"Boss, a moment," she said, pretending not to notice us staring.
Maddox nodded and without looking at me, followed her out of the room.
"You okay?" asked Solomon.
"I wish people would stop asking me that! I am okay, I am totally okay, I am so okay, I'm the okay queen!"
"Just asking," said Solomon, with a slightly bemused look. "You really want this coffee?"
"I'd rather have a donut, but this station isn't nearly clichéd enough."
"We'll get a donut when we're done."
"It's a date." I froze, my mouth clamped shut, and my eyes widened. It was a flippant remark, but our history was too loaded for joking about dates.
"It's a date," said Solomon, softly.
Maddox stepped into the room and paused. He looked from me to Solomon, and for a moment, I wondered if he heard us. Then, he gulped and said, "We've got a problem."
Chapter Twenty-Two
"How the fuck did Ben Rafferty escape the police station?" yelled Maddox at the squad room, now filling with officers, both in uniform and plain clothes. Detective Blake stood to one side, slightly behind Maddox, looking chagrined. Maddox seemed like he was about to combust, the strain of the audacious escape showing. That, and he appeared more pissed than I'd ever seen him. "Since when do we let criminals go? Someone had better come up with an explanation pretty damn fast before I have you all on report!"
Soft murmurs rumbled through the gathered crowd. A few shoulders shrugged and some looked around, waiting for the idiot who let Ben go step forward. Unsurprisingly, no one came forth.
"Where's that lawyer of his?" demanded Maddox. "Who showed him to the interview room?"
"I did," said a young, suited man that I didn't recognize. "And it wasn't a him. A her."
"A her?"
"You know, a female lawyer."
"Damn it, Ray, I know what a 'her' is! Where is she now?"
"Well, sir..."
"Let me guess. You can't find her!"
Ray shook his head and fidgeted on the spot, seemingly unsure whether to fade back into the comfort of his brethren, or face further questioning.
A horrible thought crossed my mind. Surely not? Surely, they wouldn't be so daring? I leaned into Maddox, whispering, "What did she look like?" His eyes showed the comprehension crossing his face as he groaned, slamming a hand to his forehead.
"Ray, what did the lawyer look like?"
"Uh..." Ray scratched his head, leaving a tuft sticking up at the crown. "Caucasian, brunette, real long too, young, like maybe thirty at most, pretty."
"Madeleine," said Solomon, softly.
"Shit," said Maddox.
"I'm kind of impressed," I said. They both glared at me. Detective Blake glared too, but I pretended not to notice her. "Oh, come on! It's pretty bold. Busting Ben out of the station takes some nerve. It's better than a confession!"
"Ray, get me security tapes from the route she took to the interview room. I want to see for certain." Maddox looked around as Ray scurried from the room, grateful for anything to do besides getting berated. "Which one of you idiots was supposed to be watching Ben?"
"That would be me," said Blake softly.
"You're an idiot," said Maddox, not bothering to drop his voice She colored, her cheeks blooming pink. "How did they get past you?"
"I went to the bathroom. I didn't feel well."
"Why didn't you get someone to cover?"
"I did!" Blake protested, her cheeks pinking with anger and embarrassment. "Callaghan was supposed to stand outside until I returned."
"Callaghan!" Maddox yelled.
The man I assumed to be Callaghan stepped forward. He looked familiar and I had to think hard before I recognized him as a guy Jord once shared an apartment with. I was sure he'd been to my parents' house for dinner once or twice, but that was years ago now. He nodded to me and gave me a tight, little smile of recognition. I nodded in return.
"You know this guy?" Solomon asked softly, his lips inches from my ear. "Could he be compromised?"
"Old friend of one of my brothers," I told him. "Nice guy. Not the smartest, but good at his job."
"Captain Almond waved me over. I talked to him, but I swear I had my eye on the door the whole time," explained Callaghan, no doubt realizing that he was knee-deep in doo-doo. I wondered just what Maddox would do to the poor guy. But what could be worse than everyone knowing he let such a big fish walk out of the building, undisturbed? He made a rookie error by stepping away from the door and they all knew it.
"It only takes a few seconds to slip out of there and into the next corridor. Next time, do your job, Callaghan, or you won't have one. You too, Blake. Ray, you got the video?" Maddox asked as Ray paused in the doorway.
Ray gave an eager nod. "The tapes are ready to view in the AV room."
"Let's go. Solomon, Graves, you're with me. Blake, get out there and find them. They can't have gone far!" Maddox stormed from the room, ahead of us.
I turned to follow them, but stopped as Blake put her hand on my arm. She leaned forwards and whispered in my ear. It wasn't an appropriate time, and I didn't quite know what to make of it, but she was gone before I could reply.
I hurried to catch up to Maddox and Solomon as they rounded the end of the corridor, my heels making loud clicks on the floor, complementing Solomon's heavy, solid footfalls. True to his word, Ray had the video feed on the door to what I assumed was the interview room where Ben was held. He hit “Play” and we watched as a woman, her back to us, entered the room, carrying a large bag. Callaghan shut the door behind them and nodded to Ray who retreated out of shot. Callaghan fidgeted outside for a moment before we saw Captain Almond walk past and go out of shot. Seconds later, Callaghan looked in his direction, said something, and nodded. He glanced at the door and moved out of shot, just as he said, leaving the door unguarded.
It took only moments for the door to open. The woman stepped out first. I got a good view of her suited body and exceptionally nice pumps, but her hair concealed her face. All the same, I would swear it was Madeleine's jaw line. She pushed a sweep of hair behind her ear and inclined her head. For a fraction of a second, I saw her. Madeleine. Great wig! It was too long to be her own. I wondered where she got it, and if the red was a wig too.
Then Ben stepped out, his head down. He wore a pale suit, shirt and tie, looking every inch a smart civilian. As we watched the jacket came off and he pulled a sweater over his shirt, changing his look in an instant. He kept his head tucked down as they moved into the corridor. Someone bumped into Ben, a young uniformed woman, hurrying past with a stack of files in her arms. Ben simply looked away, down, then up, and straight into the camera. For a fraction of a second, I thought he smiled as he pulled on a baseball cap.
Like the proverbial ton of bricks, it hit me where I saw Ben before. It wasn't at a coffee shop, or the mall, or through a bored glance at the next checkout in the grocery store. It was a random meeting. I knew I'd never have worked it out, because it just didn't seem like a place I'd ever see him. It was on a stairwell in a dank apartment building in the midst of rundown Frederickstown, and he looked very different in jeans and a ball cap than in the beautifully tailored suit he wore on the video.
"Madeleine," sighed Maddox. "We should have anticipated this."
"They are formidable opponents," said Solomon, shaking his head. "I'd hire them, if I didn't think they wouldn't rip me off that same day."
"I gotta go," I said, staring at the video showing Callaghan taking up his post again, none the wiser that he was guarding an empty room. "I'll be right back," I said, edging backwards.
"Replay the video," Maddox said, and no one paid me any attention as I left the room. Except Solomon, who just frowned, but didn't try to stop me.
I floored it to Frederickstown, arriving ten minutes faster than I should, thanks to my knowledge of the back streets and skill at avoiding every traffic camera. I parked unevenly outside the building.
Yep, this was whe
re I saw Ben Rafferty. I was sure of it. Just as sure as the realtor telling me the whole building was already rented. What I wasn't sure about was why Ben would come back here? Or if he would come back here? But no one else except me knew to look for him here. With the whole of Montgomery searching for him, and Maddox on the warpath, he needed a safe place to hide. Safe from everyone but me. I grabbed Helen's gun from where I stowed it in the trunk during my station visit and tucked it into my waistband.
As luck would have it, the front door lock was broken, and all I had to do was tug on it to gain entry. No doorman here, no concierge, just an easy pass across the spartan lobby to reach the stairs. I took them two at a time, heading up to the top floor. As I reached the third floor, I heard sounds coming from inside the tiny apartment I saw before. Amazingly enough, it was rented out. I passed by without stopping. The fourth and final floor had a matching layout to the other floors. One door on the left, one on the right. The left apartment that looked over the street was partially open. The other muffled the sound of a baby crying.
I turned to the left, stepped forward and pushed the door open while reaching for Helen gun. Now I extracted it, and stepped inside.
Whoever was here didn't make any effort to decorate it. Sparse. A bed with a chocolate brown comforter, neatly made. A couch. No TV. Cautiously, I checked the doors. Tiny bathroom - empty. Closet - empty of clothing. Kitchenette - but no evidence of anyone cooking here. I checked the cupboards and found a couple of dinner plates, mugs, and glasses.
Returning to the living room, I looked around, confident now that I was alone. A small desk was in the corner. Something, or somethings, were tacked to the wall recently and there were tears where the tape was ripped off. I checked the wastebasket even though I knew Ben Rafferty wouldn't be stupid enough to leave anything behind. Same with the drawers - empty.
I stared out the window, wondering where he could be. It didn't look like he was coming back. As I pondered his next move, I saw Ben standing on the sidewalk across the street. Almost immediately, my cell phone rang.
"Unbelievable," I said, as I saw the name flash up. "Hello, Ben," I said into the phone.
"Hello, Lexi." Ben's voice was smooth. He lifted a hand and waved. I thought about flipping him the finger, but instead, I raised a hand too, dropping it quickly. "You found my home away from home," he said.
"It's not much of a vacation retreat," I told him. "You could do better."
"Sometimes, you just need somewhere to lay your head. You know, I thought you would recognize me sooner."
"Soon enough."
"Yet... not," said Ben, and I thought I saw him smile.
"So you recognized me from that day in the stairwell?" I asked.
"I never forget a pretty face. I remembered you from that day, but couldn't work out why a rich girl like you was in Frederickstown. Then it all changed on our last date. Tell me, Lexi, who are you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"You could, but you wouldn't get an answer. You, though..." Ben put a finger to his chin as he gazed up at me, "I don't think you're a cop, so I guess that makes you some other kind of law enforcement?"
"Ben Rafferty... stumped for an answer? Who knew?" I was teasing, but stalling for time too. There was no way to let Solomon or Maddox know where I was, or that I was currently talking to our chief suspect.
"That's not the question you should be asking."
"Oh? What is?"
"You should be asking how long it took me to make you. I didn't at first, I'll grant you that, but after a while... I got suspicious. You were just too pretty, and lovely, and rich, to be at that dating agency. A woman like you? Unable to get a date? it didn't sit right."
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment; if so, it was a backhanded one. "Thank you?"
"You're welcome. I thoroughly enjoyed dating you, by the way. Excellent company."
"You're not so bad for a criminal either."
"My turn to say thanks?" Across the street, Ben's smile broadened.
"You're not exactly welcome."
"Spoilsport."
"Just out of curiosity... When did you make me?" I asked.
"Ah! At the ball."
"The ball?"
"You didn't work it out? How I got the jewels out of there? They were in your purse, my sweet Lexi. You didn't get searched, confirming my suspicions."
Memories of that night flooded back. Dropping my purse, Ben handing it to me, the two of us separated for the search, then Ben taking my purse from me when he helped me into my coat. He had a fast hand!
"I see you figured it out. Listen, gorgeous, Lexi, I'd love to stay and chat, but my sister and I want out of Montgomery. I sense we overstayed our welcome. She didn't want to hang around but I just had to know who you were and what you were up to. Nearly got caught this time. What a rush!"
"Your sister?" Ben was silent for a moment, and I got the feeling he didn't mean to let that slip. "You and Madeleine are in a whole world of trouble, Ben."
"Only if you catch us."
"You can count on it."
"Bye, Lexi."
"One last thing!"
"Yes?"
"Was anything you said real?"
"You tell me." Ben blew me a kiss, sending it soaring towards me with a gesture of his open palm. "Until we meet again." He hung up, and I watched as he dropped the cell phone in the trash, turned, and walked away. Seconds later, he was lost from view around the corner. Whether those were his parting words, or just a feeling deep in the pit of my belly, I knew I hadn't seen the last of Ben Rafferty. And considering I was on the side of the good guys, a little bit of me felt pleased.
I hit speed-dial. "Hey," I said. "I found Rafferty's hiding place in Montgomery, but you may as well not bother. He's already gone."
"Are you sure?" asked Solomon.
"Yeah, I'm standing in the apartment. It's empty."
"Secure it and send the address to me."
"No problem. I'm going home; and John, I'm taking a few days off. I've got a house to pack up, a best friend to look after, and a whole lot of clothes to return."
"Take it easy," was all he said.
I secured the apartment by slamming the door shut and allowing the lock to click, certain that there was nothing worth securing, and jogged lightly down the stairs. The baby ceased crying, and cooking smells were drifting through the central stairwell, making my stomach rumble. After sending the address to Solomon, I turned the VW around and headed for home, glad I had one.
~
"So you let him get away, just like that?" Lily snapped her fingers and gave me The Look.
I shrugged and reached for another slice of pizza. We were eating out of the box because my idiot brother decided, in his wisdom, to pack the plates without labeling the box. "I figured I was never going to get down the stairs, out the door, and across the street to knock him out and sit on him until MPD got there."
"True. You gonna tell Maddox?"
"Hell, no. Let him keep on thinking they lost him."
Lily raised her glass. "I'll drink to that. The morons."
"Did I tell you Rebecca Blake spoke to me?"
"As in Detective Blake? That Detective Blake? What's the bitch got to say for herself? Why did you even listen? Of all the nerve!"
"It was okay. She apologized actually. Told me nothing happened between Maddox and her. That she would have liked it if something did, but he was always clear that he had a girlfriend and wasn't interested."
"Oh, really?" Lily's eyes widened and her hand scrabbled around the box, looking for the last slice. She fixed on it and brought it to her mouth, her eyes never leaving my face. I absently swatted at my mouth, just in case there was a stray string of cheese that fascinated her. "You believe that?" she asked. "You want to eat salad tomorrow?"
I sighed. "I don't know. I guess. Yes to the salad."
"Why? She's a scheming boyfriend stealer!"
"Maybe not."
"Again," Lily paused,
"do you believe her?"
"She has nothing to gain from telling me. Maddox could've lied in the hope of keeping us together, but Blake? From her perspective, it looks like she loses if she says nothing happened. She doesn't get Maddox and she doesn't keep me away."
"Or, things with her and Maddox have ended, and she's trying to get on his good side by getting you two back together. She did screw up the case."
"I didn't think of that, but somehow, I don't think so. I'd never try getting an ex back with his ex. There're some guys I dated that I'd like to dump back on their exes... but this? I don't know. All I can think is Blake had nothing to gain from telling me nothing happened. So, yes. I believe her. I believe nothing happened."
04 - Shock and Awesome Page 29