It wasn’t long and the tunnel was as black as hell. The little light from the closet didn’t reach very far and he wished he had taken the time to find a flashlight. Too late now, he wasn’t going back. He had to feel his way along the sides which gave him an eerie feeling. Spiders and rats could be everywhere and he’d never know because it was so dark. Proving his fears, he walked right into a spider web. It covered his whole face giving him the creeps. He stopped long enough to rake his hand across his face to remove the web. Not being able to see what was ahead had him a jumble of nerves. He faced his fears and continued on.
The tunnel tapered downhill which made it even more difficult to stay on his feet. If he fell, he would roll all the way to the bottom of the incline. The only sound he heard was his heavy breathing as he continued. Out of breath from struggling to stay on his feet, Grant almost panicked when he felt nothing but a dirt wall in front of him with his fingertips. He was at the end of the tunnel. There must be a way out or he would have run into Collins by now. He felt above his head and touched cold, hard metal. With all his strength, he pushed until the metal covering opened a couple of inches. Something heavy was preventing him from pushing the cover all the way open. Summoning more strength, Grant gritted his teeth, groaned, and pushed with his back and legs. A loud crashing sound penetrated the quiet night as he broke through the opening. A huge gas grill lay on its side. He was on the gazebo in the backyard. When he closed the wood door, it matched the boards perfectly. No one would know it was a hidden doorway.
Tired and out of breath, Grant sat in the chair and tried to control his growing anger. Collins got away. There was no reason to even try to pursue him. He had given them the slip yet again. He fished in his pocket for his phone. He punched in the number for his house. Nina answered. “Don’t go outside. Collins got away. Make sure you keep everyone in the house until I get back.”
“Are you okay? You sound out of breath.”
“Yes, Nina. I’m fine. I’ll see you when I get home.”
He ended the call and sat staring at the rippling water of the river. Without a doubt it was Collins who escaped through the tunnel. Panic slithered inside him. They had been so close.
Chapter Fifteen
Rumpled and sexy from sleep, Beth sat up on the sofa and rubbed her eyes. Josh stood near the door and let his eyes take in every perfect inch of her. Wearing only a tee shirt and her underwear, she stretched reminding him of a long, sleek cat. “I’m sorry, I dozed off.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t expect you to wait up.” He looked at his watch. It was four o’clock. He would have to get up in two hours so he didn’t see any point in going to bed. He shouldn’t have even come home, but he had the urge to see Beth. He needed to hold her. He sat next to her on the sofa.
She crossed her long shapely legs and he let his eyes roam over them. Hand resting on her knee, he snuggled against her taking in the warmth she radiated. “Nina said Randal got away.”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Pretty sure. Travis Kane said no one was staying with him, but we found a hair brush in the spare bedroom with blond hair in the bristles. We have his toothbrush, clothes. The crime lab is going to do a DNA profile.”
She laid her head in his lap. “How about Travis Kane? Did you get any information from him?”
“Not a thing. He asked for his lawyer. We can keep him for twenty-four hours.” Josh shrugged his shoulders. “If we don’t find something tying him to Chase Powers or the meth labs, the only thing we’ll be able to charge him with is harboring a criminal.”
“Then he won’t get any prison time. He’ll get probation at the most.” She touched her fingers to the scar on his forehead before she tugged on a wayward curl. He took her hand and kissed each fingertip. “That feels wonderful. I was worried about you.”
Still holding her hand, he explained, “Everything would have gone as planned if we would have captured Collins. He escaped through a tunnel under the house.”
Surprised she asked, “Why would Kane have a tunnel?”
“My guess is to evade the FBI. It ended not ten feet from his boathouse. If he felt threatened, he could crawl through the tunnel, get on his speed boat, and avoid arrest.” His hand stroked her thigh. “But then he had no reason to flee because he knows we don’t have anything linking him to any serious crimes.”
“How did Grant take the news Collins got away?”
“He is devastated. It was Grant who discovered the tunnel He didn’t hesitate entering the passageway to apprehend Collins, but he had already disappeared.” His brow creased in worry. “My brother didn’t say two words on the way home. My gut feeling is Travis Kane is the man responsible for the contract on Kathy Lassiter and the man in charge of the meth labs. He’s smart and cunning, so cunning that we might have a hard time proving his guilt. There was nothing on his phone or computer linking him to any crimes. A team is still going through the house, but I doubt they’ll find anything.”
“You’ll get Randal. I have all the confidence in the world in you. That sneaky mind of yours will come up with a plan just like you did with Shirley Powers.”
“I love your confidence in me.” His lips curved into a smile. “I’m going to confront Robert Tilley, the rogue FBI agent and see if I get any information from him. Maybe he knows something.”
He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. She moaned the second his tongue touched hers. He felt her shiver down to her toes. Her breath was slow and ragged as he intensified the kiss. His fingers skimmed into her glorious red hair. He would never tire of feeling the shock of lust and promise every time he touched her.
He scooped her into his arms and stood. “Let’s finish this in the bedroom. It’s much more comfortable than the sofa.”
He dropped her on the bed and stood above her taking in all those curves. Moonlight streamed through the window bathing her in light and he thought she looked like an angel. The curl of need was so overpowering he had a hard time controlling that lust. Never had he wanted a woman as much as he wanted her. How did he let it happen? He was too young to be in love. He wasn’t ready to settle down. He unbuttoned his white cotton shirt and threw it in the chair by the bed.
Beth crawled to her knees and unzipped his pants. They fell to the floor. When her fingers closed around him, she sent him a sultry look and he thought he would die of pleasure. He whispered as his back bowed against her hand, “You are amazing.”
His hands slid up her torso and he felt the tremors shake her body when he tugged her tee shirt over her head. Her hands fisted in his hair and she pulled him to her mouth. She lingered on his mouth softly at first and then she devoured him. She smelled fresh, and utterly female. She tasted his lips, his throat, his chest. He let her take charge and enjoyed everything she was doing to him. She had his pulse skipping as her hands ran over his chest, his stomach, and then lower. He pressed his face into her hair. “I love the smell and feel of your hair. It is so unusual.”
Beth pulled him to the bed onto his stomach. She brushed her lips over the back of his neck causing him to suck in his breath. He didn’t know how long he could withstand her sweet torture. She trailed a fingertip down his spine and followed with her moist tongue. He yelped when she bite his ass cheek just a little too hard.
He flipped over and whispered, “So you want to play rough.” He assaulted her throat with his teeth then moved lower to her breasts. When he touched his lips to her nipple and tugged, she arched her back.
Beth climbed on top. She squeezed his hard member before she guided him into her. She began a tireless, easy rhythm. The rhythm brought a low throbbing ache. Her fingers stroked his chest, his stomach, his arms. It was as if she couldn’t stop touching him. She leaned over him pressing her lips against his. The kiss was hot and explosive. Her movements changed. She became more aggressive. The slide of flesh to flesh caused him to tremble. Her nails dug into his shoulders as her orgasm began. She feasted on his lips a
s her spasms intensified. Her body locked to his as her hips pumped against him. Pure pleasure shot through him as his orgasm followed. She threw her head back and gritted her teeth to keep from screaming out in ecstasy. Her head dropped limply to his shoulder, too tired to move. Minutes passed as they lay there together panting like animals.
Her breathing slowed and Josh realized she was sound asleep. He rolled her to his side and pushed her hair out of her face. She was damp with sweat. God, she was beautiful. Again he struggled with the fact he was in love with her. The feeling was new and foreign to him. He didn’t know what to do about his feelings for Beth.
****
Tired, frustrated, and ready to tear someone from limb to limb, Josh sat across the table from Kane. Not one shred of evidence had been found to tie him to Chase Powers or the meth labs. Agent Daniels had gone through his computer and phone with a fine toothed comb and had nothing but a few numbers he called on occasion. Every number belonged to a family member or someone he had known in high school. No one he corresponded with had a criminal record.
“You’re going to have to release me, Agent Wilson.”
“I have you on charges of harboring a criminal and lying to a FBI agent.”
Cocking his head to the side, Kane replied, “Randal Collins played on my heartstrings. He used our friendship from high school against me. I couldn’t turn my dear friend away.”
Josh managed a smile. “Funny, I remember you saying you hated Collins.”
Kane gave him a direct stare. “What would you have me say? Randal Collins was in the next room. I was hoping to evade arrest.”
“Now that you’ve admitted you were friends with Collins, would you like to admit you also sold drugs?”
“Even if you could prove I sold drugs in high school, the statute of limitations has run out. That was over twelve years ago.”
“So now you’re ready to confess you were partners with Collins?”
“Of course not. I’m not admitting to anything.” He placed his hands on the table resting his chin on his fist. “I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. Your holding cell is disgusting. I couldn’t believe you put me in with all those hardened criminals.”
For hours Josh had been interrogating Kane. The man had not wavered. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and his clothes were smelly and rumpled. A normal person would have confessed. By now he thought he would be dying for a cigarette. He had asked, but each time Josh denied him a cigarette. If he wanted out of the room so he could go outside and smoke, he would have to give him something.
“What was the purpose of the tunnel?”
“In case of a home invasion. I didn’t have room in my small home for a safe room so I had the tunnel built.”
Agent Jacobs opened the door and announced, “We’re ready.”
Josh stood and opened the door for Kane. “Follow Agent Jacobs. He’ll show you where to go.”
Uncle Tate had taken the helicopter to pick up Kathy and David. Josh hoped she could identify Kane in a lineup.
Three sets of eyes shifted to him the moment Josh stepped into his office. The blinds were pulled so no one could see Kathy and David. Only a handful of people knew about the lineup and that Kathy was at the bureau.
Beth sat at his desk using the phone. She hung up the receiver and rounded the desk. “Have you gotten Kane to talk?”
“No, he’s not going to. The man is a brick wall. He hasn’t caved.”
He turned his attention toward Kathy. Offering her his hand, she reached out and took it. “Are you ready?”
“Can David come?”
“Yes, I don’t see a problem with that.” He took both her hands. “I told a little white lie.” He hesitated worried how mad Beth was going to be at him. “To get the search warrant for Kane’s house, I told the judge that you had positively identified Kane as the man you saw at The Red Diamond with Randal Collins.”
“I can’t be hearing this.” Beth put her hands over her ears, closed her eyes, and started humming.
“I’m not asking you to lie to protect me, but don’t mention the fact that you didn’t recognize Kane by his yearbook photo. Maybe his lawyer, Mary Harris won’t bring it up. I told her I wanted the lineup to prove beyond a doubt that Kane was the man you saw at the Red Diamond.” Beth continued to hum. Josh did his best to focus on Kathy drowning out the noise behind him. “Since he stood and faced you the night you saw him at The Red Diamond, I hope you will recognize him from the lineup.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “Now, I’m really nervous.”
David interrupted. “I have a question.” The wariness in his eyes became concern. “How is Kathy identifying Travis Kane as the man at The Red Diamond going to prove he is the man that put the contract out on her?”
“It proves it to me. I just want to be sure he is the man that was with Collins.” Josh squeezed Kathy’s hands when he felt them tremble in his. “I promise to find the evidence. It is the only lead we have. Trust me.” He hoped he wasn’t making promises he couldn’t keep. In the past he had seen cases go on for months before the FBI solved them. For Kathy and David’s sake this one needed to end soon.
David moved behind Kathy and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Looks like we have no other choice but to trust you.” He turned Kathy around to face him. “I’ll be there with you.” She fell into David’s arms. He engulfed her and kissed the top of her head.
“The men in the lineup cannot see you.” Josh crossed to the door and opened it. “Everything will be okay.” Beth was still standing on the other side of his desk hands over her ears, eyes closed, and humming. “You can stop now, Beth.” She opened her eyes and got quiet. “We’re finished talking.”
She grabbed her purse and slung it on her shoulder. Before she sashayed out the door she glared at him. Later he was sure she would give him a good tongue lashing.
****
Beth couldn’t believe Josh would put his career on the line by telling a lie to obtain a search warrant. If it went to court, the whole case could fall apart if the judge discovered the search warrant was obtained under false pretences. Was he that desperate to prove Travis Kane was a murderer, or did he bend the law to solve other cases?
She was so nervous as the men walked onto the viewing stage, she could only imagine how Kathy felt. A total of five men stood facing the two-way mirror, all with curly brown hair. Each man was about the same height.
The room was deathly silent until Josh whispered, “No hurry, Kathy. Take your time.”
Mary Harris stood to the right of Beth, David to the left. Travis Kane had hired the best lawyer money could buy. She didn’t come cheap and she almost never lost a case. Tall and lean without any hint of a curve, she had that bull dog look. She never smiled and took life very serious. As far as Beth knew she didn’t have friends or a husband. She devoted every breathing moment to her career. Her mind was razor-sharp and she would go to any length to get her clients found not guilty in a court of law. While in college her professor had used some of Mary Harris’ cases to show just how tough she was in court.
Kathy’s voice trembled when she asked, “Can number three please turn around so I can see him from behind?” Josh nodded his head and opened the speaker and instructed number three to turn around.
Beth held her breath. Number three was Travis Kane. She crossed her fingers and said a little prayer that Kathy would pick him as the man she saw at The Red Diamond.
Josh ordered, “Now turn and face the front.”
“It’s number three. He is the man I saw at The Red Diamond.”
Again Josh opened the speaker. “Will number three please take a step forward?” Stormy eyes peered at Travis Kane. Beth could almost feel her hatred of the man. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Mary Harris snapped, “All this proves is Travis Kane was with Randal Collins at The Red Diamond. There is no evidence pointing to him being the person who put the contract on Miss Lassiter’s li
fe.”
Josh turned and faced Harris. “He lied to the FBI, not once, but twice. He looked me right in the eye and said he had not seen Randal Collins since high school. Then we find evidence that he had been harboring Collins.”
“Harboring a criminal is a far cry from murder.”
“Kane also swore he was not with Collins at The Red Diamond. Another lie.”
“Yes, he is a liar, I’ll agree with you on that fact. But you have no substantial or hard evidence that he has committed any other crime other than harboring a criminal.” Her high heels clicked on the gray tile as she strolled to the door. Hand on the doorknob, she turned and replied in a cold voice, “I’ll have him released on bail within the hour.”
Of course she was correct. Beth knew Josh wouldn’t be able to do anything to keep Kane from making bail.
The moment the door closed behind Harris, Kathy asked, “What now?”
Josh placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
Beth groaned out loud. She hoped it wasn’t something illegal.
****
Ten minutes after being released on bail, Travis Kane walked into a retail store and bought a burner phone. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, he dialed Kevin Stevenson’s number. Three rings and he answered, “Is Collins with you?”
Without taking the time to answer, he handed the phone to Collins. “I didn’t think you’d be in jail long. Still got your cherry?”
Kane didn’t think that question was very funny. His night in jail had been one of the worst experiences in his life. Not to mention the hours of being interrogated by Josh Wilson. Hours of torment sitting in a hot, stuffy room without benefit of a cigarette, being asked the same questions over and over. He thought he would go mad. Yet, he never faltered. The only thing he was charged with was harboring a criminal. His attorney promised he’d only get probation so he wouldn’t be seeing any prison time.
Shadows of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Series Book 2) Page 24
