Primary Suspect

by Laura Scott

  Mitch shrugged. “I think it’s even stranger that Shelton, Inc., would hire a security guard with a criminal record. Wouldn’t they do a background check?”

  “Does the database say what kind of drugs?” she asked.

  “No.” Mitch paused. “Why does it matter?”

  Dana sighed. “I keep going back to the dart guns laced with carfentanil, the most dangerous narcotic ever made. And the fact that it’s only recently been showing up on the streets. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection between the drugs and the warehouse fires.”

  “That’s something to consider,” Mitch agreed. He reached for his phone to call Mike.

  “Put it on speaker,” Dana said.

  He did. After two rings, Mike picked up. “Hey, I was just going to call you. I found out more information.”

  “Tell us,” Mitch urged.

  “It’s a little complicated, but here’s what I found by digging into the fire prior to this most recent one. There’s a company called Chicago Land Corp. They actually sold the warehouse to ASP, Inc. for half a million.”

  Mitch let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money for a warehouse.”

  “I know, right? Especially since the value of the property isn’t even close to that amount. The land is only valued at one hundred thousand dollars. After the fire, the insurance company reimbursed ASP, Inc. for the full value. And then ASP, Inc. put the property on the market for the normal land value of one hundred thousand.”

  Dana frowned as Mitch scribbled the numbers on a blank sheet of paper. “So you’re saying that ASP, Inc. is making out on the deal by earning an extra hundred grand?”

  “At the very least. But it could be they’re making even more on the deal,” Mike said. “I haven’t been able to track down the original owners of Chicago Land Corp. It’s as if they don’t exist outside of paper.”

  Dana still wasn’t sure she understood. “So what?”

  “Hear me out. Why would anyone buy a property that’s overvalued in the first place?”

  “No clue,” Mitch said.

  “I think they’re buying these buildings from an underground organization for the actual cost of the property, say one hundred grand, but put a higher price on paper so they can justify the insurance coverage. They start construction, then there’s a fire. Once the fire is accidental in nature, the insurance company pays out the full half million. Then, instead of rebuilding, they sell the property for the cost they actually purchased it for, the original one hundred grand.”

  “That’s an interesting theory, bro, but we can’t prove it.”

  “I know,” Mike agreed. “I’m still working on finding more about Chicago Land Corp. But once I found the details of the fire from a few months ago, I thought I’d start digging into the most recent one. So far, I have a similar paper trail. The property was allegedly purchased for four hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Chicago Land Corp. Only difference is that the buyer is Shelton, Inc. instead of ASP, Inc. I believe they’re using different subsidiary companies so that they don’t attract attention.”

  “And it would have worked,” Mitch said, “if I hadn’t taken over Jeff’s cases and deemed the source of the fire as arson.”

  “Exactly.” Satisfaction rang in Mike’s tone. “This is why they’re trying to discredit you. Especially if you’re able to go back through Jeff’s notes and overrule his previous investigations, too.”

  Dana couldn’t deny there was logic in Mike’s assessment. “But how does this help us, moving forward? How are we going to be able to prove Mitch is being set up for murder?”

  “That’s a good question,” Mike said. “Maybe I’ll keep looking for other properties that Shelton, Inc., Worth More Construction and ASP, Inc. own. Maybe they already have another potential fire in the works.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Mitch agreed. “Oh, and Dana has a theory about illegal drugs being part of the mix.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Dana was surprised Mitch had brought it up to his brother. “It’s the carfentanil that was found in Mitch’s bloodstream,” she said. “It just seems odd to have the drug connected to the men who are trying to kill us. I’m wondering if the Chicago-based company uses these warehouses as a place to manufacture drugs, then when they feel the places outlive their usefulness, they sell the properties to Shelton, Inc.”

  There was a long moment of silence before Mike said, “I guess anything is possible.”

  “What we need is to check out one of the current warehouses owned by Chicago Land Corp.,” Mitch said. “Maybe that’s where we’ll find the proof we need.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Mike said. “Are you guys someplace safe?”

  “Yeah.” Mitch didn’t elaborate further. “Call me back if you find something.”

  “Will do.”

  Mitch pushed the end button, then sat back in his chair, gesturing to his notes. “What do you think of Mike’s theory?”

  “I hate thinking of Kent’s parents being involved in anything illegal,” she said. “I mean yes, they’re rich and stuffy, but they truly loved Kent. Why would they risk everything for money when they’re already well-off?”

  “The real estate market crashed ten years ago,” Mitch mused. “Maybe they took a hit during that time and needed to make up the difference.”

  “Maybe.” She couldn’t deny his point.

  “Did Kent leave any paperwork behind about the house you’re currently living in?”

  “What kind of paperwork?”

  “Anything about the value of the house, when it was built, who the subcontractors were.”

  Dana slowly shook her head. “Kent’s parents have all of that information.” She looked up and met Mitch’s gaze. “But now that I know they built the place, it’s strange how upset they get when I mention moving out of the house into something smaller.”

  “Who would get the house if something happened to you?” Mitch asked.

  “I’ve listed them as the beneficiaries,” she said with a shrug. “At the time it seemed logical. I wouldn’t have the house at all if it wasn’t for them giving it to us as a wedding gift.”

  “Your name is on the title?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but I still don’t believe the attempts on my life are related to the house. It makes no sense. Why not simply offer me a low price? They have to know I’d take it.”

  “But with you out of the picture, they get the property at full value.”

  “I don’t believe it.” She rose to her feet and walked over to the window overlooking the highway. The sidewalk was damp with rain.

  She’d known Kent’s parents for several years. It didn’t make sense that they’d try to hurt her now. What had changed? Nothing.

  Everything. She’d met Mitch Callahan and had started actually living her life instead of existing. But would the Petries know that?

  And even if they did, why had they fought her idea of selling the place? She’d assumed they wanted her living there as a way of clinging to Kent’s memory.

  What if she was wrong? She rested her forehead on the glass for a long moment, then abruptly straightened, swinging around to face Mitch.

  Maybe it was related to her being with Mitch. There hadn’t been an attempt on her life until after she’d helped him escape from the knife guy in the ER.

  Was it possible that rescuing Mitch had caused the Petries to turn against her? Why not? If the Petries were raking insurance companies for money from fires on their property, maybe they decided to take her and Mitch out at the same time.

  Eliminating both problems in one fell swoop.

  * * *

  “Something wrong?” Mitch didn’t like the shocked expression in Dana’s eyes.

  “I just can’t believe Kent’s parents would do all this—” she gestured helplessly in the
air “—for money. It’s a crazy, complicated scheme.”

  Mitch had been thinking along the same lines. “Almost seems easier to kill us outright and be done with it.”

  She shivered and rubbed her hands over her arms. “Yes.”

  “Although maybe after Jeff’s death, they thought it would be better to frame me than to kill me.”

  Her expression was pained. “Can we stop talking about being killed? It’s unsettling.”

  He crossed over and gently pulled her into his arms. “I’ll keep you safe, Dana.”

  She rested her cheek against his chest. “I know. But it’s already been several days. How much longer can we live like this?”

  He didn’t have a good answer for her.

  “If we get out of this...” she began.

  “When,” he interrupted, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Let’s think positive. When we get out of this.”

  He could feel her smile and decided to count that as a victory. “When we get out of this, I’m moving out of Kent’s house. In fact, I’d rather not go back there ever again.”

  “Understandable,” he replied. “We’ll only go back long enough to pack your things, okay?”

  “Okay.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “Thanks, Mitch.”

  He didn’t deserve her gratitude. “I’m the reason you’re in this mess.”

  “Not really.” She leaned back so she could look up at him. “Since Kent’s death, I’ve only been existing, not living my life.” A smile tipped the corners of her mouth. “Until I came over to talk to you. And now that I’ve begun to enjoy life, I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to the way it was before.”

  “I’m glad.” His voice was low and husky and it was taking everything he had not to kiss her again. “You deserve to be happy.”

  Her smile faded. “I haven’t felt happy in a long time. But now, with you, it feels right.”

  His heart soared with joy and he stopped fighting his instincts. Slowly, giving her a chance to pull away, he lowered his mouth to hers.

  She met his kiss with one of her own and he gathered her close, wishing they could stay like this, cocooned from the world forever.

  Then he wasn’t thinking at all, only feeling.

  The shrill ringing of his phone finally broke them apart, and even then he was mentally cursing his brother’s rotten timing. Reluctantly he eased her aside so he could grab the stupid phone.

  “What?” He didn’t care if he sounded crabby.

  “What’s the matter, I interrupt you again?”

  “Knock it off,” he growled, glancing at Dana. “If you have news, I’ll put you on speaker.”

  “I have news.” Mike waited for a minute while Mitch pressed the speaker button, then continued, “I found another warehouse that is currently owned by Chicago Land Corp.”

  Mitch felt a surge of anticipation. “Where?”

  “Downtown Milwaukee, in the old manufacturing district just off Riverbend Street. Chicago Land Corp. has owned it for about three months. Figured we could check out Dana’s theory, see if there’s any link to the drug trade.”

  “I’d like to go along,” Dana said.

  Mitch instinctively wanted to protest, but his brother did it for him. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Mike said. “Better for you and Mitch to stay where you are.”

  “What I’ve learned about street drugs from working in the ER might be helpful. We’ve been educated especially on carfentanil.”

  “We need all the help we can get,” Mitch pointed out. “And we should head out soon, take advantage of the crummy weather.”

  “Yeah, okay,” Mike relented. “Let’s meet at a neutral place, say outside the Brat Stop.”

  Their old familiar stomping grounds made Mitch grin. “Give us twenty minutes and we’ll see you there.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Mitch tucked the phone into his pocket and then shut down the computer. Dana came over to help put their notes back into the file folders. Their fingers brushed, causing an electrical jolt to shimmy up his arm.

  It occurred to him that he hadn’t had this kind of chemistry with Janice. Was this what his brothers and Maddy had experienced when they’d found their mates? If so, he should be grateful he’d found out about Janice and Simon.

  In less than two minutes, they were back in the rented SUV. The sky was so dark he needed to use his headlights to see through the rain.

  Mitch had a good feeling about this lead on the warehouse and wondered if Shelton, Inc., was already in the process of purchasing the place.

  Now that he thought about it, the fires Jeff had investigated had been spaced at least five months apart. So maybe the sale wouldn’t be in the works for another few months.

  “Is that the Brat Stop?” Dana asked, peering through the rain. “I’m surprised it’s busy with this weather.”

  “Good news for us, an extra car in the lot won’t be noticed.” He pulled into the parking lot and spied Hawk’s SUV. The water had washed away the mud from the license plate. Using his phone, he dialed Mike. “We need to take the rental.”

  “Be right there.” Mike opened the door and ran through the rain to meet them. “Good thing it’s warm out,” his brother groused from the back seat.

  “We won’t melt.” Mitch glanced over his shoulder. “What’s the address?”

  “Corner of Riverbend and Morgan.”

  Mitch nodded, recognizing the area. He put the car in gear and then drove out of the Brat Stop parking lot.

  “Let’s do a drive-by first,” Mike suggested. “See if there’s any sign of activity.”

  “Sure.” Mitch kept his eyes on the road, aware of the slick surface.

  “Dana, what do you know about this new narcotic?” Mike asked.

  “It’s usurping heroin because there’s a higher payoff for the drug suppliers. A small amount goes a long way and it’s cheaper to manufacture. And it can even be absorbed through skin, and of course mucous membranes like your nose and mouth.” Dana shook her head. “But it’s also causing deaths, which is counterproductive to the drug trade.”

  “Do you know how it’s made?” Mike asked.

  “I don’t know exactly but I know it’s man-made and can be created in a lab, much like meth.”

  “Perfect use for a warehouse,” Mitch muttered. “Is that it up ahead?”

  “Slow down,” Mike directed. “I think it’s the old gray building at the end of the street.”

  At first he thought the place was abandoned. But then he saw the faint beam of light from a window along the side of the building.

  “Someone’s in there,” he said.

  “Yeah, I saw the light, too,” Mike agreed.

  “We need to see what’s going on inside,” Dana chimed in. “Let me out here, and I’ll take a look.”

  “Not without me.” Mitch didn’t want her to go anywhere near the place. He stopped at the stop sign at the end of the street, planning to circle around the block.

  Mike chose that moment to push his door open. “Pick me up in five minutes.”

  “Wait...” he started but it was too late. Mike slammed the door and ran lightly toward the building.

  Mitch blew out a breath and turned left. Dana reached out to grasp his arm. “Do you see that guy?”

  “Who?” He squinted through the rain and saw who she meant. A man wearing a black raincoat and a hat strode across the street to a parking lot where a large black Cadillac Escalade was sitting. “Does he look familiar to you?”

  Dana didn’t respond, her gaze focused out her passenger-side window. He needed to watch the road, but took his time making the turn.

  “I don’t believe it,” Dana whispered.

  His gut clenched. “What?”

  “That’s Oliver Shelton,” Dana sa
id.

  “Are you sure?” He wanted to believe her, but it was dark and raining, and she’d admitted she hadn’t met the guy often.

  “Yes, positive. Oliver looks even more like Alice than he did before. But I don’t understand—the building is still owned by Chicago Land Corp., right? So why is he here?”

  “Maybe he’s more involved with the owners of Chicago Land than we thought.” Mitch didn’t like the implication.

  “Slow down, there’s Mike.”

  He hit the brakes and unlocked the doors. Mike ducked inside, his wet hair plastered against his head and his dark T-shirt soaked to the skin. “Dana was right, they’re definitely making drugs. I could see chemistry-type equipment and white powder.”

  Mitch met his brother’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “We need to let Miles know.” He quickly dialed Miles’s number.

  Just as his brother answered, “Hello?” there was a loud noise that sounded suspiciously like a gunshot.

  Someone was shooting at them from the warehouse!

  SIXTEEN

  A gunshot? Before Dana could react, three men swarmed out of the warehouse back door, instantly surrounding their SUV in the front and on both sides, handguns held ready.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Mitch swiftly tuck his phone into the front pocket of his jeans.

  “Hands up! Get out of the car!” the tall guy standing directly in front of their SUV yelled.

  Dana’s stomach clenched with fear and she silently began to pray. Dear Lord, help us! Keep us safe!

  “Okay, okay!” Mitch held his arms up palms forward in a gesture of surrender. “Don’t shoot! We’re coming out!”

  “Are you nuts?” Mike asked in a harsh whisper.

  “You have a better idea?” Mitch countered in a low voice. The rain pelting against the hood of the car helped keep their conversation private. “The only option we have is to stall for as long as possible.” Raising his voice, he said again, “We’re coming out!” Slowly, he pulled the door latch, then kicked it the rest of the way open with his foot.

  Dana mimicked his motions on her side and stepped out into the deluge. The sky brightened with a shaft of lightning followed by a long rumble of thunder as the storm gathered intensity.