by Tim Kizer
“Half a block from here.”
Alice wiped her eyes, pushed the elevator button, and grabbed the handle of Melissa’s suitcase.
“Why are you crying?” Melissa asked.
“I’m just happy to see you. Why did Vera send you to live with me?”
“She’s going to Germany on assignment. She didn’t tell you?”
The elevator doors opened, and they got in.
“She told me she was leaving the country, but she didn’t say where she was going.”
Alice pressed the button for David’s floor. “How long will she be in Germany?”
“One month. Do you live alone?”
“I live with my boyfriend. His name is David.”
The elevator stopped, and they stepped out.
“The Keeners don’t know where you are, do they?” Alice said.
“No.”
“Are you glad you’re with your real mother now?”
“Yes. Vera’s awesome.”
Alice opened David’s apartment door and let Melissa enter first.
“Hi,” Melissa said to David when she and Alice came into the living room.
“Hello.”
Melissa plopped down on the couch.
David stared at the girl for a long moment with a puzzled frown, then asked, “What’s your name?”
“Melissa.” Melissa grabbed the remote. “Can I change the channel?”
“Sure.” David looked at Alice, and she said to him, “I’ll explain later.”
She rolled Melissa’s suitcase into the bedroom and returned to the living room.
“Is this your daughter?” David whispered to Alice.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain later.” Alice sat next to Melissa and said to her, “Are you hungry?”
“No.”
She would have to go to court to have Melissa’s adoption annulled. Hopefully, the Keeners would not put up a fight.
“Where did you live the last two months?” Alice said.
“Vera’s house.”
“What’s the address?”
“I don’t know. Do you have iced tea?”
“Yes.”
Alice got a bottle of iced tea from the refrigerator and gave it to Melissa.
“Does Vera live in San Jose?”
“She lives in Hollister. It’s not too far from San Jose.”
“Do you miss your friends in San Diego?”
Melissa shook her head. “No.”
Alice thought of telling Melissa that she was her birth mother, and then decided to do it after she took care of Vera, Walsh, and Munroe.
She opened Kevin Munroe’s picture on her phone and showed it to Melissa. “Have you met this guy?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know who he is?”
“He’s Kevin, Vera’s cousin.”
“Did you know that Vera was given up for adoption?”
“Yes.”
“Have you met her adoptive parents?”
“No.”
“Did Vera treat you well?” David asked.
“Yes. She’s very nice.”
“Did the Keeners mistreat you?” Alice asked.
“They treated me like I was five. They always told me what to do, they always criticized me. Vera doesn’t criticize me. She understands me.”
Alice thought of the letter she’d written to her parents after an argument when she was seven. It read: “I’m angry at you and I’m not talking to you today and tomorrow. P.S. I still love you.”
David whispered to Alice, “You need to tell Hagan she’s alive.”
“I will,” Alice replied.
She went into the bedroom, opened her laptop, and reserved a room at the Best Western in Glendale. She forwarded the reservation confirmation to David and then said to him, “I booked a room at the Best Western in Glendale. I need you and Melissa to stay there for a couple of days.”
“Where are you going to be?”
“I have to take care of something.”
“Take care of what? Alice, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything tomorrow.”
“Oh Jesus. Does this have something to do with Vera?”
“Yes.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“No.”
“Let me go with you.”
“I want you to protect Melissa.”
“Protect from who?”
“Vera and her father.”
“Honey, I can’t let you go it alone. I’m going with you.”
“My dad’s going to help me. I want you to watch over Melissa.”
“Let your dad watch over Melissa.”
Alice hesitated. “Are you a good shot?”
“I’m okay.”
“We may have to break the law.”
“Fine by me.”
“Okay. You can come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“San Jose. I need you to buy three disposable phones.”
“Okay.”
“Pay for them with cash.”
Chapter 50
1
When David left, Alice asked Melissa if she had Vera’s phone number.
“No,” the girl replied.
“Can I see your phone?”
Melissa handed Alice her cell. There was only one number in the contacts and call log—the number of the disposable phone Vera had given to Alice.
“What does Vera do for a living?” Alice said.
“She’s a consultant.”
“Who does she consult?”
“The government.”
Alice opened her mother’s picture on her phone and showed it to Melissa. “Have you seen this woman?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“My boyfriend and I are going out of town for two days, so you’ll have to stay with my father.”
“Where does he live?”
“I booked a hotel room for you in Glendale. You have to stay inside until I get back.”
“Okay.”
“Did Vera let you leave the house?”
“No. I had to stay inside because the Sinaloa cartel was after us. Are they still after us?”
“Yes, they are.”
David returned fifty minutes later. Alice gave Melissa one of the disposable phones purchased by David and took away the phone the girl had gotten from Vera.
As Alice put her Smith & Wesson and Walter’s Glock in a duffel bag, David asked, “Are we going to San Jose to see Walsh?”
“Yes.”
“We should rent a car. Just in case.”
“Good idea.”
2
Walter Cannon arrived at a quarter to one. Alice buzzed him in and met him in the hallway outside David’s apartment door. She told her father that Melissa was alive and that she was in David’s apartment right now.
“She’s alive?” Walter said.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain everything later.”
Walter smiled. “That’s amazing. I’m very happy for you.”
“She thinks she’s Vera’s daughter.”
“Why?”
“I’ll explain later. I need you to watch over her for two days. Can you do that for me?”
“Sure.”
“I booked a room for you at the Best Western in Glendale. Please make sure that she doesn’t leave the room.”
“Okay. Are you going out of town?”
“Yes. I’ll give your gun back to you when I get back. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t talk to her about Vera.”
“Okay.”
They went inside, and Alice introduced her father to Melissa.
“So you’re my biological grandpa?” Melissa said.
“Yes, I am.” Walter smiled.
“When are you leaving?” Melissa asked Alice.
“Now.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Melissa took a bottle of iced tea from the refrigerator and said, “I’m ready.”
“Dad, can you give us a ride to the rental agency?” Alice asked Walter.
“Sure.”
David picked up his phone from the coffee table, and Alice said to him, “Honey, leave the phone here.”
David put his cell back on the coffee table.
3
In Walter’s car, Alice removed the batteries from her phone and the phone she had taken from Melissa.
They rented a gray Chrysler 200 and used David’s credit card to pay for it.
“So what’s the plan?” David asked Alice whey they drove out of the parking lot.
“The plan is to make Walsh tell us where Vera lives.”
“Did Vera kidnap Melissa?”
“Yes.”
“And then she let her go?”
“Yes.”
“Why did she kidnap Melissa?”
“I don’t know. I’ll ask her when we find her.”
“Melissa seems to like Vera.”
“Vera told her she was her biological mother.”
“Have you told her you are her biological mother?”
“Not yet.”
Ten minutes later Alice called Melissa from a disposable phone purchased by David.
“Have you checked into the hotel?” she asked.
“Yes,” Melissa said.
“Great. What’s the room number?”
“Two twenty-three.”
“Okay. Bye, sweetie.”
David might try to talk her out of killing Walsh.
And she might listen to him.
Did she have to kill Walsh?
Yes, she did. He might kidnap Melissa. He might kill her and Melissa. She couldn’t let Walsh live.
Would she have the guts to pull the trigger when the time came?
She thought she would.
“Why do you want to find Vera?” David asked.
“I want to ask her why she did this.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“I just want to talk to her. I want to know if she hates me.”
Chapter 51
1
David pulled to the curb and killed the engine.
“I’m going with you,” he said.
“Yes.” Alice handed him a disposable phone. “My number is in the contacts.” She took four plastic cable ties, a roll of duct tape, and the pistols from the duffel and put them in her handbag.
“Are we going to tie him up?” David asked.
“If we have to.”
What if Natalie Walsh was home?
She would have to kill Andrew Walsh later if his wife was home.
“What’s the plan?”
“I’ll ask him politely first, and if he doesn’t cooperate, we’ll threaten him with guns.” Alice pulled a small glass vial from her bag and pocketed it.
Adrenaline began to flow through her.
Tonight, justice will be served.
Andrew Walsh was home. He was smiling when he opened the door.
“Hi, Alice. How are you doing?” he said.
“Hello, Andrew.” Alice pointed at David. “This is my boyfriend, David.”
“Hi, David. Please come in.”
She was supposed to be in Pasadena with Melissa, so Walsh must suspect she was up to something.
“Is Natalie home?” Alice asked.
“No. She’s out of town. Would you like something to drink?”
Was Walsh alone in the house? Vera or Munroe or both of them might be hiding in another room.
“Yes,” Alice said. “Coffee, please.”
“I don’t want anything,” David said.
Walsh left the room.
There was a half-full coffee mug on the coffee table. Alice withdrew the vial from her pocket, opened it, and poured about half its contents into the mug. David watched her curiously but said nothing.
Walsh returned to the living room and set a coffee mug in front of Alice.
“Sugar?” he asked.
“No, thank you.”
“So what brings you here, Alice?” Walsh said.
“Is Natalie coming back soon?”
“She’ll be back in two days.” Walsh took a sip from his mug.
“I have great news for you.”
“What is it?”
“Vera is alive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your daughter, Vera, is alive.”
“No, she’s not. She died in a car crash.”
Walsh did a good job of feigning disbelief.
“She staged that crash.”
Walsh drank more coffee. “How do you know she’s alive?”
“I spoke with her.”
“You met Vera?”
“No. I spoke with her on Skype.”
“When?”
“A few days ago.”
“Are you sure it was Vera?”
“Yes, one hundred percent sure.”
“Why did she stage a car crash?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you have her phone number?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t she call us?”
“She’ll probably call you soon.”
Drink up your coffee, you son of a bitch!
“That’s… I… I hope you’re not messing with me, Alice,” Walsh said.
“I’m not messing with you. Vera’s alive.”
Walsh took another sip of coffee and then stood up. “Just a moment.”
He started toward the doorway leading to the foyer.
He’s trying to flee.
Alice pulled a gun from her bag and went after Walsh. “Where are you going, Andrew?” She pointed the pistol (it was her Smith & Wesson) at Walsh.
“I need to get—” Walsh broke off when he saw the gun. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Put your hands behind your back.”
Walsh frowned. “What’s going on, Alice?”
“Put your hands behind your back or I’ll shoot you.”
“What’s going on?”
“David, there are latex gloves in the bag. Put them on.”
After David put on the gloves, Alice said, “Now tie his hands. Wipe the cable tie first.”
David took a cable tie from the bag, wiped it with his shirt, and walked behind Walsh.
“I don’t understand.” Walsh put his hands behind his back, and David bound them with the cable tie.
“Sit down,” Alice said to Walsh.
Walsh sat down on the couch.
Alice handed her gun to David, put on latex gloves, and pulled out the Glock. “David, check the other rooms. Be careful.”
“Okay.” David left the room.
Keeping her pistol pointed at Walsh, Alice withdrew a vial and a syringe from her bag, placed them on the table, and said, “Do you know what this is?”
“What is it?”
“It’s an antidote to the poison I put in your coffee.”
Walsh’s eyes widened. “You put poison in my coffee? Are you crazy?”
“You have about two hours left to live.”
“What kind of poison was it?”
“Very bad.”
“Why did you do that? Have you lost your fucking mind?” Walsh shouted, his face twisted in fury.
“Yes, I have, and I guess that’s bad news for you.”
“Why the fuck did you poison me? Alice, can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I want you to tell me Vera’s address and phone number.”
“I don’t know her address or phone number. I didn’t know she’s alive until you told me.”
“You knew she’s alive. You’ve always known that. Where does she live? What’s her new name?”
“I don’t know, I swear.”
“Andrew, you’ll die in two hours if you don’t tell me what I want to know. Do you understand?”
&
nbsp; “Alice, I have no idea where Vera lives.”
David came into the room and said, “There’s no one else in the house.”
“Where do you keep your gun?” Alice asked Walsh.
“I don’t have a gun.”
“Where does Vera live? What’s her new name?”
“I don’t know!”
“Okay.” Alice picked up Walsh’s phone from the coffee table. The phone was locked. “What’s the passcode?”
“Two one three four.”
Alice unlocked the phone and checked the call log and the messages. Walsh had made his last call over two hours ago and sent his last text over three hours ago. There was no one named Vera in the contacts.
“David, you realize you’ll be an accessory to murder, don’t you?” Walsh said.
“Just tell Alice what she wants to know,” David replied.
“I don’t know where Vera lives.”
“You’re her father. You must know.”
“Why don’t you ask Vera for her address the next time she calls?” Walsh said to Alice.
“Are you feeling it yet?” Alice asked.
“What?”
“The poison will make it hard for you to breathe. And if you don’t receive an antidote within an hour, it will permanently damage your nervous system.”
“Why do you want Vera’s address?” Walsh asked.
“I want to talk to her.” To David, Alice said, “Check his pockets.”
David reached into Walsh’s left pants pocket, pulled out a flip phone, then fumbled in the right pants pocket and found nothing there.
The flip phone was locked.
“What’s the passcode?” Alice asked Walsh.
“One nine five seven.”
The flip phone’s inbox and call log were empty. There were several dozen numbers in the contacts, none of them named Vera.
Walsh probably used the flip phone to communicate with Vera. Why had he deleted all the messages and cleared the call history? Why was he so cautious?
Detective Hagan could help her find out what numbers Walsh had called and texted to from the flip phone.
“Where does Vera live and what’s her new name?” Alice asked.
“I don’t know.”
Alice grabbed the vial and the syringe and put them in her bag.
“What do you want to talk to Vera about?” Walsh asked. His face was red. Perhaps it was the poison.
“About my daughter and my mom.”
“How do I know it’s an antidote?”
“It is an antidote, I give you my word.”
Walsh sighed heavily.