by Marja McGraw
“Not happening. How did you know about Bill?”
“I just heard his name somewhere. What can I tell you?”
“I asked where you heard about Bill, and I want an answer. I know you’re a P.I., and you can find out anything you want.”
“Oh, for heaven sake. When you and your partner
kidnapped my mother and my aunt, they overheard you two talking. One of you said something about Bill being angry. It doesn’t have anything to do with me being a detective.”
Bill being angry – why did that make me want to stop and figure out why he might be angry, other than the fact that those yahoos had initially kidnapped the wrong woman? I was having one of those infamous gut feelings of mine. I needed to sit down and go over everything I knew, but I needed peace and quiet.
“Look. I can’t find Mateo, so I can’t help you. However, if you hurt one hair on Zasu’s head, I’ll hunt you down. That’s a promise.”
I heard the noise my mother had described. It did sound like heavy equipment.
He snickered. “I’m shaking in my shoes. Lady, get a line on Delgado. I’ll call you back.” He hung up.
Pete walked into the kitchen, talking on his cell phone.
“Is that Redding?” I asked.
Pete nodded.
“Tell him to hold on a minute.”
He did as I requested and took a deep breath, looking annoyed. “What is it?”
“The guy just called again. I heard the heavy equipment sound my mother described. Maybe he is in a construction zone.”
Pete passed the information on to Redding and they hung up.
“Redding is driving out here to talk to you. Since this guy keeps calling you, he wants to put together some kind of plan.”
“Like setting up a meeting?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’d be more likely to think he wants to set a trap.”
I looked him in the eye. “You two already have some ideas, don’t you?” It wasn’t a question, but more of a statement. I knew Pete well enough to know when he was hedging.
He fidgeted. “Yeah, okay, we’ve been talking. I’m not a cop anymore, so I can’t do anything officially, but I can still be of use. So can you.” He took a step back, almost as though he expected me to react badly.
“I’ll help,” I said. “I’m so worried about Zasu that she’s uppermost on my mind. The longer he’s got her, the more I’m afraid he’ll do something to her, if he hasn’t already. Let’s face it. Things aren’t making a lot of sense. At this point, whatever Mateo saw would have already been described to the police. It’s not like getting their hands on him could help them.”
“No, but when they’re caught, and they will be, Mateo can testify in court.”
“Hmm. There is that. He’s the one and only witness to the murder. So what’s the plan?”
“We’ll work on that when Redding gets here,” Pete said. “He was only able to think of two places where they’re using heavy equipment, and one of them is near a diner. He’s going to check that out before coming out here.”
“I hope he gets here soon. We’ve got to hurry or something could go wrong. I feel like Zasu’s life depends on us.”
“I think it does. And have you noticed that this bozo is using you as a link to Delgado? Why you?”
“Because initially he wanted to trade my mother for Mateo, except he’d kidnapped the wrong woman. I’m familiar to him.”
“I don’t like him thinking of you as a familiar contact,” Pete said.
“Neither do I.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
Detective Redding arrived about two hours later, followed by Joe and the rookie who was working with him, Officer Byrd.
My relatives had joined us by then, leaving Bubba and Clem with Felicity and Stanley.
The Detective said he had very little to share. “We’ve determined that both the original victim, James Kennedy, and the alleged kidnapper, Vincent Gregg, were shot with the same gun. No real surprise there.”
“No, no surprise,” Aunt Martha said.
“Certainly not,” my mother agreed.
I thought Redding might be annoyed when they piped in, but he seemed fine. “Officer Fleming did a check on known acquaintances of Gregg.”
“You mean Joe, right?” Mother asked.
“Officer Joe Fleming?” My aunt would not be left out.
“Yes, ladies, Officer Joe Fleming. And Officer Zack Byrd assisted.” Ah. He was becoming annoyed. My mistake. “Joe sent me pictures of two men and I took them to the diner in the construction zone with me. One of the waitresses – “
“What were their names?” Aunt Martha asked.
“That could be important.” Of course, if my aunt commented, my mother had to join in.
Redding took a breath and straightened his back. “Please save your questions, ladies. I’ll want you to look at the photos in a minute.”
My aunt, once again, made a zipping motion across her lips, and my mother pursed her lips, sitting back and folding her hands in her lap.
I felt like I should step in, but Redding handled himself just fine without me.
“As I was starting to say, one of the waitresses identified one of the photos. She’d served the man his breakfast. She remembered that he left the diner for a few minutes because she thought he was running out on his bill, but she could see him out on the sidewalk talking on his cell phone.”
He glanced at my mother. “Since you saw one of the kidnappers without his mask, I want to see if you and your sister identify the same man.”
He held out two photos to my relatives.
My mother took them from him and handed one to her sister. They glanced back and forth between the photos, but didn’t say anything. They glanced up at Redding and sat quietly.
Redding closed his eyes and I had a feeling he might be counting to ten. “Now you choose not to say anything?”
My mother unpursed her lips and smiled at him. “Oh. You want to know if either of these men looks familiar.”
“Yes. Please.”
Aunt Martha handed back the photo she held. “It’s not this yahoo.”
Mother held up the photo she held. “But it is this one.”
My aunt nodded.
My mother looked at me. “Do you think we’re getting on his nerves?” She spoke softly.
“Probably, Mom. And, he can hear you.”
“Thank you, ladies. You’ve been a big help. You’ve identified the same man who was at the diner.”
Pete had been sitting in his recliner, taking everything in. “Do you have a location for him?”
“I have someone headed out to pick him up right now.”
Joe and Zack had also been standing quietly, taking everything in.
“What now?” Joe asked.
“I’m putting together a plan in case he’s not at the address I sent the officers to, but I’ll need Mrs. Goldberg’s cooperation.”
“Call me Sandi.”
“Sure. Sandi, I’d like to set up a meeting with the suspect. Tell him you now know where Delgado is being held. Of course, I won’t send you in. I’ll have an undercover female officer take your place.”
“No,” I said.
“No?” He sounded surprised.
“No. I can do my job. Besides, I think he’s seen all of us. He’d know if it wasn’t me he was meeting.”
“She’s right,” my mother said, “although I’d rather she didn’t take the risk.”
“I agree.” My aunt was nodding like a bobble head. “He’s seen my sister and me, so I think we should meet with him.”
“No!” Pete, Redding, Joe and I spoke simultaneously.
Before they could argue with us, my cell phone rang. Caller ID said Unknown Caller.
“Be quiet,” I said. “This could be him. He said he’d call back.”
“What’s his name?” My mother was determined to make me roll my eyes.
“Shhhh!”
I answered and put it o
n speakerphone.
“Yes?”
With no preamble, he said, “Have you found Delgado yet?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Don’t get smart with me, lady. Do you know where he is?” He sounded like he was losing his patience, and he also sounded nervous.
“Okay, no pleasantries. I’ve got all my ducks in a row and I’ll know where he is within the next hour or so. Let’s set up a meeting. Zasu is my concern, so I’ll trade her for Delgado.”
“Now you’re being smart for real,” he said.
“Where and when do you want to meet? Scratch that. I’ll decide where and when we’re meeting.” I was ready for this, or at least I hoped I was. “You’ll have to give me time to figure out how to get my hands on him, though.”
It was quiet for a moment. “You’re trying to keep me on the phone so the police can track me down, right?”
Aunt Martha sneezed.
I held my breath before speaking. “No. I simply want to set up a meeting so I can bring Zasu home to her baby girl.” Could this guy sympathize with a baby needing her mother?
“I heard something in the background. I’m hanging up. I’ll call you again when I’m sure you’re alone.”
He hung up.
Now I was annoyed. “Next time you need to sneeze, take yourself in the other room.”
“Sandra,” Mother said, “no one can predict a sneeze. It just happens.”
“Sorry, Aunt Martha. I know you didn’t mean to sneeze.”
She nodded, left the room and sneezed again. “Allergies,” she hollered.
I turned to Redding. “I think he’s moved on because I
didn’t hear any heavy equipment in the background. What now?”
“I’m sending Joe in with you. He can pass for Delgado if he wears a baseball cap and we improvise cuts and bruises on his face.”
“Me?” Joe seemed surprised. “I’ll have to clear it with my watch commander.”
“Already done. You and Byrd are mine for the duration. After all, both of our cities are in on this.”
I hadn’t thought about that. Two murders in Vancouver and three kidnappings in Battle Ground. Four kidnappings if you included both my mother and my aunt. Both cities had a stake in this.
Redding’s phone rang. “Redding here.” He disappeared into the kitchen.
Officer Byrd looked around. “Where’s that big dog with the scary smile?”
His question made me smile. “He’s visiting my friends in the guesthouse in the rear.”
“Maybe you should take him to the meeting with you.” He was loosening up around us.
Before I could comment, Joe gave Byrd a look and he stepped back and stopped talking. As a rookie, he probably realized he should watch what he said for the time being. I liked the idea that he felt comfortable around us, though.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea.” My mother tapped her chin.
“Yes, it is,” I said, sighing. “I’m not taking Bubba with me.”
She started to open her mouth.
“And I’m not taking you or Aunt Martha, either.”
She closed her mouth and pouted. She wanted to be part of the action, but I wasn’t having it.
Pete walked outside and I followed him.
“I’m not sure I want you to do this,” he said.
“I’ll be fine, Pete. Joe will be with me, and I’m sure Redding will have people nearby, including you.”
He shook his head. “Sometimes you’re as bad as your family.”
I had a fine retort on the tip of my tongue when Redding called us inside.
“Saved by the bell,” I said, under my breath, turning and reentering the house.
Redding shoved his phone in his pocket. “Ramsey’s cleared out.”
“Ramsey?” My mother knew she was finally going to hear the name of the other kidnapper.
“Pluto Ramsey. He rented a room at a boarding house and he’s cleared his things out. No forwarding address, obviously. At least we know who he is now. I have someone working on finding out about additional known acquaintances.”
“He’ll call back within the hour,” I assured him. “He’s anxious. I could hear it in his voice. He wants to get this over with.”
Redding glanced from me to my mother and aunt. His look suggested he wanted them to… Well, go away.
“Mom,” I said, “would you and Aunt Martha go check on Felicity? You know, just in case she and Stan need anything.”
“Of course. Now don’t start making your plan without us.”
She and my aunt hurried into the kitchen and out the back door.
“We’ll be back soon,” Aunt Martha called out.
Redding sat down and we put our plan together. I was going to tell Pluto – I couldn’t believe that name – where and when I wanted to meet. It would be my way or no way. Joe would wait in the car until time for the exchange. When the exchange was made, Joe would take Pluto into custody. From my dealings with him so far, I had a feeling he’d sing like a bird.
We needed the boss, who was a killer, and who probably held Zasu captive.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Detective Redding sent Joe and Byrd to Vancouver so his people could turn Joe into Mateo with the help of make-up. He’d return looking like he’d been beaten to within an inch of his life. Although the two men didn’t look too much alike, there was enough of a resemblance to make it work, as long as he had a hat, bruises and bandages.
“I’m curious. What kind of car does Pluto drive?” There were so many questions I wanted answers to.
Redding didn’t look happy. “A black SUV. No surprise there.”
“Ah, the elusive black SUV,” I said.
He nodded. “We have an alert out, although it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s ditched the car.”
My cell phone rang once again, and as usual the Caller ID said Unknown Caller. “It’s him. I didn’t expect him to call back so soon.”
“Put it on speakerphone.” Pete stepped closer to me.
I did as requested, which I would have done anyway.
“Are you ready to meet?” I asked before he could speak.
“Where and when? And there’d better not be any cops
there.” He no longer sounded nervous, but more like he felt he was in control.
“I was thinking – “
“I already had an idea,” he said. “Meet me at the scene of the crime.”
“Which one?” I asked.
“Huh? What do you mean by which one?”
“I know Kennedy was shot in the forest, but I don’t know where Vincent Gregg was killed.”
There was a long pause.
“Gregg is dead? Are you sure?” He sounded nervous again.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I was at the hospital when he was brought in. He’d been shot and wrecked his van.”
Redding cringed, probably because I shouldn’t have brought that up. I wanted to throw Pluto for a loop, and I knew that would do it.
“Do you know – “
“Who killed him?” I supplied. “I’d assume it was the same man who murdered Kennedy.”
There was another long pause.
I didn’t really want to give him time to think about it. “Why don’t you return Zasu and turn yourself in before you become the third victim?”
“I…” He didn’t know what to say, apparently.
“Where’s Zasu?” I asked, starting to push.
“In a safe place. Meet me in the forest where Kennedy was killed. No cops. And no more talk about victims. The boss wouldn’t have any reason to pop Gregg. It was probably a cop who got him.”
“It wasn’t,” I assured him.
“In the forest. At three o’clock.” He sounded angry and he was regaining his attitude.
Just what I needed – a guy with an attitude.
He hung up without waiting for a response.
“That might not have been the smartest thing to do,” Pete said. “If he
and the boss, whoever that is, get into it we might lose our only lead.”
Redding gave me a scathing look before pulling out his cell phone and making a call. I heard him giving instructions to someone. There would be cops hiding in the forest, and they’d need to be there in plenty of time to avoid being seen.
I found myself suddenly feeling insecure. I should have kept my mouth shut. What had I done? I was turning into my mother and my aunt, maybe looking at this as an adventure instead of the life-threatening situation it was. I needed to ignore their influence over me.
I glanced at Pete and found him watching me. “What?”
“I can see the wheels turning. What were you thinking about?”
“My mother and my aunt, and what a bad influence they are on me.”
He nodded. “I knew you’d figure it out one day. I like both ladies, but not when they’re involved in one of our situations.”
“They’re trouble.”
“Yes, they’re trouble – sometimes.”
“Most of the time.” I excused myself and walked to the kitchen. I needed two things; lunch and chocolate. A lot of chocolate.
I sat down at the table with two candy bars that I’d retrieved from what I called my Comfort Drawer – a drawer filled with sweets.
Mother and Aunt Martha walked in from outside, followed by Bubba and Clem.
“Felicity and the baby needed a nap.” My mother noticed the chocolate sitting in front of me. “You’ve come up with a plan.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not totally comfortable with it.”
“Right.”
“Can we do anything to help?” Aunt Martha sat down across from me.
“Yes.”
“What?” Mother sat down, too.
“Stay out of it.”
“Sandra, I – “ Mom looked insulted.
“I mean it,” I said. “You have to stay out of this now. Things are heating up. It could be dangerous. It’ll probably be dangerous. You two will be staying here. There will be no arguments.”
My aunt saluted me, smart aleck that she is. “Yes, ma’am.”
My mother pursed her lips before speaking. “That means it’ll be dangerous for you, sweetie. I don’t like this. What’s the plan?”
