Arouse Suspicion (22 page)

"Hawkins?"

Danni shook her head to clear the lingering cobwebs. "Sarge?"

"Yeah. Thought you might be interested in what I found out about Gilsen."

She scooted up and leaned against the headboard. "Go ahead."

The cobwebs disappeared completely as Sergeant Rodgers gave her a rundown of what he'd learned. Despite the power of Nick's gaze on her, she kept her attention on the phone conversation.

"Thanks, Sarge. I owe you a big one," she said, once he'd finished.

"Yeah. I should've been home hours ago."

Although his tone was blustery, Danni knew he wasn't angry. "I'll get you tickets for the next baseball game."

"Make it wrestling, and it's a deal."

"You got it."

She punched off her phone and turned to look at Nick, who was reclining on his pillow gazing up at her with incredibly blue eyes. Only a sheet draped him, outlining every angle and curve of his six foot-plus frame. Danni's libido kicked into overdrive, reminding her that his hard, hot body had pressed against her all night.

"Well?" Nick asked.

His impatient query put her mind back on track, although her body refused to fall into line. She ignored its morning horniness... for now.

"That was Sergeant Rodgers. He did a background check on Gilsen. Came up with what Sam told us about him having his own security business. Only Sarge has a friend in San Diego who gave him the real scoop. Seems Gilsen was arrested for suspicion of B and E after two of his clients were robbed while on vacation. Only they jumped the gun on the charges, and Gilsen had a good lawyer. It didn't even go to trial. Right after that, Gilsen sold the business and moved here." Danni frowned, recalling the missing link Sarge had mentioned.

"What?"

"The cops in San Diego suspected Gilsen had a partner, but they came up empty. It could be a girlfriend." At Nick's puzzled expression, Danni explained the theory that Mrs. Countryman might have seen a woman get into Gilsen's car the night Paddy was killed.

"Paul never mentioned a girlfriend," Nick said thoughtfully. "But then, if she was also his accomplice, he'd want to keep her identity secret."

"He's also moved up from B and E to grand theft auto."

"And murder." Nick's expression was grim. "Did the police search Paul's place?"

Danni nodded. "But by the time Detective Rearden got a search warrant, Gilsen had been there and gone. He didn't leave behind any incriminating evidence. Same with his office, which, by the way, had only a desk and a phone in it."

"He's too smart to leave anything behind," Nick said with disgust.

Although she hated to admit it, Nick was right. Gilsen was a bastard, but he was an intelligent bastard.

She glanced at the digital clock radio: 10:45. Later than she'd expected. It'd been over seven hours since they'd left Gus recovering at the hospital.

"I'm going to call the hospital and see how Gus is doing," Nick said, as if reading her mind. "Do you have a phone book?"

"In the kitchen, in the drawer beneath the phone."

Nick got out of bed and picked up his clothes lying on the floor. Danni only had time to appreciate the quick flash of his backside profiled by black boxer briefs as he left. She sighed in regret.

While Nick was calling the hospital, Danni appropriated the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, she escaped the steam cloud wearing only a towel that covered her from breasts to thigh. She called down the hallway, "How's Gus?"

Nick appeared in the narrow entrance of the hall, the sunlight in the living room backlighting his athletic body. "She's come out of the anesthesia, and Dr. Cookson said they're watching her closely. But she thinks Gus is doing as well as can be expected."

Danni breathed a sigh of relief. "After we have something to eat, we'll go see her."

"All right, but we have one other item to take care of before we eat." Nick's voice had taken on a husky note.

He stalked up the hall toward her, his movements reminding Danni of a big cat on the prowl. With her as the prey.

Barefoot and bare-chested, with the button of his jeans undone, he halted in front of her. She shivered under the intensity of his gaze but met it without flinching.

Nick didn't speak but only stared down at her, his pupils nearly obscuring his blue irises. Slowly, deliberately, he slipped a finger beneath Danni's towel, between her breasts. He gave a little tug. The towel unfurled and dropped to the floor.

Danni made no move to cover herself. Nick's gaze scorched her skin and sent ripples of desire through her belly and moisture between her thighs.

"Like what you see?" she asked, her voice rough with desire.

He took her hand and pressed her palm against the front of his jeans. His hard length pulsed beneath her. "What do you think?"

Danni massaged his erection through denim and stepped closer, her bare toes brushing Nick's. "I think you should get naked."

Nick's eyes flared with lust, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.

With their mouths fused and Danni's fingers in his belt loops, they shuffled into the bedroom. The back of her knees hit the bed, and she dropped down, pulling Nick on top of her.

"Anxious, are we?" Nick's tone was teasing, but his breathlessness told Danni he was just as hot on the trigger.

She growled. "Shut up and get rid of the jeans."

Nick laughed but didn't waste a second fulfilling her request.

It was after noon when Danni and Nick walked across the street to a corner diner she frequented. The food wasn't anything special, but she wasn't picky, and the price was right. Besides, the servings were large, and after the late morning lovemaking, she was famished.

By the pile of food Nick ordered, he, too, needed to replenish his energy.

They ate in silence, but Danni caught him looking at her, and she tipped her head in question. He merely grinned boyishly and shrugged, which created an odd lightness in her chest.

Nick paid the bill and Danni left the tip, then they walked hand in hand back to her apartment. Danni could almost forget that they were in the middle of a dangerous investigation, that someone had tried to kill them more than once.

Entering her apartment, she heard her cell phone ringing in the bedroom where she'd left it to continue recharging. She ran down the hall to answer it. "Hawkins."

"May I speak with Nick Sirocco?"

With a sense of foreboding, Danni carried the phone into the living room and handed it to Nick. "It's for you."

He frowned as he took it. "Hello."

She watched his expression turn grave as he listened to the person at the other end.

"I'm on my way," he said and clicked off the phone. "It's Gus. Something's wrong. They want to open her up again."

Danni's heart jumped into her throat as she followed Nick out to his Jeep.

Chapter Twenty-one

Nick sat in the same corner of the sofa he'd claimed twelve hours ago and watched Danni, fretting and anxious, pace in front of the waiting area.

When they'd arrived, a different veterinarian had told them Gus's condition had taken a bad turn. He wasn't certain what was causing the problem but suspected the dog was bleeding internally. Nick had given his approval for the doctor to open Gus up again.

"Coffee?" Danni asked.

"No thanks." His stomach was already upset.

Danni crossed her arms and gazed at him miserably. "I'm sorry. I should've known something like this could happen."

"So, you're a clairvoyant now?"

"You know what I mean."

Nick pushed himself upright and went to stand in front of her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, noting the tension that hadn't been there earlier when they'd made love. "Hindsight isn't going to help, Danni. Put your energy into finding Gilsen."

"His accomplice could be hiding him." Danni's cell phone interrupted her. "Hawkins." She scowled and covered her other ear with her hand. "I can barely hear you. What number are you at, Sarge?"

She hung up, glaring at her phone. She lifted her irritated gaze to Nick. "I need a new cell. I'm going to call Sarge back on a real phone. I'll be back in a few minutes."

She crossed to the receptionist's desk and returned five minutes later, her expression grim.

Nick met her in the middle of the corridor. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes held banked anger, and her jaw clenched. "Gilsen bought three airline tickets for three different flights departing within thirty minutes of each other. Those departure times were two hours ago."

"Why did it take them so long to track him down?"

"Rearden was checking his credit card activity, and Gilsen used cash."

"Dammit! So did they have police waiting for him at the three arrival points?"

"Too late for the flights to Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, but Atlanta did send someone out. Gilsen didn't show," Danni said grimly.

"So either he's in Salt Lake City or Minneapolis."

"Or neither. He could've used cash and a fake ID for his real destination."

"Was anyone traveling with him?"

"Sales were for single tickets only."

Fatigue and disappointment flowed through Nick. To be so close and have Gilsen slip through their fingers... "What now?"

Danni walked over to the waiting area and dropped into a chair. "I don't know."

Nick sat across from her on the couch, his knees touching hers. He rested his hand on her fist. "Whatever you want, I'm here to help."

She opened her fist and turned her hand over, intertwining her fingers with his. Nick stared down at their interlaced hands, noting how deceptively delicate hers appeared.

"I could go to the hospital and talk to Marsel, see if there's anything else he remembers," she said quietly. "Maybe he can point me in the direction of Gary Otis. I have this feeling he's right in the middle of everything."

"All right. Let's go."

He started to rise, but Danni's firm grip stayed him.

She shook her head. "No. You stay here. If it looks like Gus won't make it, you'll want to be here with her."

Nick's throat tightened, but he wasn't certain if it was caused by the possibility of Gus's death or Danni's understanding. She hadn't liked Gus in the beginning, but it was clear her attitude had changed. And not only regarding Gus, either. However, he didn't like Danni going off alone, even if Gilsen had fled the city.

"What about being in this together?" he asked.

She smiled, but it seemed strained. "We can't stay connected at the hip forever. You have your life, and I have mine. Besides, Gilsen is gone."

A week ago Nick would've been overjoyed to have his life back—his mundane, routine, everyday life. But after being with Danni, that vanilla life wasn't what he wanted anymore. "What about
our
life?"

Danni averted her gaze. "We spent a lot of time together, Nick. What happened between us was inevitable, but once we're not living in each other's shadow, things will return to normal."

He didn't believe it—didn't want to believe it. "Do you
want
to go back to the way our lives were before?"

Danni suddenly tugged away from him and stood. She wrapped her arms around herself. "It doesn't matter what I want. That's just the way it is."

Nick narrowed his eyes, studying her. Danielle Hawkins was scared. Normally courageous to the point of foolhardy, she was terrified of him and what they could have together. He'd have to show her that he wouldn't abandon her, like her mother did. Or make her feel second best, like Paddy did.

"I'll go talk to Marsel," Danni said, the words tumbling out. "Will you call me as soon as you know anything about Gus?"

Nick rose and walked over to her tense figure. "I promise."

Danni took a deep breath and held up his car's keys. "You take these. I'll call a taxi."

"No. You take the Jeep. You can pick me up later."

Danni curled her fingers around the key ring. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Nick kissed her, his lips lingering on hers. "Be careful."

"You, too." Her hand rested on his forearm, and she stared at him, as if memorizing his face. Then she whirled around and fled.

Nick suspected Danni wanted to be alone right now, and she'd be safe enough with Gilsen out of the picture.

So why, if it was safe, did he have this gnawing feeling in his gut urging him to run after her?

Danni looked left before making a right turn and hit the brakes when a car went through a red arrow. She opened her mouth to make a comment to Nick's empty seat about imbecilic drivers, but snapped it shut. Six days with the man and she would've thought they'd been together for six years.

Annoyed with herself, Danni focused on the early afternoon rush hour. A few minutes later she turned off the backed-up main thoroughfare onto a side street. Having been a patrol cop, she knew the city—especially this part—like her own backyard. The route took her within five blocks of the youth center, and she considered stopping, but remembered it was closed this weekend so the broken windows could be replaced.

She caught sight of a familiar figure pushing a cart. After parking, she trotted down the sidewalk to catch up to the homeless man. "Southpaw," she called out.

He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "Sorry, Danni, but I ain't got any more tickets. Done gave them all away for tomorrow's game."

Danni smiled back at him, joining him in his fantasy world. "That's okay. I have to work, but I'll be rooting for you. I figure you won't have any problem putting away the visiting team. You played them before?"

Southpaw's pleased expression faded slightly. "Yeah. I know the pitcher. Hometown boy. Went to be a hero but come back. Plays dirty. Wild pitches. Don't care who he hurts."

Again, Danni realized Southpaw was trying to tell her something in his odd baseball vernacular. She played along. "I heard the same thing. Doesn't care about his own teammates. In it for himself."

Southpaw nodded vehemently. "That's right. Took one of his own outta the game the other day. Saw him with my own eyes during practice."

Danni frowned. "Was that yesterday morning?"

"Yep. Had to bring out the trainers. Carried him off."

She glanced around and realized Marsel had been hit by the Taurus less than two blocks away. Had Southpaw witnessed Gilsen running down Marsel? "I heard about that but didn't know it was one of his teammates."

"Wasn't so sure myself. Tall, gangly kid—taller'n most players."

Southpaw's description could definitely be Marsel. "Have you seen the pitcher lately?"

Southpaw leaned into his cart and picked out an aluminum can. He kept his gaze on it as he spoke. "Seen him and his catcher. They was tradin' signs."

Danni willed her expression to remain calm. "When was this?"

"Coupla hours ago. Figured they was gettin' ready for the big game tomorrow." Southpaw's brow creased. "Didn't look right, though."

"How's that?"

"Catcher didn't know the signals. Nearly missed the ball when the pitcher fired one home."

Frustration gnawed at Danni's patience as she tried to decipher his cryptic words. "Can you tell me anything more about the catcher?"

Southpaw shrugged and raised his head. His eyes seemed to focus clearly. "Seen her around. With your daddy. But she don't know baseball like he did. Not like you neither."

She?

"So you've seen her before?"

"Yep. Never trusted her. Got gold hair. Never trust a woman with gold hair." Southpaw's eyes glazed again, and he tossed his aluminum can back in his cart. "Got to get me a good night's sleep afore the game tomorrow. I be showin' my best stuff."

He pushed his cart down the sidewalk, mumbling to himself, and Danni knew she wouldn't get any more information from him. She found a few dollars in her jacket pocket amid old notes and straightened paper clips and caught up to the old man.

"Thanks, Southpaw," she said, pressing the bills into his rough hand.

He looked at them, then gave her a wide, gap-toothed grin.

As Danni hurried back to the Jeep, she tried to make sense of Southpaw's ramblings. If the pitcher was Gilsen, that meant he hadn't left town after all, and Nick was still a target. But he was safe enough at the animal hospital. Even if Gilsen knew he was there, he wouldn't try anything in a public place during the day.

So, if Gilsen was the pitcher, who was the gold-haired catcher? Gilsen's elusive accomplice? Or were both the pitcher and the catcher merely characters in Southpaw's make-believe world?

No, Southpaw had told her as clear as he was capable that Gilsen had run down Marsel.

She climbed into the Jeep and stared after the old man's fading figure. He said he'd seen the gold-haired woman with Paddy.

Suddenly, it all came together, and Danni sagged under the revelation.

Karen Crandle had been Paddy's partner, and her hair could be called gold.
She
was the blond Mrs. Countryman saw at Paddy's the night he was killed.
She
used DMV records to tell Gilsen who had cars worth stealing once he had the names of people going out of town.
She
ensured that she and Paddy weren't patrolling the area when Gilsen heisted a car.

Danni started Nick's Jeep with a roar and made a tire-squealing one eighty. Driving ten miles above the speed limit to Karen's apartment, Danni could only imagine how her father must've felt when he realized his own partner was going to kill him.

She felt lightheaded and sick with betrayal and fury. Her dad had trusted Karen, and the two-faced bitch had murdered him.

Fifteen minutes later, Danni parked in front of the Blue Meadow Apartments. She checked her weapon to make sure it was loaded.

Her gaze fell on her cell phone. She had to call the police. Even a wet-behind-the-ears rookie knew how important backup was going into a potentially dangerous situation. And she owed it to Nick to call him and share her information. Despite her initial mistrust of him and the years-old pain he'd unearthed, he'd become a valuable partner. Someone she could trust... and care for.

She reached for the phone and pressed the On button. Nothing happened. She punched it again. It was dead. Disgusted, she tossed it back on the passenger seat.

Danni glanced up and down the street for a pay phone, but couldn't spot one. If she wanted to call 911 and Nick before confronting Karen, she'd have to find a convenience store or gas station.

Before Danni could decide what to do, she spotted Karen through the building's glass entrance door. The cop was wearing a coat, as if preparing to go somewhere. If Danni wanted to talk to her, this might be her only chance.

Determined, but with a twinge of apprehension, she crossed the street and entered the sunlit foyer. It was empty. She pushed the button for Karen's apartment and shuffled her feet impatiently. No answer. Had Karen already left? Danni tried again.

"Who's there?" Karen asked through the intercom.

Danni's pulse kicked up. "Danni Hawkins. Do you mind if I come in?"

She crossed her fingers during the ensuing pause, then the door buzzed, and she quickly entered the building. Standing by Karen's apartment door, Danni heard the soft bluesy strains of a saxophone. Not exactly what she expected from a fleeing suspect.

The door swung open. "I wasn't expecting you." A smile tempered Karen's words.

Looking past the casually dressed woman who had shed her coat, Danni saw boxes littering the floor. Obviously she'd been packing. Doubts about Southpaw and the assumptions she'd drawn from his statements crept across Danni's mind. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by to see if you needed any help."

Karen propped a hand on her hip. "That's sweet of you, Danni, but I've got things under control."

Danni smiled. "You're more organized than I am." Knowing she had little ground to stand on, she risked a bluff. "Last night you told me you didn't know Paul Gilsen. I just talked to someone who said he saw you two together earlier today."

Karen blinked. "It wasn't me. I've been packing all day."

She'd been wearing a jacket less than five minutes earlier, which meant she was lying. Karen had played Danni, Nick, Paddy, and everyone else for fools, but no more. She wasn't going to get away with murdering Danni's father. Red-hot anger clouded Danni's judgment and made her reckless. "Did you kill my father?" She tensed, waiting for Karen's outraged denial.

Instead, the woman smiled coldly. "Yes."

Shock froze Danni for a split second, long enough to feel a dull jab in her side.

"Nice of you to stop by," came an all-too-familiar, oily voice.

A shove of the gun barrel forced Danni into the apartment, and Karen locked the door behind them. Her hands raised, Danni turned around slowly and glared at Gilsen. "So those plane tickets were only a smoke screen."

Gilsen, looking disgustingly suave in pleated trousers and an expensive polo shirt, shrugged. "I have some unfinished business."