Jenny made some notes and then pushed back her chair and stood. “You’ve been a great help, Stephanie. You can go now, unless Sharkey has a question.”
“No. Thanks for coming in.”
“You spoke of sharing. What do you know about Carl’s death?”
“That’s fair. An early morning kayaker found Carl’s body in the canal between Stock Island and Key West. We believe he was killed by an overdose of a drug we believe to be morphine. He was abducted by a man and a woman late at night. A bystander, who told us this and tried to help him, is still in the hospital. That’s really all we know now.”
“So, the children really are orphans now.”
Jenny nodded. “I’ll see you out.”
Jenny returned and asked, “I do okay?
“Very well done. You had her eating out of your hand.”
“How much do you think she really knows?”
“I’m not sure,” Sharkey said. “I’d like to talk to her again now that you have established a line of communication.”
Jenny nodded. “I thought I better let her go before she figured me out.”
“You were very convincing. You have a talent, Jenny.”
“Well, when you work the streets of a place like Key West as a young homeless person and then work the streets of New York as an undercover police officer, you have to be able to read people quickly and accurately. People like Stephanie become pretty easy. She’s a phony.”
“I think that’s a good read.”
“I often put myself in their position and I know how I used to react to people. I think she’s scared out of her mind by what’s happening around her and over which she has no control and that makes her overly defensive. Or, she’s just a bitch and has always been one.”
He chuckled. “That is most likely an even better read.”
Sharkey stood and walked over to his desk. “I need to find out about Carl’s recent financial transactions. I’d like to know what kind of money he was willing to pay for information. I’ve seen his bank accounts and he’s stable but not in a position to pay what kidnappers expect from their activities and the risk they take. He withdrew ten thousand dollars from his savings account. It pretty much wiped it out,” Sharkey said. “That was the day he put the ad out. Whatever he gave them may not have been enough and cost him his life.”
“They might not have even considered ransom,” said Jenny. “The whole point of meeting him might have been to remove a problem, picking up some pocket money in the process. If that’s the case, Alex Sloan should sleep with one eye open until we catch these guys. This case is so sad. Those children are in grave danger and now they don’t have any parents.”
“My fear,” said Sharkey, “is that this is really a case of trafficking of children and we may never find them. We might already be too late.”
“We can’t let that happen. There must be something we can do. The one thing on our side is that they are here in Key West. That puts them in our backyard.”
“I’m thinking of bringing in the press,” said Sharkey. “Not on the children but on the murders of Susan and Carl. I’m in contact with Javier’s company and the police in Chile. They are going to let me know if there is any action on his credit cards, or if he contacts the company. They said the last time they heard from him was before the murder and kidnapping.”
“Can you trust them to be honest?”
Sharkey laughed. “That’s a good question. I’m hoping so. I don’t yet have a reason to be suspicious about that. However, if he returns to Chile the police will notify us.”
“Good. What else can I help with?”
“What about a possible safety deposit box at the hotel?”
“Good idea. Let’s go check.”
Sharkey and Jenny drove back to the hotel with the warrant that included any personal papers or documents that he had.
The desk clerk got the manager to open the box where they found an envelope with five thousand dollars in cash.
“He only gave them half of what he drew out. That might have cost him his life,” Sharkey said.
Jenny took a deep breath. “There’s always a risk when you bargain with the devil. He might have already been dead once he agreed to meet.”
“Spoken like someone who has spent time on the mean streets of New York.” Sharkey took the money and placed it in an evidence bag. “Okay, let’s take this to evidence. Also let’s check if Carl had a Will.”
* * *
Harris snuck onto the back porch and called Amy, who was in the living room.
“Honey, I’m back from fishing. I’m coming in the back porch door.”
She smiled, hung up and raced to the back door and into his arms.
“Thank the Lord you’re safe.”
He held her tight. “I love you so much,” he whispered in her ear.
“Come and I’ll get you some dinner.”
“I’m gonna shower and I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Wonderful.” She touched the side of his face. “Relax, you’re home.”
Harris climbed into the hot shower and tried to get his mind to relax. So much was at stake, and he was feeling helpless.
I’ve got to figure out how to get those kids back safely. Javier may be the key to that, but we have to get a break as to where Vasquez is and where the kids are being held.
Harris dressed and went into the kitchen just in time to see Amy pull two broiled steaks out of the oven.
“I made a potato salad to go with your steak.”
“You couldn’t have made a better choice.” They sat down on the enclosed porch where a slight breeze could be felt.
“How was your fishing trip?” Amy said, smiling at Burt.
“Caught a big one but he got away.”
“That happens.”
“I got a call from Stephanie while you were gone.”
“Oh yeah?”
“She wants to talk to you in person. I said I didn’t know when you’d be back but I’d give you the message.”
“What the hell could she want?”
“You might want to find out what she should do now, Burt. She’s alone now that Carl is dead.”
“I’ll call her tomorrow morning…ah…I’ll call her tonight. I’ll go see her tomorrow.”
“All I want is a night alone with you, my love.” Amy pushed back her chair and hugged him around the neck. “I’ll clear away the dishes and I’m all yours.”
“Is that a cake under that silver cover?”
“Sure is. You want it in the bedroom?”
Harris laughed. “Sounds good.”
“Meet you in there.”
“Oh, yeah…”
Burt had no sooner headed off to the bedroom than the doorbell rang.
“Now what?” Amy beat him to the door. On the step stood Stephanie.
“Stephanie,” Amy said.
“I need to see Burt, now.”
Harris pulled the door open wide. “Come on in, Stephie.”
“That’s Stephanie to you.” She looked indignantly at him.
“Have a seat,” Harris said, pointing to the chair close to the couch. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m here because Carl is dead. Killed like Susan. Now I don’t have anyone.”
Harris let out a long breath. “Look Stephie, I don’t know what to say. Carl was a fool. These people don’t negotiate.”
“Well, at least he brought them out into the open. That’s more than the police have done.”
Amy felt Harris’ arm tighten under her hand.
“Would you like some coffee, Stephanie?” she asked calmly.
“Yes.”
“I’ll get it and you two can talk.”
“This is a delicate case. The most important part is getting the children back safely. Got it?”
“Days have gone by and no one is doing anything. You understand that?”
“Things are happening. You just don’t see them because you don’t know where
to look. If you have something of value to contribute to the process the police would welcome your contribution. People who are too close to the situation tend to approach emotionally rather than logically. When you’re dealing with serious people that approach gets people killed. Carl is a case in point. The police are doing their work. Let them do it.”
“Fine. Sit on your ass and do nothing. I’ll do something.” She stood and started for the door.
“Hold it right there,” he demanded, grabbing a hold of her arm. Stephanie pulled her arm free and started crying hysterically, her fists pounding on his chest. He took ahold of her hands and pulled her close, holding her to him. He tried to calm her, whispering into her hair, “Stephie, everything is going to be all right…easy, easy…” She finally relaxed and he walked her over to the chair and she sat down.
Amy gave her a Kleenex and a glass of ice water. “Drink, Stephanie…”
She gulped the water down with one hand and wiped her eyes and nose with the tissue. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Damn, I thought that was going to be vodka.”
Amy took her hand and Harris took the other.
“Hey, it’s okay. I wish I could do that. It’s hard, the hardest time I can remember…you’re not alone. We’re here for you.”
“I’ve never lied to you about anything,” Harris continued. “That’s not me. I don’t know how to help you see that. I guess I never did. That being said, there’s nothing to be done at this time. We need information that’s just not available to us at this time. The police are digging through everything they can find, trying to find the kids.”
Stephanie had regained her composure. “I understand. I’m sorry…I need to go.”
“We’re here for you, Stephanie,” Amy said.
“You can talk to us anytime and I’ll keep you in the loop. Although at the moment, I’m only on the fringe of the loop. They tell me after the fact. But it’s something,” Harris said.
“I should go. Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Harris said.
Amy closed the door behind Stephanie.
“She isn’t all right. She was too composed at the end,” Amy said.
“Yeah. Why do I have the feeling she’s about to do something stupid?”
“Because you know her?” Amy said. “In the morning you can talk to her again.”
“Yeah…”
* * *
Sharkey sat down at his desk rubbing his neck. He glanced at his watch and realized that it was getting on towards seven. Sharkey saw that an email had come in from Rex on his cell phone.
Sharkey, if you have time, could you stop by the house. If that’s not convenient please let me know.
Damn, Sharkey thought. He called Camie and told her he was hung up at work and not to wait dinner but save him dessert.
He called Rex next and said he would be there in a few minutes.
He gathered up his things and closed his computer, locked the door, and headed for his car. The stars were out already, and the warm streets were filled with tourists. Rex met him at the door and asked him to come to his office.
“Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.”
“I understand. You must be very busy right now with bodies appearing everywhere. Well, I’ve got an interesting problem to discuss with you.”
Sharkey sat down in the chair that Javier had taken earlier. “What’s up?”
“What we say here must be kept between the two of us. You’ll understand when I explain.”
Sharkey smiled at his friend. “Hey, it’s me.”
“I know, my friend, but this goes beyond our friendship.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“This morning a young man named Javier sat in the chair where you’re sitting now.”
Sharkey looked surprised. “You have my attention. Continue.”
“He was here with Harris. They came together because Harris was called by Javier, who then picked him up and took him to where Javier is hiding. Harris believes Javier did not kill Susan. He is, however, being used by Ricardo Vasquez, his uncle, who has the children.”
Rex took a break and poured two cups of coffee from the carafe in his study.
“Wow. That’s a lot to take in,” Sharkey said, taking the cup and sniffing the Cuban blend coffee. He smiled with satisfaction and leaned back in the high back chair. “I’m starting to understand your need for caution. We’ve been trying to track him down since we found Susan’s body.”
“There are some very sticky problems here. One, Vasquez is threatening Javier with the life of Harris’s grandson Tyler if he betrays Vasquez. He’s forced him to help take Javier’s baby back to Chile to be raised as Vasquez’s son. He has no idea where his uncle is, but he knows that he’s in Key West. Vasquez has Javier in hiding until he can get a passport for Mateo to get him out of the country.”
“So, what does Vasquez plan to do with Tyler?”
“Javier doesn’t know. Right now, he’s the lever used to threaten Javier.”
“So why did Javier want to contact Harris?”
“He’s having regrets working with Vasquez. He says Susan was not to be harmed in this process. He had feelings for her and was angry with Vasquez when he discovered her dead after returning to where she jumped out of the car, to take her back into town. She bolted from his car and refused to get back in. He thought giving her a cooling down period would make her reasonable again.”
“Who told him?”
“He knew nothing about her death, except that he found her dead when he returned for her. Javier thinks that Carl killed her in a fit of rage.”
“That makes the feelings of Carl make more sense. He and Stephanie Williams didn’t think much of Susan getting pregnant by another man, particularly this foreign man. I appreciate you telling me this. So where is Javier now?” Sharkey said.
“Harris is with him. Javier believes that no one knows where he is. They keep in touch with him through his cell phone. They will contact him when they’re ready to move.”
“Okay. Thanks for the information. The Chief and I have talked. He knows Harris is off the radar. As far as the Chief is concerned, Harris is on bereavement leave.”
Rex stood. “The most important thing is that those two kids survive this unharmed.”
“I agree and so does the Chief. I’ll keep you informed. At some point we will have to make our move. Hopefully at that time we will have more information.”
“Take care, my friend, and if I hear anything else, I’ll be in touch.”
Thursday Morning
“You ready, big guy? The doctor says you can go home,” Cynthia said.
“Yeah,” said Alex, “I sure am.” She helped him into his clothes and then into a wheelchair.
“I’ll have Terry take you down after you sign out. I’ll go get the car and pull it around to loading zone.”
Cynthia clocked out and headed for the employee parking lot. She pulled her car up to the hospital patient pick-up area and met Alex at the curb and helped him into the car.
“Okay, here we go. I’m sure glad you’re coming home. Buckle up,” she said. “I don’t want anything else to happen to you.”
“I love you.” He leaned over and kissed her and then buckled his seatbelt.
“You guys take really good care of your patients, but I prefer my own nurse, the blonde and gorgeous one.”
Cynthia smiled and started up Roosevelt Boulevard. Up the road she accelerated and changed lanes as a black car came up fast behind them, swerved out, and caught the back end of their car. Cynthia pressed on the brakes but they didn’t work and the accelerator was stuck, pressed to the floor. As the car accelerated through a red light, Alex reached over and turned off the engine just as their car slammed into a car pulling out of a stop sign making a right-hand turn. Cynthia screamed just before her car collided with the car.
The car behind them disappeared down a side street.
Sam Cutter had just gotten off work on a fishing boat and jumped
out of his car and raced to the wreckage.
A woman ran over to the car that had been turning the corner. The woman was shaken but didn’t appear hurt, just very drunk.
Cutter called 911 as he crossed the street and tried to see into the damaged car. The woman was unconscious and the man on the passenger side was not moving.
“You all right?” Cutter yelled, banging on the window. He pulled on the driver’s door to see if he could turn off the engine. It was already off. He couldn’t smell gas and tried to find a pulse on the woman’s neck. Thank God, he said. He reached over to the man and checked his pulse. Okay, that’s good.
A medic came up beside him. “We’ll take over now.”
“Thanks,” Cutter said.
Medic Dylan Striker went to the driver’s side and Max Saxton went to the passenger side.
Dylan reached in and felt Cynthia’s neck. “I’ve got a pulse.”
“It’s Alex Sloan and Nurse Cynthia from the hospital,” Dylan said.
“Okay, let’s get them out. The car is stable, but it could go.”
They carefully lifted Cynthia out of the car after putting on a neck brace. Cynthia’s eyes fluttered open.
“Hey, Beautiful,” Dylan said.
“What happened? Where’s Alex?”
“They’re putting him on a gurney. He still has a pulse.”
“Can you feel this?” Dylan asked, as he touched her rib cage.
“Yes.”
“Good. Anything hurt?”
“Yeah, everything. It’s a little hard to breathe.”
“Okay, they’re waiting for you at the hospital. Let’s load up.”
Max called for help to get Alex out of the car. He was put on oxygen and loaded into the medic van. “His pulse isn’t steady. Start an IV. Heart rate is a little out of sync.”
“Let’s move out.”
McCabe was inspecting the back end of the car. “I don’t think this was an accident. The car was hit in the back end. There’s a traffic cop coming. I just happened to be a couple blocks back.”
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