Double Cross (28 page)

4:10 P.M. MONDAY

Laurel stood in baggage claim at IAH by the escalator and waited for Geoff Cayden and his family to arrive. She was surrounded by limo drivers and corporate shuttle drivers, but she was the only one who carried red roses for Natalie and a gift card for Erin from the American Girl store. Courtesy of Morton Wilmington. She’d found Natalie’s Facebook page and learned her daughter loved American Girl dolls.

While she waited, her thoughts raced with the insane idea that Wilmington could be trusted. Couldn’t SSA Preston see Wilmington had connections to three henchmen who worked with Cayden?

Her misgivings were interrupted when she saw a familiar face. Dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, Cayden rode the escalator down with his arm around an attractive, tall blonde. A dark-haired little girl rode before them. Cayden tossed daggers her way. His problem.

She waved and gave her best theatrical smile. “Welcome to Houston! Morton asked me to greet you.”

Cayden introduced her to his wife and daughter.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Laurel handed Natalie the roses and Erin the gift card. “We wanted you to have a little gift from us. The roses are in a plastic vase because I couldn’t imagine your hotel room having one, and you could leave the vase behind.”

“Thank you.” Natalie inhaled the roses. “I love flowers. I haven’t seen Morton in years. Is he doing okay since the accident?”

“Much better. Maybe we all could have dinner while you’re here.”

“Wonderful.”

“Daddy, can we go shopping?” Erin looked familiar, but Laurel couldn’t place her.

“We’ll find time,” he said. “Tell you what. I’ll get our luggage, drive to the hotel, and then you and Mommy can go shopping. I’ll put everything away.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” She hugged him. “You’re the best daddy in the whole world.”

“I’ll take that, princess.”

“Would you like for me to drive you to your hotel?” Laurel anticipated his response.

“No, thanks. I have a rental to pick up.”

Once Cayden disappeared, she kept her smile intact. “I imagine your husband and Morton will be busy getting ready for the fund-raiser. Would you like to have lunch tomorrow, just us three girls?”

Natalie, who towered over Laurel, placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “How nice for you to include Erin. Can I call you later to confirm?”

“Of course. Your husband has my number. Have you been to Houston before?”

“This is our first visit. So much to see and do in such a short time.”

“If I can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Cayden returned with their luggage, and the threesome disappeared to collect their rental.

Laurel hoped the tiny bug embedded in the stem of one of the roses picked up what she needed to hear. The transmitter was installed in the base of the vase. If Vega did a room sweep before they stepped foot inside the room, nothing would be detected.

10:55 P.M. MONDAY

Daniel had no idea what he’d done to irritate Thatcher, but he had no intention of asking. They’d seated themselves at the bar of the
Instantaneous, where they could watch the door. Conversation between them occurred at two words a minute.

Daniel motioned to the bartender to order a Sprite. “Does Morton Wilmington still have ownership in the club?”

“No. He sold it once he got religion in prison.”

“Who’s the owner?”

“A woman from Florida. Natalie Ashton,” the bartender said. “Never met her, though. She doesn’t even sign the checks.”

What else did Natalie have her hands into? If she was involved in the business, could be her husband was too. Or did Cayden use her name without her knowledge? “I was curious. We recently started working for Morton Wilmington and he hadn’t mentioned the club.”

“Heard he had a temper.”

“I talked to a few who used to work for him. Haven’t seen it yet.”

The bartender laughed. “Maybe he did find religion. Been following him in the paper. Why he took that gal back is beyond me. I’d have filled her with holes.”

“They seem to be happy, but
 
—”

“Krestle, I’m here to socialize, not talk business,” Thatcher said. “Maybe this guy can point me toward the right lady.”

The bartender leaned on the counter. “You’re on your own there, unless you want to pay.”

Thatcher chuckled. “Not my style.”

Daniel nodded to the dance floor. “I think Wilmington used to date that one.”

“I wouldn’t know,” the bartender said. “See the brunette in red over there? He dated her before the gal who sent him to prison.”

“Thanks,” Thatcher said. “I’ll see what I can do. Might get lucky.” He made his way to the dance floor and the brunette.

Now was Daniel’s chance. “I don’t suppose you’re looking for a bouncer,” he said.

“Might be. Wilmington not pay well?”

“Not sure what he’s into. Once did some time, and I don’t want to head back there again.”

“Don’t blame you. Haven’t seen him since before he went to prison. Word is he practically gave away the club.”

“He’s doing the good-guy walk, but the company he keeps is bad.”

The bartender pulled an application from under the counter. “Bring it back tomorrow, and I’ll see what I can do. One of his men used to work here.”

Daniel raised a brow.

“Jack Breacher.”

“He’s dead. My point.”

“What happened to your wrist?”

“I made it out alive.”

2:00 A.M. TUESDAY

TWO DAYS UNTIL OCTOBER 15

Laurel woke at her apartment to the phone ringing. She rolled over and grabbed her burner. Couldn’t sleep with new information marching across her brain anyway.

“This is Daniel. Sorry to leave you alone with Wilmington.”

“He slept a lot and I ran errands. Are you at the condo?”

“Yes.” He explained the bartender’s conversation at the Instantaneous. “Natalie Ashton’s name has shown up twice. Is she helping her husband in the scam, or is he using her? Thatcher had little luck. The woman who used to date Wilmington hasn’t heard from him in over six years. She despises him and has no idea who his current friends are. What about you?”

“I met Cayden and his family at the airport. Rather interesting.”

“Hope you learned something we could use.” Negativity crept into his tone.

“A strong possibility. I’m taking Natalie and her daughter to lunch tomorrow. But that’s not the clincher. Erin Cayden doesn’t look a thing like her parents. She’s the spitting image of Josie Fields.”

“Laurel, don’t leave me hanging.”

“I contacted SSA Preston to dig a little deeper. Our friend Cayden enjoys his family ties. Fields and Messner were half brother and sister. Natalie Cayden is a first cousin through their mother.
Eight years ago, Geoff and Natalie adopted an infant girl through an attorney.”

“Are you saying Cayden killed his daughter’s biological mother?”

“Are we surprised? The little girl’s olive complexion in contrast to her parents’ lighter skin hit me as unusual, and she looked so familiar.”

“Let’s talk this through. Geoff Cayden hired his wife’s cousins to do his dirty work about the same time he adopted Fields’s daughter.”

Laurel was fully awake. “My question is where does this put Natalie? She has to know Fields and Messner are dead. How did Cayden explain that?”

“Good question. Did you mention this to Wilmington?”

“No.”

“Think I’ll wake up my friend. Doubt if it brings evidence to make an arrest, but it opens up the dynamics.”

“Call me after you talk to him. I’m too wired to sleep.”

2:15 A.M. TUESDAY

Common sense stopped Daniel from shining a flashlight into Wilmington’s face, but he was furious. One more time it looked like the ex-con had kept vital information to himself. Instead he shook him gently until the man rolled over.

“We have to talk.” Daniel flipped on the lamp.

“All right.” He sat up, rather awkwardly since the wound in his back forced him to sleep on his stomach. “You aren’t happy, so spill it.”

Daniel pulled a chair to his bedside. “Why didn’t you tell us the Instantaneous had been sold to Natalie Ashton?”

“When did that happen?”

“Since ownership was transferred from you to her.”

He rubbed his face. “The club was sold to a corporation out of Florida.”

“Right.”

He shook his head as if he had no clue. “Cayden owns it?”

“His wife does and her name is on the offshore account holding your four mil.”

“Daniel, my attorney took care of the sale. All I wanted was to unload it.”

“Do you know how this looks?”

“Yeah, as though I’m on Cayden’s side. Vega, Breacher, and now this. I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning.”

“Another tidbit of info to jog your memory. The Caydens adopted their daughter.”

He shrugged. “Are you asking? Because I don’t know.”

“Have proof Erin is adopted, and the strange thing is she looks like Natalie’s cousin, Josie Fields.”

Wilmington startled. “Cayden built his operation after we separated.” He paused. “Natalie has to know her cousins are dead.”

“Exactly. Cayden can use her name on business dealings, but how does he explain family deaths? That’s a stretch.”

“Unless she doesn’t have any idea until he plans to tell her. I’m getting up. Need to think this through. Brew the coffee, Daniel.”

Daniel made his way to the kitchen. Sometimes he believed Wilmington, but tonight’s findings shoved back the truth zone. The anger toward those who’d suffered under the hand of the scammer bubbled. Like Laurel, he pushed aside the reality of what they were doing to simply get the job done.

He texted Laurel and explained he and Wilmington would be up most of the night.

I’m on my way.

Daniel analyzed Wilmington, obviously tired, and from his stiffened back, he must be hurting. But Daniel and Laurel weren’t much better off.

Daniel and Wilmington were working on their second cup of coffee when Laurel arrived. She had half moons under her eyes. They all did.

“Have a seat,” Daniel said. “We waited for you to continue the discussion about Natalie Ashton Cayden.”

She sank into a kitchen chair. “So what did you talk about?”

“Gun laws.”

She cringed. “Go ahead. I’m ready.”

Wilmington rubbed his face. “Geoff chose Natalie because she was in love with him and had no idea of his business dealings. She was his cover. A beautiful woman who believed every word he said.”

“I met her,” Laurel said. “Friendly. Protective of Erin. In fact, Cayden did a good job with the doting husband and father routine. But that’s meaningless in light of what we’ve learned.”

“I’m saying Cayden kept Fields’s and Messner’s deaths from her and used her name in his business dealings. He could be planning to . . .” Wilmington’s words trailed off.

“Planning what?” Irritation rose in her voice.

“To leave her and cash in on those things in her name before she files for divorce.”

Daniel raised a finger. “All the twists and turns lead to one question: How will he scam the four hundred guests and make himself look blameless? I have no reason to believe the plan he gave you and Laurel is legit. The public is going to scream for blood. And, ladies and gentlemen, that’s you and Laurel.”

“We were aware of that from the beginning.” Laurel clenched her fist. “But it won’t happen.”

“Looks to me like he has a foolproof plan, originated eight years ago. You show me how he’s scamming the group on Thursday, and then we can figure out how to catch him . . . or her . . . or both of them.” Or all three. Daniel stood and reached for a coffee refill. “When you have those answers, we’ll arrest him, or them, for murder and fraud too.”

“You’re hotter than I’ve ever seen you,” Wilmington said.

“You weren’t at the funeral of one of my grandparents’ friends, a man who purchased a life insurance policy from Messner.” Daniel’s
voice rose. “You weren’t at the hospital when I learned Emma Dockson had died, and now that death is labeled murder. Your grandparents weren’t almost kidnapped from an Uptown parking lot. And what about the other elderly either dead or in Cayden’s database? Yeah, I’m hot. It’s two days to a possible explosion time, and we aren’t much better off than when this started.”

Laurel stared at him, wide-eyed. “Daniel, I’m as angry as you are.” Her voice whispered calm. “We’re exhausted and frustrated. You’re good with pencil and paper. We’ll line up what to do next and do it.”

Daniel grabbed pen and paper from the counter and sat at the dining room table. His face burned in the heat of fury. Wilmington wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “You saved my life. I’d do anything for you. Name it, and I’ll get it done. My back’s better, so don’t cut me any slack.”

Daniel nodded. “Thanks.” He breathed in deeply and wrote Laurel’s name first. He hadn’t lost it for a long time. Actually the unloading felt good. His head cleared. “You’re having lunch with Natalie and Erin tomorrow. Dive into family stuff. Pick her brain. Go shopping. Ask if anyone else close to Cayden will be at the fund-raiser. See if you can get her fingerprints.”

“Got it, and I’ll text Preston in a little while to see what he can find out. I know he thinks that’s useless, but that was before the new info.”

“Okay, Mr. Wilmington. Find out about Erin’s adoption. Is his marriage solid?” Daniel lifted his pen. “He might have had his fill of the wife and her side of the family. Does he care for Erin? What did he mean when he used the word
explosion
? An explanation about his lack of fingerprints. Plans for future business ventures.”

“I’m the ace when it comes to extracting information. Too bad I can’t use some of my old tactics.”

Daniel chuckled. “Laurel and I could hold him down.” But what if this was all playing into Wilmington’s strategy? He had a reputation for maneuvering people, and Daniel and Laurel could
be dancing in tune to his strings. “Now my list. I want to walk around the Junior League. Place the guests, servers, FBI agents, host table, the stage, all of it. Pray for guidance.” He didn’t look at Laurel, but Wilmington offered an amen. He turned to the man. “I have a few loose ends to run down. Ignacio Vega isn’t stupid, and I want to find out what he knows.” He pushed the paper to the middle of the table for the other two to examine. “Can we check in with each other during the day and then regroup here tomorrow night, say seven?”

They all agreed. Soon after, Daniel walked Laurel to her car. “Text me when you get home.”

“Sure. What are you really doing tomorrow?” she whispered.

He smiled in the darkness. “Just exactly what I said, and I intend to follow Wilmington.”

“I have a secret too. I gave Natalie roses. Put a bug in one of the stems and the transmitter in the vase. Talked Preston into listening in.”

“You really think she’s in on it?”

“I’m covering all the bases.”

He took her hand, craving the closeness of her. “I’d kiss you, but Wilmington or Cayden might be watching.”

She opened her car door. “I’ll take a rain check, Officer Hilton. Lots of them.”