by Webb, Debra
Schneider glanced around again. He was nervous. No doubt about it. He’d been waiting at the booth in the very back corner of the dining room when they arrived. His head hadn’t stopped oscillating since.
“If they find out I looked at the charts…” His eyes went wide with fear. “They’ll kill me.”
“What charts?” Tom asked, careful to keep his voice down. Though there was only one other couple in the restaurant, there were plenty of waitresses preparing for the morning rush.
“The charts of certain patients.” Schneider cleared his throat. “Rich kids. The parents brought them there when nothing else worked.”
“Were these children ill?” Sarah asked. There was a fine tremor in her hand as she reached for her coffee.
She wasn’t as strong as she wanted Tom to believe. God almighty, he was worried about her. This case had consumed his existence for more than a year. Still, he should have made time to check on her. No wonder she was determined to go through with this divorce.
Schneider nodded. “Most of them died.”
“Doesn’t sound as if those award winning physicians did anything special if the children died anyway,” Sarah suggested.
“I don’t know about that, but I know what I saw in those charts.”
“What was that, Mr. Schneider?” Tom was ready to hear more than speculation. If the man had something concrete he needed to spit it out.
“The kids weren’t listed as patients. They were listed by number as test specimens.”
Tom looked toward the waitress. It was time to make this guy put up or shut up. “I don’t appreciate my time being wasted, Mr. Schneider.”
Schneider surveyed the restaurant again to make sure the waitress wasn’t coming. “If I tell you more, I don’t want my name in it. I don’t trust these guys.”
“Why?” Sarah asked. “Why would you be afraid of anyone at the hospital?”
“Those kids were in a special unit at the hospital.” Schneider leaned across the table again, his voice getting lower with each word spoken. “None of the regular staff goes in there. The patients don’t go in the usual way. They don’t go out the usual way either. If someone dies in that unit an unmarked van takes the body away. And I don’t mean someone from one of the funeral homes. I know all those guys.” He looked from Sarah to Tom and back. “This is different.”
“Why come forward with this information now?” Sarah asked. “You’ve worked there for a decade. What happened to prompt you to speak up now?”
That would have been Tom’s next question. This guy wasn’t telling them everything he knew. He was holding back some relevant piece of information.
“That missing kid, Myers, he was…” He moistened his lips. Cleared his throat again. “He was in the unit and his parents took him out. There was a big hubbub about it. The next thing I knew he was on the news.”
Sarah glanced at Tom, and then asked, “You’re certain? Sean Myers?”
Schneider nodded. “I swear to God. I don’t know about the other kids, but I believe with all my heart Avalon had something to do with that boy going missing.”
“In ten years, you never noticed activities out of the ordinary until now?” The revelation was stunning, no question. It was the man’s motive for coming forward that worried Tom.
“I’m human.” Schneider shrugged. “Avalon paid the bills. I looked the other way when I saw anything a little off. I don’t have any reason to look the other way now.”
“Give us one good reason,” Sarah proposed, “we should take the word of a disgruntled former employee?”
Another shrug. “It’s the truth. I don’t need a reason to tell the truth.”
“Maybe we’d be a little more convinced if you shared a few more examples of situations where you looked the other way.” Tom needed more than supposition. The story had him chomping at the bit to look more deeply into Avalon. Moving forward with caution was essential considering all they had was the word of a man who’d recently been fired and the fact that Tom wasn’t exactly in a good place with his superiors right now.
“That’s all I got. Lots of situations I encountered felt wrong, but this is the only time I can point to a specific wrongdoing. That kid was a patient in Avalon one day and suddenly he was on the news the next. That has to mean something. If it does, maybe I’ll win one of those rewards.”
Each of the families was offering a reward for information leading to the discovery of their child. According to Sarah, the rewards had brought out the desperate, the greedy, and at least a few nut cases. No true leads.
Whatever this guy’s story, his sudden compulsion likely had more to do with the rewards and wanting to get back at his ex-employer than a sense of doing the right thing.
Tom passed Schneider his card. “Call me if you think of anything else.”
“Whatever else you do,” Schneider said, “you should check out that hospital. They’re doing bad things to kids. Believe that if you believe nothing else.”
When Schneider had gone, Sarah moved around to the other side of the booth. “If what he says about Sean Myers is true, considering all eight children were born at that hospital, I say there’s a connection. We should go back to the parents and push for answers.”
Tom reached for one of the menus the waitress had left when she’d taken their coffee order. “We should eat.”
“We should get out there and start pounding on doors,” she argued.
“Too early.” He checked the screen of his cell. “We eat. We give them time to have coffee, and then we go pound on doors.”
“I’m not hungry.”
There was a lot he could say to that, but he knew better. Strong-arm tactics didn’t work with Sarah. He’d learned that the hard way. “I am.”
He placed his order, making sure to go big so he could share in case she changed her mind. To his surprise, she ordered a scrambled egg with a piece of wheat toast.
When the waitress was gone, Tom ventured. “I hear you made lieutenant.”
“I did.” She freshened her coffee, took a sip.
He glanced out at the sky. “Looks like rain.”
“Hmm-Mmm.”
“I like your hair,” he dared to say. She glanced up and he smiled no matter that she didn’t. “It’s longer. I haven’t seen it that long since we first met.”
She tucked a handful behind her ear. “I’ve been too busy to get to the salon. I usually keep it in a ponytail, but I was in a hurry this morning.”
“I like it down.” He’d always loved her hair, even when it was much shorter. The deep, rich brown was a vivid contrast to her smooth pale skin. She reminded him of a porcelain doll, precious and fragile. He had wanted to protect her, but she’d shown him that she was strong and brave and didn’t need protecting. Yet, losing Sophie had stolen some part of her he couldn’t quite name. She still did her job and did it well from all reports. He had to give her credit there, but there was something missing. The fire was gone from her eyes, he decided.
He’d changed, too. His life revolved around work as well. His apartment was nothing more than a hotel room. He couldn’t care less where he laid his head to sleep. Work was his life. The rest of the time he basically existed.
How the hell would they ever get beyond this painful place?
“So Phillips is okay?” she asked tentatively. She met his eyes for a mere second.
“He’s good. He’s married and they have a… child.” She flinched when he said the last. Why hadn’t he left out the part about the kid? Paul Phillips had tried to help when Sophie disappeared, but he’d been too far gone in his own misery to pull himself together. Tom might have hated him for that except he’d understood Paul hadn’t been mentally or physically capable of doing more. Sarah, on the other hand, hadn’t seen it that way.
“That’s nice.” She stared at her coffee some more. “I’m happy things worked out for him.”
“I’m glad you kept the house.”
Another quick glance his
way. “Why would I sell? My parents would want me to keep the house.”
He decided not to say anything about the peeling paint or the overgrown landscape. Like him she worked all the time. Home maintenance was likely the last thing on her mind. The realization that those were things he should be taking care of punched him in the gut, but he wasn’t welcome in the home they’d once shared. Not since the day he’d hauled her out of the house and had her committed to a facility where she would get the help she needed.
He doubted she would ever forgive him for taking that step. He couldn’t blame her really. He’d fallen down on the role of good husband in a hundred different ways. He should’ve handled things differently. Too late to repair that bridge now it seemed.
“You’re right.” He reached for his coffee. “It’s a great house.”
Sarah suddenly looked at him as if she’d just remembered some terrible thing she’d forgotten to say. “I don’t even know where you live.”
“I guess that’s why the divorce papers were served at the office.” He forced a smile. “I thought I sent you the address.” He distinctly remembered calling and leaving a message.
“Maybe you did.”
Their order arrived, preventing the need for further small talk. They ate in silence. She muddled through the egg and toast. He goaded her into a bite of pancake. She actually smiled once and he felt fairly certain it was real. He’d glimpsed the tiniest sparkle in those brown eyes of hers he had always loved.
A final cup of coffee and Tom felt almost human. “Do you remember the last time we were at an IHOP?” They’d been on the way to Boston to his cousin’s wedding. Sophie had…
Agony claimed Sarah’s face. “We should go.” She grabbed her jacket and purse and scooted from the booth.
Tom felt like kicking himself. Was there anything they could talk about that their daughter wouldn’t be a part of? Oh yeah, right. Work. The case.
Outside the restaurant, Sarah hesitated to take a call. He hit the remote to start his SUV and get the heat going. It was cold as hell for October. Maybe winter was coming early this year.
Sarah ended the call and gave him an address. “We may have a lead on Cashion’s wife.”
The children were Tom’s top priority, but Mary Cashion deserved justice, too. If her murder helped find her daughter and the rest of the children alive, maybe her death wouldn’t be for naught.
Chapter 14
Smithsonian 10th Street, Washington, D.C., 8:00 a.m.
“The world has no idea the secrets we keep.”
Joe Adams didn’t give a damn about the world’s secrets. “Where is she?”
Dr. Detlef Meltzer gazed upon the Genome exhibit as if it were a god.
Joe was grateful the museum wasn’t open because he was on the verge of losing it. He’d spent the past forty or so hours hanging onto his sanity by a damned thread. His wife was at home sedated. Late last night when he’d called Chief Larson and demanded an update, he’d learned something Detective Cuddahy had opted to keep from him. Agent Cuddahy had suggested to Larson that there was reason to believe the missing children had been subjected to unethical medical experiments at Avalon.
He’d tried several times to get in touch with Meltzer after learning all the missing children had been born at Avalon. It wasn’t until Joe had left the message that the FBI was on to him that Meltzer had returned his call. If this bastard had anything to do with Katie’s disappearance…
Meltzer settled his arrogant attention on Joe. “There are few things in life as precious to us as our children. Rare is the woman or the man who wouldn’t readily die for his or her offspring.”
Adams moved into the doctor’s personal space. “Where is she?”
“We have a binding contract, Senator.” Meltzer inclined his head and studied Joe as if he were one of his lab rats. “You are never to speak of our arrangement under any circumstances.”
Fury pounded in Joe’s veins. All that prevented him from beating the hell out of this man right now was the knowledge that he would not gain anything by doing so. Without doubt the move would ensure he lost his daughter forever. “I have kept our damned bargain. I fulfilled my end. Why the hell did you take my daughter and the others? If you hurt my baby…”
“Paranoia is a powerful force. I suspect that, as well as fear, is skewing your judgment just now, Senator Adams. Otherwise you would see how foolish your accusations sound.”
Joe grappled to hang onto his composure. “All those missing children were born at your facility, Meltzer. With the FBI talking about unethical experiments, you think I don’t know what that means?”
Meltzer smiled. “Hundreds of children are born at Avalon each year. As for the FBI, it’s always overdramatizing when facing failure. However, I’m confident you will enlighten me as to your thoughts on their allegations.”
“Something’s gone wrong with your test group. You’re the one who’s paranoid and afraid, so you’re taking steps to destroy the evidence.” Joe pointed a finger at the man he had once considered a genius and his savior. “You told me the shaking and the sleep walking were nothing to worry about. You told me Katie would be fine.”
“If you had proof of your suspicions I’m certain we wouldn’t be having this conversation just now. You would be telling your friends at the FBI. Why aren’t you, Senator Adams? After all, your child is missing. Are you so afraid of your constituents finding out who you really are that you would allow your daughter to suffer instead?”
Joe grabbed him by the labels. The two bodyguards who followed Meltzer around waiting to do his bidding came to attention. Meltzer waved them off.
“You bring my daughter back to me and we’ll forget this ever happened.”
Meltzer pushed Joe’s hands away. “Pull yourself together, Senator.”
Joe glanced around, tried to shake off his fury. This bastard had his little girl, Joe was certain of it. All he wanted was Katie. “I want her back. Now. Unharmed.”
“I assure you she is unharmed.”
Relief swept through him, had his knees trying to buckle.
“Certain issues have cropped up that I must attend to before returning the children.”
The lump of emotion in his throat made speaking near impossible. “She’s going to be all right, isn’t she?”
Meltzer smiled. “Of course. She’s perfect. As soon as this matter is resolved, the children will be returned to their homes safe and sound and no one will be the wiser as to the necessity of their absence.”
“Are all the children suffering from some issue?”
“Nothing I can’t handle, I assure you.”
Joe was just desperate enough to believe him. “Why wasn’t this handled in the clinic like before?” When Katie was two she’d slipped into a coma for no apparent reason. Three days later she’d been fine.
“There is a man who threatens all we’ve attained, Joe. He would stop me and destroy what the world will never see as real children. For that reason, I was forced to take extreme measures.”
A new kind of fury slammed Joe. “Who is this man?” His Katie was as real as any child. They had gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure she was as genetically perfect as possible. No inherited risk of cancer or heart disease or any of the other big killers. Their child had been given every possible advantage.
“This FBI agent, Tom Cuddahy, who has you up in arms. He is determined to stop my work. If the world learns of our accomplishments they won’t understand. They’re not ready. We mustn’t allow Cuddahy to interfere. At my age, I wouldn’t survive long in prison. I dare say there would be no hope for poor little Katie then. I’m the only one who can help her when issues arise.”
“I’ll take care of Cuddahy.” Joe’s jaw ached from clinching his teeth so hard.
“I hope we’re not too late,” Meltzer asserted. “His efforts could destabilize the entire program. The children could potentially die horrific deaths without my careful oversight.”
“Whatever
I have to do,” Joe assured him. “I will get Cuddahy out of here. When can Katie come home?”
“You took care of the other?”
“The vote will go our way, no question.”
Meltzer patted Joe on the shoulder. Joe flinched. “Then all is well.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed to see Katie? We’ve always cooperated fully and brought her in for any needed appointments.”
“As I said, Agent Cuddahy left me no choice.”
“But the children are safe?” Joe countered, needing confirmation.
“The children are quite safe. You’ll see for yourself soon.”
“When can I speak to her?” Joe needed to hear his baby’s voice.
“I’m afraid that would only make things more difficult for Katie,” Meltzer insisted. “She’ll be back home before you know it.”
Joe told himself to relax. “You’ll keep me informed?”
Meltzer gave a single nod. “I will.”
“I can assure my wife our daughter is going to be fine?”
“As long as you take care of Agent Cuddahy, all the children will be fine.”
“I’ll take care of him,” Joe promised again. “I’ll do that today.”
Meltzer turned his attention back to the exhibit. “So fascinating. It’s a shame the creator arrived at so few accurate conclusions.”
Joe tried to laugh, but the sound came out more like a strangled cough. He wanted to be relieved, but he was too damned scared. “I’ll contact you as soon as it’s done.”
“No need. I have people who are watching the FBI’s activities. I’ll be informed when he is no longer an issue.”
“Tell my daughter I love her.”
“Of course.” Meltzer smiled reassuringly, yet Joe found no comfort in the gesture.
Joe left the meeting and actually made it to his car before breaking down. Then he laid his forehead against the steering wheel and he sobbed.
He was terrified Meltzer was lying.
Chapter 15
West Investigations,
New York Avenue, Washington, D.C., 10:35 a.m.