Killer Career

by Mandel, Morgan

  Jensen’s admission made Dade’s head whirl or was it the sleeping pills? “You cut the brake line?” he said, almost stupidly.

  “That’s right, pea-brain. Did you forget? You’re only a lawyer, while I’m the weaver of master plots, the Great Mystery Writer. Poor you. You really didn’t stand a chance. Just like that insipid secretary of yours, Nora what’s-her-name, who got in the way. It was easy to subdue her and hang her with her closet cord.”

  Deep inside Dade was appalled, yet for some strange reason relieved. He’d carried guilt for the other driver’s death, as well as Nora’s, but now, like a debt wiped clean, his conscience was cleared. Both had been Jensen’s fault.

  That meant - - shit, Jensen was off the deep end. The sleeping pills were real. This was no joke. The gears in Dade’s head turned slowly, ingesting the implications.

  If he didn’t act now, he’d land in the same boat as the hapless driver of the Cavalier. What could he do? His brain was already floating. His body felt waterlogged. He could barely think, much less move. Damn, something had told him not to come here, but this was beyond his wildest imaginings.

  Un-drugged he stood on equal ground with Jensen, but unfortunately, that was not an option. His opponent now held a clear shot. To make matters worse, the man was a crackpot. God knows what could happen to Julie in his hands.

  Jensen didn’t deserve to have her. “I love her more than you,” Dade said, as if that would change the lunatic’s mind.

  “I don’t think so.” Jensen’s glittering eyes fastened on Dade. “Would you kill for her?”

  “If I had to.”

  “Don’t lie to me. A dying man should always tell the truth. Face it Donovan, you’re finished. If you try to ride out of here, you’ll crack up. If you stay put, you’ll asphyxiate. I’ve got you where I want you.”

  As the words sank in, a chill rushed through Dade. He was putty in Jensen’s hands. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. How much longer did he have? Tonight? Tomorrow? Sunday? Exactly how long would it take for a garage this size to fill up with enough fumes to smother his passageways, cut off his oxygen and stifle his heartbeats?

  It shouldn’t end this way. He should at least have a chance to say goodbye to Julie. Hell, she’d think he didn’t even have the guts to live. She’d wonder what had driven him over the edge. Being Julie, she’d probably blame herself.

  Jensen would be there to hold her hand and whisper comforting words. She’d never know the truth. Or, worse, would she? Would Jensen snap again, focusing the next time on Julie for some imagined wrong? Would she be his next victim?

  Damn, he had to do something. He couldn’t let Jensen get away with this. His only chance of survival was to hoof it. Once he breathed in fresh air, maybe his mind would clear, that is, unless he’d already overdosed on the sleeping pills.

  He hadn’t had that much coffee. Maybe he still stood a chance. He reached to turn off the ignition, but his fingers slipped. Maybe he could get out of the car instead. Ignoring Jensen’s laughter, Dade struggled with the door latch. Through enormous effort, he got it to open a crack.

  “Nice try, Donovan.” Jensen laughed louder, smashing the door back, hitting Dade’s elbow in the process.

  The drugs were at least good for something. Dade barely felt the pain.

  One thing for sure, he didn’t need Jensen’s taunts. Dade groped for the window button to close out the sound. His hand felt so heavy, it slipped down automatically. Before his fingertip could close on the cold metal, a dark fog rolled in.

  * * *

  Tyler gazed down at the prone attorney slumped over the steering wheel. “You stupid simp. You didn’t have a clue.”

  The process had been simple. He’d counted on Donovan’s love and jealousy to play a factor and they had. He was taking a life and Donovan was giving a life, all for love.

  He carefully placed the thermos bottle on the garage floor, then pulled a pair of vinyl gloves from his pocket. With his telltale fingertips covered, he reached inside the car and pressed the button for the window to go all the way down.

  That accomplished, he pulled the attorney away from the steering wheel and opened the door. Stepping back, he retrieved the flask, which had not been filled with coffee as Donovan thought, but whiskey instead.

  His stomach lurched, as the odor of the gathering fumes hit him. He knew he had time, so he’d do the job right. Since it was a large garage, it would take a while for the carbon monoxide to build up to the danger level. By then, he’d be well out of danger, atop the penthouse floor, fulfilling the remainder of his plan.

  He leaned over and tilted Donovan’s head back. He opened the man’s mouth and slowly poured in the liquid, letting it slide down his throat. He had to be careful. It had to look natural.

  Satisfied with the results, he screwed the cap back on and repositioned the attorney so his head and shoulders once again leaned against the steering wheel. That done, he rolled up the window, clicked the lock, and shut the door with a resounding thud.

  Taking a step away, Tyler viewed the results. A white film filled the garage, turning thicker by the second. The thrum of the motor filled his ears, growing louder in intensity. His head pounded, louder and louder.

  Through the gathering film, a familiar voice called out, “Robbie, come.”

  Why did she call him that? He’d told her to call him by his second name, Tyler. She knew better.

  “Did you hear me? Get out of here,” she said.

  Her golden hair guided him through the film, lighting his way.

  “What about--?” Befuddled, he glanced backward at the car.

  “Forget about him. I’m all you need.” She pulled him away from the mounting film. “You’re mine, only mine.”

  The motor whirred in the background, as he was pushed along, out of the garage. Inside the elevator, he still heard the hum. It drummed louder, louder, building into a crescendo, making his temples throb mercilessly.

  Something bad was happening and he couldn’t do anything about it. His head pounded as if it would burst. The elevator sped upwards to the top floor.

  In a daze, he stepped into the penthouse and looked around. Where was she? She was supposed to be here, touching him, telling him he was all that mattered.

  “Mother, where are you?” he screamed.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “I didn’t expect you for a few more hours,” Dee said, as Julie rounded the corner past her assistant’s desk.

  “My second trial was postponed. The Arbitrator got the stomach flu. I feel sorry for him, but it was a lucky break for me.”

  Dee shuddered. “I wouldn’t want that.”

  “Isn’t that the truth. So, what’s happening around here?”

  “Oh, Dade went over to Jensen’s.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Well, Jensen called and said the inspection had to go ahead today while the Granada Estate’s attorney was in town. Dade knew you were tied up, so he found the file and headed over to cover for you.”

  “That’s strange.”

  “Why? You’d do the same for him, wouldn’t you?”

  “Of course. That’s not what I meant. There must be a mistake. The inspection’s not scheduled until next Friday. Also, the Estate’s attorney is from the Chicago office.”

  “That is strange.” Dee’s forehead puckered in confusion. “I could have gotten the message wrong. I’ll check with Pam.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll talk to her.”

  After Julie had spoken to Pam, she was even more bewildered. As Dee had said, over an hour ago Dade had told Pam he was filling in so the Grand Granada deal wouldn’t get blown.

  Poor Dade, doing her a favor when he had enough of his own work to do. Maybe she could get him off the hook yet. If he were still at Tyler’s, she could go there or at least meet Tyler at Grand Granada.

  “Pick up, pick up.” She drummed her fingers, waiting for Tyler to answer the phone.

  It was probab
ly a waste of time. They were probably already on their way to Grand Granada, or they were already there and the inspection had begun.

  “Yes,” Tyler answered.

  “Hi, it’s Julie. I’m glad I caught you. My trial got cancelled. Is there still time for me to come over?”

  “Well, I’m certainly glad to hear from you. What kind of place are you running? Your partner never showed up. The other lawyer is due here any minute. We’ve got to firm up this deal or I’ll lose it. Can you come?”

  “But I thought--”

  “Well, can you do it or not?”

  “Yes, but my file’s not here. Dade took it with him. He must have gotten caught in traffic. I’ll come over just in case. Maybe there’s something I can do.”

  “I want you to handle this. If your partner deigns to make an appearance, I’ll instruct him to drop off the file and leave.”

  “Fine. I’ll be right there as soon as I can.”

  The whole thing was strange. The office wasn’t that far from Tyler’s place. Why wasn’t he there? He was Mr. Dependable. Sure, he didn’t particularly like Tyler, but he’d never go so far as to wreck an important deal. Dade knew how much this meant to her. There had to be some reason why he wasn’t there. God, what if he were in another accident?

  Voice mail kicked in on Dade’s cell phone number. She didn’t have time to mull over his disappearance. He had to be all right.

  She pulled on her coat and rushed out, doing her best to stifle a feeling of foreboding. Maybe Dade had gone over to the inspection site by mistake and was waiting for Tyler there. His cell phone may not be working. The batteries could be dead. Who knows?

  He’d probably check in any minute, most likely while she was on her way over. He couldn’t be in another accident. She couldn’t handle that.

  After instructing Dee and Pam to make sure Dade called her on her cell phone as soon as they heard from him, she rushed out of the building.

  Wind and snow pelted her cheeks and eyelashes, as she peered for a cab. Shivering, she wished she’d heard the weather forecast before leaving the house. Boots would have been a better choice than slippery heels.

  An empty cab finally pulled up. As she sank onto its leather seat, blessed warmth enveloped her, spreading through her numb toes. That felt good. It made her feel like curling up and forgetting her troubles. If only she could, but she was too wound up for that.

  Five miles later, at Tyler’s, she quickly paid the driver and instructed him to leave. She’d call for another cab later.

  The foyer of Harbor View looked as magnificent as she remembered, but this time she paid scant attention to the shining chandeliers and marble flooring.

  The feeling she’d had before grew stronger, telling her something was wrong.

  The doorman smiled at her. “Hello Miss. It’s good to see you again. Let me call upstairs for you.”

  He walked behind the desk, made the call, then nodded to Julie. “You may go up now. I’ll show you to the elevator.”

  “That’s all right. I know where it is. You’ve got enough to do.” She fled before he could reply.

  She jabbed the button for Tyler’s elevator. The doors opened immediately. She stepped into the tiny opulent cab. Intent on reaching her destination, she ignored her uneasiness about elevators.

  The bell rang for Tyler’s floor. When the doors opened to the foyer, Tyler himself greeted her. Where was the haughty Simone?

  “Thank goodness you’re here,” he said, flashing a little boy lost look. “I’d thought I’d been abandoned.”

  Her heart lurched. “Dade didn’t make it yet?”

  Tyler shook his head.

  “What about the other attorney?”

  “You’re the first. Let’s step into my private quarters.”

  He led her inside the double doors to the right. She’d be more curious about his furnishings and layout if she weren’t so concerned about where Dade was. Instead she barely took in the plush carpet and modern furnishings.

  “May I take your coat?”

  “Yes, please. I don’t know what could have happened. This is not like Dade at all.” She tried to sound calm and professional, though her heart was pounding fast. Where was he?

  As Tyler helped remove her coat, Julie ignored the repugnant feeling of his hands resting on her shoulders.

  Coat in hand, he said, “Maybe you don’t know your partner as well as you think. He did seem put out when you and I had lunch together at the Italian Village. He could be carrying a grudge. This might be his way of getting even.”

  “He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Don’t be too sure. Whatever the reason, he’s not here. Step into my office. It’s the first door to the right. I’ll meet you there as soon as I put your coat away.”

  “I’ll wipe off my shoes first. I’d hate to stain your lovely carpet.”

  “Feel free to remove them, if you’d like.” His gaze traveled slowly from her feet to her head, as if he were mentally disrobing her.

  His knowing eyes told her he’d like her to remove more than her shoes. Their meeting was certainly starting off on the wrong foot, so to speak.

  “I’ll just wipe these off and leave them on. Going shoeless wouldn’t look very professional to Mr. Danders.”

  Covering a startled look, Tyler said. “Oh, yes, you’re right. I forgot for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

  The soft sound of the soles of her shoes touching the carpet was all Julie heard as she glided down the hallway. This was no Gothic mansion, yet for some reason it seemed spooky. She’d thought Simone would be here. She didn’t care for the idea of being alone with Tyler. Whatever they’d had between them had ended before it had begun. Thank goodness, Danders would be here soon. There was safety in numbers.

  In what she presumed was the office, one chair was already occupied by a partially opened file. On a nearby table sat a lacquer tray holding cream and sugar containers, as well as a half-filled mug.

  How strange. Tyler struck her as an ultra neat type who wouldn’t leave his belongings scattered. He must have been in a hurry and forgotten them.

  It was none of her business, but something made her walk to the chair and glance at the open file. Even more strange, the paper on the top held her handwriting. Wait a minute. It was the notes she’d made about the bill of sale. She’d only given Tyler a printed copy, which meant this sheet had to be from her own file.

  How had the notes gotten here if Dade hadn’t brought the file? She flipped over the page and found more of her notes.

  Her unease intensified. Something was wrong. Until she learned what was going on, she better be careful. She hastily flipped the papers back to their original position and bolted for the other chair.

  A soft sound from the doorway made Julie turn. Tyler stood still, silently staring at her.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Had Tyler just arrived or had he seen her peek at the file and rush back to the chair? It was hard to tell. The look in his eyes was strange, almost haunted. Her breath caught.

  “There you are. I couldn’t find you,” he said.

  What was he talking about? Hadn’t he told her to go to this room? Things were getting stranger by the minute. Hopefully, the other attorney would arrive soon and the silliness would end.

  “You told me to meet you here.”

  “Did I?” He again shot her a little boy lost look, which didn’t become him at all. Whatever game he was playing made her uneasy.

  Her file, which could only have gotten here if Dade had brought it, was sitting straight across from her on the chair, yet Tyler had sworn that Dade had not shown up.

  Something else was strange. She should have thought of it before. Tyler had just said Danders was coming here, but at first on the phone he’d said they’d all meet at Grand Granada. If she hadn’t been in such a hurry to get over, she would have remembered that. Was Danders coming at all? Was she stuck here alone with Tyler, who’d apparently flipped?

&nb
sp; Alarm bells rang. Her heart beat so fast she could barely breathe. She’d best get out of here fast.

  She stood up and inched a few steps toward the door, but stopped as another thought struck her. Where was Dade? Had he been here or not? Did Tyler know where he was?

  Her overactive writer’s imagination switched into high gear. It seemed absurd, yet was it possible Tyler had done something to Dade? What if he were lying helpless in one of the penthouse rooms?

  Calm down. Most likely Dade had shown up, and Tyler, being the spoiled egomaniac he was, had insisted he drop off the file and leave. Then Tyler had pretended that Dade hadn’t made it here, just so she could cater to him instead. A childish ruse, that was all, nothing sinister. Still, she had to call him in on it. She would not stand for dishonesty in a client.

  Julie pointed at the file on the chair. “Tyler, why did you tell me Dade hadn’t come? It’s obvious he was here. This is the file he brought over. Where is he? Did you tell him to leave?”

  Tyler shot her a blank look from unfocused eyes and shook his head as if to clear it. In a little boy voice, he answered, “Don’t you remember? He’s asleep in the car. You said to leave him there.”

  What was he saying? He made no sense at all. A feeling of dread washed over her.

  “The motor makes my head hurt, but you said to leave the car on and let Dad sleep there.”

  “You mean Dade, don’t you?”

  Tyler glanced at her in confusion. She must get through to him. Was it possible that at this moment Dade might be passed out downstairs in his car with the motor running? If so, how long had he been there? Was his life in danger?

  Her brain went into full alert. Her heart pumped as if it would burst.

  She grasped Tyler by the elbows and spoke to him, as if he were the child he appeared to be. “Tyler, you have to tell me. Where is Dade? Is he in his car downstairs in your garage?”