Wounded at Home

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  “There will be two more men at the safe house within the hour. They’ll stay there until I pull them off.”

  “Anything else?”

  “I pulled surveillance on Hannidy and George Prince. Hannidy will go to prison for the theft if Steel presses charges. He’s angry enough to do it. Cherise Prince is stuck with a loser brother. From everything we dug up, he’s never hurt another person. He’s a whiner and a petty thief. That’s it. Though Steel and Prince had the means, they don’t have a motive and we can’t break their alibis.”

  “Are they still under surveillance?”

  “For the time being. They go about their normal life. The two of them are having an affair, but it doesn’t seem hot and heavy. They meet in an apartment Steel has not too far from his office. They’re in and out in under an hour. Steel’s stupid. Have you seen his wife? She’s a real looker.”

  Steel was the kind of man Sky shied away from. The same kind of man her dad and her dead brother-in-law were. It was no wonder she didn’t want a forever relationship. She’d never seen one that lasted.

  He had. Shorty and Gramps had been devoted to each other and Coop and Lanie were totally in love. “We’re stuck.”

  “Does that mean neither you nor Ms. Chapman have found anything?”

  “That’s what it means. Sky thinks the money was piggybacked onto an international account that went around the world and hasn’t landed yet. Steel has dozens of those accounts. She has tracked all of them back to the States except one. So far, no ten mil has been dropped off anywhere. The last account is stuck in the Bahamas. She’s watching it closely.”

  “If she sees the dump, will she know the killer?”

  “Maybe. Though she’ll have an account number, not necessarily a name. But wherever it lands and whoever picks it up is most likely the killer.”

  “Our guys are on this as well, and so far haven’t gotten as far as Ms. Chapman. We’ll stick with it. Do you need one or more of our guys for protection?”

  “We’re good.”

  “Then keep me posted.” He hung up.

  Dirk sat back against the hard brick wall. If he had to sit here all day, he’d keep watch, but he wouldn’t do it alone.

  A text to his brothers brought them over in less than five minutes. Matt had a small cooler in hand.

  “We have a problem,” Dirk greeted them.

  Coop and Matt dragged lawn chairs to the bench and faced Dirk. “Other than a killer on the loose and the threat of death after forty-eight hours if the money isn’t found and turned over, what has your tighty-whities in a bundle?”

  “I’ve never had a case like this. Even the FBI is flummoxed. There has to be more we can do.”

  Matt grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, tossed it to Dirk, another to Coop before taking one for himself. “I presume you’ve spoken to Agent Hansen.”

  Dirk nodded. “They’re as much in the dark as I am. I’m sure their computer guys are doing their best to locate the money. If it’s to be found, my bet is on Sky.”

  “What do you want us to do?”

  “Brainstorm. There has to be something we’re missing.”

  “Call Carrie. See if she can enlighten us.”

  “Good idea Coop.” Dirk speed-dialed and waited. “You’re on speaker-phone, Carrie. So don’t tell these guys any of our secrets.”

  Her voice was sleep-raspy when she answered. “Secrets, my ass. What’s going on? It’s Sunday and I need my rest to face that two-timing Steel and his over-sexed paramour tomorrow.”

  The guys chuckled. They loved Carrie, not just for her ability as an undercover op, but because her sense of humor often kept a difficult case from getting them down. “We’re trying to find something we’re missing. Let’s run this by again and see if anything rings a bell. From the tape at Sky’s apartment, the guy was tall and on the thin side. When that so-called prospective client came into Sky’s office, the man, though tall, could have been any size under that Arab garb. However, his hands were long and slim, his face narrow. Could be the same guy.”

  “Your question is?”

  “Does that description fit anyone you’ve seen around the office?”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “We’re desperate here, Carrie. Time is almost up and we’re sitting here with our thumbs you-know-where.”

  “Let me think. There are probably a good half-dozen I can name right off the bat.”

  “Anybody have a pen and paper?”

  Matt reached into his pocket and handed a small notebook and pen to Dirk. “I should have known.”

  “Matt?”

  “Who else. Okay, give me some names.”

  When Carrie was finished, Dirk had a list: two men on the payroll, one of which was Hannidy, Steel’s half-brother, the pizza delivery guy, and one from the janitorial service.

  “If you think of anything that will help or any more names, give me a call.” After tossing a couple of well-chosen words at them for getting her up so early, she hung up.

  “We’ll eliminate Hannidy and check the rest.”

  “Split the list. It will make the job easier and quicker.”

  “Why else did I call you guys?” Dirk divided the list and with a last look at the bungalow, headed for the house and his computer.

  For the moment, Sky was safe with Sully watching her.

  ****

  Not for the first time, Sky ran her hands through her hair and glared at her computer. “Move, dammit.” But the money sat there, the computer blinking—uncaring that her and her sister’s lives were on the line.

  Sully came over and looked up at her. “What?” Feeling bad for snapping, she reached over and rubbed his back. “I’ll bet you want out.” A sharp bark confirmed it.

  She went to the door and he bounded to the yard. She left the door slightly ajar so he could get in by himself.

  When she was seated behind the table once more, her gaze went to the blinking light. Was she seeing things? She bent closer. Darned if the money wasn’t moving. Her brow wrinkled. But where was it going?

  It didn’t take long to find out.

  For a moment she couldn’t believe her eyes. She sat there frozen. Blinked. Looked again. It couldn’t be.

  But there it sat.

  Her heart hammering a drumbeat in her chest, she reached a trembling hand to her computer.

  Dry-mouthed, her fingers didn’t hesitate as she carefully put in the numbers she knew by heart and hit send.

  In seconds she had moved the ten million dollars from her portfolio to Quentin Steel’s private account.

  She sat back, still stunned. Why her account? It didn’t make sense.

  “Have you found it?”

  The voice came from behind her. Her heart stopped. Taking a shaky breath, she turned around. A tall, thin man stood there, a mask over his face. In his hand was a gun. Dear God. He had to be the man from the bank. But he hadn’t come in the door or she would have seen him. The window in the bathroom! It was the only other way in. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

  He smelled terrible, the scent almost making her gag.

  “If I tell you who I am, I would have to kill you. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

  It was the voice of the man at the bank. Where was Dirk? Why didn’t the dogs bark? Then she remembered how they had been barking when she came back from breakfast. Had this stranger been here all that time? He smelled of dog poop. Did he do this so he could fool Sully?

  She gave him a hard look. His hands were the same as the supposed Arab’s. His build matched that of the man on the tape when her apartment was totaled. She looked around for a weapon. Nothing.

  “You gave me forty-eight hours.”

  “They were up ten minutes ago.” He handed her a piece of paper. “This is where you are to send the money. Now.”

  Her mouth was too dry to talk.

  He pointed the gun at her head.

  “Tell me how you found me.”

 
The man laughed. Sky’s skin prickled with fear. There was no doubt in her mind he would kill her if she didn’t do as he said.

  “I watched for you at the bank. Not in my costume, but in jeans and T-shirt. When I saw you pull up with your boyfriend I bent down to tie my shoelaces and put a tracker under his truck.”

  Sky couldn’t hold back the gasp of surprise. “You’ve known since then?”

  “Of course. But I’m a man of my word. Your time is up now. Make the transfer.”

  What to do? She needed Dirk. Or Sully. But there was no one except herself. “I can’t.”

  The gun drilled into her temple. She was going to die, surrounded by a smell that made her want to throw up. For a moment, she shut her eyes and prayed. There had to be a way out, she just had to find it.

  “Now!” the man yelled.

  She could pick up the money in Steel’s account easily and re-send it. But should she? This man, whoever he was, was smart enough to take the money and disappear. He might keep his word and let her live, but Dory would go to prison for the rest of her life.

  She crossed her arms over her chest and glared.

  Not going to happen, she told herself just as her cell phone rang.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Don’t answer it.”

  “If I don’t, someone will come to check on me. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” Please let it be Dirk. Please.

  “Make the transfer first.”

  “Can’t do it that fast.”

  “Make it quick and no funny business.” He waved the gun toward her cell phone.

  “Where did you get that line? Law & Order?”

  “Sky Chapman,” she spoke into her cell phone.

  “What’s wrong?” It was Dirk. All she had to do was alert him. Her heartbeat pounded so hard she thought she might pass out.

  “Hi, Lanie, I’ve thought about which tablecloth would be best and I think the red and white will do nicely.” Would he remember his signal he’d told her to use at the bank if she was in trouble?

  She pretended to listen, but Dirk was already gone. She prayed he got here in time.

  Sully came through the door. Seeing the stranger, he snarled. “Tell the dog to sit or I’ll shoot it.” Slowly, she put down the phone. What to do? Take the chance that Sully would attack at her signal or wait for Dirk.

  The killer’s trigger finger tightened. She couldn’t wait. “Fass, Sully.”

  A streak of brown and tan fur swept past her head. A shot rang out when Sully grabbed the man’s gun arm and tore at it. Time stood still. Everything happened in slow motion. The gun arced to the corner of the room where it hit the wall and dropped to the floor. Sully’s head frenzied back and forth as he ripped the man’s arm. The man on the floor cursed and kicked. Sully didn’t budge, just kept snarling and tearing at that arm. The man’s screams were pitiful. Was it safe to call Sully off? What should she do? The pathetic cries of pain tore at her. “Bleib, Sully. Stop.”

  Sully pranced to Sky’s side, his mouth bloody. She sank to her knees. “Are you hurt? Did the bullet hit you?” Still watching the killer, she ran a hand over Sully’s head, down his legs. The blood was the killer’s. She hugged Sully around the neck. “You saved my life.”

  Dirk came through the door like a category five Texas Hurricane. “What the hell?”

  His blue eyes took in the situation with one glance as he went straight to Sky.

  “Are you all right?”

  She could only nod.

  The man on the floor twisted to a sitting position, looked around the room for his gun. “I’m bleeding to death. Get me to the hospital.”

  “I’m afraid Sully did some serious damage. I was afraid to call him off, but I did it anyway.”

  Dirk looked at the man sitting on the floor. “Your soft heart wouldn’t allow you to let the guy bleed to death.” He went to the bed, tore the sheet into strips until he had enough to wrap around the killer’s mangled arm and tie him up.

  “Damned dog almost killed me.” The guy groaned and complained, but Dirk showed no mercy.

  “You stink like hell.” He lifted the injured arm. The guy let out a yell. “You’re damned lucky Sky called Sully off. Otherwise he’d still be chewing on your ass.”

  Then he yanked off the man’s ski mask and unveiled the face of a complete stranger. “Who the hell are you?” He looked over at Sky who was visibly trembling. “Do you know this man?”

  “I’ve never seen him before.”

  He went to Sky, wrapped his arms around her.

  “I’ve never been so frightened in my life. Sully saved my life, Dirk.”

  He held her tighter. “When I heard the gunshot, I thought you were dead.”

  Coop and Matt burst through the door.

  “It’s all over, guys. Sky and Sully took care of everything.”

  “Are you going to let me bleed to death?”

  “Who the hell is he?”

  “Got me, Matt. Would you call Hansen and tell him we have his thief and killer.”

  “Glad to.”

  It took less than a minute. “Says he’s on his way. He was set to arrest Sky. What the hell is that about?’

  They looked at Sky, who shrugged. “I’ll tell you later.”

  Coop went over to check the guy out. “Should I call 911?”

  Dirk glared at the man on the floor “Tell me your name and I’ll call the EMTs.”

  “Bastard! You’d let me die?”

  “You killed Martin Oakes, had her sister beaten, trashed Sky’s apartment, threatened to kill her if she didn’t get you the ten mil, so what do you think?”

  Carrie stuck her head in the door. “What’s going on?”

  “You…” the man yelled when he saw her. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  All eyes turned to Carrie. “Do you know this guy?” Dirk asked. “And what brought you here?”

  “One question at a time. I came because you got me out of bed and I thought I could help. And this guy is Quentin Steel’s half-brother, Theodore. Steel calls him Teddy.”

  The man sitting on the floor wrapped up like a Christmas turkey screamed an oath. “Don’t call me Teddy. I hate it.”

  “Why did you kill Oates?” Dirk asked

  “Call 911 before I die.”

  “Talk to me first.”

  “Bastard.”

  “Talk or die. Your choice.”

  Teddy dropped his head. “I got sick and tired of being the only person in the family who didn’t have money. My brother doled out cash every time I came to the office as if he was king-of-the-hill. I was sick of it. I wanted my own money. I know enough about computers to be able to transfer money from one account to another, but I had to do this transfer from the office. Oates wasn’t supposed to be there. I was almost finished when he showed up and wanted to know what the hell I thought I was doing. He was right there, looked at the computer, and cursed a blue streak. He knew. I couldn’t let him stop me.

  “He reached over to the computer to input something and I stabbed him. I heard footsteps and had to get out of there, so I hid in the bathroom until his bitch wife left, then I took the back stairs. I didn’t know my transaction didn’t go through until I got home and found the money missing.”

  “So you thought what? That his wife was smart enough to shanghai it?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Dumb asshole. Dory Oates can barely bring up her email.”

  “What’s going on?” A new voice broke the tension.

  “Nothing like being late to the party.” Dirk grinned when he saw FBI Special Agent Jim Hansen along with another agent walk into the room. “Here’s your killer and your thief. He has a story to tell you.”

  Teddy, slumped on the floor, let out a pitiful wail. “I’m dying and they won’t call 911.”

  “Is that true?” Hansen glanced at the bloody bandage and the makeshift shackles before turning to them.

  “The guy isn’t going to die. But I supp
ose he could use a doctor.”

  “What’s that smell?”

  Dirk chuckled. “I think he was trying to hide his scent from Sully.”

  “Teddy did a pretty good job of it, too. Sully didn’t know he was here until he came back inside.”

  “Great. Now who’s going to tell me who this is and what happened?” The agent glared at everyone in the room.

  “Why don’t you tell us why you were on your way to arrest Sky?”

  “Ten million dollars dropped into her account this morning.” He turned to Sky. “What do you have to say about that?”

  Sky shrugged. “Not a thing. I saw it pop up about the same time you did, maybe a little later.” She started laughing.

  “Is something funny?”

  “Yes, Mr. Special Agent, there is. I had no idea Martin knew my account number. It just goes to show there isn’t much that’s confidential these days.”

  “So you’re saying Oates sent that money to you?”

  Another shrug. “It makes sense. He sure didn’t want the man who had just stabbed him to get it. And he would have. The money would have gone directly to the thief’s own account if Martin hadn’t detoured it. And he knew once I saw it show up in my portfolio I would send it where it belonged. It was a smart move on his part.”

  Hansen pulled up a chair and sat down. “Anybody know this guy?”

  “Steel’s half-brother. He wasn’t happy being the only underprivileged one in the family so he set out to rectify the situation.”

  Hansen turned to Sky. “This means you and your sister are innocent.”

  “I believe I tried to tell you that multiple times.”

  Hansen held up a hand. “Sorry. I always follow the money. Your sister was a dead-on candidate.” He turned to the group of men. “Did anyone think to get his confession on tape?” Matt held up his cell phone. “Of course you did. Send it to me.”

  Sky walked up to the FBI agent. “Call and get my sister released.”

  “It’s not that simple. I’ll need a signed confession from this guy and I’ll have to do a little paperwork.”

  “She’s in a safe house, which means you won’t allow me to go there. So where can I pick her up?” She looked at her watch. “…In three hours?”