Three Days in Seattle

by Debra Burroughs

  “That’s a great idea,” Kate agreed.

  “Hey, did you just say you went to Bainbridge Island?” Raj asked.

  “Yep, that’s what I said.” Ryan replied. “We had an afternoon to kill, so we hopped on the ferry.”

  “Why Bainbridge Island?”

  “Kate and I went to visit the place where her folks died in an auto accident a couple of years ago. The funny thing is, though, while we were there we found a navy blue baseball cap at the crash site, just like the one Suki’s brother has been wearing every time we’ve seen him.”

  “Hey, this is Mariner country, man. There are thousands of people wearing dark blue baseball caps around here,” Raj remarked.

  “Yeah, it’s probably nothing, but do you think you could convince the guys to have it tested for DNA to see if he was there? ‘Cause if he was, then maybe he was responsible for the accident,” Ryan said.

  “And that would mean it wasn’t an accident after all,” Kate added.

  “Do you really think that’s a possibility?” the detective asked.

  “Well, think about it. If Suki and her brother are responsible for Whitney’s disappearance, which might somehow be related to them blaming Kate for their mother’s death, don’t you think it might be a possibility?”

  “Sure, it might be. I guess it couldn’t hurt to have it tested. However, I’ll have to check with Will since it’s a closed case and was ruled an accident. Bring it in and I’ll find out.”

  “Also, we wanted to find out if you think it’s safe for Kate to go back to the apartment, now?” Ryan asked, looking over at her and catching her gaze.

  “I don’t see why not. We have Suki here in custody, and we will for quite a while, but I think you better stay close to Kate in case the brother shows up.”

  “All right. We’ll come by with the ball cap before we go to the apartment.”

  “See you then,” Raj said.

  Ryan hung up the phone, and reached for his cup of coffee.

  “Why don’t we get out and stretch our legs?” he suggested, taking a sip.

  “Sure. I wouldn’t mind a stroll around the ferry,” she agreed.

  Walking past a set of restrooms, Kate told Ryan she needed to use the facilities.

  “I’ll stay out here,” he said. “I need to check in with my office anyway, so I’ll make the call while I wait for you.”

  As Kate was in the ladies room, washing her hands at the sink, she couldn’t help but wonder about Whitney. How close are they to finding my sister? Will the police rescue her in time? Or is my sister even still alive?

  “Where are you, Whitney?” she whispered, as she dried her hands and looked at her own reflection in the mirror. “If Ethan killed Mom and Dad, he might also kill you.”

  He might also kill you. The words reverberated in her head. In that moment, as she looked into her own face in the mirror, staring into her own eyes, she suddenly realized she should be talking to herself and not Whitney. He might also kill you. Like a flash of lightning, the thoughts came to her. Perhaps Ethan was killing the people Kate loved and then he would kill her. Maybe this was payback for his mother’s death—that he had methodically been plotting revenge against her for the past ten years. A frosty chill ran up her spine, and she shuddered with goose bumps.

  Ryan was leaning against a steel pillar when Kate came out, and he stood up straight when he saw her.

  She must have been wearing a serious, worried look on her face, as if someone had delivered grave news to her in the restroom.

  “What is it? What’s wrong? Did you get a phone call?” Ryan peppered her with questions.

  “No, no phone call. Just an epiphany,” she answered somberly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This might sound weird, but while I was drying my hands I looked into the mirror, thinking about Whitney. All of a sudden, it hit me—maybe Whitney’s disappearance is more about me than her.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It occurred to me that if Ethan caused my parents’ accident, and if he’s involved in Whitney’s disappearance, it has to be because he blames me for his mother’s death.”

  “Oh, Kate.”

  “Could it be that he’s taking the people I love the most before he comes for me?” She looked up at Ryan, searching his face for confirmation of her bizarre leap. “Or am I just crazy?”

  Ryan looked unsure how to respond. She couldn’t blame him. Certainly, it was possible. Anything was possible, but that was a pretty big leap.

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he said, taking her hand. “What you’re saying is possible, but we don’t have anything concrete that points to that. I think we should wait to see what the police can get out of Suki.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “When we get back to Seattle, we’ll take the hat to them. Then, we can swing by my place so I can change. After that, we’ll go to Whitney’s apartment so you can change. We’ll go get a bite of dinner and then check back in with Raj and Will. How does that sound?”

  “Yes, that sounds good. Thanks for putting it in perspective, Ryan. I guess I just needed a reality check. My imagination is working overtime. Thank you for bringing me back down to earth.” Her face brightened a little at Ryan’s encouragement and his take-charge attitude. “Oh, I forgot to ask, how are things at your office?”

  “My assistant has everything under control. Did I mention she managed to send Vanessa away in a huff yesterday?”

  Kate bristled at the mention of Vanessa. “No, but I guess I shouldn’t be jealous. Vanessa is the least of my problems right now.”

  He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. “Yes, she is. And don’t worry about anything—everything’s going to be all right, Kate.”

  “I believe you.” She was glad Ryan was a sensible man and grateful not to be going through this ordeal alone, but she couldn’t fully shake the feeling that she might be right about Ethan.

  Chapter 14

  As the afternoon was winding down and the sun began to set, Ryan and Kate walked into the police station and found Patel waiting for them.

  “Here’s the cap, Detective,” Kate said as she handed it over to him. “I know it’s a long shot, but I just have this nagging feeling that it belongs to Ethan. If he had something to do with my parents’ deaths, I need to know.”

  Raj took the cap and looked over at Ryan, then back to Kate. “You know there’s got to be thousands of these things out there.”

  “Yes, I do realize it. Ryan reminded me this is Mariner country, but if you look at it, you’ll see it doesn’t have a Mariners’ logo on it. The one Ethan wears doesn’t either,” Kate said.

  “You have a point there. That does narrow it down some, but even at that...” Raj shrugged. “I still need to get approval to have it tested, and logo or not, it’s still a long shot.”

  “I know, I know, but if you can rule it out, then I can move on from this nagging theory. Okay? Please?” Kate implored.

  “Yeah, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “So, you have Suki here in a holding cell. Is that right?” Kate asked.

  “Yes, except she’s not talking,” Raj answered.

  “Can I talk to her?” she requested.

  “I don’t know, that’s not usually done,” Raj told her. “Let me see what Porter thinks.”

  “I thought you were partners,” she said.

  “We are, but he’s the senior partner. There could be implications, so I’d like to get his take on it. Why don’t you guys come back to my desk?”

  Ryan and Kate followed him to the squad room where they found Will Porter seated at his desk, on the telephone.

  “Thanks for your help,” he said to the person on the other end of the phone. He stood as he hung up the receiver.

  “Hey, Kate and Ryan, I’m glad you’re here. We’ve gotten some good television coverage on Suki being brought in for questioning in Whitney’s disappearance and tips are startin
g to come in.”

  “That’s great news,” Ryan said, looking at Kate.

  She thought he could probably see her face light up a little with this encouraging report. “Anything sound helpful?” she asked.

  “Not yet, but maybe soon. Depends how that last tip pans out. Now, I don’t want to get your hopes up, and this is off the record, but that was Mrs. DiMarco on the phone just now. She said she was Suki’s foster mother when she was a teenager. She saw the story on TV showing Suki being brought in for questioning regarding Whitney’s disappearance. She said she wants to talk.” Detective Porter said.

  “That’s good, right?” Kate was trying to keep her feelings in check. The detective was right and she shouldn’t get her hopes up.

  “Maybe yes, maybe no. Can’t say until we talk to the woman.” Detective Porter looked like he might be regretting saying anything to Kate. “I think Ryan can vouch for the odds of a tip panning out.”

  She looked at Ryan, who seemed uncomfortable with the reference to his former life as a cop, then back at Porter. “I was wondering if I might be able to talk to Suki myself. Maybe she would open up to me.”

  She watched Raj look at Will, raising his eyebrows inquisitively at the suggestion.

  “I’m sorry, Kate, I can’t let you do that. Suki has asked for a lawyer, and I don’t want to do anything that could be construed as trying to get information out of her without her attorney present.”

  Kate was willing to try anything she could to find her sister, but Detective Porter reminded her there were rules and protocol—his hands were tied.

  “Well, I thought I’d ask,” Kate replied.

  “Why don’t you guys go and get some dinner, and we’ll call you if we catch a break on any of these tips. Okay?” Patel suggested.

  “Yeah, why don’t we do that, Kate?” Ryan agreed, as he took her hand. “These detectives don’t need us underfoot.”

  She thought he seemed anxious to leave. “All right, but you’ll call us the minute you know something, won’t you?” she pressed.

  “Yes, yes, absolutely. Now go, have a nice dinner. And try to relax. I promise we’ll call you when we know something,” Raj said.

  * * * *

  “Hey, everyone gets a phone call. Where’s mine?” Suki asked the female officer as she walked by the holding area.

  “I thought you called a lawyer,” the officer replied.

  “No, I didn’t. I mean, I asked for one, but I didn’t call, they’re appointing one for me.” Suki told her. “So? Can I use the phone or what?”

  “Fine. Come with me. Payphone’s down the hall. But you only get fifteen minutes, so make it count.”

  Suki was elated. They may have her cell phone, but at least now, she could try to reach Ethan. The female officer gave her change for the phone and reminded her of the time limit before stepping a few feet away to wait.

  She nervously dialed his cell number, hoping he would pick up.

  “Hullo.”

  “Oh, my gosh, Ethan. I’m so glad you answered.” She spoke rapidly, not wanting to waste any time.

  Hey, Sis,” Ethan replied. “About time you called. I haven’t heard from you in awhile. You weren’t answering your cell. Listen, I came by the loft to see if you were here. I snuck in behind some guy.”

  “You found the key?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I let myself into the apartment, wandered around looking for you. I thought you said you weren’t working today.”

  “I’m not, but listen, Ethan—”

  “You said you didn’t want to be here, so I figured you’d be scared and hiding somewhere.”

  “That’s not it, Ethan,” Suki was starting to think he was on something, again. She could hear him slamming things around, sounded like the kitchen cupboards.

  “Hey, you got anything to eat? I’m hungry. What’s in the fridge?”

  “Ethan.”

  “Hey, Kate’s phone number. I’m taking this.”

  “Yeah, fine, take it. I don’t need it. But, Ethan—”

  “Cool, apples. I’m taking one of these too, Sis. I got my switchblade. Gonna practice carving up this apple here before I use it on Kate.”

  She could hear a rustling sound and little grunts coming from Ethan. What is he doing? She pictured him in her kitchen, brandishing the knife in a swashbuckling fashion.

  Suki glanced over at the officer waiting nearby. Ethan was clearly in his own little world and she was getting frustrated. She didn’t have much time to warn him.

  “Should I slit her throat? No, stab her in the chest! Yeah. That’s what I want to do, Sis. Hey, I’m gonna go lie on your bed and wait for Kate in there—surprise her.”

  Then, Suki could hear him crunching apple in his mouth, followed by the sound of the television. Probably TV Land, it sounded like an old sitcom playing in the background. She recognized the theme song...it was one they used to watch as a family, when they were kids. Ethan laughed and then there was a muffled sound.

  Did he drop the phone? I’ve lost him, she thought. He is off somewhere in his drug-induced world, watching reruns and remembering why he has to finish what he started.

  “Time’s up,” the officer said, coming over and clicking off the phone. “If you ask me that was a wasted phone call. You barely got a word in. Let’s go. Back to holding.”

  Suki went reluctantly. Now she really was screwed. She’d wasted her one phone call and her brother still had no idea where she was.

  Chapter 15

  The keys jangled as Ryan unlocked the door and let Kate into his condo.

  “Make yourself at home. I’m just going to change.” Ryan told her as he ducked into his bedroom.

  She stood in the middle of the large space, admiring the architecture and design. Kate appreciated the open loft concept. It had a very contemporary feel with clean, straight lines and tall windows overlooking the heart of the city. It was well decorated in a manly bachelor sort of way. Sleek brown leather furniture sat against creamy white walls, softened with reds and rust, which toned down the stainless steel accents.

  A few dishes sat in the sink, a pair of loafers rested by the sofa, and one of Ryan’s jackets lay on the back of a dining chair, which gave his place a lived-in feeling. Not messy, just comfortable, Kate thought.

  “Is there any place in particular you’d like to go to tonight?” Ryan called out from the bedroom.

  From where Kate stood, she could peer into part of the bedroom and see Ryan, with his shirt off, looking into his closet, searching for something else to put on. The sight of this partially naked man, his chiseled body exposed to the waist, made her heart skip a beat. Heat rose in her cheeks and flowed down her body.

  “Um, yes, well...that place we went to the other night, Yellowfin’s, would be good. I thought the food was excellent.” Kate stepped toward the wall of windows so Ryan wouldn’t catch her watching him dress.

  “Yes, I think that would be good, too,” he said as he stepped up behind her, now fully clothed, and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let out a nervous giggle at his surprising nearness. The comfort of his arms filled her with warmth, and she did not resist.

  “What a stunning view,” she said, looking out at the city lights, leaning her head back on his chest.

  “Yes, stunning,” he agreed. They stood together enjoying the view for a moment, feeling the same physical and emotional attraction they had experienced the evening before at his folks’ place. Brushing her golden hair back with his hand, he gently kissed the side of her neck.

  A tingle ran through her from her neck to her toes. She turned around and looked longingly up into his eyes. He caught her gaze for just a moment then lowered his face. His lips covered hers and she felt the passion in that kiss send her blood pulsing throughout her body.

  “Oh, Ryan,” she heard herself sigh. The intensity of the kiss overwhelmed her, leaving her intoxicated. Her head was spinning, and she wondered where this was going to lead.

  “Kate—” he
started to say, interrupted by the ring of his phone. Thoughts instantly raced to her sister, hoping the detectives were calling with some news.

  Her body stiffened and she stepped back from Ryan as he dug his phone out of his pocket, not taking the time to check the Caller ID first.

  “Hello, this is Ryan.” He paused, listening. “Oh. Vanessa.” He frowned, paused again.

  “Actually, yes. I’m in the middle of something important. Can I call you back tomorrow?” Ryan said, looking at Kate, shaking his head as if to say no, I won’t.

  After a longer pause, Ryan rolled his eyes. “Oh, brother,” he mumbled as he hung up the phone and shoved it back in his pocket.

  His response to Vanessa made Kate grin.

  “Sorry about that,” he said, running a hand down her arm, taking her hand in his, kissing her fingers. “Where were we?”

  Kate grew very serious. “I thought that call was going to be the police with some news about Whitney.” She looked down and shook her head, taking her hand back. “What kind of sister am I, thinking about myself at a time like this?” She walked over to the window, crossed her arms, and looked out at the sprawling view of the city. “Where are you, Whitney?”

  Ryan came up behind her and put his arms around her once more, enveloping her with his strength and comfort. The moment was broken, but he seemed to understand. “They’ll find her, Kate.”

  “It’s so hard to just wait. I need to do something to help.”

  “Let’s head over to the apartment so you can change and then we’ll get some dinner. Maybe by the time we’re finished eating, the cops will have gotten something out of Suki,” said Ryan.

  “We can only hope.”

  * * * *

  Kate turned the key in the lock and the door to the apartment opened with a creaking sound. They had been speaking quietly but stopped, hearing noise coming from Suki’s bedroom. Kate looked at Ryan, frightened at the possibility she was there. “Do you hear that?”

  He nodded.

  “Suki?” Kate called out. There was no reply.