The Keres Case (Heartfelt Cases Book 4)

by Gilbert,Julie C.

  “You have a fatal case of flippancy, and it will kill you and those you love most.”

  “You have a fatal case of delusions if you think you can come after my family and get away with it.”

  “I don’t have to come to you. I already have Malia.”

  In spite of her mental fortification, Malia’s name hit Ann hard.

  “What would killing a child prove?”

  Half Ann’s mind remained on the conversation and the other half mused over how Devya would react to Malia’s situation.

  That will complicate matters.

  “I can do much worse than kill her.”

  “I thought you hated vague threats,” Ann said, forcing herself to concentrate. “If you called to tick me off, mission accomplished. If you want something from me, get to the point.”

  “Why can’t you be reasonable like that detective?”

  “Why can’t you turn yourself in and save us the trouble of chasing you?” Ann returned. “I’ll tell you why. It’s not in your nature, nor is it in mine to drop an investigation.”

  “Even to save a young girl?”

  “Threatening a child is very revealing,” Ann pointed out. “It tells me you’re a coward.”

  “Not heeding a threat tells me you’re a fool.”

  “Mores the pity fools and cowards run the world, but such is life. Incidentally, if you harm Malia, I’ll be the least of your worries.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Ann knew she had scored a point in the verbal duel.

  “I don’t know the man personally, but I hear her father’s very powerful.”

  “You mean she’s some drug lord’s brat?” the man asked skeptically.

  “Ask him yourself. Malia will know how to contact him.”

  “You’re bluffing.”

  “You wish.”

  “The girl’s nothing special,” the man insisted.

  “I want to speak with her.”

  “She’s not conscious.”

  “Then call me back when she is,” Ann snapped, ending the call. Her heart pounded. She might have just gotten Malia killed. She hoped not. The man sounded rational enough to know Malia’s worth hinged on her still being alive.

  As soon as Ann hung up, her mother and sister burst forth with questions.

  “Is it true? Does he have Malia?” Carol asked.

  Joy grabbed Ann by both shoulders as she loosed her questions half a second after their mother.

  “What did you find? Why did he threaten you? Is George all right? What’s going on?”

  Gripping Joy’s upper arms, Ann forced a smile.

  “Down, girl. Easy does it. He’s not here, and he can’t hurt you.”

  “He doesn’t want to hurt me,” Joy said impatiently. “He’s after you. Why is he after you?”

  “He has Malia,” Carol reminded them.

  “She’ll be fine, Mom,” Ann said, praying it would hold true. “He won’t hurt her until he gets what he wants.”

  Joy sniffed her derision but didn’t contradict Ann.

  “What does he want?” Carol inquired. “He says he wants you to stop the Tyler investigation, but there’s got to be more than that. It’s almost over, isn’t it? The deadline passed.”

  “The investigation won’t stop even if Karen is returned,” Ann said. “It’ll actually pick up momentum. We’ll want to question her as soon as possible.”

  “Oh! I just remembered!” Carol’s hand flew to her right cheek. “Call Patrick, dear. He phoned while you were out running. I think he’s worried about something.”

  Mentally mourning the chance to take a shower and relax, Ann thanked her mother for the message and dashed for her cell phone.

  Chapter 23:

  Complications

  Ryker’s Base of Operations

  Elk County, Pennsylvania

  She hung up.

  Ryker stared at the phone for five seconds. Few people ever hung up on him. They understood how hazardous that could be to their health. The female feddie was either completely insane or very clever, in which case she might be a worthy opponent. Ryker realized he ought to be incensed but intrigue outweighed the outrage.

  Why would she mention the girl’s father?

  The move made no sense. Either Annie bluffed blindly to defend the girl, or she knew something Ryker didn’t. He hated when other people had knowledge he lacked. It gave them power over him. Power he couldn’t let them keep. Concluding he had to know more, Ryker got up to wake the girl.

  Before he took two steps, the phone rang. This puzzled him. Nobody was scheduled to call. Hank, Phil, and Wayne might not even be in position to carry out their next assignments yet, and they had strict instructions not to call under any circumstance. Most of his people operated under similar orders. Either they did their jobs and earned their fees or they failed and suffered the consequences. They understood that he would never go out of his way to help them out of problems they created through stupidity or bad luck.

  The phone rang twice more and he let it go to voicemail. He waited a full minute to give the caller ample time to state his or her case before checking the message.

  There was no message.

  The phone started ringing again. Ryker hit the end call button and waited. Sure enough, a few seconds later the phone rang.

  Concluding he might be stuck there indefinitely hanging up, Ryker accepted the call.

  “Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?”

  “Do you?” responded the caller. The man’s cultured voice held a hint of challenge.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but you have exactly one chance to convince me you’re worth talking to.”

  “I’m worth talking to, Damien.”

  “How do you know that name?” Despite himself, Ryker sensed respect within the tidal wave of surprise. He had not gone by that name in years.

  “My source is not your concern.”

  If they’re from my organization, they’re definitely my concern.

  “What do you want?” The question felt odd coming out of his lips. A lot of people asked it of him, but this was a new experience, one Ryker didn’t much enjoy.

  “You have something of mine that I want returned.”

  “What do I have?” Ryker wasn’t asking the man to be annoying. He was truly baffled.

  “My daughter, Malia. Return her to the Davidson family.”

  Well done, Annie.

  Giddy laughter built up inside Ryker. He let some of the laughter out, but cut off the rest.

  “I haven’t decided what to do with that one. What makes her so special? The Davidsons seem pretty keen on getting her back. You seem to want the same thing. You’re a fool to let me know she’s worth so much since you obviously have the means to pay for her release.”

  “You’re a child playing with matches in a pool of jet fuel,” commented the stranger.

  Curiosity wouldn’t release Ryker.

  “Who are you? Why do you think you can threaten me?”

  “I am a man with the means to have you arrested, enslaved, killed, or maimed. What I currently lack is the will to do so, but your obstinacy is quickly changing that.”

  “Prove it.”

  “I don’t have to prove anything, but I’ll indulge you because having you believe me is important and will likely save me time. You were born Damien Caldwell in the town of Little Valley, New York. You started your criminal career by trapping small animals and burning them alive. Your first murder victim was your best friend, Jaya Wilkerson. The police considered you a person of interest, but they never found her body and didn’t pursue the charges.”

  Ryker couldn’t believe his ears. Anybody with sophisticated search engines and sufficient patience could have tracked down his place of birth, but nobody except his half-sister even knew about the squirrels. He highly doubted she would ever tell a soul since he had promised to gut her with his knife if she ever spoke of it.

  “Tammy mu
st have said something.”

  “I have never spoken with your half-sister, but I know she lives in Eatonville, Washington right now,” said the man, as if reading his mind. “Do I have your attention?”

  “You just want the girl? Your daughter, I mean. You’re not going to make any other demands?” Ryker tried to stop the questions, but they slipped out.

  Stop talking!

  “I leave her with the Davidsons and we’re done, you and I?”

  He truly means you no harm.

  He wanted to believe it, but his cynical nature battled the optimistic thought.

  Trust him.

  “My source would have me take your entire network down because it is evil. I personally don’t care. You can do as you like. My concern is Malia. If you harm her, I will have you killed. Holding her is therefore dangerous and you should cease doing so at once.”

  “I want to meet your source.”

  A chuckle traveled through the phone.

  “She would like that as well, but I won’t allow it.”

  “She?” Ryker repeated, stunned. “Tell me her name.” He rasped the request like a dying man’s last wish.

  “No. I respect the danger you represent too much for that.”

  Ryker didn’t believe the man’s assurance to stay out of the way.

  “Will you interfere with my plans for the FBI agents?”

  “I told you. I will do nothing. What my source does is up to her. You have made a powerful enemy by needlessly oppressing people. I would suggest cutting your losses and getting out of The Keres Legacy games.”

  “I can’t,” Ryker admitted. The unexpected candor nearly shocked him speechless, but he needed to explain. “It is a compulsion that drives me. I must carry out the work. It’s important.” He made his decision then. Annie had been right about this man being powerful, but Ryker had something he wanted.

  “You’re not going to be sensible about this, are you?”

  “I will keep your daughter safe for as long as I need her,” Ryker promised, not wanting to completely brush off the man.

  “My previous statement stands. You’re gambling with your life. That concludes the discussion.” The man hung up.

  Ryker stared at the phone for thirty seconds. The powerful man had put Ryker on the defensive far too easily.

  Who was his source?

  If she worked for Ryker, she would die a slow, painful death. He mostly employed men for the simple fact that they were less squeamish about the messier parts of the job.

  Ryker needed answers, and he knew exactly where to get them.

  You know a lot, but can you divine exactly how your daughter fares here?

  ***

  Varick’s Temporary Residence

  Undisclosed Location, New York

  It did not work. Nadia Ayers’s thought slipped into her brother’s mind like a colored marquee and faded.

  “There are limits to powers of persuasion, even yours,” Varick said to the empty air. He sat up from the chair he had been napping in.

  Father’s refusal to aid us is not unforeseen, merely disappointing.

  “I told you this plan was barmy,” Varick reminded. He instinctively glanced up, having nothing to fix his eyes on.

  A pale, glowing figure of Nadia appeared in front of Varick.

  “So you did, but the game is still afoot.”

  “Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes references,” Varick said, raising an eyebrow. “Impressive. I suppose you want me to help fix it.”

  “I do,” Nadia confirmed.

  “Lose the ghost getup and tell me what you need me to do. I hope it’s more interesting than childminding FBI computer geniuses and feeding them leads.”

  “Your last mission was successful,” Nadia encouraged, becoming more solid as the glow around her faded. Her tone warned him he might not like his assigned role.

  Varick sighed.

  “I’m not going to collect Malia, am I?”

  A troubled look crossed Nadia’s face.

  “She will be fine, Varick.”

  Anger pierced him, and he was on his feet instantly. He knew Nadia too well to believe the reassurance radiating from her.

  “What’s he done to her?”

  “Calm down. Events transpiring now are beyond our control. We do not have the location lock. I will get it from Malia, but I need more time. You need to get to where you can do the most good. When I find Malia, I will notify you.”

  “Why did you send her?” Varick demanded, clenching and unclenching his fists. “She’s too young!”

  “You were younger than her on your first mission,” Nadia reminded him.

  “So were you, but Malia’s not like us, Nadia.” Varick flexed his jaw and scowled at his sister. He loved her dearly, but she had a hard time accepting her limitations. It probably came from not having many intellectual limits.

  “She chose to go.”

  “Of course, she chose to go,” Varick snapped.

  Do you honestly not see it? he fired the question silently.

  “She might be jealous, but she thinks the world of you. She would do anything for you!”

  Of course I see it. Nadia sent the thought reply the instant before saying, “I know.” She let that stand a full second before continuing, “Malia is my sister too. She trusted me with her life, and I will send you to save her as soon as possible. However, hers is not the only life in peril this day and coming night. Despite our Gifts, we are worth no more than any other person. If you believe in the cause Malia fights for, then help me catch those intent on evil.” Nadia’s avatar vanished but she left one more thought lingering in the air. See that she suffers not in vain.

  Varick frowned, but he was moved by the force of Nadia’s thoughts and words.

  “I will go.”

  Chapter 24:

  Meeting of the Minds

  Davidson Residence

  Fairview, Pennsylvania

  Only Ann Duncan’s impeccable reflexes prevented her from tripping over her son on the way through the kitchen doorway. She dodged to the right, pivoting on her foot and spinning counter-clockwise to swing her left leg away from the toddler. Relieved not to have inadvertently punted the boy, Ann leaned against a kitchen chair and blew out a breath.

  Heedless of the near miss, Joseph staggered and bear-hugged her legs.

  “Mommy!”

  “Hiya, sweets, whatcha doing?” Ann asked with cheer she didn’t really feel.

  Marina came over and knelt by Joseph. She glanced up at Ann apologetically.

  “Sorry. He leave chair.”

  Picking up her son and propping him on one hip, Ann gave him a stern look.

  “Joseph Cale, what did I say about listening to instructions?”

  “No!”

  “Wrong answer, mister.”

  “No!” Joseph repeated, dragging it out this time. He clapped his hands over his ears and shook his whole body. “No listen!”

  Swinging her arms to avoid wrenching something in her back, Ann waited out the mini-tantrum. When his hands left his ears, she asked.

  “Feel better now that that’s out?”

  “Yes,” Joseph answered, bobbing his head. He planted a palm on her cheek and dragged greasy fingers down her face.

  “Good,” said Ann.

  There are worse things than finger grease.

  Ann looked deep into the child’s brilliant blue eyes.

  “You will listen to what Marina, Aunt Joy, Grandma, and Grandpa tell you to do, or you will answer to me. Do you understand?”

  “Unca Nicky?” Joseph asked with a serious frown.

  Ann laughed.

  “Yes, you should listen to Uncle Nicky too. He loves you almost as much as Daddy and I do. They all do. That’s why you should listen to them. Will you let Marina hold you now? Mommy needs to call Daddy.”

  “Come, Joey, finish cheese,” said Marina, holding out the half-eaten, mushy slice of processed cheese.

  Oh, that looks attractive. />
  “Look, cheese. Your favorite.”

  “Cheese!” Joseph declared, pointing in case she’d missed it. He lunged toward Marina and the delicacy.

  Marina’s eyes widened in alarm, and she backed up a step.

  “I see it, Joey,” Ann said, grunting with the effort to prevent his escape. “Let’s be gentle with Marina though, okay? Gentle hug now.” She stepped over to Marina and eased her son into the girl’s arms. Then, she started for her father’s office where she had left her cell phone.

  “Mommy!” Joseph called. Once he had her attention, he jammed a finger into his right cheek. “Kiss bye-bye!”

  “That’s one order I’ll gladly take.” Ann returned to Marina’s side and kissed Joseph’s cheek.

  Moments later, trying not to get her hopes up, Ann settled into the chair by the computer and picked up her phone.

  Please be there. Please be there.

  She noticed four new messages awaiting her attention and briefly debated checking them first or calling Patrick. Concluding that at least one of them must be from Patrick anyway, Ann hit the speed dial button for her husband.

  “Hey, honey, glad you called,” said Patrick, sounding relieved.

  “Mom said you needed to talk about the case. Sorry about that. It’s been a phone tag tournament today. She said you might be worried about something.”

  “Baker and I found Rachel’s bracelet in the house we checked this morning.”

  Ann sat bolt upright in the chair. She knew exactly which bracelet he meant.

  The silver one with the charms.

  Patrick had been there when Jon gave the gift. It would be the only piece of Rachel’s jewelry he had a hope of recognizing.

  Ann’s mind raced to the logical conclusions, none of which ended well.

  “Did you tell her?”

  “I told Jon and he said he’d let her know,” said Patrick. “He also said you should call her.”

  “I’ll do that,” Ann promised. “Did you find anything else?”

  “I’ll have somebody get you a complete list of the findings. Speaking of findings, Dr. Bahl called. She said she’d send a full report through soon, and I’ll forward it to you once I get it. What she told me in summary is that the skeleton found last Friday in the Erie National Wildlife Refuge had Negroid characteristics and was likely killed a couple of decades ago.”