Love Inspired Suspense May 2015 #2

by Susan Sleeman

  “Bet that made Hugo mad,” Cash said.

  “Mad’s not the word for it. But that was years ago, and I never heard from him again. If this is related to Hugo, I don’t know why he waited so long.” Steve held up a hand. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Hugo was the guy who put the vest on me. I could tell by his hands that he was much younger.”

  “There’s a Ketchum on the stadium employee list,” Skyler said. “I remember the name because it made me think of ketchup. Could Hugo work there?”

  Steve shook his head. “His son Leo could, though. He’d be in his late twenties by now.”

  “Any idea where Leo and Hugo live?”

  “Sorry. No.”

  “Anything else that might help us locate this man?” Skyler asked.

  Steve tapped his chin. “Not really. But I’ll keep thinking about it.”

  Skyler gave him her card and gestured for Cash and Jake to join her away from the vehicle. “My files are back at the firehouse. I don’t want to waste any time before looking for Leo Ketchum. Cash can drive me over there while the scene gets wrapped up.”

  Jake nodded. “We’ll meet you back at the house.”

  Skyler started off, but Cash lingered. He felt as if he was missing something, but he didn’t know what. Maybe he just didn’t want to leave the man who had provided their best lead in case Steve remembered something else.

  Skyler turned back. “What are you waiting for, Cash? We finally have a strong lead, and we might be able to arrest our bomber before daybreak.”

  *

  “The warrant’s here.” Skyler waved the form in the air. “Let’s roll and bring this guy in.”

  Cash felt his excitement mount as the rest of the FRS team jumped to their feet and headed for the firehouse door. They’d discovered Leo Ketchum’s name on the stadium employee list and emailed his photo to Krista, who’d positively identified him as their bomber. Skyler located Ketchum’s address and obtained an arrest warrant plus a warrant to search his room.

  Finally, they were likely going to bring Otto home, and Cash wanted to tell Krista to ease her mind. Maybe to ease his own mind that she was there waiting for him.

  He’d had plenty of time to think about her while waiting for the warrant. About her care for her preschoolers. For Otto. The way a simple look from her made his heart fire. She was an amazing woman and he had to follow these feelings for her. He didn’t know if Krista would have him—she had a lot to get over first. So did he, but maybe when this was all over, he could put Opa’s advice into practice and trust God to help him let go of his past, then they could see where this thing between them led.

  He stepped outside and held up his phone. “I need a minute to make a quick call.”

  Skyler eyed him. “One minute, then I’m leaving without you.”

  He quickly dialed Krista and brought her up-to-date.

  “You found the bomber. You really found him.” She sounded breathless with excitement.

  “Hopefully he hasn’t moved. We’re headed out to make the arrest now. I wanted to check in with you before going. I could come back there instead if you want me to.”

  “No, go after this guy and rescue Opa. That’s the most important thing.”

  Skyler peered at him from the back of the truck and tapped her watch. Cash started for the truck. “Let me talk to Brady.”

  “I’ll get him.”

  “Yo,” Brady said a moment later.

  “Everything okay there?”

  “Relax, man.” Brady’s voice was calm and confident. “We’re fine.”

  Cash told Brady about the warrant and made him reaffirm his promise to call if anything came up. Feeling optimistic, Cash stowed his phone and climbed into the truck. Jake was behind the wheel as usual, the truck already running. Archer rode shotgun. The others sat in the middle and Cash joined them.

  “Ketchum rents a room at a boardinghouse owned by a Glenda Yapp,” Skyler was saying.

  “Not the best part of town,” Jake commented and didn’t wait for Cash to sit before merging into traffic.

  Skyler nodded. “Not surprising if they were living off Hugo’s disability check and Leo’s minimum-wage job at the stadium.”

  Cash added, “Sounds like a good reason for revenge.”

  “I don’t know.” Archer turned to look at them. “If that’s Ketchum’s reasoning, I understand going after Upjohn, but bombing a stadium, where innocent people would die? That doesn’t fit.”

  “It does if he was targeting a spectator,” Cash said.

  “I suppose,” Archer replied. “But I think it would need to be more than that.”

  The team fell silent as the tires spun over the wet pavement and the long wipers swiped across the window. Cash assumed everyone was thinking about this guy’s obsession with explosives and whether he’d used them on Otto.

  “Ten minutes out,” Jake announced.

  They silently donned their Kevlar vests and checked their weapons. When the truck pulled to the curb in a run-down neighborhood, they were ready for action.

  Jake cut off the engine and assessed the building. “Archer and Skyler cover the back. Cash and I’ll take the front.”

  They stepped down from the truck and moved swiftly and decisively. Jake pounded on the front door.

  A stout woman with messy gray hair needing a good washing answered.

  Jake displayed his ID. “We’re looking for a Leo and Hugo Ketchum.”

  “Not here.” She stifled a yawn as if she had deputies arriving on her doorstep all the time.

  “Do you know where we can find them?” Cash asked.

  “No idea about Leo, but Hugo’s dead and buried.”

  “Dead? When?” Cash asked.

  “Last week. Guy was in terrible pain all the time. He went to the hospital to have a morphine pump implanted in his back to relieve it, but he got an infection and never recovered.”

  Hugo’s death was the perfect reason for Leo to start taking revenge after such a long time. Jake’s knowing expression said he thought so, too.

  “When’s the last time you saw Leo?” Jake asked.

  “Not since Sunday. The guy’s rent is due, and I figure he’s hiding out ’cause he doesn’t have it.” She scowled. “I wasn’t going to toss him out right after Hugo’s passing, but the kid don’t need to know that.”

  Cash’s hope plummeted. If she hadn’t seen Ketchum for three days, that meant Otto wasn’t here.

  “We have a warrant to search their room.” Cash half expected her to close the door in their face.

  She stepped back. “First door at the top of the stairs.”

  “My associates would also like to have a look around the house.”

  She frowned. “Now, why would I let you do that?”

  Jake stepped forward. “If you don’t, I’ll come back with a warrant for that, too. You should know that will make my deputies cranky. You don’t want to deal with cranky deputies, do you?”

  “Fine,” she said. “But leave my things be.”

  Jake called Skyler and Archer to the front. They started through the first level while Jake and Cash climbed the stairs to Ketchum’s room. It held an old iron bed with a well-worn quilt, scarred dresser and matching nightstand. A single lightbulb hung from above, casting shadows in the room.

  “Let’s tear this place apart,” Jake said eagerly.

  “Not like there’s much to tear apart.”

  Cash went through the nightstand while Jake searched the dresser. Nothing. Cash dropped to the dingy carpet to look under the bed. He pulled out a few boxes and dug through them. Nothing again.

  Angry at coming up empty, he shoved the last box and hit the bed frame. A clanking noise sounded from one of the posts.

  “You hear that?” Cash asked.

  Jake was already shaking the bed. “The corner post is hollow. There’s something in it. I’ll lift up the bed, you unscrew the foot.”

  Cash twisted the rusty foot from the post and a key dropped o
ut. He looked at the tag. “It’s for a storage place. Unit 23. Just down the street.”

  Excitement sparked in Jake’s eyes. “You think that’s where Leo’s hiding Otto?”

  “Wouldn’t Leo have the key with him if he was?”

  “Maybe this key belonged to the father.”

  “Worth checking out.”

  They quickly looked through the other rooms on the second floor, then met Skyler and Archer outside. Cash didn’t have to ask if they’d found Otto. Their sullen expressions said it all. They climbed into the truck and within minutes pulled up to the storage facility. They left the truck near the entrance and crept toward the long building.

  “Over there,” Cash whispered and pointed at a unit where light shone from under a cracked-open door.

  Jake gestured for them to fall back, and they circled together.

  “Two scenarios I can see,” he said. “Otto’s inside alone or Ketchum’s with him.”

  Cash appreciated that Jake didn’t even entertain the idea that Otto wasn’t here. “We can’t simply breach the place and risk Otto’s life.”

  “We could get a snake camera inside without him seeing it,” Skyler suggested.

  “I’ll get it.” Cash ran back to the truck before anyone else could volunteer. If he took control of the camera and spotted Otto inside, Cash planned to be the first one through the door to rescue the sweet old guy and maybe lay Ketchum out in the process.

  *

  Krista hung out in the family room, staring out the window. Waiting for Opa to arrive home had given her time to calm down. To compose herself. To take the time to pray and reflect on her life. She now possessed an insight she’d never had before.

  Worrying was pointless. So was trying to control things she had no power over. She’d worked hard to plan for what could happen to her once she returned to Portland. Had even prepared her escape if needed. But God saw fit to let others thwart her plans.

  That meant only one thing to her. She’d come to the end of what she could do for herself and had to listen to Opa and let go. Let go of the worry. Let go of the strife, or she’d spend a lifetime needlessly worrying.

  “Watching won’t bring them back faster,” Brady said from the sofa. “Besides, it’s not a good idea to stand in front of the window.”

  She spun. “They have the bomber in custody. How’s he going to hurt me from there?”

  “You think they have him in custody. We don’t have confirmation yet. And if that’s not enough to get you to move, think about Cash. Would he let you stand there under these conditions?”

  She thought about his deep need to protect her. “No, but—”

  “He’ll see you when he pulls in the driveway. I’d rather you move away from the window than have to explain why I let you stay there.” Brady grinned.

  She saw headlights flash into the driveway, and she bolted to the door.

  “Wait,” Brady warned. “It might not be Cash.”

  Brady joined her, and they both watched out the side window.

  “That’s not Cash’s car. Stay here. I’ll check this out.” Brady stepped outside and closed the door.

  Krista heard him talking with another man before he poked his head in the house. “Guy’s name is Ian Summers. Says he’s an old college friend of Toby’s and claims to have important information about Toby’s murder.”

  “Then let him in,” Krista said eagerly and went to greet Toby’s friend.

  Krista immediately recognized the short, powerfully built man who entered carrying a briefcase.

  “I don’t know if you remember me,” Ian said.

  “Yes, of course.” She shook hands with him. “You came to our wedding. Please come in.”

  Krista motioned for Ian to sit on the sofa. As he settled in, she sat next to him and introduced Ian to Brady, who leaned against the wall watching carefully.

  Krista turned her attention to Ian. “You have information about Toby’s death?”

  “I do.” He rested the briefcase on his lap, then snapped it open and rummaged around.

  Krista chewed on her lip and hoped the evidence he was retrieving could solve Toby’s murder and finally clear her name. Couple that with the bomber being arrested and Opa coming home and her life was finally looking up.

  Ian glanced over the briefcase at her. Smiled. She returned the smile and then looked back at the case. Waiting. Eager.

  His hand shot out. A small gun was clasped in stubby fingers. He jabbed it into Krista’s side before she could do anything but gasp.

  His smile widened into a sick, twisted grimace. “I know all about how Toby died. I’m the one who killed him.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Jake took a stance in front of the storage door while Cash stood behind him wearing his EOD suit. They had to go in quick and precise to keep Ketchum from taking the place down. Their camera had revealed him sitting alone at a table filled with explosives. They couldn’t risk harming him, or they may never learn where he’d stashed Otto, but they also couldn’t risk stepping inside without protection. Jake would slide the door up, then move out of harm’s way, and Cash would go in gun drawn.

  It was risky, but a risk Cash and Jake would willingly take for Otto. Hopefully, Ketchum wouldn’t be able to react faster than the team.

  Jake nodded at Cash, then slid the door open.

  Ketchum looked up from behind the long metal table. Cash charged and had his gun to Ketchum’s head within moments. He hauled Ketchum to his feet and dragged him away from the explosives. Outside, Cash shoved him to the ground and pressed his face into the concrete as the team came charging in.

  Jake cuffed Ketchum, and as soon as he’d read him his rights, he asked, “Where’s Otto?”

  “Who?” Ketchum asked.

  Jake got in Ketchum’s face. “Otto Schiffer. The man you kidnapped.”

  “I didn’t kidnap anyone.”

  Cash’s anger flared, and he reached up to jerk off his helmet so he could have a go at the creep.

  Jake grabbed his arm. “Before we do anything else, go clear the place in case we have a ticking timer inside.”

  Cash would rather stay and pummel Ketchum, but he headed into the unit. Didn’t take long for him to see that Ketchum was building another device but hadn’t activated it. Cash sifted through papers and found blueprints next to supplies that were of the same specifications as the other bombs, but no impending explosion. Back outside, he gave a thumbs-up. Skyler removed his helmet, and Cash pulled the quick-release toggle to shed his suit so he could get his hands on Ketchum.

  “Found blueprints for the stadium and construction office. Plus diagrams for a suicide vest.” Cash stepped closer to Ketchum. “You’re making another bomb. Who’s this one for?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Ketchum sneered.

  “Look, creep.” Jake suddenly bent over Ketchum. “We have enough to put you away for a very long time. We know you set the stadium bomb and put the vest on Upjohn to get revenge for your father’s death. But if Otto dies, that’s a whole other thing. I’ll make sure you never see the light of day. You get me?” He tugged on Ketchum’s shirt. “So knock off the wise-guy stuff and answer our questions.”

  “Seriously, I don’t know who this Otto guy is,” Ketchum replied, sounding truthful.

  Cash charged at him, but Jake stepped in the way. “Then tell me what you do know about. Like these supplies, Upjohn and the stadium.”

  “They all got away with killing my dad,” he said, emotion raw in his voice. “Sure, the stupid doctor was ultimately to blame, but the others killed him when they decided to cut corners.” He shook his head, his eyes burning with hatred.

  Archer moved closer. “And you want them to pay.”

  Ketchum nodded.

  “But something went wrong at the stadium,” Archer continued and Ketchum stared as if in a trance.

  “It was me,” he said. “I screwed up. I was after the stadium manager who signed the contract with Upjohn Constru
ction. Only him, but he’s such a big baby he couldn’t sit out in the rain.” Ketchum swung his head sorrowfully. “He let my dad work in every kind of weather condition, but no, he couldn’t handle a little rain. So I moved locations. But I should’ve waited for a better chance. Then I wouldn’t have run into the freaky woman who reported me.”

  Archer moved closer. “The woman you’ve been stalking all week.”

  Ketchum’s eyes opened wide. “What? No. I’ll admit to breaking into her house to retrieve my flash drive, but she woke up and screamed.”

  “And that’s when you tried to abduct her?”

  “Abduct her? No, you’re nuts. She came after me.”

  “Then why drag her toward the door?”

  “I was just trying to get out of the house. But, man, she was a pit bull. Couldn’t get away from her so I took her with me. Once I got the door open, I planned to shove her down and run.” He shook his head. “No way I’d try to take that woman. No way.”

  Cash had to smile at how tenacious Krista had been.

  “So then you came back the next day,” Archer said, resuming his role.

  “Yeah, for the coat she’d worn to the stadium, but it wasn’t in the house.”

  “And that’s when you started following her and planted a detonator in the couch to make her look guilty,” Skyler stated.

  “Really? Where are you people getting these crazy stories? I didn’t plant anything.”

  Cash felt like taking the guy’s head off for his continued attitude, but held his temper. “How’d you find her in the first place?”

  “You’re a cop and you have to ask?” He smirked. “I tailed you when you drove her home.”

  Cash clenched his jaw and warred with the guilt of letting this guy get to her. “You expect us to believe you just gave up looking for the flash drive?”

  “Dude, after you stuck to her like glue I wasn’t gonna risk getting caught for a stupid drive.”

  Cash eyed the man. “If it was so stupid, why give it to her in the first place, then come looking for it?”

  “The crazy lady mentioned my backpack, I figured she’d get nosy and report me, and I didn’t want the cops stopping me on the way out. My bomb schematics would get me hauled downtown. I can always figure out a new algorithm to beat the lottery, but I can’t plant a bomb from jail.”