Arouse Suspicion

by Maureen McKade

The door swung open. "I wasn't expecting you." A smile tempered Karen's words.

  Looking past the casually dressed woman who had shed her coat, Danni saw boxes littering the floor. Obviously she'd been packing. Doubts about Southpaw and the assumptions she'd drawn from his statements crept across Danni's mind. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by to see if you needed any help."

  Karen propped a hand on her hip. "That's sweet of you, Danni, but I've got things under control."

  Danni smiled. "You're more organized than I am." Knowing she had little ground to stand on, she risked a bluff. "Last night you told me you didn't know Paul Gilsen. I just talked to someone who said he saw you two together earlier today."

  Karen blinked. "It wasn't me. I've been packing all day."

  She'd been wearing a jacket less than five minutes earlier, which meant she was lying. Karen had played Danni, Nick, Paddy, and everyone else for fools, but no more. She wasn't going to get away with murdering Danni's father. Red-hot anger clouded Danni's judgment and made her reckless. "Did you kill my father?" She tensed, waiting for Karen's outraged denial.

  Instead, the woman smiled coldly. "Yes."

  Shock froze Danni for a split second, long enough to feel a dull jab in her side.

  "Nice of you to stop by," came an all-too-familiar, oily voice.

  A shove of the gun barrel forced Danni into the apartment, and Karen locked the door behind them. Her hands raised, Danni turned around slowly and glared at Gilsen. "So those plane tickets were only a smoke screen."

  Gilsen, looking disgustingly suave in pleated trousers and an expensive polo shirt, shrugged. "I have some unfinished business."

  Danni trembled inwardly but remained poised. "Did you forget to kill someone?"

  "As a matter of fact..." Gilsen swung a strap off his shoulder and revealed her backpack. He must've gone out to the Jeep while Danni had come to Karen's apartment. "Now that I have what I've been looking for, I can dispose of you and Sirocco."

  Danni's blood ran cold. If he learned those papers had nothing to do with him or his theft ring, she couldn't predict how he'd react. Better to let him think he'd won.

  "Nice little operation you had going," Danni said conversationally, hoping to get him to talk. Buying time, any time. "Find out when someone's on vacation, then bring in your boys to steal the car while you take out the security system."

  Gilsen's dark eyes narrowed. "So, Nick must've told you the story."

  Danni almost laughed at his choice of words, but Gilsen was deadly serious. "The only thing we couldn't figure out was the identity of your accomplice." She deliberately looked at Karen. "Looks like I found her."

  "Cut the chatter," Karen said, annoyed. "Lose the gun."

  Danni gritted her teeth and, using two fingers, lifted her revolver out of the shoulder holster. She held it out to her captors, and Karen took it, then the cop frisked her.

  "Facedown on the floor." This time it was Gilsen's command.

  Every cell in Danni's body screamed to disobey, but having a nine millimeter aimed in her direction convinced her otherwise. She did as he ordered.

  "Hands behind your back."

  She did so reluctantly and felt a knee drop onto the small of her back, then Karen snapped handcuffs around her wrists. The blond removed her knee and stood.

  Gilsen grabbed Danni's arm and yanked her to her feet, nearly dislocating her shoulder in the process.

  Impotent anger made Danni's gut churn. She'd walked right into this like some baby-faced rookie just out of the Academy. Without backup. She studied Karen, seeing her for the murderer she was. "You killed Dad, and Matt Arbor, too."

  "Hey, Paul did Matt," Karen said petulantly, as if Gilsen had stolen the boy's homework rather than murdered him.

  "Why kill my father?" Danni asked, her heart pounding.

  "He was onto us. Oh, he tried to hide it from me—his own partner—but I saw his notes. He and Sirocco thought they were being so secretive." Karen's lips curled into an ugly sneer. "That night I went over to Paddy's, tried to seduce him. Probably would've succeeded if I hadn't had to kill him."

  Danni choked back sour bile rising in her throat. "You're a cold-blooded bitch."

  Paul chuckled, but Karen's eyes narrowed.

  "Better a bitch than a corpse," Karen said.

  Danni took an instinctive step backward and stumbled on a box, falling over and landing on her butt.

  Karen laughed, a cruel rendering of true laughter. "Don't worry." She moved closer to Gilsen, who wrapped an arm around her waist, and she stared down at Danni. "Once we get your partner, there's going to be a tragic accident at the youth center."

  Danni's mouth was so dry she couldn't swallow. She'd uncovered the truth, but what good was it when she'd take it to her grave?

  "Mr. Sirocco?"

  Nick, his palms slicked with sweat, rose as the veterinarian approached him. "How's Gus?"

  "Much better," the doctor said with a tired but kindly smile. "The bullet nicked an artery. It was so small it probably didn't start bleeding until she moved around this morning."

  Nick rubbed his brow. "Will there be any more surprises?" He didn't mean for it to come out as an accusation, but he was tired and worried, about both Gus and Danni.

  Fortunately, the doctor was accustomed to harried pet owners. "After I fixed up the bleeder, I did a thorough search for any more. I can say with ninety-nine point nine percent surety that there won't be any more unpleasant surprises."

  Nick's shoulders slumped in relief. "Thanks, Doctor."

  "My pleasure, Mr. Sirocco. Gus will be out of it for a few more hours."

  "Could I see her?"

  "Follow me."

  Nick trailed after him to the same small room where he'd been taken after the initial surgery. He shook hands with the vet, who then left him alone with his pet.

  Gus's entire middle was swathed in white, and her side moved up and down in shallow, even breaths. An IV had been inserted into her left front leg and was wrapped in blue gauzy tape. Nick gently laid a hand on her head, feeling the familiar soft hair beneath his palm. Tremors skated along her skin, but Nick had felt that last time, too. The vet had said it was normal for an animal under anesthesia.

  "Hey, girl, this time everything's going to be okay," Nick said quietly, stroking her head. "Before you know it, you'll be home."

  Nick paused, wondering which home they'd be returning to—his, Paddy's, or Danni's? With Gilsen out of the city, he suspected he'd be going back to his lonely apartment. Funny how he'd thought of his apartment as his refuge before meeting Danni.

  He took a deep breath, and exhaustion tugged at him. It'd been a hell of a long week. He glanced at his wrist-watch and realized Danni had been gone—and out of touch—for nearly two hours. A shiver crawled down his spine. He tried to ignore it. She was only visiting Marsel.

  With one final pat for Gus, Nick left the room and stopped by the front desk to use their phone. He called Danni's cell and was connected to her voice mail. That was strange. He hung up, wondering if her phone had quit working completely. Borrowing a phone book, Nick called Memorial Hospital and asked to speak to Marsel.

  "Hello," came a woman's tentative voice.

  "Olivia, this is Nick Sirocco. Danni Hawkins and I stopped by yesterday. How's Marsel doing?"

  "He woke up for a few minutes about an hour ago," Olivia replied, her relief obvious in her voice. "The doctor says he'll sleep for a while now, but it's a natural sleep."

  Nick smiled. "That's good news, Olivia. Did Danni happen to stop by there this afternoon?"

  "I've been here since noon, and she ain't come by."

  "Thanks. Next time Marsel wakes up, tell him we're thinking of him. Bye." Nick hung up the phone and stared at it. Danni told him she was going to see Marsel, but she never arrived. Had she lied to him? Or had something happened to her?

  He called the police department and asked for Sergeant Rodgers but was told he wouldn't be in until Monday night, and
they wouldn't give out his home phone number. Alex Levin was in Seattle, so contacting him wasn't an option.

  Fumbling in his pockets, Nick found a spare key to Paddy's house. It was after four when a taxicab dropped him off there, and he paused on the sidewalk, gazing at Danni's truck. Maybe she'd left a set of keys for it in the house.

  He entered the foyer, and his gaze was drawn to the bloodstain on the carpet. Hot embers of anger flared within him, but close on its heels came icy fear. He imagined Danni's blood spilled in some alley, her life seeping away.

  Swallowing hard against his rising dread, he escaped into the kitchen. There was a message on the phone's answering machine, and he punched the button eagerly. But it wasn't Danni.

  "Danni, it's Alex. I talked to Joe and he said you and Sirocco were looking for me. What's up? Give me a call at 206-555-8301."

  Nick replayed the message and jotted down Levin's phone number on a piece of paper. Since Levin was in Seattle, Nick doubted he'd be of much help finding Danni, but it wouldn't hurt to ask the cop about Gary Otis. It was a long shot, but Nick had nothing to lose.

  He dialed the number on Paddy's rotary phone.

  "Bay Point Bed and Breakfast," a woman's perky voice said.

  "May I speak to Alex Levin?"

  "May I tell him who's calling?" the hostess asked him.

  "Nick Sirocco."

  "Hold on. I believe I just saw him come downstairs." There was the thud of the receiver being laid on a hard surface and distant voices. Then the phone was picked up. "This is Alex Levin."

  "Levin, it's Nick Sirocco. Do you remember the other night at the center when you told Danni and me that you hadn't seen Gary Otis?"

  "I remember."

  "One of the kids said he saw Gary Otis go into the computer room while you were there."

  "He must've seen somebody who looked like Gary, because I didn't see him." Defensiveness crept into Levin's tone.

  "He was fairly certain it was Gary."

  "Then he needs glasses." Nick could hear his irritation clearly. "Look, Karen Crandle was supervising the lab when I showed up, and she talked me into staying until Gilsen came in. Said she had a basketball game to referee. Maybe she saw Gary."

  Nick squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, trying to figure out if Levin was lying. "All right. Thanks."

  "What's going on, Sirocco? Why didn't Danni call back?"

  Nick paused, debating whether he should tell him or not, then decided it didn't matter. "She's missing."

  "What?"

  "You heard me," Nick said gruffly. "I think Paul Gilsen got her."

  "Gilsen? Why?"

  Levin sounded genuinely confused. Nick explained what had happened the night before with Gilsen breaking into Paddy's home. "We think he's involved in an auto theft ring. We also think he's got an accomplice on the police force. Is it you?" Nick knew he was taking a big risk, but he was desperate.

  "Hell, no." Heavy silence filled the line, then he said with less assurance, "It might be Karen Crandle."

  "Why do you think it's her?"

  "She's Gilsen's girlfriend. One evening about two months ago, my wife and I saw her with Gilsen in a restaurant. They were sitting at a corner table, and you could tell they weren't strangers, if you get my drift," Levin said, his tone dry. "Crandle walked right by me, like she didn't know me. I asked her about it next time I saw her, and she said I was mistaken. But I know it was her."

  Nick weighed his words. Was Levin lying to protect himself and incriminate Karen? Or was he telling the truth?

  Danni had trusted him, and Nick trusted Danni.

  "Do you know where she lives?"

  "Yeah, Blue Meadow Apartments at Summit and Reynard."

  "Thanks, Levin."

  "Call me as soon as you know something," Levin said.

  "I will," Nick promised. He hung up and took a shaky breath.

  Sick with worry, Nick retrieved Paddy's backup gun from the closet. He hadn't used a gun since he got out of the military, but he wouldn't hesitate to use this one if it meant saving Danni's life.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Nick parked Danni's truck on the street in front of the Blue Meadow Apartments, then scanned the area for his Jeep but didn't spot it.

  He walked across the street to the building entrance and found Karen's name listed among the occupants. Figuring it might be better to surprise her, he waited impatiently until he spotted a tenant coming toward the outer door. Nick squatted down, pretending to tie his shoe.

  The renter unlocked the security door, and Nick slipped in behind him. He hurried down the hallway on the ground floor, conscious of Paddy's gun stuck in the back of his waistband. He found Karen's apartment at the end of the hall and pressed his ear against the door but didn't hear anything. Frowning, he knocked loudly.

  "Hold on," came Karen's annoyed voice. "Why didn't you use—" She opened the door and halted in midquestion. "Nick. What're you doing here?"

  Nick leaned against the doorjamb in a deceptively casual pose. "Where's Danni Hawkins?"

  "How should I know? I haven't seen her since yesterday."

  "She told me she was coming by your place this afternoon," he bluffed.

  Karen crossed her arms and looked back at him with just the right mix of curiosity and concern. "I've been here all day packing, and she hasn't shown up."

  "You mind if I come in and take a look around?"

  She frowned but swung the door wide open. "Knock yourself out. But you won't find anything. Danni hasn't been here."

  Nick felt a frisson of unease but didn't hesitate to plunge into the apartment. It didn't take long for him to search the two-bedroom apartment, since most everything was packed in boxes.

  Nick returned to the living room to see Karen sitting on a box. "Sorry, Karen. I'm just worried about Danni."

  She rose and offered, "I can call the department and see if she's been reported in an accident."

  Nick tried to see past her apparent sincerity, but there was nothing but concern. "Thanks, but it's only been a few hours. Maybe she just lost track of time."

  "I'm sure that's it. Go back to Paddy's and wait there for her. I bet she'll show up."

  "Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks."

  Disappointed, Nick glanced around the living room one more time, but there was only the usual packing odds and ends on the carpet: packing peanuts, tape, and silver wire. He raised his gaze to Karen and extended his hand. "Good luck in Denver."

  She shook it firmly and smiled. "Thanks, Nick."

  Once Nick was in Danni's truck, he slumped in the seat. A week ago Danni would've run off without telling him where she was going or how long she'd be gone. Now, he'd bet his life that she would've called him... if she could. Which meant she was in serious trouble. For a moment, he tried not to think, not to imagine a hundred different scenarios for Danni's fate, each worse than the previous.

  Where was she?

  Obviously, she wasn't in Karen's apartment. However, something niggled at the back of his mind. Closing his eyes, he tried to recall each room in detail. He remembered the silver wires on the carpet and frowned, thinking they looked familiar. His eyes flashed open.

  Straightened paper clips.

  How often had he watched Danni unbend paper clip after paper clip in her office? A nervous quirk that had bugged him at first, but now evidence that Karen had lied.

  Son of a bitch. Crandle was involved up to her crooked little eyeballs.

  So where was Danni now?

  Nick slipped out of the truck and made his way around the apartment building. If his Jeep wasn't in front, maybe it was in back.

  An asphalt parking lot lay behind the building, obviously for the tenants' cars. Nick crouched behind a shrub near the corner of the building. Seven vehicles were parked in the lot, and a rental truck sat close to the back entrance of the building. Probably Karen Crandle's.

  But no sign of his Jeep.

  He spotted Crandle's Camaro
parked in the lot, and an idea formed. If she knew where Danni was, sooner or later she might go there. All Nick had to do was follow her.

  The smart thing now was to contact the police and have them take Karen in for questioning. But Crandle was one of them—brothers in blue—and he wasn't. All he had was Levin's word linking her to Gilsen, and slim circumstantial evidence tying her to Danni's disappearance. Karen would deny everything, and Nick would lose his chance to find Danni. No, he'd have to do this himself.

  He quickly ran back to Danni's truck, drove it around the block, and parked across the street, where he had a clear view of Crandle's Camaro. Now all he could do was watch and wait. And hope.

  Danni struggled against the ropes that bound her to the chair in front of the farthest computer station from the door, but it was a hopeless cause. Even if she succeeded in freeing herself, pistol-toting Gary Otis and his spiky-haired girlfriend Angela would ensure she didn't get far.

  Gilsen had brought her to the computer lab via a back door hours ago... or so it seemed. It was hard to say, since she was in a room with no windows and unable to ask the time due to the duct tape over her mouth.

  She berated herself for not taking the time to find a pay phone to call Nick before confronting Karen. Danni had been given another chance with a partner, and she'd blown it. Again.

  Worse, she should've told Nick how she felt about him, but she'd been a coward.

  Afraid to trust him.

  Afraid to trust herself.

  Afraid to love.

  Sitting in the chair at the computer station across from Danni, Gary Otis yawned widely. "God, this is boring. When did the boss say he'd be back?"

  "Whenever he wants," Angela replied. "He is the boss."

  Although the girl was only two desks away from her, Danni couldn't see her because of the privacy partitions between each station.

  Gary shot Angela an annoyed look. "When did you start kissin' up to the boss?"

  Angela peered around the divider at her boyfriend. "I'm not kissing up. But he is paying me to do what Matt did." As she spoke, Danni could see a flash of silver in her pierced tongue.