“Yeah. We had ice cream.”
“Great!”
She heard a click, and Gary said tentatively, “Hello?”
“Hi, Gary,” Abby said. “You can both hear me, right?”
“Yeah,” both boys replied.
“Good. I wanted you to hear it at the same time. The police have found your daddy.”
Andy gave a little whoop, and Gary said gruffly, “About time.”
Abby smiled. “Uncle Harvey and Uncle Jeff and Uncle Eddie are all with him right now. They’re going to let me see him soon.”
“Can we come and see him?” Gary asked.
“Not yet, but soon, honey. They’re going to take him over to the hospital and let some doctors check him out.”
“Is he hurt bad?” Gary asked.
“Well, I haven’t seen him yet, but Uncle Harvey told me that he probably needs to see a doctor. They think he fell down and bumped his head, and he has a few cuts.”
“What from?” Andy yelled in her ear.
“I don’t know yet, sweetheart, but they’ll fix him up. I’ll call again when it’s okay for you to see him. Probably that will be at the hospital. Okay?”
“Yeah,” Gary said.
“Okay,” Andy echoed.
“All right, now whichever one of you is with Aunt Jennifer, please put her on the phone now.”
“She’s with me,” Gary said.
“And who’s with you, Andy?” Abby asked.
“Aunt Leeanne.”
“Okay, give them the phones, please. I’ll see you later.”
A moment later, Jennifer said, “Abby? They found him?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God!”
“Amen to that,” Leeanne said.
“Well, what I didn’t tell the boys is that he’s in pretty rough shape. I haven’t seen him yet myself, but Harvey says he’s unconscious, and he has some pretty severe injuries.”
“Oh, dear,” Jennifer said.
“I’ll know more later. I’ll call you again after I see him. I don’t want you to take the boys to the hospital until I give you the word, all right?”
“Sure,” Jennifer said.
“We’ll be praying,” Leeanne added.
“Thank you.” Abby sobbed. “Jeff and Mark are here, tending to him.”
“That’s good,” Leeanne said. “I’ll tell Beth.”
“Thanks. There’s a lot more to tell you later, but I’m going to get off now. Just pray hard, okay?”
“We will,” Jennifer assured her.
Abby closed the connection and held the phone to her chest. She sucked in a big breath and blinked against burning tears. Eddie came out of the house and down the driveway. She opened the truck door and hopped out.
“Can I go in now? Please?”
“Yeah. I’ll take you. They’re getting him ready for transport. Jeff says you can ride in the ambulance.”
“Good.” She grabbed his hand. “How bad is it really, Eddie?”
“Well, prepare yourself.”
“Is he awake?”
“No. Mark and Jeff think he may have a skull fracture.”
She couldn’t hold back a sob. Eddie stopped walking and put his arm around her.
“You okay?”
She sniffed and nodded.
“If you’re going to crumple on me, I’d better take you back to the truck.”
“No. No, I’ll be fine. I need to be with Peter.”
“Okay.” He eyed her uncertainly. “You sure you can do stairs?”
“I’m sure. Let’s go.” They walked slowly up the driveway to the front stoop.
“They also think one leg is broken, and they’re not sure about his arm,” Eddie said.
She stopped in the doorway. “What else aren’t you telling me?”
“That’s most of it. There’s blood.”
“Harvey said his hands have cuts.”
Eddie nodded. “We think that’s from trying to get loose. There’s a broken mirror, and we found a piece of it near where he was chained.”
Abby’s heart clenched. “Let me see him.”
“This way.” Eddie guided her into the empty kitchen.
He preceded her down the cellar stairs. Abby held the railing with one hand and clung to Eddie’s hand with the other. She could see the EMTs below them, huddled over a form on the floor, but between them and several police officers, she couldn’t actually see Peter, other than one foot and his bandaged right arm.
Harvey met them at the bottom of the stairs and drew her toward him.
“You okay, Abby?”
She nodded, her eyes on the EMTs. Jeff stood and turned toward them.
“Hey, sis.” His smile wavered. “Looks like you’ll get him back.”
Abby brushed past him and went to her knees on the concrete floor. Peter’s face was ashen. He had an IV line in his left forearm, and Tony Winfield was holding the bag of saline fluid. Mark Johnson was wrapping Peter’s splinted right leg.
She swallowed hard and looked up at Jeff. “Is there a skull fracture?”
“If there is, it’s hairline. Concussion, minimum. But we’ll treat him extra careful. We want to make sure he’s stable before we lift him up the stairs.”
She nodded. Both Peter’s hands and wrists were wrapped in gauze, and there was no place for her to hold on to him. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Can you hold this, Jeff?” Mark asked, and Jeff crouched to help him. Abby eased over a little to give them room.
“The ER’s expecting him,” Mark said as he worked. “They’ll probably take him straight to X-ray, if his vitals are okay when we get there.”
Abby cleared her throat, but a painful lump remained. “How’s his blood pressure?”
“Not great,” Mark said.
Jeff handed her a clipboard, and she looked down at the notes he had made.
“His oxygen’s low,” she said.
“Yeah, we’ll get him on oxy in the bus.” Jeff winked at her. “He’s going to make it, Abby.”
“Are you sure? That head wound. . .”
“That’s the worst thing,” Jeff agreed.
“Okay, I’m done.” Mark sat back on his heels and put his scissors and tape back in his kit. “Let’s get the stretcher down here.”
“Eddie, give me a hand?” Jeff said. He and Eddie bounded up the stairs.
Jimmy Cook came down the stairs and went straight to Harvey. “Hey, boss. You need Nate and me down here?”
“Let’s wait until they get Peter out,” Harvey said. “You two start looking around up there. It’s hard to protect the crime scene with this many people responding, but we need to know if the kidnappers left anything behind up there. As soon as the EMTs clear out, we’ll take this basement apart.”
Jimmy nodded and went back up the steps.
Abby reached out toward Harvey, and he bent toward her. “What do you think you’ll find?”
“Well, there’s a sleeping bag over there, and the duct tape they probably had on his hands. We might get some prints off that. And in the bathroom, there’s a broken mirror. I expect Peter used the glass to get himself free, but we’ll look it over real well, anyway.”
“He had a bathroom?” Abby looked around and homed in on the doorway a few yards away. On the floor near it was the crumpled sleeping bag and a slack chain. “They chained him up.”
Harvey’s hand came down on her shoulder. “It’s over now, Abby. Just think about Peter, and what he needs from you right now.”
She looked back at the man she loved so much. Peter pulled in a shuddering breath and exhaled, his eyes still closed. She reached out and gently smoothed his hair. He was filthy. Peter hated that. She looked up at Harvey.
“Probably the first thing he’ll say is, ‘I need a shower.’”
Harvey chuckled.
Abby looked toward the stairs. Eddie and Jeff maneuvered their way down, carrying the collapsed stretcher from the ambulance. “Remember when you guys went runni
ng together and you thought I’d be grossed out because Peter was all sweaty?”
Harvey nodded, smiling. “Eddie was sure you wouldn’t marry him after that, but he was wrong. I’m glad you hung in there.”
“Me, too.” Abby stood.
“Okay, let’s clear out and give the EMTs some space,” Harvey said.
The uniformed officers trooped up the stairs. Jeff laid the stretcher beside Peter, and he and Mark lifted the patient onto it.
“You need help getting him up?” Eddie asked.
“We’ve got it,” Mark said.
Jeff looked over at Abby. “You want to ride with us?”
“Yes, please.”
She waited until they were nearly to the top of the stairs and squeezed Eddie’s arm. “Thank you. You, too, Harvey. I’ll see you later.”
Her phone hummed in her pocket as she followed Jeff and Mark out of the house. Patrolmen lined the driveway as Peter was rolled to the back of the ambulance. Abby pulled her phone out and looked at it.
She caught her breath and looked over her shoulder. Harvey was only a couple of steps behind her.
“Janelle is calling me.”
“Don’t answer it,” Harvey said.
She nodded. “I won’t talk to anyone but my family. That includes you guys.”
“Good.” The stretcher was in the ambulance. Harvey gave her a boost up. “I’ll probably see you later at the hospital.”
“Sit here, Abs,” Jeff said, indicating the jump seat near Peter’s head. Abby sat down and touched his forehead.
“He’s cool.”
“Yeah, no fever,” Jeff replied as he hung the IV bag. “There’ll be a neurosurgeon standing by when we get there.”
Mark shut the door, and Abby pulled in a deep breath. “I’m glad it was you who came.”
Jeff gave her a crooked smile and sat down beside her. “Me, too.” He reached for Peter’s wrist and gently positioned his fingertips to take a pulse. “Holding steady.”
Chapter 18
Harvey and Nate approached the front door of Tom Merrick’s house. Nate and Jimmy went around to the back. Harvey missed having Eddie beside him, but he’d sent him to the hospital to watch out for Peter and Abby.
The porch light came on, and a moment later Janelle Merrick opened the door.
“Captain Larson? Is there news on Peter?”
“May we come in, Janelle?”
“Of course.”
She led them into the living room. Upscale, modern furnishings, Harvey noted. Contemporary art, but no big-name artists except the one Sofia Areal print. He didn’t like it, but that was just him. Harvey liked realism.
Janelle turned to face him. “It must be bad.”
“Why do you say that?” Harvey asked.
“Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. I tried to call Abby a while ago, and she didn’t pick up. Is Peter. . .” Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m actually here to see your husband,” Harvey said.
She raised her chin and blinked. “Tom?”
“Yes. Is he home?”
“No, he’s in Boston.”
“A real estate seminar, I believe?”
Janelle eyed him keenly. “That’s right. But I don’t understand.”
“When do you expect him home?”
“Tomorrow night. They’re wrapping the seminar at four tomorrow.”
“What day did Tom leave to go to Boston?”
“Thursday morning. What is this about?”
“Janelle, I need to ask a few more questions. Would you mind if my men did a walk-through of the house? They won’t disturb anything.”
She stood there for a moment, staring at him. “You think Tom’s done something.”
“It’s more a matter of ruling him out.”
She sank into an armchair. “Does this have anything to do with Peter? Because Tom wouldn’t—he just wouldn’t.”
Harvey sat down on the sofa, kitty-corner to her.
“I know this is stressful, Janelle. Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think it was necessary. Can my men come in and look around?”
“Is there a warrant?”
“No,” Harvey said. “We could get one, but it would be better if we had your permission.”
She hesitated. “Are you looking for something in particular? Just tell me what you want, and if we’ve got it, I’ll get it for you.”
“Does Tom have a computer here at home?”
“A laptop. He took it with him.”
“Could you give me his boss’s home phone?”
“Mr. Redmond?” Janelle asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. This has something to do with Tom’s job? Harvey, what are we talking about?”
If Janelle was trying to stall him, she was doing a pretty good job of it. Harvey tried not to let his frustration show.
“We’re talking about Tom’s boss’s phone number.”
“He probably has it on his phone, but. . .”
“Okay. Forget that.” Nate could find it in two minutes or less. “Can my guys take a quick walk-through? If everything’s okay, we’ll leave then.”
“I. . .I guess so. You’ll tell me if you’re taking anything?”
“Of course. Thank you.” Harvey nodded to Nate, who went out the front door.
Harvey looked up at the Areal print. “Nice picture.”
“Thanks,” Janelle said. “It was expensive, even though it’s only a print. I mean, expensive for us. I’m still trying to decide if I like it there or not.”
Nate, Tony, and Jimmy came in. Harvey nodded to them, and they separated, Nate taking the kitchen and the other two heading for the stairs. Janelle sat on the sofa, swiveling her head to follow as much of their movements as she could.
“Have you spoken to Tom since he went to Boston?” Harvey asked. A three-day seminar seemed a little intense to him for real estate agents.
“Yes. He calls me every evening.”
“Did he call you tonight?”
She frowned. “Yes, about six o’clock. Why?”
“Do you have the name of the hotel where he’s staying?”
“The Marriott on the Long Wharf.”
“Okay, thanks.” He didn’t want to upset Janelle further by taking out his notebook, but he was pretty sure he could remember that.
Nate emerged from the dining room. He stood near the doorway without coming any farther, so Harvey stood and walked over to him.
“Downstairs is clear,” Nate said quietly. “And I found that phone number you want—Redmond.”
“Send it to my phone. Thanks.”
Jimmy and Tony came down the stairs, Tony jogging light-footed, and Jimmy following with heavier, slower steps.
“All clear,” Tony said cheerfully.
Harvey turned to Janelle. “And we’re out of here. Thanks so much for your cooperation, Janelle.”
The detectives were nearly to the door. Janelle jumped up and grabbed Harvey’s sleeve.
“Wait! What about Peter?”
Harvey didn’t like to deceive her, but if Tom was involved, telling his wife that Peter had been found could damage their investigation. And he had no doubt Janelle would tell him.
“We have some promising leads,” he said. “I may have some news for you in the morning.”
She let them go, and he heard her lock the deadbolt behind them.
As they walked back to their cars, Harvey put in the call to Tom Merrick’s boss.
“Hello?” came a cautious voice.
“Mr. Redmond?” Harvey said.
“Yes.”
Harvey explained who he was and asked if he could go to the man’s house to talk to him.
“Is it my son?” Redmond asked. “What’s happened to Brent?”
“No, it’s not about your family, sir,” Harvey said. “This is more of a business concern. I just have a few questions about a house your agency has listed for sale.”
“Oh,” Redmond said
. “Would you rather meet me at my office? All my records are there. It might be easier to access what you want.”
“Sure.” Harvey got the address and signed off. “Eddie, you come with me. Bring your own vehicle, though. And I’m going to call Boston P.D. first. You guys wait.”
After he made the second call, he put his phone in his pocket and faced his men. “All right, Boston P.D. will try to pick up Merrick at his hotel. Until we know they’ve got him, Nate and Jimmy, I want you two to sit here, just in case he comes back early. Don’t let him get in the house, okay?”
“Okay,” Jimmy said.
“Do you need to make any arrangements with family?” Harvey asked.
Nate shook his head.
“I’m good,” Jimmy replied.
“Okay, and if Boston doesn’t have him by midnight, Tony and Eddie will spell you.” Harvey arched his eyebrows at Eddie, then Tony, and both nodded. “Good. Nate, do you have your tablet?”
“Yeah,” Nate said. “It’s in my car.”
“While you’re sitting, see if you can find any links between Tom Merrick and McCafferty or Holden or Talbot.”
“Got it.”
“Now, Tony, go to the office and tell the head dispatcher what we’re doing. Tell him Nate and Jim will check in every twenty minutes and that I’ll be at the hospital, where he can reach me on my cell. Then put in a warrant application for this place and file a preliminary report on the house where we found Peter. Then you can take a nap if you want. Just be ready to go back on duty at midnight.”
“Sure,” Tony said.
“All right. Call me if anything comes up.” Harvey got into his SUV and headed for Redmond Realty.
*****
Tony hurried through the Priority Unit office to the locker room and stored his gear. He came back out and went to his desk. A pink message slip lay smack in the middle of his keyboard. Odd. He picked it up.
To: Detective Winfield. From: Laney Cross. His pulse accelerated. In the box for the message, Paula had written, Laney asks that you call her personal phone whenever you get this. It was followed by a number with a prefix reserved for cell phones.
Okay, this was a step forward. Wasn’t it? She’d left her private number for him. On the other hand, what was so urgent that she’d left a message for him at the office?
Tony sat down. His stomach felt a little queasy, not as bad as when he’d attended an autopsy with the captain, but worse than when he smelled vinegar, which he loathed.
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