by Kahlen Aymes
“Alex is—” She stopped, not allowing herself to tell Swanson Alex was traveling, and scrambled to think of another reason to stall him. “Um, it might take time to get that kind of cash. That’s a lot of money. I don’t even know if he has that much.”
“He can get it. Every time he fucks me over, the price goes up, understand? If I don’t have the money in that account by 6 PM tomorrow, all bets are off. Gotta say, I’m sort of disappointed, Angel. I expected more of a fight from you.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Too late. You’re next unless Avery gives me everything I want,” he sneered, and the line went dead.
Her whole body started to shake violently as she dropped the phone. She removed the pillow from the other one. “Shit!” she said into the room as she reached for it.
Angel mentally kicked herself. She shouldn’t let him see her fear, but she didn’t feel she should bait him. He wanted to scare her, and he did.
Alex exploded. “Goddamn it! I should never have left!”
“What would you do? Listen to that psycho’s heavy breathing with me?”
Alex’s frustration was palpable.
“Angel!” Alex’s voice was loud enough for her to hear it without picking up the phone. She reached for it.
“He killed Bancroft, Alex.” Angel’s voice wavered for the first time. “I know he’s dead for sure. I’d hoped…” her eyes filled with tears. “Swanson is such a sick, evil fucker.”
“I know, baby.” Alex tried to calm down. His rational mind told him he needed more facts before he could formulate a plan. “What did he say? Tell me exactly what he said.”
“He wants ten million dollars by tomorrow night at six, wired to a specific bank account. He gave me the numbers.”
“That’s more than he originally asked for. What is the account number?” Alex’s voice was deadly calm. Too calm: it was cold as ice.
“Alex, you can’t pay him!”
“Just tell me what the numbers are, honey. I’ll use them to find out where the bank is located.”
“Oh.” Angel nodded and gave Alex the numbers.
“What else did he say, Angel?” His voice was coaxing. “Tell me everything.”
“He said you will have no doubt he’s serious.”
Alex was silent for a good minute, and Angel’s heart felt as if it would fly from her body.
“Alex?”
“Jesus Christ. It’s okay, honey. I need to speak with Cole and the police. It’ll take care of it.” Alex being Alex, his voice alone should have reassured her, but she sensed his fury. “I’ll get this contract signed today then I’m on a plane. I don’t want you going to the party. In fact, get Becca to cancel it altogether. We can’t trust anything he said. He is probably lying in wait, and we can’t risk any of you.”
She knew he was right, but she was sad for Jillian. “Or, it might be a way to trap him. Why don’t we just let him think it’s happening?”
“Maybe. Assuming he knows about it, that is? You’re the psychologist. Do you think he’ll fall for it?”
“He doesn’t really need to risk showing himself… unless he doesn’t get his money.”
“Right. Exactly what I’m thinking, too. We’ll have to flush him out. Please put Cole on.”
“Alex, please let the police handle it.” Fear seized her heart. This was about revenge as much as money, and Angel knew it.
“Fuck the police, Angel. They aren’t doing a goddamned thing! Do you want to keep living like this? Give the phone to Cole!” he demanded harshly. She was startled at his barking tone. She could hear him moving around his office, and his briefcase snapping shut; his voice was as cold as steel.
Angel opened the door to the bedroom, rushing down the hall and down the stairs into the great room. Cole was on the floor, using the coffee table to hold his plate, and Sid and Wayne were both sitting on the leather furniture around it. They all glanced up at Angel as she rushed into the room, their faces concerned.
“Cole, it’s Alex,” she said, holding out the phone to him. “He wants to talk to you. Swanson just called me on my other phone.”
“Shit!” he muttered, shoving away from the coffee table and getting to his feet before reaching for the phone. He took it. “Hey, Alex.” He disappeared into the kitchen, listening to Alex on the other end of the phone. She stood fidgeting, and Wayne threw down his pizza.
“What did he say? Anything about Bancroft?” he asked. They were both stoic, their expressions contrite.
“He’s dead.” Angel was in shock, like she was out of body. Her heart hammered, but she was numb otherwise and sank to the couch. “I mean, Swanson didn’t mention he killed him exactly, but he said it was ‘too late.’’”
“Anything else?” Wayne asked.
She shrugged, not because it meant nothing, but because she felt helpless, and what she was about to say was known among them. “He said he wants money, but I don’t think that’s his goal.”
“No, we’ve seen his type. He wants blood,” Sid remarked.
Cole hurried back into the room and began bellowing orders at the others. “Wayne, ask two of the guys outside to come into the house on your way out, but don’t tell them where you’re going.” He was carrying a handgun, and he shoved it into the front of his belt. “Take Sid, go to the airport, and rent an SUV. Use your personal credit card. Tinted windows and a GPS. Then meet us back here.
The two men left their meals unfinished and left without asking questions.
Cole turned toward her. “Angel, call Becca. Tell her to pack a bag and have it ready. Then pack one yourself. Take things that don’t require much space and enough for at least two weeks. Take sensible shoes and warm clothes you can move in.”
“What is Alex planning?” Angel asked. Based on the weak way the police were handling things, Angel was sure it was something.
“I’m calling the police to see if they can track the call. Give me the phone the call came in on.” Cole dialed a number on his phone. Angel guessed he didn’t get Alex’s fuck-the-police directive. “Detective Samuels, please.” He looked up at Angel. “We may not be able to place it exactly, because he was using one of those disposable phones when he called Alex at the station. No doubt this is no different, but maybe we can find out what cell tower it was transmitted from.”
Angel went to Alex’s room, retrieved her other phone, and handed it to Cole, who was in the middle of the call. He rattled off Angel’s phone number to the police officer he was speaking to. “No. Yes, she’s here. Okay. How long?”
Angel sat, still as stone, as Cole spoke to the detective and gathered they would arrive shortly to take her statement. When he hung up the phone, Cole stood in front of her, and she looked up into his face. His whole body was tight and filled with tension.
“I’m surprised Alex had you call the police. They’ll just fuck things up, won’t they?”
“Probably.” He nodded. “But we have to cooperate with them or we’ll be accused of obstructing justice.” He put both hands on her upper arms and squeezed. “Call Becca, Angel. Then let Darian know you won’t be there on Friday night. Alex wants us to plant your car there, along with your assistant’s, but we don’t want either of you there, and have Darian run a file tape from a past airing so it appears you’re live. Unless Swanson listens to every show, he won’t pick up on it. It’s a shot to buy us some time. We’re all going on a little trip.”
“What?”
“Alex will meet us with the jet.”
“Where?”
“Location to be determined.”
“How does Mark Swanson know what we’re doing?” Angel was anxious and wringing her hands. “How does he know about Jillian’s party?”
“I don’t know, but Alex is freaking the fuck out.”
Angel’s head snapped up. “I’m freaking the fuck out, Cole! I don’t wig out, but I’ve never had a perpetrator I’m working with murder anyone before.”
“Do you b
lame Alex? If he hadn’t destroyed his business—”
“No!” She shook her head adamantly. “It’s my fault. If I would have let the tests stand, he would have gotten away with raping that young girl, but that’s it. Now you, Alex, Becca, and Jillian… everyone I care about, is at risk. Your family. Becca’s family. All because I couldn’t let it go.”
“Alex didn’t let it go, either, Angel. He has been like a man possessed.”
“But, because of me.”
“You and Alex are so alike, and you both are stubborn as hell. You both do what’s right. Angel. You couldn’t have seen this coming.”
“It’s my job to see sick creeps like Swanson for what they are.” She ran a weary hand through her long hair. “I suck.” She stood and began pacing.
Cole’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You did see him for what he was. Isn’t that why you didn’t let it go?”
Angel’s head snapped around to look at him. He was right. She nodded.
“Can you please call Becca now? Just tell her you want to start your sleepover early, in case the phone is bugged. And pack your bag?”
“Okay.” She nodded and walked back up the stairs to do his bidding.
10
Fright & Flight
Becca answered her phone on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Becs. It’s me.” Angel could hear Jillian jabbering in the background, though it was getting late and she should be heading to bed soon. Angel wasn’t looking forward to this conversation.
“Hey. No more, Jillian. You’ve had enough banana. Sorry. The last thing I need is her crapping in her pants at her party.”
Angel couldn’t help but smile, amused at her friend’s lack of tact. Of course, they were like sisters, so it wasn’t the first or, Angel suspected, the last time. “Yes, that would be bad.” It would be equally bad to have that happen on the road. “Becca…” Angel paused, unsure how to say what she needed to say. “Cole is sending someone over to pick you and Bean up. I want to start our sleepover early. Can you pack some clothes, and I’ll have one of the guys pick you up?”
“Um… now?”
“Yes.” Angel closed her eyes, hoping she wouldn’t ask questions. She couldn’t tell Becca anything over the phone, per Cole’s instructions. “I’m just really excited, and I can’t decide how to wrap my gifts. I thought you could help.”
“I have so much to do before tomorrow night.”
“I know.” Angel’s voice took on a more desperate tone. It was so hard trying to get Becca to agree without spilling her guts. “Um, I’ll help, but I’m stuck out here in this big house alone. I just thought it would be fun.”
“How horrible. Hanging out at your rich boyfriend’s mansion. You poor thing,” she joked.
“Yes, I know, right? You can suffer with me. Just pack a bag. I don’t know how long Alex will be gone so bring a lot of stuff.”
“Okay, I guess, if you promise to help me tomorrow. But, I can drive out. I don’t want to have to move the car seat. It’s a pain in the ass.”
Angel saw the logic, and even more importantly, Cole could move the car seat to the rental behind the locked gates of Alex’s estate. It would be safer. “Okay, sure. I’ll text you the address. Then text me when you get close. Someone will meet you at the gate.”
“Fort Knox, much?” Becca asked incredulously. “I can’t wait to see his pad. I bet it reeks of money.”
“Anga! Anga!” Jillian’s voice cried out happily in the background. “Talk to Anga!”
“Angel, Jillian wants to talk to you, okay?”
“Yes. Start packing, then.”
“Okay.” Questions laced her voice. It was clear she knew this shit was weird, and thankfully, she didn’t require an immediate explanation. “Here she is.”
“Anga!” Jillian’s exuberant voice exploded over the phone. “You comin’ ova?”
“Not tonight, sweetheart, but you and Mommy are going to have a few sleepovers with me, okay?
“Reedy? Yay! Can we make a tent with Zander?”
Angel smiled, even as her heart constricted. “Zander is away on business, baby. But I know he loves to camp with you, so maybe when he gets back, okay?”
“Tay.”
“We’ll talk about it. Go help your mommy pack, okay? Bring some toys, some coloring books, and your crayons.”
“Will you color?”
“Of course, I’ll color. Go find Mommy and give her the phone, Bean.”
Jillian didn’t reply into the phone, but Angel gathered she was running in search of Becca. “Mama! Anga want to color at her house! I want bing dat preencess book, kay?” Her little voice was excited.
The sound of the phone apparently being fumbled around and dropped was followed by a dull thud when it landed on the carpet of Becca’s apartment. “Sorry. I’m getting stuff together. I’ll see you in a bit?”
“Yes, and thanks for doing this on short notice. I’ll text the address as soon as I hang up.”
“Sure. See you in a bit.”
When Angel hung up, she went to find Cole. He was still in the living room, but alone, and pacing, back on the phone with Alex, from what she could gather.
“I’ll have to get the locals involved to pull that off, Alex.” As Cole listened, he sensed her reentry into the room and met her eyes. “No, I get it. It makes sense. Don’t worry, Alex.”
Her suspicions regarding the caller were confirmed.
“Yeah, yeah, I will. Angel just came in. See ya.”
Angel wanted to ask to speak to him, but Cole ended the call before she was able to ask.
Time was moving slower than hell. Every minute felt like it passed in slow motion. Angel felt short of oxygen, as if she’d forgotten to breathe, and she gasped in a deep breath. “What did he say?”
“He said to make arrangements for the ‘party’ to continue as usual—” he used two fingers to emphasize the word, “—and to get you the hell out of here.”
Cole moved toward the kitchen. “I have to look something up online, so can you come in here so we can keep talking?” he asked, motioning for Angel to follow. “We have to paint the illusion that it’s all going on as planned tomorrow at the James’.” He sat down at the table near the patio door where his laptop was waiting. “There is a lot of logistical bullshit I have to arrange before we can leave. Wayne and Sid are getting a car, and we’ll leave sometime in the middle of the night. Hopefully, we’ll get you, Becca, and the kid out of town and out of danger. Alex said, and I agree, that we shouldn’t tell anyone other than Wayne and Sid what’s going down.”
Angel pulled out one of the chairs and slowly sat down next to Cole, who started searching the Internet for something. “But, I thought background checks were done on all of the guys.”
He glanced up through a frown, still hunched in front of the computer. “We did, but we can’t be too careful. Someone is feeding that prick information, and we don’t know who.”
A chill skittered over Angel from head to toe, causing her skin to itch. She reached up and scratched her scalp with vigorous fingers. She tapped the surface of her thumbnail on her lip, her mind racing. If Swanson had a plant in Alex’s security team, any one of them could have been killed at any time. A deadly calm settled over her.
“Can I help?”
“Just get your stuff together for now. If you have any cash, bring it. Credit cards leave trails.”
“We can stop at an ATM. I can get more.”
“What’s your daily withdrawal limit?”
“Five hundred, I think. I don’t ever push it, so I forget if it’s three or five.” Cole nodded silently, intent on the screen in front of him. “What are you doing now?”
“Scouting locations.”
“Ah. So something within 20-ish hours of here.”
“Very good.”
It would take Alex no less than fifteen hours to get back, if he left immediately. That was impossible, and Cole’s to-do list would delay their
departure as well.
“When you decide, how will you tell Alex where to meet us? He’ll be over the ocean for hours.
“He has something to do in Chicago before he catches up with us.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t ask. Neither of us had time; he just told me what he needed from the team and me. We have to get moving, Angel. When Sid and Wayne get back I’ll brief them, but the others will be stationed to cover Becca’s folks and our parents.”
“But…” She shook her head slowly. “If you don’t know if you can trust them, I don’t get it?” She wanted to know what was going on with Alex. It would drive her crazy wondering.
“Wayne will be with one team and Sid with the other. That’s the only way we can keep an eye on them.”
“You can’t do that. If they can bump off Bancroft, they can do the same to Sid or Wayne. It’s not safe.”
Cole stopped what he was doing and looked Angel straight in the face. “Angel, let me worry about it. Don’t take this wrong, but seriously, I do not have time for twenty questions. They are both highly trained. When will Becca get here?”
This prompt dismissal of Angel was indication he had a lot to do and not much time to do it. The walkie-talkie sitting next to Cole’s laptop came to life, and Cole put a finger to his mouth to shush any conversation between himself and Angel. “This is Avery. Over?”
“The grounds are quiet.”
Cole raised the device to his mouth and pressed a button with the same hand. “Good. You two can call it a night.”
“Are you sure, sir? Wayne and Sid have not returned from their break. Should we wait for them?”
It wasn’t a break, but obviously, that was what they’d been told. Angel’s brain tried to piece together Cole and Alex’s plan without much to go on.
“No. They’ll be back soon, and the security systems are secure. I’ll see you back in the morning.”
“Roger, that. Night.”
Cole pulled up the security monitors that were tied in through his computer monitor and he watched the two of them clear the gates. “Angel, please go pack.” He’d asked her to do it three times, and this time his tone was stronger. Finally, she got up and left the room without the answers she needed.