Tall, Dark, and Deadly

by Heather Graham

  The day was disturbing to her. She felt restless, afraid that things were beginning to unravel. And though she was glad, she was afraid that the situation would get worse before it could get better. If Beth Bellamy would come to, it would help. But Beth had nearly died two times now. The police were trying to make sure that there wasn’t a third time.

  She was uneasy that day but never alone. Rowan drove her to the station, and he drove her home.

  Her telephone line was tapped. If the caller dialed through with another message for her, they had a chance of trapping him.

  She didn’t forget that life did go on. As Laura had asked her to, she put through calls to her friends and associates. Each time she talked to a man, she wondered if his voice was the one she had heard, the husky, threatening voice that had warned her to “leave it be.”

  She couldn’t reach Loretta, but she left a message on the woman’s answering machine.

  “What do we do now?” she asked Rowan when they were alone together.

  “Wait. Go on.”

  “We can’t just wait. Marnie could be in danger—”

  He smoothed her hair. “Sam, I’m so sorry. You know that Marnie is most probably dead.”

  “No. She hasn’t been found. There’s hope.”

  That evening Aidan came by with his group. They weren’t disturbed about the article on Rowan. They thought it would help.

  That disturbed Rowan, but he went ahead and practiced with them, and Sam even sat in on a few sets. Laura was happy. “You see, it was our grandfather—Sam’s and mine—who was a really great musician. He played all over Europe. Musical talent must be genetic.”

  “Then what happened to you, Mom?” Aidan teased.

  But Laura shrugged. “It skips people now and then,” she laughed.

  They barbecued on Rowan's patio, and the guys in the band stayed late. Teddy came by, listening, applauding. They had yet to identify the other bones found in the swamp. Divers were out again today, and they would go out again tomorrow.

  “We’re having to go back on everything, now that Chloe’s disappearance is a homicide.”

  “Are you the lead detective now?” Laura asked him.

  “No. It remains Rolf’s case,” Teddy said. “But I’m still allowed to assist.”

  “Oh?” Sam said. She realized that Rowan was looking at Teddy.

  “Are they thinking of bringing me back in?”

  Teddy shrugged. “Aldridge is an ass, you know.”

  “He wants me arrested?” Rowan asked.

  “Teddy!” Laura said.

  “On what charge?” Sam demanded. “They can’t have any evidence—”

  “Oh, there’s evidence on a charge of attempted murder. Of Beth Bellamy.”

  “Rowan,” Sam said, “maybe you should go somewhere—”

  “I’m going to Coconut Grove tomorrow,” he said firmly. “If they want to arrest me, hell—Sam has invited Kevin, and he is one damn good lawyer. Whatever else he may be.”

  The party spirit was broken. Bit by bit, the boys in the band began to leave.

  Teddy and Laura left together. Sam was glad to see them together.

  Rowan went back to playing the drums. He was a better drummer than she was. But then, he was a natural musician. And he was angry.

  Her turn. She walked to him, and took the drumsticks from his hands. “Don’t worry.”

  He shook his head at her. “I’m not afraid of being arrested. It’s happened before. And they will have to release me. I’m innocent.”

  “If Beth dies…”

  “But if she doesn’t, she’ll recognize the man who did this to her.”

  “She’s got to pull through.”

  “I believe she will,” he said, and she knew that he meant it.

  “Then… why are you so… tense?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  His words sent a shiver down her spine, but she wouldn’t let him see it. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “You want to find Marnie. You ask questions. You cause things to happen. Please, listen to me now—stop asking questions. And stay near me. At all times. Do you understand?”

  “Of course.”

  “Don’t leave me—no matter how much you want to find Marnie.”

  “I won’t.” She smiled, and stroked his cheek with her palm. “I just love a good beat,” she told him softly.

  And he smiled at last. And rose, and took her into his arms.

  The phone at Sam’s house rang very late. Rowan, awakened, glanced at his watch. Three a.m.

  He rose quickly, grabbing a towel to wrap around his middle. He hurried to the machine and waited, wondering if the killer was calling again.

  He was surprised when he heard his own name called by Teddy. “Rowan? Rowan, if you’re there, pick up. Please, pick up. Hey, Sam, if you hear this, have Rowan call me. At any time. It’s important. It’s—”

  Rowan picked up. “Teddy, it’s me.”

  “Is the machine off?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know if you want Sam to hear this or not… I’m not even sure if I should be telling you, but…”

  “Teddy, dammit, you called.”

  “Yeah, well… the phone companies have done some serious traces. Since Marnie disappeared, there have been two calls made to Sam’s house—from Marnie’s cellular phone.”

  Ice seemed to shoot through Rowan’s veins. The killer was after Sam. Afraid of Sam. And she was in danger. “Teddy, something has to break on this.”

  “Yeah, well, this police psychiatrist has been telling us that a guy like this may start off slow, a woman here and there… but eventually he begins to lose control. He gets careless.”

  “Thank God.”

  Teddy hesitated. “Whoever he is—he’s already gotten careless.”

  “Oh?”

  “Marnie’s cell phone was found. Last night. One of the cops picked it up.”

  “Where?”

  “Your yard.”

  Rowan exhaled on a long breath. “So…”

  “I wanted to warn you—I thought you should know.”

  “Is there a warrant out for me yet?”

  “Not yet, but it may be coming. The cops will be watching you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sam will eventually have to know—”

  “I’ll tell her first thing in the morning.”

  It was the middle of the night. He sat in his small boat in the bay. His car and hitch were south; he always kept them south. Far away. Because he was smart.

  But it was getting out of hand. He had to be careful. This would not be good. Before, he was patient. He would wait. Choose his women. And keep them. And they would serve, until they would serve no more. And then…

  He would keep them no more.

  And now…

  It was becoming a crowded house. A harem, he thought with humor. But it was dangerous, far too dangerous.

  It didn’t matter.

  He wanted Sam. It was her turn. People did disappear. They disappeared for years, and eventually those around them gave up the hunt. He was smart, he was thorough, he could even frame those around him and enjoy the confusion that followed.

  But then there was Sam…

  I can see you, Samantha! I can see you.

  And I want you…

  He closed his eyes, remembering. He had watched her tonight. Watched them. They hadn’t known yet. Known that he had left the phone in Rowan’s yard.

  Soon the police would come for him. Poor Sam. She’d be alone. His turn.

  Love, or passion, had made them careless. They had been behind the drum set, but he could see them.

  He could still see her…

  Shedding her clothing.

  He could see him.

  Touching her. Sliding against her, down on his knees before her. The toss of her head, the arch of her back. He sat in agony. Oh, God, he could almost hear her, smell h
er, feel her…

  Soon.

  Soon.

  I can see you, Samantha.

  And soon…

  I will have you.

  It was too dangerous, no, no. Too dangerous. But the danger was part of the game.

  He was moving too quickly. He couldn’t be careless!

  Never careless.

  He sat tense. In pain. Watching. Gritting his teeth.

  Tomorrow. Before they arrested Rowan, before he could not be blamed for all that happened… and was to come.

  Chapter 23

  Aidan had been worried about their audience. He needn’t have been. Sam had called in favors from everyone she knew, but she needn’t even have done that. It was a beautiful day, food and radio sponsors were hosting the event, and the park was filled when the first, least-known band began to play.

  It was funny to see Kevin Madigan in shorts and a baseball cap. He looked cute.

  “I actually wanted to get Loretta to come out with me,” he told Sam, standing by her side while the band members worked unloading equipment. “I couldn’t get ahold of her.”

  “I called her once yesterday, too. Come to think of it, she didn’t call me back,” Sam said.

  “Maybe she went away for the weekend.” He looked at her. “She works side jobs, you know.”

  “Side jobs? You mean, at the club?”

  “Yeah, well, other side jobs,” he said. He was wearing a funny kind of smile as he looked at her. “She didn’t tell you what kind, huh?”

  “No. What kind, Kevin?”

  “Parties. Private parties. Bachelor parties, birthday parties.”

  “Oh, God, Kevin—”

  “I don’t make her work, Sam. I had nothing to do with any of this. I may be rude at times, and abrasive, but… I have nothing to do with how Loretta chooses to make extra money. I swear it. Can I get you anything? Want a soda, a beer?”

  “No,” she said, and added a grudging “Thanks.”

  “Look. There’s Lee Chapman, right behind us. Did you call him and ask him to come to this?” Kevin asked Sam.

  She couldn’t believe he was asking her that. She hoped that Rowan hadn’t seen the man.

  “You know,” Kevin said, “I might have mentioned it. You said you needed all the people you could get.”

  “I think I used the word ‘people,’ ” Sam murmured.

  By then, though, Chapman was up with them. “Hello, there.”

  Sam nodded stiffly to him.

  “Have you talked with Marnie’s secretary, Loretta?” Kevin asked him.

  “Nope. Not in the last few days. She worked Friday night, I know,” Chapman said.

  “Excuse me. I’ll go help the guys with that big amp,” Kevin said. He walked away.

  Sam looked at Lee Chapman. He smiled at her. Where was Rowan?

  “You don’t like me, do you?” he asked her.

  “No,” she said honestly.

  He laughed. “Fair enough. Maybe you have good reason. But I’ll tell you again, I haven’t had anything to do with women dying. I like women. More than one at a time, come to think of it. But with your friend, Marnie Newcastle—honey, I need Marnie Newcastle.”

  Sam stared at him, alarmed to feel that he was being honest. No, she didn’t like him; she never would. But she somehow believed him.

  He was so open about being a sleazebag.

  “How do you know Loretta worked Friday night?” she asked.

  He stared at her a long moment, assessing her. He still seemed to be smiling. “Because I do have money in the strip club. And I schedule some of the talent. She told me she had a side gig ”

  “Oh, well, maybe it extended through the weekend—”

  “No.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Well, honey, because she’s a stripper—and when she really likes what she sees, she’s willing to go for a little prostitution on the side. Don’t go getting any more ideas about me. I’m not a pimp. I have nothing to do with it. I just manage a totally legit club. I’m not a murderer, Miss Miller, just a capitalist. I heard back about Loretta’s party on Friday night; she left after having done a damn fine job.”

  “Well, who does manage the side jobs?”

  “Don’t you know?” he asked.

  “No!”

  He shrugged. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  “The police will make you say!”

  He smiled. “Then have me arrested, Miss Miller. Too bad you aren’t a bit more of a capitalist—we’d have room for you at the club. Excuse me, I’ll move on.”

  She watched him go, gritting her teeth, making a mental note to tell Teddy everything that he’d said. Tonight. When this was over, when they were all out of here. She needed to tell Rowan as well. But not here, not today. He was already tense enough. Somehow, they just had to make it through today.

  Side jobs…

  If someone was setting up side jobs, then perhaps all the girls who had disappeared had done so because of those side jobs.

  He wasn’t going to tell her anything. Still smiling, mocking her, he moved on. She was still feeling chilled when Phil touched her arm. She nearly jumped. She forced a smile.

  Phil, with the contractors and construction workers, was wearing a tank top that showed most of his tattoos. He was still a good-looking guy, so well muscled, with his handsome, cocky grin. He’d started drinking beer pretty early, so it seemed, and was in a cheerful mood, introducing Sam to far more men than she wanted to know.

  But by the time he started his introductions, Rowan had finished helping Aidan and his friends. He was sticking to her side like glue, so she felt safe.

  Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed her talking with Lee Chapman.

  The construction guys were big. Rowan was very tall, though, and they seemed to think he could hold his own. He most probably could.

  She remembered the bodyguard at the strip joint.

  Yes, he could take care of himself.

  Joe had made it. He was standing with a number of their clients, working the crowd. She saw that even Mr. Daly had come. Teddy was there with a number of cops, some of them watching Rowan warily.

  Sam was frightened, really frightened. Rowan had told her that morning that Teddy had called to warn him. The calls to her had definitely come from the killer.

  Who had used Marnie’s phone.

  And now the phone had been found in Rowan’s yard. The good thing was that it could so obviously be a plant. The bad was that there could have been so much commotion that, to police minds. Rowan could have simply gotten careless.

  He squeezed her hand, looking around. It was a spectacular spring day. The temperature was in the seventies. The foliage surrounding the cleared areas was lush, and bougainvilleas were in bloom. From the park, they could see down to the water and the marina. The sky was crystal clear, the water glittered in the sunlight. Boats seemed to sway lightly and dance to the music.

  “Aldridge is trying to convince his sergeant that I should definitely be arrested. Maybe they’re waiting to pounce.”

  “We can leave—”

  “No, we can’t. But if I’m taken in, I want you to stay with Laura until bail is arranged. Do you understand?”

  “Sure, but—”

  “Hey!”

  Harry Lacata, with Gregory and Ann at his side, was waving to them. They waved back. Gregory suddenly left his parents. He came to Rowan and hugged him. He didn’t look up. He moved, hugging Sam next. She smoothed back his soft hair. She loved him so much.

  “Well, thank God!” Harry said. “Sam, can he go down front with you two?”

  Ann laughed, adding, “Harry and I are old fogies. Gregory loves the music, you know—”

  “He’ll be fine with us,” Sam assured them. “Rowan is going to play some—”

  “And Sam will, too.”

  “Sam!” Ann said, pleased.

  “No, I’m not playing today. Maybe some other time.” She stared at Rowan. “Hey, you know what, Aidan’s up
on the side of the stage. I think he’s looking for you.”

  Rowan shielded his eyes against the sun, then slipped on glasses. “Yes, he’s looking for me. Now you—”

  “Gregory and I are coming right up,” Sam promised him. But he wasn’t listening. He was looking past the bandstand.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “It’s—Thayer. Thayer Newcastle. I thought that he would come to this. He always seems to come when Aidan is playing. I’ve got to get to Teddy. No, maybe to a different cop. Tell him.”

  “Why not Teddy?”

  Could he think that Teddy was somehow guilty?

  “I—I don’t see Teddy,” he said. Was he lying? she wondered.

  She gritted her teeth. Thayer was a distance away. He seemed relaxed. If he thought the cops might be after him, he surely didn’t show it.

  “Hurry,” she said somewhat coolly. “You can’t disappoint the group.”

  “There’s a cop right in front of the bandstand,” Rowan said, and headed that way. “I’ll talk to him. You follow me!” he added sternly.

  “Right,” she murmured, adding in a quick whisper, “There are hundreds of people here. I’m as safe as can be.”

  “Sam, if we get parted, we’ll find you at Borders after the concert, cafe area, all right?” Ann Lacata asked.

  “Perfect,” Sam assured Harry and Ann. By the time the music ended, it would be bedlam around the bandstand. Things would quiet down and thin out near the bookstore.

  Sam took Gregory’s hand, and they started through the crowd.

  A young man of about eighteen, shirtless, short-haired, smiled at her, then shouted. “Lady, you may want to move back with the boy! This area might turn to mosh pit.”

  Right. Mosh pit. Aidan’s stuff could be kind of hard. Kids loved to “mosh” one another, pass each other around. It was dangerous and she was glad it wasn’t a fad when she’d been that young.

  “Thanks! Gregory, we’re going to move back just a hair.”