The Right Woman

by Linda Warren

  “You goddamn bastard. You traded Greg’s life for money. You low-down bastard. I’ll kill you!” Will tried to break free. Kevin and Lee held him tight.

  “Knock it off,” Bill yelled.

  “I’ll kill him, Lieutenant. I will.”

  Bill nodded to Kevin and Lee. “Take him outside and help him cool off. I’ll take care of this.”

  Lee and Kevin dragged Will out the door. All the while he was screaming, “I’ll kill you, Tom. I’ll kill you.”

  Jack stared down at Tom. “You said you saw my wife with a younger man. You lied, didn’t you?”

  Tom rubbed his jaw.

  “Why?” Jack asked angrily. “Why would you do that to me?”

  “Because you’re a fool.”

  Daniel got between Jack and Tom. “He didn’t want you working the case.” Daniel enlightened him. “If your focus was somewhere else, then you wouldn’t find out who was selling drugs to the college kids. And evidently Tom knows who is.”

  Jack tried to get past Daniel. “You low-life bastard. I’ll help Will kill you.”

  “Tom will get his, I promise,” Daniel said to Jack, who was breathing heavily. “Take a deep breath.”

  “He knew how jealous I was and he played on that. Angie said she wasn’t seeing anyone else and that she loved me, but Tom kept…”

  “You’re so damn gullible,” Tom sneered

  “Not as gullible as you,” Jack shot back. “I’ll be sleeping with my wife and you’ll be rotting in a cold, dark cell like the vermin you are.”

  “Go call Angie and cool off.” Daniel gave him a push toward the door and he slowly walked through it.

  “Everyone clear the room,” Bill said.

  Lieutenant Bauer got to his feet. “I’ll leave this to you, Bill. Russ, you and Joel stay behind if Lieutenant Tolin needs any help.”

  “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere, Lieutenant, not when we’ve got a traitor in our midst,” Russ said.

  “Put a sock in it,” Charles ordered as he left.

  Daniel was trying very hard to keep from doing what Will and Jack had wanted to do—to beat Tom to within an inch of his life. He gritted his teeth and watched Tom crawl into a chair, his nose bleeding.

  Daniel pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to him, out of desperation not courtesy. If he hadn’t, he probably would have taken out his gun and shot him. He didn’t want to sink to that level.

  Bill walked up to Tom and held out his hand. “Let me have your gun and badge.”

  “That’s my dad’s gun,” Tom mumbled, doing as Bill asked.

  “Where you’re going, you’re not going to need it.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “I’m listening,” Bill said. “And that’s a big concession on my part.”

  “I didn’t want to, but I had no choice.”

  “Boyd had something on you?” Bill asked.

  “Yeah.” Tom wiped his nose. “I went into Teasers one night looking for Vinny, that snitch that brings us information. He wasn’t there, but the strip show had started and I got caught up watching the women. Carol and I were fighting and it was just a relaxing thing. Later, one of the strippers came to my table and we got to talking and she invited me upstairs. Boyd taped the whole thing and a couple of weeks later he showed me the video and he threatened to show it to Carol if I didn’t give him information. He just wanted to know when Daniel was planning the raids. That’s all he said. I couldn’t let Carol see that tape—she’d leave me.” He looked at Daniel. “You know how it is. We arrest them one day and they’re out the next. I didn’t see the harm.”

  “Why did you tell him about Greg?” Daniel asked in a voice like steel, trying to stay calm.

  “I didn’t. I just got myself in so deep I couldn’t get out. I had a twelve-year-old daughter and Boyd said that if any undercover cops came into any of his establishments and got information on him that he knew some boys that would love to have a good time with her. I couldn’t…all I said was not to tell Greg anything. I didn’t know he was going to kill him. I didn’t.”

  “What did you think?” Russ asked, each word dripping with sarcasm. “That he was gonna have a picnic with him?”

  “I didn’t think, okay?” Tom shot back.

  “No, it isn’t okay,” Daniel shouted and he knew he was close to losing it. “You saw what he did to Sarah. Wait a minute.” Daniel frowned. “You weren’t there when we arrested Boyd and you stayed away from the trials. I thought you’d had enough of Boyd. Hell, we all had. You were just afraid Sarah might recognize you. That’s it, isn’t it?”

  Tom fidgeted nervously.

  “Good God,” Daniel exploded. “You told him where we were hiding Sarah before the trial.” A rage filled him, but he managed to continue. “Do you remember how many officers were hit that day? Do you remember that Ethan Ramsey took a bullet meant for Sarah and Serena?”

  “I try not to remember.”

  “How very convenient.” Daniel’s hands curled into fists. “I remember every day seeing my friend and fellow officers lying in their own blood. I remember Serena covered in Ethan’s blood and shaking. I remember Sarah scared out of her mind and all because of you, you piece of trash.”

  “I had to protect my family.”

  “You were protecting your own ass and now you’re going to give me the name of the man who murdered those young girls.”

  “I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

  “You’re lying,” Daniel yelled. “You’re now feeding information to Arnie Bishop.”

  “I didn’t. I just…”

  “What? You might as well tell me because I’ll find out all the sordid details and it will go a lot easier on you if you tell me now.”

  Tom gulped for air. “Arnie called and said Boyd had a plan to beat the death sentence and I had better cooperate. Boyd wanted young girls to be killed and he wanted to know how to get Daniel involved in a murder. I just told him narcotics had to be found—that’s all.”

  Daniel frowned. “Boyd wanted me involved?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why, Tom? Why did Boyd want me involved in those cases?”

  “He blames you for everything that’s happened to him. You made his life difficult when he was on the outside by never letting up on him and now that he’s on the inside he wants to make your life a living hell. You should have turned a blind eye to his illegal activities, Daniel, and we all would have been better off.”

  Daniel pulled back as if Tom had struck him. “Do you honestly believe that?”

  A uniformed officer knocked on the door and Joel let him in. “Lieutenant, the chief wants to see you.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Bill handed Daniel Tom’s gun and badge. “Watch his gun and keep things under control. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He hurried away.

  Russ took Tom’s gun out of Daniel’s hand and Daniel didn’t stop him. He was still reeling from Tom’s take on the law. Russ sat in a chair and propped his feet on the table. “Now, Tom, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. And remember, I’m not as nice as Daniel.”

  “I’ve told you all I know.”

  “Well, you see, I don’t think so.” He removed the gun from the holster. “I like these old revolvers. Six bullets in the cylinder. One shot does it all. Of course, that is if you’re a good shot. And you’re a good shot, aren’t you, Tom?”

  “Yes. Please put down my gun.”

  “Tom, boy, I don’t take orders. Do I, Daniel?”

  “Not very well,” Daniel replied, knowing Russ was playing one of his cat and mouse games. He should stop him, but again he didn’t.

  “You see that hole in my shoe, Tom?”

  “Yes.”

  “I got it from pounding the pavement searching for a murderer. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in days and I haven’t had time to shave. You might say I’m pretty pissed at this point. I’m busting my ass to catch a killer and you’re helping one. That pisses me off even more
.” Russ slowly removed five bullets and laid them on the table in plain sight, then he spun the cylinder.

  “Ever play Russian roulette, Tom?”

  “No.”

  “Well, today’s your lucky day.” He pointed the gun at Tom. “What’s the killer’s name?”

  “I don’t—”

  Russ pulled the trigger and it snapped.

  Tom jerked back. “You’re crazy.” He glared at Daniel. “Do something.”

  Daniel shrugged. “He doesn’t take orders from me.” Daniel had seen Russ do this before and he hadn’t liked his tactics, but now he thought that Tom should sweat a little. And he knew Russ had everything under control.

  “That was for the first girl that was raped and murdered,” Russ said, spinning the cylinder. He pointed the gun again at Tom. “This is for the second girl. Give me a name.”

  “Russ, if I—”

  Russ pulled the trigger and it clicked. “Damn, you’re lucky.” Before Tom could catch his breath, Russ said, “This is for Brooke Wallace. Give me a name.”

  “Please—”

  Click. “Goddammit, Tom, you’re a lucky bastard.” He pointed the gun again. “This is for the officers that were hit five years ago at the hotel. Give me a name.”

  “Please, I—”

  Click. The blood drained from Tom’s face.

  Russ spun the cylinder again. “We’re down to two. How lucky are you feeling, Tom? This is for Sarah Welch. Wouldn’t it be the sweetest irony if you were killed with your own gun? I want a name.”

  “Russ, please—”

  Click. Tom stiffened, his face a pasty white.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. Now you’ll know when it’s coming. This one’s for Greg and it’s from every officer in this building. A name—now.”

  “All I know is that Arnie called him Bear. That’s all I know. Put the gun down, please.”

  Russ pulled the trigger and Tom jolted backward as if to brace himself for the blow, but none came—only another click.

  “Oops.” Russ smiled in a sly way. “Guess I removed all the bullets.”

  “You bastard,” Tom hissed, visibly shaking.

  Russ jumped to his feet, but Daniel got in front of him before he reached Tom. “Are you afraid, Tom?” Daniel asked. “That’s the way Sarah’s been feeling the past few days. Did you put that note on her door?”

  “No.”

  “Did you put that tracer on my car?”

  Tom didn’t answer.

  Before Daniel knew what he was doing, he reached out with his fist and knocked Tom from the chair.

  “What the hell’s going on here?” Lieutenant Tolin demanded as he came back.

  Daniel rubbed his fist, appalled at his own actions.

  Russ spoke up. “Well, sir, Tom here is having a hard time sitting in his chair. The floor must be unleveled or something.”

  Bill saw the gun and bullets lying on the table. “What are the bullets doing out of Tom’s gun?”

  “Now, sir, that’s another story,” Russ replied.

  “And I don’t want to hear it.” He grabbed the bullets and the gun. “Read him his rights, book him and get him in a cell—now. Or the next fist flying will be mine.” He walked toward the door. “Daniel, Russ, in my office when you’re through.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tom muttered.

  “Yeah. That’s going to get you a cell right up there with Boyd.” Russ caught Tom by the arm and pulled him to his feet.

  “I’m sorry, Daniel,” Tom muttered again.

  Daniel turned away.

  “Okay, Joel. Read Tom his rights and don’t leave out a word. We want this tied up nicely.” Russ and Joel led him from the room. “I’ll catch you later,” Russ said to Daniel.

  Daniel felt betrayed, empty and angry. Angry that he hadn’t seen what was going on under his own nose. He saw Tom almost every day and he’d never suspected a thing. They were friends. Or so he’d thought.

  He ran both hands over his face. He hated this job. He hated everything about it and he knew it was time to quit—to hand in his gun and badge. He’d failed miserably as a cop, as a leader. He’d had the same feelings a few days ago, but now there was no doubt in his mind. His career was over. He wouldn’t leave, though, until the killer was caught.

  Now he had to see Sarah.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  DANIEL OPENED THE door and Sarah ran into his arms. “What took so long? I heard yelling and screaming.”

  “Will, Greg’s partner, isn’t taking this well. Hell, none of us are.”

  Sarah looked into his eyes. “Then it was Tom?”

  “Yes.” Daniel sank into a chair. “He’s been Boyd’s informant all along. He tried to deny it, but he knew it was over. He told Boyd about the raids, about Greg, where you were staying before the trial. He even put that tracer on my car. Why couldn’t I see what that bastard was doing?”

  Sarah sat facing him, her knees touching his. “Because you trusted him.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed, his eyes meeting hers. “And that makes me a very bad detective.”

  “Don’t you dare say that,” she said with fire in her eyes. “You’re the reason Boyd is on death row.”

  He stood. “He’s still controlling things from his cell. Tom said Boyd wanted to make sure that I was investigating the rapes and murders. That’s why the heroin was put in the girls’ arms—to get back at me for all the years I persisted in getting something on him that would hold up in court.”

  Sarah watched the turmoil on his face and her heart ached for him. “Daniel, please don’t…”

  “Those girls died because of me—because I wanted Rudy Boyd behind bars.”

  She got to her feet. “Those girls died because of Boyd and his warped mind. That has nothing to do with you.”

  “But he’s sending me a message and I have to stop him before someone else gets hurt.” His eyes caught hers. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I’m in a police station,” she told him. “I feel safe.”

  He slipped his arms around her waist and held her tight. “This is going to be a long day and I hate that you have to sit in this room.”

  She pulled back. “I’m fine. Just catch the killer.”

  “I have a meeting with the lieutenant and then we’ll apply pressure to Bishop and Tom. We need a name. Right now all we have is Bear.”

  Her eyes grew big.

  “What?”

  “One of the guards at Teasers was called Bear. I’m sure of it. I heard Boyd shout that name several times. Oh, God. It’s probably someone I’ve seen before.”

  Daniel caught her arm. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive.”

  “Then his name would be in the files we have on Boyd. Every employee is listed.” He moved toward the door. “This’ll help tremendously. I’ll check in later.”

  “Be careful.”

  “I will.”

  Daniel hurried down the hall to Bill’s office. He knocked and entered. Bill was popping antacids into his mouth.

  “Where’s Russ?” Bill demanded, munching.

  “Right here,” Russ said from behind Daniel.

  “Is Tom in a cell?”

  “Yep,” Russ replied.

  Bill shook his head. “This isn’t good. Before I can even think about the repercussions for my department, we have to catch the killer, and the chief wants it done today. Do either of you have an idea how to accomplish that?”

  Daniel told him what Sarah had said.

  “Damn. Instead of hiding Sarah Welch, I should have her working on this case. Get every man on this pronto and I want names on my desk in less than an hour. Understand?”

  The narcotics squads went to work with homicide and within an hour they had the names of twelve men that worked as guards for Boyd. Then they set out to find them.

  Daniel was energized just knowing the killer would soon be caught. He was beginning to see a ray of light at the end of the dark tunnel and felt sure they were
now on the right track.

  THE DAY DRAGGED for Sarah as she waited patiently for news. She talked to Brooke for an hour. The confinement was getting to her and Sarah tried to bolster her spirits.

  A woman named Faith came and gathered up the files and Sarah helped her. At least she was able to do something. Later, Faith brought lunch and ate with her. Sarah was grateful to have someone to talk to, but she wished it was Daniel. He was out there now searching for a crazy person who was capable of anything—even killing Daniel. A chill spread through her and she prayed the nightmare would soon be over.

  BY SIX O’CLOCK they had nine of the twelve suspects in custody. Two were already in prison and the last one seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Daniel was hoping they had the one they were looking for and that Sarah could identify him.

  As Russ and the others were getting them ready for a lineup, Daniel went to get Sarah.

  “We have nine of the twelve that worked as guards for Boyd,” he told her as they walked to a room with a two-way mirror. “Do you think you can identify the one called Bear?”

  “I’ll try.”

  Sarah noticed that Daniel looked tired and on edge. She knew how hard he was working to solve this case and she would do anything to help him.

  Russ was waiting with Lieutenant Tolin. The men were brought into a room on the other side of the mirror but Sarah didn’t recognize any of them.

  “Dammit.” Daniel swung away from the mirror. “I thought we had him.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sarah said. “I never really looked at their faces. I just wanted to block everything out.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Daniel was quick to reassure her. He turned to Russ. “Bring Brian Colley in. He knows his face.”

  Daniel pulled Sarah to one side as Joel brought in a young man. He stared at the men behind the mirror then shook his head. “I haven’t ever seen any of those men,” he said.

  “Look real good,” Russ instructed.

  “No, sir,” the man replied. “He’s not there.”

  Russ said a foul word as Joel led the man away.

  “Who’s number twelve?” Bill asked.

  Russ opened a folder he was holding. “Melvin Jenkins,” he read. “Dishonorable discharge from the army.” Worked as a bounty hunter until Boyd hired him. We checked his last known address and he moved out four years ago. Not a trace since then.”