“To round up an old friend whose memory works well when he gets his palm greased. But he hates cops, especially male cops. So you can’t come with me. You gotta trust me on this.”
Seconds passed as he reflected. “Fine. I’ll grab a ride to headquarters and catch up with you there.” He gently massaged her arm before letting it go completely. A slight twinkle appeared.
Aurora’s surprise, evidenced by the look in her eyes, appeared before she lowered her head.
“You thought I’d insist?”
“You’re a cowboy. How the hell do I know how you’ll react?”
“With common sense—always.”
“Always? You sure?”
“Almost always.” He grinned and walked back into the room where people were hard at work, trying to capture a killer with a fifteen your old boy at his mercy.
Chapter Seventeen
She pounded on the door of the tacky apartment where her informant Luke lived. The derelict old building’s hallway smelled of greasy pizza, pot and piss.
Aurora pounded on the door. “Come on Luke. Get your behind outta bed and open up. It’s me, your sister come to visit.”
Whenever she ran him down at his place, as promised, she left all signs of her job in the car. No badge or gun, just a girl looking for her brother.
The next door opened and the frizzy-headed fellow down the hall poked his head out. “Hey Rory, he’s home. Saw him came in about an hour ago.”
“Don’t call me Rory. It’s Aurora, you big lug. You sure he’s here?”
“Yep. Had a late one last night though. Worked a double, so he’s most likely dead to the world.”
“Then give me his key. I forgot mine. Come on Ray, gimme, huh? I need to see him.”
“No way, man. He’ll kill me. I’m only supposed to use it if there’s an emergency.”
“So me beating the crap outta you isn’t an emergency?”
“Well when you put it like that… I’ll get it.”
These two who lived next door to each other had formed an unlikely friendship over the years and had first been introduced by Aurora. Ray, being the only one in the building who knew that Aurora carried a badge, kept it to himself.
Years before, his hacking ability had gotten him into a ton of hot water. When Aurora had seen his potential and bailed him out of trouble, he moved out of the old neighbourhood, got a job with the department and made pals with Luke. Since then, he never failed her. And as far as she knew, he kept his nose clean. Still, he really believed that she was Luke’s sister and never interfered when they spent time together.
He handed her the key. “Slip it under my door when you leave. I wouldn’t want him to know I’d let you in.”
Aurora couldn’t tell him that Luke would already know due to the fact that she’d never had her own key. Luke wouldn’t allow it.
The living room, darkened with heavy curtains missing hooks here and there, was murky but cool. Squeals, from the air conditioner in the corner, set her teeth on edge and so she went over and pounded it once, then again. The proper hum that followed made her shake her head. The kid had enough money to buy himself a good appliance, why the hell didn’t he?
“Don’t move. Put your hands up.”
“Luke, you better not be packing. Seriously.”
“What he hell, Aurora? You can’t just break into my place whenever you want. It’s my castle, man.”
“Quit changing the subject.” She turned around to see him placing something in the back waistband of his pants.
With her hand held out, she waited.
He pulled the toy gun from behind and passed it to her. “I gotta have some protection.”
“I see. This is really going to help. What? You figure on shooting the criminal with a cap?” She threw the amazingly accurate copy on the spindle-legged coffee table.
“Whaddaya want? And how did you get in?”
“Picked the lock. Your eyes are glassy." She stepped into his space and grabbed his chin.
“Hey, I’m straight edge. You know I don’t do drugs.” The belligerence in his stance became his best line of defence.
“Sorry, I’m tired. Listen, put on some pants. I want to talk to you. I’ll make the coffee.”
“I don’t want coffee. I don’t want to talk. I want to sleep. So leave.”
She moved closer and stared him down.
He added. “Please!”
“Think about it Luke, Would I mess with you if it wasn’t serious? I need your help.”
“I don’t know anything. It’s been quiet and I’m off until tomorrow. Come on Rory, I need sleep.”
“So I need you. And don’t call me Rory.”
“Your partner Debbie does.”
“Ex-partner, and she’s been told. Never mind, let me explain what’s happened. Then you tell me if you want in or out. Get your pants on.”
The young man stomped into the bedroom and slammed the door. Two minutes later he appeared with his long hair tied behind and a pair of jean shorts barely surviving their ride on his narrow hips.
He beat her by jumping into conversation before she had a chance to form a sentence. “It’s Rhondo, right?”
“Yeah! How did you know?” She handed him a mug of his favourite instant coffee with four lumps of sugar.
“He’s the only reason you’d break into my place rather than have me picked up.”
“It’s Rhondo.”
“What’s the bum done this time?”
“ He’s taken a kid, a fifteen year old called Wayne. And he’ll mess that kid up big-time.”
“Shit.”
“Tell me something, Luke. Anything I can use. There’s got to be word on the street with the new product he’s selling.”
“I got nothing, Aurora.”
“An address, anything. Who’s he been seen with? Any women talking about parties coming up?”
“Parties! Hey! I overheard Joe Crawly ask the boss whether Johnnie Ross was going to show up for the shower. They roared like it was a big joke and then they saw me listening and changed the subject. Didn’t make any sense at all.”
The boss was big Mike, a Polack who ran his bar with a steal fist inside a velvet glove. No one messed with him or they ended up in a hospital bed. He played by the rules—his rules. Kept his nose clean, didn’t take sides, paid for protection and bossed Luke while making sure no-one else did. A strange man, but nobody’s fool.
“Ross? Is that loser back in town?”
“Not so’s I know. You scared him pretty good. Word’s out that Earl wants to have a little talk with him if he returns. As long as Rhondo’s in the vicinity, my money’s on Ross not returning
“Mine too. After we made the deal with him, where he turned on Rhondo and gave us the party address last week, I figured him for disappearing. So when he did, I wasn't surprised. We covered him in Reno to make sure he didn't warn Rhondo. But then he skipped. No one’s seen him for the last week or so.'
"I took him for a rat-fink. Knew he'd squeal with a bit of convincing." Satisfaction rang in Luke's voice.
"You say they mentioned a shower, like in the same terms as a party?”
“Yeah, didn’t make any sense. Unless they meant a fancy place where people take showers. I don’t even know if it had anything to do with Rhondo. Just a gut feeling.”
“Can you find out?”
Luke emptied his mug and slammed it down on the table. Then he shook his head and groaned. “You want me to go back to work tonight.”
“I want you to go back, yes. Then I want you to find out anything you can and call me. I’ve got to help this kid, Luke.”
“Okay, fine. For the kid, but it’ll cost ya!”
“Doesn’t it always.”
***
While Aurora drove back to headquarters, she lightly banged the palm of her hand against her ear to stop the noise. The second time it happened, she became aware of what she was doing and wondered if other people had to put up with the tinnitus as m
uch as she did. Like her brain needing to depressurize, set the warning bells ringing.
Most times it happened in moments of stress and she’d started using the phenomena as an indication to prepare herself. Crazy though it seemed, up to now it hadn’t let her down. But this time the sounds were different, like a hum rather than a ringing. As if she’d overlooked something and her brain wouldn’t let it rest.
What did she miss? She rewound her day up to the present and frustration peaked. Nothing! Pealing around the corner, the tires screeching in reproach, she swung into the detective’s parking lot. Braking hard then throwing the gearshift into park, she stopped the car.
Deep breathing settled her stomach somewhat although hunger pains wouldn’t be assuaged so easily. Food! She hadn’t eaten all day. Must be why her nerves wouldn’t settle down.
She relaxed against the headrest, and her eyes closed. So much had happened in the last few days. Flashbacks of being with Debbie when the Ashton’s baby was born stood out and ranked as a memory she’d always cherish. The tiny human being had affected her deeply. His little fingers and toes and the searching stare he sent her way. As if he recognized her voice. So precious! So Perfect!
Then the remembrance of the time spent in the pub surfaced and she knew she was smiling like an idiot. She glanced around quickly to see if anyone had witnessed her goofy behaviour and saw that she was alone. She relaxed again.
Up to now, she’d shied away from remembering the hot and heavy episode with Kai, but for a few minutes, she allowed herself to relive the sensations. Instantly her breasts tightened and the multitude of little pests in her stomach started up again—hammering and flipping around.
What is wrong with me? I can’t get hooked up on a guy who has a death wish to fulfill. Either by getting killed himself or ending up on death row for killing someone else.
The man was a total enigma. She’d seen his gentle handling of the victims and his coddling of the few moms he’d interviewed. Then later, Darlene had trusted him immediately and he didn’t take advantage of that trust. He’d been supportive and kind.
Not until he’d gotten her into the hallway had he lost his cool. Showed some of the anger she'd sensed that flowed in his body and fed his hunger for revenge.
Rubbing her head against the leather, she recognized that the ringing had returned with a vengeance. What the hell? Something about them being in the hallway…something.
Shit! She slammed her hand on the steering wheel over and over. How could have missed it? Wrenching her phone from her pocket, fumbling with the dam thing, she finally had it to her ears and rang through to the boys upstairs.
“Hey Ham. Is Kai there? Tell him I’m downstairs waiting in the car. Tell him to get the lead out—I know where Wayne is.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kai didn’t like being left behind. He’d rather be the ‘leaver’. And for a bossy kinda guy like him, that’s usually how it worked.
While sorting through files, his mind again went back to his partner. The doll drove him crazy. So far, there wasn’t a second while in her company that his body didn’t announce its satisfaction or lack of satisfaction by being in a perpetual semi-hard position.
Not comfortable and not gonna happen. The saints, or whoever looks after the misguided souls in the world, had stopped him from taking her to bed. From tasting all the best places on her body and finding the hidden places in her heart that he knew he’d want to visit.
Except that once he made that trip, he’d never be satisfied with anyone else. Or with being alone. That kind of woman would become his new home and he’d be lost. His goal aborted and his future changed forever.
Couldn’t happen. He’d never know peace. Always be looking back instead of ahead. No future for a guy whose soul lived in darkness. How could he make anyone happy?
Ham appeared into the doorway and put paid to Kai’s musings. “Morelli’s downstairs and wants you to join her. She says she knows where Wayne is. We’ll get a team together and be right behind you.”
Before he could question the man further, the space in the doorway was empty and he heard footsteps racing in the hallway. He whipped up his gun and lifted his shirt to put it away and then hit the off button on his computer.
Racing from the building he heard a car approach and looked up just in time. She’d pulled up in front of him and yelled through the window. “Get in. We’re going to get Wayne.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kai entered first and saw that the poor kid curled on the floor was barely alive. From the looks of it, he’d fought hard and long but it hadn’t stopped the beating or the rest of his torture.
Eyes barely able to open, Wayne still tried to smile when he realized that Kai and Aurora had found him,
“I knew you’d come.” Breathing harshly, he tried to grin but the torn lips started bleeding and he stopped.
“I wish it had been sooner. Man, I’m really sorry.” Kai held the youngster’s hand and his begging look towards Aurora had her using her phone to find out where the ambulance had gotten.
“They just hit a traffic jam from a three car pile-up; they’ll go around and be here shortly.” She whispered the words but Wayne still heard her.
“Hey, I’m okay. Just can’t move. Then it hurts. Don’t let Darlene in. I don’t want her to see me like this. She’ll worry all over me.”
“As soon as you’re on the way, we’ll get her and bring her to the hospital.” Aurora countered with a gentle note in her voice.
“I know you’re dying to ask what happened….”
“Hey, if you’re not up to telling us now, we can wait.”
Wayne’s hand rose to wave away Kai’s suggestion. “Earl laughed when I woke up and realized where we were. He bragged about having the key and knowing that no one would ever be smart enough to look in his old place. Hell, right under the cop’s eyes he kept saying, right where—”
A cough choked off the rest of his words. Aurora’s careful touch, wiping the blood from his eyes seemed to soothe and the hacking sounds diminished.
The boy reached for Kai’s hand. “I’m scared, man. Can you stay with me?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be right here. Just hold on.”
The distant siren grew louder as it approached the building. Running footsteps heralded newcomers. Ham and his partner Roy showed up in time to stop the lookie-loos from being a nuisance.
Ham organized the team while uniformed officers pushed people back and opened a path for the stretcher to get into the room unimpeded. The voices of angry tenant’s could be heard in the background. “What is it with this building? I’m moving. This the second time in less than a week.” Many used loud tones, fear lacing their voices.
Crime scene investigators showed up and the picture taking, finger printing and analyzing of trace evidence started. The yellow tape appeared and so did Darlene.
Surprised to see her, Aurora stood and approached. Why the hell hadn't they made her go for treatment?
Screaming, the girl had to be held back by two cops who had a fight on their hands. It wasn’t until Aurora stepped in to take over that she calmed down.
“He’s alive, Darlene. They’re getting him ready to take to the hospital. He talked to us.”
“I want to see him.” Darlene slapped at the hands holding her back.
“No time, they need to take him now. Kai will go with him. He seems to relate to him somehow, and he’s stronger when they’re together. I’ll take you with me. We’ll get there just as quickly with the siren on. Go, get dressed.”
“I refused to leave the house earlier. I’ve been waiting for word about Wayne. Sitting and praying. I took the pills the ambulance guys recommended for my headache. They must have put me to sleep. Then the noise woke me up.” She rambled and couldn't seem to stop. Her hands pulled on Aurora's sleeves as if her agitation needed a physical outlet.
“It’s not your fault, Darlene. No-one thought he’d try something like this right under our nose
s.”
“How did you know? Did someone call?”
“No. I just followed up on a suspicion. I was right.”
“Thank the Lord, he’s still alive. If you hadn’t of found him, he might have died all alone.”
"He's not alone now, and he isn't going to die
***
Once the nurse allowed that Darlene, and only Darlene could see her brother, Aurora decided, since she was in the hospital anyway, she’d check out her new godson in the nursery. She took the elevator to the right floor and stepped towards the area where walls of murals depicted it to be the baby ward.
The swing door opened soundlessly, and she was just in time to see a large man wearing a sweatshirt, hood up over his head, swagger up to the wall of glass, only to bang his arms against it. Trained to read another’s body language, this guy’s behaviour screamed of suffering. Being near him, she could almost smell his pain.
The disparaging sound she'd made over his reckless behaviour had come automatically; she hadn’t stop to think. Then felt sorry in case the man had lost a baby or something terrible. From the way her stomach behaved, the waves radiating from him made her believe something bad had happened.
The small noise caught his attention. He turned slightly without showing his face then started to walk away, almost running. At first, she didn’t think anything of it, figured he didn’t want to be disturbed. A father who’d suffered a loss would want to be alone, wouldn’t he?
A peek through the glass proved there were only two female babies in cots and that the Ashton baby must be in his Mom’s room. Maybe she'd visit. All of a sudden she had a need to lean against the wall for support.
Her nerves exploded, heralding a crisis. From the moment she'd entered the area, her ears had started doing their thing. Trying to stop the blasted clanging, she breathed deeply and forced herself to relax—except her body revved up even more. Something about that dude’s size and manner made her re-evaluate.
Shit! It couldn’t be. But it was…Rhondo. She took off at a run, gun pulled out and down by her side.
Roll the Dice (Vegas Series) Page 8