and that Min had made him scream like a little girl.” I glanced at Dave. “We suspect he’s the man that kidnapped and buried me alive two years ago.”

  I should have anticipated his next request, but the conversation was moving fast and, as much as I hated to admit it, becoming highly emotional.

  “I’ll want to take custody of Sevier. He’s been on our list of most wanted for some time.”

  “He’s dead. Chomped down on a cyanide pill before we could stop him.”

  Derek ran a hand through his hair then over his face. “You three need to be in witness protection. Law enforcement agencies here and abroad have been looking for Wong for the past ten years. No one even knows what he looks like.” Derek raised his head and glanced at each of us. “That’s because he never leaves anyone alive. You got lucky, Detective Lang.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it. And if what you’re saying is true about the higher-ups being involved in this, then witness protection won’t save us. We’re better off here. We know this place and the people around us.” I smiled at Dave and Greg. “And we’re good at protecting each other.”

  “Can I take these with me?” Derek picked up the lists. “I’ll put together a team and turn up some heat from our end. I may want to talk to the Wilsons if they’re available.”

  “They’re out of town right now, but they should be back in a few days. Let me talk to them first and tell them what’s going on.”

  Derek stood. “I need to ask one more thing, but you won’t like it. If you happen to find those lists your brother took, don’t look at them, make copies of them, or share them with anybody but me.”

  “Why’s that?” Greg asked.

  “Because in cases like this, kid, you don’t know who to trust.” Dave slapped him on the back. “That’s why we put you through the wringer that night.”

  Derek nodded. “And the less you know, the safer you are in the future. Right now, I need to catch a flight back to Washington. Greg, walk me to my car?”

  “Sure.”

  “It was nice meeting both of you. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can, but in the meantime, put a security system in here and take extra precautions.”

  Dave yawned, and I glanced at my watch. “It’s almost eleven. I didn’t think this day would ever end.”

  “Me either. Martha wants to come home. We haven’t been apart this long since the day we met.”

  Not having anyone to miss or anyone who missed me had its advantages. The fear I’d felt with Kurt’s veiled threat against Dave was minor compared to the fear he must be feeling for his wife and little girls. “I’m sorry, Dave. Why don’t you take a few days off, drive up, and spend the weekend with them?”

  “It’s like you said—as long as this Wong guy is out there, no place is safe. As much as I miss them, they’re better off far away from me.”

  Not having children, I hadn’t considered that angle. “We’ve been thinking they were looking for Yoshe because they thought Kyle left whatever he stole with her. I thought the same thing, but he would never have done that.”

  “Which means it’s here somewhere.” Dave stood and began to pace. It was one of his habits that irritated me, but he usually came up with something brilliant when he stopped. I wasn’t disappointed this time. “We’re looking at this wrong. We think your brother stole whatever they’re looking for from Kurt and Katherine. What if he never took it from the house but hid it there somewhere?”

  When watching a video, you see what you expect to see. “Hidden in plain sight. Even if you’re looking at it, you see what you expect to see.”

  Dave flopped in his seat. “Any idea where that might be?”

  “There’s twenty rooms in that mansion. I wouldn’t know where to start. And I don’t think they’ll stand by and watch me search them.”

  Dave’s cell rang. “It’s Park.”

  “Put it on speaker.”

  Dave swiped the answer key and hit the speaker button. “Capello.”

  “Is Detective Lang with you?”

  “Yes, sir. I’ve got you on speaker.”

  “Her father’s been kidnapped.”

  My breath caught in my throat as the familiar tightness started in my chest. I let him walk away without saying goodbye.

  Dave slapped my arm, bringing my attention back to the phone as Park added, “Her mother needs her.”

  Not my father, but Kurt Lange. “Kurt often disappeared without telling anyone where he was going, sir. What makes Katherine think he was kidnapped?”

  “She received a package a few minutes ago. She’s identified the body parts.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  The major reason police officers and detectives aren’t allowed to work cases involving family and friends is the tendency to make mistakes and jump to conclusions. I’d immediately condemned Kurt and Katherine, working diligently to connect them to any clue that came up. “Park should take me
off this case. I’ve done nothing but screw it up.”

  “If you’re looking for sympathy, you’re in the wrong car. You should have ridden with Stevens.”

  “I’m not looking for sympathy. I blamed Kurt and Katherine because I wanted it to be them, and I pursued that because I wanted to be the one to take them down and wipe those smug smiles off their faces.”

  “Because Kurt was kidnapped doesn’t mean they’re not involved.” Dave took his eyes from the road for a second and scanned my face. “It means they’re not the boss. Remember what Marcone said about Lenglases?”

  “He’s an asset, but if he loses another shipment, he’ll no longer be an asset.”

  “Bingo. Whatever was taken, your brother took it. Kurt and Katherine were told to get it back. They took the wrong route and killed him, thinking you or Simon would know where it was. Simon didn’t, and by now, they must be sure you don’t either.”

  “Which is why they took Kurt, and from what Park said, they’re torturing him too.”

  Dave parked on the side of the road. Cars lined the entire driveway leading to the house. “Looks like all the bigwigs are here.”

  “Including Park.”

  Stevens pulled in behind us and the three of us exited the vehicles. It was one minute until midnight. We’d filled Stevens in on our idea that Kyle may have hidden what he took inside the house. “

  “I’ll have to play the doting daughter in there. It’s up to you guys to look around and see what you can find.”

  Dave raised an eyebrow and punched me on the arm. “Don’t overdo it.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

  The Christmas lights twinkled, casting a colored glow across the light dusting of snow that had fallen earlier. It had been a strange year with heavy snowfall, followed by sunshine, melting, then light snow for the next few days. Eventually, the heavens would open and dump on us. We flashed our badges at the door, passed our coats to a waiting maid, and headed toward the loud wails coming from the formal living room.

  “Jesus, she sounds like a banshee,” Dave whispered.

  The crowd gathered near the door parted as we walked through. Katherine was seated on the sofa, Dr. Dorian beside her, doing his best to console her. In the years I’d lived in the mansion, I’d seen Katherine yell, scream, and cry enough fake tears to fill a small swimming pool. The one thing I’d never seen was real emotion and real tears. “And I’m not seeing them now.”

  “What?” Dave frowned and leaned in close.

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  Dr. Dorian glanced up and smiled. “Kassandra, thank God you’re here. I’ve been begging your mother to take a sedative, but she insisted on waiting until you arrived.”

  Dave gave me a gentle push on the back, and I approached the sofa. Katherine immediately set off with another wail and yanked me into her arms. “Oh, Kassandra darling, they have him. What will we do?”

  The long nails scratching up and down my back may have convinced the crowd it was a tender embrace, but her motherly love was as fake as the wails and tears. I broke the embrace, and she slumped on the sofa, still clutching my arms. “What will we do without him?”

  Puke if you don’t let go of me. “Let Dr. Dorian take care of you, Mother. We’ll find him.” My use of the endearment had the desired effect, and she let go of my arms and flung herself into Dr. Dorian’s arms, wailing again.

  Dave was in conference with Park, and I studied the room, noting two local politicians and several of Kurt’s golf buddies. Most of the crowd were inquisitive neighbors who’d come to either offer sympathy or gloat. If I drifted, I would hear several whispered catty comments of “She’s getting what she deserves.” Katherine had no use for female friends.

  I moved toward Dave, stopping to shake a hand or listen to words of condolence on Kyle and Kurt. My face was beginning to freeze in place with a fake smile, and my whispered thank yous were becoming flat. I needed fresh air. Dave caught my eye, and I did a subtle nod to the doorway. I wasn’t comfortable discussing anything inside the house. He broke up his conference with Park and joined me. “Let’s grab our coats and go outside for a minute.”

  Hilda had replaced the maid who’d let us in earlier. She recognized us immediately and stomped into the room where the coats were stored, returning seconds later with ours.

  “Thank you, Hilda.”

  “Welcome.” She forced out the word through thinned lips.

  I was used to Kurt and Katherine’s treatment, but I didn’t have to take it from the hired help. “When was the last time you saw Mr. Lange?”

  Her eyes blinked rapidly, and she licked her dry lips. “At dinner last night.”

  “Were they alone, or did someone join them for dinner?”

  “They were alone.”

  “And you never saw him again after dinner?”

  “No, he and Mrs. Lange retired shortly thereafter.”

  “Thank you, Hilda. We may want to talk to you again later. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t leave town.”

  Dave waited until we were outside and a short distance from the house. “What was that all about?”

  “Gathering information.” I glanced inside the garage. “Kurt’s car is still here, which means they had to take him from the house, or someone picked him up.”

  “Park filled me in on what they have so far. Mrs. Lange stated they retired about nine. She took a sleeping pill and woke around eleven. Kurt was gone, and she went to look for him. A maid met her in the hallway with a package.”

  “Are you going to tell me what was in the package or leave it to my imagination?”

  “Kurt’s middle and ring finger from his left hand. Mrs. Lange identified them.”

  “How were they amputated?”

  “I didn’t look.” Dave’s nose crinkled as his brows pulled down. “And I don’t want to look. I think they’ve already been sent to the ME.”

  “Kurt always wore a diamond-studded ring on his finger instead of a wedding ring. Anyone seeing that would naturally assume it was Kurt’s finger, and I don’t trust Katherine’s identification. We need to call Myriah and have her run a Rapid DNA test on the fingers.”

  Dave grinned. “Give you a little fresh air, and you’re a genius. Would never have thought of that.” He retrieved his cell phone and left a message for the ME. “Park says Katherine wants you to stay with her. I told him that wasn’t happening, but I think he plans on ordering you to. He’ll leave an unmarked car and two officers here, but I’m not leaving until you do.”

  The idea of spending my days and nights with Katherine wasn’t something I relished, but if Dave and I were right and Kyle had hidden the lists in the mansion, it was the perfect opportunity for me to look for them. “I’ll stay until I find the lists, then I’ll call in the cavalry.”

  “Can we at least wait until the ME does the DNA testing before you decide to do that?”

  “Call Myriah back and leave a message that we need it ASAP and to call you as soon as she’s done.”

  Dave dialed the number and immediately hung up. “My brain must be more tired than I thought it was. We need something with Kurt’s DNA on it for her to test it against.”

  “I’d rather freeze to death out here than listen to any more of Katherine’s wails.” I groaned and headed for the house. “Come on, we’ll find something inside, and Stevens can run it downtown for us and wait for the results. We’ll get them faster that way.”

  Some of the crowd was filing out as we headed in, which was a good sign. I was surprised Park hadn’t kicked everyone but the investigators and doctor out as soon as he arrived, but with politicians on-site, he’d bowed to Katherine’s wishes. She did love to play to an audience. A new maid was on coat duty, and I flashed my badge as she took my coat. “We need to see Mr. Lange’s bathroom.”

  She cast a furtive look toward the living room. “I should check with Madam Lange first.”

  The forensic team would be all over the house, and if time weren’t of
the essence, we could have waited for them. There was no way I would stay in this house unless I knew for sure Kurt was missing. “Mrs. Lange is under doctor’s care and was being given a sedative when I left her. There’s no need to bother her with this. All we need is Mr. Lange’s toothbrush for a DNA analysis.”

  “Follow me please.”

  “Nice work,” Dave whispered as we followed the maid down the hall, past the living room, and up the stairs to the second floor.

  She opened a door and ushered us into a bathroom larger than my living room. It was decorated in a pale-blue pattern with a golf mosaic on one wall. “Nice.”

  “The toothbrush, right?”

  The room was spotless, and a subtle smell of bleach still lingered in the air. I glanced at the sink. “And this.”

  Dave passed me two evidence bags, and I dropped Kurt’s hairbrush in one and sealed it. The toothbrush was still wet, and I wondered if Katherine had cleaned it in anticipation of evidence being collected. Placing it inside the second bag, I sealed it and looked for anything else we could use. Without going through drawers, there was nothing in sight. “Thank you.”

  Once we ditched the maid, I passed the bags to Dave. “Find Stevens and have him take these to the ME.” I glanced at my watch, surprised to find it was already four thirty in the morning. “Myriah always comes in at five. If we’re lucky, we’ll have an answer before the forensic team finishes.”

  “What are you going to do?” Dave asked.

  “Find Hilda and get a list of everyone working last night and start lining them up for interviews. Right after I find a pot of coffee.”

  “Think you could drum up some bacon and pancakes?”

  “I’ll see what I can do, but if Hilda is cooking, she may poison us.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Only four employees and Hilda were in residence the night before, and none of them remembered seeing Kurt after he’d retired at nine. The interviews were short, and we wrapped things up by six. “Let’s find Park, and we’ll stop by the ME’s office on the way home, catch a few hours of sleep, and if it is Kurt, I’ll come back later to stay with Katherine.”