Holdin' On for a Hero (68 page)

Justin stopped at the captain’s door and knocked. At a directive from inside he opened the door. “We’ve got another death, sir.”

“Shooting?” Prichard looked up from paperwork.

“Hanging.”

“Who?”

“Ian Drake, the psychiatrist my wife works for. She found him when she opened the office.”

Prichard frowned for a moment then his eyebrows rose. “Isn’t that the shrink who’s treating the Laserian woman?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, get on it. And round up Dalton and take him with you.”

“Already done, sir.” Ryan looked around the corner.

“Then get going. And keep me posted.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ryan and Justin headed for the elevator. Ryan was already getting the first twinge in his stomach. The only difference between this time and all the others was that now he wasn’t sure if what he was feeling was due to the fact that he was about to look at death once more, or the fact that yet another person who knew Senna was dead.

Southeast Charlotte

Konnor was surprised to find Shen waiting for him when he parked his car behind the martial arts school. No words passed between them as Ryan unlocked the back door and turned on the lights. Once inside, they went to his office. Shen took a seat by the window, looking out. Konnor sat down behind his desk and waited.

“What has she told you of her past?” Shen asked.

“Not much. Only what I’ve already told you.”

“Then she has not yet remembered anything of her missing years?”

“Not except that one instance of being in the house with her father when he gave her the lighter with the detonator in it.”

“It is peculiar that he would have such a device.”

“Yeah, but then almost everything about this situation is strange.”

“Laserian was an archaeologist.” Shen turned to look at him. “While he may have been brilliant in many areas, to my knowledge he knew nothing of explosives. So, I must ask, how did he devise such a sophisticated detonator?”

“Maybe he didn’t,” Konnor said. “Maybe he had help.”

“Exactly.” Shen nodded.

After a few moments Konnor leaned forward in his chair. “Are you saying that he did, or implying that he might have?”

“He did.”

“And you know who it was?”

Shen nodded and this time Konnor stood. “Who?”

“Someone we have long had cause to tread carefully around.”

“Can you be more specific?”

Shen smiled and stood. “In all the years of our association, what has been one of the most basic tenets of our training?”

“To look beyond the obvious to the subtle. That what is real is often hidden in the illusion of shadows, and that truth is best hidden between two lies.”

Shen inclined his head. “Use what I have taught you to find the answers.”

Konnor bowed his head. When he raised it, Shen had gone. He thought about it for a while. “So who is it?” he asked. An idea occurred to him but he tried to dismiss it. “Is it possible?” he asked aloud. The silence of the room was the only answer except for a small voice in his mind.
When has Slater ever played anything straight? And how could he know so much about this if he wasn’t a part of it all along? But then, how does Shen know so much? And if he already has all the answers, what does he need me for?

“Questions,” he growled. “Questions upon questions and not a damn answer in sight. Goddamn, Senna, where the hell are you?”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

“Can I have a word with you, Detective Dalton?” Captain Prichard’s voice caused Ryan to halt on the way to his desk.

“Yes, sir.”

“In my office,” Prichard said and led the way.

He saw Paige look up from her seat at her desk and was grateful for Prichard’s request. At that moment he would take any excuse to be out of proximity to her. Paige looked at him as he walked past her. He saw her out of the corner of his eye but didn’t turn his head.

He knew she wanted to talk about what had happened last night, but that was the last thing he wanted to discuss. He had purposely been avoiding her all day just for that reason.

It had not been easy, especially when she showed up at Ian Drake’s office. Thinking about Drake brought a frown to Ryan’s face. He was relieved that Ian’s death didn’t fit the pattern of the other murders, but thought it highly unlikely that Ian had committed suicide.

Paige had tried to corner him as he left the scene, on the excuse of talking about how it was connected with Senna. He had begged off, saying he had to get back and make an important call. She must have known he was lying because she asked him what the problem was. She thought they had both had a good time and enjoyed themselves.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t enjoyed himself. On the contrary. She was extraordinary in bed. He had found himself being more aggressive and demanding than he could remember being with a woman, and she loved it. Without reservation, he could admit that it was one of the most exciting sexual encounters of his life. The problem was, he wasn’t sure he wanted a repeat performance.

Even thinking about it caused a break in his stride. Any man in his right mind would gladly trade places with him. How many men had such an opportunity dropped in their laps? No commitments, no responsibilities, just great sex whenever he wanted. He would be a fool to turn it down, and yet that was what he was almost sure he would do. He might not ever again have a night like the one he spent with Paige, but he was willing to sacrifice that for other, more important things, like trust, respect and love.

Captain Prichard interrupted his thoughts as they entered the office. “I understand there’ve been no leads on Dr. Laserian.”

“No, sir. We’re still waiting on the report from the credit cards to see if there’s been any activity in the last twenty-four hours.”

Prichard sat down heavily in the chair behind his desk. “You think this Drake thing is connected?”

“I really don’t know, sir.”

“But you have some thoughts?”

“Yes, sir. I’m not convinced that Drake committed suicide, despite the evidence. According to Kendal Baldwin, he had not shown any signs of being upset or agitated in any way. Also, the medical examiner found a bruise on his neck, just under his jaw. He said it looked like someone had grabbed Drake from behind, which would indicate there might have been a struggle.”

Prichard nodded. “Have the report sent to me when the lab sends it down. In the meantime, what do we know about Southgate?”

“I managed to speak with him this morning on my way in. We’re on for eight tomorrow evening.”

“Do you think he suspects anything?”

“No, sir. I called on the pretense of letting him know about the Pierce-Warner murder, since it seems connected with the other two, and inquiring whether the FBI has decided to take all the cases off our hands.”

“And?”

“He said that in the interest of cooperation and goodwill among departments, the Bureau thinks it best that we continue with all of the investigation and that Southgate assist us in whatever way he can. He implied that the Bureau will not step in as long as he is satisfied with the way we’re handling things.”

“Good. At least that much is running in our favor. But we still have a major problem. Unless we locate Dr. Laserian before the meeting there’s a good possibility we may blow it.”

“I know, and I’ve been giving it some thought. If she doesn’t turn up maybe we could use a stand-in. Someone made up like her. If we’re lucky it’ll fool him enough to get him inside the building. After that, it doesn’t really matter. We’ll have him where we want him.”

“Set it up,” Prichard said. “Just in case. And there will be one change in the plan. I spoke with the agent in charge of the Bureau office here, and he wants in on the operation. I think you’ve met him, Pete Sanders?”

“Yes, sir. I have. But do you think that’s wise? If Southgate spots him it could blow the whole deal.”

“I don’t think we have a choice. Not that Sanders is pushing it, but he could. Whoever this Southgate is, he’s playing a game not only with us, but the FBI as well. They have as much reason to want to nail him as we do. So, I think it is wise if we make Sanders part of the plan. I told him you’d meet with him this evening to go over things.”

Ryan knew better than to argue. Besides, if anything went wrong, it’d be better to have the Feds playing on their team. Not only that, but having to meet with Sanders gave him a valid excuse for not seeing Paige tonight. “Anything else, sir?”

“No, that’s all for now.”

Ryan left the office and started back down the hall. As expected, Paige was sitting at her desk watching for him. He went straight to his desk and began gathering up his things.

“Where’re you off to,” she asked.

“A meeting.”

“With who?”

He turned and looked at her. “Sorry, I can’t discuss it.”

“What’s going on, Ryan?” She stood. “Why am I suddenly being given the cold shoulder? And I don’t just mean the freaked out way you’ve been acting today, although I would like to talk about that.”

“No one’s giving you the cold shoulder, and I’m not acting freaked out.”

“Maybe that was the wrong word.” She glanced around then stepped over beside him. “It just feels like you’re trying to avoid me.”

“That’s silly,” he lied.

“No, it isn’t. You haven’t been able to look me in the eye since we woke up this morning. What’s the deal? You had your fuck and now it’s ‘
Adios,
Paige’?”

“You know better than that.” He lowered his voice so as not to attract attention. “I just don’t think this is the place to get into our personal affairs.”

Her face lit in a smile. “Well,” she gave him a look that should have made his knees turn to rubber, “I can think of the perfect place to get into our affair.”

Ryan rolled his eyes, feeling disgusted at her for always turning everything into a sexual situation, and at himself for getting trapped in the conversation. “I have to go.” He moved to walk around her.

“Meet me later.” She stepped in front of him. “At my place.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be finished,” he hedged. “And I don’t think your place is a good idea. What if Aaron stops by?”

“Then give me the key to your apartment and I’ll wait for you there.”

“Why don’t I give you a call when I get through?”

Her expression arranged into one of suspicion but she agreed. “Okay, fine.”

Ryan didn’t waste any time leaving. His steps were brisk. Once inside the elevator, he leaned back against the wall and blew out his breath. If only he could find Senna and somehow turn their lives back around to the way they used to be before everything turned upside down.

Jackson Township

“You’re a fool.” Konnor’s voice was filled with scorn. “No one’s going to fall for that scenario. There are too many people who knew Drake. It’s not going to fly.”

“I beg to differ with you, but not only will it fly, it will positively soar,” Slater replied. “Particularly when the scenes of the good doctor and his lady friends are discovered. Not to mention the touching suicide note he left for his grieving widow.”

“Why kill him?” Konnor asked. “Will you tell me that?”

“He was untrustworthy.”

“He was doing what you demanded.”

“And trying to set me up for blackmail,” Slater replied then chuckled at the narrowing of Konnor’s eyes. “Oh, don’t act so surprised. I know all about the DVD he gave you.”

“That disc was worthless,” Konnor said. “You and I both know it. Even if he had come back for it, and even if I had given it to him, it wouldn’t have done him any good.”

“The question is, would you have given it to him?”

Konnor regarded him without blinking. “What do you think?”

“At this point I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. Just where does your loyalty lie, Chase?”

“The same place it always has,” Konnor answered. “Me, myself, and I.”

Slater laughed at the reply. “Look out for number one and fuck everyone who comes in second?”

“Lesson number two from the Slater handbook,” Konnor said.

“Then you should have no qualms about handing over the disc in question.”

Konnor gestured toward the shelf of DVD’s. “Help yourself. Fourth from the end on the left.”

Slater rose and went to the shelf to pull out the disc. Konnor waited until he had tucked it into his jacket and taken a seat again before speaking. “Any leads on Laserian?”

For one of the few times in all the years Konnor had known him, a look of uneasiness crossed Slater’s face. He got it under control quickly, but not fast enough. He was worried. Time was passing quickly and each hour that they didn’t find Senna was another hour their enemies had to find her and try to get the information from her.

“We’ll find her,” Slater said after a moment’s pause.