Mortal Crimes 2

by Various Authors

  “She’s a wise woman, Tony, you should listen to her.”

  “My colleague is dealing with that matter, North. Let her go.” Tony raised the gun and calmly aimed it at North’s head. The man’s eyes creased and he appeared to be momentarily confused. Had he expected me to go after Lorne, leaving him to have a clean getaway with Katy?

  He wondered if he made a gesture to Katy she would get his meaning and duck, giving him a free shot at North. Tony widened his eyes and looked to the right, Katy doubled over and Tony fired off the shot. North’s reaction was too slow and he fell to the floor. Tony searched the immediate area for a blanket or something to wrap Katy in.

  Katy shouted at him, “Go, Tony! Get Lorne—she has an anchor tied to her leg.”

  “Fuck!” He turned and ran back out onto the deck. “Have you seen her?” he anxiously asked Taylor.

  Taylor, who was peering over the side of the boat, looked up at him with an exasperated expression and shook his head.

  “I’m going in. North’s dead. Katy is safe. Can you look around for a powerful flashlight—something that will throw some light down there?”

  “You’ve got it. Be careful, Tony.”

  Tony unstrapped his leg—to the horror of Jai San—and dived into the water. It was a good job that some of his physiotherapy had taken place in the pool. He dipped under the water, but the darkness above and below the water made it impossible to make out anything. Within seconds, the area was flooded with light and he spotted Weir and Lorne struggling just below the water’s surface, about twenty feet away from him. He swam to help them. His eyes locked onto Lorne’s, and the fear he saw there scared him. He pulled Weir away, urging him to get to the surface to refill the air in his lungs. Then he covered Lorne’s mouth with his own and released some air between her lips, then pulled away from her and dived down to tackle the anchor around her ankle.

  Weir rejoined them and began cutting at the anchor rope with a small blade. With one final tug, the anchor fell away from Lorne’s leg. The three of them resurfaced and gasped for air. Taylor threw a life jacket in their direction, and Weir swam to it. He returned and slipped it over Lorne’s head and shoulders.

  “Oh, Tony, I thought I was a goner,” she spluttered in between gasps of breath.

  “Hey, it would take a lot more than an anchor to end your life, love.” He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips, then hugged her. The three of them swam around the other side of the boat. They climbed into the dinghy, then up the boarding ladder and onto the deck of the cruiser.

  Taylor greeted them with an armful of blankets. “Where’s Katy?” Lorne asked breathlessly.

  From the entrance to the cabin, a shaky voice replied, “I’m here, Lorne.”

  Lorne ran to her friend and wrapped her arms around her. “Thank God you’re safe.”

  “Thank God we’re both safe. I’ve never been so scared in all my life.” Katy sobbed as the tears flowed freely.

  “Yeah, and to think about an hour ago all you were worried about was feeling a bit seasick,” Lorne teased as relieved tears ran down her ice-cold cheeks.

  Weir started up the cruiser and headed back to port. Tony watched the three girls cling to each other as they sat on the bench at the bow. His own thoughts were filled with how much he loved his wife and how he was going to prove it to her when he returned home.

  Sean Roberts was waiting for them when they docked. He greeted them with relieved hugs for Lorne and Katy and firm handshakes for Tony and the two agents.

  “What happened to the girls?” Tony asked as the group made their way back to their respective vehicles.

  “They’ll be taken care of. The Border Patrol came and took them away. They’re being checked out at the hospital and then will be transferred to a secure home. Then they’ll be on their way back home to their families, thanks to you guys,” Sean told them with a grateful smile.

  “Sean, when we were at the warehouse, North received a call from someone. By his reaction and tone of voice, I would say it was from someone higher up in the chain of command,” Lorne said.

  Sean Roberts looked puzzled. “You mean North wasn’t the top man in all of this?”

  Lorne shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “You guys get off to the hospital. Leave me to do some more digging, and I’ll get back to you in a day or two.”

  Epilogue

  Over the course of the following week, Lorne received news that Charlie had regained the use of her legs—not fully, but it was a start. The doctor told her that Charlie’s recovery would be slow and that she would need a few months of intensive physiotherapy before she could lead a normal teenager’s life again. But the prognosis was good—that was the main thing, despite Lorne’s initial misgivings.

  Katy had been recalled to the Met after Sean had interviewed the suspect who had made the ridiculous accusation against her. Sean had persuaded the suspect with the vague threat that it would be in his best interests if he dropped the charges. The suspect had seen the error of his ways and Katy had been reinstated to DS within twenty-four hours. Lorne was relieved; after careful consideration, she’d realised that the P.I. business didn’t have enough work to warrant Katy joining the team just yet. She also knew it was imperative that Katy get back to work as soon as possible for her own peace of mind after the trauma North had subjected her to.

  Lorne’s father had caused her some concern throughout the week. She had a feeling that he’d been putting on a brave face and wasn’t a hundred percent fit. Against his wishes, she had asked the doctor to pay her father a visit. The doctor had ordered bed rest, but, Sam being Sam, had brushed off the doctor’s advice. Nevertheless, Lorne had insisted her father take it easy that week and just potter around the house instead of helping to clear up in the kennels after the boarders. Her father had reluctantly agreed.

  Tony hadn’t left her side all week, which, while she found it nice to be the centre of attention, she soon felt rather suffocated. An awkward incident occurred where she backed into him in one of the kennels and the poop she’d been shovelling ended up in her wellies, she ended up blowing her top at him.

  On Friday morning of the following week, the phone rang. Lorne answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Lorne, it’s Sean.”

  “Well, you took your time getting back to me. What have you found out—anything?”

  “I’ll pick you up in an hour.” He hung up abruptly.

  Lorne stared at the phone after he’d hung up.

  True to his word, Sean arrived at the house an hour later with Katy.

  “Hey, you two! What the hell is going on?”

  Sean smiled and winked at her. “Get your shoes and your coat. I’d like you and Tony to join us.”

  Perplexed, she asked, “Where? Why?”

  Katy tutted. “Just get your coat and stop asking bloody questions for once in your life.”

  Suitably reprimanded she raced around getting ready, a buzz of excitement beginning to build inside. “Tony, get a move on,” she called upstairs five minutes later. “Will you be okay, Dad?”

  Her father was sitting at the kitchen table, petting Henry beside him. He gave her a weary smile and waved a hand in front of him. “You go, I’ll be fine here with the boy.”

  Lorne saw Sean and her father exchange knowing winks. Hmm…what the dickens is going on? Dad obviously knows something.

  Lorne and Tony sat in the back of Sean’s Lexus, while Katy rode up front with him. They drove through the country lanes in virtual silence until they pulled up outside a familiar mansion house.

  “I’m confused. What are we doing here, Sean?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He got out of the car and the rest of them followed him up to the front door. A man in a smart black suit opened the door. The man appeared to be as confused as Lorne to see them all standing on his doorstep.

  “Mind if we come in?” Sean demanded, rather than asked.

  “What’s the
meaning of this? Who are you?”

  Sean introduced himself and Katy, then he turned to Lorne and Tony and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been helping us with a case—they’re private investigators.”

  The man’s face drained of all colour and he stepped back. Lorne expected the group to be let in, but the man reached behind the door and pulled out a shotgun.

  “There’s no need for that, Mr. Wallace. All we want to do is come in for a little chat.”

  “Fuck off. Get off my property.” He snarled, showing his true colours.

  Lorne was still at a loss as to why they were there. However, Sean’s next words dropped a bombshell.

  “Come on, Wallace, the game is up. You’ve been implicated in this case up to your scrawny neck. Stop being an idiot and put the gun down.”

  Wallace was having none of it. He cocked the gun and took aim. “You’re fucking crazy. I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Is that so?” Sean said. “Then why the gun? Looks like a sign of guilt to me. There’s a team of armed officers on their way here right now. Let’s talk about this calmly…”

  Before he could continue, they heard a loud noise and broken pieces of porcelain dropped on the step in front of them, Wallace tumbled to the ground. Sean managed to grab the barrel of the gun before it hit the floor and they all breathed a sigh of relief. In the doorway stood a trembling Mai Lin, her hands on either side of her face, huge tears dripping onto her cheeks.

  Lorne rushed to comfort her and guided her through to the lounge, where Natasha was sitting with Timmy the dog. Natasha jumped out of her seat when they walked in.

  “Lorne? What in God’s name is going on here?”

  “Natasha, I’m as much in the dark as you are. I’m sure all will be revealed in a moment or two.” Lorne looked over her shoulder to see Tony and Sean dragging Jason Wallace into the room.

  “Jason!” Natasha rushed to her husband’s side. She ran her hand over his handsome face and screeched, “What have you done to him?”

  “He raped me,” Mai Lin’s quiet voice said from the corner.

  Natasha stood up and her mouth fell open. Her gaze searched those of the group standing in front of her. She shook her head. “No, not Jason. He…he wouldn’t.”

  Lorne stepped forward and gently guided Natasha over to the sofa. Natasha stared at her as she sat down. Lorne joined her on the sofa and held Natasha’s hand in her lap and nodded. “Natasha, I’m sure that’s not all Jason has done. Am I right, Sean?”

  He nodded his head slowly. “I believe we have you to thank for highlighting this awful situation, Mrs. Wallace.”

  “I don’t understand. Please, tell me what my husband has been up to.”

  Lorne ran through what had happened since Natasha had put them on the trail of the agency. Halfway through the story, Natasha held up a hand to stop Lorne. She looked over at Mai Lin and invited the young woman to sit down beside her. Mai Lin hesitantly did as her employer instructed. Natasha gripped the young woman’s hand as fresh tears ran down both of their faces.

  It was obvious to the group that Natasha Wallace had nothing to do with her husband’s secret business. She was clearly appalled by what she was hearing. When Lorne continued, implicating Roger North in the business, as well, Natasha exclaimed, “My God! I can’t believe it.”

  Jason Wallace stirred in the armchair near the door. Before anyone could stop her, Natasha sprinted across the room and slapped her husband around the face and head, sobbing and shouting with every blow she made, until, finally exhausted, she sank to her knees on the carpet beside him. “How could you?”

  Jason Wallace numbly stared down at her and said nothing. What could he say? He was led away by two officers.

  Mai Lin was taken into protective custody with the other girls. The authorities were already in the process of sorting out the necessary paperwork to send them back home to their native countries.

  Lorne asked Natasha if she wanted to call a relative to be with her. Natasha thanked her for her kindness and then left the room to pack a bag so that she could go and stay with her sister.

  Sean and Katy dropped Lorne and Tony back home. During the journey, Sean told them that Tara Small had finally come forward with a list of all the people involved in the trafficking ring. Wallace was the first one to be arrested. They had organised simultaneous raids on ten other properties. At least the organisers of this operation would be behind bars for years and unable to ship any more girls in to the country.

  Getting out of the car, their mood was a buoyant one. “I have to hand it to Mai Lin, it took courage to whack Wallace over the head with a Ming vase like that,” Lorne said.

  The group laughed behind her as she pushed open the back door to the house. Before stepping in through the door, she paused with her hand on the handle and stared.

  Tony ran into the back of her. “Get a move on, girl, I’m gasping for a cuppa.”

  “Tony!” she cried out and fell against the door.

  Her husband pushed past her and into the kitchen, where he found Lorne’s father draped across the kitchen table. He rushed to her father’s aid, but it was too late.

  “No!” Lorne cried out from the doorway before her legs gave way beneath her.

  Katy fell down beside her and gathered Lorne in her arms. She rocked Lorne back and forth and smoothed a hand over her hair. “I’m so sorry, Lorne.”

  Lorne watched as Tony and Sean sat her father up and checked his wrist and neck for a pulse, but Lorne knew it would be a pointless exercise—they wouldn’t find one.

  Her eyes rose to the ceiling. Pete, come and collect him for me. Make sure he’s reunited with Mum soon.

  Then she slowly made her way into the lounge, picked up the phone to ring her sister. She knew Jade would take the news badly and pushed her own emotions aside to cope with her sister’s grief.

  “Jade, it’s me. Are you sitting down?”

  “What? What is it? Just tell me, is it Charlie, has she had a relapse?”

  Lorne collapsed into the sofa feeling numb. “It’s you and me girl.”

  “What do you…” Jade’s voice trailed off. Lorne heard her sister expel a breath as she sat down heavily. “It’s dad, isn’t it?”

  “He’s gone, love.”

  ______________

  About The Author

  M. A. Comley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling British author who settled in France around eleven years ago, turning her hobby into a career. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard creating her latest thriller, she enjoys gardening and has recently carried out several renovations on the farmhouse she bought last year.

  Keep in touch with the author at:

  http://www.facebook.com/pages/MelComley/264745836884860

  http://melcomley.blogspot.com

  http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com

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  DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

  (A LAURA CARDINAL NOVEL)

  J CARSON BLACK

  Copyright © 2006 by Margaret Falk

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the author or publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in the context of reviews.

  www.jcarsonblack.com

  *

  First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., mass market edition / 2006

  Published in Germany by Blanvalet, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group GmbH, Munich, trade paperback edition / 2008

  To Liz Gunn

  Sometimes, all you really need is a good whack between the eyes with a two-by-four and some damn good advice to follow it up.

  Thank you.

  ______________

  Have you ever seen true evil? I mean, looked it in the face and recognized it for what it is? I have. And you know w
hat? It’s a face like any other.

  Chapter One

  THURSDAY—PAHRUMP, NEVADA

  Because of the mineral show, which he had not expected, Bobby Burdette had to stay in a little hole-in-the-wall called the Mercury Motel. The Mercury Motel had a pool full of screaming kids and a plate glass office that arrowed out toward the street in a triangle—the kind of space-age dump the Jetsons would have stayed in. The motel sign, a thermometer, lit up at night: red neon mercury climbing up to the boiling point over and over again.

  At least that wasn’t a lie; even in September, it was ninety degrees after the sun went down.

  The Mercury Motel was situated between a defunct filling station and a date palm orchard. The dates fell over the fence into the parking lot and onto the wax finish of his classic Dodge Challenger—The Mean Green—and got picked up by people’s shoes. At any given moment, there were a half dozen of them littering the walkway in front of the motel rooms like squashed cockroaches.

  Bobby told himself he didn’t have to put up with the poor accommodations and the sickening smell of dates much longer. If things worked out the way he expected, he’d never have to stay in a shithole like this again.

  There was a good side to Pahrump, though, one he hadn’t considered when he blew into town earlier today. For one thing, the plate glass office had nickel slots.

  And the town had a whorehouse.

  And it was legal. It was called The Bambi Ranch.

  Bobby planned to bag one of those bambies.

  He’d seen it on a cable show once, how the girls would parade into the parlor and line up—blondes, brunettes, redheads, wearing different outfits—and you could pick the one you wanted just like at Red Lobster. There was something about it that just got to him, somewhere deep. Like that feeling you get in your gut when you ride a rollercoaster.

  The sun was going down below the far mountains when he drove The Mean Green out of the Mercury Motel parking lot, the sun flashbulbing him in the eyeballs. For such a little town, the traffic in Pahrump was hellish—mostly crawling RVs with satellite dishes on their roofs, the street lined with booths and a herd of people on the sidewalks, sometimes walking right out in front of him.