“Trust me.” He flashed her a tight-lipped smile. “Now, who is marrying your father?”
He knew something but clearly didn’t intend to tell her more. “Denise Miller. His current girlfriend. I should have known she was up to no good. She’s working with one of the men from my crew. Oh, God. I still can’t believe they’d be involved in this.”
“Why do you think that?” he asked, clearly making mental notes as they walked side-by-side, dodging the growing crowd on the sidewalk.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense. I’m not sure if it’s both of my crew or just one. The man who brought me down to the garage knew me. Had a warped notion we were somehow meant to be together.” Her gulp was audible.
He turned to look down at her, his brow pinched. “Do you have reason to believe either of these men would want to hurt you?”
“Nothing solid. Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on.” She inhaled deeply to ward off another round of dizziness, thankful at least her vision had returned to normal.
As they reached the line of police holding back the public, a fireman burst through a side door of the hotel, almost knocking Joanna to the ground with his momentum.
“False alarm?” the man said into his radio. “Are you sure? Check again.” He gave Joanna an apologetic look then hurried toward one of the fire trucks blocking two lanes of traffic.
“Told you.” Ryker winked and then moved in front of her to speak with one of the policemen near the entrance. He used the scarf to wrap up the sunglasses, holding them in one hand as he withdrew his badge.
Her jaw tightened. A rush of anger heated her neck. She didn’t like his playful attitude under the circumstances and being kept in the dark…she scowled up at his broad shoulders, wishing she had some kind of laser powers so he could feel her wrath.
“I’m Deputy Ryker Kane with the Bram County Sheriff’s Department.”
A seasoned beat cop, if Joanna ever saw one, with his nicely pressed uniform and authoritative stance dropped his gaze to the badge Ryker held out.
“How can I help you, deputy?”
“I’d like to report several attempted kidnappings. We have reason to believe one is still being held against her will in the hotel.” He lifted the scarf. “You might need these for fingerprints or DNA evidence.”
The cop took the items and then looked them both up and down, his gaze landing back on Ryker’s badge then zeroing in on his busted-up face. “A hostage situation? Do you think the hostage sounded the fire alarm?”
“No. I did that.”
Surprised, the cop gave him a look of disapproval. “Care to explain?”
Ryker lifted his hand and fingered the knot on the back of his head. “I managed to escape from the van the suspects were transporting me in and needed to stop another kidnapping in progress. I had only one option.”
“You were one of the victims?” The officer stood straighter.
“The SOB caught me off guard at the Pine Woods Hotel.”
“Looks like they got the best of you.” The cop lifted a bushy brow.
“Temporarily,” Ryker said, adjusting his stance to his full height.
“The same hotel robbed last night?”
“Yes. The van used in the getaway is in the garage, but I’m thinking the jewelry is long gone by now. The thief took it with him when he left the van. This is all tied together somehow.”
The theft and her kidnapping tied together? Joanna grabbed Ryker’s bicep. Another blow she couldn’t believe.
“The SOB who attacked me is also responsible for trying to kidnap two women.”
A dark-haired man in a sports coat who’d been standing close to the officer turned his attention to their conversation. “So there’s a kidnapping victim inside?”
“Yes, and they’re going to kill her.” Joanna couldn’t help it. This was taking way too long. Sam needed help.
“I see. My name’s Detective Turow with the Houston Police Department. Do you have the name of the suspects?”
Ryker slid his arm across her waist and pulled her closer, appearing to know she was about to bolt off on her own. “At this point, there are two unidentified male suspects. I’m not sure how Miss McNamee got involved, but I’m pretty sure her friend, Samantha Brooks, is in the hands of a woman named Denise Miller. I’m betting you’ll find the stolen jewelry with this woman.” He looked down at her, his gaze urging her to be patient, to trust him.
The detective nodded calmly. Listened. Worked to process the information. “You two sit tight while I make a call.”
Glancing around the area, Joanna tried to contain the urge to scream. A large crowd had formed to watch the chaos and upped the tension in the air, not to mention the noise. Time was running out for Sam. Didn’t they get it?
Turow returned. “This here is Joanna McNamee?” His expression morphed into recognition as he outstretched his hand. By the look on the detective’s face, he knew her father. That could be a good thing, or a very bad thing.
She extended her hand, “Yes, I am Joanna McNamee.”
Turow nodded. “You look a lot like your mother.” He smiled. “Ma’am. Care to elaborate on how you got mixed up in all this?”
“Not much to add, really.” That was odd. How would this cop know her mother? He didn’t look that old, and she’d been gone a long time. “I came here looking for my friend, and when I found her, I was attacked and drugged, completely knocked me out. How long, I have no idea. And while we stand here chatting it up, my friend’s still inside with the dangerous people responsible.”
These men and their casual attitudes were really getting on her last nerve. She knew protocol needed to be followed, but this was ridiculous.
“You were drugged?”
She nodded. “But I feel almost normal now.” He gave her a skeptical look. “No really, I’m fine.”
“Do you have a room number?”
“513. But I’m pretty sure they won’t be there now,” she said to his back as he moved toward his car and picked up the radio again.
“All’s clear,” the fire marshal said a few minutes later as he exited the building, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Damn false alarm.” His thinning hair blew in circles around his head, his heavy gear doing little to contain his mid-section.
“Hey, Bruce.” Turow met up with the heavyset man before he hit the sidewalk. “We may have another problem. A hostage situation. You still have men on the upper floors?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a few scattered about. Why?”
“Anyone report anything out of the ordinary?”
Bruce wrinkled his nose. “Out of the ordinary, like what are we talking about?”
“Miss McNamee, what does your friend look like? Or these people you say have her?”
“Sam’s drugged. Still in her long red gown from our Christmas party last night.” She tried to keep the image of her crumpled form from taking hold. “The woman who drugged me is dressed in an expensive tailored pink suit. Short skirt. High heels. Lots of makeup. Boobs out to here.” She used her hands to illustrate. “There should be a man with her, but I don’t know what he looks like. Oh, and they were talking about bringing Sam downstairs in one of those wheeled laundry carts. They’d be working together.”
“Man’s about my height, dark ponytail, tattoos.” Ryker offered up a description and then nodded down at her.
“Anything?” Turow met Bruce’s gaze, the description Joanna gave clearly causing him doubts. “Maybe call it in. See if anyone noticed this odd ensemble in the hallways?”
“Won’t hurt,” the fire marshal said, plucking his radio off his jacket and walking to the fire truck.
“What about the other man?” She turned to face Ryker. “He had a gun.” Her last statement got Officer Turow’s attention.
“You didn’t say anything about a gun, Miss McNamee.”
“Well, the two with my friend don’t have one. At least I don’t think they do, but the man who abducted me had a gun.” Her sk
in crawled at the thought.
“Can either of you describe this man?” Turow looked from her to Ryker.
Their eyes locked. “No.”
Chapter Nine
Ryker watched the despair spread across Jo Jo’s face as they rushed through the revolving door of the hotel. Sam was more than just a friend to her. He could tell. And that made him even more determined to find her. Alive.
The Ashton Grande, a ridiculously over-decorated hotel, in his opinion, with its overpriced chandeliers, mirrored walls and ornate woodwork, was filled with panicked guests. Kind of killed the Christmas spirit. And finding Sam, or her kidnappers, in the midst of all the chaos would be tough. A needle in a haystack.
“Let’s check the front desk. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find someone who saw them.” Turow motioned for Jo Jo to follow.
“You sure you’re okay?” He laid a hand gently on her shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m good. No more dizziness or nausea.”
Ryker gave them a nod and headed toward the bank of elevators. It would be best if they divided and conquered. They could cover more ground that way. There were plenty of first responders around to help if she had a relapse. More importantly, she seemed okay with the decision.
Jo Jo grabbed him by the arm before he got too far away. “Thank you, Deputy Kane. For helping me back there.”
He tipped his head at her. “Damsels in distress are my specialty, ma’am.” Damn. He’d done it again. Played the macho card, trying to be funny and ease the tension in the air. By the expression on her face, she was clearly not impressed or amused. Not really the best time, he decided.
“Yeah, right. Okay.”
He watched her walk away shaking her head and mentally gave himself a smack on the forehead. Note to self. Lay off the stupid.
Determination building with each step, he focused on the situation at hand. The details of the last victim who’d died at the Black Widow’s hand filtered to the forefront of his mind. Jonathan Ackman had been his father’s best man and good friend for over forty years. Poor man was poisoned with a drug that made it appear he’d had a heart attack, until the autopsy revealed traces of an unknown substance. Their first solid lead in years. Could the drug used on Jo Jo and her friend be the same drug? A lesser dose maybe?
Shit! How the hell did these cases tie together?
The drug. The younger woman and the wealthy businessman. An attempt to get rid of the daughter in order to have the dad all to herself. All of this sounded way too connected and familiar.
The elevators had been cleared for public use by the fire department over fifteen minutes ago, but the wary guests streamed up and down the stairways, nonetheless. Fine by him. He’d be able to move quicker without having to wait. He raked a hand through his hair as he watched the light above the doors. Come on, come on.
Imagine his surprise when the first door opened, and he found himself staring eye-to-eye with one of his kidnappers.
The hotel clerk’s eyes grew wide, his lips forming a symmetrical circle. “Fuck,” the man said, glancing down at the laundry cart between them.
Without warning, the clerk shoved the cart toward Ryker and slipped around the other side, making a mad dash for the side entrance. Ryker caught the edge of the cart just before it rammed into his knees and knocked him down.
“Stop that man!” he yelled. But it was too late. Dodging the other guests and stomping over those unable to move in time, the clerk hit the side exit at record speed, plowed through the door, and vanished.
“Son of a bitch.” He slung the cart to the side and registered its heavy weight at the last second. A moan emerged beneath the white dirty towels the minute the cart hit the wall.
“Sam?” Every ounce of his being hoped it was her. That he’d found her safe and sound. As he removed the towel on top of the mound, the blond hair appeared, and his heartbeat sped up. Quicker now, he removed the rest, the red sparkles of a dress verifying her identity.
“Are you hurt? Sam, answer me.”
The woman lay motionless, her body crumpled into the fetal position, the top of her dress edging dangerously low. Lifting her gently, he wrapped a towel around her shoulders and called, “We need an ambulance! Somebody call one of the EMTs.”
Within seconds, Sam was removed from the laundry cart and placed on a stretcher.
“Her vitals are good,” the EMT said. “We’ll take her to the hospital for observation to make sure.”
“Did you find her?” Jo Jo must have seen the commotion, because she ran over from the front desk, peering over the paramedics at her friend’s lifeless form. “Please tell me she’s okay.”
After searching the cart for the loot and finding none, Ryker made eye contact with her. “Stay with her ‘til I get back. I’m going to see if I can stop the asshole.”
She nodded and he took off after the clerk. The fact that this lowlife was still following the original plan meant he didn’t have a clue the cops were on to their twisted scheme. A sliver of hope filtered to the surface. They might still have a chance to apprehend him.
Once outside the building, he knew his efforts were in vain. The busy street and chaos caused by the fire alarm hindered any chance he’d get a lead. Punching a huge pile of cardboard boxes near the exit, he hurried back inside to see if Sam could offer any clues. He caught up to them just before they loaded her inside the ambulance.
“Sam, hang in there.” Jo Jo sounded frantic as the gurney stopped at the back of the vehicle’s double doors. She looked so fragile. So pale. Even though she tried to be strong for her friend, doubt tainted her words.
“So, Kane? You get a description of the kidnapper?” Turow made his way through the crowd to stand beside Ryker on the sidewalk as they got Sam ready for transport outside the ambulance.
“Hell, yes. He’s the same asshole who pulled a gun on me back at the other hotel. He’s also the suspect in the robbery.”
“No shit? We checked the laundry cart the girl was in and the van. No signs of the missing jewelry or clues to where these suspects are heading. Did find a good amount of blood, though. As well as a suitcase filled with women’s clothes.”
“Well, the blood’s mine.” Ryker fingered the knot now crusted over on the back of his head. “But I have no idea where the suitcase came from. It wasn’t there earlier. Maybe the female suspect stopped by the van for some reason while everyone else was evacuating the building due to the fire alarm.”
“Interesting. Could be. Any idea where the threesome was heading?”
“The airport,” Jo Jo interjected. “They were meeting my father at the airport.”
“Which one? Do you know their destination?” The detective looked hopeful, his eyes still trained on Ryker’s bloody face.
“No.” She hung her head, stroking the back of Sam’s hand. Then she turned toward the detective, and her eyes widened. “Wait. Denise mentioned getting married. Maybe they’re planning to go to Vegas for one of those quickie weddings. Although I can’t believe my father would agree to that. Unless—”
“Your father involved in this, too?” Turow’s brow pinched.
“Unknowingly, I assure you. Denise Miller is his girlfriend.”
“His fiancée, you mean?”
Jo Jo stiffened. “Absolutely not. I saw my father last night at the party, and the two were not engaged or even talking about it. Something’s not right. I fear for my father’s safety.”
“Considering the circumstances, I’d say your fears are justified,” he said.
“So what do we do now?” She took several steps back as the EMTs loaded Sam into the back of the ambulance. Her expression hard, Ryker knew her plans without her having to say a word.
He crossed over to stand beside her. “We don’t do anything. See if you can get in touch with your father. Check on Sam at the hospital. You go home. Detective Turow and I will handle it from here.”
“Like hell you will. You can’t get rid of me that easily. Besides, my purse is still
in the jerk’s car along with my phone.” For a moment silence sizzled in the air as she stared up at him, daring him to try and keep her away.
“Don’t make this more difficult.”
“Gosh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make this hard for you.” Sarcasm dripped heavy off every word.
“Miss McNamee,” Turow cut in, “Deputy Kane’s right. This is not a job for a civilian. We’ll have someone retrieve your purse and get that to you. And an officer will be assigned to you for your protection once you leave the hospital. In case this character decides to try again.”
Ryker watched her shiver, satisfied Turow’s statement hit a nerve. “It’s for the best. On second thought, it wouldn’t hurt for you to go to the hospital and get checked out as well. Make sure that drug is out of your system.”
Her jaw worked overtime, and he sensed fury mixed with frustration. The huff she gave him said he’d won this round, but she didn’t have to like it. “Fine. But only if you keep me informed. I need to know when you catch these guys.”
“I will. I promise.” He squeezed her arm to try and ease the tension between them. An action that both rattled and electrified at the same time. A sudden urge to comfort her, wrap her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right grew stronger. But he fought if off with a steely resolve. In her current agitated state, that action would do more damage than good.
The last thing he wanted was to tick her off, let her out of his sight. Not after he’d found her again after all this time. This had to be a sign. Hell, he needed to be the one to protect her. To show her he wasn’t the cold, arrogant son of a bitch like he came off. “Ride to the hospital with Sam, get yourself cleared, and I’ll check in on you there. Let you know what we find out.”
A tidal wave of panic threatened to overpower Joanna at the idea of what the drug might be doing to her. So concerned about Sam, she’d pushed the fact that she’d also been drugged to the back of her mind. Along with the weird nausea coming and going despite her trying to deny it. “Fine.”
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