Deadly Ties (33 page)

“All kinds. Suffice it to say, anything can be found if you know where to look.” He shifted, glanced towards Aiden. “I don’t have a lot of time here, but I’ll give you what I’ve got. Ms.

Fisher has a rap sheet a mile long. That is one mean woman there.”

And this was news how? Gavin gave him a level look.

Mr. Caps ignored it and continued. “It seems Ryan was raised by his maternal grandmother the first three years. She fought for custody and when she finally won, she died suddenly in a freak accident. Custody went back to his mom.”

“How did the grandmother die?”

The man waved his hand. “That’s not important. Patterns, gentlemen, patterns. The point to this is the woman has been killing for quite some time. Not really serial, in the textbook fashion, but there is a pattern. Those who wrong her tend to meet their end suddenly.”

“I tracked her through her guard at Gatesville. Seems he helped her escape by wrecking the transport van and killing another guard.”

A wreck? Ryan had seen a wreck. “How the hell do you know all this?” Gavin asked.

Mr. Caps didn’t even pause, but kept going. “By following their car, gas stations and whatnots, we traced them to a crack house in Brownwood, Texas, where it’s believed she obtained the nine-millimeter she’s currently carrying.” The man leaned back. “After that, we go to Austin where the judge who worked her case was the target of a drive-by. Got hit in the leg.

The office where Ms. Reese--excuse me--Mrs. Kinncaid, used to work was broken into and the grand finale was, of course, her attack at the Shepards. That was all before her debut here in D.C.”“I’m betting they ditched the white minivan for something faster, before word got out.

From things I’ve gathered in various files, it seems Ms. Fisher and her sidekick, Rod, have

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enough powdered meth on them to make a little nest egg. That is if they don’t use it all first.”

This just kept getting worse.

“Following her patterns, I would have to say she’s probably got the kids here in town. It would up the ante so to speak. And she has no use for them. Though most of her good fortune has been pure luck thus far, the woman you’re dealing with is not your average jeb head. She’s shrewd.”

Bray’s sigh huffed out. “So, you think she’ll call?”

The blue cap nodded. “Definitely. The media this case is producing, she’ll know the worth of the kids.”

Kids. “You think she’ll let Ryan go?”

The ball cap tilted. “For enough money, yeah. But having said that, he’s also her ‘flesh and blood’ as she’s been known to refer to him. So, that puts him at a greater risk. They’re both used to him being her punching bag.” He looked at Brayden. “Are Ryan and Tori close?”

Bray was looking at the newcomer hard, as though trying to figure something out. “Yeah.”

“He’s protective of her?”

Bray nodded.

Mr. Caps looked back to Gavin. “That could be a serious problem. Nina Fisher exploits weaknesses. She’ll use Tori as a lever against Ryan and if he thinks Tori’s in danger, he’ll turn Nina’s anger onto him.”

The words hit Gavin like needle sharp rain. And the man was right, that’s exactly what Ryan would do.

Then the names hit. Ryan and Tori. Not Victoria as the news broadcasts said. Few, other than family, called her Tori.

For the first time, Gavin got a good look at the face. A slightly familiar face, hardened through the years, sharpened around the edges, but something in it was the same. Or was it? “I’ll be damned.”

A smile, lightening quick, flashed before it was gone. “Wondered how long it would take you.” Bray caught on. “No. Ian?”

Their brother held up a finger. “No, names. And while we’re at it, swear to me now on both your families that you will tell no one of me, of this meeting. You know nothing.”

“Why?” they both asked.

Aiden’s chuckle mixed with Ian’s.

“They’re still Tweedle-Dee, and Tweedle-Dumb,” Ian said, using the childhood names both he and Bray hated.

“But…” Bray started.

“Forget it, put any questions you have to Aiden. He’ll answer what he can. Right now we don’t have time to get into it. Just know, I’ve missed the hell out of you guys.”

“No one? Not even Mom?” Brayden asked.

“No one.” The words lashed out. “It’s for everyone’s safety. If I’ve learned you have told anyone, and I’ll find out, you will not see or hear from me again. I’ll get the kids back, or do what I can to help, but that’s it.”

Gavin didn’t care presently what promises he had to make. He’d have dealt with Satan if he

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could get Ryan and Tori back.

“What do you want us to do?” he asked.

There was that grin he hadn’t seen in more than twelve years and it was flashing for the second time. Surreal. This whole damn day was surreal.

“Still the peacemaker. Actually, the question is what do you want me to do? As I said, my bet is the city. A person can get lost in a city a hell of a lot easier than some back woods hillbilly town. And the city allows them cash for their drugs. Right now I’m checking all the two-bit motels.”

Gavin didn’t want to think of the number of those.

“What’s your question?” Gavin asked, Ian had never gotten to that.

Ian ran his tongue around his teeth. “When I find them, I’ll get them back.”

Gavin nodded. “And?” He could tell there was an ‘and’.

Ian seemed to weigh his words. “On second thought, never mind. But I will tell you this.

The police are going to be asking you questions, you know nothing about me. And since you know nothing about me, this meeting never took place. You will have no idea how in the hell your kids wound up safe and sound at a local ER or on the nearest police department steps. Got it?” Loud and clear.

Bray still sat staring at Ian.

“What?” Ian asked, turning to look at Bray.

“You’ve changed.”

Ian stood, slapped Bray on the back, shook Gavin’s hand and said, “In more ways than you care to know.” He hugged Aiden, then looked back at them. “I’ll be in touch.”

And with that, he opened the door and walked away.

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“Ryan,” Tori whispered, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Can you hold it?” he asked her.

“I’ll try.” Her sigh blew against his cheek as she settled beside him again. Ryan was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, tied to the bedframe. One of Tori’s hands was tied to his.

Neither of them could get out, and Nina was passed out in a chair. He didn’t know when she’d wake up. Ryan really hoped this wasn’t one of those times where she slept for days. He remembered those from before.

It was dark outside again. Another entire day.

This morning--barely at dawn--Nina untied Tori and jerked her out the door. Telling Tori all the while that if she tried to pull any tricks, they’d disappear and leave Ryan tied to the bed.

He couldn’t do anything as Nina dragged and shoved his friend towards the door, all the while stuffing Tori’s black hair up in a cap and telling her to keep her head down.

Nina said they had to make a call. She’d turned to him then, yelling that if he tried to escape, if they got back and he was gone, she’d kill his friend.

Ryan prayed the entire time they were gone. Scared to death Tori would do something to flip Nina into a rage. But Tori said they walked several blocks, got on a bus and got off several stops later to make a phone call. Nina asked someone on the phone about a meeting with half-a-million dollars for each kid. Nina was supposed to have met the Kinncaids at the train station at noon. He and Tori knew it was Gavin and Brayden because Tori got to tell her dad hi.

But, noon had come and gone with Nina in the chair she’d occupied since early that morning. Maybe she was dead. What was it called when someone died because of drugs? A.D.?

It was a vowel and D. E.D.? No. O.D.! Over dose. Duh. Maybe she overdosed--O.D.-ed.

And where was that guy they’d been with? He’d come in and left, then come in again and left. Ryan knew he was gone when she made the call, and Ryan never heard her tell him about it later when he came in. Rod. That was his name.

“I want to go home,” Tori said.

“I know you do, Tori Bori. But we can’t yet.” He rubbed his cheek against her hair and pulled at his hands again, trying to work the bindings looser. There was a nail or screw that was kinda loose. He kept trying to rub the layers of tape against it to get it to snag or cut. But, he’d had no luck. At least Nina hadn’t taped their mouths shut.

“I wanted to talk to Daddy longer this morning too. I wanted to, but she only let me say,

‘Daddy’.” Tori sniffled. “She told him if he didn’t send the money, she was going to sell me.

That some man would pay a high price for me. Do you know what she meant? I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Ryan’s blood chilled at Tori’s words. He knew what Nina had meant--well, sort of. Nina had turned tricks before. He remembered the boyfriends she took money from. She’d been a

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whore. He learned that in one of the foster homes.

“You won’t go anywhere,” he vowed. “At least not anywhere that she would send you, unless it’s home. I promise.”

“Is she gonna kill us?”

Like she almost did Taylor?

Ryan grinned at the memory of how Nina yelled and screamed when the T.V. said Mrs.

Kinncaid was listed in critical condition at some hospital. Boy, had Nina been mad. He’d gotten hit for it, but he didn’t care. His mom was alive. Finally, he answered Tori, “No. She might get mad and hit me, but she won’t kill us. She needs us to get the money.”

“I don’t like it when she hits you.” Tori’s hand came up and traced his busted lip. “You didn’t talk back to her, like she said. You were only asking a question.”

Yeah, he only asked a question. He knew asking if Nina had heard anything about his

‘mom’ would set her off and turn her anger away from Tori. Tori had asked for something to drink. Since Nina had been coming down off a high--he remembered the mood swings--she wasn’t in the mood for a ‘mewling brat.’ When she’d started towards Tori with that look in her eyes he’d seen too many times before, he’d quickly asked if his mom was still alive. Thank goodness she hit him instead of Tori. He couldn’t stand it if she hit Tori again.

“I know that. Nina is Nina.” Ryan shrugged. He’d spent all day thinking. Rod wasn’t really into this thing, or from what Ryan had been able to tell. One of them needed to get away and get help. His wrists were raw from working them all day. “Listen, I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?”

Ryan bit down at the sight of the bruise on her cheek where Nina hit her yesterday. “I’m sorry,” he said. Not that he’d meant to say that. It just slipped out.

She cocked her brow. “For what?”

Ryan sighed. “I never wanted you to know what this was like.” Ratty, dingy rooms that smelled bad, getting hit and ducking blows. He wanted to cry too, like Tori, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want her to be too scared.

“She gave you that scar didn’t she?”

Ryan nodded looking straight into her eyes, expecting to see that pitying look people always gave him. The one he hated. Instead, her eyes lit like a blue flame, burning with anger.

“Ohhhh … I hate her. I just hate that mean old woman.” Tori was mad.

Ryan grinned. “I do, too.” Scooting closer he whispered, “Now, listen. I’ve been thinking.

One of us needs to get away. You’ve got one hand free and your tape isn’t as thick as mine. First, we’ll get yours off.…”

“Then I’ll untie you.”

If there was time.

“Then you make a run for it and I’ll stay here so she won’t go after you.”

“What? Are you out of your mind?” she whispered. “I’m not gonna leave you. I can’t.”

“Yes you can.”

“Why don’t I stay?”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “ ‘Cause I’m the boy.”

“So?”

“So, that’s what the Kinncaid men do.” At least he thought that was what the motto was.

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“That is such a dumb thing to say. When we get home, I’m gonna tell Grams the women need to say it too. Not just the dumb boys.”

“Whatever, now come on.”

* * * *

Gavin stood next to Bray at the train station. Not a single blessed person fitting the description the caller had given them had shown up all damn day. Another train rumbled out of the station, the noise faded to a groan at this level, though he again felt the floor’s faint vibration. People hurried and shuffled along trying to get to where they wanted to go. Everything had a kaleidoscope view to it. He saw it all, but it was distorted, shifting.

Bray cussed again. “I’m going to kill that woman. When I get my hands on her, I’m going to wring her junky neck.”

Gavin was exhausted, and Bray looked the same. A vein throbbed near his brother’s temple, a telltale sign of trouble.

“They--she--who-the-hell-ever, isn’t coming,” Gavin said. “They’d have been here by now.”“We think so too,” a voice said in their ear. They were both wired, per police instructions, and both carried black duffel bags with unmarked, non-sequential bills for half a mill’ each.

Something must have happened. Gavin prayed it wasn’t bad. He’d called Aiden all day to see how things were at the hospital. None of them mentioned the
other
. Especially not with mikes taped to their chests. Taylor was improving and holding her own, thank God.

“What if she’s just detained?” Bray asked. The hopefulness in his voice not lost on Gavin.

“Look, as much as she wanted this, all the trouble she went to, she’d have been here, Bray.”Still his brother’s gaze scanned the crowd. “You didn’t hear her, Gav. Tori was scared and crying. I want my daughter. Now.” His eyes mirrored Gavin’s rage, flaming to a burning September stone. “Here’s the damn money. Does the bitch want more?”

“Settle down, Mr. Kinncaid. Go to your car.” Morris’ voice echoed in the earpiece.

“I bet she made the cops. She said ‘no cops’, she’d spot them.” Bray was on a rampage as he turned and stalked to the doors. “Next time, no bloody ass cops.”

As the humid evening air hit them, Gavin changed the duffel bag to his other hand. He didn’t have any words for his brother. He felt the same exact way and anything Gavin said would be empty and probably a lie.

What he wouldn’t give to hear Ryan’s voice again. Just for a minute.

“Did she say why she didn’t let Ryan say anything?” he asked yet again.

Bray stopped. “I told you, I only talked to Tori for a few seconds. All the woman let her say was ‘Daddy.’ That was it. Nothing else but her demands. And her fucking threats.” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. They both strode to their car, got in and sat there.

“Now what?” Gavin asked.

“Don’t have a fucking clue.”

“Drive to the hotel. A task team is assembled in one of the suites there. We’ll escort you when you get there.” With that, a click sounded in their ears.

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Gavin jerked the tiny earpiece out and tossed it into the slot in the console. In no time they pulled up in front of
The Highland Hotel
. He just wanted to get this over with and get back to the hospital. Aiden assured him that nothing had changed, that Taylor hadn’t awakened yet, but he didn’t like being away from her.

He looked across the seat at his twin as Brayden got out and shoved his way through the throng of press outside the hotel. Damn vultures. Gavin got out and followed. In the lobby a policeman put them on an elevator and they went straight to the top, to the family suites. Gavin brooded.

“I swore I’d never let this woman get close to them, never let her hurt them.” Damn it.

“Will you shut the hell up?” Bray lashed. “Do you think this is your fault? Do you think I don’t feel bad as well? I’m her damn father. I’m supposed to protect my little girl, make certain nothing bad ever happens to her!” Bray looked at the numbers atop the doors as they rose, his jaw working back and forth. “Do you know what that woman said to me?”

Gavin had heard most of it, dozens of times, the ransom, the demands. The sick threats. He silently waited on his brother.

“She said,” Bray’s voice cracked. “She said, I had a pretty little girl. And if I couldn’t pay for her, someone else would. A pretty little thing like her would have no trouble being bought.”

Gavin couldn’t say a word. Not a fucking word.

“Oh, Christ Jesus.” Bray slumped back against the wall of the elevator.

A tear trailed over his brother’s cheek. Gavin felt his own eyes sting. Reaching across the small space, he pulled his brother into a hug.

“We’re going to get them back. We are. Come hell or high water we will.”

The doors pulled apart and they stepped out. The hallway here was a mass of people who all quit talking the minute they walked off the elevator.

Gavin opened his shirt, ripped the taped mike off and threw it to Morris. “Here, for all the damn good it did.”

Bray did the same and they both strode into their parents’ suite, tossing the money bags on the table. All calls from the house were being routed to here. Jesslyn stepped up and motioned for them to follow her. Gavin grabbed Bray’s arm and did as she asked.

“Aiden wanted me to tell you something.” She pushed the door shut behind her. “he said a lead is being followed. Something about dingy motels in certain parts of town.”

“Where?” They both asked.

She shook her head and shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s all he said.”

To hell with this. He wasn’t doing a damn bit of good here. “I’m going back to the hospital.”

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm again.

Gavin looked at her, really looked. Shadows circled her eyes, and she was pale. “This must bring back things for you.”

He knew she’d gone through what no parent ever should. Now he understood what a degree of pain his sister-in-law must have suffered when she’d lost her family.

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I need … I don’t know … Aiden said to tell you.” “Tell me what?” Gavin asked her.

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She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. Finally, she said, “I took a nap with the twins earlier. I had a dream.”

Gavin knew she believed in her dreams, and with good reason.

She smiled. “They’re alive. A little bruised, but alive.”

“Where?” Bray asked.

“I don’t know.” She shook her head again. “I’m sorry. It was dark all around them and they were sitting on a floor by a bed. Tori had a bruise on her cheek. Ryan had a cut in his eyebrow, a black eye and busted lip.”

Gavin took a deep breath.

“They’re alive. I know it. They are. I heard my little girl’s voice tell me, ‘He’ll find them.’”

Her eyes bore into his. “
He’ll
find them. Bruises disappear, time fades and love heals.

Remember that.”

Brayden looked at Jesslyn, then at him. And nodded. “Let’s go.”

Gavin hugged her and whispered, “Thanks.” Kissing the top of her head, he let her go, then followed his brother out.