Vegas Series: Six-book Boxed Set (Hot Romance & Powerful Suspense)

by Mimi Barbour

  “It’s good… a good idea. Alec’s a man’s name… not sissy. I like it.”

  He slowed the car and swerved onto a lane that came out of nowhere. Dirt and dead bushes surrounded the car as they slowly headed to a dark, dilapidated building in the distance.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Veronica Marks was a stunning woman in her late forties who had a lot of initials after her name. Short brown hair styled to behave, and intelligent brown eyes that saw more than most people hoped to divulge, she impressed Aurora right from the moment Kai made the introductions.

  Cory appeared shortly after she’d arrived. His tie discarded long ago, his sleeves rolled to half-mast, and the haphazard creases in his suit pants proved to those who knew him that all was not well with his world. If his appearance didn’t warn one, his nervous manner and the crazy glint in his eyes would do the trick.

  “Mrs. Marks. Thank you for making time to help us. Our normal profiler is sick right now, and the others on his team haven’t the expertise for such a case.”

  “Everyone, please call me Veronica.” She made eye contact with all three of them. “I’ve read the preliminary reports and have a fairly good idea of Mr. Rhondo, but Kai mentioned you have a few videos featuring the suspect. It helps when one can actually see the person.”

  “Come with me.” Cory lead the way to the monitor now set up in the privacy of his office. Again they all watched the various videos taken of each incident in the hospital. At the end, silence hovered over them like a thick encroaching mold.

  Finally, Veronica shuffled the files in her briefcase and extracted the one with Earl Rhondo’s name in the tab. “You understand that I haven’t had the time to work out a complete social and psychological assessment of the offender. Though from the files you sent copies of, I feel I have a fairly good idea of his motivation. After watching the tapes, I’m almost certain my initial assumptions are somewhat accurate.”

  “Anything you’ve come up with can only help at this time. This dirt-bag abducted my wife and child for reasons unknown. If you can tell us anything about his motivation, it might help us solve the question as to his intention and even his whereabouts.”

  Veronica extracted a pair of reading glasses from a leopard-print case that matched the stylish frames. Fancy glasses didn’t fit in with the look of the professional, Aurora thought, but they were kind of endearing.

  Cory burst out again, words spilling from him as if talking kept him sane. “Earlier, it came to our attention that my wife most likely concealed her cell phone. Aurora noticed Debbie’s signal when she left the hospital under duress.”

  “Yes, you pointed that out, and I thought it quite resourceful. Obviously, your wife is a woman who doesn’t panic easily and who keeps her cool.”

  “My wife is a woman who has an infection that needs medication. And she’s also a new mother who will do anything it takes to protect her baby. That’s who my wife is!”

  Whoa!! Aurora heard Kai shift and felt the tension in the room rise. She knew Cory didn’t mean to come off as an asshole, but his nerves were raw from relentless worry. Time to interrupt.

  Aurora spoke soothingly. “We can’t call her, on the off chance that she hasn’t been able to put it on vibrate. We won’t e-mail her either for the same reason. She’s got a ring-tone that would wake the dead. We’re praying she’ll be able to get a message through to us sooner or later. At this time, we have no idea where they could be and very few leads to help us. We were hoping you might give us something concrete about his personality to work on.”

  Veronica smiled at Aurora as if to say, Don’t worry, this kind of thing often happens, and I won’t take it personal. “I don’t know how much this will help, but I have a fairly good idea of what’s driving this man. Let me give you what I’ve figured out so far, and we’ll see if you concur.”

  Both Aurora and Kai nodded and settled back, and only Cory crossed his arms and continued to stand.

  “Right! As is often the case with criminal behavior, I feel Mr. Rhondo’s childhood comes into play here. A strict father, possibly a stepfather who demanded he be straight when his earliest tendencies were homosexual. He has empathy for young males, but none for the women he’s hurt. Which leads me to believe that his mother either died when he was young, she lived a reclusive life, uninvolved and uncaring of Earl and most likely his father, or she deserted the family. I’d go with the latter, as it would feed his hate for the fairer sex. His father’s influence, the man he wants most to be proud of him, to love him, would be the driving force in turning him into the person he is today.”

  Veronica cleared her throat and looked to be uncomfortable, until she shrugged her shoulders as if making a decision. Then she continued.

  “This would be why having a child of his own would be paramount to making him feel vindicated, a real man, a reason for his father to show approval. A child would be the one goal in his life that would prove his worth.”

  Not a whisper could be heard until Aurora cleared her throat. Oh no! Like a Tetris game solving itself, everything fell into place. Of course! The baby—Rhondo believed Alec was his son.

  Cory glared at the visiting specialist, and in an intimidating way, he approached, only to be cut off by Aurora. “Cory. I need to talk with you.” Her voice brooked no refusal, and neither did the look in her eye.

  He stared her down, and then seemed to deflate. “Let’s go.”

  Once into the hallway, they moved to the closest exit. Once through the heavy door, they sat together on the stairs, and she watched as the man, who was like a beloved brother, buried his face in his trembling hands. “Tell me.” His voice was raw from emotion barely held in check.

  “He raped her.” Aurora hated the words. Hated the disgust the words produced. Hated the words so much, her vision blurred. She swallowed, then tried to continue, but the horror of it, all of it, imprisoned her ability to speak without sobs. Finally, she pinched her arm and replaced some of the agony with ordinary pain.

  “Cory, she couldn’t admit that he’d overpowered her in the end, that he’d taken what she would never have freely given. In her heart, Alec has always been your child, a baby you made together. She’s never doubted it for a second—never!”

  For the longest few minutes she’d ever lived through, she watched his body shake. Finally, he shuddered and straightened his shoulders. All this time, he’d clutched her hand so tightly she’d wanted to scream.

  Releasing her, he leaned closer. “Then neither will I. Come, we have work to do.” His arm encircled her shoulders for a quick hug, and then he helped her stand. “We’ll find him, and when we do Aurora, God help me, I’ll have to kill the bastard.”

  Remembering Kai, she thought: Yeah? Well you’ll have to get in line.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Kai found Aurora in their office, with her arms wrapped around her middle, trying to contain the grief she couldn’t show in front of anyone else. He moved up behind, and his arms encircled her. “Babe, I’m so sorry. That had to be horrendous telling a man his wife had been raped, especially Cory.”

  She leaned her head back against his strong shoulders and closed her eyes to hide the globs of moisture. “He took it well. Decided the baby was his, and knowing him, he’ll never change his mind. Alec is his son come hell or high water.”

  “I love that old saying. My mom used it many times. Hell or high water.” He shifted her, and she saw the fierce need on his face. His kiss started out soft and tender, but within seconds, a groan escaped to warn her he’d been affected more than he’d intended. His erection gave notice of the influence her lips were having, and she knew the resultant dampness that gushed from inside her own body answered his need. She wrapped her arms around his waist and loved the feel of his gentle hands stroking her cheeks and burrowing into her hair.

  After he stepped back, he leaned his forehead against hers, kissed her eyelids and whispered. “Soon.”

  “Mmm. Is that a promise?” Sh
e smiled and rubbed her cheek against the hand that still cuddled her face.

  “As soon as Debbie and Alec are back safe, and this nightmare is over, then I might be able to promise. Now, you know I can’t.”

  “So if everything turns out, you’d want to promise?”

  “What are you asking me? If I care?”

  Watching his shuttered eyes, she nodded. There were no words. Begging didn’t come easy even if desperation drove her to consider it.

  “I want to promise, more than I want to breath—”

  Ham stepped around the partially opened door to make his announcement. “They just brought in Mike. Cory wants you to talk to him, Aurora. You and Kai.”

  Aurora stayed near Kai until they were alone once again. “Do you want to take lead? I have a feeling Mike would respect you more than a mere woman.”

  “You want me to set him up.” A half-smile hovered as he lifted her hand and laid a kiss in the palm. “Let’s do it.”

  ***

  “Mike, we’re not playing games here.” Kai knew his voice conveyed his seriousness and hoped the unblinking figure staring right though him understood it also.

  “I have nothing for you. Rhondo’s just a schmuck who comes into my bar from time to time, drinks enough to down an elephant, then pays his tab and leaves. He’s no more trouble than the rest of the losers.”

  “You know we can take your liquor license away for violating the no-gambling policy. It wouldn’t matter to us one iota. But if you help us, we can help you. Wipe the slate clean. All we need to know is about Rhondo’s father.”

  “Stepfather.” Soon as the word slipped out, Mike closed his mouth as if disgusted with himself.

  “Stepfather. Does this man have a name?”

  Nothing. Mike didn’t even blink.

  “Man, you could be charged with obstruction of justice or even as an accessory in a kidnapping, which is a capital offense with a minimum lifetime sentence. You want to rot in jail for a bum like Rhondo?”

  “Don’t play me, Detective. You’ve got nothing, and you know it.”

  After an hour of using every verbal tactic he knew, Kai stalked away with his hands fisted and his temper frayed. He stopped dead and angled toward Mike once more, purposely letting his tongue run away on him. “Disgusting piece of horseshit!” Then he turned to Aurora. “You talk some sense into your dumb friend, Detective Morelli. Tell him things can go south pretty damn fast when a cop’s family is in jeopardy.”

  Kai stomped out of the room and slammed the door. Then he quickly circled to the window to see if their acting skills had paid off. He’d worked on the man until even he hated the sound of his own voice. All the while, Aurora sat patiently, listening without any comments. Couldn’t have played it any better if they’d had a script.

  Aurora broke the silence. “He’s pretty mad.”

  “He’s an asshole. Where’d he come from?”

  “Detective Lawson is from L.A. He has a personal bone to pick with Rhondo…a matter of his sister’s death.”

  The Polish man’s expression underwent a quick change. “Rhondo got to her.”

  Aurora nodded. “Yeah, he did, and she couldn’t live with it.”

  “Shit!” Mike’s expression eased from being hard and stubborn to just being tired. “Everyone has stories.”

  “Yep, even cops. The story now is that our boy Earl has taken Debbie hostage. You must remember my old partner, Mike? She’s the blonde chick that looked the other way when you got played by the underage hooker in your bar. Instead of pressing charges and making your life hell, she talked the girl into going back home and then drove her there herself.”

  “Why didn’t you say it was her?”

  “Not just her. She’s just given birth to a baby boy. Rhondo took them both.”

  Mike shook his head sorrowfully. “Can’t abide men who take advantage of youngsters. Makes me sick to my stomach. But a guy who’ll steal a baby, that’s dirty lowdown. Even if it’s his own kid.”

  Aurora’s head jerked to the side. “Huh? What are you saying?” A hunch told her to play dumb, and that same hunch had the music starting in her head.

  Mike leaned forward with his hands clasped between his heavy thighs. Pink skin shone through the thinness of his greying hair. “One night, Rhondo comes into my place. He’s loaded for bear and acting sorry for himself. Told me his ol’ man hated him. Said he’d called him a fag for years, and kept telling him if he were a real man, he’d have a kid by now. Morelli, I swear the asshole blubbered into his beer like some pathetic chump. Admitted he wanted a baby more than anything else in the world.”

  “So he could impress this man?”

  “No! Not to impress him. Because it would mean he’d have done one thing perfect.”

  “Then…” Aurora figured there had to be more to the story for it to make sense.

  “I never knew how he got on with the ladies, none of my business. I keep my nose buried up my own ass, if you know what I mean.”

  She grinned and nodded. “Aromatic, and rather physically impossible, but I get it.”

  “He disappears off the radar for months, until a week ago when he shows up and starts passing around cigars. He’s planning a baby shower for Christ’s sake. I’ve never seen him in such a mood. Even had a beer with the ol’ man and gave him a cigar. Said as how he’d fathered a boy and would have photos soon.”

  “What’d his father say?”

  “He actually slapped Rhondo on the back and said he’d finally manned up.”

  “Yeah, I guess he would. Sounds like a real winner. So you know where we could find this prime example of exceptional parenthood and put an end to this tale of dysfunction?”

  “His name is Fred Main. He’s exArmy, mean as a tased bronco. Even the most hardened in the bar don’t wanna mess with the guy.”

  “And does ol’ Freddy have an address?”

  “Not one I know of. Told me once he owned a farm way out east of the city. Said his parents used to live there, and he’d grown up digging in the dirt. Left to go to the Army. Don’t know if he still owns it today.”

  Aurora could see the exhaustion riding the man who’d overcome a lifetime of habit to help a woman who he owed one to. “Appreciate the info, Mike. You’re a good man.”

  “Yeah, well don’t let the word get out, or I’ll be a dead one.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Kai watched and listened as a pro went to work. Aurora had the hardened bar owner singing in no time at all. God, she was hot! His heart beat just a little faster every time she sneaked Kai a wink. A woman who he’d gladly end his playboy existence for… but had she appeared too late on his horizon?

  No matter what, he still intended to see Rhondo pay for his sister’s death. He couldn’t get on with his own life while the other existed. Jail wasn’t enough! He wanted him dead.

  His sister had been beautiful, a lovely soul with a future full of happiness ahead of her, and the animal had ripped it to pieces with no thought at all of what he’d destroyed.

  Kai would have no feelings either, as a bullet from his gun ripped through the maniac who’d kept him from sleeping at night. In fact, he’d consider that he’d done the world a favor, ridding it of such trash. Why should one person be allowed to hurt so many and get away with it? Could Earl Rhondo take a wife and baby from her husband, and not have to pay the piper? He fanned his hands over his head, fuzz barely breaking the skin, and rubbed until he felt the blood gather.

  All through Aurora’s questioning of the witness, he’d listened. Once the name came out, he’d gestured at Ham who watched for a signal from his desk.

  “Got it! His name’s Fred Main.” The two high-fived, and Ham held out his hand. “Ten bucks, and you’re lucky it wasn’t twenty.”

  “Fuck! How did you know she’d get it in ten minutes?” asked Kai.

  “‘Cause she’s the best. I’ll get the tech guys on this. They’ll find an address if the guy’s getting anything from the government
, any kind of army pension, disability, social security. We’ll find him.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  “Oh, and tell Aurora that Eddie called. Said there’s a baby shower planned for tomorrow at some secret location. Only a select few are invited. Invitation strictly for males.”

  “What the hell? What about Debbie?”

  “That’s what I wondered. Doesn’t sound good. Means we have to find them before tomorrow.”

  “Shit, where’s Cory?”

  “He’s been trying to dodge the media. The hospital let loose some information about a woman who was taken, and they’re all over it. Don’t know how long he can keep the lid on this. Once it’s out that there’s a baby involved, and it’s his own kid and wife who’re hostages, the shit’s gonna hit the blades, if you know what I mean.”

  Kai tried not to show his dismay. Wanted to be cool, professional, a lawman. But the human side, the caring for a friend couldn’t be denied.

  “Poor bastard.”

  Just then, Aurora led the way out of the small room and turned to stare at Mike. In case there were any witnesses that could blab later, she hardened her voice.

  “Thanks for nothing, asshole. Go!”

  Mike sneered first before lowering his head, then went in the direction where a uniformed officer waited to discharge him.

  Kai discreetly reached for her hand and pulled her closer so he could whisper proudly. “Ham made ten bucks off me because of you.”

  She smiled and nestled her head against his shoulder for a few seconds, as if seeking sustenance. It made him feel like he could tackle a whole football team just for her.

  They both stepped away when Ham entered. Then she held out her hand. No words were spoken as Ham paid her with a five-dollar bill, and then they banged their fisted hands together.

  Kai tightened his lips and disgust flooded his expression. The only thing he managed to curb was the rolling of his eyes, but inside he knew he’d been had, and with no foreplay whatsoever. All he said was, “Shame on you,” and then he led the way back to their office.