Trail of Secrets

by Sandra Robbins

  She stood up and braced her hands on the table before she leaned toward him. “With all that’s happened to me since I’ve been in Memphis, I think I have the right to help uncover what’s going on. We need to find out who these people are before they come back and finish what they started out to do—kill Uncle Dan and me. Please don’t leave me out of finding them.”

  He stared at her for a moment before he pushed to his feet. “Okay. I’ll let you go with me to find Melvin, but that’s as much as I’m willing to compromise. Besides, finding Melvin may not be as easy as you think. Sometimes he disappears for days, and I’m unable to locate him.”

  “I understand. If we don’t find him, we can keep going back until we do. At least we’ll be doing something to find out who’s behind all that’s happened.”

  Seth stared at her for a moment before he sighed. “I hope we can. Nothing would please me more than to have all this brought to an end.” He glanced at his watch. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some sleep. I have to go into the office in the morning, but I’ve made arrangements for a police officer to watch the house while I’m gone. He’ll be out front in his car until I come back after lunch. Then I’ll take you to the hospital before we go on the hunt for Melvin.”

  “Thank you, Seth. I’ll see you then.”

  He gave a curt nod and walked from the room. Callie dropped back down in her chair, propped her elbows on the table and covered her eyes with her hands. His words that nothing would please him more than to have all this brought to an end troubled her. On the surface it had sounded like he wanted to bring her uncle’s case to a close, but she knew him well enough to know he was talking about something entirely different.

  He couldn’t wait to have her out of his home and out of his life again. If they could find Melvin tomorrow, Seth might have his secret wish granted sooner than he thought.

  If tomorrow worked out like she hoped, she and Seth might never have to see each other again.

  FIVE

  The next afternoon Seth drove his car slowly up and down the streets of south Memphis. Callie sat beside him. She hadn’t said a word since they’d left the hospital after checking on Dan. The news didn’t seem to change any. Dan hadn’t regained consciousness, but he was still holding his own. Seth supposed they should be thankful Dan was still alive, but gratitude proved harder every time he entered the Critical Care Unit to see his friend clinging to life by a thread.

  He glanced at Callie out of the corner of his eye. She appeared hopeful that if they were able to find Melvin he would have some answers for them. He understood how badly she wanted the attacker caught, but he suspected there was more to her thinking than she’d shared with him.

  Clearly, she couldn’t wait to be away from him and out of the house he shared with his mother.

  If things worked out the way she hoped, maybe he could make quick work of finding the culprit of the attacks, solving the decades-old missing-person case and leaving her and her uncle free of all danger. Then she could go back to living the life she’d chosen.

  “Where do you usually see him?” Callie’s words cut through the silence in the car.

  He darted a glance at her before he directed his attention back to the street ahead. “I never know. It may be on a street corner, under a light pole or playing basketball on the playground at the school down the street. If I don’t see him within the next few minutes, I need to leave. There are always eyes watching who comes into this neighborhood, and I don’t want my car to draw any attention.”

  Seth guided the car around the corner and sucked in his breath at the sight of Melvin walking up the sidewalk toward them. As they drove past, Melvin tucked his chin to his chest, stuck his hands in the pockets of the baggy shorts he was wearing and hunched his shoulders. He’d given the signal he wanted to talk with Seth.

  Seth didn’t slow the car but gave a slight nod. He watched Melvin in the rearview mirror as he drove on down the street. Beside him, Callie, oblivious to the fact that he had just made contact with his informant, stared out the window.

  When he turned out of the neighborhood and drove toward the interstate that skirted the area, she swiveled in her seat and frowned at him. “Are you giving up already?”

  Seth chuckled. “No. We passed him already. Melvin just gave me the sign that he would meet me at our usual place in an hour.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “I didn’t see anybody. When did that happen?”

  “I guess you were looking out the wrong window. We have an hour until we meet him, so I thought we could grab a cup of coffee while we’re waiting.”

  “Why do we have to wait so long?”

  “Because Melvin has to make sure no one follows him. This is our normal routine. We always follow it.”

  The flashing sign of a fast-food restaurant down the street caught his attention, and he pulled into the parking lot. As they walked toward the front door, he glanced over at her. A smile pulled at her lips.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I might have known you’d look for your favorite fast-food franchise. I think I ate my weight in hamburgers that summer we dated. Every time we went to a movie or a ball game, we had to end the evening at one of these restaurants. I think you must have been on a quest that summer to eat at every one in the city.”

  His face grew warm, and he grinned. “I’m sorry. Would you rather go somewhere else that doesn’t bring up unpleasant memories?”

  A surprised look flashed in her eyes. “I didn’t say they were unpleasant memories, Seth. I’m glad we have some memories that don’t bring pain.”

  He didn’t know how to answer her, so he bit down on his lip and reached around her to open the door to the restaurant. She walked inside, and he followed her to the counter. After purchasing their coffee, they settled in a booth near the back of the room.

  Seth sipped the hot liquid in his cup and let his gaze settle on Callie. He kept telling himself that he had to stay strong and not let her get under his skin again the way she had two years ago. He thought he’d been doing a good job of it until she’d hinted that some of the things they’d shared in their relationship had made her happy.

  “So,” he said and took a deep breath, “you don’t regret everything about our time together?”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Of course I don’t. I know I left abruptly, and you didn’t understand. I’ve always been sorry I hurt you, but I thought in time you’d come to see I wasn’t right for you. I hope you’ve done that.”

  He nodded. “It was hard at first, but it got better through time. Dan helped me through it. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

  “I know. He helped me, too.” She traced her finger around the rim of her cup. “When I came back to Memphis this time, I meant to stay away from you, but now I realize that was a mistake. Both of us love Uncle Dan, and he loves us. He’s had a hard time the past two years trying to walk the line between us without hurting anyone. I don’t want that for him anymore. If he recovers, I think we need to do everything we can to put the past behind us and be friends for his sake. Then when I come home, there won’t be any problems about you coming over to see us. We can truly be happy to see each other. Do you think we can do that?”

  Seth stared at her for a moment before he answered. “I’d like to do that, Callie, but I don’t know if I can unless we can base our friendship on truth.”

  “But our relationship has always been built on truth.”

  He cocked his head to one side and stared at her. “Really? Then maybe it’s time you told me the truth about why you turned down my proposal.”

  Her face turned pale, and her mouth gaped open. “B-but I t-told you. I wanted to pursue my career in Virginia.”

  “I know what you told me. You also led me to believe that it was because I was a policeman, and your father wa
s killed in the line of duty. But after two years of thinking about it, I don’t buy either one of those excuses. When are you going to break down and tell me what really made you decide not to marry me?”

  Her lips trembled, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “Seth, I’m sorry if you can’t accept my reasons, but...”

  He held up his hand. “You’re wrong. I have accepted the fact that it ended with us two years ago. I just want to know why. I don’t think it could have been another guy because Dan says you aren’t involved with anyone. It just makes no sense.”

  She straightened in her seat, and a tear slid down her cheek. “Again, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else I can tell you other than that I didn’t think we were right for each other. Please drop this and do what I asked. Just be my friend. With my only relative near death, I need a friend, and you’re the only one I can turn to. I need your friendship, Seth.”

  He exhaled a deep breath and leaned against the back of the booth. Why had he brought this up today? He’d always suspected there was some hidden reason Callie had run away from him, but she was determined not to tell him what it was.

  Perhaps he needed to forget about her reasons and accept the friendship she was offering now. He knew nothing would make Dan happier than to know that the two people he loved most in the world had gotten past the anger of the past. He could do that, if not for himself then for Dan.

  He nodded. “All right, Callie. Whatever your reasons, you’ve made it clear you’re not going to share them with me. But I agree that we owe it to Dan to try and rebuild some kind of friendship. I’ll try if you will.”

  She smiled and reached across the table to grasp his hand. “Thank you, Seth. I promise I’ll try, too.”

  He glanced down at her hand resting on his and threaded his fingers through hers. For the first time in two years he felt a twinge of peace radiating through his soul like a light trying to pierce the darkness in a tunnel. It felt good to be here with Callie. Now if the doctors could get Dan out of the woods and he could protect Callie, maybe the three of them could once again share the good times they’d had in the past. He hoped so.

  * * *

  Seth let his gaze drift down the alley that served as his appointed meeting place with Melvin. It ran behind the row of small businesses that fronted a busy street in south Memphis. He pulled to a stop behind a Laundromat and glanced over at Callie. “Do you want to come with me or wait in the car?”

  “I’d rather come with you if that’s all right. Will he be willing to talk with you with me present?”

  “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out.”

  He’d barely finished speaking when Melvin stepped out the back door of the Laundromat and stopped in front of his car. His gaze settled on Callie as they climbed from the vehicle. “What’s this, man? How come you go bringing a woman down here with you?”

  Seth walked around the front of the car, leaned back against the fender and crossed his arms. “You don’t have to worry about her, Melvin. She’s all right. In fact, she’s the niece of a man maybe you’ve heard about—Judge Dan Lattimer.”

  At the mention of Dan’s name, Melvin’s eyes grew wide. “Why you coming ’round here asking me about that judge?”

  Seth shrugged. “Maybe because your name showed up in some of his files. I need to know if you’ve talked to him lately.”

  Melvin shot an angry glance at Callie. “If you want to know all that bad, why don’t you just ask him?”

  Seth was relieved to see that Callie didn’t rise to the bait, leaving the talking to him. “Because he’s not able to talk right now. It seems somebody shot him night before last. You know anything about that?”

  Melvin’s eyes widened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Oh, no. I warned him to watch his back.”

  Callie sucked in her breath, and Seth shot her a look that he hoped convinced her to remain quiet and let him handle this. He turned his attention back to Melvin. “You did? Then it seems you have some information for me.”

  Melvin glanced at Callie once more before he nodded. “Yeah, but you know how these things work.”

  “I do. You give me something I want, and I help you out with something you want.”

  “That’s right, and I got me a need.”

  Seth narrowed his eyes and frowned. “I figured you did. What is it?”

  Melvin licked his lips and took a step closer to Seth. “My check don’t come until the end of the month, and I’m running a little short. How about helping me out?”

  Seth cocked an eyebrow. “What do you need money for?”

  “I need milk and diapers for my baby.”

  Seth stroked his chin. “For your baby? Not for that habit of yours?”

  Melvin straightened his shoulders and glared at Seth. “I told you. I quit fooling around with that stuff.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, Melvin, and I’m sorry you’re running short on milk and diapers. I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll stop by Mr. Parson’s store and leave some money on an account for your wife to spend, but I’m going to tell him she can only use it for milk, diapers or baby food. Understand?”

  Melvin nodded. “Yeah, man. I get it. You don’t have to worry. I’m gonna see my son is taken care of.”

  “Good. Now tell me, how do you know Judge Lattimer?”

  Melvin looked over his shoulder and inched closer to Seth. “Everybody around here knows him. When folks wanted a neighborhood center built for their kids, Judge Lattimer was one of the first to donate money, and he gave a lot of it. But that’s not all. After it was built, he started volunteering there. He’s helped keep a lot of kids out of trouble.”

  Seth nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

  “He coaches my little brother’s basketball team. I know it’s because of the judge that he’s been able to keep away from the gangs and stay out of trouble. So,” Melvin continued, “when word on the street said somebody had put out a hit on him, I let him know.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “I went down to the center one day last week, and I told him. He thanked me and said he’d be careful. But I guess they got to him anyway. How is he?”

  Seth glanced at Callie, who still hadn’t spoken. “He’s in the hospital, but we’re hoping he makes it.”

  Melvin nodded. “I sure hope he does.”

  “Do you know who put out the hit on Dan?”

  “No, but I know who the shooter was. It was Carlos Allen.”

  Seth’s breath hitched in his throat at the mention of the name he’d heard off and on ever since he’d joined the police force. Carlos had been in and out of trouble in Memphis for years, but it had been mostly for gang activities. If he was now hiring out as a hit man, he must have acquired a new set of skills and spread his wings in the criminal community.

  “I know him. When I joined the police force, he was a gang member. I haven’t heard much from him lately, though. I thought maybe he’d left town.”

  Melvin shook his head. “No, he’s still around. Not into the gang scene so much anymore. He’s moved up in the world.”

  Seth thought for a moment before he asked the next question. “Any idea where I might find him?”

  “Yeah, one of two places. I heard he’s been doing a lot of community service time down at the Midtown Mission.”

  “That’s interesting,” Seth said. “And where else might I find him?”

  “At Sam’s Bar and Grill over on Highway 61.” Melvin glanced over his shoulder. “If that’s all, I need to get out of here. I don’t want nobody catching me talking to a cop. That ain’t healthy in this neighborhood.”

  Seth held up his hand to stop Melvin from leaving. “One more thing, Melvin. Did you tell Judge Lattimer where he might be able to find Carlos?”

  “Yeah.” He glanced over
his shoulder. “I’ve told you all I know. Now I need to go.”

  “Okay, Melvin. I appreciate your help, and I’ll leave that money at Mr. Parson’s store. Take care of the baby. Being a father is a big responsibility. You need to make sure you do everything you can to give your son a good life.”

  Melvin didn’t say anything, just gave him one last look before he turned and walked away. When he’d rounded the corner and disappeared from view, Callie stepped forward. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”

  “He’s never lied to me before, and he’s right about Dan being respected in this neighborhood. At least now I have a name to start with. I haven’t thought of Carlos Allen in a long time, but being a hit man for somebody is the sort of thing he’d like. Besides that, the gang he belonged to made their members get a star tattooed on their necks. That goes along with the description you gave of Dan’s attacker at the hospital.”

  Callie’s mouth curled into a large smile. “Then all we have to do is go to this bar and grill and wait for him. Then you can arrest him.”

  Seth shook his head and waved his hands in dismissal. “We are not going to the bar. I will go with police backup. You are not going near that place.”

  Her eyes turned dark with anger. “You can’t do that. I thought we were going to work on this case together.”

  “We are going to work together to find out who Hope is, but the attempts on your and Dan’s lives are another matter. That is police business that would put you directly in harm’s way. I’m not about to take you into the middle of a police stakeout.”

  “But I won’t let you do this. I’ll...”

  “You won’t do anything,” he interrupted. “I’m going to take you back to my house and get a police officer stationed outside to guard you, then I’m going to headquarters and set up a stakeout for tonight. I’ll let you know when I get home if anything happened or not.”