Smoke and Mirrors

by Taylor Anne

  And Graeme. He certainly didn’t know where Abby was. She hadn’t taken the time to listen to his messages or return any of his calls. Would he even care enough to wonder why she left his bed without a word? Probably not, considering he had someone else to occupy his time.

  Abby walked as slow as she possibly could toward the car, hoping someone would see her and intervene. But it was a weekday, people were at work. There was no one outside in the neighborhood. She slid in through the drivers’ side door of the lunatic’s vehicle. He kept the gun pointed at her. She scooted all the way toward the passenger door, but his beefy hands grabbed her, forcing her to sit in the middle. The man’s wild eyes threatened her not to disobey him. He was crazy enough to use the gun.

  “In the middle. Sit. And don’t move or talk.”

  “What do you want?” Her voice trembled. She didn’t care that it revealed her fear and uncertainty.

  “Quiet, bitch.” He raised his hand and slapped her across the cheek. Her head twisted with the force of the blow. The skin on her cheek burned and began to swell immediately. Damn that hurt. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. He reached around her, pulled a handkerchief out of the glove box, and attempted to cover her eyes. She thrashed her head back and forth, making the task difficult. “Oh hell, never mind this.” He tossed the fabric to the floor. “It won’t matter.”

  It won’t matter. He didn’t care if she saw where he was taking her. That meant she was not going to be able to reveal the location to anyone. She was not getting out of this alive. Abby’s heart pounded, her breath increased, and spots floated in front of her face. She could not pass out now. She had to focus and try to figure out what the hell was happening.

  It may not matter in the end, but she made mental notes of the route Alonzo took. From her apartment he headed toward the heart of the city. Sitting next to him, she stared out of the windows, hoping someone would recognize her. But natives and tourists went about their business, not giving the vehicle any more attention than they gave the other vehicles on the road. Just another ordinary day in The French Quarter.

  Alonzo’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his shirt pocket and flipped it open to answer. “Hello.” Stopping at a stop sign, he took his hand off the steering wheel and placed it on Abby’s knee. She recoiled at his touch. His hand was big, beefy, and filthy. He lifted it and placed it back on the steering wheel. He drove through the intersection.

  A vibration beneath her distracted her for a second. Her phone. She had no way of getting the phone out of her pocket and answering the call. She shifted in the seat, hoping that the creep didn’t notice what was going on. The last thing she needed was for him to take her phone away. If she could keep it, she could hang onto the hope that she might be able to use it to alert someone about her danger.

  Alonzo shot a glance in her direction, then spoke into the phone. “Yeah, we are on our way. Everything went as planned.” He flipped the phone shut and slid it back into his shirt pocket.

  Abby sat up straighter as they approached Jackson Square. People were out enjoying the warm weather. Horse carriages lined the side of the street next to the displays of art. She strained her head, trying to get a good look at the vendors. Several of her friends were out there on a daily basis offering their art for sale. She didn’t see them today.

  The car crept along slowly, avoiding pedestrians and bicyclists. Alonzo stretched his arm out to push her back against the seat. She pressed back, leaning further forward. She got a glimpse of the side street by the square. The Tarot Card readers were already setting up, getting ready for the evening crowds. Her friend, Danielle, was there at her table. The woman’s back was turned toward the street though. She would never see Abby, even if the car stopped on the road for any period of time, which didn’t happen. Dammit.

  After passing Jackson Square, Alonzo continued to drive through the city until he turned into an industrial section. Abby knew of the area, but never had any business in that particular section of the city. They passed several metal buildings before coming to the end of the drive, arriving at some type of old abandoned factory. The car slowed, then turned down an alley. At the dead end there were two other vehicles. Abby strained to see if anyone was in them, but the windows were tinted too dark. A glimmer of light caught her eye. She turned her head toward the end of the building where a door stood opened. Someone was standing in the shadows. A cold sweat broke out on her brow. Something was wrong. Very wrong. A man stepped forward from the doorway, out of the shadows. Abby’s heart slammed into her chest. What the hell? Evan.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Graeme tried accepting the fact that Abby left. Whatever her reasons, he had to believe it was what she wanted. She decided to go back to her life in New Orleans. Even though she made that decision based on a piece of jewelry and a note that she didn’t understand. He had to trust that she knew what she was doing. If he gave her time, she would cool off. Then they could talk this out. But something kept nagging at the back of his head. Something was wrong with the whole situation. He felt that way since the fire ripped his bar apart. Whatever it was, he couldn’t put his finger on it, but the feeling was there, in his head.

  Sitting there at the bar, waiting on Cooper to show up, Graeme replayed all the events through his head. Abby showed up out of the blue seeking his help. The drug deal and murder she witnessed. Colby keeping an eye on her. The slashed tire. The brick thrown through her kitchen window. The failed kidnapping attempt on her daughter. The mistrial. A mistrial for God’s sake, with all the evidence stacked against those guys. Then the fire at his bar, which was a clear warning to leave things alone, and to keep Abby quiet.

  Graeme called Abby’s phone again. After several rings, it went to voicemail. He hung up without leaving a message. He scrolled through the numbers on his phone until he found Laci’s. He might be out of line calling her, but the way his mind was in overdrive, anything was worth a shot at getting to talk to Abby. Or at least to find out if she was safe. The detective answered on the second ring.

  “Hello Graeme.”

  “Laci. Have you seen or talked to Abby today?” No point in making small talk.

  “No.” A slight pause before she continued, worry already evident in her voice. “Why? What’s going on?”

  Graeme sighed. “I don’t know. Just a feeling. She left my house early this morning and now she isn’t answering her phone.”

  “Did you go by the house?”

  “I did. She’s gone. Looks like she packed what she had room for and left.”

  “Why would she—”

  He interrupted. “I think she was upset with me.”

  “Well, if you two had a fight or something, she probably just needs time to cool off. I’ll try to call her.”

  He shook his head. Laci didn’t need details, but she needed to know it wasn’t a fight. “We didn’t fight, but…”

  “But what? What are you not telling me?”

  He propped his left leg up on the barstool next to him. He rubbed his thigh. The ache was really acting up today. After several seconds, he dug the locket out of his pocket. Opening it, he stared at the pictures of the woman. He should have told Colby about that. And Abby. Definitely should have told her.

  “Graeme, what’s going on?”

  He closed the locket and read the note again. It was her handwriting, and something about that didn’t make sense. He had seen her handwriting more than once. It was brass and distinct for a woman’s handwriting.

  Damn. He slammed his fist down on the bar. Why didn’t he notice this before? He replied to Laci, “Nothing. Just see if you can get in touch with her and call me back. I have to make another phone call.”

  He hung up before Laci could say anything more. Immediately he dialed Colby’s cell. Without giving the man time to say anything, Graeme cut in. “Colby, do you still have the brick and the note that was thrown through Abby’s window?”

  “Hello to you too friend. And yes, I do
. It’s in the evidence room. Why?”

  “Get it. I’ll be there in ten minutes. I need to see it.” He ended the call and slid off the barstool. Cooper walked in as Graeme was walking out of the door. “Hey buddy, I have to run to see Colby. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “Whoa. What’s the rush?” Cooper held the door open.

  “I’ll explain later.” He jumped in his truck and sped away. He arrived at the police station in less than the ten minutes. He strode into Colby’s office and shut the door.

  The Chief looked up from his desk. He pointed to the brick and note. “What’s up?”

  Graeme explained to him how he had been trying to get in touch with Abby and that his gut told him there was more to it than her walking out on him. Taking the brick, he examined the handwriting on the paper attached to it. Watch your back. Then he pulled the locket and note out of his pocket. He set them on the desk next to the other pieces of evidence. Just as he thought. The writing was a match. Why hadn’t he recognized the handwriting from the brick’s note before now?

  “Fuck. Colby, the person who left this note is the same as the one who left this in my bar during the fire.” He tossed the jewelry and the piece of paper on the desk in front of his friend.

  Colby examined the locket and note, comparing the handwriting with the other evidence. “Why are you just now telling me about this? You had this evidence and didn’t say anything?” He glared at Graeme.

  “Sorry man, but at the time I didn’t think the two incidents were connected. I brushed it off to Serena trying to get back in my life.” The chief’s scowl told Graeme he knew that was bullshit.

  “Come on, Graeme. I know you better than that. More like, you wanted to handle this on your own. Well, looks like it is too late for that now.”

  Aggravation ate at him. Colby was right, for the most part. Graeme wanted to handle this himself. He wanted to be the one to find the answers for Abby. “I’ve talked to Marcus already. He is putting the pieces together, but it doesn’t sound good.”

  “Well, shit,” Colby muttered.

  Graeme’s phone rang. Caller ID showed that it was Laci. Not Abby. He answered it, hoping she had been in touch and had some good news. “Talk to me, Laci.”

  He heard her heavy sigh on the other end of the phone. “No luck. She’s not answering. And it gets worse.”

  “Hell.” His gut tightened. “I’m with Colby. I’ll put you on speaker phone.”

  “Okay guys. I don’t know what’s going on, but something is wrong. I went by Abby’s house. Her car is parked in its usual spot. She’s been inside, but she’s not there now. Grocery bags are sitting unpacked on the counter. The windows are open and the air conditioner is running, as if she was trying to air the place out. I’m sure it was pretty stuffy in there. But she’s nowhere to be found. I talked to the apartment manager, but she hasn’t seen or talked to Abby. I don’t have a good feeling about this. It’s not like her.”

  “Laci, can you run a trace on her phone from there?” Colby logged onto his computer as they spoke.

  “I’ll talk to my boss and see if he will authorize that. With the mistrial and all, I’m sure he won’t have a problem. But it may take a while.”

  Graeme ran a hand through his hair. He paced in front of Colby’s desk. “I’m coming over there.”

  “Wait. There’s more.”

  He dropped down into the oversized chair across from Colby. “What,” Graeme and Colby said in unison.

  “One of the cops here said he overheard Evan on the phone and he swears he was talking to Abby. The cop said he heard him say her name. He left shortly after that call. Now I can’t get in touch with Evan either. He’s not answering calls or texts.”

  Colby interrupted, “I’m assuming whatever happened to Abby is connected with the case she testified at. You think Evan’s involved somehow?”

  “I never did have a good feeling about him. But we checked him out,” Graeme barked out.

  “I don’t know guys. We’ve been partners for years and I’ve never had any reason to doubt him. I’ll see what I can find out. Maybe someone here knows more than they are saying.”

  “Unfortunately I can’t get away to help, but I’ll do what I can from here. I’ll start digging deeper into the case files and into Evan. Laci, let me know if there’s anything else you need me to do.”

  “And I’m on my way.” Graeme stood, picked the locket and note off the desk, and slid them back into his pocket. “Colby, keep me updated if you find something. Laci, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “All right. Be safe.”

  ****

  With her hands bound together in front of her, Abby struggled to get out of the car without falling on the pavement. Alonzo grabbed her upper arms and she stumbled before catching her balance. Her head spun with questions and confusion. Why was Evan there? Where was Laci? Did she even know Abby was back in town? What did those people want with her? What the hell was going on?

  Walking the short distance to the door, she focused on the man standing there waiting. His grim smile threatened her. He was dressed in his usual khaki’s and NOPD polo shirt. A man of the law. A man people were supposed to be able to trust. Her best friend’s partner, for Christ sake. So what was he doing at an old abandoned warehouse with one of the men Abby witnessed killing someone?

  He spat on the ground right in front of her. “Abby. So nice of you to join us.”

  Abby lifted her cuffed hands. “Yeah, like I had a choice. Evan, what the hell is going on?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.” He stepped aside. Alonzo nudged her forward.

  She dug in her heels and stood firm against his beefy hands. “No. I’m not going in there. Let me go.”

  “Don’t be stupid. Do as I say.” Evan grabbed one of her arms and pushed her through the door. They walked a few feet before going through another smaller door. The sliding of metal and the click of a lock sealed her fate. Her heart dropped. Bile rose in her throat.

  It took a few seconds for Abby’s eyes to focus in the dark. Thick damp air suffocated her as they walked through the dimly lit area. Evan led the way. Alonzo was on Abby’s right side, holding the gun against her ribs. They walked across the empty floor to a door on the other side. Evan opened it and stepped aside, allowing the others to enter first.

  Again, Abby’s body went rigid. She tried to stand firm, refusing to go inside. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes. She had the sinking feeling that if she went inside that room, she would never see the light of day again. Never see her family and friends. She would not get out of there alive. No one knew where she was. No one even knew she was missing. By the time Graeme realized she left Orange Beach, it would be too late. If he even cared.

  Abby’s cell phone vibrated in her jeans pocket. It went off several times during the drive there, and again now. If she could hit the answer button somehow. Maybe whoever was on the other end would hear what was happening and be able to help. Evan’s head tilted to one side. The hum of the vibration was loud enough to be heard in the silence of the warehouse. He took a few steps toward her. He jerked her around and dug his hands in her pocket, pulling out the phone. He silenced the call, and slid the phone in his pocket.

  “Nooo…” Abby wailed. Tears fell from her eyes. She didn’t care if they saw her crying.

  Evan shoved her away from him. The gun no longer pressed into her side. One of Alonzo’s hands grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled. Hard. Her head twisted.

  “Ouch…That hurts.”

  His face was right next to hers. Bile rose in her throat. She inhaled the stench of his breath when he growled. “Stop fighting, bitch.”

  All Abby could do was stare into his cold beady eyes. She couldn’t nod her head because of the hold he had on her hair. It hurt. Felt like he was ripping it out of her head. Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled into the room.

  Abby coughed and gagged at the stench of stale cigarette smoke. The room was just large eno
ugh to hold an old metal desk with a rolling chair behind it, two metal chairs in front of the desk, and an old rundown couch at the end of the room. Just behind the couch there was another door. Evan kicked one of the chairs with his foot and pointed to it. Alonzo twisted Abby around and shoved her into the chair. She dropped down on the cold seat, facing the couch and the closed door.

  She stared at him, begging, “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this, Evan?”

  “Do you really think I am going to let you ruin my life?”

  She was totally confused. “What do you mean?”

  Hysterical laughter filled the air. It was so evil, it chilled Abby to the bone. “The evidence. You are the only witness that can possibly place me at the scene. Do you really think I am going to let that happen?”

  The picture. Oh shit. Evan was the third person, the man in the van.

  Evan walked around the desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out some rope. Abby fidgeted in the seat. Her hands were already bound together; what else could he have in mind? He tossed the bundle to Alonzo. Please don’t tie me up. She shook her head in silent pleading. They ignored her protests.

  Alonzo knelt down in front of Abby and grabbed at her feet. She kicked at him, trying to avoid him grabbing a hold of her. Her right foot connected with his thigh, but it didn’t faze him at all. He smirked and slapped her across the cheek. That stung like hell. The welt felt like it was on fire. Alonzo secured her feet against the chair legs with the rope. There was a little give in the rope, so at least it wasn’t too tight on her ankles.

  Alonzo and Evan stood behind the desk talking just low enough so Abby could not understand what they were saying. A knock sounded and the back door opened. Her throat clogged with fear when LJ and a woman walked in. Something about the woman was vaguely familiar. Abby had seen her somewhere before. But where? Her brain swam with possibilities. Images of different women popped into her head. The courtroom where the trial was held for LJ and Alonzo. No, that wasn’t it. News reports about the case. No. What was it about the woman that rang out so familiar? Abby couldn’t figure it out, but she had seen her somewhere before.