Chapter Fifteen
“I spoke to Captain Black, he is the captain in charge of the task force, in New York about Richy,” Demon said. “He was very interested in our discovery about Richy being Simon Pratt’s nephew. After Pete’s death, they began to consider the idea the task force had been compromised. They’ve been trying to find the mole in the task force. He said they would start looking at Richy a little closer.”
“Thomas told me they were very close to figuring out the main players and how they were connected to the ring,” Charlie informed them. “The problem is this ring is very careful and they can’t get enough information on the players to connect the dots.”
“Maybe this will help them connect the dots,” Shiloh suggested. “If Thomas can figure it all out and tell us what it is.”
“We’ll find out.” Charlie assured her. “He should be here soon. He said he was bringing his files with him.”
“I hope he can discover what the notebook means, and soon.” Shiloh sighed. “I don’t think Simon is going to give him time to drag this out too long.”
Charlie took the notebook back from Demon and paged through it slowly. He noticed a pattern before long and asked Shiloh for a piece of paper and a pen.
Shiloh rummaged through her father’s desk and gave him what he asked for. They waited for what seemed like an eternity before she asked, “Did you find something?”
Charlie glanced at her and smiled. “Actually, I think I did.”
Shiloh glanced quickly at Demon and leaned forward, “What did you find?”
“Did your dad ever have a warehouse he used for storage?”
“I don’t remember. If he did I don’t think I was ever there. Why?”
“Simon had to have a place to store all the stuff he was bringing in.”
“If I remember correctly there was a room in the basement of the shop that had a lock on it. My father didn’t go down in the basement a lot, he was the buyer so he was gone quite a bit of the time. I remember he took me downstairs with him one time and he was surprised there was a lock on the door. I remember he asked Simon about it and Simon told him not to worry, he had the most valuable stuff in that room. He said he would give my dad a key if it made that much difference to him.”
“Did he ever give your dad a key?” Charlie asked.
Shiloh shook her head. “I have no idea. All this happened just before they were murdered.”
“I wish we could see what was in that room,” Demon commented.
“You don’t think he’s still using it do you?” Shiloh asked.
Charlie shrugged. “Why not? I would be. Your father is no longer a problem. Since your parents died, he hasn’t had to answer to anyone.”
Shiloh felt a sharp pain in the region of her heart. Charlie couldn’t know his words would cut so deep but they did. She was remembering more the longer she was here but it didn’t fill the void in her life.
She turned to look at the photo of her parents again and steeled her heart against the pain. She had come back here to help the police catch their killer and she vowed to herself that’s what she would do. “My father always used to put his shop keys in the top drawer of his desk. I don’t know if they would work to get into the shop or not, or if they are still there.”
Charlie turned back to Shiloh. “Well girl, don’t leave us hanging, open the drawer and find out.”
Shiloh opened the top drawer of her father’s desk and sitting there were her father’s keys. She lifted them out and handed them to Charlie. She watched him jiggle the keys in his hands. “Why didn’t the police take them when they investigated the murders twenty years ago?”
Charlie shrugged. “The main investigation was on your parent’s murders. We didn’t go through the entire house if it wasn’t pertinent to the investigation.”
“I wonder why Simon didn’t take them?” Shiloh asked. “You said earlier, you thought someone was breaking in looking for something. It only makes sense it was him.”
Shiloh nodded at the keys in his hand. “You don’t know that those keys will work in the front door locks.”
Charlie glanced at his watch and noted the time. It was after eight. “I’m going to drive by the shop and see if it’s still open. If it is, I’ll be back. We need to find out if Simon’s changed the locks or not.”
“You could always try the back door,” Shiloh suggested. She leaned over and pointed to a key on the ring. “Try this one.”
Charlie stared at her for a moment then looked at the key she pointed out. It looked like all the others except for the smear of nail polish on it. He turned back to Shiloh to see her shrug.
“I was polishing my mother’s fingernails one day and my dad came in. I wanted to paint his too, but he didn’t want that. He did say I could paint the backdoor key instead.”
Charlie stood up and tossed the keys in the air. “I’m going to check the shop and see if the key still fits the back door. I’ll be back.”
Shiloh watched as he left. A moment later, they heard his car start up and drive away. She looked at Demon. Shiloh was afraid for Charlie but didn’t say the words. Instead, she got to her feet. “I’m hungry, how about if we start supper while we wait for Charlie to get back?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Demon turned and led the way back upstairs.
Shiloh made sure the front door was locked and the alarm was on then she headed for the kitchen. Demon was already looking for something to make. “So what’s for supper?” she asked.
“You.” Demon grinned. “How about I have you for supper?”
Shiloh blushed then turned to him. “I think that can be arranged.”
Demon came toward her. “I think I’d like that.” He backed her up against the kitchen counter and smothered her lips with his own. He tore her pants open and his hand disappeared inside.
She felt his fingers curl up inside her. Groaning, she whispered, “Please I need you inside me, not just your fingers.”
Demon groaned and stripped off her pants. He opened his own jeans and then without warning, he pushed his cock inside her.
When she felt him go deep inside, her Shiloh groaned with pleasure. Tipping her hips forward, Demon groaned as he slammed in her again and again. Then she felt his teeth on her neck and he nipped her skin. Shiloh felt goosebumps all over her skin. Then he twisted his hips and slammed deep inside her again and that was all it took. Shiloh screamed his name as she exploded in pleasure. Clamping down on his cock.
Demon groaned as he followed her over the edge into bliss. He held himself tight and when he finished he withdrew and tucked his cock back into his jeans. He helped her right her clothes and then he kissed her gently. “That was so dammed good,” he whispered as he kissed her ear.
Shiloh nodded, still unable to speak.
Demon paused and looked her over carefully. “Are you okay?”
Shiloh nodded. “I’m ok. I just can’t believe what I was missing all these years.”
“All you’ve been missing?” he questioned.
She nodded slowly. “I never knew sex could be like that.”
Demon glared at her. “It isn’t always like that. Sometimes, it’s not worth the effort, depending on who you’re with.”
Shiloh smiled slightly. “I’m not dumb you know. I realize that the next person I have sex with won’t be the same as what I have with you. But a girl can hope.” She jumped down and moved to the cupboards. “What would you like to eat for supper?” she asked without further comment.
For a moment, Demon didn’t say anything. With someone else. The next person she has sex with? Her announcement didn’t seem to sit right with him but what else could he say? He didn’t know why this thought bothered him so much.
Taking a deep breath, he glanced over the top of the refrigerator door. “I was hoping you would know.” He realized suddenly, that he just had sex with this woman and hadn’t sheathed himself. He’d never gone bareback with a woman before now. Why hadn’t he thought abou
t it at all? He just wanted her and had to have her. In his lust, he’d lost his dammed common sense.
Shiloh chuckled at him. “Why do you assume because I’m a woman I can cook?”
Demon stared at her for a minute as his worries were pushed aside at the sound of her sweet laugh. “Can you cook?”
Shiloh nodded. She laughed out loud at the look of relief on Demon’s face. She stood up and joined him at the refrigerator. “How about if I make spaghetti for supper?”
“That sounds good to me.” Demon backed away and let her do her thing. He watched as she cut onions and browned hamburger. He enjoyed just looking at her. Something about doing it seemed to calm him, like nothing else ever had. She was so easy to be around and tough as nails too. Fighting for justice the way she was. All alone in the world. He was too, alone, but he had his brothers at the MC, so he had that and some family.
He had to admit, she made him crazy with yearning. Like just now, losing his head like that. Charlie could’ve walked in on them, but no…He hadn’t cared. All he’d wanted right that minute was her. Just now, this minute while watching her—he fucking wanted her again! He shook his head at his craziness.
Soon, the smell of spaghetti sauce filled the air.
When everything was almost ready, they heard a knock on the door.
Demon pulled his gun and went to see who was there. He came back with Charlie and another man.
“Boy, it smells good in here.” Charlie sniffed the air. At the same time, his stomach growled. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”
“Who’s your friend?” Shiloh asked as she gazed at the man.
“I’m sorry, this is Thomas Gerard.” Charlie motioned at the man. “He’s the DEA agent from New York I’ve been in contact with about the smuggling ring.”
Shiloh glanced at Thomas.
He was an older man with grey hair. He was as tall as Charlie but with a more stocky build. He carried a briefcase and a laptop.
She nodded at him. “Welcome to the freak show.”
Thomas frowned as he stared at her. He glanced at Charlie. “Is there a problem here?”
“Did Charlie tell you what he’s dealing with?” Shiloh asked. “Let me fill you in. A week ago, I was living what I found out was nothing more than a lie. Living with my aunt in Seattle with no knowledge of what happened here twenty years ago. Then suddenly, my aunt dies in what at first glance the police says is an accident. At her funeral, they came up to me and tell me the accident might not have been an accident. Then I meet Charlie and he tells me I was the only witness twenty years ago to my parents’ murders. Twenty years ago, I was four years old. Since I arrived here, I’ve remembered some things but not everything.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, girl.” Demon scolded as he hadn’t thought of it this way.
Shiloh signed deeply. “I’m really trying not to be, but it’s hard. I know the answers are in my head, but I can’t get to them. Plus, I was only four when this all happened. How much can a child remember?”
“Why don’t we eat and talk to Thomas and see if the notebook we found earlier leads to anything?” Charlie suggested.
Shiloh went to the cupboard and began setting the table. Supper was almost done. She put the garlic bread in the oven and fifteen minutes later, they were all sitting down to eat.
It was quiet during the meal until Shiloh asked, “Mr. Gerard, when did the smuggling ring come to light? I mean when did anyone discover it?”
Thomas put down his fork and glanced at her. “We discovered the ring when the task force was formed. That would be around seven years ago.”
“Seven years ago? I thought the ring went back twenty years ago?” Shiloh frowned. “Why else would Simon have murdered my parents?”
“I said we discovered it seven years ago,” Thomas stated. “We’ve been trying to track it backward to when it was started.”
“How far back have you tracked it?” Shiloh wanted to know.
“We’ve tracked it back seventeen years, so far. We’re still trying to trace it back. But we haven’t have much success.”
“What kind of things are these people smuggling in?” she asked.
“We’ve tracked everything from blood diamonds to antiquities. When Charlie mentioned Mischa might be taking over Pieter’s empire that could drastically change things.”
“Change? How would he change it?” Shiloh asked.
“Mischa isn’t as particular as Pieter was. Pieter was old world, whereas Mischa is not. He’ll use any and all methods to bring in whatever will give him more money. We’ve been tracking his operations in Spain and Italy. Mischa has been exporting rare antiquities from all over the world, not only that but ivory from Africa and drugs from South America.”
“If you know all that why can’t you arrest him?” Shiloh was disgusted.
“We don’t have the evidence to arrest him. We can’t back track the stuff to him. He has a network of his own all set up. If he combines the old with the new the whole world would have been his playpen and there would have been nothing we could do to stop him.”
“There must be a way to stop him?” Shiloh said.
“Only if we get the whole smuggling ring. If we could better understand the ins and outs of the ring already set up, we might be able to connect the dots where Mischa fits in.”
Demon sat there without saying a word. He could connect Misha to a man they now knew was Simon but that was only five years ago. But the Sheik he was connected to might have more information to give them if he wasn’t already dead. Demon tightened his lips. When they had been rescued and after the hospital stay the remaining four members of his unit had gone hunting. They were gone for three days. They had found the Sheik and they never spoke again, about what they did to him. Now he just sat there and listened to the conversation.
Shiloh glanced at Charlie. “Did the key we found earlier still fit the back door?”
Charlie grinned. “It sure did and later with a search warrant, we’ll go back and search the basement. We’ll need your signature on the warrant. As Mike Corbin’s daughter, you own half the shop.”
Shiloh pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. She wandered over to the patio door. She stared out at the backyard.
She turned around and stared at the three men sitting at the table. “This has to stop. It’s driving me crazy.”
“Please don’t give up on this yet,” Charlie spoke quietly. “It’s almost over and we’re so close to arresting Simon for the murders and a whole lot more.”
Shiloh closed her eyes and looked upward. “I know but its taking too long. Donna always told me that I have no patience. She used to say that I expect everything done yesterday and sometimes it just isn’t possible. She was right of course but that doesn’t make this waiting any easier.”
“I said we traced the ring back seventeen years,” Thomas said. “If you have evidence it goes back further I’d love to see it.” He glanced at Shiloh then back to Charlie. “Do you have evidence it goes back even further?”
Charlie quickly glanced at Shiloh then turned to Thomas. “We found a set of notebooks this afternoon that might prove it. What we really want to find is a green notebook that we think is in a safe in the basement. The only problem is we don’t have the combination to the safe yet.”
“Actually, that’s not quite true,” Shiloh admitted. “My father left an envelope taped to the bottom of a drawer with the combination.”
Charlie and Demon stood up. “Where is the envelope?”
Shiloh shook her head. “I tore it up.”
“You did what?” Charlie growled as he ran his hands through his hair.
“I didn’t want the combination to fall into the wrong hands.” Shiloh shrugged.
“You told us you didn’t remember the combination,” Demon accused.
Shiloh turned her head to stare at him. “I lied.”
Demon shook his head. She was something else. They never knew when she would give
them some new clue or revelation.
“What do you mean you lied?” Charlie asked.
“You have had me on an emotional roller coaster ever since you told me about my parents. Then you brought me back here and my life became the nightmare I’ve had all my life. Reliving the night my parents were brutally murdered was horrible. I didn’t know what it all meant back then. Right now, I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can’t close my eyes because I’m afraid of what my dreams will reveal.” She began to pace. “When I sat down at my father’s desk, I remembered I used to sit in it and spin in the chair. I remembered my father picking me up and twirling me around above his head, then he would sit down and with me on his lap, he would spin the chair until I was dizzy. I was surrounded by love back then, but until today, I couldn’t remember any of it. All I could remember of my childhood was the constant moving Donna and I had to do. I didn’t even remember what my parents looked like. Donna wouldn’t allow me to have a picture of them. All my life I asked her about my parents and she wouldn’t tell me anything. She said one day when I was old enough, she would explain everything, but then—she died.”
Charlie walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Oh god, I’m sorry. Just know that Donna never meant to hurt you this way. Don’t you know how much she loved you?”
Shiloh glanced up at his face. “I know that she loved me and believe me I felt very loved growing up. She was like a mother to me, but she protected me too much. She should have told me what was going on, not lied to me about it.”
“She didn’t lie to you,” Charlie insisted.
“She lied to me by omission.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “She should have told me about all of this years ago when I begged her to tell me what she was so afraid of.”
Charlie patted her shoulder gently like a father would do. “She didn’t want you to worry.”
Shiloh stepped away from him. “She didn’t want me to worry? Is that all you can say? What about now? I have a killer after me, apparently he’s been watching me my whole life and I never knew it. He not only killed my parents he murdered my aunt as well. He won’t stop until I’m dead and he’s lying on a beach somewhere getting a fucking tan, in a country that can’t extradite him back here to face the consequences of his crimes.”
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