She stopped at the junction in the hallway in time to see the gray sweatshirt disappear around the corner at the far end. Her conscience reminded her to call in for assistance. It irritated the hell of her because even those few seconds would slow her down.
A quick glance told her that no one had noticed anything unusual. Being late, there wasn’t much activity in the wards. Therefore, to yell for someone to call 911 would electrify everyone and ramp up the situation, not something she wanted to do.
She hurried to the next corner in time to see the elevator doors close with her suspect smiling evilly her from inside. Now it was time to get help.
Slowing down near the information center, she demanded. “Call security.” Her no-nonsense voice told the woman in a nurse's uniform sitting behind the desk she was serious. When suspicion made her hesitate, Aurora pulled her jacket aside to show off her badge. Fumbling with the receiver, the nurse nodded and finally picked up the phone.
‘Tell them to check this elevator and detain anyone wearing a gray sweatshirt. He’s a felon and he’s dangerous, so warn them to be careful.”
“Aurora hit the stairs at a dead run, hoping that her impression of him wanting to exit would be correct. That he would choose the parking area as the safest way to leave the building.
Out of breath, side sore and body heaving, she slowed when she got to the first parking garage. Slowly she stepped out and swung her gun in both directions praying to see Rhondo making his way to a vehicle.
“Dammit!” No luck—nobody in sight that fit his description at all. Although she did manage to scare the hell out of an older couple when they came around the corner.
“Did you see anyone running past here? A man wearing a gray sweatshirt?” Her voice sounded agitated due to lack of oxygen.
“Neither the gray-haired man nor the overweight woman could talk. Instead they huddled together and stared at the gun in her hand.
She holstered it and said. “Sorry, I’m a detective with the LVPD. There’s a suspect on the loose and I thought he might have come this way. I guess I’m mistaken.” She attempted a smile and it seemed to do the trick because the woman stopped crying instantly.
As she turned to go back up the stairs, she heard the older fellow muttering, his voice wavering a great deal. “Scare the hell outta folks, waving a gun around. What’s this world coming to?”
Knowing it would be useless; she did try the bottom lot and turned out she was right. No sight of any disturbance whatsoever. Disappointment made her cuss.
Finally, she worked her way back to the main floor and approached the area where three security guards were congregated. One was holding a piece of gray clothing in his hand and the others were wearing disgusted expressions.
The oldest of the three stepped forward, his stomach protruding past the waistband of his navy uniform. “Sorry ma’am, he gave us the slip. We covered the elevator as directed, but after we arrived a woman exited carrying this. He held up a gray sweatshirt exactly like the kind Rhondo had been wearing. “She says she found it lying in a heap in the corner and intended to turn it into the lost and found.”
“Where is she?”
“We’ve held her over there in the office in case you had some questions.” The pride in his voice made her aware that he expected some recognition for making the call.
“You were a cop?”
“Yes ma’am, twenty years. Had to quit, my wife couldn’t take it anymore.”
“It’s our loss.”
Walking straighter, he pointed out the room where the woman sat waiting. “Thanks. Appreciate that.”
Before she left, she added. “Our suspect is called Earl Rhondo, one hundred and seventy-five pounds, maybe six feet, short dark hair and dark brown eyes. He’s mean and likes to hurt people. He wore that sweatshirt when I happened to run into him in the nursery. Then he ran. You got any security tapes I can see—especially of the nursery area?”
“Sure, I’ll organize that for you pronto.”
“I’ll send someone to pick them up, Mr…?
“Name’s Bill. Bill Ruele.”
“Right Bill. Thanks for your help.” She shook his hand, and pulling her phone from her pocket, she stopped to make the call that would bring the rest of her team running.
Entering the small space where a short woman about fifty sat waiting, she pulled out a small book and a pen.
“Good evening. My name is Detective Aurora Morelli. And your name?”
“Mrs. Alice Chalmers.”
“Mrs. Chalmers, can you tell me what happened?”
“I caught the elevator on the fourth floor and joined a young man who seemed charming. He pointed to the sweater in the corner and mentioned that someone must have dropped it, but he didn’t have time to take it to the lost and found. I offered, and he gave it to me. Then he got out on the next floor.”
“Can you remember which floor that was?”
“Yes it was the one before this stop.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“No. But he seemed very nice.”
“What did he look like?”
“Tall! Dark! With brown eyes full of humour, if you know what I mean. Like he had a secret and was laughing inside. It was a bit infectious I must say.”
The bastard! Anger gathered inside Aurora. If she'd had her punching bag in front of her, she'd have given it a full workout. Once again her acting ability kicked in and no one suspected.
“Thank you, ma’am. Can I ask you to wait for a few minutes? An officer will be here shortly and probably have a few more questions. I appreciate your co-operation.”
After motioning for Mrs. Chalmers to be patient, she met the rest in the hallway. Peripheral vision had caught the team meeting up in front of the elevator and striding towards her. Sure enough, Ham arrived at the same time that Kai showed up.
Kai looked perturbed and she knew exactly how he felt. To be so close had to eat away at the guy’s mind. “Sorry Kai, I lost him.” She explained to both what had happened and then asked Ham how he’d gotten there so quickly.
“Drove the Lieutenant over to see his son. He'd been raising a glass to the new boyo and couldn’t drive himself.” The grin totally convinced her that Ham had something to do with the celebration. Her raised eyebrow had him confessing. “A few of us took him to the Lookout to buy him a drink. He’s a Father. We needed to welcome him to the Daddy club.”
“You know what? TMI." She held her hand up in front of the big Irishman whose face beamed with delight. Succinctly, she described the action that had taken place and asked Ham to get the statement from Mrs. Chalmers and be sure that the security tapes would be delivered to their office ASAP.
Then she asked Kai how Wayne had fared.
“He’s better than could be expected. Mind you, he took a horrible beating. But he’d fought so hard, Rhondo took pity on him. Didn’t rape him. Said he didn’t deserve it cause he was a man.”
“I don’t get this dude. I keep thinking he’s a monster and then he does something like this. It’s sick. I should hate him for the beating. And I do. But dammit, I can’t help but be thankful that he didn’t scar Wayne with the other. Something like that could have affected the rest of his life as a man.”
“True.”
“I have to tell you. When I first saw the male approach the maternity window to look at the babies, he seemed happy. I only saw his profile, but at first his smile seemed sort of prideful. Then he changed and started pounding on the glass. I'd wondered if he’d lost a child. I could almost smell his pain.”
“You didn’t recognize him?”
“Not until he hurried away and then it hit me who he was. I could kick myself for having missed it.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You had a lot on your mind.”
“Guess so.” Her sore shoulders slumped as weariness attacked. “First I’m going to say hi to Deb and see the baby, then I’m headed home. You coming?”
“Nope. I was there befor
e Cory arrived. The doctor’s kicked me out of Wayne’s room when Darlene showed up—said there could only be one visitor at a time and family came first. So I checked up on the baby. See you in the morning. Will you pick me up?”
“Sure.”
Wearily, Aurora made her way to Debby’s suite and saw Cory passed out and snoring on the daddy’s cot at the far side of the room.
The two girls smiled surreptitiously, knowing that the man deserved to kick loose every so often. And what better time than in commemoration for his son’s birth?
“The baby lay at his mama’s breast, feeding blissfully. Unaware of the turmoil around her, Debbie seemed to be surrounded by a golden light of joy and comfort. The way it should be. Aurora again felt the stirrings of her secret wishes.
One day!
Chapter Twenty
“He’s beautiful, Debbie.”
Pride rang clearly. “I know. Do you want to hold him? He is your Godson.”
“Not until you tell me what his name is. I need to think of him as a little person from now on, not as ‘him’ or your baby.”
“We haven’t agreed yet. Cory wants to name him Bubba and I don’t.”
“He's joking, right?"
"He's say not, but his eyes tease. I can only imagine the ragging the boy would get at school one day. I couldn't let it happen."
"That I can understand. So what do you want to name him?”
“I always wanted to name a son after my father.” The look she wore didn’t bode well for that choice.
“What was his name?”
“Earl Alexander Jackson.”
“No kidding! Frigging small world. I can see where that might be a bit of a problem.” Aurora flipped her hair towards her back and angled a grin at the sleeping baby.
“Yeah. It’s not going to work, is it?”
“What was your mother’s name?” Aurora knew Debbie’s mom has passed on the year she’d started on the force in Las Vegas and it had broken the girl up.
“Her name was Connie.”
“There you go. Call the kid Con, or Conrad. Then you have him named after someone you loved. If your Dad were alive, he’d understand.”
“It’s not my dad I’m worried about.” She glanced over at the noisy lump in the corner. Once again his clothes were dishevelled his hair stood on end and his overall appearance so not Cory Ashton.
The baby released Debbie’s breast with a sucking noise that drove a nail straight into Aurora’s nurturing heart. Debbie closed her nightie and re-wrapped the little guy before handing him over.
Aurora waited with her arms ready. Nestling him close, she kissed the downy red tufts on the top of his head and searched his features.
“Cory says he has my eyes and his chin.” Aurora sensed her friend’s need for her to agree. And she couldn’t refuse the pleading look Debbie didn’t hide.
“Uh-huh. Looks that way.”
Relaxing back against the pillows, Debbie stuttered. “I-I guess I owe you an apology for putting you through hell in the delivery room. I was a bitch.” She hung her head comically.
“Whatever!” Aurora pressed her lips together to stop the smile wanting to escape.
“No. I mean it. I’m sorry.”
“Forget it. After seeing this handsome little munchkin, it was worth putting up with you. Anyway, they figure with plastic surgery my hand will completely recover.”
“Not funny. By the way, I like your hair done that way, with the French braids around the front and side and the rest swept up. It’s sexy as hell—shows off your perfect face structure.” Coming from Debbie, the admiration sounded like a sincere compliment and it touched something sweet inside Aurora, which of course made her bristle.
“Quit suck-holing. I already accepted your apology.” Little could Aurora admit that her hair appeared to affect Kai if his staring could be used as a gauge? To get it hacked off could be considered extreme since it had taken her months to grow it past her shoulders. So controlling the mass seemed the best option.
Did I mention that Kai dropped in earlier for a few moments just before Cory arrived?” Lying with her shoulders against the blue pillow, she waved her hand towards the honkin big teddy bear on the other side of the bed.
“Cory went shopping—”
“Nope, he sent the flowers.” A huge arrangement of red roses was displayed on the side table near to where a baby’s cot lay waiting with the blue blankets fold over.
Debbie laughed. “Kai must have hit the hospital gift shop. It’s cool!”
“Yeah!” A warm feeling floated from Aurora’s pink-cheeked face to get lost under the collar of her blue shirt. “It is cool.”
“You like?”
“Maybe. But don’t get any ideas. He’s messed up over this Rhondo guy and not thinking clearly.”
“Hell, aren’t we all? Cory’s very fond of Kai—said he was one of the good guys.”
“They were rookies together, weren’t they?”
“And close friends. Cory told me that Kai lived the good life. A nice family, great childhood and smart as a whip. The girls loved him and he treated everyone with respect. When his sister died, the bottom dropped out of his world.”
Pain, slicing through Aurora’s insides, made her take a bunch of small breaths and keep her eyes shielded. How horrible to grow up feeling so entitled and then have your world come crashing down. At least in her case, she never expected much and got less.
If it weren't for the genes passed down from her stoic father, she’d have buckled years earlier. Either followed the road of least resistance and jumped on the drug circuit. Or worse, ended up living as some mean suckers’ plaything.
With her drunken bitch of a mother’s example, always putting her down for being a goodie-two-shoes, sometimes it shocked the hell out of her that she’d turned out as well as she had.
Gumption and hard work together with a "don't piss me off" attitude had helped. Sure, she wore a chip on her shoulder big enough to cover places where there were chinks in her armour, but through it all, she still managed to have some pretty darn good friends.
“Hey, it just dawned on me. How did you get in here so late? You just get off shift?”
“Had a few things to follow up and decided to sneak in and check you out. The nurses looked the other way once I flashed the badge.”
“Comes in handy, doesn’t it?” Debbie’s grin said it all.
“Holding this little guy was worth the effort. He’s a real treasure.”
“And I get to take him home tomorrow. I was scheduled to leave tonight except that Cory phoned and put it off one more day. Told the hospital administration he wanted to bring me home himself and wouldn’t be able to get here until late. Now I know why. The drunken bum!” Affection spiralled through her mock-mad tone.
Aurora looked up to see if her friend had any inkling of went else down tonight. A calm expression of doting mama covered her face and no hint of worry showed up in her eyes.
“The staff seemed perplexed, said they were under the misapprehension that a driver had been assigned to pick me and the little one up. Aurora, you look beat. Why don’t you get some shut-eye? I can tell it’s been a wicked day even if you haven’t said anything.”
“Bloody awful.” Aurora handed the precious sleeper over to his mama’s eager arms.
“You know what? For the first time since I left the department, I don’t even want to know. That dark world seems so far away. It’s as if it can’t touch me anymore. It feels good.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Aurora arrived early the next morning with a tray of three fancy coffees and set it down in front of Detective Hampton and Kai. "Ham, I meant to ask you about that doctor whose office got busted into. Did she have anything interesting to add? Any patients who matched with our list of victims?
"Nah! It took a bit of convincing but she eventually agreed to check her clients against our list and there was no one significant."
A monitor set-up in the corn
er flickered and she looked a question towards Kai…no words were necessary.
"They sent over the hospital videos," he said.
All three settled in to watch. The tapes showed Rhondo walking into the nursery as if he owned the world.
“That…that putz is strutting. No other word for it.” Kai bit back more expletives because he didn’t want to make a fool of himself. With his hands wrapped behind his neck, he stalked to the other end of the room. Exercising the muscles, he deep-breathed and rapidly blinked. No way he’d let the others see how he felt at the sight of that fucker walking around as a free man.
“Here’s Aurora joining him.” Kai saw Ham look his way, then reach to stop the tape.
“I’m fine. Keep it going.” He went back to the screen and continued to watch as his exhausted looking partner entered the area. She'd stopped when she spied the other person, holding back to give a stranger space. The gesture moved him. Pure Aurora, kind without any fanfare—a good-hearted person. He cleared his throat. “Has Cory seen this?”
“I showed him earlier. To be on the safe side, he put an extra guard on Wayne’s ward and another to protect Darlene's apartment. After reading Kai's report about Rhondo’s gloating, he didn’t figure to take any chances.” The others ignored Ham's habit of nodding when he spoke.
His words seized Aurora’s attention. “Which report? What gloating?”
Kai shot a glare at Ham who reddened and fidgeted before he answered.
“How Rhondo got off on playing his games right under our noses. The boss seems to think that might be a draw for him. Figures he followed us to the hospital to mess with the boy again. And stick it to us at the same time.” Ham first looked at Kai apologetically, but continued. “You in particular, Aurora.”
Her head shot up, and she wore a happy face. “He said he wanted me? Oh Baby, I want you too.” Her hands rubbed together and Kai had to laugh.
“Back off, chick. He’s mine.” He bit off the rest of the words that hovered behind clamped lips. Instead he stared at her with his ownership message and couldn’t believe the balls of the babe when she stared right back at him with as much attitude. He read it in her eyes—and then heard it in her words.
Roll the Dice (Vegas Series) Page 9
