A Stolen Chance

by LaRoque, Linda

  “Yeah, he’s basking in the attention. He should have been a show dog.”

  “Damned shame he couldn’t stay on the force.”

  “Good for me, though.” Carson glanced through the plate glass window partition. “I’d be mighty lonely without him.” He turned back. “He’s guarding Shannon now.”

  Farley grinned. “How’d you explain Miss Langley to the guys? Saw the back slaps and razzing going on out there.”

  “Said she was my girl friend.” Susan had blushed scarlet but played along with the men’s teasing comments about finding such a good looker in the backwoods around Siesta.

  “Hmm, bet they enjoyed that.” The old leather swivel office chair squeaked as Chief Farley sat down.

  “What’d you tell them about why you’re here?”

  “Said you’d called me in about an old case of mine being connected to one in Illinois.”

  “Good cover.” The chief handed him a thick folder. “Take a look at this, so we’ll look legit.”

  Carson flipped through the folder and lifted a blank sheet of paper, handed it to the captain, and pointed to it in several places. The captain handed Carson a pen, and Carson scrawled his signature under nothing in two different spots.

  Farley took the folder, stuffed the paper inside, and tossed it to a stack on his desk. His attention turned to Shannon. “Miss Langley, anything you want to tell me before I let in those two detectives from Chicago?” He peered through the privacy window at someone in the outer office. She turned to see where his gaze landed. Hands in their pockets, the two men she’d seen at the televised news conference leaned against the outer office wall, but their eyes were on her. Their posture was meant to convey relaxation, but their faces showed impatience, as did the stiff line of their backs. “If so, now would be the time.”

  She turned back to him. Carson laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, a gesture not lost on Chief Farley. He cleared his throat. “Are you sure you’re not too emotionally involved here, Carson? Can you guard Miss Langley without your feelings affecting your instincts?”

  Carson stiffened; Susan felt the tension in the hand on her shoulder. “I’m not on the force any longer, Farley.”

  The captain nodded. “All right then. Miss Langley…” He waved a hand for her to proceed.

  “I don’t trust the force in Chicago. Dewayne and his connections have someone on the inside. He even bragged once they had FBI associates, and I believed him. If those two detectives leak where I am, Dewayne will find me and kill me.”

  He stroked his chin. “Maybe we can convince them to keep your location under wraps.” Brows furrowed, he thought for a moment and then turned his attention to Carson. “You need a couple of men to help out—keep watch posing as vacationers?”

  “You’d do that?” Carson couldn’t believe the department would help out in a case not their own.

  “For a few days, a week max, just to make sure Miss Langley’s whereabouts aren’t leaked by her coming in today. Plus, if we caught Holt, it’d be a coup for the department. I’ve not revealed her identity to anyone, but you never know when a reporter might be lurking, looking for a story, or someone on the street might recognize her.”

  “I’d appreciate the help.”

  Captain Farley signaled to the two men. They straightened and strode forward.

  Inside the office, Farley made the introductions. Both Detective Haney and Detective Williams were polite and thanked her for coming in. They spent several minutes going through the pretend folder and questioning Carson in front of the glass so those outside could see. Then Williams sat down where he couldn’t be seen by those outside, flipped open a notebook, and waited, while Haney asked questions. “We need the name of the woman who died in your home.”

  “Lauren Walker.”

  “Why hasn’t she been reported missing?”

  “She didn’t have family in the area. Her brother lives in Los Angeles, and they weren’t close.”

  “Walk us through what happened on your last night at home.”

  Susan thought she’d been prepared for their questions about Lauren, but not for the tide of emotion that erupted as she told how she and Lauren had changed places. “But she was alive when I left. We had a car waiting for her on the road beyond the field behind my house.”

  “Do you think it was Miss Walker’s intention all along to commit suicide?”

  Voice choked, Susan said, “Yes, now I do. I realize she intended all along to take Dewayne with her. She wanted me to have a chance at life without him.” Hands shaking, she wiped at her tears. “I had no idea she was sick. I knew she took pills, but she said they were vitamins the doctor gave her to help with her weight loss. She’d lost too much weight, in my opinion.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “What kind of friend can be so blind to another’s health?”

  Pity lined Detective William’s face. “Ma’am, I suspect she went to great pains to hide her illness from you.”

  Haney cleared his throat and shot his partner a glare. “You said you brought your laptop with a message from Miss Walker.”

  “Yes.” She opened the computer and brought up her emails. Williams and Haney read the message.

  “May I see that?” asked Captain Farley.

  They scooted the laptop around so he could see.

  Haney rocked on his heels and stared down at her. “Did you have any other communication with her after you left? Anything to prove she was alive?”

  For the first time since they’d entered the room she experienced fear—fear they thought she’d killed Lauren. “Isn’t the email proof?”

  Haney studied her. “Not necessarily. It could have been written earlier and set to be sent at a certain time.”

  “I did get a text message from her about an hour after I left the house. She said she was home safe.”

  “We’ll need your phone, then, and your laptop. You can have them back after our tech guys have searched all your files.”

  She handed them her phone. It didn’t contain any information she had to have at hand. She knew her parent’s number by heart, and with Lauren gone she no longer needed hers. Her laptop was a different story. “But this is a new computer. I bought it in Missouri, and I need it for the website work I do.” At least she’d backed up her files, but she hated to buy a new laptop to use until they finished with hers.

  “Your old one was found in the house, but the hard drive was missing,” said Haney.

  “Yes, I took it with me and used a government code to erase the files. Then I tossed it into a trash dumpster in Amarillo.”

  One of Haney’s eyebrows rose a notch.

  “I used the government code where I last worked to clean drives before donating them. It’s a common practice, not some big secret.”

  “We’ll need the location of that dumpster.”

  She gave him the information but didn’t know what good it would do, since more than a month had passed. The drive, along with the black wig she’d worn to get out of the house, was probably in some dump ground under a pile of rubbish by now.

  Farley slapped his desk. “Okay, boys, do you have everything you need? Plan to charge this little lady with anything?”

  “No, but we’d like for her to return to Chicago with us.”

  “Personally, I think she’s safer here. Why don’t you leave her in our custody? We’ll be responsible for keeping tabs on her. And by the way, keep her location under wraps. She took a chance coming here today to meet with you. If Dewayne Holt finds out where she is, he’ll try to kill her.”

  Both detectives stood. “We understand that, Captain. No one knows we’re here today except our captain. He’s as concerned as you are for her safety, especially since Holt is a suspect in the murder of a crime boss’s wife.”

  Her gasp didn’t go unnoticed.

  “I imagine it was payback time for him, returning a favor,” added Haney. “You have any idea for what, ma’am?”

  She shook her head and stifled a shud
der. “All I know is that I’m almost positive he was parked outside my house on the night I disappeared.”

  “Did you happen to catch the make and model of his vehicle?”

  “No, just that it was an older model dark pickup.”

  Williams flipped his notebook closed. “Miss Langley, if it helps to ease your mind any, the coroner said Miss Walker died due to an overdose of pain pills. She was already dead when the explosion occurred.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Oh, thank God.” Relief washed over her features, and she muffled her cry with a fist.

  Carson resisted the urge to take her in his arms and instead massaged her shoulder.

  She quickly recovered, and though her voice warbled, she smiled. “I’m grateful she didn’t die from the blast and fire.” She reached for Williams’ hand.

  “Thank you, Detective. You…can-can’t know how much that information eases my mind, to know Lauren didn’t suffer.” Her smile trembled on her lips.

  The big man held her hand and patted it with his free one. “I figured it would.”

  Haney drew in a deep breath of air. “As much as I’d like to believe you had something to do with her death, my instincts are pretty good when judging people.” His eyes met with those of Chief Farley and Carson. “I think I would recognize a consummate liar or a darn good actress by now.”

  “I happen to agree with your assessment, Haney.” Farley, waiting by the door, shook hands with each of the men. Before opening the door, he added, “If Holt pops up around here, we’ll notify you straightaway.”

  “We’d appreciate that.” Haney turned to Carson, his eyes sizing him up. He nodded and offered his hand. “I’m sure you’ll keep her safe, Rhodes. We appreciate you convincing her to talk with us.”

  Carson clasped the man’s big paw. “You can count on it, Detective.”

  “Oh, one more thing,” said Haney to Susan. He withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket. “I dropped by your folks’ place yesterday and suggested they buy a disposable cell phone. They called a few hours later with their number.” He handed her the paper. “Thought you might like to call them.”

  ****

  Dewayne spread The Chicago Times out on the cement picnic table, ignoring the view of the beach. Florida’s April sun warmed him, so he set the box of donuts on the newspaper to keep it from blowing away and shrugged out of his jacket. He flipped open the box, removed a pastry, and swallowed it in two bites. He took a swill of coffee to wash it down, and then reached for another sugar-coated confection.

  An item on the front page in the lower right-hand corner caught his attention. Ex-con Dewayne Holt Sought in Murder of Crime Boss’s Wife. The chocolate-covered pastry hit the paper with a plop. Dewayne brushed it aside and read, his finger moving from word to word. Investigators found Holt’s DNA at the scene… He jerked back. What the hell? He shook his head. He’d been careful. No way could they have found his DNA. He smashed the pastry with his fist. Damn it! His stomach contents. Nah, surely they didn’t scrape vomit off the ground? His skin prickled. Would Leo plant evidence to convict him? Hell, yes, he would if it took the heat off of his own ass.

  Dewayne grabbed up his breakfast, threw the newspaper in the trash, and with his coat folded over his arm, strode to his truck. He studied the vehicle as he approached. There wasn’t anything distinguishing about the dark, older model truck, but maybe it was time to ditch this gas hog and find something else to drive. Though it wasn’t showy, someone may have seen him. He’d sell it, catch a bus to the next town, and buy something there. Yeah, that sounded like a good plan.

  ****

  The two undercover cops on loan were young, probably Susan’s age. She knew looks could be deceiving and the two were capable or they wouldn’t be here. Their guns tucked into the back of their jeans and probably elsewhere, hidden by flannel shirts, the two posed as a newlywed couple.

  “Are you sure you know how everything works?” Susan asked as she looked around her camper van for the last time. She had mixed feelings about strangers staying in it, but Carson had assured her they’d take good care of it. After all, they’d eat their meals in the café, and she couldn’t let Carson be out the expense of putting them up in one of the cabins. He’d parked it beside her cottage, putting them between her and the field in case Dewayne attempted to get to her.

  “We’ve got it, Shannon. Not to worry. If we have problems with the heat or anything else, we’ll see Carson.” The pretty brunette turned Susan toward the door. “These digs are much nicer than we’re used to. Now, you go about your regular routine. If Holt shows up, we don’t want him to get suspicious and think this is your van.”

  “Right.” Susan hopped out at the vehicle’s side door and waved. “See you at breakfast.”

  She strode to her cabin to get ready for bed. Hans waited at the door. He chuffed in welcome, and she scratched his ears. “I kinda like having a roomie, boy.” She unlocked the door, then turned and surveyed the vast expanse stretching behind the cottages. It’d be so easy for someone to be hiding there, but the dog hadn’t alerted on anything. Her gaze returned to Hans. “Have you taken care of business, boy?” He yipped and scratched once on the door. She guessed that was a yes.

  Inside, Hans scoured every corner of the room, checking for intruders. Satisfied the area was secure, he went to his bowls to see if she’d added a treat since he’d last checked. Carson had warned her Hans would con her into extra food if he could, but assured her a dog bone on occasion wouldn’t hurt him. Hans cocked his head, looking at her in question.

  “Oh, all right. After all, you are working. Protecting me, aren’t you, boy?”

  A yip answered her. She lifted a dog biscuit from the box Carson had brought over and tossed it to Hans. He caught it in midair and wolfed it down in seconds before trotting over to the rug beside the door.

  She and Carson had returned from Albuquerque two days ago. No one figured Dewayne would make a move immediately if her location leaked, so Captain Farley had time to find someone to visit Siesta and help Carson. Even the best snitch system took a couple of hours, possibly a day or two, to spread the word. Plus Dewayne would need travel time. Of course, if he was in the neighborhood, that didn’t bode well for her, but she doubted he had a clue she’d escaped to the west.

  Her new cell phone sat on her makeshift desk beside her computer. She glanced at the time on the clock radio beside the bed. Ten p.m. Even considering the different time zone, her folks might still be up, but she didn’t want to chance waking them. It’d been wonderful to talk to them again. Who’d have thought stodgy old Detective Haney could be so thoughtful as to help her connect with her parents. Susan bet her mother would keep the man supplied with baked goodies for a year.

  As soon as Dewayne was caught, the elder Lawtons would be visiting Siesta to personally thank Carson, Leona, and Buck for taking their daughter under their wing. Susan settled into bed, imagining what her mother’s reaction would be when she met Carson. Would she notice the attraction between them? Without a doubt she would. Her mother had already asked probing questions, most of which Shannon did her best to avoid answering. Shannon would like to have the answers herself. The appeal was there, but neither she nor Carson knew where it would lead.

  Before she knew it, the week was over. Dewayne hadn’t shown himself, so Captain Farley felt confident neither his department in Albuquerque nor the one in Chicago had leaked Shannon’s whereabouts. He called the two officers back to Albuquerque.

  Her days settled into a routine of jogging before breakfast, with Carson at her side and Hans loping ahead to blaze a trail. Then Hans would circle around behind them to make sure they weren’t being followed. The dog’s ability to understand Carson’s commands fascinated her. She knew animals were smart, but she’d had no idea of their full potential.

  After breakfast, and Carson’s early shift at the café, they drove to a field outside of town where the locals had set up a shooting range. Bulldozed earth made a berm t
o stop stray bullets. Distances were paced off, a big board set up where patrons could staple their targets, and covered pavilions protected participants from the weather.

  Carson put her through a series of exercises to increase her response time. His praise was hard won. She had to admit she’d never make a good cop, but her skills grew little by little. Hopefully she’d be prepared if she ever came face-to-face with Dewayne.

  ****

  Frustration gnawed at Dewayne. His sources at the Chicago PD hadn’t been able to ferret out any information on Susan’s location from the detectives on the case. They’d learned the two had flown to Albuquerque and talked to a Captain Farley, but nothing else. Tight-lipped bastards. When he’d asked how they’d gotten his DNA at Leo’s mansion, his contact had actually laughed. “You fool. Don’t you know you can be traced by most body fluids?” Dewayne still heated at the memory. At least he didn’t still suspect Leo for ratting him out.

  Loaded down with his few grocery items, beer and sandwich makings, he stood in line, growing more impatient by the minute. Ahead of him, a little old lady, squeezed into a floral stretchy pantsuit, fumbled around in her change purse for three damn pennies. “I know they’re in there.” She poured the contents of the faded and cracked pocketbook onto the counter.

  Dewayne rolled his eyes and turned to see if another checker was free. His eyes lit briefly on a “rag” magazine. He snorted in disgust at the headline—Cop is a Child Murderer. Every fool knew cops were as guilty of crimes as ordinary folks. The accompanying picture showed a dark-haired man, apron tied around his waist, hand raised in anger. A woman sat alone at a table behind him, her eyes round, mouth dropped with what he supposed was shock. Something about her… He grabbed the magazine off the rack. Well, I’ll be dammed.

  “You ready, mister?” The clerk jerked back at his grin. It was all Dewayne could do not to jump into the air, click his heels, and yell.

  He straightened his face and laid his items on the counter, the rag on top. “Sure am.”