“Okay, I’ll look into it for you. We’ll handle things from this end.”
“I want you to look at a file for me and see if you see anything. I’ll email it to you.” He opened it on his computer and sent it to Dylan’s email.
“What am I looking for?” Dylan asked.
“Anything that seems to stand out to you or that might tie these two cases together. I feel like I’m missing something.” Matt put his badge in his pocket. “You know how to reach me.” Jeremy walked into the room, ready to go.
“I’ll read through it. Do you want me to see if Joel has signed in at the prison to see his brother in recent days?”
“Good idea.” He should have thought of that. “They keep a log of all visitors.”
“I’ll get back to you, Matt, if I find anything.”
“Same here.” Matt hung up and emailed Dylan and Tom Maxwell a copy of the second note, then called Frank Wagner.
“What’s up?” Jeremy asked as soon as Matt was through talking to Frank.
“We should be getting a photo of the man who installed the equipment in Jessie’s store. It could be our guy or someone he hired to do it. I hope it will be good enough quality to see the guy’s face.”
“I’ve been thinking. What if Adriana’s stalker and Jessie’s worked together to help each other out? Maybe they hatched this little plan together or had the help of a few friends?”
“What made you think that?”
“I was checking on the guys from the bank like you asked, and some things just don’t add up.”
“Like what?” Matt’s brows lifted slightly.
“They all belonged to the same health club, which could be a coincidence, and they all lived in the same apartment building. Two of them went to NYU, and one of them had just started at the bank a few months ago.”
“Which one is new at the bank?” Matt asked, but he already knew the answer. “Jordon Daniels!”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“I knew the moment I met him I wanted to punch him. Now I might have probable cause. One can hope.” Matt grinned. “Who else went to NYU?”
“Randy Wallis. Another point of interest, which may or may not mean anything is Professor Irwin quit his job not long after the interview, which is unusual for a tenured professor. He’d had several death threats, and he seemed just to drop off the planet. Irwin’s wife had mysteriously vanished the year before and was never found.”
“Interesting. We may need to locate a living relative.” Matt looked at Jeremy. “What else do you have for me? Damn, you’re good at information gathering. I could use you on my team.”
“Brett Peters’ real name is William Mallory and he served a couple of years in prison. He was released six months ago, and that’s when he moved to Rocky Pointe. I’m trying to find out who he associated with while he served time.”
“Good work.” Matt grabbed his files and keys. “Guess who owns Java Joe’s?”
“Not, a clue.”
“Joel Cummings, Jason Cummings’ brother. Do you remember Jason?”
“I sure do. He’s serving time, isn’t he?” Jeremy whistled softly. “I’ll have to check it out. Where are we headed?”
“Tom has everything set up with the West Coast Office. I had a call from the Palm Springs PD to check in with Chief Balasco this morning. Agent Henderson will be there too.” He printed another copy of the second note to give to them. “Let’s get going.”
Matt backed the car out of the parking space. “I would stake a lot on the idea that there’s more than one guy in on this. The logistics alone dictate it.”
“How so?” Jeremy clicked his seatbelt.
“Adriana was taken near Blue Cove. Jessie lives there, and they found bugs in her house and shop. They brought Adriana across the country to the desert of California, and someone placed a note in Jessie’s store after Adriana was abducted.” Matt looked in his mirror and changed lanes. “Jessie and I usually talk these things out together and we help each other think outside the box. If you have anything, lay it on me.” Matt frowned. “It doesn’t make sense. We’re missing an important piece in this case…”
“The guys at the bank could be in on it.”
“They could be, or they could have been inadvertently used to get information and set the abduction up.”
“I’ll try to find out who Mallory’s friends are.”
“I’d be surprised if you find any. Men like him don’t have friends. They tend to use people or be used by them. He might have met someone in prison he tried to impress. We also can’t forget the voodoo angle either, and how it might play into it.” Matt turned in to the station. “From what Sadie said, it was pretty scary. I can agree with her assessment.”
Just as Matt pulled into the parking space, his phone chimed an incoming email. He opened it up and saw a poor quality photo.
“This is the guy.” He handed his phone to Jeremy.
“You can barely see his face. Jeez, I was hoping for someone that stood out, but he just looks ordinary.” Jeremy handed the phone back to Matt.
“He was probably paid to install the equipment. I’ll have Gary send a copy to Tom to see if the Bureau’s technicians can clean it up a little. It would be great to find out who he is and who hired him.”
“If he was a hire, there might be fingerprints.” Jeremy grabbed his computer case off the floor when he opened the door. “I mean, if he’s not in on this he wouldn’t be worried about prints, would he?”
“I don’t think I’d get my hopes up in that department.” Matt opened his car door and got out with his case files in hand.
****
The sergeant ushered them into Tony Balasco’s office. Tony stood up from his desk and reached over to shake Matt and Jeremy’s hands. “We’ll get started in a minute as soon as Agent Henderson gets here. Help yourself to some coffee.” He pointed to the small alcove across from his office.
Matt stepped out to get a cup. The first thing Matt had noticed was that Balasco was a short, but a solidly built man with a thick Eastern accent. He had a firm handshake and a smile that reached his eyes. Matt liked him. He liked him even more when he heard him laugh at something Jeremy had said.
Matt sat down in the chair and opened his files. “You sound like a New Yorker.” He smiled at the chief as he said it.
“I am, or I should say, I was.” He briefly closed his eyes. “I bet you’re wondering how I got here.”
Matt nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
“I was a young cop working a beat the day the Trade Center Towers came down. I was several blocks away but saw the first plane hit the tower.” His eyes fixed on Matt. “My first thought was that it was an accident until I saw the second plane do the same thing. Sirens were screaming all over the city. I tried to make my way there, but as you can imagine, there was a lot of panic on the streets. I got close enough to see people hanging out windows and jumping to their deaths. I was never close enough to get inside the building. Too many people running from the building needed help.” He cleared his throat.
“I can imagine. As a kid, I watched the news coverage alongside my parents.” Matt remembered it well.
“It still affects me.” Tony’s eyes were misty. “When the first tower fell, it was like being swallowed up in the gray mist of hell. God only knows what swirled around the city. You could hardly see or breathe. I tried to help people, but I knew with every step I took that a lot of people had died. It was the worst thing I’ve ever been near.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I lost a lot of good friends that day. I still have dreams that haunt me. After all the funerals, I knew I needed to get out of there and make a fresh start.”
“This is pretty far from there.” Jeremy sat forward in his chair.
“I put in for jobs as far away from the sad memories of that day as I could get. You have to admit this little place is an oasis in the desert and just about as different from New York as I can get. I don’t regret it, not even for a m
oment.”
“Being from New York, I can understand.” Jeremy looked away briefly. “I was a kid, but everyone you talk to can remember where they were when the towers came down.”
Tony cleared his throat again. “Before I forget to mention it, Jessie Reynolds will be here this afternoon to introduce herself. Her grandmother wanted us to know what she looked like, just in case.”
“That sounds like Sadie.” Matt grinned.
“Tom Maxwell filled me in on some of the details and I would like to get the rest from you.” Balasco watched Jeremy stand up. “Decided on some coffee after all?” Jeremy nodded.
Tony looked at Matt. “Between you and me, I wish we didn’t have to include Agent Henderson. He’s somewhat of a control freak. He likes to micromanage things. He’s trying to make a name for himself, I guess. On the fast track if you know what I mean.” Tony stood abruptly. “Speak of the devil, here he comes. Prepare yourself.”
A tall man with blond hair walked into the office as if he owned it. His broad shoulders filled the doorway as he paused to stare at Matt. “I see we get the honor of working with each other again, Balasco.” He shook Tony’s hand, but his eyes returned to Matt.
“Agent Henderson, this is Chief Matt Parker.”
Matt shook his hand and tipped his head. “Thanks for letting us work with you.”
Henderson barely acknowledged Matt. “I’ll be running this operation. You both need to go through me. I don’t want any Lone Ranger messing up my case. If you’re on to something, you fill me in. You got it?” Henderson looked directly at Matt when he said it.
“I sure do,” Matt’s answer was brief, his features schooled. If this were the avenue to get what he needed for Jessie, he would just have to suck it up and take whatever this fella dished out. And he was sure Henderson would dish it out.
“Okay then, let’s get down to business.” His cold gaze swept them. “I have what Tom sent me and I want to see what you have for me.” He reached for the notes and files Matt had for him.
Chapter 13
Jessie walked into the small kitchen, checking her phone for messages.
“You look lovely. That pink shirt gives a little color to your cheeks.” Sadie smiled at her.
“Thanks.” She bent and whispered in Sadie’s ear, “I love you, Grams.”
“I love you, too.” Sadie patted the chair next to her. “Sit down, dear.” She took a cup and poured her some coffee. “I think we’re all going to need this to get through the day.”
Jessie held the cup between her hands. “You know, Grams, I’m ready to fight. If we were scared last night, can you imagine how Adriana is feeling? There were three of us, but she’s all alone.” Jessie’s eyes flashed with anger. “They abducted her several weeks ago and there’s no telling what they’ve done to her. I get sick thinking about it. If it were me, I would want Matt to move heaven and earth to find me.”
“Have you heard anything from her or seen her in your dreams?” Sadie took a blueberry muffin from the basket and passed the basket to Jessie.
“No, and that makes this case harder. I think they might have sedated her. She’s not dreaming, so I don’t know. I would think she’d be hallucinating or something. I haven’t seen her since the night I saw her in the trunk of the car and the dark figure bent over her.” Jessie grabbed a sesame bagel.
“I hope her baby will be okay.” Sadie pinched off a piece of her muffin popping it in her mouth.
“Who’s sedated?” Katie walked into the kitchen.
Sadie smiled at her. “We’re talking about Adriana, dear.”
“Let’s hope so. How else could she remain calm in an endless nightmare?” Katie sat across from Jessie.
“You’re right, Katie.” Jessie handed her a cup of steaming hot coffee. “I think you hit the nail on the head. She’s sedated and out of it altogether.” Jessie glanced at Katie “Sometimes you surprise me with your astuteness.”
“Yeah, whatever that means.” Katie rolled her eyes at Jessie.
“You know what it means. You always play dumb, but you’re an intelligent woman.” Jessie gave Katie a playful slap.
“Of course I am, but a smart woman is a threat to men. You’re a prime example. You scare them off in droves.”
“Any man who is threatened by a woman’s intelligence isn’t much of a man in my book.” Sadie adjusted her glasses on her nose. “Some men love to talk things out with a woman who can think for herself.”
“Oh my gosh, Sadie, you’re cute.” She blew her a kiss. “What man? Give me an example!”
“Matt, for one.” Sadie grinned at Jessie.
“It’s true.” Jessie eyed Sadie’s smug smile. “We do seem to work well together, bouncing ideas off of each other, but it wasn’t always that way. We fought a lot in the beginning.”
“Okay, so there’s one, but it doesn’t mean much. Matt loves Jessie. There aren’t very many others.” Katie took a muffin from the basket.
“I’m glad he’ll be here soon.” Sadie looked over her glasses at Jessie.
“Me too! He’ll know what the next step is.” “And you know, Katie, you’re wrong. There are others.”
“Like who?” Katie’s eyes lit up.
“Like Jeremy.” Jessie’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Now there’s a guy I could get used to talking to.” She winked at Sadie.
“You’d better start practicing.” Sadie laughed. “He’s here in Palm Springs and will be coming tonight with Matt.”
“Did you say Jeremy is here?” Katie jumped up and did her happy dance around the room. She grabbed Sadie and tried to get her to dance. Sadie shook her head no. “Oh, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“It’s the only news you’ve heard. It’s still early yet.” Jessie laughed, and Katie gave her a playful slap.
“Party pooper.” Katie sat again. “I have to do my hair and makeup. I wonder what I should wear.”
“Settle down. You’ll have plenty of time to get yourself ready. Matt and Jeremy won’t be here until around dinnertime. Do you think we should order in tonight?” Sadie looked at the dark circles under her granddaughter’s eyes. “You seem a little tired.” Sadie saw Jessie’s chin edge up.
Jessie shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, Grams, I think we should all go out. I think it would be good to get out of this room for a while tonight.” She sipped her coffee.
“That’s okay with me. You know, I was thinking, girls, instead of moving on to San Diego, how about we just stay here. I checked, and we can have this suite for a few more nights. There’s an open street fair on Thursday that I thought would be great fun to see.”
“I think you read my mind, Grams. It’s perfect.” Jessie took a bite of her bagel. It’s not the right time to move.”
“It’s fine with me as long as whatever happened last night stays away.” Katie shuddered. “If Jeremy’s here, I’m not going anywhere.” Katie took a sip of her coffee. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“We need to stop by the police station for a few minutes. I want them to meet Jessie. Then I think we should do a little shopping. I want to buy you both new outfits. How does that sound, girls?”
Katie smiled. “I’m always up for a new outfit.” Katie spread some butter on her muffin and took a bite. “Oh my, this tastes wonderful. I guess I was hungry.”
“I’ll just give Matt a text and let him know we are planning to go out for dinner.” She smiled at Katie’s exuberance. “Finish up; we need to get on our way.”
****
Jessie shut the door behind her and walked out into the warm sunlight. Chief Balasco was a good man. She wasn’t so sure about Agent Henderson. He had bugged her. She didn’t like the way he had looked at her. It felt like total freedom to walk out of the station away from his stares. He was a colossal jerk, and he was in charge. Poor Matt.
“Dear, I think we should make this normal time for Katie.” Sadie grabbed Jessie’s arm to slow her p
ace. “I know shopping doesn’t sound like you’re doing anything for Adriana, but your mind will keep working. Maybe you’ll hear something as we go through the day. After last night, I want to keep Katie’s mind off it. Besides, I want you both to have a little fun on this trip despite everything.”
“I know you’re right. It’s hard for me not to get wrapped up in a case once I get going on it.” Jessie turned to talk to Sadie. “Besides, Matt will be here soon, and we can talk. He helps me see things more clearly.” Jessie walked arm in arm with Sadie to the car.
Katie had remained in the car and at some point had put the top down. “You took long enough. It’s hot in the sun,” she called out as they approached.
“Now, Katie, I’m old enough to set the record straight. It took all of fifteen minutes, and I tried to get you to come in. I didn’t want you to get too warm, remember?” Sadie chided her. “Jessie, you drive. I’m never good when I don’t know an area very well.”
Jessie followed Sadie’s directions and turned down Palm Canyon Drive, a street lined with palm trees and flowers. It was the heart of Palm Spring’s downtown area with all its shops and restaurants. “Where do you want to go, Grams?”
“I was told we had to visit this place.” Sadie handed a piece of paper to Katie with instructions on it. “It’s the El Paseo shopping district, the Rodeo Drive of the desert.”
“Wow, it has over three hundred shops, boutiques, and art galleries. El Paseo has just about everything you could want, including jewelry. You know how I love jewelry.” Katie’s eyes filled with excitement reading the brochure.
It was a floral-filled, well-maintained mile of beautiful shops and restaurants. Excited to explore the shops, Katie was squealing with delight. Jessie smiled at her, getting into her enthusiasm. Katie was bound to find several things that she loved. Shopping here could do some major damage to Jessie’s budget, but she was willing to risk it. She’d probably never be back to the area again. Jessie pulled into the first parking space she came across. “Do you feel like walking a little, Grams?”
“Of course,” she replied gaily. “Let’s hit a few of these bad boys and shop our cares away.” She smiled at them.
The Game Changer Page 11
