As Good as Dead

by Patricia H. Rushford

  “Why don’t you check?”

  “I will.” Angel made her way over to the laptop and turned it on. “I would’ve sent the limo back, you know.”

  “I’m sure you would have, Angel, but we really would like you to stay.”

  “In other words, ‘Forget it, sister, you’re staying put.’”

  “You did agree to help us.”

  “Yeah. Under duress.”

  Angel opened the inbox. No letter from Callen. “I don’t understand it. He said he’d get back to me.”

  “Perhaps something’s come up. You can check again in the morning—or I should say later this morning. In the meantime, I’d suggest we all go back to bed and try to get some sleep.”

  Dan yawned, saying he’d wait up until the limo arrived.

  Angel, having given up on her escape plans, headed to her room. This time around, she put on the flannel pajamas with a Winnie the Pooh pattern and, after using the bathroom, fell into bed.

  She awoke to someone ringing the doorbell. Angel looked out the window but didn’t see anyone. She hurriedly dressed and brushed her teeth and hair, then headed to the stairs. Callen was standing in the entry, keys dangling from his hand.

  “Detective.” Bernie greeted him like a long-lost friend. “We were just talking about you. Won’t you have a seat? I’ll see if Angel is awake. We had a rather late night.”

  “So I heard.”

  “I take it the officer who found her stealing my car told you what happened?”

  “Right. I heard via the grapevine and called him. He was kind enough to give me details on how to get here.”

  Angel took the stairs two at a time. “I hope he’s in hot water. I tried to tell him who I was.”

  “And how the PD didn’t know who you were?” Callen pursed his lips. “A misunderstanding. There was a lot going on at the jail last night.”

  Something in his features sounded an inner alarm. “What happened? Did Justin recognize the DA?”

  “I never got the chance to show the picture to him. Justin Moore is dead.”

  FORTY-THREE

  Justin is dead?” Angel couldn’t assimilate the words. “But how is that possible? Did he get out? Did one of the inmates...?”

  “His throat was slit, and we have no idea who is responsible, and no one is talking,” Callen told her. “They’re questioning everyone in the jail now. They brought in the CSI team. Hopefully we’ll get some answers.”

  “Someone got to him before he could ID the photo?” Angel felt a repressive heaviness in her chest.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Bernie’s voice infiltrated her reeling thoughts. “I was hoping he’d be able to help us.”

  “Have you heard anything about Luke?” Angel asked. Justin’s death magnified the danger for her brother.

  “No, nothing, I’m sorry.” Turning to Bernie, Callen said, “I think you and your friend have some explaining to do. Would you like to tell me why you’re holding my girlfriend hostage?”

  “Hostage?” His congenial smile was back. “As Angel will tell you, she agreed to come with us.”

  Angel brushed her hair out of her face. “That’s because I thought I had no choice at the time. I thought it was either me or Kinsey and Marie. You admitted you could be pretty intimidating.”

  Callen caught her gaze. “Do we arrest them or not?”

  “Not. He’s right. I promised to go with them to help them find Luke. They’ve actually helped—I think. They’re the ones who put me on to the DA. Rachael and I had talked about the possibility, but Bernie seems to think he’s our guy and feels certain that Luke can help us prove it.”

  Angel made the belated introductions, and the four of them sat down to coffee and breakfast, which Dan prepared while Bernie explained his situation and Angel gave Callen the files she’d printed off the computer.

  While Callen read through them, Angel thought about poor Justin. Whoever had hired him must have somehow found out he’d been arrested. Angel again thought back to the night before, when Penghetti had retired to his room to make phone calls. Had one of those calls been to order someone to kill Justin? The thought sent chills up her spine, and she shivered. The night before she had told Bernie about Justin being in jail. She’d also talked about wanting Justin to look at the DA’s photo. What she hadn’t told Bernie was that she had wanted to show Justin a photo of Bernie as well. Had Bernie somehow known that? Had he seen his family portraits in her bag?

  Whatever help Justin might have provided was now lost to them forever.

  Bernie didn’t seem concerned when Angel and Callen left, other than asking Angel to keep him informed and reassuring her that all he wanted to do was talk to Luke. Everyone seemed to want Luke, and Angel refused to believe that he might already be dead.

  Callen glanced over at her as he waited for several cars to pass before turning out onto the main highway. “You sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She tipped her head back and released a long sigh. “Strange as it may seem, I actually like those two.”

  “But?”

  “I don’t trust them. I doubt they had anything to do with Luke’s disappearance; otherwise why would they be looking for him? I’m not sure I believe all this stuff about just wanting to talk to him, though. Bernie made some phone calls last night in private. He said he was calling his family. I’m afraid he may have made arrangements to have Justin killed.”

  “Why would he do that if he wanted Justin to see the DA’s photo?”

  “I don’t know. I’m totally confused and frustrated and...” She folded her arms. “How are Kinsey and Marie?”

  “Holding up. I talked to Kinsey this morning and told her I was on my way to rescue you.”

  “Some rescue. I’m not sure I was ever in any real danger—and you didn’t even bring backup.”

  “Actually, I did. The officer who picked you up last night was standing by in case I needed him.”

  “Hmm. So what do we do now?” Angel turned sideways in her seat.

  “You are going to the resort. I’m running through rental car agencies, trying to find out who rented a white Lexus.”

  “Like the car Marty said he saw Luke get into?”

  Callen nodded. “I’m not sure it’ll do any good. I’m just trying to come up with some leads.”

  “I could do that for you,” Angel said. “I need to do something.”

  He made a left onto the main road. “You could,” he said finally. “Yesterday, you asked Joe for your old job back. Were you serious?”

  “I’m not sure.” She hadn’t had time to think about her decision, but it had seemed right at the time. “I think I’m ready. Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself wanting to be back in the fray. I can’t stand being an outsider, and I’m not cut out to be a civilian.”

  He chuckled at that. “No kidding. Rachael will be disappointed in losing her ace detective.”

  Angel chewed on her lower lip. “True, but she’ll understand. Besides, I’ll need more work than what she’s had for me if I’m going to survive financially.”

  Pop will be pleased. The thought hit her hard and brought a lump to her throat.

  Callen reached over to take her hand. “You don’t have to go back to work.”

  “It’s not that, and yes, I do. I was just thinking about my father.”

  “He’d approve.”

  “I know. I feel bad that he died thinking I’d given up.”

  “I don’t think he ever thought that about you.”

  “He was disappointed.”

  “In himself, not you.”

  Angel hated dredging up the old hurts. She’d set them aside after her father’s death, intending to move on. Frank Delaney had loved her. She knew that. His anger and disappointment had probably been in himself. “Why does it matter so much?” Angel found a box of tissues behind the front seat and grabbed a couple to blow her nose. “Why do I still feel like I need his approval?”

  Callen slowed
as they neared town. “It’s a natural tendency to want to please a parent. We feel validated when we know our parents approve of us. When they don’t, or when we think they don’t, we feel unfinished, inadequate.”

  “I was never good enough for him. At least that’s how I felt.”

  Callen squeezed her hand. “To hear him talk, you were perfect.”

  She smiled. “He told you that?”

  “Yeah, a time or two.”

  “He never told me.”

  “I’m telling you.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across her knuckles.

  Too many emotions. So much confusion. How would she ever sort it all out? Eventually she would, but for now, she had to set aside her feelings about her father and his death. For now, she had to focus on finding Luke.

  FORTY-FOUR

  The rental car agencies had a total of ten cars matching the description Angel had given them of the white Lexus. None of the names was familiar. But then she hadn’t expected them to be. Three of the cars had been returned. Still, she folded the list, complete with license plate numbers, names, car model, and make, and placed it in her bag to give to Callen when he came to pick her up for dinner.

  The phone rang, and Angel answered on the second ring.

  “Good afternoon, Angel. How would you like to see your brother?”

  Angel gasped. “Who is this?”

  “That doesn’t matter at the moment. Do you want to see him or not?”

  “Of course. How much do you want?”

  He chuckled. “This isn’t about money. It’s about you. You are the key to your brother’s survival.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will eventually.” That voice. Had she heard it before? Angel couldn’t remember.

  “What do you want me to do?” Angel concentrated on breathing normally.

  “I’ll take you to your brother, but I need your assurance that you won’t go to the police.”

  “So you can abduct me too? I don’t think so.”

  “Let me reiterate. Do you want to see your brother again?”

  Angel didn’t know what to answer. It would be crazy to let this man take her anywhere. Somehow she’d have to notify Callen, but how closely was she being watched? If she could get a GPS or a wire, Callen would be able to track her.

  “Okay.” Angel had no intention of following his orders without talking to Callen, but she couldn’t let the opportunity to see Luke slip away.

  “There’s a public park just southwest of the resort. Follow the walk along the river and you’ll see it to your right. Walk through the park to the street on the west side. You’ll find a maroon van with the keys under the seat. Get in it and drive.”

  “Where to?”

  “You’ll find instructions in the car.”

  “When?” she asked

  “Now. No cops, no global positioning devices, no wires.”

  “What’s my assurance that you’ll take me to Luke?”

  “You’ll just have to trust me. Do as I ask and you won’t be hurt.”

  “How do I even know he’s alive?”

  “He is.”

  “You expect me to trust you?”

  “As I said, Luke’s life depends on your cooperation.”

  “All right. I’m leaving now.”

  “Ten minutes.”

  “Will you be in the van?” Angel asked, but the line went dead before she could get two words out.

  Angel dialed Callen’s number and was relieved when he answered immediately. “How soon can you get a GPS or a wire to me?”

  “What’s going on?”

  Angel told him about the phone call while she put on her shoes and grabbed her bag.

  “Forget it.” Callen said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll follow the instructions myself.”

  “That isn’t going to work. He’ll be watching me. I’m afraid that if I mess up in any way, he’ll kill Luke.”

  “I hate to say this, Angel, but Luke may already be dead.”

  “Don’t say that. I’m going. He said ten minutes.”

  “There’s no way I can set you up with a GPS or a wire that soon.”

  Angel punched the elevator button, then opted to take the stairs. “He said it would be a maroon van. Maybe you can just follow me. Stay a safe distance behind. I’ll try to call you again.”

  “This is crazy.”

  “I know. I don’t understand why he wants me, but we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Be careful, Angel.”

  “Always am.” Angel pushed open the main door to the resort and walked out into the cool, crisp air. She’d put a jacket over her knit top and was glad she had. Her trepidation grew as she walked into the park. She could see the van parked just where the caller had said it would be.

  Hurrying through the park, Angel wondered who the caller could have been. He hadn’t sounded like Bernie or Dan, but she still didn’t know how they fit in, and Bernie could have hired someone. Justin was out of the equation. The caller could have been the DA or the original hit man who had let Luke escape.

  Angel slowed as she approached the van. It appeared empty. Maybe she’d get lucky and Luke would be in the back. Maybe someone was waiting inside to finish her off. She opened the side door on the van and looked inside. Empty. She glanced around, worried when she didn’t see any sign of Callen or a cop car. She climbed into the passenger side seat, then looked around for the instructions the caller had promised. On the passenger side seat was a note: “Drive to Silver Lake Mall, located off Highway 95 at Hanley, park near an entrance, and walk inside. Go into the Bon Marche, to the cosmetic counter.”

  Angel did as the note said. The guy was obviously playing games. She called Callen to tell him what the note said. He assured her that he had her in his sights and would keep tailing her.

  Once inside the mall, Angel located Bon Marche and made her way to the cosmetic counter, where a young woman offered assistance.

  “Um, actually, I’m waiting for someone.”

  “Are you Angel?”

  “Yes.” Angel frowned. “Who are you?”

  “Amy. I work here.” She smiled. “A gentleman left this for you.”

  Angel took the envelope and glanced around. Callen stood at a counter nearby looking at jewelry, and no one else seemed interested in what she was doing. Officer Denham, who’d come with him, was nowhere in sight. Opening the note, she read: “Lose the cops and go to the exit at the back of the store. You’ll see a red Camry at the curb. Get in. No games this time.”

  She glanced at Callen, walked to the far side of the cosmetics counter, then ducked into the juniors section, weaving through the racks of clothes until she got to the exit. Callen was nowhere in sight, and neither was Officer Denham. Angel stepped outside. As the note indicated, the red Camry sat at the curb. Angel jumped inside. Callen would be furious, but she didn’t feel she had much choice, not if she wanted to see Luke again.

  “It’s about time,” the man behind the wheel muttered.

  Angel glanced over at him while she closed the door. “You...” she sputtered.

  “You were expecting maybe Tom Cruise?”

  Angel stared, speechless at the man’s profile. She couldn’t be seeing right.

  Luke’s professor, Ethan Hathaway, drove off, following the curve of the mall, then cutting around one of the back streets. He made several twists and turns before getting onto the freeway, where they headed west toward Spokane. He took the first exit, then went back on the freeway heading in the opposite direction.

  “Where are we going?” Angel asked.

  “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Where do you fit in all of this?”

  “In good time.”

  “Luke trusted you and...”

  “It’s not as it seems, Angel. Just be patient.”

  Angel prayed that Cal
len or Officer Denham had seen her leave and had been able to follow them, but she didn’t have much hope of that. She wondered if they’d even made it to the mall entrance in time to see the car. To pull this off, Dr. Hathaway must have rented three different vehicles.

  “Better buckle up. We don’t want to get stopped.”

  Angel pulled the belt around her and snapped it into place.

  “I’m disappointed in you, my dear. You made my job more difficult, and you’ve wasted valuable time.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would you kidnap Luke?”

  “It’s a long story. First of all, I apologize for all this cloak-and-dagger business, but I couldn’t chance Detective Riley following us. Did he manage to equip you with a GPS or a wire?”

  “Unfortunately, no.”

  “Good.”

  “How are you involved in all of this? I checked you out online with the college and you really are Professor Hathaway, aren’t you?”

  He smiled. “I am, and Luke was my student. But none of that matters at the moment.”

  They drove past the exits for Coeur d’Alene and before long had bypassed the lake completely.

  “Why did you kidnap Luke?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “So are you working with someone? The DA—Alton Delong? Were you his professor too?”

  “Alton?” He chuckled. “I may be old, but I’m not that old. Actually, we went to law school together. Alton and I go way back, but I’ve never worked with him. We weren’t exactly best friends. Why would you ask about him?”

  Angel pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, debating whether or not to tell him about Bernie’s suspicion that the DA was crooked. She decided not to and picked up on Dr. Hathaway’s comment instead. “You weren’t best friends—were you enemies?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Angel cast him a disparaging look. “I found a listening device in my bag. You put it there, didn’t you?”

  Hathaway sighed. “No, but I know who did.”

  “You took advantage of my mother’s hospitality and planted a bug so you could listen in on my conversations.”

  “We needed to find Luke and thought you would be the best bet.”

  “We? Who are you working with?”