Arouse Suspicion

by Maureen McKade

  "I told you I didn't know," he said, confused.

  "He's talking about your book, Nick." Danni paced, punctuating her words with her hands. "Knowing you were a writer, I should've figured it out when I first heard it."

  Nick stared at her as realization dawned across his features. "He discovered a crime ring working out of the center."

  "And a cop or cops are involved."

  "Just like my fucking book." His voice was strained, his eyes dazed.

  Danni stopped and nodded. "Now all we need to do is fill in the characters."

  Nick sank into a vinyl chair. "Son of a bitch."

  Danni dropped into the chair she'd abandoned minutes earlier. "So which cops are involved?"

  Nick seemed to struggle to pull himself together. "Levin? Sam? Sergeant Rodgers?"

  "Or one of fifty others who volunteer at the center. And which kids?" Although they had more information than they had two days ago, Danni felt like they were back to square one. She took a deep breath. "Tell me about your book. The Reader's Digest version."

  Nick scrubbed his pale face with his palms, then slouched in his chair. "Two cops, along with an assorted number of crooked players, recruit juvenile delinquents they're supposed to be helping to steal for them. One of the kids goes to the good guy cop—" He smiled. "A gruff old patrolman who reminds me a lot of Paddy. The bad guys kill the kid, and the story follows the good guy cop, who's been targeted, as he tries to break up the auto theft ring."

  "Auto theft?" Danni asked pensively.

  Nick straightened. "Like the stolen Jaguar where Matt found the laptop he tried to pawn." His excitement disappeared. "So Paddy was killed because someone saw my notes and thought they were real?"

  Danni didn't want to believe it, but her gut was telling her the pieces were finally starting to fit together. "Or Dad said something about it," she said softly.

  "No. Paddy knew I didn't want anyone to know about it." Nick stood, as if unable to sit in one place. "What about the shooting at the center? If they were trying to scare us off, you'd think they'd do it here or someplace less crowded. Why take a chance with so many people around?"

  "Maybe the warning wasn't for us."

  "Who then?"

  Danni's mind scrambled for a theory. "The police believe it was a gang-related shooting. What are some of the initiation rites for a gang?"

  Nick frowned. "Robbing a convenience store? Taking out a rival gang member?" His scowl deepened. "Stealing a car?"

  "Maybe the shooting was just to show everybody whose turf this is."

  "But why wouldn't these ring leaders recruit gang members?" Nick answered his own question before Danni could speculate. "Because gangs are loyal to each other and nobody else. That leaves using kids who don't belong to a gang."

  Danni was impressed by Nick's reasoning. "Kids like Matt, Marsel, and Gary?"

  "As far as I know, they weren't in a gang. But we don't know that they're involved in anything either."

  "What if Matt ratted out to Dad? Just like in your book?"

  Nick rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "When was Matt arrested for the theft?"

  "Two days before Dad was killed."

  "Why didn't Paddy tell me then? Why wait until he was in danger?"

  "Knowing Dad, he probably wanted to check things out before saying anything to anybody, especially if those involved were cops he knew." Danni's throat tightened. "That's what I would've done."

  Nick leaned against a counter and gazed at Danni. "We can't trust anyone."

  "Except each other."

  Her eyes softened, giving him a glimpse of her faith in him. It was an unexpected gift that made his heart clench. "Except each other," he repeated in a husky voice. "So how do we do this?"

  "We treat everyone like a suspect, including Sam Richmond, Alex Levin, and Paul Gilsen." She raised a hand to halt his objection. "I know he's not a cop, but he could be a crooked player."

  "We'll have to check his license plate against the partial you got."

  "So why did they break into my truck?"

  "To find that." Nick made a sweeping motion toward the table filled with his story notes. "What they think is evidence against them."

  "Why didn't they get into your Jeep?"

  "Maybe we scared them off before they could."

  It sounded reasonable. "Wouldn't they wonder why they haven't been arrested if you have evidence against them?"

  Nick shrugged. "Maybe they thought that without Paddy, we couldn't make a case."

  Danni stood and raked her fingers through her hair. "And so by killing him, they eliminated their biggest threat. But obviously someone saw your story notes, and they're not certain what you know. However, they are worried enough to ransack your apartment and break into my truck to find them."

  "And try to kill us," Nick added.

  "So who besides Dad might've seen your notes?"

  Nick threw up his arms. "Nobody. I was always careful about that."

  Frustration vibrated through his words, and Danni knew he needed something else to focus on. "Let's sort out what we have." She held up one finger. "First, we have Matt Arbor arrested for trying to fence a stolen laptop computer, which just happened to come from a stolen car. Then we have Dad, who asked Beth to represent Matt, who initially didn't seem very worried about the charge. But after Dad died, he told Beth he wanted to deal."

  "So, did he know who killed Paddy?" Nick interjected. "Is that why he was killed?"

  "If our theory is right, yes on both counts." Danni added a second finger. "Second, we have Dad's message to you the night he was killed. He obviously suspected he was in danger. What had he found out? How did someone get close enough to him to stage his suicide?"

  "It had to be someone he knew but didn't suspect was involved."

  Danni nodded. "Good point. Mrs. Countryman saw a car at Dad's place the night he died. Probably the same car that followed us and that was here last night."

  "The car we're assuming is Paul's," Nick said grimly.

  "But here's where the fly in the ointment comes in. The person in that car had lighter-colored hair. Gilsen has dark hair."

  "Maybe Mrs. Countryman's eyes weren't working too well."

  "Or it could've been an accomplice."

  Nick grimaced. "The person who knew Paddy well enough to get close to him." He paused. "Sam Richmond has gray hair. Levin's is light brown. Both would pass for 'lighter-colored' hair."

  Although on one level she'd known Sam and Alex were viable suspects, Nick's comment settled like a ball of lead in her stomach. "I know. Do you know where Gilsen works?"

  "He told me once, but I can't remember."

  "We'll have to stop by the center and see if your friend Marge has that information."

  "How about some brunch first?" Nick suggested.

  Now that Nick had reminded her, she was hungry. It'd been a long night. "We'll stop someplace on the way."

  Danni helped Nick gather up his book notes and put them into a folder, which Danni tucked into the backpack. She also tossed the answering machine in the bag. What they had couldn't be called evidence, but someone apparently thought it was and had killed her dad because of it.

  Leaving Danni's truck with its broken window in the driveway, they took Nick's SUV. As Nick pulled onto the main street, Danni's cell phone rang.

  "Hawkins," she answered crisply.

  "Danni, thank heavens you're all right," Cathy said, relief evident in her voice.

  "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "Beth heard from a friend of hers on the force that somebody shot at you last night."

  Danni rolled her eyes heavenward. Did the whole city know? "Someone broke into my truck. Gus woke us up."

  There was a long pause.

  "Gus? Isn't that hottie Nick's dog?"

  Danni grinned and glanced at Nick, who shot her a quizzical look. "Yes, Gus is hottie Nick's dog."

  Nick mouthed, Cathy?

  Danni nodded and fought the urge to laugh at his
exasperated expression.

  "So, are you going to tell me what Gus and Nick were doing at your place?" Cathy asked, her innuendo crystal clear.

  "It was Dad's place, and we were all sleeping." At least at the time of the shooting. "How're things at the office?"

  "Quiet, but I have two messages for you. One's from a potential client. He'd like you to track down his fiancee who ran away with his engagement ring. He'll pay you a finder's fee of two thousand dollars in addition to your normal charge."

  Two weeks ago Danni would've jumped at the chance to bring in some extra income, but she wasn't about to drop her dad's case, especially when they were getting close. "Call him back and tell him I'm too busy. What's the other message?"

  "It's from Sergeant Rodgers. He wants you to call him at 555-7302 as soon as possible."

  "Did he say what it was about?"

  "No. I tried to find out, but he wouldn't even give me a hint."

  "Okay, thanks, Cathy. I'll call him right away." She folded her phone and looked at Nick. "Sergeant Rodgers left a message at the office for me to call him."

  "Any idea what it's about?" Nick asked, splitting his attention between the road and Danni.

  "None." Curious and worried, Danni punched in the numbers Cathy had given her.

  The phone rang once before Sarge's bellow answered. "Sergeant Rodgers."

  "Sarge, it's Danni Hawkins. I just got your message."

  "It's about damned time," the crusty sergeant swore. "You know a kid named Marsel Malone?"

  "Yes. How'd you know?"

  "Found your business card on him. He's at Memorial. Hit-and-run. Broken bones and a severe concussion."

  Danni sucked in a sharp breath and pressed her free hand to her forehead. "Any witnesses?"

  Sarge snorted. "Nobody sees anything in that part of town."

  She was aware of Nick casting her concerned glances, but she remained focused on the conversation. "Any description of the car?"

  "Dark green Taurus. It was found abandoned five blocks from the scene. Big dent in the hood with Malone's blood. No prints. Owner reported it stolen at six this morning.

  "Dammit." Danni squeezed her eyes shut. "Thanks for the information, Sarge."

  "Find out what the hell's going on." The sergeant hung up.

  "What happened?" Nick demanded as he parked in the center's nearly abandoned lot.

  Danni told him about Marsel's "accident."

  "They must've figured another suicide would be too much of a coincidence." Nick's eyes flashed with anger.

  "I want to swing by Memorial and see him after we talk to Marge." Danni propped her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands. "Damn it! How many more people are going to be hurt or killed before we find out what's going on?"

  "We're doing the best we can, Danni." Nick said quietly. A hand settled on her shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance. "Come on. Let's see what Marge has for us."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nick glanced at the piece of paper in Danni's hands, then through the rain-spattered windshield at the high-rise office building. "Do we have a suite number or company name?"

  "This was all Marge had besides Gilsen's work number, and his voice mail picked up when I tried calling." She sighed. "Maybe we should drive around and see if we can spot his car."

  As Nick drove, he surveyed the downtown area filled with cars and pedestrians. "He probably parks in a parking garage, and it would take all day to search them. It'd be easier to drop by the center tonight and see if he's there."

  "We're supposed to be at Sam's place for dinner this evening." Her voice was laden with impatience. "I suppose we can stop at the center after dinner. But right now, since we're close to the hospital, let's check on Marsel."

  Nick's stomach growled, reminding him that their plan to have brunch before going to the center to talk to Marge had fallen by the wayside. "Let's grab something to eat first."

  "Sure, why not? We're not accomplishing anything here anyway." Her sour tone vibrated with frustration.

  Nick reached over and squeezed her knee. "Hey, we'll figure it out. It's just going to take more time."

  "Yeah, well, I never was very good with that patience thing."

  He arched an eyebrow in feigned astonishment. "Really?" His attempt to coax a small smile from Danni succeeded.

  "I got it from Dad. He was the same way," she admitted.

  Nick recalled several times when Paddy's patience seemed in short supply and chuckled. "You're right. But I never saw him lose his temper."

  Danni sobered and stared out the windshield. "I did. Once."

  He sensed her melancholy and gently prodded her. "When?"

  She didn't speak for a minute, and Nick was certain she wouldn't answer him, that the pain was too deep to share. He empathized only too well.

  Nick turned into a fast-food drive-in and parked beneath a large metal canopy beside a menu and intercom. After getting Danni's selections, he pressed the call-in button and placed their order. Not long afterward, a teenage girl brought out their drinks and passed them through Danni's open window.

  "Your order will be up in a few minutes," the carhop said with an oft-used, too-bright smile.

  Nick sipped his slushie drink, while Danni drank her diet soda.

  "I was six years old," Danni said quietly as they waited for their food.

  It took a moment for Nick to figure out she was referring to his earlier question about her father's temper. "What happened?"

  She plucked at her straw. "From what I remember, Mom wasn't a candidate for the Mrs. Brady award. She wanted me to be quiet in the house during the day, and at night she was gone more than she was home, so it was pretty common for Dad to put me to bed. He used to tell me she was at a meeting or playing cards with her friends. I don't know if he was lying to protect me or if he really believed it.

  "One evening after dinner, they got in a big fight. Dad ordered me to my room, so I went upstairs but stayed at the top of the steps where I could hear everything. They didn't know I was there." Danni paused to take a sip of her soda.

  Nick could imagine little dark-haired Danni, already willful enough to disobey her father.

  "They were yelling and saying words that would've gotten me in trouble if I'd have said them," she continued, a wry note in her tone. "After a while there was this other sound—I recognized it because I'd heard it before when Mom punished me for being too loud. Dad hit her." Danni twirled her straw around and around between her fingertips. "That's when Mom left. I never saw her again."

  Nick's heart ached, and he reached over to clasp her hand. It was a poor substitute for what he really wanted to do, but bucket seats weren't conducive to embraces. "I'm sorry, Danni."

  She shrugged but kept her face cast downward. "It was a long time ago." She sniffed once and raised her head, revealing glistening eyes. "I'm sure it wasn't bad compared to what you had to put up with."

  Abruptly, all the memories he'd buried rose from their graves to haunt him.

  "My parents didn't fight much," Nick began before he even consciously decided to confide his whole sordid past. "At least not when I was younger. I used to come home from school only to be kicked out because my mother was 'working.' My dad was usually drunk, but not so drunk that he didn't forget to take the money for services rendered." Years-old resentment thickened Nick's voice. "Those were the 'good old days.' Later, when I was a teenager, after Mom lost her looks, and business was harder to come by, they used to fight." He laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. "By that time I was bigger than Dad, or he probably would've had me turning tricks."

  Danni didn't appear shocked. During her time as a cop, she'd most likely seen worse. "I'm sorry, for all the good that does now," she said softly.

  Nick gazed out his side window to lay the memories to rest once more and regain his composure. When he'd gone to Danni to get her help in discovering who killed Paddy, he never expected to spill his guts to her. Of course, he hadn't expected to sle
ep with her either, and he'd done that and more. If the case were progressing as quickly as their attraction to one another, it would've been solved by now.

  The perky carhop brought out their tray and hung it on Nick's window. After he paid for the meal, she retreated, leaving Danni and Nick to eat.

  He passed Danni's two plain burgers to her, as well as the small fries she'd ordered. Then he unwrapped his burger with the works and, even though his hunger had fled, he forced himself to eat it all.

  Glancing at Danni, he noticed she only nibbled her food. More than likely she, too, hadn't enjoyed the trip down memory lane. That, coupled with the increasingly complex maze surrounding Paddy's and Matt's deaths, had pretty much ruined their appetites.

  Fifteen minutes later, the carhop returned for the tray, which held half of one of Danni's burgers and most of her fries. Danni stowed the other untouched burger on the floor between the two front seats.

  "Snack for later?" Nick asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

  "I'm hoping we run into Southpaw," she replied.

  Nick had forgotten about the former baseball player. Although he didn't have Danni's faith in the crazy homeless man, there were few other leads to follow.

  Ten minutes later, Nick parked in the Memorial Hospital visitors' lot. He turned up the collar of his brown leather jacket against the drizzle as he waited for Danni to join him at the back of the Jeep. She had slung her backpack over a shoulder, not wanting to risk leaving his story notes and the answering machine in the vehicle.

  Warily, he glanced around the dreary surroundings, half-expecting to spot a light-colored sedan, but he didn't see anything suspicious. He didn't chide himself for his paranoia this time.

  They entered through a pair of automatic doors and stopped at the information desk. The grandmotherly woman working there gave them Marsel's room number, and Danni and Nick boarded an elevator to ride to the fourth floor.

  "Even if he has regained consciousness, they may not let us talk to him," Nick said.

  Stubbornness glittered in her eyes. "If he's awake, we'll talk to him."

  Nick shrugged, recognizing an immoveable force when he encountered one. Besides, he knew her well enough to know she wouldn't push the injured boy too hard.