His sister had returned to her office in the hopes that her experts would have more information for her. She had agreed that if Sebastian was able to get anything on the cell phone or from the videos, either Diego or Ryder would run it down to her.
Sebastian again rewound the video and went about enlarging and enhancing key images. By the time he finished, Diego had a clear picture of the man who had grabbed Ramona—none other than Big John Henry—and the plate number from the van.
Fingers flying over the keys, Sebastian said, “I’m loading these images onto the thumb drive for Diana and e-mailing them. I’m also printing them out. I’ll call her in a second with the plate number.”
The laser printer by his side flashed to life and a moment later, Sebastian placed the photos and USB drive in an envelope for his sister. “Tell her I’m sorry I couldn’t triangulate the cell phone signal,” he said as he handed Diego the envelope. “It was just too weak.”
With a nod, Diego went into the living room, where Ryder sat with Melissa. “I’m heading out,” he said, holding up the envelope and drawing their attention.
“I can go with you,” Ryder offered.
“Not without me,” Melissa stated. “If Ramona needs medical attention, I’m the one she’ll need.”
Although Melissa was correct, having her along would only slow things down, and Diego didn’t want to waste a minute in getting the information to Diana. “Why don’t you wait here with Ryder? As soon as we can move on van Winter, we’ll call you.”
She didn’t argue, but as Diego walked toward the French doors leading out to the balcony, Ryder rose and followed him. Once outside, they walked to the low wall enclosing the garden.
Ryder clapped him on the back. “Do you know what you will do once you find her?”
Diego faced his friend. The moonlight played across Ryder’s features, glistening in his dark hair and eyes. His mouth was a harsh slash across his face. “We’ll get her to a hospital.”
“And then? What if that’s not enough?”
Diego considered the many centuries he had been undead. The countless humans who had come and gone—and the many vampires. Those vamps who had “gone” had possibly made a bigger impression on him than the humans. There had been those chased down by self-styled slayers and hunters. Those driven mad by their eternal lives, who had chosen to end their existence with a walk into the sun or fire, or a carefully planned beheading—sometimes self-inflicted. Then there was the worst he had seen—a vampire who had downed a bottle of holy water and suffered for days as the water ate at his insides like acid in a human.
Maybe reaching the status of elder ranked even higher on the list of why Diego hesitated to consider turning Ramona. The elders were the worst of everything vampire. Lacking any trace of humanity, they satisfied their hungers and expressed their angers without a qualm. Only a few, like his friend Stacia, somehow managed to hold on to any kindness, but even then, it came with a price.
In a few short centuries Diego would be an elder. He already ranked highly within the local vamp hierarchy. Would he lose his humanity like the others?
And if he did, what about Ramona? Could she deal with eternal life or would it change her? Would it sluggishly strangle the emotions that had come to life between them and bring them eternal regret?
“Diego?” Ryder pressed at his prolonged silence.
He spread his arms wide to the city stretching out before them. “See all this, amigo? I remember when the el used to clank up Third Avenue and horse carriages brought the Fifth Avenue elite to their town homes.”
“Things change.”
“People change as well. Esperanza did. Even I’ve changed, and maybe not for the better.” He dropped his hands to his sides. “I’m not sure I could handle eternal life if Ramona changed for the worse. If I killed the passion that beats in her heart.”
“It’s a heart that will be forever stilled if you do nothing. If you cannot take a chance that all the goodness in that heart will survive.”
“Is that what you tell yourself, Ryder, as you lie beside Diana? You deceive yourself.” He shot a look at him from the corner of his eye and realized he had ripped deep into his friend’s heart. But he couldn’t apologize. Not when Ryder wasn’t being truthful with either of them.
“I must go,” Diego said. He surged up onto the ledge and transformed. When the vampire emerged, he sped off, a blur in the dark of the night.
The glare of the light as the van door opened roused Ramona. Barely. The pain in her head had spread to other parts of her body. Her joints and abdomen. Something warm wet her lips again. Another trickle of blood from her nose.
She stared at Big John when he stepped in, but his image wavered as dizziness assailed her.
“Boss man will be here in a few minutes. He suggested I go ahead and convince you to talk,” he said as he positioned himself in front of her.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Little girl, I can make your last moments very unpleasant.” To prove his point, he stepped behind her and grabbed hold of her bound wrists, pulling them upward.
Her arms screamed in agony, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
He jerked again and leaned over her shoulder, bringing his mouth close to her ear. Softly he said, “Maybe it’s not pain that’ll make you talk. Maybe you need something else.”
Dropping her hands, Big John reached from behind and groped her breast, his big hand squeezing painfully.
“That’s enough,” van Winter commanded as he came to the door.
Big John immediately left her to help van Winter up into the vehicle. The old man had changed into evening wear, clearly ready for a night out. As he had before, he settled himself on the chair and crossed his legs.
“I don’t have time for games, Ramona. My presence is demanded at a dinner honoring my various charitable donations.”
“Sucks for you,” she said, and Big John slapped her across the face.
Her head snapped back and she tasted fresh blood from where she had bitten the inside of her cheek. She struggled for breath, her chest suddenly tight. After a few quick, shallow inhalations, she managed to say, “Thought you were going to let Mother Nature take care of me.”
“Oh, she will, but a few bruises here and there are easily explained by a fall. Tell me who you told about poor Luis. And why was Rivera so eager to visit Alicia Tipton’s collection?”
Her chest rose and fell with difficulty, each breath harder to take. “You had someone sign the copies. Who? Luis?”
Van Winter chuckled harshly. “Luis could barely sign his own name.”
“Then who?” she asked, focusing on the thin, angular lines on his face, and as she did so, it came to her. “You did it.”
The smugness that had been on his visage faded immediately. “This is your last chance.”
“I’m a dead woman regardless of what I say, but understand this—Diego knows nothing. I’ve told no one.”
“Rather unbelievable, my dear, and so you leave me no choice.” He gestured to Big John. “Go pick up Rivera.”
Diana accepted the envelope from Diego, looked at the photos and combined them with the other papers on her desk. She calmly tucked them into the folder.
“What do w
e do now?” he asked, unnerved by her quiet.
“We don’t do anything. I’m going to see my assistant director.” She rounded her desk, intending to leave her office, but Diego grabbed her arm as she went by.
“We are going to see your director.”
“That’s not SOP, Diego.” She met his gaze, her own defiant, but he was not about to back down.
“I don’t even care what SOP means. Let’s go.”
She clearly resented his insistence. Despite that, she nodded curtly and ripped her arm from his grasp, once again surprising him with her strength as she stalked out of the office.
He was hot on her heels and nearly bowled her over when she stopped abruptly at one door. Entering, he realized they were in a large anteroom. The door to the office beyond was open and a handsome Latino sat in a leather executive chair, his head bent as he pored over the papers on his desk.
Diana walked to the door and knocked.
He looked up and appeared confused for a millisecond before he smiled. “Come in, Diana.”
“Gracias, Jesus. This is Diego Rivera,” she said, motioning to him.
Diego held out his hand and the other man rose, shook it and introduced himself. “Jesus Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge.”
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with us,” Diego murmured.
“Is that what I’m doing?” he asked, arching an eyebrow, though his look and tone were friendly.
“Jesus, I need to ask for a search warrant,” Diana said, and handed him the file.
The earlier good humor on the man’s face fled with her request. Without another word, he sat in his chair and reviewed the papers she had assembled. With each sheet he flipped, his manner became more abrupt, until he reached the last item and slammed the file shut.
“Please tell me you didn’t work on this case,” the ADIC said, glaring at Diana as he did so.
“Diego and Ramona are my friends. I couldn’t—”
“You deliberately defied the review board. At a minimum—”
“A woman’s life is at stake,” Diana pleaded, but Jesus continued as if uninterrupted.
“They will extend your suspension from active duty. At worst—”
“They’ll ask for my resignation. I’ll gladly give it if I can save Ramona’s life.” Diana reached for the file on his desk and opened it again. “This is a solid case,” she urged. “We’ve got van Winter’s bodyguard on video doing the snatch, and his prints on threatening photos.”
Jesus closed the file. “Frederick van Winter is one of the most powerful and influential men in the country, and from all appearances, Ramona Escobar is a forger.”
Diego jumped to her defense. “Ramona did not commit forgery.”
Diana laid a hand on his arm. “Look again, Jesus,” she said, and gestured to the file.
He did as she asked, and his eyes widened while reviewing one piece of paper. When he put it down, he said, “Our experts peg van Winter as the one who put the signatures on the paintings?”
Nodding, Diana said, “There were undeniable characteristics between van Winter’s signature and those on the masterpieces sold at auction.”
Closing the file, Jesus handed it back to her and said, “We’ll have to get a warrant.”
“There’s got to be some way to expedite this. Her life is at risk without her medications,” Diego interjected but the ADIC was already on the phone to a judge.
After, he motioned to Diana. “Finish this tonight. Tomorrow I’ll have to bring your actions before the review board.”
The agent rose from her chair. “Gracias, Jesus. I’ll need backup—”
“Take Maggie Gonzalez. I think she’s still down in the lab. Her medical expertise should help, as well. After you’ve got the warrant, call NYPD and put out an APB on the van and the two suspects. Also ask for some uniforms to secure the scene.”
“Will do,” she said, and headed out the door.
Diego lingered, shifting from foot to foot, torn up about the assistant director’s comments. “Diana did the right thing by helping us.”
“I expect my agents to follow the rules. If they don’t, I’d have bedlam in here.” Shaking his head in disgust, Jesus added, “Good luck finding your friend.”
Chapter 21
N ot even the Inquisitor had inflicted the kind of torture visited on Diego as he sat outside the judge’s chambers, waiting for him to issue a decision on the warrant Diana had requested. Beside Diego sat the attractive doctor that Jesus Hernandez had named as Diana’s backup.
Dr. Maggie Gonzalez had a model’s long build, enhanced with the kinds of curves a woman should have. Her remarkable green eyes were filled with intelligence, and thick auburn hair framed her striking features.
Though she was the kind of woman a man couldn’t fail to notice, Diego’s only interest in her centered on whether she could help find Ramona.
The door to the judge’s chambers opened and Diana walked out. “I’ve got it. Let’s go.”
Diego would have preferred to use his vampire speed. Instead he had to climb into the backseat of a standard issue, late-model sedan and endure the delays. Even with the siren and lights, they battled traffic heading uptown. As Maggie drove, Diana called a contact at the police department, ordered the APBs and requested uniformed backup.
Although it took less than twenty minutes to make the trip, it seemed forever. When they finally arrived at the van Winter building on Sixth, two police cars were waiting there, along with some familiar faces.
Ryder and Melissa stood on the sidewalk with the uniformed officers, plus Detective Peter Daly, an old friend who could be trusted to guard their secrets.
After Maggie pulled the sedan behind the police cars, they exited and met up with the detective and uniforms. Daly was the first to speak.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Diana. Van Winter’s attorneys are already here,” Daley explained. “He called them from the charity event he was attending when one of my partners went to fetch him.”
“We need to get inside and search as quickly as possible. A woman’s life is at stake,” Diana informed the detective.
“First hurdle’s going to be the suits. They’re waiting for us by the front door.” Daly gestured to the building set a distance back from the avenue. The glass encircling the entire lower floor provided a clear view of two men in business suits and a cadre of four or five security guards.
“Let’s go, then,” she said. But as Diego went to follow, Diana stopped him. “No civilians.”
Melissa protested first. “She’s going to need medical attention. I stopped by the hospital earlier to get some supplies.”
Diego noticed she held a medical bag in one hand, along with a cooler labeled with a biohazardous sign. Blood, he suspected.
Maggie Gonzalez stepped forward. “Give it to me. Once we find her, we’ll call for you to meet us.”
Melissa handed over the cooler, reluctant but aware that time spent arguing was time wasted.
Diana shot Ryder and Diego an anxious look. “You know what I need to do. The main thing is to preserve the crime scene so we can nail the old bastard.”
“Let’s get moving, Di,” Daly said, and as they walked away, he called the uniformed officers to go with the
m.
Diego watched them. At the door to the building, they met resistance just as Daly had expected. Diego itched to go over and burst through the phalanx of security guards blocking the way. He hadn’t even realized he’d made a motion in that direction until Ryder’s arm swept across his chest, holding him in place.
“Easy, amigo. Diana knows what she’s doing.”
Diego watched as she handed one of the suited men the warrant and they conversed. Her hands were braced on her hips, her posture confident. With a wave of her hand, she managed to part the sea of security guards, and her people moved forward toward the elevators.
“How long will it be now?” he wondered aloud, glancing up at the metal-and-glass building. Where in all that coldness had van Winter hidden Ramona? He didn’t want to consider the possibility that she wasn’t there.
Ryder followed his gaze, and once the majority of people had cleared out of the lobby, his friend said, “Race you up.”
Confusion reigned for a moment as Diego scanned the fifty or more stories to the uppermost floor and van Winter’s penthouse. The sheer glass walls would make the climb impossible and there were no buildings nearby to provide a launch point for accessing the penthouse, unless…
The older buildings on Seventh were not as tall, but their rooftops would be easier to access. A strong enough leap might get them to their target.
“Let’s go,” he said, but Melissa protested.
“Diana said—”
“That we needed to preserve the crime scene. She meant that we should look but not touch,” Ryder explained.
Melissa nodded as if realizing that with their powers, Ryder and Diego might have one up on the humans searching the scene. “Call me as soon as you know anything.”
“The same,” Ryder said. At his nod, they sped off toward Seventh, moving so quickly that the few scattered pedestrians on the street likely sensed no more than a breeze as they passed by.
Desire Calls Page 20