by Jan Graham
“Not definitely until we see a doctor.” She smiled back at him, “But according to the pregnancy test box, ninety-nine percent definite.”
“Want to make sure we eradicate that one percent margin?” His face bore a wickedly sexy grin. She nodded her agreement, and he took her mouth in the most sensual of kisses, before moving on to take her body the same way.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“It has to be the same person. There no way in hell it isn’t.” Steve fidgeted with his mobile phone.
“I agree, and by the time we get back to the station, I’m sure Carlie will have confirmed it. The wait is still frustrating though,” Christian replied.
What Christian said was right, it would be a frustrating wait, fucking frustrating in fact. When computer systems went down it seemed the world ground to a halt. No one could make a move until they verified the woman’s identity. Apart from that, because school was out, they had no idea where she was. Soon, it would all happen very soon, Steve assured himself. Verified identity, confirmed residential address and warrant to search her premises, it should have all been done by now. It hadn’t, couldn’t, which was why he was driving back to his station with Christian and playing a waiting game.
All the information needed to be generated electronically, but with the state’s police network disabled by a virus, that couldn’t happen. Timing was a bitch sometimes and today happened to be one of those times. Paperless work environments might be good for global warming, but when it came to anything else, it sucked.
“Did Rhia say why she didn’t mention it earlier?” Christian’s question didn’t surprise him. He’d asked her the same question at lunchtime when she called.
“Apparently it was my fault.” Steve let the cheeky smile spread across his face. “Apparently I’ve been distracting her with my naughty behavior, and she kept forgetting to tell me.”
Steve loved the polite way Rhia phrased anything to do with sex. It was one of the many things he loved about her. His naughty behavior referred to the fact he fucked her senseless every chance he got, so, technically, she was right. Remembering to mention Harper Roderick had been burnt in a supposed kitchen fire a few weeks ago wouldn’t be a priority.
“I haven’t talked about the details of the investigation with her, so she had no idea the information would be as crucial to the case as it is.” Steve wasn’t going to cry over spilt milk. It was done. They had the information now, and that was all that mattered.
“I’d hate to be the guy who was meant to be tracking down Elizabeth Hastings. Did you see the look on Trevor’s face when you started balling his detective out for not doing a marriage registry check? Trevor’s going to eat him for dinner,” Christian said.
“He deserves it,” Steve replied. “Who’d forget to check a woman’s maiden name if you couldn’t track them down under their married one? Headquarters is full of incompetent fucking idiots.”
The message alert sounded on his mobile. Carlie hadn’t been able to get information from the marriage registry over the phone. Privacy laws prohibited it. They needed the electronic request, via the official police server. It was nice to know personal information was protected but no less frustrating. She was sending one of the uniformed officers to the nearest registry office with a written request to supply the information. Steve liked her initiative. He should have mentioned he’d already dispatched someone from head office to do the same thing. Still, two people at different registry offices would heighten the probability of success. It wouldn’t help with getting the other information they needed, but anything was better than waiting.
“To prevent the two of us having an idiot moment at some stage this afternoon, run me through the evidence again,” Christian said.
Steve knew Christian agreed with his first analysis of the situation, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. The truth was now so obvious he wanted to kick himself for not putting it together sooner.
“The initials on the wallet found at the fire read H.E.H. We didn’t know what the first H stood for, but now we do, Harper Elizabeth Hastings. Harper was burnt in a kitchen fire. When Elizabeth Hastings presented for treatment of her burn, she stated it occurred during a kitchen fire. The farmhouse used as the first drug lab was owned by Harper Roderick. The only link to all the deaths and dealing is the local high school. She’s got the access to the kids, and she’s been trying to obstruct the drug prevention program since it was first suggested. Harper would have known about Kevin Johns’ arrest, which is how Elizabeth Hastings came to be on his bail record. There may not have been evidence to link her to the initial Hastings organization but she’d know the type of profits drug dealing made, and more than likely she’d have an idea of how to run an operation. They are the same woman. They have to be.”
“Can I play Devil’s Advocate for a minute?” Christian didn’t have to. Steve knew there were gaps in his argument.
“I know it’s mainly circumstantial, you don’t have to tell me. The car we suspect was at the fire isn’t registered to either woman, there’s no link to Johns and drugs, and apart from being bailed by Hastings, we have no other link between her and Johns. I admit there are gaps.”
Despite the problems and inconsistency in the evidence, Steve knew he was right. His gut told him once they proved the two women were one and the same, the case would blow wide open and everything would fall into place.
The day had been a tough one, not helped by his lack of sleep. Between meetings that impeded his ability to get on with the job, computer systems on the fritz, incompetent investigators, and having to wait when all he wanted to do was arrest Harper Roderick. Steve would normally be madder than a cut snake. Instead, Steve knew he was as prepared as he could be.
The IT guys had assured everyone the system would be back up by four o’clock which meant, once all the information was in, Trevor would get the warrant authorized. Christian and Trevor had teams ready to move on Harper’s home, as did Steve. The squad that eventually executed the warrant would depend on where her residential address was. The waiting game should have been driving him crazy. However, instead of being annoyed, he remained surprisingly calm, and the only explanation he could come up with for feeling that way was Rhia. He was frustrated with work, and ecstatic with life. In spite of having not slept, he was energized, feeling more alive than he had in years. He flicked through the contacts in his mobile and dialed.
“I’d like to send a dozen red, long-stemmed roses and a teddy bear please.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Christian turn his head and flash him a bemused look. “No, maybe two dozen roses, yep definitely two. Is the teddy bear cute? Describe it to me…don’t you have anything other than blue or pink? I didn’t ask about the price, I asked about the color. Okay, I’d like the brown one. No, it doesn’t need a pink or blue bow, just the teddy. Jesus Christ…a red ribbon then.”
Steve looked at his friend. Christian was laughing as Steve gave the necessary payment and address details. Despite the pushy florist arguing that the message he wanted on the accompanying card was inappropriate and not romantic enough, the transaction was finally complete. The flowers would be delivered just as Rhia was arriving home from work, with the words on the card that he had dictated.
Caught up with work, the sexy outfit will have to wait. I’ll be at your place as soon as I can. Don’t cook anything, I will bring dinner. Love you more than life. Steve.
He didn’t like cancelling their plans for tonight but this investigation wasn’t going to be concluded by six o’clock. He knew Rhia would understand, even without him sending flowers. The gift was more a reminder that he loved her, rather than an apology for being late. Once this case was put to rest, they’d have plenty of time for miniskirts and him forgetting to text her what top to wear.
“Tell me what’s going on. Convention dictates you should be stressed and swearing after today’s events. Instead you’re buying flowers and teddy bears and smiling like a bloody Cheshire cat
.” Steve laughed at Christian’s statement. “See, the laughter is scary. That’s not usual.”
“I, my friend, am in love, and not even you being nosy can ruin my day.”
Christian scoffed at the reply.
The remainder of the journey back to the local station was spent with Christian asking questions about Steve’s relationship and Steve trying to avoid answering them. He wasn’t ready to talk about the news he’d found out this morning. Rhia and he needed to confirm the details of the pregnancy and make the announcement together. He also wanted to make sure the announcement was made after she agreed to marry him. Which meant he needed to buy her a ring and get down on one knee in front of her, at a yet-to-be-determined romantic location.
It was just after four p.m. when he and Christian walked into the station. He assumed the cheering from the back office had nothing to do with his arrival and hoped the fact Carlie screaming yes, yes, yes, wasn’t an indication of inappropriate activity amongst his detectives. The paper plane that came flying toward him as he entered the room turned out not to be an act of boredom. Rather, it made his day.
“I’m not sure turning evidence into a paper plane and hurling it toward your superior is an appropriate method of delivery, Detective James, but I thank you for it, anyway.” He smiled as he spoke, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the information in front of him.
The faxed copy of the marriage certificate confirmed his suspicion. Harper Elizabeth Roderick had indeed become Harper Elizabeth Hastings. His attention was drawn to Christian as his friend caught the next paper plane that came whistling through the air. He scowled at Carlie.
“Well, why should Superintendent Shore miss out on all the fun?” she asked innocently.
Christian pulled his mobile from his pocket as he handed Steve the unfolded paper. It was Harper Roderick’s eastern suburbs address.
“Did we acquire this address legally?” Steve didn’t want a technicality to get in the way of any possible convictions that might occur down the track. And he knew from the lack of activity in the station that the computers were not back on line.
“It was freely supplied by a member of the general public. That secretary from the high school knows everything. We had a lovely chat while I was waiting for the takeaway cappuccinos I’d ordered at the café. Apparently the house is located on a corner block. It’s very fancy and must have cost Harper a fortune.”
“So the secretary has been to the house?”
“No, but she has looked it up on Google maps. The other interesting thing she told me was, on the day the location photo was taken, there was a BMW parked in the driveway. Ms. Roderick doesn’t have a BMW registered to her. As you know, she drives a Prius.” He didn’t comment on the smug look Carlie wore as she relayed the information. She should be pleased with herself.
“Trevor has confirmed the address and is waiting to see the judge to get the warrant signed. Computers are up and running at HQ so they should kick in here soon. He’s going to ring as soon as everything is ready to go.”
Steve nodded his approval. His guys wouldn’t be involved in the search of the home or Harper’s apprehension, but he’d arranged that questioning would take place at the local command centre. Steve looked forward to interrogating Harper Elizabeth Roderick Hastings. He wanted answers, not that he expected her to spill her guts without a little persuasion.
“Okay, let’s go over the evidence we have for when our suspect arrives. I want every scrap of information we have so we can nail this deceptive bitch.”
* * * *
It was time to execute his plan. Patrick wasn’t sure what the truth was, but he knew parts of it. Harper couldn’t be trusted. He didn’t know why he hadn’t realized it before, and he didn’t care. He’d spent a few hours beating himself up for being stupid, for allowing himself to be manipulated, but that was getting him nowhere. His father had often told him to grow a set of balls and man up. Well, that was exactly what he was doing. It didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous or scared, but he hoped focus and determination would overcome the anxiety he felt. It was time for him to face up to his mistakes, take responsibility for his actions and be held accountable for what he’d done.
The plan he’d devised was simple. Get his mother somewhere safe after her release from the hospital today and then go to Rhia’s and wait for Superintendent Jax to arrive back from the city. When he arrived he’d give him the information he had on Harper Roderick. Patrick would then be arrested for his part in the drug ring. He’d apologize for being an idiot and for trusting the wrong person then plead guilty in front of a judge and go to jail for however long society saw fit.
His stomach knotted at the thought of it all.
Being eighteen, he’d be tried as an adult. Hopefully they would let him study while he was in prison, in-between dodging hairy inmates determined to make him their bitch and doing laundry duty, of course. At least his conscience would be clear.
When he woke up this morning step, one of the plan, currently underway, was the only definite action on his list of things to do. After his conversation with Harper the other day he knew, without a doubt, the moment his mother got released from hospital his father would return to the house. He assumed Harper would be with him and, between the two of them, they’d convince his mother to drop the charges and take his father back. That couldn’t happen.
His mother protected Patrick as best she could, by teaching him how to survive in the abusive home they were trapped in. Patrick had to protect her now, that’s why he’d taken charge of what was going to happen next. He’d organized for Aunt Alice to arrive late last night, and today she’d take his mother across the border to her home in Victoria. He’d given her most of the money he’d earned working for Harper, five thousand dollars in cash. She believed he’d saved it from his job at the supermarket. Well, she said she believed him. Her face had told a different story.
He knew his mother would be distraught when she found out about his arrest, but Aunt Alice would make sure she was okay. His mother would return for her husband’s trial. If he was convicted then, and only then, Alice would help her to return home. He tried to push the idea of being in prison with his father out of his mind. It was a possibility, but hopefully a slim one. He didn’t think restraining orders applied if you were both in jail, but if they did then it would save him from being killed while he was inside. Well, killed by his father at least.
He checked the insurance package he’d put together. That would go to Steve this afternoon. He’d scanned all the information onto a thumb drive and also included the original printed documentation he had. He’d written everything down, a confession of sorts. He had one more thing to add.
Ever since he’d spoken to Harper and found out she’d bailed his dad out of jail he’d been uneasy. He’d begun to doubt whether she was genuine in her concern for him. It wasn’t until today that he knew trusting her had been a mistake.
He clicked play on the uploaded video file and checked it for clarity.
“Patrick, darling, so nice of you to visit me, I hope you have the information I asked for.” Harper’s voice was sickly sweet.
“Umm, I do, but can you just tell me again how this is going to work. I want to make sure I’m certain of what I’ll be doing. I don’t want to disappoint you Harper, you’ve been so good to me.”
“Oh, Patrick, thank you. You know I’ve been happy to help you, and now your father’s agreed to work for me well…I’m sure it will be the making of your relationship with him. So basically, as I said the other day you’ll work with your father, teach him the formula, and show him how to cook the drugs. I’ll pay you both handsomely, of course, for your services. We’ll be using the new farmhouse I’ve rented just out of town. It has a separate garage area that can be used for the manufacture, and the house can act as storage for the product and its ingredients. It’s perfect really. I’m sure you’ll find it more than suitable.” Harper smiled. As he looked at the image before him there was something
about her that seemed fake. He couldn’t understand why he hadn’t noticed it before. “Now do you have the information for me?”
“I do, but I don’t understand why you need proof that I’m loyal to you. You must know I am.” Patrick watched his nervousness show as he toyed with the piece of paper in his hand. “I mean never once have I questioned you about any of this. I’ve made sure no one, not even my family, were aware of our activities. I’ve protected you, even when I’ve felt guilty or scared about what we were doing. I still helped you. I did that because I’m loyal to you. I stayed quiet even when people I knew died. Why do you need more evidence than that?”
“Patrick, I know you’re loyal. It’s just that I need something more concrete to calm Justin and your father’s doubts about you. That’s why I’ve asked for the formula. It’s not for me dear boy. I know how you feel about me.”
Patrick looked on as she took the paper from his hand and read it. He couldn’t believe she’d still insisted on being given the formula. He obliged her, giving her an exact copy of the one he’d placed in the package.
“Thank you, Patrick. I’m very pleased that you’ve been obliging as usual. It’s been a pleasure working with you.”
He copied the file to the thumb drive and included it in the package. He wasn’t sure he’d need it at all but as he’d walked out of Harper’s office he knew he didn’t have a choice in carrying out his plan.
As he left her office, she said something that alarmed him. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Not it is a pleasure, present tense, but it’s been…past tense. There was too much finality reflected in the statement. It sent a chill down his spine, and a blinding realization pierced his soul. His foolishly placed trust meant she now had the one thing she needed to make his assistance superfluous. He’d just become expendable.
There was no turning back now. He waited for his mother to be discharged from the hospital and waved her good-bye. There’d been tears, embraces that lasted longer than they should have under the circumstances. He knew she’d be safe, but he also knew it might be the last time he ever got to hug her. In trying to keep Patrick and his mother isolated from family and friends, Kevin had provided the one avenue of escape that Patrick’s mother could utilize. Not long after Patrick was born, Kevin had banned his mother from having anything to do with her family. Aunt Alice had refused to go quietly. She’d kept in contact. Despite his mother’s fears of being found out, she maintained the connection to her sister. Since Kevin didn’t know where Alice now lived, both women would be safe from his harassment and threatening behavior.