Mark of the Loon (Gen Delacourt Mystery Book 1)

by Molly Greene

  Madison stepped toward her. “You’re lying. Mallory helped kids, she loved them.”

  Gen pulled her back and gripped her waist. “His room was in the garage, wasn’t it?”

  Janice’s eyes flickered, then steadied on Gen. Her fingers tensed on the gun. “I got lucky when you came along to do the work for me. End of story.”

  “Aren’t we all just one big happy family,” Evelyn said.

  “Humor us, Janice.” Gen managed a laugh. “You’ve been here for months but haven’t found whatever it is you’re searching for.”

  The timbre of Janice’s voice changed and she began to whine. “Barr hired me to clean, but he wouldn’t give me access, just drove up to check on the place and look over my shoulder the whole time. We had to sneak in at night to search, but couldn’t disturb anything for fear he’d catch on. Then one week the old guy didn’t show. His office referred me to Velasco. He said Barr was dead. I knew the jig was up.”

  Gen’s eyes cut to Evelyn. “It was you in the elevator that day. Why isn’t Velasco with you now?”

  “Levi is a brute, but he’s effective,” Evelyn replied. “Like the son I never had. He’s not fully aware of what’s at stake. No sense putting myself in danger. But he was clever enough to break the trust.”

  “Finnegan.” The muscles in Janice’s jaw clenched. “I couldn’t stand the sight of that animal. Gave me the creeps. The whole place does.” She shivered, then straightened and steadied her hand. “I want that key. Seeley heard you talking the night you twits snuck in. He would have caught you if the car hadn’t been waiting.”

  “Seeley is in on it?” Gen asked, growing bolder. “We thought so.”

  “Not any more. I kicked him to the curb,” Janice replied. “He’s headed for Oregon.”

  “Enough chatter.” Evelyn shifted the gun right to left, taking aim at Madison’s heart, then Janice’s. “You discovered a key. I want it.”

  Madison and Gen clasped hands and backed against the wall. “The key we found opened the door in the garage,” Madison stammered. “The door that led here. There are no others.”

  “That’s a lie,” Janice hissed. “You found one the night Seeley heard you, and another in the attic the day you moved the cabinet.”

  Evelyn chuckled. “Well, my hat is off to you,” she said. “You’ve had keys and clues, yet it’s taken you forever to find the door. Imbeciles. I want the second key. Now.”

  “Impressive,” Janice said. She raised the muzzle toward Evelyn’s skull. “That you can give orders with a Glock aimed at your head. If anyone takes anything, it’ll be me.”

  Evelyn drummed her palm against the press.

  “It’s not an act,” Janice replied. “Try me.”

  Evelyn pursed her lips, then sighed. “Perhaps we can make a deal. Four hands can certainly make speedy work of the search.”

  “Bitch.” Genevieve nearly spit the word. “That is all kinds of wrong.”

  Janice ignored her. “What makes you think I’m interested?”

  Because it might be difficult to control the three of us. As you can see, Genevieve has spunk. I’d watch out for her.”

  “I could just shoot you,” Janice replied. “That would solve the problem.”

  “You could,” Evelyn replied. “First, hear me out.” She lowered the gun. “I’m convinced what we seek is in this room. I’d be willing to share the take.”

  Janice smirked. “I want that plate for myself. I don’t need you. I can print the fakes on my own.”

  “So you know about the plate.” A smile spread across Evelyn’s face. “But it seems you’ve been misled about its value. Money printed from that etching would be a prison sentence.” She watched in silence, as if gauging Janice’s reaction. “If you spent it.”

  Janice’s eyes darted around, then steadied on Evelyn’s face. “What do you mean?”

  “If you distributed uncirculated 1934 bills, they’d stand out like a beacon. The Secret Service is on to this. The authorities would have their boot on your neck in no time. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your plan is useless.”

  “If that’s true, why do you want it?”

  “I’m after something hidden inside,” Evelyn replied. “The five dollar bill was meant for me, you see. The irony does not elude me. If she hadn’t escaped with it, a great treasure would have been lost forever.”

  Janice’s weapon wavered.

  “I’ve had a change of heart, Janice,” Evelyn said. “I’ll share. I’ll give you what you deserve.” She leaped sideways.

  When the shot rang out, Madison and Gen screamed and collapsed against one another, convinced she meant to shoot them both.

  But the bullet was meant for Janice.

  She looked stunned. Her knees wobbled. Blood sprang from a wound in her forehead. She clutched at her face and slumped to the ground.

  Evelyn slipped when she landed and put a hand down to steady herself against the floor. Her face was turned away. Genevieve swung her cast, striking the elderly woman with a vengeance.

  Evelyn’s temple bore the full brunt of the blow.

  The crack of plaster striking bone rang out like a second gunshot. As the echo reverberated through the chamber, Evelyn crumpled to the floor.

  “I hoped this broken leg would pay off somehow.”

  Madison folded Gen into a tight hug. “You saved us.” Her voice broke and she buried her face in her friend’s shoulder, shaking like a leaf in a high wind.

  “Dumb luck meets opportunity.” Genny brushed Madison’s hair from her face, then crouched and placed her index finger on Janice’s throat. Moments later, she felt for a pulse in her wrist.

  “Is she dead?”

  “My guess is she was gone before she hit the ground.” Gen handed Janice’s Glock to Madison grip-first, then slid Evelyn’s weapon from beneath her body. “This one’s not, though. Let’s tie her up before she comes to.”

  Genny found a ball of twine on the shelves and bound Evelyn’s ankles, then tied her wrists behind her. She straightened and arched her back. “I am frigging exhausted.”

  Madison nodded. “Let’s go call the police.”

  “Not before I get a look at that coop,” Genevieve replied. “I will not quit tonight until I find the reason for all this obsession. You go make the call. I’m going up to Edward’s office.”

  They backtracked through the tunnel to the garage. Madison locked the door behind them, in case Evelyn regained consciousness and managed to get free of her bonds.

  Gen started toward the staircase.

  Madison hesitated, then gave up and followed. “I’m coming with you.” She squeezed past and ran up the stairs, then turned on the lights and moved across the room to the cabinet.

  Gen dropped the guns on Edward’s desk.

  Madison unlatched the aviary door. They were greeted by the retreating tail feathers of a dozen terrified birds fighting to escape.

  “Sorry, guys,” Genny said, and pressed in beside Madison. She examined the top and sides of the cage, then the floor.

  Madison began to remove the seed and water dishes she’d kept full since the dovecote was discovered. The containers spilled, adding to the mess peppering the floor. “I’ll get the hand vac.”

  She spun around and sprinted down to the garage. When she clattered back up, they pushed into the cage again.

  The poultry netting was tacked to a removable frame. Madison lifted it out and placed it against the wall. She grabbed a cloth and swept up the seed hulls and droppings that had filtered through to rest on the base of the cage, then vacuumed up the mess.

  Gen took another look.

  Nothing.

  “It’s here somewhere.” Genevieve got a letter opener from the desk, then shoved the tip along the edge of the aviary floor. She worked the blade under and twisted.

  The old caulk crumbled away.

  She repeated the movement along the front and sides. The board came loose with an audible pop, and Gen wrenched it free.
A scarred handle protruded from a hinged door at the bottom of the cavity.

  “Where’s the key?” she cried.

  With a laugh, Madison pulled it from her jeans, shoved it in the lock and turned. Nestled inside was a flannel bag, cinched tight. She lifted it out and offered the prize to Gen.

  But before she could take it, they heard the telltale sound of the squeaky stair and whirled toward the door.

  Seeley walked into the room with a carefree grin. “Surprise.”

  Genny lunged, but he beat her to the desk and palmed Janice’s gun. He pointed the muzzle toward them and swept the other aside.

  “I’ll take that bag.”

  No one moved.

  “I said I’ll take the bag. Madison, put it down on the desk. Right now. Then both of you back away. Keep your hands where I can see them.”

  The women balked.

  He raised the gun and squeezed off a shot into the ceiling. Madison skittered forward and dropped the sack, then shrank back toward Gen.

  Seeley tugged the string and shook out a metal plate, etched with the image of a five dollar bill.

  “Janice talks in her sleep,” he said with a cocky smirk. “It got interesting, so I stayed awake and listened.” Still grinning, he dropped his eyes to gloat over the trophy.

  A movement behind him drew Madison’s attention. Her eyes cut to the door.

  Cole stood on the landing.

  Look away, he signed.

  Madison obeyed.

  Seeley tucked the plate back into the bag and stuck it in his pocket. “Well, ladies, back down to the basement with you. It’s time for a shootout. And nobody’s going to make it out alive.”

  Gen moved alongside Madison. “The plate is worthless, Seeley.”

  “Yeah.” He laughed. “Like I would believe that.”

  “Okay, suit yourself. Why don’t you just take it and leave? We won’t tell anyone. Let us go.”

  “Right,” he said. “Sure.” His chuckle turned into a belly laugh.

  In two strides, Cole was behind Seeley. He drew his arm up. There was a glint of metal.

  His fist lowered.

  They heard the sickening snap as the hammer bashed into Seeley’s scalp. His knees buckled. He pawed at the back of his head as he tumbled to the floor.

  Gen grabbed the pistol when it fell from his grasp and held it on him until she was sure he was unconscious. Trembling, she put the gun down on the desk and scrubbed her hands across her face.

  “Are we ever glad you showed up,” she said.

  “I’m sorry.” Madison fell into Cole’s arms. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s all right. I came back to tell you the same thing. That I was sorry.”

  The scream of sirens roared up the drive.

  “Lucky for us.” Gen whistled with relief. “How did you know where to find us?”

  “The car was here, but no one answered when I knocked. So I let myself in and checked around. Jack and Finn were frantic. I headed for the garage and was about to yell for you when I saw someone hiding at the bottom of the stairs.

  “I caught sight of this guy in the moonlight. He ducked behind that old mattress. I crawled away and called 911. When I came back, I heard the tread squeak, so I knew to avoid it. I grabbed the hammer. You know the rest.”

  “Nice going, Professor,” Gen said.

  “Gen, how can you be so calm?” Madison tried to stifle her tears. “Evelyn Udell is down below in a secret room, and Janice is dead. Cole, I should’ve told you everything. This wouldn’t have happened if I’d been honest.”

  She began to sob again. “I was stupid to think nothing was going on. I should have known better.”

  “None of that matters now.” Cole tried to soothe her. “Everything is all right.”

  “Only thanks to you and Gen.”

  They heard footsteps clatter up the stairs. Ryan Kavanaugh shot his head around the doorjamb, his own firearm trained on the room.

  “What are you doing here?” Genevieve’s eyes blazed with suspicion and she moved back toward the gun.

  Seeing the three of them upright and Seeley on the floor, Kavanaugh relaxed his stance and entered the room. “Everyone okay? You aren’t hurt?”

  His words rang with authority, and they were delivered without a hint of Irish brogue.

  Three heads nodded in unison.

  Genny crossed her arms over her chest. “Who are you?”

  “It’s time we were properly introduced.” Ryan reached into his pocket and retrieved a wallet. He flipped it open to reveal a badge.

  “I’m Agent Ryan Connelly, U.S. Secret Service.”

  Three uniformed policemen, guns drawn, slipped into the room behind him.

  Genevieve’s eyes were as wide as plates.

  “Of course.” She struck her hand on the desk. “I should have figured it out. You were a mole, weren’t you?”

  Chapter Forty-One

  The sun had burned through the overcast by the time they arrived at the coast. Although the air was crisp, the chill wind that typically launched off the ocean cliffs above Irish Beach was absent. A forty-five minute drive from Healdsburg, the inlet was deserted, too early in the season for tourists. Since jaded locals avoided the shore until at least the end of May, the trio found themselves alone at the water’s edge on a remarkable spring day.

  Taegan shucked his jacket and flung it on the sand as soon as he hit the flats, then raced for the tide pools to the north. Madison spread an old wool blanket on the hard-packed sand in the lee of the bluff, and Cole plunked the heavy ice chest down in the center.

  A sharp whistle drew their attention. They turned toward the sound to see Gen and Ryan Connolly waving wildly, all four hands in the air.

  On the hill above, Gabrielle, Anna, and Hodge were coming down the cliff-side path. Hodge’s answering whistle ricocheted around the sandy walls of the secluded cove.

  When they reached the blanket, Anna scooted her sunglasses up into her hair and plunked down. “That’s a bit of a bombshell,” she said, pointing to Gen and Ryan, a hundred yards away and headed toward them. She sucked in a breath when their fingers touched. “Oh, yeah, something’s going on there.”

  “Not surprised,” Madison replied. Cole handed her a webbed beach chair. She snapped it open and sat. “She was interested right from the day they met. And with the explanations and wrapping up the investigation and all, they’ve been thrown together a lot.”

  “She must have been thrilled to find out he wasn’t a bible thumper,” Anna said.

  “And that he lived in San Francisco.” Gabrielle hiked up her sunglasses to steal a look. “Gen’s wild about the Secret Service thing. So right up her alley.”

  “It’s a good match,” Madison said. “He’s a good man.” She looked around at the group. “And now there are three.” She shot a glance to Cole and smiled when their eyes met.

  Anna laughed, then moved over beside Gabi. “Congratulations again,” she said. “I’m so excited for you, getting your own talk show.”

  “Thanks.” Gabi hugged her. “Still pinching myself.”

  “Who’s your first guest?”

  “I invited Suze Orman to kick it off. The focus of the show will be on female experts in all fields. I want to make the transition easier for women who find themselves single, like me.”

  Ryan and Gen ran the rest of the way and threw themselves down on the blanket.

  “What a gorgeous day,” Genny cried. “Could it be more perfect?”

  “Nice to see you again.” Ryan shook hands with Cole and Hodge.

  When the greetings were over, Cole said, “All right you two, fill us in.”

  “Yeah, spill,” Madison said. “You said you’d tell us about Janice when we were together today.”

  “Turns out Janice’s dad was Mallory’s brother, Sean,” Ryan replied. “He was a printer, pumping out pro-IRA pamphlets. He left Ireland after their father was killed and joined a group of anti-British counterfeiters. When the plate
fell into Mallory’s hands, she probably thought it was meant to be because of the family tie.

  “Sean never returned to Ireland after the war. His wife blamed the Blackburnes and set her kids against their aunt. Of course, Mallory wasn’t able to contact them and explain.”

  “What about Seeley?” Madison asked.

  “Seeley’s on the mend, and he’s spilling his guts to try and cut a deal,” Genny said. “Of course, he’s blaming everything on Janice. He doesn’t know a lot, but does say he found a letter from her father among her things. Seems Sean repented before his death and asked her forgiveness. Probably sent the letter without telling Mallory.

  “Janice has a rap sheet in Ireland as long as your arm. She walked across the border in San Diego. The postmark on her dad’s letter was from Healdsburg, so she came up here and tracked them down.”

  “What charges will you bring against him?”

  “You mean other than threatening to murder us?” Genny chuckled. “We’re working on a long list, including conspiracy. Janice picked Seeley up in town, told him the old lady hid some dough, got him to help look. She finagled her way in as the cleaning lady. But Bill Barr was so close to the Blackburnes he just couldn’t leave it alone. He was the one who took the photos and inventoried every cookbook, every pencil. It was like he was working on his own investigation, even after all those years.

  “Seeley said their hands were tied, they couldn’t rip anything apart. They had to scour through what they could at night. Then he saw the patched door behind the cabinet and figured the hidden basement was where she kept her stash. When he told Janice, she acted like it was nothing. But that day she told him to get out. He says he packed his duffel and drove away, then came back and hid out to watch.”

  Anna shook her head and threaded her fingers through Madison’s. “I’m just thankful it ended the way it did.”

  “That’s for sure.” Gabi said. “I’ve been dying to ask Ryan to explain how he came to be impersonating a preacher.”

  “Practicing your interview technique?” Ryan chuckled. “I’ll tell if you agree not to put it on the show.”