Hall smiled at Tucci.
“The chauffeur’s print?”
“Look again,” Carlyle said.
Hall stared at the print, and then she saw it.
“It’s small, like the thumbprint of a child.”
Tucci nodded.
“And that kid was acting weird. My daughter is about her age, so is Carlyle’s. If either of them found their grandmother dead, they’d be freaked-out. Not that kid, that kid was like ice.”
“There’s more,” Carlyle said.
Hall raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
“Yes?”
“I learned something about that girl while talking to my brother on the phone tonight. He’s a cop too, but in South Carolina. He told me an interesting story about that kid.”
“Interesting how?” Hall said.
“Samantha Ryan was questioned about a string of murders that happened two or three years ago, and that Dr. White was a part of it too.”
Hall sat down and gestured for the detectives to do the same.
“Tell me everything you know, Carlyle.”
***
In Pretoria, Thad Howard handed over a 100 Rand note to an orderly so that he could use the man’s mobile phone for ten minutes.
Once the orderly left, Howard made a long distance call.
When his caller answered warily, Howard told him who he was.
“Brendan Ryan is dead, Howard, and so is our relationship. Why are you calling me?”
“Ryan told me about you and I know about the recording.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do, what you didn’t know is that he made a copy.”
“What? Why would he do that? He was already dangling one sword over my head.”
“It was insurance, and I’ll be using that video to get myself out of this cockup. You’ll do what I say or you’ll go down in flames with me.”
“I can’t get involved.”
“You’re already involved, only by helping me do you have a chance to get out of this. Also, I want the uncut diamonds.”
“How do you know about the diamonds?”
“The same way I know about the recording, but listen, mate, I’m not greedy. Just give me the diamonds and that will be the end of it.”
“How do I know you won’t keep blackmailing me once I help you?”
“You don’t, but what about the diamonds, can you get them?”
“I acquired them tonight along with the recording... and I thought that I was in the clear.”
“Here’s how we’ll work it. I’ll email you a section of the video to let you know I’m not bluffing. After that, you’ll transfer the diamonds to me by courier. Once I’m free of my legal woes, I’ll send you the entire video.”
“And you’ll trust me to help you?”
“Yes, just like you’ll trust me not to make another copy.”
“Another... oh Christ, I hadn’t even considered that.”
Howard smiled into the phone.
“I’ll make contact again soon, goodbye.”
Thad Howard made a second call, this one was local.
When it was answered, the caller spoke in Swahili.
“Speak English, this is Thad Howard.”
When the voice spoke again, it did so in thickly accented English, and surprise was evident in the tone.
“Howard? I thought you and Ryan were dead by now.”
“We came damn close, but we were rescued. However, Ryan passed away from a heart condition.”
“Oh no, I had plans for that fool. I was going to milk the last of his money from him.”
“That’s why I’m calling. Brendan told me that he had five million in uncut high quality diamonds hidden away.”
“Why would he tell you? The man came to despise you.”
“True, but he spoke of it while we were being marched around like animals. He never thought we had a prayer of making it out of Africa alive, and he was right about himself.”
“You really know where five million in diamonds are?”
“I do, and I’m willing to deal.”
“Can I reach you on the mobile you’re using now?”
“This phone is borrowed; I’m not stupid. I also refuse to negotiate. I want two million euros for the diamonds.”
“That sounds reasonable if they are worth what you say they are.”
“Gather the money for the diamonds and I’ll make contact again in two days,” Howard said, and then he ended the call abruptly, by using the Swahili word for goodbye. “Kwaheri, my friend.”
When the orderly returned for his phone, Howard was grinning. As he had said on the helicopter, he would land on his feet. He had no recording, only the knowledge that there was one. All he cared about was getting his hands on the diamonds.
He was released from the hospital a few hours later and met by his solicitor, who had flown in from London. As the lawyer’s car drove away from the hospital, neither he nor Thad Howard realized that they were being followed.
CHAPTER 5
Mr. White stopped at a diner when Samantha said she had to use the bathroom.
After using the restrooms, they sat in a booth, and Mr. White told Samantha the news about her grandfather.
“Was he wounded?” Samantha said.
“No, it was his heart.”
“I’ll miss Grandfather; he was very nice to me.”
Jessica stared at Samantha. She understood that the girl was different, but she had expected a more pronounced display of grief.
“Honey, how did you get along with your grandmother?”
“I liked her, but she was rarely well. She stayed in her room a lot.”
“Did you kill her?” Jessica asked.
Samantha leaned back and stared at Jessica with an angry expression.
“No. I didn’t kill my grandmother, Jessica.”
“Did you kill your parents?” Jessica asked.
“Jessica,” Mr. White said. “This might not be the right time or—”
“Yes, I did,” Samantha said, and her voice was nearly a whisper, as she broke eye contact.
“Samantha,” Jessica said, and Samantha met her eyes. “Thank you for not lying to me. I would also like to talk to you about why you did what you did.”
“I wouldn’t do it again,” Samantha said.
“I believe you. And if I didn’t think you had changed, you sure as hell wouldn’t get anywhere near my children.”
Samantha shook her head.
“I’d never hurt Liam or Emma, Jessica. I’m not evil and I don’t want to be... I’m just different. I can’t help that.”
Jessica slid out of the booth.
“It’s getting late and Michael and Summer will be expecting us.”
Samantha brightened.
“I like Michael, and Summer is okay. Did she have the surgery on her face?”
“She did, and it helped some. She’ll never look the way she used to, but she’s comfortable out in public now.”
“And what about Maggie, is she there?”
“No, but she’ll be home soon for vacation, and you can see her then.”
They were halfway to the car when Samantha stopped walking.
“Where will I live now that my grandparents are dead?”
Jessica and her husband looked at each other.
“We’re not sure,” Jessica said. “We’ll have to ask Mr. Wentworth about that.”
***
In Pretoria, South Africa, two men burst into the small hotel conference room that was rented by Thad Howard’s lawyer. Howard and the lawyer were going over his legal options when the men broke in. Both men had guns, and while one man smashed the butt of his revolver against the side of the lawyer’s head, the other man pulled Howard from his seat.
He was holding Howard in front of him when they left the hotel room. The room was on the ground floor and the men rushed Howard out a rear door that opened onto a parking lot.
H
oward heard the man behind him cry out in pain. It was followed by a shout of alarm from the other man. Then, both men crumbled atop the parking lot with serious lacerations across their scalps.
Reginald Carter grinned at Howard, who looked even paler than usual.
“I just keep saving your ass, eh, mate?”
***
Jessica, her husband, and Samantha returned home to find the kids asleep and Michael and Summer watching TV in the living room. Amanda, Mr. White’s mother, was staying the night at the home of Jessica’s father, who was also Amanda’s fiancé.
When Michael spotted Samantha, a huge grin lit his face, while Samantha rushed over to him. When the two came together, they hugged.
Jessica watched the interaction with great interest. Samantha seemed more like a regular child when she was around Michael. She gravitated towards him during their first meeting and, Jessica thought, she possibly had a crush on him.
Unlike most people, Michael seemed to sense nothing strange about Samantha, but then, she was more like most other children in his presence.
After greeting Samantha, Michael hugged his brother. Mr. White had been gone for only a few days, but Michael greeted him as if it had been a year.
“I missed you, brother,” Michael said.
“I missed you too, Michael, and we’ll catch up tomorrow over breakfast.”
It was late, and so Summer was going home to the PREY house where she worked as a live-in cook. Michael had just learned about the double tragedy Samantha had to deal with, and he pulled her onto his lap to console her.
Samantha didn’t shy away from the display of affection, but instead, she laid her head on Michael’s shoulder. Michael then began telling her about his own experience as an adopted child, to let Samantha know that her future could be a bright one.
Jessica told Summer that she would walk her outside to her car so that Michael could stay with Samantha.
Summer agreed, but suspected that Jessica had other motives.
***
Once they were alone by her car, Summer gestured at it. The car was new, expensive, and a gift from Michael. Summer’s recent plastic surgery had erased some of the damage done to her face by her ex-husband, Todd, but scarring was still evident, particularly in bright daylight.
She wore her red hair shorter, with long bangs to hide the scars on her forehead. Summer was a good looking woman, and yet, a far cry from the exceptional beauty that she had been. Despite the hell she went through, or possibly because of it, emotionally, she was stronger than she’d ever been.
Jessica had found herself liking the new Summer Gray, but that didn’t mean that she was ready to trust her.
“You’re worried about this car, aren’t you, Jessica?”
Jessica smiled slightly.
“I was going to mention it, yes.”
“I’m not a gold-digger, well, not anymore, and I really do love Michael. He insisted on buying me a car and I saw where it made sense for us to have one, because we were always borrowing someone else’s car.”
“I understand that. I just have concerns and I’m looking out for my brother-in-law.”
Summer opened the car and reached into the glove compartment. When she found what she was after, she handed it to Jessica.
“Here, read that.”
Jessica read the document and an apologetic look came over her.
“The car is registered in Michael’s name.”
“Yes,” Summer said. “I insisted on it, even though I do all the driving, it’s still his car.” Summer laughed. “Michael’s such a bad driver. He almost drove us into a lake once because he was looking up at a cloud formation that reminded him of a horse.”
Jessica listened to the way Summer spoke of Michael and saw the look in her eye.
“You really do love Michael, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do, Jessica. I’m no saint, we both know that, but I would never hurt that man, not him.”
“Goodnight Summer, and drop by anytime.”
“I’ll do that, but what about Samantha? What’s going to become of her?”
“I’m not sure, but we’ll help her as much as we can.”
“Michael loves that little girl. Wherever she winds up, I hope it’s nearby or he’ll really miss her.”
Jessica nodded.
“I would too.”
Summer drove away and Jessica went back inside to find Michael still talking with Samantha. Her husband had gone upstairs to look in on the children, and Jessica found him in the kids’ room.
“Liam looks bigger to me, and I’ve only been gone for a few days.”
“He missed you, and so did Emma.”
They moved out into the hallway and into the guestroom that had basically become Samantha’s room. As Jessica placed fresh sheets on the bed, she told her husband what Elena had revealed to her about Lawson.
“That’s some mother and son combo, and I assume that Dr. Harven is Lawson’s father?”
“Yes, which is how he became aware of you in the first place. Remember? He first tracked you down when you had left his father’s clinic. Elena has a daughter too, but I’ve yet to meet her.”
“The team idea seems interesting. Most of the people you mentioned have worked with me at one time or another, but I’m not sure that Tanner would fit in.”
Jessica, who stood on the other side of the bed from where her husband was, nodded in agreement. Then, she and her husband just stared at each other. After a few seconds passed in silence, she spoke.
“Go ahead and ask. I know you want to.”
Mr. White smiled.
“Yes, I would like to adopt Samantha, and truthfully, I can’t imagine Samantha with any other family. No one understands her the way we do.”
“I can’t disagree with that, but... she would be a lot to take on. That’s something you know better than anyone.”
“Are you saying you’re against the idea?”
Jessica leaned her head one way and then the other.
“No, nor am I looking forward to it.”
“Is this about me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s face it. You’ve already dealt with one twisted mind, maybe you’re worn out from a lifetime of having to put up with me.”
Jessica came around the bed in a rush and took him in her arms.
“Don’t you ever feel that way. And no, I’m not burned out. I think I just need to give the idea more thought. Although, you’re right, I can’t imagine her going anywhere else.”
The sound of footsteps came from the stairs and Samantha appeared with a smile on her face.
“I like Michael. I’m glad he’s your brother, Mr. White.”
“Me too, honey, but why don’t you get ready for bed? We’ll all talk more in the morning.”
“All right, and thanks for bringing me here.”
Jessica walked over and laid a hand on Samantha’s cheek.
“I know you’re a tough cookie, but would you like to talk about anything, like your grandfather, or your grandmother?”
Samantha hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head.
“No Jessica, I’m okay, and Michael helped.”
“All right, honey; you know where to find us. Have a good night.”
“Goodnight, and goodnight Mr. White.”
“Goodnight Samantha.”
***
Once they were in their room with the door shut, Jessica sighed.
“Samantha is thinking about the possibility of our adopting her, and why wouldn’t she?”
“We could at least take her on as a foster child.”
Jessica shook her head adamantly.
“No. That wouldn’t be fair to her. At this point, we either know that we want her or we don’t.”
Mr. White raised an eyebrow.
“That was my thinking.”
Jessica sighed again.
“You’re right, and yes, let’s adopt her. She’s practically part of the fam
ily as it is.”
They talked a little longer. When a look down the hallway revealed that her light was still on, they went to see Samantha.
After knocking and being told to enter, they found Samantha sitting on the side of the bed wearing pajamas, as well as a questioning expression.
Samantha looked at Jessica.
“Will you?”
“Will we what?” Jessica said.
“Adopt me. Will you adopt me?”
Jessica began laughing and couldn’t stop. When she saw that Samantha was becoming upset, she calmed herself and sat beside Samantha.
“Yes, you little monster, we would like to adopt you. God help us.”
Samantha began laughing, followed by Mr. White, and then the three of them sat together and made plans.
CHAPTER 6
Billy Ortiz stared at the enlarged fingerprint inside the plastic evidence bag. The Ryan’s chauffeur was seated beside the Ryan’s lawyer, Wentworth, who had decided to represent him pro bono.
Detective Tucci glared at Billy with an unblinking gaze.
“Your prints were found on one of Mrs. Ryan’s dresser drawers. It was the drawer that contained her underwear. Is there something you want to tell us, Ortiz?”
Billy looked confused, and frightened, but then he remembered.
“I stumbled backwards when I saw the body and put my hand out to catch myself.” Billy held up a finger. “Look, see? I pinched it in the drawer. That’s how I got this blood blister.”
Detective Tucci looked at the blood-filled bubble on the side of Billy’s forefinger and thought that the man’s story made sense. His prints were found nowhere else in the room.
“Listen,” Billy said. “I don’t know why you think I might have killed Mrs. Ryan, but I didn’t do it. If you find anything that points to me, then I’m being framed.”
Detective Tucci looked to his left, where DA Rebecca Hall stood leaning against the wall.
“Who would frame you, Mr. Ortiz?” Hall asked.
Billy shrugged.
“Whoever murdered Mrs. Ryan and cleaned out the safe, that’s who.”
“The video monitors show only you and Samantha Ryan at that house during the timeframe that the murder took place. Tell me about little Samantha.”
Taken! - Bedeviled (A Taken! Novel Book 17) Page 3
