Witness Betrayed

by Linda Ladd

  Both the girls looked at him. The distraction of the movie fled their faces and was replaced by wariness. Always the spokesperson but this time with a frightened expression, Susie answered. “We love Ariel. She’s pretty. Are you taking us away?”

  Novak was reluctant to tell them they had to go off with a bunch of complete strangers. “She is pretty. And yeah, we’re going to move you somewhere else, a place where you’ll be safe, okay? A nice lady named Leslie is going to take care of you for a little while. That okay with you?”

  Sammi looked terrified at the idea. Susie watched his face. “Will you be with us, too?”

  “No, I’ve got to go find your mom.”

  “Is Lori coming?”

  “She’s got to help me, honey. But when we find your mom, we’ll bring her there and you’ll all be together again. The important thing is that you’re safe with Leslie and nobody can find you.”

  “You promise that Mommy’s coming back?”

  Susie was a bright and perceptive little kid. Novak attempted to stick to the truth. “We’re going to look for her as soon as you’re safe. I think we’ll find her pretty soon.”

  For good reason, Susie looked unconvinced. Sammi stared, wide-eyed. She’d said next to nothing since he’d taken her out of the house.

  “You promise?” Susie asked again.

  Novak considered a moment. He didn’t want to promise, but he didn’t want to lie, either. “I promise you that I’m not going to stop looking until I find your mommy.”

  Susie seemed okay with that assurance. Her furrowed brow relaxed, and she got up and hugged Novak. Sammi immediately followed suit, because she did everything her big sis did. Novak hugged them both in tight for a moment. They felt so damn small and vulnerable. He hoped he was doing the right thing putting them in Leslie’s hands.

  Later that day, the exchange went off without a hitch. Lori and Frank insisted on coming along, and Novak didn’t try to dissuade them. If they kept a low profile, there would be no problem that far out of the city proper. He needed them close at hand, anyway, to show him where the bad guys lived and worked. They parked at Love’s where they could see the strip mall. The children were happily eating Happy Meals from a nearby McDonald’s while they waited. They told Lori they’d never had Chicken McNuggets before, which was surprising to Novak. He assumed every child in the country had eaten them.

  As soon as he spotted the twin black SUVs approaching the Goodwill, he started the Jeep. When he was satisfied nobody was following the Feds, he pulled out and drove to the designated meeting spot. When they got there, he and Lori got out of the Jeep. Frank stayed slumped down in the back seat. Not many people were around. The children kept their boxes of food when they got out of the car. Lori knelt down and reassured them everything was going to be all right.

  To Novak’s surprise, when Leslie Taylor walked over, she was surprisingly gentle with the children. He had not pegged her as maternal. He had pegged her as anything but maternal. Smiling, she bent down and gave each of them a stuffed teddy bear she’d been hiding behind her back. Then she told them her name and smiled and said she was taking them somewhere safe. She told them there were lots of toys there to play with and lots of good stuff to eat and that nobody would hurt them. Susie rewarded her with a tentative smile. Novak watched them but kept an eye on the Interstate and the parking lots. He was being cautious, to say the least, and both Locke and Hennessey had long and deadly tentacles. They were wasting time standing out in the open. Lori kissed both children, and the kids surprised Novak by running over and hugging him around the legs. He squatted down and told them he’d see them soon. After that, they obediently climbed into the back seat of the first Suburban, the one Leslie was driving. The Feds took off in a rush. When they were out of sight, Novak started the Jeep and headed back into Houston.

  Traffic was god-awful but Novak eventually got them on the 610 Loop between downtown and uptown. Frank stayed alert in back, watching the road behind them for tails, a loaded double-barrel shotgun lying across his lap. Lori sat in the passenger’s seat wearing large black sunglasses with her hair stuffed inside a Houston Astros ball cap. She had it tipped low over her face. Novak wore shades and one of Frank’s Texas Oilers caps. He followed her directions until they finally turned onto River Oaks Boulevard and entered Locke’s ritzy subdivision. The lush grounds were planted with every flowering shrub and flower imaginable, including azaleas and crepe myrtle, with driveways lined with giant oak trees. The big ostentatious houses looked even better in the daylight.

  Yep, it was indeed a snooty suburb, all right, one that harbored politicos, doctors, CEOs, and other wealthy tycoons, each and every one rolling in a ton of money and just as much prestige, as they ruled over their private fiefdoms. Calvin Locke was disguised as an honorable man, with the most despicable crimes hidden underneath his long black judicial robe. Novak hungered to bring him to his knees in a way that would pretty much end his privileged facade. The real Judge Locke would soon be exposed to all of Galveston and Houston and his fellow phony River Oaks friends, as his business relationship with the underbelly filth of the city would be placed on public display, but first things first. Novak was fairly certain that Judith was imprisoned inside that big impressive estate, and that meant hours of watching and waiting and wasting time they did not have.

  Lori knew all that, too. She was antsy and impatient and demanding and didn’t mind showing it. She wasn’t favorable concerning their chances of pulling off a second extraction, either, not one without consequences. “This place is a damn armed fortress. Judith used to call it the Locke Castle. It’s unreal inside those walls, so you better listen to me. When Judith was little, she wanted a castle with a moat, and her father actually built one.”

  Novak glanced at her.

  Frank said, “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. He had a lake dug out back and left a tiny island in the middle for Judith’s playhouse, and an architect came in and designed a miniature castle. There was even a fancy little drawbridge. It’s still in there for Susie and Sammi.”

  Frank scoffed. “Well, that was indulgent.”

  “Judith paid dearly for that indulgence.” Lori’s tone was hard-edged.

  Novak said nothing.

  Frank propped his arms on the back of Novak’s seat. “You really think he’s got Lucy in there? He’d have to know that if the Feds got a warrant, how could he ever explain holding prisoners on his property?”

  “He’s overconfident and doesn’t worry. No warrants against him will be written unless the Feds do it, and he doesn’t think they’ll have cause. Even then, he’d have time to stash her elsewhere.”

  Frank choked up when he spoke again. “He told me if I didn’t back off, he’ll cut off her toes one by one and mail them to me, and then he’d start on her fingers.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Novak told him. “We’ll get her out. You’ve got to keep believing that.”

  Now Lori was incensed. “He’s a monster hiding in plain sight. Out here with all this. It’s sickening.”

  “Any ideas how I can get in there? That’s problem number one,” Novak said.

  “We could use demolition and blow a hole in the wall the size of New Jersey.” Unsurprisingly, that had come from Lori Garner.

  “Yeah, that sounds stealthy,” Novak replied.

  “You asked. I answered.”

  “They’ll kill Lucy if we storm the place,” Frank told them.

  Novak thought for a moment. “My partner, Claire? She went undercover as a waitress once. Sexed herself up to get our target’s attention.”

  Lori gave him a look. “I take it that’s not aimed at Frank.”

  Novak grinned. “Think you can distract a guard at the front gate long enough for me to slip inside?”

  “I’ve done worse things.”

  “Like what?”

 
“Like seducing a suspect in a bar so I could get into his apartment.”

  “Really? You did that?” asked Frank.

  Lori looked at each of them in turn. “Problem is, some of Locke’s guys know me on sight. It’ll work if it’s a new guy. Otherwise, I’ll need a disguise.”

  “It could be dangerous.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “You’ll have to be able to get his interest.”

  Lori frowned at Novak. “Are you implying that I’m incapable of looking hot?”

  “Not for a minute.”

  Lori smiled.

  “You got a low-cut top, something like that?” Novak suggested.

  “I’m not going to wear a sleazy top or a sleazy anything else. What’s the matter with you? I don’t need to do that to distract a man. A short skirt might be in the offing. Not sleazy, short.”

  She was underestimating the effect of a plunging neckline, but she had nice legs, so she was probably right. Problem he had with Lori Garner was her unpredictability, a trait he didn’t approve of in anybody working with him. One wrong step with these guys, one impetuous word could get her shot again, or worse. He couldn’t trust Frank to keep his cool if things went south, either. Both were too close emotionally to the victims. Novak would be better off acting alone. He’d much prefer that, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

  “You’ll have to put makeup on those bruises.”

  “They’re hardly visible anymore.”

  “They’re visible, Lori.”

  She didn’t argue. “I’ve got makeup and lipstick.”

  They canvassed the classy area for a time, driving past one elaborate manor after another, all sporting those giant emerald lawns, and all with glimpses of sparkling blue pools and manicured flowerbeds. Most were separated by concrete walls or shrubbery hedges but none had walls as high as Calvin Locke’s estate. Infiltrating adjacent properties to scale the wall was not a good option, either, considering all the homes had well-placed security signs posted, warning intruders to back off. Novak was certain that Locke would have men patrolling the grounds and watching the outer walls, probably ones better trained than the inept ones at the beach house.

  Not much traffic, though, all quiet everywhere, just an occasional jogger or dog walker. Frank’s mud-spattered Jeep did not exactly fit in but probably could pass as that of a hired gardener or pool boy working for the elite few. They found a place to park under some shade trees with a clear view of Locke’s front gate and where they wouldn’t stand out. There was no guard standing watch there, not yet, anyway. Lori said there sometimes was. There was an intercom box, though, and a security camera atop the pillar aimed down at cars entering the paved driveway. The wall was about six to seven feet tall, it looked like, but that would not be a problem for Novak to scale unless they had sensors on top. On closer look, that turned out to be the case. Locke did not want any uninvited guests.

  They sat surveillance, waiting, watching, and positioning the Jeep at different locations so as not to raise suspicions. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to them. The houses were too far back off the streets and the inhabitants too self-absorbed. Lori clicked photos of the vehicles entering or leaving Locke’s estate, making sure to scribble down the license plate numbers. They pulled away and parked elsewhere at times, not wanting to be noticed. They ate lunch at a nearby Denny’s restaurant. By seven o’clock that evening, they were back parked under the shadows of three oak trees when a familiar black limousine pulled up to the front gate. The big guy himself was inside that car; there was no doubt in Novak’s mind.

  “He’s late,” Lori told them. “He usually gets home between five and six. Usually closer to six.”

  “He just had his grandchildren snatched out from under his nose. I’m surprised he showed up at court today at all. I’m pretty sure he’s raging around behind the scenes, which will make him do stupid stuff and accuse all the wrong people. No reason for him to suspect another attack. He probably thinks it’s impossible for anyone to get inside this estate.”

  “He’ll figure that it’s me or Lori screwing him up,” Frank said. “He might make Lucy pay for it.”

  Novak didn’t like to think that way. “I don’t think so. She’s not his priority at the moment. He’ll be too worried about the children. If anything, we’ve given him something else to think about. Lucy’s his leverage over you, and he knows you’ll ask for proof of life before you move in. Guys like him like to swagger through life, but they’re nervous as hell the whole time and expecting to be knifed in the back.”

  Lori turned in her seat to look at them. “If he’s buddy-buddy with Hennessey, he’ll probably get that blade in his back sooner rather than later. That’s who Hennessey is. The judge probably thinks Hennessey took those girls for his own leverage. I wouldn’t put it past him. He’ll think that nobody else has the guts or stupidity to kidnap them.”

  “He needs to keep thinking that way. We want him nervous and unsure of himself. Maybe we should disrupt his other businesses. You got any ideas where we can hit him where it will hurt the most, Frank?”

  “I know he’s got warehouses and storage units and rental houses all over the city. I say we raid them and burn them to the ground.”

  “We can do that. If I make it onto the grounds, how can I get Judith out without getting shot?”

  “You’ll need me to find your way around, so I’ll go with you. I proved myself out on that boat.” It was not a statement but a demand.

  “C’mon, Lori, using a sniper rifle is one thing. Scaling a wall or fighting hand to hand is something else. You’re no good to me in a fight until you’re a hundred percent. Besides, I need you as a distraction at the gate. Frank, I need you to stay home and keep out of my way. Agreed?”

  For once, Lori didn’t argue. Instead, she answered his question. “Best way to get her out is through the back gate. The lawn is huge with lots of trees you can use for cover. The swimming pool’s behind the house, and the lake is out in the middle of the back lawn, so you can avoid them, both are lit up at night. There’s a big rose garden all along the back wall with lots of bricked paths and Greek statues. Down around there is where he keeps his prize-winning orchids. They have their own hothouse. That’s his one passion, other than Judith. He’s totally obsessive when it comes to those stupid flowers. Hell, he’s got a whole room in his house dedicated to the trophies and ribbons he wins at flower shows.”

  Novak smiled. “Maybe I should burn down that hothouse and everything in it on my way out. Make him cry like a baby.”

  Lori laughed out loud. “I’d love to see his face if he sees his precious orchids turned to ashes. You’ll have to get past the Dobermans first.”

  “Shit. How many dogs?”

  “Six, I think. You good with big salivating monster canines, Novak?”

  Novak didn’t answer. He wasn’t, but he knew some pepper spray that was.

  Chapter 14

  The following evening Novak and Lori drove Frank’s prized 1969 blue Mustang slowly alongside Locke’s tall white wall. They’d left Frank at the cabin, but he hadn’t liked it much, not until Novak pointed out that if the two of them got captured or killed, somebody needed to be left behind to find Lucy. Still reluctant, he agreed to stay as a backup. Lori would act as the lure and the getaway driver.

  The wall was well secured. Along the street side, it was lined with decorative evergreens spotted by solar lights, positioned every ten yards or so. They were searching for a good place that was not in the direct line of periodic security cameras mounted atop the wall. The thorough security setup had nixed any hope of going over the wall as he had done at the beach. So they were going to Plan B.

  Novak pulled the Mustang over about sixty feet from the main entrance. Switching on emergency flashers, he glanced up and down the dark street. It was late: no traffic, no pedestrians. So far, so good. Novak shoved the gea
rshift into park and glanced over at Lori where she sat in the passenger’s seat. “You sure you’re okay doing this? It’s a risk. You’ve been in their hands once. I’m not forcing you, and I don’t want you hurt.”

  “Hell, everything we do is a risk right now.”

  “You sure you can drive with that arm?”

  “My arm’s cool. I can drive. Quit worrying about me. You’ve got enough to worry about.”

  Earlier that afternoon, Lori had gone off alone in the Jeep on a shopping spree up in Port Arthur. She had on her new purchases. The black skirt was so short and tight that it should be declared illegal. So should her long bare legs. The white silk blouse was unbuttoned far enough down to draw the eye of any man with red blood circulating through his veins. He was pretty sure she wore nothing under either garment. She had not gone too far, but she was pushing that fine line big-time. The blousy sleeves hid her bandaged arm, and she’d ditched the sling again. She kept saying it was healing and getting stronger every day, but Novak wasn’t sure that was true. She still cradled it. She cradled it now. “Now that we’re here, I’m not so sure this is a good idea, Lori.”

  “It was your idea. Be cool, it’s dope. I’ve suckered men before. I’m not exactly a novice at seduction, dude. You’re just not interested in sex anymore. Frank told me.”

  “That’s not exactly true.”

  She turned and looked at him. “So this outfit’s working on you, admit it. Awesome. That’s a good sign. Rest your fears, buddy. I’m good at this sort of sexy lady thing.”

  “Don’t make it look too good, or you’ll overplay your hand and end up chained in a basement again.”

  “These guys? All I’ve gotta do is stand there and look like a damsel in distress. Men like them think ladies buy into bad guys are hot. If I smile, they’ll congratulate themselves for being so handsome. So what would you do, Novak? You drive by me, minding your own business, you gonna stop your car and help me or not?”