As Good as Dead (20 page)

“I’m sorry, Nick,” Angel said when she’d finished. “I had to tell the police everything.”

“Don’t worry about it. Joe will just chew me out. I’m going to be off for a while, anyway.”

“I’m glad it’s out in the open, but now with Luke missing, I don’t know what to think.”

“I hate to say it, Angel, but Luke could have taken off.”

“He has a wife and kid now. I can’t see him doing that.”

“He might if he felt they were in danger. Check his bank account. If there’s money missing you can figure he left town. He’s changed identities twice that we know of, so he knows how it’s done.”

Angel swallowed back the painful lump in her throat. “I was so close. I missed him by minutes. Oh, Nick, Kinsey is so nice, and his little girl, Marie.” Tears ran freely down her cheeks, and she brushed at them with the sleeve of her pajamas. “She’s the cutest little thing. I know Luke wouldn’t leave them.”

“Maybe not permanently, but like I said, if he knows there’s a threat, he may have gotten out of there to protect them. Hang in there, Ange. It’ll work out. Trust him. Better yet, trust God.”

“Right.” She sniffed. “I’m trying to.”

“They’ll probably call in the feds if he doesn’t show up within twenty-four hours.”

“Yeah. I’m hoping they don’t wait that long. It takes so much time to get anything done. I’m supposed to sit tight, but I don’t know if I can.”

“I hear you. Of course, you could play a round of golf while you’re waiting.”

“I could, couldn’t I? And I could have Kinsey take a look at their bank account and see if there are any new charges on their credit cards.”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“How are you feeling, by the way?”

“Not great. I’m wishing I’d stayed in the hospital another day. But don’t worry, the guys are taking good care of me. Joe ordered twenty-four hour guards, and they’re making sure I have everything I need.”

“Good.”

“Your mom called today looking for you. I think we’re going to need to tell her. She knows something is up.”

“How? You didn’t say anything, did you?”

“No, but you know your mom. She’s got these built-in antennas. Nobody could ever get away with anything around her. Anyway, she’s worried ’cause you’re not answering at the house.”

“She could call my cell.”

“She tried. Said you weren’t answering that either.”

Angel groaned. “Great. The battery must be dead. I forgot to plug it in last night.”

“Better call her.”

Angel hung up, set her phone in the charger, and went back to the chair and called her aunt’s number in California.

Her aunt picked up. “Hi, Angel. I’m so glad you called. Your mother’s worried. I told her you were probably out on some hot date, but she wasn’t buying it.”

“Not a hot date, but I’ve been busy and I forgot to recharge my cell phone.”

“Why don’t you come down to visit us too, Angel? We’d love to see you.”

“I’d like to see you too, but I can’t right now.”

When her mother came on the line, Angel apologized for letting her battery go dead. “I tried to call you this afternoon, but you were gone, and I’ve been too busy to call since.”

“Doing what?”

“Just stuff.”
Spending time with my sister-in-law and my niece.
Angel wanted so much to tell Anna about Luke and his family, but it was too soon. Ma would want to fly out here, and it just wasn’t safe. “So what kind of trouble are you and Aunt Gabby getting into? Have you gone shopping yet?”

“Tomorrow. We’re going into the city to hit the outlet stores big time.”

“Good. Are you going to buy me something?”

“Of course. When have I ever come back from a trip empty handed?” Ma sounded relaxed and happy.

They talked for a few minutes about Gabby’s family, and after about five minutes said their good-byes. Angel phoned Rachael after she hung up with her mother.

“It’s about time you called.” Rachael sounded upset.

“What’s wrong?”

“Plenty. Paul called this afternoon. Angel, something really strange is going on.”

“Are they still in Florida?”

“Yes—at their resort. You are not going to believe this. They met with one of the Penghetti brothers.”

THIRTY-FOUR

P
enghetti?” The name sent shivers through her. “What did they want?”

“I’m getting there. This limo pulled up in front of the resort and a big guy in a tailored suit gets out and asks for Peter and Paul. The guy tells them his boss wants to talk to them about Luke Delaney and says to come with them.”

“And they went? Just like that?”

“I can’t believe it, either, but yeah. It sounds like something out of a mobster movie. The twins actually got into the car. I told Paul that was a stupid thing to do. They might have put those concrete thingamajigs on their feet and dropped them into the Gulf.”

Angel chuckled at the image despite the seriousness of Rachael’s story. “That’s a bit melodramatic, isn’t it?”

“Paul told me that exact same thing. Anyway, I guess everything worked out okay. They were taken to this gorgeous plantation and treated like royalty. Paul said it was incredible. The place belongs to Bobby Penghetti.”

“One of the brothers the state was trying to prosecute before Luke went missing.”

“Right. Penghetti asked the guys if they knew anything about the case or what might have happened to Luke.”

“Did you tell Paul I found Luke?”

“Yes. I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut, huh?”

“I doubt either of the guys would say anything to them.” Angel frowned, wondering if the news would bring Peter and Paul to Idaho. They were being watched as well, and Angel didn’t like it one bit.

“Anyway, back to my story,” Rachael interjected. “The guy tells them he thinks Luke is alive and wants to talk to him.”

“Wants to kill him, I’ll bet.”

“Mmm. The guys were pretty shook up. Paul said he wasn’t sure they were going to get out of the place alive. After a while, Bobby went inside and his son, Bernard, thanks them for coming. Tells them he hopes they’re telling the truth because his father doesn’t like liars. How’s that for a subtle threat?”

“Wow.” Rachael was right. The entire scene sounded like something out of
The Godfather
. She thought again about the gardener and wondered if he was part of the Penghetti organization. More likely he was a hired gun. She’d love to have a picture of the guy in his dark hair to see if he matched one of the men in the photo she’d seen of the “family.” He was too young to be one of the famous brothers, but a son, maybe, or a nephew. Angel could imagine Bobby’s son out doing his father’s dirty work, or more likely, hiring someone to do the job for him.

The Penghettis could have tried to kill Nick and murdered the reporter. And they could have sent the letter bomb and somehow planted the bug in her purse. But if the Penghetti brothers knew where Luke was, why would they need to ask Peter and Paul?

Angel gave Rachael her own news, then put in a call to her twin brothers. When she got their answering machine, she left a message. “I hope you didn’t tell the Penghetti brothers where Luke was. If they are looking for Luke, they’re going to be watching you, so stay put and I’ll keep you posted.”

Angel went to bed, feeling as though she were battling a giant octopus. Every time she thought she’d caught one arm, another grabbed her around the middle. Tension knotted her stomach as well as the muscles in her neck and shoulder. Maybe tomorrow morning she’d get a massage, though she doubted the short-term effects would last.

Sleep evaded Angel, and her mind pitched and rolled with layers of information she’d gathered. She felt partly reassured by the fact that the Penghetti brothers were still looking for Luke. That at least meant they hadn’t gotten to him yet. Hopefully her brothers would stay put and not try to come to Idaho.

Still, she couldn’t get past the gut feeling that someone had abducted Luke from the golf course. But who? And why? She’d asked Kinsey to call if she heard from Luke, no matter how late it was, but she’d heard nothing.

God, please keep him safe.
Angel uttered the words over and over until finally, some time around 1:00 a.m., her mind shut down and afforded her some rest.

Angel awoke to a bright sun streaming through her window and the ringing of her telephone. Still groggy, she answered it.

“It’s me, Kinsey.”

Angel sat up, the last vestiges of sleep scurrying into the shadows. “Did he come home?”

“No. I’m heading into the office. I thought about staying here, but waiting around is... excruciating, and Marie needs to stay with her regular routine.”

“I talked to Nick last night, and he said to ask you if you’ve checked for any current usage in your accounts or your charge cards.”

“He’s thinking Luke may have run?” Angel detected a catch in her voice.

“It’s possible. I don’t think Luke would leave you and Marie, but he might feel it’s better to lie low for a while. Who knows what he’s thinking?”

“I’ll go online and get a current readout right now.”

“If he is using a card, we can track him.” Angel ran a hand through her hair and got out of bed. It was 9:00 a.m.

“If he has taken money out of the account, I’m not telling the police,” Kinsey said.

Which means you won’t tell me if I disagree.
“Okay, but tell me and I’ll follow up. If there are charges or ATM usage, find out where the cards were used. I’m going out to the golf course this morning—see if I can get anything more out of the guy who saw Luke leave and maybe get a better description of the guy he left with.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Chief Warren said you shouldn’t be investigating.”

“I’m just looking around and talking to some of the guys out there while I look into taking lessons.”

“Thanks, Angel,” Kinsey said. “Come by the gallery before you go. I should be there in half an hour.”

“That’s about how long it’ll take me to get ready.”

Angel showered and dressed in white shorts and a powder blue knit top. She’d have to pick up a white visor at one of the shops in the lobby or at the pro shop. For her trek to the pro shop, she’d worn short white socks and her tennis shoes. Angel headed down to the lobby to meet Kinsey.

“He hasn’t touched a dime, and he hasn’t used the credit card,” Kinsey told Angel when she entered the shop. “As much as I hated the idea of his leaving, I actually hoped he had. At least then I’d know he’s all right. Now I’m afraid something terrible has happened to him.”

Angel enveloped her sister-in-law in a hug. “Keep hoping for the best.” Easy words to say, not so easy to believe. “Do I look okay for a game of golf? I’ve never done it.”

“You look fine. Just go out and rent clubs. Tell them you’re a novice, and they’ll take care of you.”

“How do I get there?” Angel asked.

Kinsey hesitated. “Why don’t you take the boat over; that’s easiest. The hotel provides a water taxi every few minutes. You can get it on the dock out there.” Kinsey pointed to the lake end of the lobby.

“Okay. I’m taking my cell with me, so if you hear anything...”

“I’ll call.”

Angel headed for the dock and had no problem finding the water taxi, a lovely boat with wood trim. There were three people waiting on the boat already, a young couple holding hands and looking like newlyweds, and a middle-aged man with blondish hair, a deep tan, a pot belly, and an expensive-looking set of clubs. He nodded and smiled as she climbed aboard. She took a seat toward the back, knowing that in all likelihood her hair would resemble a rat’s nest by the time she got to the course. Not that it mattered—she looked forward to the wind and the spray hitting her face as the boat motored across the lake.

The pilot, a tanned young woman in khaki shorts and a red top with a hotel logo, came aboard. After greeting them, she started the engine and maneuvered them out of the marina and into open waters. It was a tour boat of sorts, and she explained some of the features of the lake as they went along. Angel could hardly hear her over the motor. Instead of listening she watched a parasail lift off the water, taking its one passenger high into the air. “Look like fun?” the man with the golf clubs asked.

“Yeah. I’d like to try it.”

“You should. My son raves about it.”

Angel smiled at him, glad to be in the company of normal people enjoying an outing on a beautiful lake. The lake, set in the mountains surrounded by evergreens, looked like a sparkling sapphire. No wonder Luke loved it here.

The boat ride ended far too quickly, bringing Angel back to full alert. She’d decided not to rent clubs or actually play. That would take far too long. She’d just nose around in the pro shop and pretend to be interested.

One of the clerks came over as she was examining a visor. “Can I help you find something?”

“Yeah.” She held up the white visor. “I’d like to buy this.”

Once she’d signed the credit card statement, Angel said, “I heard you guys had some excitement out here yesterday.”

He frowned. “Oh, you must mean the cops coming out to talk to us about Mr. Sinclair.”

“Right.”

“You’re not a reporter, are you? We were told not to say anything.”

“No. I’m a friend of Mrs. Sinclair. She’s pretty shaken up. What happened here yesterday?”

He shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. Marty’s out on the putting green. He’s the one the cops talked to.”

“Can I go out there?”

“Sure. I’ll take you out to him.”

Marty was a kid around eighteen, making his putts like a pro.

“Hey, Marty!” the clerk yelled. “Someone wants to talk to you about yesterday.”

Marty looked up, and his putt went wide. He scrunched up his face at her, then brightened and came toward her. “You wanted to see me?” The idea seemed to appeal to him.

“I did. Can we go inside and talk? I’ll buy you a Coke.”

“Sure.” He tucked his putter into the bag and followed her into the clubhouse, leaving his clubs in their cart by the door.

Once she’d ordered, they went out front where he’d been the day before. “Like I told the cops. I was out here helping one of our golfers into her car. I’d just put her clubs in the trunk and closed it when these two guys came out of the clubhouse. I hardly recognized Mr. Sinclair ’cause he’d shaved off his mustache and beard. Anyway, he said hello to me, and then he and this other dude went to the parking lot.”