She looked at them. “I don’t have a safety deposit box and my apartment has already been broken into once. What am I going to do with this?”
Ruth said, “I have a vault in the basement. You can store it there.”
Martin said, “We can take it down now. There are drawers that can be locked just like in a bank. You can pick a drawer and keep the key.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Can I leave these other folders in the drawer, too?”
When Martin returned from the vault, Ruth said, “I’ve been going through these folders. Bob must have suspected that I was having more problems than I knew.” She tossed the folders on the table. “If half of what he suspected is true, I have a conspiracy on my hands that is more convoluted than a spider web and just as sticky.” She shivered.
Chapter 15
El Paso
Ruth had just pulled on her deep purple silk nightgown when there was pounding on the front door. Grabbing the matching deep purple velour robe, she hurried out of her bedroom. Martin, still in his black suit, was looking through the peep hole. Quickly he removed the chain and unbolted the door.
“Who is it?” Ruth demanded
He pulled open the door. Gunnar, whose face looked like it had been used as a punching bag, supported a battered Ann Miles. Martin quickly slipped his arm around her shoulders as she limped forward.
Ruth hurried into the kitchen, grabbed a package of peas, then ran back into the living room. She handed the peas to Gunnar who gratefully laid them on his eye.
Martin carefully lowered Ann to the sofa.
“What happened?” Ruth gasped.
Gunnar said, “I took Ann back the way we came in. I didn’t see anyone in the alley or in the parking garage. We had turned off the Ten when a black SUV with no license plates came up behind us like a bat out of hell. We had just started up the bridge on fifty-ninth when the SUV slammed into us. He hit me at an angle and I thought we were going over the edge, but the front passenger tire hit the K-rail and we ricocheted back on the road.
“Since we were close to Franklin Mountains State Park, I pulled in there. I’ve hiked the park since I was a kid so I knew a place to hide the car. The SUV drove back and forth looking for us.”
Ann said, “We waited for a good thirty minutes then Gunnar decided to drive out another way. I don’t know how they found us, but they did. The SUV went to pass us, but slammed into the side of the car. They forced us off the road, but Gunnar managed to get around them.”
“When we got to Ann’s apartment, four or five men wearing ski masks grabbed us” It was obvious that he was reliving the event as he added, “Two of them held me while another one began hitting me.”
“The other man pulled me out of the car and was trying to force me into the SUV.” She grinned, “But I wasn’t going. Bob taught me some basic self-defense moves and I’ve done some kickboxing. So when he grabbed my arm, I launched myself at him, my outstretched hand going for his nose. He jerked back just in time so the heel of my hand caught him in the eye. My weight slammed him into the SUV. He swung at me, but I easily blocked that, then I kneed him in the groin. As he bent over, I slammed my other knee into his face while I brought down my joined fists on his neck. He went out like a light.”
“When she took care of him, she grabbed his gun and stopped them from hitting me. We called the police, but the thugs wouldn’t say anything. When the cops let us go, I decided that it wasn’t safe for Ann to be alone in her apartment so I brought her back here.”
“I wonder if the police reported the attack to the FBI,” Ruth said.
“I doubt it,” Gunnar said as he placed the peas on Ann’s ankle. “We didn’t tell that we thought someone was behind the attack.”
Martin said, “Things are heating up. Someone’s getting desperate. I suggest we all get some sleep.”
Ruth nodded, “Ann, you can take my guestroom. Gunnar, I don’t want you leaving tonight. You can take the executive suite on the fifth floor.”
Gunnar smiled. “I think one of the lower executive apartments is more my style. I think the one on the fourth floor is available, but I’ll check with Barbara.” He nodded at Anne and Ruth. “Sleep well.”
After Martin had helped Ann to the guest room, Ruth took her some soft flannel pajamas that she kept for guests. As she shut the door, she looked at Martin. “I never thought about making someone desperate. That makes me nervous.”
Chapter 16
El Paso
Inspector Lepley entered his office at FBI headquarters a few minutes before eight the following morning. He smiled at his pretty, blond secretary.
“Any calls?”
Jaycee Sutton smiled back. “Yes, there have been several. Inspector Jenkins phoned in. He said that he was still tailing the man you assigned him at Carlsbad. He said the man’s car was registered to a John Spaulding. He was in a hurry, but he asked to be relieved because he’d been on the job twenty-four hours. I had Don Harling relieve him. I hope that was okay.”
“Fine. I should have remembered to have him relieved, but it slipped my mind.”
“Dr. Menzies called and said that Mary Clark’s condition has stabilized after the last setback, but she’s very nervous and unhappy. He is concerned that now she can’t remember the shooting in the parking lot at Carlsbad. He says she keeps asking for her friends. She doesn’t seem to remember that they were kidnapped. He said she could be questioned for a short time today, but I can tell that he’s really worried about her.”
“Good. Get Mrs. Arbuthnot on the phone for me, please.”
“Certainly.” She looked in her file and then dialed a number.
When Martin answered the phone. Miss Sutton said, “Inspector Lepley would like to speak to Mrs. Arbuthnot, please.”
Martin said, “Just a moment. I’ll see if she can come to the phone.”
A moment or two later Mrs. Arbuthnot said, “Good morning, Inspector. I hope you slept well.”
“I did. How about you?”
“It was a short night.” Quickly she told him about the attack on Ann and Gunnar.
“Damn, that’s not good.” He turned to his secretary. “Did we get a report from the police about an attack on Ann Miles last night/”
“No, sir. Nothing like that has come in.”
“Call them and get it sent over. If they haven’t released the attackers yet, I want them sent over, too.”
She got up and went to another desk to use the phone while Lepley turned back to the phone. “I guess you could hear our conversation.”
“Yes. The attack took place at Ann’s apartment parking lot. I don’t know what division that is.”
“Jaycee will sort it out. I wish you would have called last night. The attackers are probably out on bail by now.”
“Sorry, Inspector. It was very late and I was tired. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly.” She paused adding, “Did you have a reason for calling me?”
“We have another problem. Mary Clark evidently had some sort of setback yesterday. Dr. Menzies said that she could be questioned but it seems like she remembers less now than she did right after the accident. I would like to talk to her this morning to see what she does remember. I’d like you to be there. Maybe seeing you will help her. Could you be ready by 9:30?”
“I’ll be ready.” Mrs. A. put down the phone and looked at Ann. “Inspector Lepley is picking me up at 9:30. He wants me to be there while he questions Mary. He said that she had some sort of setback but the doctor didn’t say much about it.”
“That’s bad. Do you think I should go to the office?” She nervously twisted the silver bracelets on her wrist round and round.
“I don’t think so, but we can ask Inspector Lepley when he gets here.”
Over a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and milk, Ann said, “If Martin could help me get my folders out of the vault, I could go over each case. Maybe, I’ll see something I didn’t see before.”
Martin stuck his head in the room. “Inspe
ctor Lepley is here.”
“I’d better get my purse.” Ruth responded.
Inspector Lepley followed Martin into the dining room. “I understand you had a pretty scary experience last night. I hope you’re not planning on going to the office today. I’ll have Inspector Duncan talk to you about it sometime this morning. He’s checking out a couple of leads.”
“I’ll be here. I’ll just call in sick. Roger will flip, but I haven’t been sick in five years.”
*********
They were driving well within the speed limit when he suddenly reached out and flipped on the siren as he pushed the gas pedal to the floor.
Mrs. A. gasped as the sudden burst of speed pushed her back into the seat. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. My gut instinct is telling me that we need to get there and fast.”
He squealed around a corner, but as they came to next intersection the light changed to red. Barely breaking, he entered the intersection just as a huge eighteen-wheeler entered from the right.
“Look out,” Mrs. A screamed above the noise of the siren and the sound of horns honking.
Lepley swore and swung the wheel. His car veered around the front of the truck as the truck driver slammed on his brakes and fought the truck as it began to fish tail.
Their car slid around sideways, the rear end swinging even with the front. Lepley gained control in time to swerve around a car entering the intersection opposite the truck.
Just as Mrs. Arbuthnot was breathing again, a small dark car darted out from a side street. The Inspector slammed on his brakes, then gunned the motor to pass the car.
Mrs. A shouted at him. “If I didn’t have gray hair before, I would now.”
He shook his head and tried to concentrate on his driving while fighting off the urge to go even faster.
“Look out,” she screamed again.
There was a stalled car in their lane. Lepley swung the wheel again. The tires squealed, then there was a violent bump as the right front tire hit the curb.
“We’re going to roll,” Mrs. A. gasped.
The tire went up over the curb, hit a parking meeter, and was deflected back on the road. Lepley swung the wheel again and they were past the stalled car and through the intersection.
As they left the intersection a black and white police car pulled in behind them.
“You got someone’s attention.” Mrs. Arbuthnot exclaimed breathlessly.
Good. They don’t know it yet, but they just became our escort and I have a feeling that I am going to need them.” He picked up the radio and began talking to the dispatcher.
Swinging into the hospital parking lot, he parked in a no parking zone. Leaping from the car, he ran up the steps and into the hospital.
Mrs. Arbuthnot was struggling to get out of the car when the police car pulled up behind them. One of the policemen hurried over to help her. “Never mind about me. Go help Inspector Lepley,” she gasped. “Room 404.”
He shouted to his partner and then he reached down, grabbed her arm, gave a yank and pulled her from the car in a flying leap. Then taking her arm they ran into the hospital.
As they hurried down the corridor there were signs everywhere of Lepley’s hurried charge. There was overturned equipment in the hall and several people were picking themselves up off the floor.
The hospital administrator ran out of his office. “What’s going on here?” He demanded.
When the policeman stopped to talk to him, Mrs. A ran on.
Lepley headed for the elevators. They were all in use. Swearing under his breath he dashed for the stairs. He ran up them taking three and four steps at a leap.
Reaching the fourth floor he was appalled by the destruction. A nurse lay on the floor under an overturned cart. One of the residents was struggling with an armed thug twice his size. The policeman at Mary’s door was being held by one man while the other hit him in the stomach.
Panicking, he jumped for Mary’s door, leaving them for the following policemen. Bursting through the door he saw that a thin, dark-haired man had his hands around Mary’s throat. She was twisting and turning, scratching and hitting, trying to break his hold but her face was beginning to turn blue.
Lepley bounded forward and tackled the man, throwing both of them off the bed. Mary crawled into the corner and huddled there.
Suddenly Lepley found himself in a fight for his life. The man was thin but he was tough, wiry and in very good shape.
Lepley had landed on the floor on his back with the thug on top of him. He squirmed trying to get on top, but the thug lifted up, then dropped on Lepley’s abdomen with both knees. Before Lepley could get his breath the man hit him in the face with both hands.
Mary looked at the fight and thought, I’ve got to help him.
She saw the pole that had held her IV leaning against the wall. The needle had been pulled from her arm in the fight and the clear solution had spilled all over the floor. She crawled around the two men. With shaking hands, she grabbed it. Staggering to her feet, she dragged it over toward the two men. She pushed it so that it would fall hard across the thug’s back, but at the last moment Lepley thrust him up, the pole smashing against his head as it fell, knocking him unconscious.
“Thank you!” Lepley gasped as he staggered to his feet. He stumbled to the door. Looking out, he saw that several of the assailants had broken loose from the police and were heading toward the stairs.
“Stop those men,” Lepley yelled as he tottered down the hall holding on to the wall with one hand.
Mrs. Arbuthnot and her policeman stepped off the elevator. The policeman ran forward but the man in the lead evaded him. He hurtled toward Mrs. A.
Without thinking, she swung her heavy leather shoulder bag at the man. It hit him in the stomach, scattering the contents. He staggered. Stepping on Mrs. A’s fountain pen, he started to slide. Mrs. A. reached out, shoving him against the wall with all her strength.
He hit the wall, rebounded against her, turning as he came. “You bitch,” he said as he grabbed her around the waist with one arm. He put his other hand across her mouth.
Twisting her face, she bit down hard on his hand. Then stomped down on his instep with her pointed heel. He jerked forward, just as she slammed her head back into his nose. His eyes rolled up in his head. He dropped to the floor taking Mrs. Arbuthnot with him.
One of the doctors rushed over to take her pulse. She pushed his hand away. “I’m okay.”
Lepley limped toward her. “What in the world possessed you to try and stop him? You could have been killed.”
As the doctor helped her to her feet, she said with great dignity. “You don’t have to yell. I’m not deaf.” She stretched her back with difficulty. “However, such rough housing is hard on sixty something bones.”
Lepley shook his head. “You scared me out of 20 years’ growth. I can’t afford it at my age.”
“I didn’t think about it. I just reacted instinctively. If I hadn’t tackled him, he’d have gotten away and you know it.”
“I’m not so sure about that. You should give us a little credit for knowing our business.”
He turned from a seething Mrs. A., “Take those men into the staff room until I get some more men here.”
He looked back at her, “You’d better go to Mary. She’ll need someone she knows to help her recover from this.”
“Well, yes, you are right about that, if nothing else.” She snapped as she turned away from him. She was limping down the hall when half a dozen uniformed officers exited the elevator.
Lepley said, “Take them down to FBI headquarters and book them—Murder 1, attempted murder, kidnaping, assaulting police officers, assaulting hospital personnel and malicious mischief in a hospital and if you can think of anything else to charge them with do it. I don’t care if you hit them with a jaywalking charge. I don’t want any of them making bail. Don’t let them call their attorney until I get there.”
One of the men said, “You
can’t get all of us for all those charges. The girl’s not dead.”
“No?” Lepley said quietly, but the tone would have stripped vanish off wood. “Take them away before I give way to the urge to take a metal pipe to their heads.”
Duncan exited the elevator behind everyone else. “This looks to me like a terrorist attack. We can invoke Homeland Security rules and they can’t make bail or call an attorney.” He called.
Lepley grinned, “Do it.
Ignoring him, Mrs. Arbuthnot hurried to Mary’s room. Her friendly policeman was again standing in front of the door but he had a black eye, a split lip and bruised knuckles. “The doctor’s in with her.” He mumbled.
“Thank you.” She stepped into the room, but stopped, appalled by the damage. Mary’s IV bag had split when it hit the floor. The tubing and the needle that had been ripped from her arm lay on the floor. The chair had shattered and there were pieces of wood all over the floor and
the bed.
A doctor and an intern were trying to examine Mary while a nurse tried to calm her nearly hysterical sobbing.
“Who are you?” The nurse snapped. “No one should be in this room.”
“I’m Mary’s friend. She was staying with me when the kidnapping happened. Inspector Lepley thought I might be able to help her.”
The doctor said urgently, “Then talk to her, hold her, whatever works. She’s hysterical but I can’t give her a sedative because I’m afraid she might go into shock. She’s scared stiff.”
Mrs. A hurried over to Mary who had curled up on the bed in a fetal position. She was sobbing, gasping and shaking, but wouldn’t let the doctor near hear. Mrs. A tried to take Mary’s hand but she pulled away, her arms around her knees.
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