Run to You

by Lynne King

  He looked up and frowned. “I know that, but he’s connected somehow, perhaps another link in the chain that provides info. I don’t know, but his wife works at the bank.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Yeah, well if it was that easy, don’t you think Gandini would have been on to him by now.” Stone cocked his eyebrows back.

  Leaning back in his chair and folding his arms, Jack let out a sigh. “True, and there hasn’t been any report of an accountant floating face down in the Hudson, so far.” He started sorting through his messages. Nothing of significant importance and still no word from the lab on the cell phone Liz had handed over. They were taking their time retrieving the phone log or anything that might provide a clue. What if there wasn’t one. They had found a key and that was it. Feeling in his pocket for the key, Jack stood up and turned his jacket pocket inside out. It was gone. Picking up the phone receiver, he rang through to the lab. He listened, shouted a few words, and then slammed the receiver down.

  Stone was displaying a confused look as he stared at him. “Problem.”

  “Yeah, he’s a prick called Reid. I’ve just been told he’s collected my vital piece of evidence claiming it was needed elsewhere.” Standing up, he went over to Reid’s vacant desk and rifled through his papers looking to see what he was working on.

  Stone came up behind him. “He’s meant to be working this case with us, only you keep doing a disappearing act leaving me to cover your ass.”

  “Now’s not the time for a lecture. I’m going back to my place to check on Liz and then I think it’s about time we paid Gandini a visit. Coming?”

  “Nice of you to ask.” Stone sighed.

  Stepping out of the elevator, Jack had a sense of foreboding. For a start, Romeo was in the hallway, meowing, which never happened, unless…The entrance door was ajar and he could see the lock had actually been jimmied out. He started running, calling out her name. Stone came into the empty apartment after him. Jack didn’t need to check all the rooms but he did, and returned to the kitchen to find Detective Stone carefully picking up a carving knife from the floor. His fingertips held it at the base of the hilt rather than on the handle.

  “No blood, so it wasn’t used,” he commented.

  “Well, that’s comforting,” Jack snapped back. “Gandini’s lot are behind this and we’ve got to find her fast.” Using his cell phone, he placed a call to his brother on his private line.

  “He has a place upstate, his weekend retreat. It’s isolated and he uses it for meetings, etcetera. His family rarely stay there. That’s where I’m heading.”

  Stone shook his head. “Jack, think about this. If Gandini does have her, he’s hardly going to own up to it.” He drew breath. “We could get ourselves in a whole lot of shit and I’m no hero.”

  “Don’t come then.” Jack left his apartment with his partner hurrying to keep up with him.

  “Hell, do you think I’m going to let you go there alone.”

  Jack Willis and Danny Stone got out of the car simultaneously and looked up at the ranch-style property.

  Sonny stood unmoved from his place on the veranda. Removing a packet of cigarettes from his pocket, he took one out and slowly lit it, his eyes fixed ahead watching the two men approach.

  “You’ve been expected, detectives. What took you so long?” Taking a deep draw on his cigarette, he slowly exhaled the smoke.

  “Where’s Gandini?”

  “Mister Gandini to you, and my uncle is a busy man, so you need to make an appointment, seeing somehow I don’t think this is an official visit.”

  Jack could feel his anger churning away. So this was the nephew his brother had spoken about, Sonny Valachi. He dressed flash and displayed arrogance like a weapon, but the rough stuff he no doubt left to his uncle’s goons. Since hearing about him, Jack had done some checking himself. Gandini’s sister was Valachi’s mother who, by all accounts, married a respectable doctor. He wondered how the son, university-educated with a degree in law, ended up taking orders from his hoodlum uncle.

  Popping another gum in his mouth, Jack took a step closer so he was looking right up at Sonny. “Whatever game you punks are playing at, Elizabeth Saunders isn’t part of it. She leaves with me now, unless you want to play it the hard way. In which case I’ll return with enough backup and arrest warrants to run the lot of you creeps in.”

  “Detective, such tough talk, such insults. Surely a person is entitled to hear what he has been accused of first.”

  “Try kidnapping, assault, intent to commit murder for starters.” Jack flung the words at him.

  “Ah! I see you are under the misapprehension that Miss Saunders isn’t staying here under her own free will. An unfortunate oversight on your part. Perhaps you find it hard to believe she finds my company more enjoyable. I can understand your confusion, such a fickle lady when it comes to lovers.” He paused for a second to allow his meaning to sink in. He continued, the mockery in his voice showing he knew precisely what effect the words were having on Jack. “Of course, you must realize what I mean by referring to her as a lady. It is purely in the context that she’s a great pretender at looking and talking the part, but in bed she acts like a whore, wouldn’t you agree. Such a delightful combination. Not one to be trusted though, unfortunately.”

  A couple of men standing to his right started smiling.

  Jack clenched his fists at his sides, the anger rapidly reaching breaking point. He had to fight it, knowing full well what Sonny was up to. If he lost control now, they would have an excuse to cut him down there and then.

  He heard Stone come up behind him and whisper. “Let’s get out of here, Jack.”

  “I’m okay,” he said through clenched teeth. He knew Danny was worried he’d lose it, but he needed to play it cool, knowing full well this lot was not about to hand over Liz willingly. This trip had been solely to find out what he was up against, how many men and to make certain she was here. All inquiries around New York had centered on this one place. Going crazy over some goddamn lie wasn’t going to help Liz; the odds were too against him.

  “I don’t like to seem rude, Detective, but unless you’re going to make that so-called arrest, I suggest you bail out of here before these men mistake you two for intruders.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “No, merely advice that your presence is no longer wanted.” He dropped the butt of his cigarette and ground it out with his heel.

  “I’m not leaving until you show me. I want her to tell me to my face what nice company she’s keeping.”

  “Very well, I will fetch her. Then you leave, understand.”

  Jack watched Sonny stride into the house. He couldn’t help feeling surprised and a little skeptical. He hadn’t thought it would be that easy, but it certainly saved trying to think of other means to establish her whereabouts. Now as he waited, the longing to see her again was overshadowed by the surroundings. How would he stop himself from wanting to take her away from this now, before it became too late? He had promised to keep her safe. For the whole drive over here, he had been tortured by thoughts of what they might do to her. He had come to realize he could no longer run from what he had begun to feel and he didn’t want to. Maybe he had become weakened by it like his father but there was no turning back.

  His hand slid into his pocket to see what reactions he would get. It was swift, the rifle brought up and into view. A shooting rifle, fully licensed, no doubt and he was the game. Jack smiled as his hand passed over his departmental issue 9 mm sitting in his holster, the safety catch off. He brought out the piece of gum and held it up for the goon to see. The man relaxed and lowered his weapon.

  Sonny came out of the house, his arm firmly wrapped around Liz’s waist as if she was his prized possession.

  “You wanted to see her, so here she is. I’ve been giving the little lady here some lessons on the law and it appears you haven’t been playing it by the book, Detective. Now tell him, darling, whose pleasures you prefer.”

 
; She kept her head low, unable to look him fully in the face, her voice a low hesitant whisper. “I’m sorry, Jack, you shouldn’t have come.”

  Jack noticed Sonny whisper something and pull her in closer to him. Looking up, her eyes met his head-on. “Please leave. I’m fine and as I’m of no further use to you and you to me, I think we can call it quits.” She averted her eyes, her voice stronger. “You haven’t got anything substantial to hold me for so until you do, I’m staying here.”

  “The lowlife you’re mixing with, more your type, are they. Perhaps you were lying to me from day one.” He couldn’t help the bitterness of his words or the way he was looking at her.

  “You never really knew me.” Tearing away from Sonny’s grip, she fled back into the house.

  “I think you’ve upset the little lady. You’ve seen her and heard what she’s got to say, now hightail your ass out of here.”

  Stone was already climbing into the passenger seat, but Jack stood there with the driver’s door open and looked back at Sonny. “If any harm comes to her, rest assured none of your goon squad will be able to stop me from tearing your liver out. Do you take my meaning—the shield will be off.

  Sonny spat at the ground, turned, and walked back into the house leaving Jack to climb into his car.

  Liz was lying face down across the bed when Sonny entered. Immediately on sensing his presence, she scrambled off the bed and stood at the far wall, her back pressed up against it.

  “Has he gone?” she asked even knowing the answer.

  “Yes. I’m afraid he was rather willing to believe the worse of you. Not very reassuring considering your obvious feelings for the guy.” Leaning up against the doorway, he had that familiar smirk on his face as if he knew just how intimate she was with the detective.

  “Would you have killed him?” she asked.

  “Yes, if you hadn’t convinced him to leave. Cop killing is not my style but hell, accidents happen. Anyway, my uncle wishes to see you again.”

  She had done what was asked of her and e-mailed Benjamin Johnson. Two sentences and if he responded, then Gandini would have his man and she will have been betrayed, her friendship with Lorraine contrived.

  “He promised to let me go once he has received word. Has he heard something?”

  Stepping forward, he grabbed hold of her forearm. “Come on and you’ll find out.”

  This time Sonny followed her in to the study. Gandini was seated in his chair, her laptop open and in front of him. He looked up, his stony expression giving nothing away.

  “It seems I made a total misjudgment of character. You see, I thought there was no way my accountant could have set this up. He had the brains, but not the balls. That test was simply to satisfy that inner voice which sometimes cries out, trust no one, and it’s been proved right.” He swiveled round the laptop so Liz could read the open e-mail.

  If you have the box number, you should also have the key. Where and when do you want the meet? I will bring your price.

  Liz looked at the sender’s address. Obviously Gandini hadn’t noticed, but Liz recognized straight away that it came from Lorraine’s account, not her husband’s. She couldn’t help voicing her surprise. “Why hasn’t he replied direct from his account?”

  “What are you talking about?” Gandini questioned.

  Liz stared in confusion as Gandini abruptly stood up, fear entering his face turning it ashen. She spun round to see Sonny standing several paces from her with a gun pointing straight at his uncle’s chest. Seconds seemed like minutes as she witnessed the finger squeeze the trigger, her hands covering her mouth, her scream muffled by the exploding gunshot. Not turning to see the carnage, she ran past Sonny and out the door, straight into the arms of a grinning Marco.

  The captain looked over at his detective, uttering his disbelief that Jack could suggest such a thing.

  “Let me repeat in case I heard wrong. You want to bring in Gandini’s accountant for questioning because you think he organized a bank heist against his boss.” He let out a short laugh. “You also want to bring in Elizabeth Saunders under a false arrest for her own protection.”

  “First, no, I don’t think he’s the main man, but he’s connected somehow and I think could tell us what was in that damn safety deposit box. As for Liz Saunders, Gandini’s lot won’t simply hand her over. We need to go in mob handed and surprise them.”

  “What if Gandini is simply one of many who got robbed and wasn’t targeted. We only have Elizabeth Saunders’ word of what supposedly went down. All other perps are dead. It still brings me back to the question—did she murder her lover and partner? If so it might jeopardize our case somewhat.”

  Jack slammed his palms down on the desk. “You still keep coming back to that. I was there, outside, on surveillance. It was all in my report. Gandini’s men entered the building several minutes after O’Riley and Saunders.”

  Detective Stone stepped forward. “Captain, I saw her in Sonny Valachi’s clutches and she didn’t look like some deadly assassin. She’s a victim and a witness. Jack’s right, if we don’t do something soon—time’s going to run out on her.”

  “Well, the answer’s still no on both accounts. For a start we’ve been warned off Gandini by the Feds. They have their reasons and unless you have something concrete linking him to the bank heist, you keep away.”

  “What about protecting a witness?” shouted Jack. The frustration was building and was about to erupt.

  Sighing heavily, the captain replied, “All right, you bring her in but on one condition, Detective Reid gets the lowdown on this. He’s now leading the homicide on Connor a.k.a. O’Riley. No arguments and minimum backup. The three of you should be able to handle it without sending in a goddamn army. My head will be on the block over this, so you better make sure Saunders agrees to come in voluntarily. The request to arrest her on a false collar is denied. Snatching her as well will have me stringing you up by the balls, understand.”

  Jack shook his head, his fists forming tight balls by his side. He should have gone it alone. As it was he had to put up with the jerk, Reid, who was bound to screw it up. What he had hoped for was a six-man team to go straight in with a search and arrest warrant for Liz. With such a surprise attack, Sonny Valachi would have no choice but to hand her over. He wouldn’t go up against the law that openly. The success of such an operation, of course, would have depended on secrecy, not allowing for any possibility of her being taken away to somewhere else before they made their move.

  “What you’re asking is impossible. Valachi has her terrified. There is no way she will simply come with us because we ask her to.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to forget it then, unless you can come up with reliable proof to back up your claims instead of conjecture on your part,” the captain replied. He picked up his phone and buzzed through to the outer offices. “Reid, get in here.”

  Jack’s stony silence brought an atmosphere to the room that had Reid casting suspicious glances over at him while the Captain filled him in on the earlier conversation. They were to drive out the following morning to Gandini’s weekend retreat. Backup would be provided but to stay on the perimeters and only be called upon if lives were at risk. On no account was Elizabeth Saunders to be forcibly taken into custody. Reid raised his objections from the beginning saying this wasn’t their jurisdiction.

  “All right,” he finally said. “Let’s pick up Jack’s tramp. What’s the betting she won’t want to come? Sorry, Jack, but let’s face it, you spent too long with vice. She’s been stringing you along and you’ve been following with your dick.” A sardonic smile curled his lips.

  Jack shrugged off Stone’s apprehending grasp and pushed Reid out of the way and yanked open the door.

  “Detective Willis, remain where you are.”

  Turning back around, Jack strode up to his captain’s desk. Removing his shield, he slammed it down in front of him.

  “From now on, what I do is my business. If I decide to blow eac
h one of those slime balls away, no one’s neck will be on the line except mine. I’ve had enough of Reid’s crap. From now on this is between Gandini and me. The rest of you can go kiss my ass!”

  Jack didn’t wait around to hear the captain’s anger erupt. He had already left the building.

  Detective Reid had orders to follow and if possible, apprehend Detective Willis for his own safety. Before carrying out his captain’s command, Reid stopped off and made a private call on his cell phone.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Having parked his car some distance away, the approaching nightfall was to Jack’s advantage as he made it to the outskirts of a wooded area. Bordering on acres of open ground, it provided a good viewpoint from which he could observe the house undetected. Leaning against a tree, he raised his binoculars. The outside was lit up like a Christmas tree with floodlights stretching out from the ranch and down the long gravel driveway. To the right and attached to the building were two garages. Parked in front was a limousine and round the side he could detect several cars and a couple of 4x4s. Bringing his glasses back to the wooden veranda, he spotted two men leaning back against it, talking. A third man stepped into vision, said something to his companions, and then returned back into the house. Jack noticed the upstairs was in darkness, but below light shone through the drapes from every window. His only chance stood in getting around the back, but that could be as well guarded. Obviously Gandini was expecting trouble to have this many men around his property. He was going to have to take the risk, his first option having been ruled out—the garages were too well lit to try and enter into the rooms above.

  Discarding his binoculars, Jack started to work his way closer to the garage area. The spotlight was directly on him now as he took cover behind the cars. Watching the two men still heavy in conversation, it was obvious they hadn’t heard anything and weren’t being that observant. Going to the rear he was confronted by a large patio area with French doors opened up wide, the light from the house spilling out onto the oval-shaped pool. Jack stepped back quickly out of view, his back pressed up against the wall while his feet stood amongst the shrubbery. Voices could be heard loud and clear, one of them he recognized as belonging to Sonny Valachi.