by Kaylea Cross
“Okay, I booked a couple of seats on Southwest. The flight leaves in about two and half hours. I’m going to run home and change out of this suit, so I’ll be at your place in about forty-five minutes.”
“I guess I’d better jump in the shower then. I’ll be ready by the time you get here,” Kate assured him. “And Ryan…”
“Yes.”
“I want you to know you’re a godsend.”
* * *
The comment about Kerry Park had struck a nerve with Suki—remembering how her parents used to go there to enjoy the view, while she and her brother played on the playground equipment on the terraced level below. Under different circumstances, she would have told Kate so.
What am I going to do now? Suki was flustered at this unexpected turn of events. Her palms began to sweat and her head throbbed, making it hard for her to think clearly.
The plan had been working perfectly—until now. One quick call to Ethan, that’s all it would have taken. I could have let him into the storage room before she showed up. He could have taken care of her there, and I wouldn’t have had to see it. Suki began to pace the kitchen, frustrated at the possibility of something disrupting her plan. I had an alibi, and nobody was going to find her for a long time.
“Ethan’s going to be furious.” Suki ran a hand through her hair. Kate’s leaving would totally screw up Ethan’s plan to kill her today. She knew he would certainly be angry about that, maybe even mad at her for not trying to stop Kate from going.
Racking her brain, Suki tried to think of something quick, anything she could do that would keep Kate in Seattle, but her mind went blank. There was nothing. Nothing short of doing the deed herself—right here and now. Only, Suki knew she didn’t have it in her. Ethan would have to do his own dirty work.
She glanced down the hallway, to make sure Kate was out of earshot, and then she phoned her brother. Maybe after he cooled down, he could tell her what to do before Kate was out of her grasp. The phone rang several times, but then went to voicemail.
“Ethan, call me back. Kate’s leaving town in a few minutes and I don’t know what to do. Where are you? I need to talk to you right away. Call me back!”
Suki continued to search her mind for answers, wondering what she could do to keep Kate in town. She decided she would try to overtake her and tie her up. Then her brother could decide what to do with her from there. Rummaging around the kitchen, she found an extension cord in the junk drawer and tiptoed down the hallway to Whitney’s room.
As she was trying to decide whether to knock or burst in, she heard Kate talking on the phone. She put her ear to the door and listened.
Ryan. Well, that changes things. She returned the cord to the drawer and decided that while Kate was on the phone, she would call her brother again. She was sure Ethan would be furious with Kate’s sudden departure, but she needed to alert him to the change of plans.
“Hullo?”
“Ethan, did you get my voicemail?”
“Uh, no. Sorry, I was, uh…”
“Were you out scoring drugs?”
“Never mind. What’s going on, Sis?”
“There’s been a change of plans. Kate’s leaving in a few minutes to go to Boise.”
“What? Why?”
“The police called this morning and said the Boise Police want her to look at a dead body they have in their morgue. They think it might be Whitney.”
“You know it can’t be her.”
“I know, but I couldn’t tell Kate that. I was going to knock her to the floor and tie her up, but she was on the phone with that guy she met on the plane. It sounds as if he’s going with her and he’s probably on his way to pick her up. I tried to think of something else, but I just couldn’t think of anything that would keep her from going. I’m so stupid!”
“You’re not stupid,” Ethan said evenly.
It’s probably the drugs making him so calm. She knew her brother should be more upset about the change of plans than she was, so she was glad he wasn’t giving her a tongue-lashing.
“Just settle down,” he told her in a relaxed voice. “Kate will come back to Seattle when she finds out it’s not her sister.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“We’ll have to come up with a different plan. When’s she leaving?” he asked.
“I’m not sure but it sounds like soon.” Suki peered down the hallway to make sure Kate couldn’t overhear her conversation.
“I’m on my way over, and we’ll come up with something. She’s gonna pay for what she did to Mom and Dad—one way or the other. Call me after she leaves, when the coast is clear.”
“Okay.”
* * *
Ryan had dropped a few files on his assistant’s desk on his way out, but she had stepped away. As he walked out of the elevator, he pulled out his phone and called her.
“Hey, Becky, something’s come up and I had to leave for the rest of the day, a personal emergency. Can you get signatures on those addenda I left and forward them to the other agents? I put a few sticky notes on the rest with instructions.”
“Sure,” she answered.
“I may be out tomorrow, as well. I’m not sure. So, I need you to rearrange the appointments I have on my calendar. If you could go in and check my Outlook to see what I have going that would be a big help.”
“Okay. I’ll see if Sid can take some of those appointments for you.”
“Great,” he said.
“What’s up?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice. She had worked for him for the last three years, long enough to know it was not like him just to take off like that.
“I need to fly to Boise this afternoon.”
“Didn’t you just get back from Boise yesterday?”
“Yes, but I met someone on the plane and—”
“A female someone?” she interrupted.
“Yes, a female someone. She’s in a bit of a jam and I need to help her out.”
“She must be something pretty special for you to just drop everything.”
“I’m not dropping everything, just needing to rearrange my plans.”
“Still, she must be special,” Becky said.
“She is. We had dinner together last night, and I think we really connected. She needs my help, so if I can—”
“Don’t worry about a thing, Boss. Sid and I will hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
“Tha—”
“Hang on a sec. I think you’ll want to hear this.”
“Hear what?” he asked. He was just about to repeat it when he realized what she meant. In the background, he heard Vanessa’s voice. He listened to the exchange.
“I was looking for Ryan. Is he around?”
“Sorry, just missed him.”
“Appointment?”
“No.”
“When will he be back?”
“Don’t know.”
“Today?”
Ryan thought that Vanessa sounded like she was getting irritated with Becky’s evasiveness. He smiled to himself. He knew Becky didn’t like Vanessa—she made no secret of it.
“Probably not.”
“Did he go to Boise?” she asked, her voice laden with disgust.
“Can’t say.”
So, it must have been Vanessa that called in the tip.
He heard Vanessa snort, “Humph!” Then he pictured her throwing her long dark tresses over her shoulder, adjusting her fitted suit jacket—eyes narrowed, lips pouting—and storming out. The sound of a slamming door followed by Becky’s evil giggle confirmed it.
“Hey, Boss,” Becky came back on the line. “So, what were you about to say?”
He chuckled. “Thanks, Beck.”
* * *
Kate stuck her head into the kitchen and found Suki seated at the table, reading the morning newspaper.
“Suki, I have to hop in the shower and get ready. I called Ryan and he’s going to Boise with me. He’ll be coming to pick me up in a little whil
e.”
“Really? He hardly knows you.”
“True, but I need his help,” Kate responded.
“It sounds like he wants something, if you know what I mean.”
“Suki, it’s not like that,” Kate replied emphatically, not liking the implication. “He’s being a friend. He knows I’m going to need some emotional support when I go in to identify the dead body. I can’t exactly call my friends in Los Angeles and have them travel all day. Boise’s only an hour’s flight from here. I asked Ryan if he’d go with me and he said yes.”
“Well, either way, it sounds like you must have had quite an effect on him last night.”
Kate smiled to herself and hurried to the bathroom.
She had a quick shower, partially blow-dried her hair and put a little make-up on. Then she slipped into her skinny jeans and a white long-sleeved knit tee, taking her black leather jacket for the ride to the airport, figuring Boise would be much warmer than drizzly Seattle. She packed her small carry-on bag in case they ended up staying overnight.
“Ryan’s here!” Suki called out.
Kate met him at the door and they left quickly, not wanting to miss their flight. They hurried the half block to where Ryan had found a prime parking space on the street.
“Listen,” Ryan said as they walked toward his Land Rover, “when I was coming to get you, I noticed that guy—the one with the blue ball cap—he was leaning against the far corner of the building.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. At first, I wondered if it was him, but when he turned and saw I had seen him, he peeled away from the building and went down the street in the opposite direction. Sorry, but I didn’t have time to follow him.”
“We’ll have to let Patel and Porter know. That guy is turning up just a little too often.”
Chapter Nine
Ryan and Kate dashed to the airport. The traffic on the I-5 wasn’t too bad, and they were able to nab a choice parking spot in the long-term parking area.
They retrieved their boarding passes from the kiosk. Both Kate and Ryan took their small luggage on board instead of checking them, so they could breeze through the security line.
Once on board, they squeezed into their seats on the small commuter aircraft. Kate was unusually quiet, nervously awaiting take-off. Ryan couldn’t help but notice her fidgeting—crossing her arms, then uncrossing them, looking at her watch, shifting in her seat. Her eyes were moist with fear and apprehension.
The plane began to taxi on the runway. As the engines went into full thrust, Kate laid her head back, closed her eyes and gripped the armrests. Once the aircraft leveled out, she released her grasp and let out a long sigh.
“You okay?” Ryan asked.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied.
Ryan kept light conversation going, talking about the weather and his work. It relaxed her a bit. However, the closer the plane got to Boise, the less talkative Kate became. She felt tense again and kept drifting off, lost in thought.
Ryan must have sensed her anxiety because he reached over and took her hand in his. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“You’re doing it,” she said.
With the slightest touch of his index finger, he wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
She met his eyes for a moment, managing a little smile, then turned and looked out the window. She sensed him wanting to keep her engaged in conversation, get her mind on something else, but small talk seemed frivolous right now.
Ryan appeared relieved when the captain’s voice came over the loud speaker instructing the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for final descent. Kate noticed him look down at his hand still holding hers. She had found it comforting and had not wanted to let go.
As soon as the plane was on the ground and taxied up to its gate, Ryan and Kate grabbed their carry-ons, disembarked, and hastily made their way to one of the car rental counters. After picking up the car, a white compact sedan, they drove straight to the police headquarters.
Ryan pulled into the parking lot, turned the engine off, and started to reach for the door. Kate laid her hand on his forearm to stop him. He looked surprised, glancing at her hand, and then into her watery eyes.
“Have I told you how much I appreciate you coming with me?”
“Only two or three times,” Ryan replied with a grin.
“Well, I just want to make sure you know,” she said, doing her best to manage a little smile.
She released her hand and they got out of the car. With his arm draped casually around her shoulders, they briskly walked into the police station and spoke with the receptionist working the front desk. Kate explained to her who she was and why she was there.
“Yes, they’re expecting you, Miss McAllister. And who are you, sir?”
“My name is Ryan Wilson. I’m a friend of Kate’s.”
“All right, then. Let me call an officer to take you to see the Medical Examiner.”
She picked up the phone. In a matter of minutes, a female officer appeared. “Just follow me,” she said, “and I’ll show you where to go.”
A couple of detectives were talking outside the door to the morgue as they approached. Their conversation ceased when they saw the trio coming.
“Miss McAllister,” the officer said, “this is Detective Gilbert and Detective Franklin. They’ll take you inside.” The female officer nodded at her colleagues and then left.
“And you are…?” Franklin asked, looking at Ryan.
“I’m Ryan Wilson, a friend of Kate’s. I’m here for moral support. I hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine. Let’s go inside,” the detective said.
He pulled open the glass door for them and Kate went through first. She was already a bundle of nerves, and the medicinal and chemical smells made her stomach turn. The County Medical Examiner was already inside the morgue, waiting for Kate to arrive.
“Doc, this is Kate McAllister,” said Detective Gilbert.
Dr. Wagner was a tall, bulky man with a pronounced curvature of the spine, obvious under his white coat, and a full head of gray hair.
“Yes, I’ve been expecting you,” Dr. Wagner said, peering over the top of his wire-rimmed glasses. “So sorry to have to make you do this, but we need to find out who this young woman is. The body is over here,” he said as he walked, pointing to the deceased, covered by a large white cloth, lying on a cold metal gurney. “I’ll pull back the sheet when you’re ready. Just give the word.”
Kate steeled herself for the possibility that it was Whitney’s lifeless body lying on the steel table. She breathed in slowly and leaned against Ryan for support. He sensed her need and put his arm around her shoulder once more.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Dr. Wagner pulled back the sheet, and Kate gasped. Her stomach lurched. The cold, pale, dead woman was about Whitney’s age with similar blonde hair. She had bruises around her neck and a deep wound on her forehead. At first glance, the similarity was disturbing. Kate thought for a panicked moment that it might be Whitney.
“Is it your sister?” Gilbert asked.
“No, it’s not.” Kate shook her head slightly. “It’s not Whitney.”
Overcome with relief, her knees went weak and she started to collapse. Ryan grabbed hold of her around the waist to help steady her.
“Why don’t you take her out, son? We’re done here,” the doctor suggested to Ryan, as he covered up the lifeless body.
“Okay, Kate, I’ve got you. Let’s get out of here.” With this arm still about her waist, he led her out.
“Thanks, Ryan, I’ll be all right,” Kate said, as she let him help her out of the room, regaining some strength in her legs. She looked up at Ryan through a blur of tears. “It’s upsetting, but I’m glad it’s not my sister.”
“Me, too,” he responded.
Then she turned and looked again at the covered body through the closed glass doors. “It’s just so sad, though.”
“The g
irl?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. She’s not Whitney, but she was somebody’s daughter.”
* * *
“Now what?” Kate asked Ryan, standing in front of the police station in the bright sunshine.
“I’ll have to check for return flights. I didn’t make any reservations because I didn’t know what we’d find here and when we’d be returning.” He looked at his watch. “It’s almost three o’clock. There may still be an available flight back to Seattle tonight. Let me go online and check.”
“I need to sit down and get something to eat. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.” Her stomach had been in knots most of the day, and viewing the dead body had drained her emotionally.
“If I remember correctly, I think there’s a Starbucks or something not far from here,” Ryan said.
“A Chai latté and a slice of pumpkin bread would make me feel better.”
Ryan opened the car door for Kate and helped her in, before sliding behind the wheel.
Kate looked over at him, warmth enveloping her like a favorite blanket. She barely knew Ryan—it had only been two days—but he had stepped up and become her knight in shining armor. She normally liked to think of herself as strong and self-reliant, living on her own, running her own business, taking care of herself. Yet these last few days had thrown things at her that she had never had to deal with before.
They drove into the parking lot of the coffee shop and stepped inside.
“Why don’t you go up and order something, and I’ll find us a table and start checking with the airlines,” he said.
“All right. Can I get you anything?” Kate offered, as Ryan took a seat at one of the small tables.
“A bottle of water would be good.”
“Okay,” Kate said, “I’ll be right back.
Leaving Ryan to go online to check the various airline schedules on his smartphone, she went to the counter. As she waited her turn in line, she wondered if there would be any seats left on any of the direct evening flights back to Seattle, with such short notice.
“Any luck?” she asked, setting his water down in front of him. She hoped she wasn’t becoming a burden. Surely, he had worked to get back to.
“No. Not any direct flights, anyway. I don’t really want to go to Las Vegas and Portland just so I can get back to Seattle by midnight tonight.” A mischievous smile formed on his lips. “I have an idea.”
