Be something good for Lonny to do.
She poked her head inside the door. “Lonny, get your tools and get out here.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Mr. Winthrop’s patio is nearly falling apart. I’m surprised you didn’t see it.”
“Patio? I don’t have time to fix a damn patio. Jada’s out there somewhere. She’s—”
Lucia put her hand to his lips. “She’s in the best hands we can hope for. Detective Cataldi is going to find her, and the Lord will watch over her.” Lucia kissed him softly. “Let them do their jobs.”
Lonny seemed to be fighting something within himself, but eventually he nodded then he stepped outside to take a look. “I can chisel them out, but I don’t have any mortar.”
“That can come another day. Do what you can. It’s the least we can do for the man.”
Lucia watched him work for a few minutes before going back inside. Gino met her at the door.
“Smart, what you did.”
“About what?”
“Getting Lonny to work on that patio.”
“A man sitting around worrying does nobody any good.”
“Not many people would know what to do.”
Lucia’s lips curled in a funny way. “I know my husband, Detective. If nothing else, I do know that.”
***
Lonny took out his Trow and Holden stone chisel, the thin one used for tight joints. He chiseled along the cracks at each edge, careful not to chip the flagstone. With the wooden end of his hammer, he tapped on the stone, listening for hollow sounds, a sure sign of trouble. Two of the large pieces had to come out. He reached in his tool bag, got a piece of yellow chalk, and marked them, then continued with the chiseling.
He could tell by the way the mortar gave so quickly that whoever laid this patio hadn’t used a strong enough mortar mixture—too much lime and sand, not enough cement. It had likely saved them money, but would have cost Winthrop a lot to have it fixed. He shook his head as he got back on his knees, a sharpened joint slicker in his hand for prying the loose stuff up.
People don’t do their jobs anymore.
He worried about what the world would be like for Mars and Jada when they grew up. Probably more of the same. As he thought about Jada, the worries he had momentarily forgotten returned. What was she doing right now? Had they hurt her? Lonny stopped, rested his butt on his heels. From the way they talked, he felt sure they hadn’t raped her, but…what other scars would she have? The image of her naked on that bed sent shivers down his spine. He squeezed the handle of the hammer.
If I ever get hold of them…
Chapter 50
The Money
When I arrived at Scott’s house, I reminded him again not to mention anything to anybody. “Tell me again, Mr. Winthrop, who did you talk to about this?”
“Some colleagues at work. That’s all.”
“Do they think it was Alexa who was taken?”
He thought for a moment. “The only people who know of the kidnapping think it was Alexa.”
“Don’t tell them anything different. If they ask, tell them the police said you can’t talk to anyone.”
“I’m certain we won’t have to worry about it after today, Detective. Once I give them the money, they’ll release Jada.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
Scott left, heading for the stairs. I began to wonder why he seemed so optimistic. And why he wasn’t worried about his seven million dollars. Seven million, one hundred thousand, I reminded myself. He almost seemed…relieved. Not the reaction I’d have expected from a man about to risk his life and all his money for someone who wasn’t his daughter.
I went outside and called Julie. I didn’t expect her in yet, but she answered on the first ring, chipper as always.
“Hey, Sixties,” I said. “How’s it going?” The Rolling Stones played in the background, Mick Jagger’s unmistakable voice belting out “Mother’s Little Helper.”
“Hey,” she answered.
“Did you ever finish the financials on Winthrop?”
“I gave you what I had. He’s solid—nothing late, great credit. And you know about the anticipated windfall.”
“Check on his divorce. Find out what his ex got. See if there’s a trust fund for the kid. That kind of stuff.”
“You think he has something to do with this?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“I have a lot to do for Delgado this morning, but I’ll get to it.”
“You got enough help?”
“Captain Cooper gave me anybody I needed. And she put me in charge.”
“Keep it up and you’ll have your own research department.” I looked at my watch—the one that wasn’t there. “Gotta go,” I said, and opened the door. “Mr. Winthrop, time to go.”
He came out dressed in designer clothes.
“Don’t forget the bags,” I reminded him.
He returned a minute later with the two Adidas bags, which we tossed in the back of his SUV, and then we headed for the bank. He exited the subdivision, got on The Woodlands Parkway, and then took the exit for I-45 South.
“I’m doing the drop,” Scott said.
I laughed. “Like hell.”
“It’s my responsibility, Detective.”
This guy was really out there. “This is dangerous. You can’t get involved.”
“I already am involved. These people have Jada, and they expect me to deliver the money. Remember what happened with the Uncle Eddy fiasco.”
He had me there. In lieu of an answer, I said nothing.
“So?” he said.
“It’s your ass,” I said.
“And my money,” he added.
“That too. We’ll be with you though. I’ve got even more men, and we’ll have you covered all the way, no matter where they take you.”
“That’s good to know. I’m not trying to sound cocky or arrogant. I am scared.”
I looked over at him. Winthrop confused the hell out of me, always sending mixed signals. “You should be scared. You do the wrong thing with people like this, and they’ll blow your head clean off.”
I noticed a few beads of sweat on his forehead. He wiped them off with the back of his hand. “If you’re trying to frighten me, Detective, you are doing a damn good job of it.”
As we finished the drive to the bank, I thought of Lucia and how worried she must be. That reminded me that I hadn’t spoken to Ron in a week or so. I’d thought of calling but hadn’t. Sometimes I got afraid to call, fearing something would be wrong. That the phone would ring forever then be picked up by a nurse at an emergency room. Or a cop. I was torn between not wanting to hear from my son—going with the old adage that no news is good news—and wanting to hear from him every day, even if it was a message from him saying, “I’m okay, Dad. No need to worry.” I sighed. That’s what my life had come to. And every damn bit of it my fault. I vowed right then that I wasn’t going to let Lucia—or Lonny—have to worry anymore. They were getting their girl back.
***
Delgado had his team assembled and prepped. All they needed was a location from Julie. Ribs looked over at Lance. A vision of an old-time gunfighter came to mind—the sheriff waiting for the bad guy to show up. Or the gunslinger with the pearl-handled guns. Lance was a throwback to the days when no one questioned an officer shooting. If the cop said it was a good shoot—it was. Now…now it was almost better to get shot.
Ribs paced, eager for the day to be over. He called Rosalee, faked another upbeat tone, acting as if he had nothing better to do. Despite his bravado, Ribs got scared on cases like this. Not necessarily for himself, but for Rosalee. She wouldn’t make it without him. All her life she’d dreamed of being a mother and a housewife. Ribs doubted if she would want to survive as anything else. He checked his vest again, then his gun, then paced some more.
The phone rang. “Buenos dias, amorcita.” He used his most sexy voice, which Rosalee always reminded
him wasn’t sexy at all.
“Don’t go talkin’ that Mexicano shit with me, Delgado. If you’re gonna speak a foreign language, speak Texan.”
“There’s only one person who could say something that stupid. What do you want, Tip?”
“Damn, and after last night, I thought we were sleeping buddies.”
Delgado laughed. “What’s up?”
“I couldn’t reach Gino, so I’m calling to get permission to scare the fuck out of these assholes up here.”
“What have you got?”
“Most of them don’t know shit, and I mean that literally, if that makes sense—but one guy…”
“What about the one guy?”
“Sorry, I had somebody passing by. So this Sanjay character I talked to, he seems off.”
“In what way?”
“He’s too nervous. If I take him for a ride, get him outside the comfort of work, I think he’ll spill his guts about something.”
“Don’t hurt him. This isn’t some junkie living in a box on Westheimer.”
“Hey, Delgado, go catch some fuckin’ bad guys and let me do my business.”
Delgado heard him laughing as he hung up. The phone rang again. This time he checked caller ID. It was Sixties Julie. “Delgado.”
“Get out a pen, my man. I’ve got you an address.”
“You’re sure?”
“Motel on FM 1960, not far from you. They rented two adjacent rooms three days ago.”
“And?”
“And there’s been a do-not-disturb sign on both doors since check-in. They even left special instructions to not be disturbed, promising a bonus to the maids.”
“Hijo de puta!”
“I don’t know what that means, Detective, but I hope it means that you’re hurrying on over there.”
“We’re on our way.” Delgado hung up and called Gino. “We got ’em.”
“What?”
“Julie found the motel. We’re packing up to go there now.”
“Goddamn. Keep me informed, Ribs.”
“Where are you?” Ribs asked.
“Just pulling into Scott’s drive. And we’ve got a couple of bags full of money.”
“What was that about?” Scott asked.
“That was Delgado. He thinks they found the motel rooms. He’s on his way there now.”
Chapter 51
In the Nick of Time
Number Two sat in the back of the van, mask and gloves on, cell phone to her ear.
“Do you ever put that thing down?” Three asked.
She shot him a look to shut him up and went back to her phone. “Shit!”
“What?”
She frantically dialed a number and put the phone to her ear.
“Yes?” a man’s voice said.
“Dispatcher, we need Four and the girl picked up now! Cops are on the way.”
“It will take twenty minutes. Have Four take his own car.”
Number Two thought. “I don’t want the girl seeing his face, but…okay, got no choice. I’m clearing them out.”
Number Three sat up, alert. “Why do you have Dispatcher’s number?”
“Shut-up, Three. We’ve got a problem.”
She punched in another number. “Four, get out. Now! Cops are on the way.”
“What? Where?”
“Take the girl. Get in the car and drive. Go somewhere private. Forget about masks. Just go! Boss will call with more details.”
“What if she gives me trouble?” Four asked.
“Undo the gag and put her on the line.”
A moment later, the girl got on. “Hello.” Her voice was weak and timid.
Number Two said, “You know who I am?”
“I know you.”
“Good. Then you know I’m not trying to hurt you. And you know I’m serious. So listen close. You will do everything Number Four asks of you, and you will do it without any fuss. If you make noise or try to escape, he will kill you. After that, we will kill your father and your mother.” Two paused. “Is that clear?”
“Yes.”
Number Two waited. “You don’t seem convinced. Perhaps you’re thinking that your father is with the cops and your mother is in New York. But if you think that will protect them, you don’t understand what is really going on. I know where Lucia lives. And I know about Mars. And I know all about your father. Unless you want them to die, do exactly as I say.”
Jada’s tone of voice shifted to fear. “Okay, okay. I’ll do it. I promise.”
Two smiled to herself. She heard the fear come through that time. “Good. Put Number Four back on.”
A moment later, she heard, “Yeah?”
“She’ll cooperate. Hurry up and get out.” Two hung up and dialed another number. Boss answered. “Cops are on the way to the motel. Four is evacuating. Call him with a plan. Bring him back to the house if you have to. If we leave him alone on the streets, they’ll find him. He’s too stupid not to be tailed.”
She hung up, put the phone in her pocket, and leaned against the side of the van.
“Is that the way you talk about me when I’m not here?” Three asked.
“I don’t talk about you,” Two said.
***
Four shut the phone, put it on vibrate then looked around, heart racing, nerves clenching in his throat. He raced to the bed, took off the girl’s blindfold, and moved down to her feet, fumbling with the knots, cursing how tight he’d made them. “Hurry up.”
She sat up in bed. “What’s going on? Am I going home?”
Four smacked her face. “Hurry and dress.”
Despite what Number Two had told him, he had made her sleep with no pants on. She was nice to look at. Now he wished he hadn’t. “Forget the underwear. Hurry!”
While she put on her pants, he thought of things he had to do. He’d worn gloves the whole time, so there were no fingerprints except when he touched her and prints didn’t show up well on skin. Had he touched anything else? He ripped a pillowcase from the bed and started wiping the room down.
Jada stood, zipping up her pants.
“Hurry, goddamnit!”
As she reached for her blouse, Number Four grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the door.
“I’m not finished dressing,” she said, clad only in jeans, no shirt or shoes.
“Bring the top with you. Just before opening the door, he removed his mask. Then he heard a noise outside, one he didn’t like.
Chapter 52
The Drop
We weren’t in the door five minutes before the call came in. The tech signaled it was them, and I gave Scott the nod. I whispered to Connors to get Lonny and Lucia into the other room.
“Hello,” Scott said, his voice carrying the right amount of concern.
“I am glad to hear it is you, Mr. Winthrop, and not that cop pretending to be Uncle Eddy.”
“Don’t worry. I plan on delivering this myself.”
“Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“Set your cell phone on the table. Get the money bags ready. I pray for the girl’s sake the money isn’t tainted. Do not take your cell phone, or any cell phone, with you. I want to find no extra cell phones this time. Do you have paper and pen?”
“Yes.”
“Write this down. Make no mistakes. It is imperative that you make no mistakes, as you won’t have a phone. If you make a mistake, we will cut off one of her nipples.”
“I won’t make a mistake.”
“Head south on I-45. Exit onto the Hardy Toll Road. Go to the airport, Terminal C parking garage.”
I looked at Connors. He shrugged. Were they taunting us? Did they think they could get away with this again?
“When you enter the parking garage for Terminal C, park in the first space you find. Take the bags and go inside to ground transportation. Take the shuttle bus to the Four Seasons Hotel.” There was a pause. “Am I going too fast, Mr. Winthrop?”
“Hold on,” he said, and wrot
e the last parts of the instructions. I didn’t know why; Scott knew we had this taped.
“Tell me when you’re ready.”
A short pause, then, “I’m ready.”
“Talk to no one. Say nothing. If someone speaks to you, ignore them. You will be tested. When you get to the hotel, go to the front desk. Ask for a package for Mr. Scott Winthrop. They will require ID. If your ID and picture don’t match, we will remove one of Jada’s nipples. If we have already removed one, we will remove the other. If Detective Cataldi and his crew get there before you and examine the package, we will know. We will cut off a nipple. If anything goes wrong, we will cut off a nipple. If we run out of nipples, we will begin cutting something else. Clear?”
“Clear.”
“Good. Inside the package will be further instructions. Follow them exactly. Read them carefully. That is all for now. Go to the restroom if you have to. Take care of any business. I will tell you when to leave.”
After hanging up I looked at the tech. “Did we get a location?”
He shook his head. “Not enough time.”
Everyone was talking, running through the events. I held up my hands. “Hold on. Before we get off track, does anyone have any ideas on why they want us going back to the airport?”
The tech came by, explaining how he had to get Scott and the bags ready. “We’ve got a GPS tracker in the car. We’re going to put one in each bag, and we’ve got the special audio GPS for his shoe. It’s the newest technology.”
I looked at Scott. “We’ll have you covered, sir.”
“I’m not worried, Detective. I trust you.”
I wished I had as much faith in myself as he did. As the techs worked with Scott, I got with the rest of the group. We decided to send six cars to the airport: two to the parking garage, one outside the exit, a woman inside the airport complete with luggage—who would board the shuttle bus with him, and two roamers, in case they got him a message and switched plans.
“We need people at the hotel,” Sameena said.
“Sameena, why don’t you run that? Take two of your pick and stake it out.”
Necessary Decisions, A Gino Cataldi Mystery Page 25