Most Gracious Advocate (Terrence Reid Mystery Book 4)

by Mary Birk

  Chapter 53

  REBECCA POMEROY lay completely still on the hospital bed, her body hooked up to tubes and gauges. Reid took a seat and waited, resisting the urge to shake her awake and make her talk. He needed to find out what had happened to the other two girls. He had permission from the Procurator Fiscal to offer her immunity in exchange for her testimony against Von Zandt, and for information on the other two girls’ whereabouts. Braytoun insisted he didn’t know where the girls were, and Chick Stephens had disappeared, so Rebecca was Reid’s last chance. Maybe it wasn’t too late to save them.

  Tying Von Zandt to Lizzie Frost’s murder, with its obvious elements of kidnapping, pre-planning, sexual assault, torture, and sexual slavery, and to Tabby’s abduction, would be enough to put the bastard away for a long time. Albert Braytoun would likely suffer a similar fate. But unlike Braytoun, who was in custody, Walter Von Zandt still hadn’t been found.

  Finally, Rebecca stirred, opening her eyes slowly.

  “Lord Reid.” She murmured the words so softly he could hardly hear them.

  “How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.” Her voice seemed to be getting stronger as she regained consciousness.

  “Did you see who attacked you?”

  She gave a slight nod. “Henry Von Zandt.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Walter wanted to be rid of me. I’d suspected it for some time, and I knew he wouldn’t just let me leave. I was making plans to escape with Tabby.” Her eyes suddenly widened. “Is Tabby all right?”

  “Aye.”

  “You have her?”

  “She’s in protective custody.”

  Rebecca let out a tired sigh. “Good.”

  “Henry’s dead.”

  “What happened?” Rebecca didn’t look like the news upset her.

  “He was shot when he was trying to take Tabby from Lynstrade Manor. Tabby says Albert Braytoun killed him, but Braytoun insists Henry was dead when he got there. From the evidence, it appears Tabby may have shot him when he was assaulting her.”

  “Does Tabby need a solicitor?”

  He shook his head “She’s not being charged with anything. If she shot him, it was clearly self-defense. We’re not charging Braytoun with Henry’s death. There’s plenty of other evidence to keep him locked up for a good long time.”

  Rebecca nodded.

  “I need you to tell me what happened to Kristen Daly and Susan Clark. You know, don’t you?”

  “I might. I might need to discuss it with my solicitor first.”

  “No. I can offer you a deal, but only if you talk to me right now. No delays for chats with lawyers. If there’s any chance the girls are still alive, we need to move quickly.”

  Rebecca’s lips were dry and chapped. She moistened them with her tongue. “What’s the offer?”

  In the end, in exchange for immunity, Rebecca detailed everything she knew about the last known whereabouts of Kristen Daly and Susan Clark, and the last days of Lizzie Frost, as well as the details of Tabby’s kidnapping. She also agreed to testify against Walter Von Zandt and Albert Braytoun.

  Reid immediately called Harry with the information on the men that had purchased Kristen Daly and Susan Clark. “Let Shelton know, but ask him to keep this on a need-to-know basis. Tell him we’ll take the lead on getting the girls back for now. I don’t want to take the chance of anyone scaring the girls’ captors into killing them.” He’d get John Stirling on board. If anyone could negotiate the kind of deals that needed to be done to get the girls back, it was Stirling.

  “Aye, guv.”

  “I’ve got the account numbers where the money from selling the girls was paid.” He reeled off the numbers Rebecca had given him. “Put Oscar on seeing if there’s any money left. If so, we’ll seize it, and Stirling can use what he needs to buy the girls’ freedom.”

  “What about their families?”

  “Shelton can notify them. Ask him to caution the families to keep quiet about what we know while we try to get them back. We don’t need the papers mucking up our recovery efforts, or scaring Von Zandt into emptying the money out of the account.”

  “What about Von Zandt, guv? We’ve not been able to find him at any of his usual haunts.”

  “After I talk to John, I’ll try again to get something from Rebecca on where he might be.”

  Just as he rung off from talking to John Stirling, Allison arrived with Tabby at her side. Tabby ran to Rebecca and put her arms around the woman, being careful of the tubes and wires. She whispered something in the woman’s ear, and Rebecca smiled weakly. Tabby pushed a chair up to the bedside, but was too busy to sit as she bustled around briskly checking things out, pouring water and putting a straw in it. She held the glass for Rebecca to drink.

  “Your hair needs a wash. I can do it when you’re ready.”

  “That would be nice.”

  Reid kept close to the wall, watching the interaction between the two. Allison retreated to the doorway, keeping out of the way in the small room.

  “Have you been eating?” Tabby’s voice was solicitous.

  Rebecca gestured to her tubes. “They’re feeding me through these.”

  “Let me know when you want something more.”

  “Tabby, you don’t need to stay with me.”

  “You took care of me, and I’ll take care of you.”

  Reid had no idea what was going on between the two of them, but from what he’d heard and seen, Tabby’s life had been a mess before she came here. Rebecca Pomeroy was a vile woman, but somehow, she and Tabby seemed to have formed a bond. He allowed Tabby ten more minutes with Rebecca before having Allison take the girl back to the safe house.

  Getting back to Rebecca’s interrogation, Reid said, “I want to talk more about how the girls were targeted. You’ve told me that with regard to Lizzie, Susan, and Kristen, Walter used blackmail on the husbands of the host families to set up employing, and kidnapping the girls. Did Peter MacTavish have anything to do with Tabby’s abduction?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “No. Walter set Tabby up to be placed in Paul Kingsley’s house. When that didn’t work out, we just kept in touch with her.”

  “You’re certain he wasn’t involved?”

  “Yes, though it was ironic, her working for one of your friends. Walter got a little suspicious when he found out Tabby would be working for you and your wife. He was afraid maybe you were on to his operation.”

  “I wish I had been.”

  “Albert was pretending to be Lizzie, and got the email from Tabby saying she wouldn’t be coming to meet Lizzie, that something had come up. Albert decided to take a chance she’d answer the door at the MacTavish house. He was going to try to persuade her to come with him, but when he got to the house, Tabby was standing on the curb. He rolled down the window, and she got in, thinking he was the ride she was expecting.” Her voice sounded raspy, and she took a drink of water. “By then, I realized Walter was going to cut me out, so I decided not to let him have Tabby.”

  “Speaking of Walter, do you have any idea where he might be?”

  She hesitated. “I might.”

  “Where?”

  “First, there’s something I should tell you.”

  Reid waited.

  “Before I was attacked, I might have called Tabby’s buyer and told him where Walter would be staying in case he needed to contact him. I thought he might need to, as I’d planned to spirit Tabby away, and assumed the deal would fall through. Of course, I didn’t mention that part.”

  “Of course not.”

  “If you hurry, you might get there before Walter’s dead.”

  “Why would the man want Von Zandt dead?”

  “By now, he must realize he wasn’t going to get Tabby. Assuming he already paid Walter, he probably wants his three million pounds back.”

  “You don’t think Von Zandt will give it back?”

  Rebecca twist
ed her mouth into a self-satisfied smile. “I don’t know if he can.”

  “I don’t suppose you happen to know where the money is?” Reid’s team hadn’t found anything close to that much money in any of Von Zandt’s accounts she’d told them about.

  “How would I know?”

  But Reid could tell she knew exactly where the money was. How had she arranged for the money to disappear? “You took it, didn’t you?”

  “How could I? By the time the money would have been transferred, I was lying unconscious, bashed in the head.”

  “Where is it you think Walter is?”

  “You’re sure you want to find him?”

  He nodded, though a part of him wanted to let Von Zandt meet the fate he deserved.

  “He has a cottage in Sutherland, just outside Badcall. I heard him talking to Henry about waiting there until the payment for Tabby came through. Then he was decamping for Spain. That’s when I began to suspect he was going to try to get rid of me.” She grimaced. “I didn’t think he’d send Henry to do it or I would have been on my guard.”

  “I need more details on the cottage’s exact location.”

  “That’s all I can give you.”

  He left the hospital, considering his options. He could contact the local cops and tell them to search for the cottage, and if Von Zandt was there, to take him safely into custody before Von Zandt’s client could mete out his own justice. Or he could let things play out as they would. Von Zandt had managed to elude punishment for so many heinous crimes. Knowing the chief witness against him, Rebecca Pomeroy, would be torn apart in court, Reid wondered if arresting Von Zandt would, once again, prove a wasted effort. He thought about Lizzie Frost, about Anne, about Michael, and about the child now growing in Anne’s womb.

  Then he headed toward St. Andrew’s Cathedral. If he hurried, he’d make the five-fifteen Mass. He’d wait to call until afterwards.

  * * * * *

  Harry barely had time to tell the rest of the team what was going on when his telephone rang again.

  “DS Ross? This is Tim Brighton.”

  “Aye, Mr. Brighton. I hoped I’d be hearing from you.”

  “I believe I have something you’ll be interested in.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “The name of the man who made me hire Susan Clark.”

  “Anyone can throw out a name.”

  “Perhaps, but I know him. Also, I have a recording of our conversation the last time we met. Just from my phone, but it’s clear.”

  “The name?”

  “Walter Von Zandt.”

  Harry managed to conceal his excitement. A corroborating witness without Rebecca Pomeroy’s baggage would greatly increase the changes of a conviction. “Are you somewhere safe?”

  “Aye, and once we have a deal, I’ll send you the recording by email.”

  “Send it now, and I’ll see about the deal.” Harry recited his email address.

  “Not till we have a deal.”

  “Let me talk to my boss, and I’ll get back to you.”

  “I’d suggest you hurry. This offer has a limited time.”

  “I will. In the meantime, be careful. Von Zandt won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to stop you from testifying against him.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  Harry quickly reached Reid and waited again while the deal was cleared with the Procurator Fiscal. Finally, he got the go-ahead, and rang Brighton back. “We have a deal. I’m sending some officers to bring you here. We need to get you into protective custody.”

  “No, I won’t need that.”

  “Walter Von Zandt is a dangerous man.”

  “I’m well aware of that, but I’ve taken steps to protect myself.”

  “You don’t understand how serious a threat he can be.”

  “It’s you who doesn’t understand. I’ll be interviewed tonight by Carolyn Caspary, so my story will be all over the news. If anything happens to me after that, Detective Sergeant, you’ll know who to go after.”

  “I’m not sure this is the wisest course.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m not giving that slime any more of my life than I have already. I can’t excuse my behavior, but I can try to make amends. My children love and need me. Even if it takes a while, they’ll come back to me. And I’ll be a man again.”

  * * * * *

  After Mass, Reid watched Carolyn Caspary’s interview of Tim Brighton on the evening news. He doubted the man’s testimony would be needed, at least not if Von Zandt’s unhappy client was successful in getting rid of him. Tomorrow morning would be soon enough to notify the local cops about Von Zandt’s possible location. If Rebecca chose to pursue it, Reid might be called upon to explain why he hadn’t contacted them sooner, but why would she bother? If Von Zandt’s client managed to do what Reid hadn’t been able to do through legal means all these years, she’d benefit, and she was a woman who took care of her own interests, first and last. About time Reid did the same.

  A MONTH LATER

  Chapter 54

  THEY WERE DRINKING deliciously ice-cold martinis in the yacht’s lounge before dinner, gazing out to sea, when John Stirling finally arrived, freshly showered and changed. Allison still couldn’t believe she was here. In her swirly lemon sundress, and standing next to Harry in his chinos and blue shirt, she felt like she’d been transported into the pages of a glossy lives-of-the-rich-and-famous magazine. Stirling kissed her on the cheek and shook Harry’s hand.

  “So, Harry, it’s Detective Inspector now, is it?”

  “Aye.”

  “Congratulations.” Stirling sat down. “I’m glad you two could get away and join me.”

  “Thanks for inviting us.” Harry, who, oddly, seemed perfectly at ease in this posh life, led her over to a sofa, and held her drink while she sat down and arranged her skirt. “Finally, things are quiet enough for both of us to leave the office.” He sat down next to her, and handed back her drink. Close but not too close. A little pang of longing wiggled through her chest, and pinged against her secret hope that something might happen again between them on the cruise.

  Allison smiled, feeling shy, though after everything, their relationship seemed to have gotten back to normal. After they’d found Tabby, Harry moved her desk back facing his, quit being snarky about Allison’s (mostly nonexistent) love life, and gave her rides back and forth between home and work whenever they were ready at the same time. Harry’s trip to Majorca with Susie had been canceled, and though Harry and Susie still seemed to be together, he didn’t go out with her that often, and he never brought her home. Allison couldn’t help thinking that meant things weren’t going that well, and that Susie would soon be out of Harry’s life.

  John Stirling interrupted her thoughts. “Too bad Terrence and Anne couldn’t join us.”

  Harry leaned back, his shoulder brushing against Allison’s. “The guv’s up to his eyeballs right now.”

  “MI-5?”

  Harry nodded. “It’s going to be a complicated transition.”

  “Do we know when?”

  “This fall, if things go on schedule.”

  “How’s Lady Anne doing?”

  “Relieved that Tabby’s been recovered, and over the moon about the new baby and about finally getting snaps of the Lynstrade Manor gardens. Now she’s busy on the Loch Etive job, though she has to take it easy,” Harry said. “Speaking of congratulations, well done. Finding both girls was nothing short of a miracle.”

  John took a drink of his martini. “Thank Christ they were still alive.” He told them the story they’d heard earlier from the Superintendent, only with a lot more details.

  It had taken two days and a hundred thousand pounds of Von Zandt’s money to get Kristen Daly back from the bored man who’d bought her. She was dazed and quiet, but, at least physically, seemed okay. Hopefully, intensive therapy would do the rest.

  Susan Clark was more of a challenge. She hadn’t wanted to leave the man who bought her, who, it turned o
ut, was now her husband. She’d insisted she was doing important work with her teaching, and was reluctant to take the child she was carrying away from his father. Finally, Stirling convinced her to come back with him and at least visit her family and let them see that she was all right.

  Her husband didn’t want any money to let her go, but instead, handed her a Nigerian passport, a round-trip airline ticket, and money for her other travel expenses when she left. With tears in his eyes, he begged her to come back after she’d visited her family. Her sister wives cried and hugged her when she’d said goodbye. Stirling said that Susan had had tears in her own eyes as well, and she waved and smiled until they were out of sight.

  When they reached Heathrow, Stirling turned the girls over to Jack Shelton, who was accompanied by two female Special Agents, before heading to Spain to meet them here on his yacht for a celebratory cruise.

  “I’m so glad you found them.” Allison accepted a coconut prawn from the man who was passing them around. What would he be called, she wondered. A steward, maybe. She’d ask later when the man wasn’t around. “I wish Lizzie Frost had survived.”

  “That was indeed a tragedy. But we know who bought her, and who’s responsible for her death. They’ve been dealt their own justice.” Stirling’s face was somber.

  “You mean Von Zandt?” His body, separated from his head, had been discovered floating in Badcall Bay.

  “Aye, but not just him. A Royal National Lifeboat crew found the remains of the yacht of the man who purchased Lizzie Frost, as well as those of the fishing trawler that was sent to take her to the yacht. Both vessels apparently capsized and crashed against the rocks off the coast, broken to sticks. No survivors.”

  Allison picked up a cheese straw from the dish on the coffee table. “They were caught in a storm?”

  “That’s the peculiar part. There hadn’t been any reports of bad weather. In fact, the water had been unusually calm for days. Twelve bodies were recovered, which by all accounts, would have been everyone aboard.”