Cold As Ice: Novel (A Kristen Conner Mystery Book 3)

by M. K. Gilroy

  “You’re getting to be a regular member of the family, Heather.”

  “Your mom’s very nice, Kristen. If I hadn’t worked out with you a couple times I would have said there was no way you could stay thin with the way she feeds you.”

  “Food has always been one of her favorite ways to solve family problems. Usually works.”

  “Food is an opiate for a lot of us,” Torgerson says with a laugh.

  “You haven’t met my sister and her husband and the kids. You are in for a treat. When James, the six-year-old, is around, keep your eyes open or you might lose one of them.”

  “And I get to meet the legendary Austin Reynolds in the flesh.”

  “He says he’ll be there.”

  “He looks pretty good in high definition too—but I promise I’m not trying to steal your beau,” she says with a wink.

  “I have no claim on him.”

  “So he’s a free agent?”

  She’s playing but I need to give that question some thought.

  “Ask me next week,” I say.

  “You know what he’s called by the SWAT members?”

  “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “Since he’s Willingham’s right-hand-man they call him The Hammer of Bob.”

  “Seriously?”

  “He’s been called a lot of things, including hunk—not by me, of course—but yeah. Everyone knows he’s Willingham’s shock and awe enforcer.”

  Hmm.

  “I think he’s very smart, too,” I say, “but that’s coming from my level. I may not have as high a standard.”

  “You’re funny, Kristen. You love to play that you are clueless what’s going on and everyone is smarter. You’re plenty smart and everyone knows Reynolds is too. He just has a different background than most with his time in Delta Force. He’s been on the sharp edge of the sword.”

  The Hammer of Bob. How well do I know Reynolds?

  I’m not sure if I should tell her that I’m not always playing that I’m clueless. Sometimes I just am.

  He could feel it. Tonight would be the night. Almost didn’t seem fair, Vlad thought. This would be a quick and easy grab. The shestyorka said that Sadowsky had five men available. He just wanted three. Any more and they would be shooting each other.

  He had them meet him at a grocery store parking lot across from the health club where Conner was working out. He quickly brought them up to speed on the operation. He gave each man an assignment and asked if there were any questions. There weren’t. Good. He liked the team already.

  If the detective headed to her mom’s house from the health club the smash and grab would happen tonight. It was a fast but solid plan. Only five people to deal with. One, the mother, would not be able to fight. Only four to take down and his team had the element of surprise. It was almost fail-proof.

  One of the men would position himself where he couldn’t be seen between the house and wherever the cop car parked. He had one job only. Shoot anyone that got out of the car. Both officers would undoubtedly get out and come running with what Zheglov had planned. They would be easy targets.

  He thought about having his outside man just shoot the two cops through the window, but every now and then, auto glass would cause crazy trajectories with bullets. He didn’t want one of the cops to get missed and have time to shoot back. He wanted them out of the car and running toward the front door so his man could pick them off nice and easy. No prolonged battle.

  Zheglov’s second man would head down the outside steps to the basement door. On cue—namely a brick through the front window— he was to wedge the door open with a crow bar and hustle up the steps, ready to fire. The third man would shoot in the front door immediately after throwing the brick through the window and shoot anyone in the front room except Conner. He could wound her with a non-fatal shot if necessary. She should be weak from the Bear shooting her anyway.

  Vlad would be coming inside through the back door at the same time. The window being smashed was his cue. He expected everyone— Conner, the agent, and the mother—to have their eyes up front. With the third man coming up through the basement, no way could they handle all the angles of defense. The FBI agent was primary target. She would be armed and might know how to use her gun. Whoever got to her first was to shoot her dead. No need to kill the mom unless necessary. Whoever was closest would head for her and put a gun to her head. That should be all the inducement the detective needed to put down her weapon.

  The order of events was designed to create disorientation. What is happening and where is it coming from? No matter how good your vision and nerve, you couldn’t cover every angle. Vladimir figured it would be over within seconds. Securing the mom was key. It would keep them from having to hurt the detective. Not immediately anyway. If the Feds didn’t give them Boyarov, they would hurt her real bad.

  Pasha had probably already spilled his guts. Significant damage to the bratva was undoubtedly done. But with him gone as a live witness, the repercussions would at least be limited.

  Vlad parked the Mercedes in the Planet Fitness parking lot. If tonight was the night, he wouldn’t need it again. The shestyorka could pick his car up later tonight. There was nothing suspicious about it. To be ready to make the hit and escape, he moved all his stuff to the back of the Escalade. It was a lot nicer than the other cars in the mom’s neighborhood, which made it too noticeable. But it was the right size for what they had to do and this was going to happen soon and quick.

  He kept his eye on the door. Conner exited alone. Maybe he should have made this the place. They could take her right now. But the parking lot was lit up bright, which would have made it harder to hit to the cops in the idling car across the street.

  She started her sports car and pulled up front. The FBI agent got in. Two pretty girls he thought as he saw their faces illuminated for just a second by the interior light.

  Which direction?

  She turned south on Western. Tonight it was.

  The driver put his hand on the gearshift.

  “No hurry,” Vladimir said. “We know where she’s going. Let the police car go on ahead and set up. We’ll just take it nice and slow and park a block over as planned.”

  82

  “THIS IS SQUIRES.”

  “Don, you heard from Conner?” Zaworski asked.

  “Not since we interviewed Keltto and Levin,” he answered. “Hold on,” he said into the phone and then covered the mouthpiece and yelled, “Okay boys, get a quick drink of water. Two minutes.”

  He looked over at the stands where parents were chatting. Vanessa was giving him the stare.

  Why’d you pick it up, you idiot?

  “Yeah boss, what’s up?”

  “You sound busy.”

  “Coaching my son’s basketball team. We’re halfway through practice.”

  “Get back to it.”

  “Something happening with Conner?”

  “Some Russian guy involved in that mess she got into in Central Park has been confirmed in Chicago. We’re dealing with it. Problem is no one can reach her. She’s either turned off her phone or let the battery die.”

  “Dead battery, if I know her,” Squires said. “Need me to drive by to check on her after practice?”

  “Nah. We’re sending a squad car over to her place right now.”

  “She said she’s eating at her mom’s house. Have them check with Nelson’s security detail. They might be heading to the wrong place.”

  “Stupid of me. I should have done that first. I’m not sure how much longer I can do this, Squires. They say retiring is dangerous for your health and it’s good to keep working. After being through cancer I think not working might be better for my health. Especially since Conner got back in town.”

  “She stirs the pot, no doubt about that, Captain.”

  “I’m going to get back to finding KC. Someone needs to buy her a portable battery charger. But before I get off . . . let me plant a thought in your mind. Don’t answer now, just t
hink about it. If I re-retired and you were named captain, would you consider pulling your resignation letter? Just think about it.”

  “I will.”

  “The squad car is going to have a tough time finding a parking spot,” I say to Heather as I back into a small opening a couple doors away from Mom’s.

  “It’s a full house tonight,” she says. “Ready to make a run for it? I think it’s getting colder again. I about froze walking ten feet from the front door of Planet Fitness.”

  “Listen Heather, go on in. Just open the door. Looks like Kaylen and the family are already here. They got the last spot on the driveway. I need a sec.”

  “To call Austin?” she asks, a twinkle in her eye.

  “Nah. My phone is dead. I need to look at something across the street. It’ll just take a minute or two.”

  “Not sure I can leave you out here on your own.”

  “I somehow suspect I’ll be safe for five minutes. Just go in.” I give her a light punch to the shoulder.

  “Okay. Don’t be long.”

  Bradley Starks stared at the ceiling in the infirmary. The bed was bolted to the floor and he was cuffed to the bed. The cut beneath his eye was stitched up. It didn’t hurt and he was glad to be away from the other adolescent inmates.

  His mom stopped by and yelled at him for fighting. She wanted to know why he was starting fights. He couldn’t give her the real answer. He’d been in trouble and around guys like this before. You either threw the first punch or you got hit by the first punch. Better to come out swinging.

  I thought life was going to be different. Mr. Ed was helping me learn woodworking. He was helping me think about ways to make money even while I was in high school. He was helping me think about college or technical school. He was a good guy. He was weird but good.

  Why wouldn’t he listen to me when I told him that his lousy wife was cheating on him with that loser? He just looked sad and wouldn’t say anything. I guess he already knew.

  I can’t believe I tell the police about her boyfriend’s car on our street the morning of the murder and they end up arresting me. I guess they were going to find about my troubles at some point. I wonder if Nancy told them.

  If I’d kept my stupid mouth shut, Nancy would be the only suspect, not me. But then the creep would have gotten off.

  Police come by to talk tomorrow. I hope the lady detective who used to live down the street is there. She might be the only one who will listen to me.

  Man, this sucks. One minute I think my life is getting better. I’m measuring and sawing and sanding and nailing some cool stuff. I was going to make Mom a jewelry chest for mother’s day—even if she doesn’t have much jewelry.

  Then the next second I’m sitting in jail. It would have been better if Mr. Ed never tried to help me.

  83

  “YOU SURE IT’S only five we’re dealing with Vlad?”

  “You know as well as I do you never know what you’re dealing with until you get there. Be ready for anything.”

  The number of real players hadn’t changed. But with kids there, things had gotten messier. There would be collateral damage. No one liked that. But sometimes it couldn’t be helped.

  I need to get phone numbers for everyone in Kristen’s family, Reynolds thought. It’s impossible to reach her at times. Looks like everyone is here, including Kristen. So she’s still driving Klarissa’s wheels. She swore she couldn’t wait to get back in the Miata. We’ll see if she still feels that way once she gets it back. With her, who knows? She might. She thinks pizza and hot dogs are fine dining.

  I’m probably worrying about nothing. At least tonight. I still don’t like this set up. If someone is coming after Kristen we don’t need innocent bystanders around. We need clean sight lines.

  It would be good to have the second squad car here, though that probably doesn’t matter with Zheglov if he has any help. And maybe he’s not here for Conner. Maybe he’s just in town to lay low.

  Reynolds blew steam into the air, shut the car door, and walked briskly but warily toward Mrs. Conner’s house. He drew even with the squad car and rapped on the window. The window came down on the driver’s side as the passenger door opened with an officer holding his gun in the ready position.

  “I’m FBI” Reynolds said. “My badge in my top left pocket. I can take it out or you can take it out. I was just checking to see if you all received word that there is a credible threat to Detective Conner. Looks like you have.”

  “Pull your badge out slowly.”

  Reynolds pulled off his gloves, kept one hand up, reached inside his winter coat, pulled the badge out deliberately, and handed it over, careful to keep his hands in sight. His fingers were turning to ice quickly.

  “I’ve been invited to dinner at the Conner home. What would you have done if I had just gone to the front door.”

  The officer from the passenger seat handed him his badge back.

  “That’s the problem. We’ve been told as of ten minutes ago that this detail is now on high alert and that backup is en route. But we have no clear-cut directions on who can come and go. And there’s a full house in there. We’ve been promised new protocols in the next few minutes. Doesn’t help us now, even though it looks too quiet for anything to be coming down tonight.”

  This is what Reynolds was afraid of. No one protecting Kristen knew what they were doing. Conner needed to be yanked out of her happy home now. Zheglov, for one, would know what he was doing.

  I hate to break up the party but I think I need to get everyone out of here. Kristen will argue but that’s a given. I outrank her.

  He walked back to the short walk that split Mrs. Conner’s postage-sized front yard.

  In the bitterly cold winter air he was sure he heard a tiny but distinct crackle of static. And a whisper. He felt a tingle from the base of his spine rise to the back of his head.

  He’s here.

  If my lawyer’s right, the kid is in big trouble. Things might work out after all.

  What do I do about Nancy?

  Does she not understand how much I really love her? I killed for her. If I didn’t, she was never going to leave Ed, no matter how much she complained about her marriage.

  She doesn’t know I did it but she has to suspect me now.

  Who knows? Maybe she’ll finally realize this was never an affair for me. We are meant to be together.

  The outside man wasn’t sure what to do. He had been told to shoot anyone that left the car and headed inside. But that wasn’t supposed to happen until after the fireworks began. He wasn’t sure if that meant to shoot the guy in civilian clothes.

  “Calling Alpha.”

  “Speak to me, Beta.”

  “Got a guy who just stopped to talk to the police officers in the squad car. He’s heading up to the front door. Should I do him?”

  “No! We can’t have a gunfight in the street and alert everyone inside.”

  “Then there’s an extra man inside to deal with, Alpha.”

  “Police?”

  “No uniform on him but he’s a big guy. Might be law enforcement.”

  Not what he wanted to hear, but the math was still okay, Zheglov thought, especially since his team had the element of surprise.

  “Probably the next shift of FBI babysitter. The woman has been with our target all day,” he said to the man.

  Another voice crackled over the short wave, “This is Delta. We still on, Alpha?”

  “Nothing’s changed, Delta. This is the best time and place. Beta stays outside. The three of us just need to be prepared for a second active and armed target. Consider him very dangerous. The two agents are now equal first priority. Confirm you got this.”

  “Delta confirmed.”

  “Gamma confirmed.”

  “Beta, those two cops are going to move fast. You ready?”

  “Beta confirmed.”

  Zheglov was confident the two men in the squad car didn’t have the tactical training or experience to handle
an event like this. If they did, one would go fast and low, the other covering him. The one covering wouldn’t follow the first until the coast was clear. They didn’t know he was here. They were hoping the threat to Conner was finished. They had messed up royally.

  “Time to move. Everyone look at your watch. We go in sixty seconds. And counting . . . starting now.”

  Reynolds focused hard to gather more Intel. He was suddenly making his way toward an Al Qaeda stronghold in the hills of Afghanistan, not the front door of a Chicago row house. Every nerve, every sense was straining to locate the enemy. He knew they were there.

  He turned the doorknob. It was unlocked. He wanted to scream, Kristen, you aren’t taking this seriously!

  Jimmy King, Kristen’s brother-in-law, his face beaming a warm smile, made a beeline across the small room to shake his hand. He saw Reynolds’ expression and stopped a couple steps away, the smile melting to concern.

  “Jimmy. We have to move.”

  “What is it, Austin? Is something wrong?”

  “Yes. Don’t ask questions. Get Kaylen and the kids. Go in the back bedroom. Take Grace. Now. Move it. Tell the kids it’s a game and to be quiet.” Jimmy seemed frozen in place. “Now!” Reynolds hissed.

  Torgerson looked at him, asking him with her eyes what was going on.

  James started to yell when his dad picked him up to go into the back bedroom.

  “James!” Reynolds said, no longer the nice guy who played Thomas the Tank Engine with the kid at Christmas. The boy looked in Reynolds’ eyes with fear. “You’re going to go in the back room and take care of your grandmother and baby sister. With no sound. Not a sound. Do you hear me?”

  He nodded wide-eyed.

  “What is it?” Grace Conner asked.

  “I hope I’m wrong . . . but we’ve got a situation. You need to get back there now. Do you have a handgun?”

  She nodded yes. She had never admitted to the girls she kept one locked in the bottom drawer of her nightstand.