by Lee Taylor
“Any of you guys in here last night?”
Three heads moved in a negative way.
“Okay. Then how about sharing information about our mutual friend, Mr. Rhondo. Anything happening we need to know about?”
Same answer.
“Doesn’t surprise me that you studs know nothing. Fine. Just give the sick bastard a message for me. You tell him if he wants me, to stop fooling around beating up on young boys and come get me.”
By this time, the three were sitting at attention. The game had ramped up, and Kai sensed that Aurora’s little pitch had gotten to them. No matter how mean these sons-a-bitches were, none of them went along with anyone working over kids.
The stench of fired up testosterone in the dim room added to the air pollution, and Kai decided the point had been made, and the time had come to leave.
Clearly, Mike did also. He stomped over to the door and waited, his posture screaming… get out!
Aurora backed off, and moved toward where Eddie still sat enthralled by the action being played out in front of him. She reached into Eddie’s shirt pocket for the bag of marijuana she knew she’d find, and sure enough, there it was just as Luke had predicted. Waving her finger in front of his face, she said, “Lying to an officer of the law and carrying illegal drugs. I guess you’ll be coming with me.”
The poor guy’s face turned pale as he cringed. “You can’t do that. You can’t search me for nothing.”
“You wanna complain? Fine. You can bitch to your lawyer,” Aurora offered.
Kai stepped up and grabbed Eddie’s arms, and hauled them behind to put on the cuffs. As he did this, he noticed the telling bulge in the back of Eddie’s shirt. He slyly removed the piece, and then motioned for Aurora to head out. He’d follow with the prisoner. Kai’s place – keep her back covered.
Chapter Thirty-One
“I don’t know nothing!” Eddie had been using the same line all the way to the precinct, up the stairs, and for an hour in the interrogation room.
Aurora was sick and tired of the words, but the skinny schmuck was surprisingly uncooperative.
“You sure you have nothing to say? I’m all ears if you want to share.”
“Got nothing. I’m cool.”
Aurora stood up from the table separating the two of them and took her half-empty water bottle with her. Then at the last moment, she left it sitting there, smiled, and joined Ham and Kai who’d been waiting behind the glass partition.
“Ham, turn the air conditioning off in Eddie’s suite. He’s feeling a mite cool right now.”
“On it, Rory.”
“Don’t call me Rory.” She shouted after him, then muttered. “Hate nicknames.”
Kai blinked at her. She realized, he’d heard her mumbled words and had been surprised by her vehemence.
“My crazy mother used to call me that. Hated it then, and still do.”
The right side of his mouth rose in the grin she’d gotten used to and found attractive. Then he shrugged. “I’m lucky, my name can’t be shortened.”
“Asshole can.”
“Very funny.”
Hurtful reminiscences, bouncing around in her head, escaped. “She only used it when she hated me. Correction! She used it all the ti—” Aurora bit the words off once she clued in on what she had revealed. The only people who knew about her childhood were Debbie and Cory, and she disliked anyone else being aware that she’d lived through hell.
Before she could turn away, or change the subject, his gentle arms swept her close, and his tenderness shot straight to the little girl still buried deep inside, who’d longed for hugs.
Never before had an embrace meant so much, or felt so good. His warm breath stirred the short hairs that had escaped from her French braid and started a mellow, pleasing vibration inside her head.
Tenderly, his hands caressed her back, and his strokes started a fire in her body that kindled memories of their lovemaking. I could rest here forever.
“Thanks.” Her mumbled appreciation came before she stepped away.
“You’re welcome. Anytime, and I mean that sincerely.”
That made her smile.
“Hate to interrupt Morelli, but there’s a call for you. Says his name is Bill Ruele. He’s a security guy who works at the hospital.”
She’d wrenched herself away from Kai as soon as she’d heard the footsteps closing in, but hadn’t been quick enough. Either that or the shrewd old cop had X-ray vision.
“I’m on it. Thanks, Ham.” She strode to the phone, and felt Kai’s presence close behind.
“Detective Morelli.” She hit the speaker button.
“Bill Ruele here Detective. The suspect you told me about, a Mr. Rhondo I believe? He’s been snooping around again. Not on the floor where you have the security. On the maternity ward where you caught him last—”
“You mean he’s been checking out the babies again?”
“No. It’s much worse. This time he’s kidnapped one of the babies and the mother.”
Aurora’s heart sank. Her ears started to hurt as her internal signal clamoured. A pre-warning of dread boiled acid in the pit of her stomach.
“The name!” Sinister premonition held its breath.
“Debbie Ashton and baby son, from Room 505. Minutes ago, the nurses reported a problem. Said the woman had discharged herself against the doctor’s orders and had left with a driver. Told them her husband was concerned for her safety, and he’d sent an officer to pick her up and take her into protective custody. Sounded kinda shaky to me so I decided to investigate.”
“How long ago did this take place?”
“Ten, maybe fifteen minutes.”
“How do you know she didn’t leave with her husband?” Earlier, Aurora had seen Cory heading out of the office and had suspected he was on his way to the hospital.
“Not possible. He always stops by the nursing station to enquire on his wife’s infection so the desk nurse knows him. It’s your guy, Detective. He’s shown up on one of the hallway security cameras. This is the same man you were after the other day.”
“Shit! Did you close off the entry and exits?”
“Of course, but I’d bet you dollars to donuts he’s gotten them out of the building by now.”
“Right. Get as many men as you can at the doors just in case. I’ll put out an APB. Meet me at the main entrance in ten.”
She turned to Kai and knew he’d understood everything.
Instinctively taking control, he spoke in a no-nonsense way. “I’ll go and find out where Cory went and get a hold of him. You get the uniforms moving and gather Ham and the rest of the team. We gotta move!”
“I’m on it.” He’d taken lead, and she spent all of two seconds worrying about it. No time for pissing contests now.
Gathering her gun and extra bullets, she hurried down the hall to interrupt Ham. He was in the middle of a group, telling one of his famous Irish stories that made you want to strangle him for getting you laughing so hard that your cheeks felt like they had permanent dents.
Barking his name, she had instant attention, and in no time they were all hurrying toward the exit.
Kai caught up with a stride she couldn’t possibly have matched, even if she ran. “Cory’s on his way home to clean the apartment. Hoped to spring Debbie and the baby today and told his secretary he intended to stop and get some fresh flowers. I’ll go pick him up. It’s probably not safe for him to drive. We’ll meet you there.”
“Fine.” She threw the keys to Kai and hurried after Ham.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Debbie watched the play of light on her son’s puckered cheeks as he fed voraciously. Hungry little devil, takes after his father. As soon as the words popped into her mind, she noticed that awful dread and worry was now missing.
She’d broken down yesterday, and without telling anyone, had ordered the paternity test. The results had arrived a little while ago.
Since the birth, she’d spent hours examining h
er baby’s body, his face, even his expressions, trying to find any conclusive proof of parenthood. In her heart, she’d believed that her pregnancy had transpired as the result of the beautiful night of lovemaking shared by her and Cory. Not from the nightmare of pain she’d experienced at the hands of a vicious stranger a few days before.
After all, how could something so precious, a gift from the divine, have been the result from her getting raped? God wouldn’t be that cruel… would He?
Thinking back, she asked herself the same question she’d asked a thousand times. Why hadn’t she taken care of the possibility of a pregnancy? To this day, she still didn’t understand. For heaven’s sake, she was a cop. A woman in the know, sophisticated, a girl of the twenty-first century with a brilliant career and great friends, who had everything going for her. Why then did I completely fall to pieces? She’d lied first, then ignored the modern precautions she’d have automatically advised others in the same horrible situation to utilize.
She wondered if she’d ever figure it out. Then she looked down at the now sleeping child, and a well of gladness washed over her, lightening her spirit. Waves of love, stronger than any she’d ever felt before, filled up every tiny empty crevice in her soul. Whatever choices she’d made in the past, she thanked God now for those decisions.
How could she ever live without … Okay! It was more than time baby had a name. Reality warned that the family moniker she’d always wanted wouldn’t be tolerated. Not by her, or Cory, and that was understandable. She needed to let it go and come up with something totally different.
Gazing down at the bald-headed angel whose blue-gray eyes were enclosed under startlingly long reddish eyelashes, she let her mind wander. Cory had told her his own father’s name was Al, short for Allan. Not a title she particularly liked. Her father’s second name was Alexander. Nope too long. But maybe there could be a way to meld them.
Alec? That had a nice ring. The other kids could call him smart aleck, but then being called smart never hurt anyone. She rocked in her chair and didn’t hear the man who quietly entered her room. Not until he stood close enough for her to see the naked desire in eyes that flashed boldly.
She covered both her baby and her breast in one movement and reached for the alarm button with the other hand. He sprang forward and wrenched it from her hand.
“Nope. We don’t want to bring any attention to ourselves, now do we? First you’re going to step away from the chair, get dressed, and then you and the baby are coming with me. That’s if you don’t want anything bad to happen.” Evil glowed from his smarmy eyes and seemed alive in the sneer of his fleshy lips. “The gun in my pocket is aimed straight at your head, so I’d advise you not to make any sudden moves.”
“What do you want? Why are you here?” Honestly perplexed, Debbie’s mind sought for answers. Then in a flash she knew. Maybe it had been his quick glance at Alec, or maybe a mother’s instinct overrides confusion. Whatever happened, she knew. And this time she’d die before giving him what he wanted.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“I’ll be taking those tapes back to headquarters, Bill. If you need a copy, we’ll be glad to bring you back one.”
“Sure, Detective. I’ll get that organized.” Bill Ruele hurried away, importance a cloak he wore well.
Aurora had scrutinized every second on each of the videos at least five times. One showed Rhondo entering the hospital, wearing a police uniform. Then he appeared again, when he approached the main desk on the maternity floor. Business finished, he moved down the hallway, strutting to room 505, his hand resting on his gun as if he’d worn it for years. He disappeared and a short time later reappeared with Debbie, who was carrying her baby close.
And the most important tape was the recording of Rhondo and Debbie leaving the main entrance of the building. They’d made their way to a waiting police car that had been parked so the flowering bushes hid the numbers. Was it on purpose? Was he that smart?
I’m missing something! She knew it, but wasn’t sure what. Rubbing her eyes, she cleared away the moisture gathered at the corners. I need a break.
But Aurora’s mind couldn’t be turned off so easy. It kept revisiting the data stored in her head.
Dressed in her old maternity clothes, Debbie looked strange after only wearing the hospital’s gear for so long. Her jeans sagged, and the blue t-shirt that used to cling around a protruding tummy, now hung limp and creased. Her normally bouncy hair stuck to her head, the curls gone. She looked young and somehow vulnerable. It didn’t sit well on the woman who Aurora had worked with for years. A cop who’d carried a gun and been forced to use it during multiple operations. Not that either of them had ever killed anyone, but bullets had flown and danger lurked. They’d survived through grit, a love of danger, and a code that lived in each: I have your back, and you’ve got mine.
Aurora knew Debbie hid fragility, who didn’t? But her core strength had always shone through in those moments when steel had to override soft. If at all possible, the woman could be trusted to act smart and stay alive.
Still, it irked her to have to watch Debbie walking proudly next to the man whose hand gripped her arm. To anyone else watching, it seemed a thoughtful gesture from a young police officer. To Aurora, it was a threat, a sickening kind of control that made her stomach clench.
As they walked, Debbie had stared directly into the overhead camera for a second, and her eyes had spoken. Aggravated, Aurora just didn’t know what she’d tried so hard to communicate.
Swallowing the rising emotions that threatened, she gritted her teeth. Wouldn’t do Debbie a damn bit of good for Aurora to turn girlie now. She needed to stay clear and focused.
Something niggled at Aurora and be damned if she knew what. Watching on the older hospital monitor didn’t help at all. They’d need the technology available at the precinct.
Kai emerged just as Bill handed over the precious evidence. “Thanks, Bill. You’ve been a real help. If you think of anything else that might be helpful, you have my card.”
He shook her outstretched hand. “Glad to be of assistance, Detective.” Bill turned and strode back into his office, a man with a load of responsibilities that sat well on proud shoulders.
Aurora waited for Kai to share.
“The nurse said Rhondo stopped by the desk and told them Mrs. Ashton was in danger. That her husband wanted her released into his custody as soon as possible.”
Aurora shook her head and smiled. Not humorously.
“I found out something else. Bill gave me Debbie’s chart. Her doctor’s name is listed as Jane Montgomery. The same woman whose office got broken into, right?”
“I believe so. Didn’t Ham check the victims’ names in the journal with her client list? Strange this didn’t jump out.”
“Not so strange. She’s shown here as Mrs. Ashton. In the journal, Rhondo had written her in as Debbie Jackson, her maiden name.”
“Fuck!”
“My sentiments exactly.”
Frustration curled the lip on one side of her face—a caricature of self-denigration. “All the time we thought he was after Wayne, he’d been inspecting the lay-out to get at Debbie. But why her? Out of all his victims, why Debbie?”
Kai couldn’t answer. His face clearly showed thought processes that were as perplexed as hers. They both turned as Cory rushed from the elevator in their direction. Never before had Aurora seen him in this state. Eyes red-rimmed, hands visibly shaking, he was a mess.
“What have you got?” He growled, but not in his regular bellow. It sounded more like a man begging for a miracle.
“The tapes reveal Rhondo arriving and leaving with Debbie and Alec.”
“Alec? Who the hell is Alec?”
Shit! When will I ever learn? “Sorry. A slip of the tongue. I meant to say the baby.”
“Yet you said ‘Alec.’ Debbie finally chose a name…?” He turned his face away, but not before Aurora saw his lip quiver threateningly.
“She signed
them out at the desk as Debbie and Alec Ashton.”
“Alec it is. My dad will be stoked. His name is Al.” The big guy turned back to her, and his sad smile forced hers in reaction.
“Right. Let’s get busy. I want my wife and son home by the end of this hellish day.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Back at the office, Aurora couldn’t sit still. Like a wild animal caged, she shuffled papers, fidgeted with the computer, and ignored Kai’s grunts of displeasure.
Cory finally broke the tension. “I’ve gotten a hold of Veronica Marks. She’s the best profiler in Nevada, and luckily, she just happens to be here at a convention. Coercing her to help us worked as soon as I admitted the victim was my wife.”
Aurora’s heart lightened. The woman’s expertise for pinning down serial rapists like Rhondo was renowned. Cory moved in on Aurora, sat on the side of her desk, and grabbed the other half of her sandwich. Automatically, he took a bite and she shoved over the bottle of iced tea for him to finish.
“Where’s Kai?” He asked.
“My restlessness drove him away. He’s hounding the techs to get those tapes set up so we can scan them properly. We need that car number or the license plate. Meantime, I’ve been on to every precinct for a missing black and white, and so far, no one’s made a report.”
“He had to have overpowered an officer in order to take the vehicle. Someone has to be missing.”
“I know. Just don’t know who.”
“Ham said to tell you Eddie’s pretty ripe now. He’s been crying uncle for some time. You going to break him loose?”
“I’m on it.” Aurora sighed when she saw the last of her supper disappear into Cory’s mouth. Guess it’s either one of those stale donuts in the coffee room, or starvation.
Grabbing two bottles of water from the dispenser that was usually empty, she strode over to the interrogation room that housed her new snitch. Not that he knew it yet. She decided to play nicey-nice, at least for a while. After all, there was due process to consider, but when it came to Debbie’s and Alec’s welfare, due process be damned.