Find My Baby (12 page)

Outside the door of George Graham’s office, Luke turned to Terry. “Maybe we shouldn’t tip our hand just yet.”

“What are we waiting for?” Terry asked.

“I don’t know. Something. I have a feeling we shouldn’t barge in until we have a little more info on the guy.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Luke eyed the lawyer’s office. “What is his connection to all this?”

Pulling out his cell, he dialed the phone number on the door. A woman answered. “Is Mr. Graham in?” Luke asked.

“Sorry. He’s gone for the day. Would you like to make an appointment?”

“What does he have in the morning, say around nine?”

“He’s free. Can you tell me what this is about?”

“I want a divorce and I don’t want my wife to get my money.”

“Great,” she gushed. “Just give me your name and phone number?”

Luke gave her a fake name and number and hung up. “We’ll pay him a visit in the morning.”

Chapter Ten

At eight-thirty the next morning, Luke, a Styrofoam cup of coffee in hand, leaned against the wall outside attorney George Graham’s office. Terry paced the hallway, agitated at the waste of time.

Luke knocked on Graham’s office door again. No one answered. Patience wasn’t Luke’s strongest virtue. He ground his teeth, leaned against the wall and feigned nonchalance.

They had pertinent questions for Graham, and if he didn’t answer them...well, there was always the threat of going downtown.

Last night Luke had looked the lawyer up on the net. And found little. Then he’d called a DA friend of his and asked a few questions. Luke had gotten both gossip and facts, and still hadn’t decided what was truth and what was conjecture. But his curiosity was aroused.

A tall, thin woman around the age of thirty-five clattered toward them on platform sandals. He wondered how she stood on them, much less walked. Dyed red hair fell past her shoulder in a straight line. The woman wasn’t pretty, but she was striking. And her legs were good.

“Are you waiting for me?” the woman trilled in a high-pitched voice.

Luke cringed. How did George listen to her all day?

“You work here?”

“Sure do. Sorry I’m late. You must be Mr. Graham’s nine o’clock.”

Luke nodded, his ears ringing from the high-pitched tones coming out of the woman’s mouth.

“I expect he’ll be in soon.” She unlocked the door. “C’mon in. Name’s Edith, by the way.”

Luke and Terry followed her inside.

“Cold in here,” Edith said, rubbing her arms. “What’s wrong with the thermostat? It shouldn’t be this cold.” She went to the wall to check.

Luke caught the faint odor immediately. His gaze shifted to Terry who had caught it too.

It was a scent neither of them cared to smell again.

“Is that Graham’s office?” he asked, nodding toward the closed door behind Edith’s desk.

“Yes. But he’s never here this early. I come in before him, get a pot of coffee going, see if he left anything for me to do. Sometimes he works late.”

Edith turned to go into Graham’s office.

“Don’t go in there,” Luke warned.

“I beg your pardon?” Edith said, confused.

Luke and Terry drew their guns.

“What? Who are you? Are you going to rob us?” She opened her mouth to scream.

Quickly, they showed their badges. Thankfully, she shut her mouth.

“I think we’re too late for weapons,” Terry whispered.

“So do I,” Luke agreed. “But you never know.”

“Stay put,” they warned Edith.

She paid them no mind, rushed past them to get at the door. Luke grabbed her, pushed her behind him. She looked over his shoulder, saw her boss with a hole in his head and let out a scream that could be heard on the Loop.

Sitting in his chair, head slumped forward, George Graham stared with empty eyes.

“Get out,” Luke ordered the hysterical secretary.

The safe’s door was open, papers strewn on the floor.

“We’ve been robbed,” Edith wailed, pointing to the safe.

They shoved her out the door.

“A robbery gone bad?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know,” Terry answered. “Look,” he said, pointing to the back of the man’s head where the bullet had entered.

“It’s the same pattern,” Luke said. “Same as Tanner’s murder—same as the kidnapper’s. Call it in. We’ll check out what we can until CSI gets here.”

“What are the chances the same gun is involved?” Terry asked.

Luke shook his head. “Only an idiot would do something that stupid. How long before we have company?”

“Probably not long,” Terry said. “Find anything?”

“Just this,” Luke pointed to a yellow pad on the desk with the words, The Voice, written at least a dozen times. “Wonder if he’s referring to Edith?”

“Doubt it. If not, who?”

“When did you get it, George?” Luke sat on his haunches as he examined the body. “What do you think, Maguire?”

“Had to be last night. The killer was smart enough to turn down the thermostat, keeping the body a little more preserved.”

With a gloved finger, Luke opened a drawer. “Look at this.”

They stared at the phone. “Not for business, I’ll bet.”

“At least not legitimate business,” Luke added, as he recalled the conversation he’d had with his lawyer friend. “Get the secretary in here.”

Terry opened the door and waved Edith in.

She still hadn’t gained control. Her face looked stricken, her eyes full of tears. “I feel a little faint.”

“You’ll be fine. We have a couple of questions.”

When she was in the room he asked, “What do you know about this phone?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I’ve never seen it before.”

“You didn’t know it was here?” he asked, disbelief in his voice.

Lips trembling, she answered, “I’ve heard it ring a couple of times, but I didn’t ask. I figured it was personal.”

Her gaze flew to the safe. “Mr. Graham kept lots of money in there. Is it gone?”

“Looks like.”

“Then somebody killed him for it.” Her voice rose higher with each word.

“Do you know what the words, The Voice, mean?”

“Huh?”

“The Voice? Have you ever heard Mr. Graham use that term?”

Edith’s face contorted as if struggling to remember. “Once, maybe. Something about a job the voice wanted him to do.”

“Do you know who The Voice is?”

“George never told me.” She began to sob again.

Luke gave Terry a quick nod.

Taking her by the arm, Terry gently moved her back to her desk. When Edith slumped in her chair, Terry re-joined Luke. “What’s the connection? I’m more confused than ever, first Tanner, then Kayla’s kidnappers, now Graham. What are we missing?”

Luke frowned. “Don’t know.” He paused a minute. “What are the chances of one person being involved in two, maybe three, distinctly different cases?” He looked at his partner. “If they are connected how do Kayla and her baby fit in?”

His stomach clenched at the thought of her involvement in something so deadly.

“I hope this comes together before someone else dies.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears,” Luke said. “Whoever killed Graham didn’t do it for the money. At least that’s my guess.”

“And I’m guessing you’re right.”

There was a pattern emerging. One Luke couldn’t piece together. If George was involved in the Tanner murder as they suspected, was he also involved in Kayla’s disappearance? Were the murders to cover up a bigger crime or to cover up the original crime itself? Did Graham’s murder mean the killings were over? Or were there more to come?

The question of who could be next sent a chill racing up Luke’s spine.

He’d seen Kayla’s interview on the news. Who else saw it?

“Where’s CSI?” he said. “We’ve done all we can. It’s time to move out.”

“Take it easy, Luke,” Terry cautioned. “They’ll be here soon.”

Ten minutes later, the forensic team came in and took over.

After a few minutes of conversation, Luke stepped into the hallway and placed a call.

“Kayla. Where are you?”

“At Aunt Nester’s.”

“Are you going out today?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just answer the question. Are you leaving the house for any reason?” He held his breath. He needed to know she was safe. At least for today.

“I’m going to work later. Around eleven.”

“Don’t go anywhere. Stay put.”

“I can’t, Luke. I have to do something or I’ll go crazy.”

He couldn’t talk her out of it. She had to know she was in danger, yet there was no way to convince her to stay in a place where she would be safe. He’d have to protect her.

It was going to be a long day.

As soon as he hung up, his cell rang. “Garrett,” he snapped.

“The lab has screwed up again,” the captain yelled. “The damned bullets are missing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The bullets from the two killings yesterday. Preliminary tests show they came from the same gun that killed Tanner. Now they’re gone.”

“And you don’t know...?”

“No. I don’t know,” the captain snarled. “They could be anywhere. Swear to God, heads are going to roll over this.”

Luke told him about the attorney, listened for a minute before shutting his cell.

Who was behind the scene pulling strings?

Who was The Voice?

And was The Voice involved with Kayla and Sam?

Chapter Eleven

“Where did you get these?” Kayla asked the next morning.

Jackie chuckled. “Took them with my camera from the victim’s address book yesterday. Thought they might help.”

They sat at her aunt’s kitchen table poring over three pages of names and phone numbers.

“I transferred them from my phone to my friend Kane Odell’s computer.”

Jackie tapped her fingers on the table. Waiting.

“This is amazing.” Kayla said.

“Kane is a genius at the computer. Took him half the time it would take me. He matched the numbers to names. Maybe they’ll give us a good clue.”

“Luke will be furious when he finds out what you did,” Kayla said.

“I know. But how else are we going to learn anything?” She took a deep breath. “Do any of the names look familiar?”

Kayla shook her head. “Not in the least.”

Jackie leaned back in her chair, sighed. “I really hoped at least one of them would.”

“So did I.”

Both girls slumped in their chairs. Nester handed them each a plate of biscuits and eggs.

“I’m not hungry, Aunt Nester.”

“Neither am I,” Jackie said.

“You’re upset. Wait and see; everything will work out. Kayla will find Sam and get her life back. Now eat your breakfast, both of you, you’ll feel better.”

Kayla swiped at her eyes. “We don’t know where to look.”

“I was sure this would help,” Jackie said, slumping even deeper in her chair.

“There isn’t a single clue to help us find Sam,” Kayla said. A sob rose in her, choked its way into her throat.

She refused to think of living her life without him. If she did, the next step would be to give up and that was something she refused to do.

“Eat now,” Nester insisted.

Knowing she wouldn’t be allowed to leave until she did, Kayla managed to force a few bites. Jackie didn’t do much better.

Nester stirred her tea. It was obvious she wanted to do something with her hands. “I remember when your mother left and refused to come back. Part of me went missing. I’m sure you feel even more disconnected.”

Kayla nodded. “My heart. It doesn’t feel whole anymore.”

Nester reached across the table to take Kayla’s hand. “I understand.”

“I think you do,” Kayla said softly. She glanced at the large clock on the wall. “We have to get to work.”

“Why don’t you stay home today?” Nester suggested.

“Go ahead, Kayla. I’ll cover for you.”

Seeing the worry in the older woman’s eyes, the concern in Jackie’s, Kayla almost relented. It had been a very long time since anyone worried about her. Her mother certainly hadn’t. After her marriage to David, he had been sweet and conciliatory. But after getting pregnant everything changed. Having someone concerned over her well being was both welcoming and disturbing.

And Luke? Her heart beat a little faster. Luke was different. He was more than just helpful; he was concerned about her and worried over her safety.

How different her life might have been if she’d met someone like Luke Garrett before David. Did the handsome detective even want children? Would he have deserted her once she was pregnant? She didn’t think so. He didn’t seem the type.

Getting up from the table, she went to her aunt, gave her shoulders a hug, then planted a kiss on her soft wrinkled face. She didn’t have time to moon over a man. Not even one as appealing as Luke.

Despite his warning that she wasn’t safe, Kayla couldn’t help but believe she was. No one knew where she was staying except the authorities and Luke, his mother and Jackie. She hadn’t given her boss Aunt Nester’s address, which wasn’t a lie; just simply not the whole truth, and no one else in her life had a clue where she was.

It seemed to her that since she’d cut her hair and changed the color, then the man who had tried to kill her, whoever he was, couldn’t find her.

A possible plan came to her during the long sleepless night. If someone wanted her dead, why not let him find her? Luke could catch him. Then they could question him, find out where they had taken Sam. That kind of plan worked on TV all the time. Surely, Luke could make it happen.

“I’m going to the restroom. When I get back we’re going to work.”

Relieving the pressure in her breasts, she watched the precious liquid flow down the sink. The loss made her ill. When she re-entered the kitchen, her aunt and Jackie were still sitting at the table. “Would you do me a favor, Aunt Nester?”

“Of course, child,” she said. “What do you want?”

“Would you buy a dozen baby bottles and sterilize them. I’m going to freeze my milk.”

For a moment, Aunt Nester’s face crumpled as if she were going to cry. Why didn’t they understand? She had to do this. Regardless of the terrible odds Luke quoted, she would get Sam back.

“I won’t be too late,” she promised her aunt, as she and Jackie went out the door. Out of the corner of Kayla’s eye, she saw Aunt Nester clutch a fist to her breast. Was the stress getting to her? She wasn’t a young woman, and even though she was willing and eager to help, perhaps Kayla was asking too much. She ran back, gave her aunt another hug. “I love you, Aunt Nester.”