The girl didn’t respond. Whether she was my niece or not, she needed my help. I rapped on the door. When she still didn’t respond, I knocked harder. “Hello? Are you okay?”
Footsteps alerted me to someone coming. I stepped back from the door and resumed my drunken stagger, this time in the direction of the party room.
When I spotted Mr. Clean, I grinned. “You came back.”
“Where are your shoes?”
“I have no idea.” I held out a hand. “Carry me?”
A hit on the back of my head sent me to my knees. Darkness engulfed me.
12
I opened my eyes as Mr. Clean dropped me on a plush red sofa. “Who hit me?”
“No one.” The look in his eyes chilled my blood. “You’re drunk.”
Mom glared down at me. “I told you not to have that second champagne.”
“I didn’t drink it.” I struggled to a sitting position and put a hand to the back of my head. A hard knot rose under my fingers. “I’ve got a bump.”
“You hit your head when you fell.” Mr. Clean turned and stormed away.
“No, Mom, listen.” I clutched her by the arm. “They took Matt away. They have a girl locked in a room.” My throat clogged. Was Matt dead or alive? How long did he have if I didn’t find him? I stood and waited for the dizziness to subside.
I had to get down the other hallway. There was way more than a concrete restroom attracting the men at the party. Where was my phone? I felt around my body, shoving my hand into my cleavage. I’d dropped it. No, it was in my purse.
I clutched my pounding head. “I need my purse.”
“Sit.” Mom lowered me back to the sofa. “Rest. People are leaving. I’ll get Robert to help me clean up and then we’ll discuss your shameful behavior.”
“My purse. Please.” I wiped the tears from my face with the palms of my hands, not caring if I smeared my makeup. My world was tumbling out of control, falling at my feet like dominoes.
The sight of Matt’s battered face, the pained look in his eyes when he caught me watching, ripped at my gut. I felt every punch to his body. I still didn’t know if the girl in the back room was my niece. She looked like her, but without seeing her face, how could I tell?
Mom handed me my purse. “There’s no cell reception in here. Robert said it was because of the thick walls.”
“I think they’re holding Cherokee down that hall.”
“What?” That got her attention.
“At least the girl looks like her. They have a girl locked in a room that looks like a jail cell.”
Mom glanced toward the hall, then bent and peered into my eyes. “You aren’t drunk?”
“No! I told you I didn’t drink the second glass. It was strictly for camouflage.”
“Ok. Pretend like you are to everyone. Even Robert. I’ll get this mess cleaned up as fast as possible so we can contact Wayne.”
Finally. If Mom believed me, it would be hard for anyone else not to. She could be very convincing. Why didn’t she want Robert to know I was sober?
While I pondered the million questions roaming through my mind and increasing my worry over my loved ones, I watched as guests left and staff scurried to clean up. Robert and Bomberg huddled in a corner, casting glances my way. Let them think me a disgrace. The ache in my heart kept me focused on the task at hand; finding Matt and Cherokee.
What was taking Mom so long? I got to my feet, realizing I’d lost my new red shoes, and approached the table to start piling serving dishes into a plastic container. We worked without speaking. Her heart had to be as heavy as mine.
Once we were finished, Robert hefted one of the containers in his arms and led the way outside. Before we could get in the van, Mr. Clean jogged up.
“Your shoes.” He handed me the red heels, and leaned close. “I’ll do my best to keep him alive. Don’t trust anyone.” He straightened and hurried back into the building.
I glanced around, relieved to see that Mom and Robert were already in the van waiting for me. I climbed in the backseat. “This was an interesting evening.”
“Especially for a gal who can’t hold her champagne.” Robert laughed, the oaf.
I shrugged and transferred my attention out the window. Let him think what he wanted to. His opinion didn’t matter to me. Saving my family did. I pulled my cell phone from my purse and sent a text to Wayne, asking that he meet me at the house, but remain out of sight until I texted him the all clear.
I got an immediate response.Okay.
Relieved that I would have help, I allowed the tears to silently course down my cheeks. When we arrived at home, I wiped them away, grabbed a container of dishes from the back of the van, and turned to Robert. “Thank you for your help tonight, but we’re very tired.”
Mom gave me “the look”. “I apologize for her rudeness.” She gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, ladies.” He flashed a grin and headed for his car parked across the street. Before he slid into the driver’s seat, he waved. “Tomorrow.”
“I need to break up with him.” Mom returned his wave before unlocking the front door and turning off the alarm.
“Why? I thought you really liked him.” I set the crate of dishes on the kitchen table.
She sighed. “I didn’t like the way he ogled the young women at that party. When a man professes love to me, I want to be the most beautiful woman in his eyes. Age shouldn’t be a factor.”
I hugged her. “I agree.” I sent a text to Wayne to come in.
The backdoor opened. I screamed and clutched my throat. “Wayne Jones!”
“You told me to wait for the text. I did.” He closed the door, then pulled the kitchen curtains closed. “What’s up?”
As quickly as possible, I told him everything that occurred that night. His face hardened with every detail. “Let’s go.”
I slipped my feet into flats and grabbed my purse. Mom did the same. “We’re ready,” I said.
“In an evening gown?” Wayne asked.
“It isn’t something I’ve never done before.” I headed for the front door, meeting Angela on her way in.
She took one look at the three of us and declared she was coming along. “Where are we going?”
“To try and save Cherokee and Matt.” I slid behind the wheel of my Mercedes. Wayne took the front passenger seat, leaving Mom and my sister in the back. I turned the key in the ignition and sped toward the warehouse.
“You know they will have cleared out, right?” Wayne cut me a sideways glance.
“Yes. But they might have left clues.”
“I was out walking the streets,” Angela said, her voice barely loud enough to be heard. “No one has seen anything of my girl. Now, this might be the only lead we have. It’s worth checking into.”
“Agreed.” We all said in unison.
Knowing I could trust, without a doubt, everyone in the car with me at that moment, I told Wayne about Mr. Clean’s warning. “Do you think he’s undercover?”
“Possibly.” Wayne took his bottom lip between strong white teeth, then nodded. “Otherwise, you could very well have disappeared after being hit over the head. I’ll see if I can find out who Mr. Clean is. For now, heed his advice. Don’t trust anyone outside this car.”
I was pretty sure I could trust Mary Ann. How could I possibly let her know about Matt?
Tears threatened again. I blinked them back. Now was the time for me to be strong. Even though I had plunged ahead with my sleuthing in the past, I always knew I had Matt’s strong shoulder to lean on when I needed it. This time, he needed me. I wouldn’t let him down.
The warehouse was dark when we arrived. No surprise there. I cut the engine and the lights on the car and the four of us silently exited the vehicle. Gravel crunched under our feet as we approached the front double doors. We stopped when we spotted the heavy steel lock.
“There’s a back way. That’s where they parked the van that took Matt.�
�� I lifted the hem of my dress and darted around the corner of the building.
A smaller lock hung on the back door. I pulled out my gun and shot it off before Wayne could stop me.
The door groaned as he slid it open. He pulled a small penlight from his pocket. “I’ll go first.” He unholstered his revolver and led the way. I entered second, then Angela, with Mom bringing up the rear.
“Give me your Tazer,” Mom hissed. “I need some kind of a weapon. What if we run across a bad guy?”
I handed her the Tazer. Angela grabbed a piece of metal pipe from the floor. I doubted an armed man would be scared of us, but we might make someone think twice before shooting. I hoped.
“This is the room where I saw the girl.” The door swung open at my touch. The cell was empty except for a bunk with a thin mattress.
“Where is she?” Angela darted forward. She stood in the center of the small room and turned in a circle. Her eyes filled with tears. “We’re too late.” She fell to her knees. The contact with the cement floor made a dull thud.
Mom stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. “We’ll find her.”
“Wait.” A glimmer in the corner of the room caught my attention. “Wayne, shine that light over here.”
He did as I knelt in the dust. Blinking up at me was the silver purity ring I had given Cherokee. I picked it up. “It was her.” I smiled. Cherokee might not have been fully conscious when ‘d called out her name, but somehow she’d had the presence of mind to leave us a symbol of hope. I dropped it in Angela’s outstretched hand.
I stepped into the dark corridor. Just a few feet from where I stood was where I’d last seen Matt. I closed my eyes against the image of his abuse.
“Are you okay?” Wayne stepped next to me.
“That’s where Matt was beaten.”
“He knew the danger when he accepted the assignment.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Don’ give up hope. Matt Steele lives up to his last name. He’s tough.”
I nodded. “I need to talk to Mary Ann.”
“Let’s take a quick look through the building, then we’ll go.”
Further searching revealed nothing new, other than another cement corridor with more cell like rooms. Only these rooms had mirrored windows rather than a slit in the door.
Wayne cursed. I glanced up in surprise. I’d never heard the big man utter a swear word before.
“What is it?” I asked.
“An auction.”
I sagged against the wall. At least Cherokee hadn’t been in this hall. “Why not my niece?”
“Maybe she isn’t controlled yet.” He grasped my arm and pulled me back to the others. “These types of people tend to drug their victims into submission before putting them up for sale.”
“Oh, God.” Angela turned and threw up in the corner.
Mom looked as if she might faint.
I wanted to throw up and faint. But, I had a job to do. I squared my shoulders and met Wayne’s gaze. “What do we do now?”
“We visit Mary Ann.” He moved to Angela’s side and smoothed her hair from her face. “We’ll find her, sweetheart.” He pulled her to his chest in a rare public display of affection.
I turned away and made my way back to the car. By the time I started the engine, the others had joined me. The ride to Mary Ann’s was made in silence.
Wayne exited the car first and pounded on the front door until a light inside flickered to life. When a sleepy Mary Ann answered the door, he stepped back. “Stormi needs to talk to you.”
“Something happened to Matt.” She fell into a porch rocker.
I sat in the chair next to her and gripped her hand. I told her everything I knew.
She took a ragged breath and lifted her eyes to mine. “When do we go undercover?”
13
I didn’t try to be brave. Instead, I cried myself to sleep. The alarm rang too soon, startling me. I bolted upright, throwing my pillow toward the door. I wasn’t quite sure what sort of weapon that might have been had my life been in danger, but it was the best my sleep-deprived brain could come up with.
“What are you doing?” A sleepy Mary Ann pulled her pillow over her face. As worried and distraught as myself, she hadn’t wanted to return to the house she shared with her brother and opted to spend the night.
“Fighting off imaginary intruders.” I flung off the blankets and shuffled to the adjoining bathroom.
A red-haired wraith stared back at me from the mirror. Bloodshot eyes over bags enough to take on a week’s vacation. If I were going to pass for nineteen, I needed a lot of work, and a foolproof plan. No more flying by the seat of my proverbial pants.
“We have to go shopping,” Mary Ann called from the bedroom. “I don’t have anything suitable for a teenage prostitute to wear.”
“We’re runaways.” I pulled a brush through my hair.
“To be forced into prostitution.” She leaned against the doorjamb. “I was a good girl in high school.”
“Me, too.” But, we were going to have to learn very quickly how to become troubled teens. “I want to visit a group home. Do you now of any?”
“Yes.” Mary Ann breathed sharply through her nose. “It’s a half hour drive from here. I’ll call now.”
I figured she might know of one, being Matt’s sister and all. I pulled on a pair of baggy jeans, tied my hair back into a ponytail, and left on the tee shirt I’d slept in. Coffee mattered more than looking good at this point.
“Wayne.” I stopped the moment I spotted him at the table. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Your mom offered me the guest room. I hope that’s okay.” He looked up from a steaming mug in front of him. “I wasn’t comfortable leaving y’all alone.”
“And I thank you for it.” I made a beeline for the coffee pot. Bless the man for making a fresh pot.
“You look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks. Just what every nineteen-year-old girl wants to hear.” I poured my coffee, added a lot of white chocolate creamer, and joined him at the table. “Mary Ann and I are visiting a group home she knows. I need to see how troubled teens act.”
“Sullen. Like the world hates them.” He wrapped his big hands around the mug. “Angela is pretty torn up about her daughter. We need to find these people fast. If they sell her out of the country—”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Not to mention the longer Matt was gone, the less likely we’d find him alive.
“We’re good to go,” Mary Ann said, entering the kitchen. “The girls will be having breakfast in half an hour. We can go after that.”
“Good. That gives me time to make sure Angela is all right.” Wayne pushed back from the table.
“You can’t go with us.” Mary Ann shook her head. “You scream cop. The girls won’t talk to us if you’re there.”
“Then I’ll wait in the van.” He marched out of the room, his tone leaving no room for discussion.
I didn’t mind. Knowing he was there would make me more comfortable.
On our prior ventures into crime-solving, I’d actually had fun. Even when my life was threatened. This time…there was nothing fun about it.
I stood up and moved to put my half-empty mug in the sink. Glancing out the kitchen window, I spotted Dakota slip something to Rusty. Then, the big man turned and jogged into the trees behind my property. I opened the back door. “Dakota!”
He shook his head. “Nothing gets past you, does it? Before you ask, I paid him ten dollars to wander around those empty warehouses down by the river. That seems like a good place to stash people.”
“You’re the smartest boy I know.” I grabbed him in a hug. “Sheer genius.”
“I told you I’m a good detective. When do we go?”
“Mary Ann and I have other plans this morning.” I held him at arm’s length. “But, when we do investigate those buildings, you aren’t going with us. It’s too dangerous. Rusty is like a ghost. Let’s see if he finds anything suspicious bef
ore wasting our time there.”
His face darkened and he pulled away. “I’m looking for my sister with you or without you. It’s safer with you, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” I sighed. “I’ll find something you can help us with.”
“Maybe you and Mary Ann can hide in those buildings when you runaway.” He grinned and moved past me. “Don’t forget. I have a box of spy equipment. I hear everything you two say.”
I’d forgotten about that stuff. “Are there cameras small enough to hide in jewelry?”
“Sure. Come on.” He led the way to his room where he retrieved a box from under his bed. “I have a necklace and a ring with a camera. This one…” he held up a small round device, “fits in the end of a cigarette real good.”
“We’ll take the two jewelry pieces. Where do the images shoot back to?”
“Whereever I want. Wayne can watch on a laptop from here or in his car.”
The costume jewelry was perfect. Not too gaudy. The necklace was a cross with a fake ruby in the center, which was the camera. The ring was shaped like a daisy with the camera in the center of the flower. “Yep. A genius.” I flashed Dakota a grin and headed back downstairs to meet up with Mary Ann and Wayne.
I handed Mary Ann the necklace. “I feel a lot better about our plan now.”
“Me, too.” Wayne opened the front door, then stepped back while I set the alarm.
I cast a glance toward the kitchen, wondering whether Mom still slept or if she’d gone in to work. After the long night we’d had, I decided to let her be. I’d fill her and Greta in on our day later.
With Wayne driving, we made it to the group home in twenty-five minutes. I sat in the front passenger seat and studied the red-brick building that looked like a small town elementary school converted into a home. The conversion failed miserably. There wasn’t anything homey about the place. Even the flowers out front dried up under the chill of fall.
The dead lawn crunched under our feet as we approached the iron gate over the front door. I pressed the bell.
“May I help you?” A voice came from a small speaker above the doorbell.
Nosy Neighbor: All 7 complete Nosy Neighbor cozy mysteries PLUS: 2 short Christmas stories (A Nosy Neighbor mystery) Page 69
