Key West Gone into the Night

by Elizabeth Hilleren

  Rex ordered a platter of fish and chips and two beers while Harris composed himself.

  The waitress brought the beers and Harris took a long drink of the frosty cold beverage.

  “Rex, what do I do now?”

  “I know you have to recuse yourself from the case, but there’s one thing that you can do for your daughter now. You can help by keeping yourself positive that we will find the kids in time. You can help keep your ex-wife steady.”

  Harris threw his head back and laughed. “That’s a good one. She hates me more than my daughter did.”

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t…”

  “It’s all right. I left just as she was starting to unload about me on Sharkey. I expect it’s more than 50-50 that she will turn on him for knowing me.”

  Rex smiled sympathetically. “He’s pretty cool. I think he’ll handle it.”

  “Yeah, he’s a rock…but with soul.”

  “He has a way about him that’s good for calming people.”

  “You talked about maybe a trafficker has the kids…why…how?”

  “Don’t know. It was just a thought. The mother’s dead. The father is a foreigner. Young, single men usually aren’t thrilled to willingly become a single parent, especially a baby. If they’re players, it greatly cramps their style. You have to be ready for a big life change to take on the responsibility of raising a kid. It’s a big thing. If it’s not the dead mother and it’s not the young father, it’s not likely a parental abduction. What’s left? Who wants a kid? A handsome, young, healthy baby is worth money to some couples. Where there’s a demand there are entrepreneurs willing to provide the supply.”

  “My Lord, Rex, you think that’s really a possibility?”

  “Not the only one, but certainly a real one. We don’t know what happened, so there could be a completely benign explanation. We need to be aware of that and explore all the scenarios,” Rex said. “The father may have them. That’s still statistically the most likely probability. He needs to be found and Sharkey will find him.”

  “My grandkids…lost like Susan…and I can’t do anything. Maybe I need to quit the force.”

  “No. That’s not an answer. However, you could hire a private investigator. Call Sloan and see what your legal options are. It’s just a suggestion, but we need to keep you on the right side of the law and in compliance without quitting your job. You’re an excellent detective, Harris. You don’t want to throw it all away. It’s what gives your life meaning. That’s important and will be even more important later when this is over. And it will be over and there will be other things to do.”

  Rex saw the waitress approaching with the food. “Everything in its season. Now it’s time to eat.”

  Harris looked doubtfully at the food but decided he needed it to get him through the rest of the day.

  Harris ate fish and chips and finished his beer. “I need to call Amy. She said she would marry me last night. She might change her mind when she hears this story.”

  “Don’t do that. She agreed to marry you. She knows you and she’ll stand by you. Let her do that. She can give you strength when you don’t think you have any left. Take care of yourself and let her help. You’ll find the strength and unconditional love that you need, and she’ll love you all the more for trusting her with your heartache.”

  “I really love that wonderful woman. I do believe that she loves me. I’ll call her and we’ll talk this through together.”

  “Good thinking. By the way, congratulations, you did good with her,” Rex said.

  “Yeah, I did. Thanks, Rex. I’ll take your advice and see Sloan. Amy gets off work at six.”

  “I’m just a call away if you need me.”

  Harris nodded. “I’m gonna walk around for a while. I’ll get someone to take me back to the station.”

  * * *

  Harris called Sloan. He was told to come straight over and Sloan would see him.

  Piper wasn’t at her desk, but Sloan met him as he opened the door.

  “Come on in. You sounded like it was urgent,” Sloan said, shaking his hand and leading him back to his office.

  “Where’s your beautiful receptionist?”

  “Visiting her mom in Miami. Be back this evening. Have a seat. Want a drink?”

  “I don’t dare. I still gotta meet with the Chief.”

  “Okay, what’s up?”

  “All hell broke loose today, and I mean hell. The murder victim that you found yesterday…” he stopped and took a long breath. “She’s my daughter.”

  “Your daughter? Oh Lord, no.” Sloan’s face registered the shock. “I’m so sorry. Tell me about it.”

  “I hadn’t seen her since she was seven. She had grown up, married and changed her name. My ex-wife, with a different name, showed up to ID the body and when she saw me, exploded all over the place. She blamed me, of course. My daughter has two kids and they’re missing, along with the dad of the new baby. Sharkey is talking to her mother and Susan’s estranged husband. I gotta go see the Chief after I get done here. I can’t work the cases, of course. Rex suggested I talk to you about what I can do without getting into legal problems with the department. He said to run all this by you.”

  “So, the children are missing. Where were they taken from?”

  “Here in Key West. We assume the motel where she was staying. We got an ID off the morgue photo sent to the hospitality list. When we looked at the room there was no sign of the kids, but we found a diaper and an action toy. The baby is only three months old. That’s all I know.”

  “Okay.” Sloan’s face was tense. “Well, it’s perfectly legal for you to get help. You of course can’t get personally involved. But you can confer with them.”

  “I understand that. You got any ideas? I’m not sure I’m thinking clearly yet. I might still be in shock from all this.”

  Sloan took a long drink of his coffee. “Let me talk to my dad. He was a fugitive recovery agent, a finder of lost people. People who don’t want to be found. He may be just the kind of person we need. How much do you know about your daughter’s situation?”

  “Not much.” He laughed to himself. “Really nothing more than I told you. I called her once, but she wouldn’t talk to me. I assumed I was facing years of brainwashing by my ex-wife. Maybe Alex could talk to her husband. He’s here in Key West to identify the body.”

  “Alex is working at the moment, but I’ll get a hold of him as soon as he’s off work and get back to you. I’m pretty sure he’ll give it a shot,” Sloan said. “He’s been looking for something to break the routine.”

  “Thanks, Sloan. I gotta go talk to the Chief.”

  “Ask for bereavement leave. We’ll talk soon. Hang in there. You have lots of friends in this town and we’ll do everything we can for you.”

  * * *

  Harris caught a ride back to the station from an officer. He rode the elevator up to the Chief’s office. He knocked on the door and was told to enter.

  “Harris. I heard about your surprise. How are you holding up?”

  “I was completely blindsided, Chief. I didn’t see it coming…I didn’t know my own daughter. It’s all very disturbing.”

  “I’m sorry, Harris, have a seat. Sharkey was up here a little while ago and told me the whole story. It’s not your fault. You must believe that it’s a tragedy that no one could have imagined. I hope you know that we have every man available working on it. We will find those kids and your daughter’s murderer.”

  Harris nodded. “I know I can’t be involved, and I don’t think I can concentrate on anything else right now. I’d like to take bereavement leave.”

  “Take all the time you need. I’ll approve your leave.”

  “Thanks, Chief.”

  “Sharkey mentioned that your ex-wife is not being very cooperative.”

  “She has a real hate on for me. Been that way for years.” He laughed to himself again. “Once she was so lovely. Not sure what I did to turn that around. She has her son-in
-law to help her deal with it.”

  “Just a random thought to consider. People change. It’s not always you. I understand that you have a lovely lady in your life to help you through this.”

  “Yeah, she’s actually gonna marry me, if all this doesn’t screw things up.”

  “Don’t let it. Lean on her.”

  “I will. Thanks, Chief. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Anything I can do. Just let me know.”

  Harris nodded and left.

  * * *

  Carl Abbott and Stephanie Williams headed for the Hyatt restaurant for dinner.

  “I just can’t believe how horrible that detective was to me. Burt must have rubbed off on him.”

  “You and Susan really hate him.”

  “He deserted us. I was forced to find a new husband. That’s not an easy thing when you have a kid. Even a lovely kid.” Her eyes puddled up. “Now that he’s left me, I have no one.”

  “That’s rough,” Carl said, with just a hint of sarcasm.

  “I can’t imagine why Susan wanted a separation. You’re such a good husband. I know it broke your heart. She was such a wild child.”

  “Let’s try to concentrate on finding the kids.”

  “That foreigner’s kid is just a baby. Only three months old, for heaven sakes. Do you think he took both kids home with him?” Stephanie asked.

  “He better not take my kid out of the country. I have to find him.”

  “Susan wouldn’t let him do that. She would die first. That would mean he must have killed Susan…”

  “That was my thought too,” said Carl. “He might well have. Don’t know anyone else who would have. They all have tempers, you know.”

  The waitress appeared and asked if they were ready to order.

  “I’ll have the salmon and steak,” Stephanie said. “I need something to keep my strength up. And a martini with an olive. My nerves are at the limit. A couple of those will help me relax.”

  Carl ordered the blackened fish.

  “It’s been a stressful day. They’re going to go to Susan’s house to look around. Don’t know what they think they will find there,” Carl said.

  “It’s routine. Maybe there are contact numbers, like Javier’s phone number, or an address.”

  “Where’s her phone? She’s never without it. They didn’t mention that they found it. I’m meeting with Detective Sharkey tomorrow to officially identify the body.” Carl said.

  “I want to go too,” Stephanie declared. “I have a right. I’m her mother. My poor baby.”

  “I don’t see why they would object.”

  The food came. “I’m famished,” Stephanie said. “All of a sudden I realize that it’s been hours since I last ate, except for the little sandwich at the cafeteria.”

  Carl smiled to himself and picked up his fork. “Good looking fish,” he said. “Guess I needed some food too.”

  “Burt looked pretty good. He must be working out. I thought he’d be packing on the pounds by now,” Stephanie said. She took a bite of steak and chewed it slowly, savoring the flavor.

  “I wonder where Javier is?” Carl asked.

  “Who knows,” she said between bites.

  “Do you think the police will find him?”

  “If he’s still in town they’ll find him. If he headed home to Chile, he could be hard to find,” Stephanie said. “I don’t want to talk about him.” She looked disgusted at the thought.

  “You know where your ex-husband lives?” Carl asked.

  “No. But it wouldn’t be hard to find out. I could do that,” she said.

  “I suppose he’ll do the official thing and just sit around and let his partner do the work.”

  “You don’t know Burt. He’ll do something. It won’t be the right thing. I’m finished. I want to go back to the hotel,” she said abruptly. “I’ll take a long swim and go to bed. What time do we meet Detective Sharkey? That’s a strange name for a Mexican.” Stephanie said. She rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, let’s go. I’ll get the check and I’m hitting the rack. Sharkey is an Irish name.”

  “Oh. He has a Spanish accent.”

  “Cuban probably. You live in Miami. You should have heard a lot of that.”

  “See you in the morning. Tomorrow could be worse than today,” Stephanie said, heading for the door.

  * * *

  Harris left the Chief’s office and headed for the hospital with a heavy heart. How was he going to tell Amy? He watched for her to come through the doors. His heart was pounding, and his head felt like it might explode. Then she appeared, a big smile on her pretty face as she approached the car. He could see the light in her eyes when she looked at him and opened the car door.

  “You okay, Burt?”

  “Yeah, how was your day?”

  “Burt, what’s going on?”

  “Bad day, Honey. Really bad. Let’s go get a drink and I’ll try to explain.”

  “All right. You okay to drive? Your face is flush.”

  “I’m okay,” he pulled the car out and into traffic. He reached over and took Amy’s hand. “I don’t mean to scare you…I’m really glad that I have you.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad that I have you too. Whatever happened we’ll be all right. We have each other. I’m not going anywhere without you.”

  “Ditto, Kid.”

  She laughed. He loved her musical laugh.

  Pulling into the parking lot of the Green Parrot Bar he parked, and they walked in hand in hand. He headed for a corner table. As they passed the bar he held up two fingers and said, “Beer.”

  Alex nodded and brought the beer to their table.

  “I got a call from Dad. I’ll do whatever you need. We’re here for you.”

  Harris nodded. “Give us a few minutes. I need to explain to Amy what happened.”

  “Take your time.” Alex went back to the bar.

  Amy took a sip of the beer and looked straight into Harris’s eyes. “Just tell me, Burt.”

  “Okay.” As he explained the day to her, her face filled with pain as she realized his situation.

  “Burt, I’m so sorry.” She held his hand tightly. When he finished she wiped the tears from her eyes. “That’s such a sad story.”

  “Yeah, just explaining it gets harder and harder. But I gotta get a grip on reality. Susan’s gone. She’s not coming back…ever. But those kids, my grandkids, are what’s important now. That’s where Alex can help…I hope.”

  He took a drink of the cold beer and continued. “The father of the baby is missing. No one seems to know where he is. Maybe gone back to Chile with the kids. We just don’t know. We don’t think he can take them out legally without each having a birth certificate and a passport.”

  “That takes time, at least three to five weeks,” she said in a soft reassuring voice. “Then the country that they go to must allow them in.”

  “You’re right.” He smiled into her eyes. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. That’s forever. Talk to Alex. Get him working as soon as possible.”

  Alex took off his apron and headed for the table when Harris waved him over.

  “Amy, Harris, how can I help you? Sloan filled me in and said you need to find someone.”

  “Yes, the father of one of my grandsons may have kidnapped him and my other grandson who has a different father.”

  “How much do you know about him?”

  “Not much. He’s from Chile. He’s some sort of a traveling salesman. My son-in-law, whom I just briefly met this afternoon, knows a little about him. My son-in-law’s name is Carl Abbott. He’s staying at the Hyatt and he’s the only one so far that knows anything about Javier Trujillo, the father of the three month old baby.”

  Alex wrote the information down on a napkin. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Is Sharkey working on the case?”

  “I’m officially off the case. I really need your help.”

  “You got it. I’ll get on it tonight.”

&nb
sp; “Thanks. Your dad may be able to find out a little from Sharkey.”

  “We’ll work with him as much as possible. The police often have sharing limitations, as you’re well aware.”

  “It’s weird being on this side of the police activities. I can give you a retainer.”

  “No. You’re a good friend. Consider it covered. I might have some out-of-pocket expenses.”

  “Thanks. Just tell me what you need.”

  “I’ll be in touch.” Alex smiled as he got up and left.

  “I have dinner in the crockpot. Let’s go home,” Amy said.

  “Yeah, sounds good.”

  Harris took a shower when they got home, while Amy put dinner on the table. He emerged from the bedroom and walked up behind Amy and encircled her shoulders with his arms. He kissed her neck and she turned around in his arms. They held fast to each other for a few minutes, then walked hand and hand to the table.

  “You need to rest tonight, Burt. You’ve had an emotional day. Tomorrow may not be better.”

  Harris nodded and took a bite of pasta salad. “I even feel guilty sitting here eating. Are the kids being fed? Who’s taking care of them?”

  “If they’re with the baby’s father he has every reason to keep them fed and cared for. If it’s someone else, then again kids are valuable assets that need to be taken care of. Either way they will be well kept and comfortable.”

  “You’re right. I screwed up badly. I keep thinking Stephanie might be right, that they and Susan might be alive if I hadn’t run out on them.”

  “You paid them alimony and child support. You didn’t abandon them. And from what you told me she wanted you out as much as you did. Don’t let her pull a ‘you abandoned me’ play on you. That’s bogus, and a game intended to control you to do things that are not to your benefit.”

  “The other thing that’s bugging me is that Susan hated me. I’ve lived with that for a long time. Sharkey kept encouraging me to try to get in touch with her and try to make peace with her. I could have tried harder.”

  “Hindsight is always noticeably clear. However, it’s too late now. You’ve set in motion a search for the boys, and they have a good chance to find them. Now you rest. Get some perspective on the case and trust that Sharkey will do everything possible to find them. I’m sure she’ll be very proud of you in the end. Love never dies. Not yours for her or hers for you.”