by Laura Scott
He and Maddy needed to figure out who was working for the imprisoned narcotic trafficker and soon. Before things spiraled even further out of control.
If Pietro went after Maddy’s family, he was certain she’d hand the case off to another ADA. And really, Noah wouldn’t blame her.
As far as the Callahans were concerned, family always came first.
“I think Arvani is the key,” Maddy said, drawing his attention back to the immediate issue at hand. “I’m sure he’s involved in this somehow.”
Working the case in a constructive manner was better than wishing things were different. “Tell me how you know Arvani is a known associate of Pietro’s in the first place? What links them together?”
Maddy sat for a moment, her brow furrowed as she picked through her memory. “I need my notes,” she said, taking control of the computer keyboard. “I can’t remember exactly why I linked them together. I don’t believe I was aware of Arvani’s background as a cop, and that doesn’t make sense. Surely I would have checked him out?”
Noah knew Maddy was extremely thorough, so he remained silent, giving her the time she needed to review her notes. He watched her rather than the screen, thinking once again about how beautiful she was. Not just her physical features, but deep down, where it counted. He remembered the way she’d supported him when he’d explained how Gina had overdosed, by accident or on purpose after he’d broken up with her.
I will if you will.
He’d told her to stop beating herself up over something that wasn’t her fault. And she’d told him, “I will if you will.” But her memory loss wasn’t exactly the same thing as him causing Gina’s death. Was it?
No, of course not. Pietro sent someone after Maddy for the sole purpose of scaring her off the case, intentionally causing her harm.
He’d grown weary of Gina’s constant neediness, the way she continued to call him incessantly if he didn’t return her call right away. The way she always made a big deal out of nothing, imagining that other women were flirting with him, when they really weren’t. Or accusing him of cheating on her. It seemed Gina wasn’t happy without some sort of drama in her life.
Yet he should have been nicer about the whole thing, letting her down gently. Instead, he’d chosen to interrupt her in the middle of some tirade against a fellow student, abruptly telling her their relationship was over and that he didn’t want to see her anymore.
Remembering how Gina had stumbled backward, as if he’d physically hit her, made him wince. She’d covered her mouth with her hand, tears welling in her eyes, before she’d turned and rushed out of his apartment.
And he’d done nothing to stop her.
He’d thought it was best to leave her alone. Wait until she calmed down before trying to talk to her, but that plan had backfired when she’d been found dead the next morning.
“Here,” Maddy said, interrupting his internal rehashing of the past. “There was a phone call made from Pietro himself to Arvani’s personal cell number. That was the only link I had between them.”
That intrigued him. “When, exactly?”
“About a month before the bust. At the time, though, Arvani claimed his phone had been stolen. An allegation that had seemed possible considering he’d purchased a new phone the very next day, with a different number. Not to mention the fact that Arvani was in Chicago at the time but Pietro was here in Milwaukee.”
Interesting, since Noah had suspected all along that Pietro was moving his criminal activities from Chicago to Milwaukee. “I’m not sure I believe that. Most phones are password protected,” Noah said. “Seems improbable at best that some guy who just happens to be working with Pietro stole Arvani’s phone and managed to break the code to use it.”
“I agree,” Maddy said. “Which is why I listed Arvani as a likely associate. I suspect there was some crisis that came up, causing Arvani to call Pietro directly, then he quickly ditched his phone and reported it stolen.”
He liked the way her mind worked. “But you don’t have Arvani being employed by the Chicago PD in your file?”
She grimaced and shook her head. “I was focusing on the trial prep. I gave the information I had to the detective working the case but didn’t dig into it myself. There wasn’t time. Pietro’s lawyer was pushing for a quick trial after the judge denied bail.”
Noah blew out a breath. “Okay, if we’re right about Arvani working with Pietro, then what is our next step? There is a slight problem of jurisdiction, since we can’t very well investigate a Chicago cop.”
“We could get the FBI involved,” Maddy said, her expression thoughtful. “My brother Marc is an agent in the Milwaukee branch of the bureau, and they don’t have to worry about jurisdiction.”
“We could, but we don’t exactly have much evidence, either. A stolen phone and one call isn’t much of a connection. But we could check on property owned by Arvani. Maybe he has something here in Wisconsin?”
“Good idea.” Maddy went to work, her slender fingers flying over the keys. He couldn’t deny he liked sitting next to her like this, working a case together.
Whoa, get a grip, he told himself harshly. Liking Maddy as a friend, someone he cared about, was one thing; imagining some sort of future together was pure crazy talk.
“Noah! You were right!” Maddy turned and grabbed his arm. “Look, Lance Arvani owns a cabin on Willow Lake, just an hour outside of Milwaukee.”
He stared at the information on the screen. “We need to check it out, see if we can find evidence that he’s been spending time there.”
“So what if he was?” Maddy countered logically. “That doesn’t mean anything. What we really need is proof that he’s working with Pietro.”
“We can’t legally enter the cabin without a search warrant,” he pointed out.
“No, but it’s worth driving by and checking the place out. If he’s spending time there, I may be able to convince Judge Dugan to issue a search warrant.”
“The trial is only five days away. Defense attorneys hate when new evidence is introduced so late in the proceedings.”
“Yes, but that’s their problem. We have a right to introduce new evidence as we find it.” Maddy glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “We should be hearing from Matt shortly.”
Noah glanced back at the address of Arvani’s lake cabin, unable to suppress a surge of anticipation. The place might just give them the break they needed to get the local police or even the Feds involved.
It was possible, remotely possible, that proving Arvani’s involvement in Pietro’s drug dealing would not just solidify Maddy’s case.
But salvage his career.
* * *
Maddy hated the thought of Noah being a suspect in his partner’s murder. Hopefully, a trip out to Arvani’s cabin would give them something, anything, to go on.
She scribbled Arvani’s address on a scrap piece of paper, then clicked off the site. Where was her brother? He’d assured them he’d be back before eight o’clock, and it was quarter till by now.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be here soon,” Noah said, as if he’d read her mind. “Matt won’t leave you here without the ability to escape.”
She forced a smile. “I know he wouldn’t do that intentionally, but if he was followed or if something happened to my mom...” She couldn’t finish.
Dear Lord, please keep Mom and Nan safe in Your care! Please!
“Hey, it’s okay.” Noah put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a brief hug. “Matt’s a good cop. He can hold his own. And he has Duchess with him.”
“True.” She sighed and leaned against Noah, appreciating his support. “I just don’t like feeling helpless.”
“None of us do.” His breath brushed against the hair near her temple.
She closed her eyes, savoring his embrac
e. It was odd how comfortable she felt with Noah. After Ratcliff’s sneak attack, she had no interest in men. She had barely tolerated being alone in a room with them. Not easy when she’d been stuck preparing witnesses for trial for hours on end.
Back then, she’d been wary of Noah, too. But that fear of being close to a man hadn’t been there during the time she’d been alone with him, first at the hospital, then in the squad, or at her condo. Wrapped in his arms on the boat, not once had she felt hemmed in, anxious to escape.
What did it all mean? That she’d subconsciously recognized Noah as someone she could trust? Even though she hadn’t felt that way during their trial prep sessions?
She couldn’t figure it out, unless this was the first step in the process of healing. Of forgiving Blake Ratcliff for what he’d done. Something she’d been praying about on a regular basis since that fateful night four months ago.
The memory was so fresh in her mind, it seemed to have taken place just yesterday.
“Maddy? You okay?”
Her face had been pressed into Noah’s shoulder as the memories wreaked havoc with her mind. So she pulled herself together and pushed upright, subtly swiping at the surprising dampness on her face. “Yes. Excuse me for a moment.” She rose to her feet and headed into the privacy of her room.
Matt would surely be there any minute. There was no reason to panic.
As if on cue, twin headlights flashed brightly against the window as a vehicle pulled into a parking spot near her room. She took a step toward her door when Noah rushed forward, intercepting her.
“Stay back,” he ordered, flattening himself against the wall while keeping his gun pointed at the ceiling. “Take cover in the bathroom until I can verify the driver’s identity.”
She didn’t like hiding in the bathroom but did as he asked, closing and locking the bathroom door behind her.
The seconds ticked by with infinite slowness. Even with her ear pressed to the crack of the door, she couldn’t hear much of anything. Her chest tightened with fear as she imagined the motel room door being kicked in by an intruder with a gun.
Noah was armed, too, and wore a vest, but that didn’t settle her heart rate.
A muffled thud caused her to gasp in alarm. She put her hand on the doorknob, intending to head out to help Noah, when there was a light rapping on the bathroom door.
“Maddy? Matt’s here.”
The breath whooshed from her lungs and she dropped her chin to her chest in an effort to calm herself. Then she opened the door to find Noah standing there, a grim expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded, pushing past him to get to her twin. “Mom? Nan?”
Matt held up a hand. “They’re fine, Maddy. The intruder didn’t get very far before the police nabbed him.”
“Intruder?” Her voice rose to a shriek. “Who? When? What happened?”
“They’re safe,” Matt repeated, gently pushing her down onto the edge of the bed. “But Duchess and I are heading back over there to spend the night. Michael will be here any moment to pick us up. I brought a black truck for you to use.”
The room spun dizzily for a moment, then centered. “Good, that’s good. You and the rest of the guys should take turns being there, so they’re never left alone.”
“Miles will pitch in, but he and Marc have their own families to worry about, too.”
“Okay, I agree we wouldn’t want Miles and Marc to put their children in danger, but that still leaves you, Mitch and Mike to watch over them.” She drilled him with a steely glare. “I mean it, Matt, Mom and Nan need twenty-four-seven protection until the trial is over and you know that the MPD doesn’t have the manpower to do it, especially since they’re not direct witnesses in the case.”
“I know.” The fact that her twin didn’t argue made her realize he’d been shaken by the news of the intruder, too. “The police are questioning the guy who tried to get inside. Thankfully their alarm system went off and there was a squad nearby. The perp’s name is Ervin Slotterback, and he’s a known drug user. It’s possible he randomly chose their house because he needed a fix.”
“No way. Surely you don’t believe that?”
“I informed the officers that you were assaulted and that our mother and grandmother were threatened, so now they want to interview you, too.”
“Not happening,” Noah said bluntly. “Not until we know who to trust.”
“Not tonight,” Matt agreed. “Tomorrow is soon enough. Here’s the key to a black 4x4 truck. Figured you may need something decent to navigate the winter roads. And it belongs to the married sister of a friend of mine, so it won’t be easily linked to the Callahan name.”
Noah took the key. “Thanks.”
There was a second knock at the door, and this time, Maddy stayed where she was, watching as her brother Mike stepped in. The three men spoke for a moment, then Mike came over to crouch beside her. “You hanging in there?”
“Yes, and I’ll be even better knowing that you’re all watching over Mom and Nan.” She gave her brother a quick hug. “Thanks.”
Mike nodded, then turned and gestured for Matt to follow him out. She heard the roar of a car engine, then they were gone.
“It’s late,” Noah said. “We should get some sleep.”
Maddy wanted nothing more, but she stubbornly shook her head. “No, we’re going to check out Arvani’s cabin first.”
“Maddy, it’s dark and there’s no reason to charge over there right this minute—”
“Yes, there is,” she interrupted, jumping to her feet. “You don’t believe a random drug addict picked my mother’s house to break into any more than I do. We’re running out of time. We need to do this.”
Noah sighed and rubbed his palms over his face. “Okay, but put the vest on beneath your sweatshirt first. Then we’ll go.”
She hadn’t even noticed the bulletproof vest one of her brothers must have brought in for her. Pulling it off the chair, she carried it into the bathroom and managed to get it fastened around her torso. It seemed bulky and awkward, but that couldn’t be helped.
Noah was ready to go when she emerged from the bathroom. Wordlessly, she followed him outside to the four-wheel-drive black pickup. He opened the passenger door for her, then had to help her up as the vest made it difficult to maneuver.
The traffic was busy in town, but became sparse as they left the city limits. The headlights aggravated her headache, so she closed her eyes against the glare.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, Noah was softly calling her name. “Maddy? Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she murmured, wincing and rubbing the crick in her neck. They were parked at the end of a driveway marked with the numbers that matched Arvani’s address. “We’re here? This is Arvani’s place?”
“Yeah, you slept the entire way.” Noah’s white teeth flashed in a smile through the darkness. “I’m glad you were able to get some rest.”
“Me, too.” She cleared her throat, embarrassed at the thought of Noah watching her sleep. Hopefully she hadn’t drooled all over herself. “Any sign that someone has been here?”
“Yes, within the past few days. See the tire tracks in the snow?” He gestured at the driveway that stretched out in front of them. “Today is Tuesday, well, almost Wednesday now. The last snowfall was Sunday night.”
She tried not to get too excited. “Should we go in on foot?”
“Give me a minute to make sure there aren’t lights on at the cabin, okay?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Hurry up, and make sure you come back to get me. I want to go in with you.”
“Understood.” Noah fiddled with the bulb in the light above their seats before opening his car door. The interior stayed dark. He shut the door and quickly made his way through the woo
ded area surrounding the driveway.
Her breath fogged up the windows, so she wiped a spot on the glass so she could see. In a flash, Noah disappeared from view, and for a long second she felt horribly alone.
She shook it off, knowing Noah wouldn’t leave her, at least not voluntarily. He was scouting out the territory, that was all. And if she couldn’t see him, probably no one else could, either.
He returned surprisingly quickly, crossing over to open her door.
“Well?” she asked.
“The windows are dark. He’s either asleep or gone. Let’s go.”
She took Noah’s hand, jumping lightly down to the ground. The night air was cold but between the fleece and the vest, she was amazingly warm. Noah led her down the driveway this time, stepping carefully so as not to leave tracks so she did her best to place her feet in the exact same place.
Focused on the ground, she didn’t realize Noah had stopped until she bumped into him. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Look.” Noah pointed at dark spots staining the snow.
“What is it? Oil from a car engine?”
He shook his head and pulled a slender flashlight from his utility belt. Once he aimed the light on the spots, she could see a bit more clearly. No, the spots weren’t black like oil.
She swallowed hard, dragging her gaze up to meet his. The spots were a dark rust color.
Like blood.
TEN
“Is that—blood?” Maddy asked, her eyes wide and bright in the darkness.
He nodded, honestly surprised that they’d found anything useful. “Yeah, I think so. We’ll take a sample to be sure.”
Maddy opened her mouth, closed it, frowned, then tried again. “Whose blood?”
He pulled a slender tube from his utility belt and twisted it open, then dabbed the cotton-tipped end on the mahogany stain. This was the first break in the case and he could barely contain his relief. Finally, something to go on. “The tire tracks look to be similar to what’s on our vehicle, a sixteen-inch truck tire. If the truck had been backed into the driveway, these bloodstains would have come from the passenger-side door.”