Laugh or Death (Lexi Graves Mysteries Book 6)

by Camilla Chafer

  "Thanks," I said just as Maddox came back on the line.

  "We think we got a lead on Leo," he told me. "A uniform just called in a sighting, and MPD are checking it out. The files can't wait until morning. I need to see everything you've got now."

  "He says now," I mouthed to Solomon.

  Once more, he just nodded and added, "We're five minutes from the agency. I can drop you off there."

  "I'll be at the agency in five minutes," I told Maddox, "but I don't have a car. Can you come and get everything in person? Solomon says no to emailing any of it."

  "He's right. This guy, Leo, is smart. I heard he bugged the Hanson household. If he was really smart, he could try hacking your network so a hard copy is best. I can be there in twenty minutes. Do you have anyone with you that can stay until I get there?"

  "Lily can come with me," I said.

  "I was thinking of someone with a higher level response to danger."

  "Who's around?" I asked Solomon.

  "Fletcher's still there," he told me and I repeated the information to Maddox.

  "Good. Keep him with you at all times. I want you covered until we pick up Leo. I'll meet you there. Keep Fletcher with you from now on, okay?"

  "Okay," I agreed.

  "Where am I going with you?" asked Lily, leaning forward to hold onto the back of my seat.

  "Where are you going?!" asked Peta, scarce seconds later, her voice rising in panic. "You can't leave me here!"

  I shifted in my seat to give her my attention. "I have to get some files. It's unavoidable, I'm sorry."

  "But... don't... I... I..." Peta hiccupped to a halt, looking around like she was seriously contemplating jumping out of the car.

  Taking her hand, Joelle took over talking. "This isn't right. You can't pick us up, and not tell us where we're going and then just bail out."

  "You're right. It isn't okay, but Solomon is the best man to look after you."

  "And I'll stay," said Lily, noting the nervous glance Peta flashed towards Solomon. "I'm really nice, and can solve crimes, and I'm lots of fun, which should make you feel better."

  Peta didn't look like it made her feel better as she simply nodded and muttered, "Okay."

  I sent a text to Fletcher saying I was on my way. He was already waiting for us when Solomon pulled over in front of the agency. He jogged down the steps and opened my door. "According to Special Agent Maddox, tonight I'm your personal bodyguard," said Fletcher. "For the record, I don't sing or provide any romance."

  "Shame," I said, unbuckling my belt and sliding out. Lily opened her door and got in the front, tugging the door shut after her. The window rolled down.

  "As soon as you've passed the files to Maddox, call me. Fletcher will bring you to the rendezvous point," said Solomon, leaning over.

  "Not to the safe house?" I asked.

  "I don't know where that is," said Fletcher.

  "In circumstances like this, it's better for everyone to only have pieces of information, not the whole pie," Solomon explained. "You remember how important it is to keep a safe house safe."

  Of course, I remembered. In the short time I spent in a safe house, I discovered it could also be infiltrated. During my brief stint, Maddox was assaulted, and I got shot. It wasn't one of my favorite memories, but also a blessing in disguise. It was partly how I got my job. No one could appreciate that more than I, who knew what “safe” meant for the safe house. "Yes, I do. Okay, I'll call you soon." I checked my watch. "Maddox will be here in fifteen, so I'll be about thirty minutes, okay?"

  "Okay." Solomon blew me the lightest of kisses, so imperceptible, I don't think anyone noticed but me. I would have returned it, but figured there was plenty of time for displays of affection later. Especially on the vacation I was about to pay for.

  "Stick with them," I said to Lily. "Be fun."

  "No problem. Fun is my middle name!"

  "No, it's..."

  "Don't tell! Don't you ever tell!" she squeaked as she rolled up the window. I waved as they took off.

  "Are you going to do anything useful?" Fletcher asked as we watched them drive away.

  I thumped his arm. He didn't wince, but I did. "I need to download some files. Maddox will be here to pick them up in fifteen minutes."

  We took the stairs up. "Where is everyone?" I asked, noting the quiet emptiness.

  "Still out, looking for Leo Chandler. Everyone, that is, except Lucas. He's monitoring camera feeds."

  "He must be bored out of his mind."

  "He is. I advise you not to approach him."

  "I'll take that advice." We walked into the PI room and I aimed directly for Solomon's office, finding the stack of memory sticks just where he said I would. Shutting the door behind me, I took up position at my desk, and powered up my laptop. Fletcher sat on top of his desk and watched me.

  I stuck in the memory stick and started copying files. I copied everything I possessed, starting from Leo's client sheet to my search for Peta. I also added the report I wrote up from our Greenacre visit. It wasn't the best report I’ve ever written, but I was eager to get as much as I could from my notes before the case split into several very distinct directions: Peta, who was still a missing person, Nancy, who was dead and probably murdered, Maddox's case files, and Leo, the one who connected them all.

  "You look very serious," said Fletcher.

  "It's a very serious case," I replied before falling silent again. Looking up, I noticed the boardroom where we started setting out the evidence against Leo on the big whiteboard. I should really photograph that too, I decided, right after accessing Solomon's files.

  Solomon's files were on the main server, just where he told me I’d find them. I downloaded them to the memory stick, then took a few minutes to scan through them. Solomon wasn't the only one submitting files. Each of my PI colleagues also did time on surveillance, resulting in hundreds of photos capturing Leo Chandler's every move. I didn't find them very interesting as I skimmed through them. Snaps of Leo outside his hotel, at the park, getting into his car, walking. There was nothing suspicious about any of the photos I saw, but I didn't have time to go through them all, not when Maddox was due here in a few minutes.

  A sudden shriek pierced the air and I spun around. "It's the door alarm," said Fletcher, hopping off the desk and landing lightly on the feet. "Maddox must have set it off. I'll go let him in."

  "Tell him I'm in the boardroom. The memory stick is ready to go." Before I headed into the boardroom, I closed down the server files, ejected the memory stick, and laid it on my desk. I shut my laptop and grabbed my cell phone, setting it on the camera function.

  No one had touched the whiteboard since I was last in there. I stood back and took a couple of broad shots with my camera, but when I checked the resulting snap, I couldn't see any of the details, even after zooming in. I stepped in, and mentally divided the board into eighths to picture before I started taking more photos.

  "I'll be right there," I said, hearing a footstep behind me. "Sorry about the alarm. Fletcher said you must have set it off. Anyway, I'm almost finished."

  "Take your time, Lexi."

  I froze. The voice wasn't Maddox’s.

  It wasn't Fletcher’s either.

  It didn't belong to anyone who worked at the agency.

  The tiny hairs on the back of neck prickled and I felt a cold wave of panic washing over me.

  Slowly, I turned around.

  Leo was leaning against the closed door with one leg crossed in front of the other. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and tan slacks, like he was dressed for a casual date, and his face seemed cool and impassive.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked, lowering the cell phone.

  "Waiting for you to call."

  "Yes, yes, of course. I'm so sorry. I got distracted with another case that needed immediate attention," I said, scrambling for a ruse that could placate him. Where was Fletcher? Discreetly, I swayed to one side, attempting to see past Leo. The PI office was empt
y.

  "You couldn't spare a few minutes? It would have been nice just to hear your voice."

  "I wanted something concrete to tell you."

  "Always so thoughtful." Leo's eyes flickered from me to the whiteboard and I stepped to one side, blocking his view. I couldn’t let Leo see what was up there; I had to keep him calm. He had to think I was still on his team. "What is all that? Something to do with the case?"

  "Just a little brainstorming. Let's go outside and sit. Can I get you a coffee?" I asked, trying to appear normal so he wouldn't guess I wanted him out of the room as soon as possible. If I could just get him outside, and closed the door, he wouldn't be able to see all the accusations currently levied against him. Where was Fletcher?

  "No, thanks," Leo replied as he stepped inside, frowning, and I stepped backwards. "What is all this?"

  "Just brainstorming," I said, holding my hand out towards the door, urging him to turn around and go. Except he didn't. He closed the gap between us, grabbing my hand and turning me towards the whiteboard. For a moment, he did nothing, but just looked over the photos, notes and crime scene reports, taking it all in. I darted a glance behind me, straining to see Fletcher... or Maddox. Where were those guys?

  Leo's hand tightened around my wrist. "He's not coming."

  "What? Who? What did you do? Where's Fletcher?"

  "Safely out of the way."

  "Did you kill him? Fletcher? Fletcher!" I yelled his name in a panic, trying to pull away from Leo.

  "No, I didn't kill him. He's taking a nap. Calm down, Lexi. Calm." Leo pulled me against him, and curled one hand around my head, stroking my hair as I shivered with disgust. "I like you, Lexi. I did as soon as we met. The way you looked at me with your beautiful eyes, and how you said my name. You were so smart and lovely. So kind and reassuring. I knew you would find my girl, and you did. I was right about you! Oh, my Lexi."

  "I'm not your Lexi. And I didn't find Nancy."

  "No, you found Peta, just like I knew you would. Where is she?"

  "I don't know."

  "I think you do. I want to see her."

  "I don't know where she is," I insisted. I hated the warmth from his body I could feel coming through his shirt as he held me against him, caressing my hair in an overly gentle way. But while he was thus occupied, he couldn't see what I was doing with my other hand. I felt my way across my phone and first closed the camera function. Then I opened my favorite contacts list, and tapped the screen. I had to get through to someone. Someone had to be aware of what was happening. Someone had to come and help me.

  "I wish you'd just done your job, and given me Peta. Everything would have been okay. She wouldn't disturb us anymore. You and I could have become friends before becoming lovers. I would have liked that."

  "What would you have done to Peta?" I asked, trying to keep him talking. Fletcher might have been incapacitated somewhere, but Maddox was still on his way, and should have been arriving any minute. Everything would be okay, I reassured myself.

  "I've looked for my perfect woman for a long time," Leo said, ignoring my question. "Smart, beautiful, kind, caring. Someone special to be a wife and a mother... and there you were, all this time. We could love each other, you and I, for the rest of our lives. I would devote myself to you."

  "I already have a boyfriend."

  "Oh, we both know he doesn't really mean anything to you. We both know that, don’t we? You look at me like there's no other man on this earth. You find your way to me, all the time. Your subconscious is constantly calling out to me. Give in to it, Lexi. Don't fight it any longer."

  "You're so wrong."

  "Don't be coy, Lexi. We don't have to play games anymore. No one's watching now. It's just you and me from now on. Finally, we can be together."

  I pulled away, but Leo's arm tightened, causing me to gasp and wince in pain. "No more games," he whispered into my hair. "Oh, Lexi, my love, why couldn't you have just done your job? Why didn’t you just hand Peta over to me without digging for more? You must feel awful now."

  "Pretty bad," I said. I was not placating him this time. I felt pretty damn rotten about the situation I now found myself in. My only consolation came from knowing Peta was at the safe house, Solomon was waiting for my call, and Maddox was about to burst through the door any moment, his weapon drawn.

  "I understand. I get it, sweetheart. You knew digging deeper was wrong, but he must have pushed you into it. He knew what was going on between us, he could see he was losing you to me so he wanted you to hate me. But I understand, really, I do. We just can't keep away from each other, you and I... Oof!"

  Leo dropped to his knees and my knee smarted from the impact with his balls. I lurched past him to the door, reaching for the doorknob. Leo's hand closed around my ankle, just as my fingertips grazed the handle... and lost contact. My legs went out from under me and I hit the floor with a thump. The pain ricocheted from my cheekbone when I did a faceplant on the floor. I screamed in frustration and desperation, wriggling and fighting. Leo straddled me, pinning me securely before his head settled against mine and he crouched over me.

  "My darling, Lexi. Stay still. I'm not the bad guy. I'm here for you. Always."

  "Let me go," I snarled, shifting my shoulders, and bucking my hips, trying to unbalance him. Lucas was still upstairs… I could get to Lucas… I could...

  "Never, sweetheart," said Leo.

  I gasped when something sharp hit my shoulder before everything went black.

  Chapter Twenty

  Rays of moonlight streamed over me as I blinked and gasped for air. I was in a small space, my body curled in fetal position with my shoulders pulled awkwardly behind me. A lid above me was open and I seemed to be inside some kind of box. No, not a box... a car. Leo had me in the trunk of his car. Something felt tight around my mouth.

  "We're home!" Leo announced cheerfully. He reached inside, wrapping his arms under my shoulders and knees before pulling me out while I struggled and screamed despite the gag. There wasn't much more I could do. My movements were restricted and I had the feeling I needed to preserve my energy.

  "Whar arrr ghee?" I asked, the gag preventing me from forming coherent words.

  It didn't stop Leo from answering cheerfully, "Home. I just told you!" He spun me around and nodded towards the cabin while I allowed my body to go limp. Whatever Leo injected me with, it was strong enough to knock me out for the long drive to Greenacre. Even worse, now we were alone in a cabin in the middle of a dense forest. If my life were a movie, right now, I was the horror story dumbass who foolishly went camping in the woods, unaware that a serial killer lurked in the area with a very shiny machete. Life sucked.

  "Ohhh-urgh crarp," I sighed.

  "Let's go inside and make some dinner, sweetheart," continued Leo, beaming at me. "You're going to love my culinary skills!"

  I thought I probably wouldn't, but as long as he wasn't bent on cooking me, well, that was something to be grateful for.

  Leo crunched across the gravel driveway, but didn't go to the front door. Instead, he carried me around back. We went down a set of stairs to the basement door. He propped me against the wall while he inserted a key into the lock before the door swung open. He reached inside, flicked the lights on, and scooped me up again. As he carried me across the neat, orderly room, I looked around. What I saw filled me with fear.

  Dozens of photo frames crowded the long wooden unit, and each of them featured a glamorous headshot of a pretty, smiling woman. I recognized some of them. As he dumped me in a straight-backed chair, I realized the photos closest to me changed dramatically in style. The women weren't smiling anymore, and several also featured Leo in them. His arms were draped around some of them, and the women were clearly projecting panic in all of their faces. Over each frame was looped a simple, silver star pendant, just like the one Peta received.

  Many of the photographed women were already dead.

  "Don't mind them," said Leo, catching me staring at them. "Everyone'
s got an ex. I met them through my photography business. I took their photos but you and I... We're different, right? We met so spontaneously." He knelt at my feet and reached around me. I stiffened, but instead of harming me, he gently untied my gag before tossing it onto the side table. "How's that?" he asked.

  My mouth felt dry as cotton. "Why am I here?"

  "I know it probably wasn't the most ideal way to show you our home, but I did carry you over the threshold!"

  I looked up. The basement ceiling was dropped, and all the wiring and plumping were neatly encased above, or so I guessed. Three of the walls were sheet rocked. A door was closed in one wall, and I tried very hard to place which direction it faced. Did it go under the house? The only obvious other entry was a door in the bare brick wall through which we entered, and a rectangular window that let in very little light. Or it would have if the darkness hadn't fallen. The window had an iron grill on the outside. With a sinking feeling, I truly realized I was trapped here. I assumed that although the door had no iron grillwork, it still must have had some kind of security measures I couldn't see.

  "Why am I here?" I asked again as Leo started gathering up the photos. He opened a drawer in the unit and dropped the lot of them inside.

  "I have to keep the love of my life safe. We need to start our new life together, here, where no one can interrupt us or plant bad ideas in your pretty little head."

  "Plant bad ideas?"

  "Like Solomon, insisting that you be with him. You're safe here… with me. No one can take you away from me now. We'll never be apart again."

  I wriggled my shoulders, hoping to alleviate the aching muscles. I tried pulling my wrists apart, but they were bound together behind my back. Handcuffs, I thought, since they enabled me to move slightly, unlike duct tape or rope. I leaned forwards, and watched Leo busily dealing with his macabre collection of photos. My ankles were bound with rope, and although the bindings were tight, the knot didn't look too secure. Pulling my ankles outwards, I discovered there was no give between them.

  My first urgency was to get Leo to untie me. To do that, I had to be agreeable. Not overly so, or he would suspect I was manipulating him, just enough that he would undo my bindings to make me more comfortable. Until then, and until I could develop that trust with him, I needed a good plan.