by DiAnn Mills
Inside the cabin, her dear, sweet husband slept, his mind in yesteryear. A tear trickled over her cheek, and she allowed it to flow until its saltiness ushered in prayers for those she loved.
Closing her eyes, she delighted in the cicadas’ songs. An owl hooted as though adding a baritone to the chorus, and in the distance, she could make out the mating bugle call of an elk bull. How peaceful, as she rocked in rhythm to the night choir. Her memories flowed through the years spent with Earl.
When she met him at age fourteen, she never gave a moment of thought to how her heart would ache with love for him. Or how one day she’d look at him and still see the almost-man who saw a girl in trouble. Tears flowed but she didn’t care. Liquid healing.
Her mind dwelled on the first few months of living with a loving family who attended Earl’s church. Fear stalked her, along with shame for what she’d been forced to do.
“I’m so afraid he’ll come after me,” she’d said to Earl. “What if he told everyone in your church what I’ve done?”
“Abby, you were forced. I can’t promise you he won’t ever try to get you back. But I’ll fight him with all I have. And I can promise this—you can always trust God.”
“I’m trying hard to believe.”
He laughed, that deep rumble she learned to treasure. “When we’re old, our faith will be so much stronger.”
Earl’s words still lingered, caressing her ears and warming her heart.
Dear Daniel, are you being careful? Are you risking your life to stop the scam and murders on us old people? Are you holding on to God’s hand tighter than ever before?
Daniel James Hilton, you’re such a blessing, so different from Jimmy.
No, she wouldn’t go there and beat herself up for mistakes made her first round of parenting. Tonight she focused on God, Earl, and Daniel. And Laurel too.
Keep them safe, Lord. Give them wisdom to end these crimes.
CHAPTER 66
4:03 A.M. THURSDAY
THE DAY OF THE FUND-RAISER
Daniel, Laurel, and Wilmington sat in the FBI office with SSA Preston, Thatcher, and a dozen other agents who were working to find Natalie Cayden and enough evidence against Geoff Cayden to arrest him. Sleep was for those who relied on law enforcement to keep them safe. They’d learned Vega and Natalie had spent hours on the phone over the past year.
“We’re pressed for time, but we’re investigating Natalie,” Preston said. “Did she handle the purchase of the Instantaneous? And who opened the offshore account in her name? Is she working for or against her husband?”
“Let’s assume Natalie’s dead.” Daniel swirled the facts in his head. “Cayden or one of his men arranged it. The why could be anything from finding out she and Vega were having an affair to relieving his boredom. With her out of the picture, he has Erin and a whole lot of money.”
“If this is part of the bigger picture, who will take the fall for tonight’s scam?” Wilmington massaged his neck muscles. “Who will be left to eliminate the elderly who had the misfortune of purchasing life insurance policies? Others have to be on his payroll. Trouble is, I have no clue who they are. Word on the street is tight-lipped.”
Preston stood and paced the floor. “We have footage of Natalie and Vega together in Miami, real cozy. But it doesn’t bring us any closer to what we need. It’s imperative that we find the silent partner and end the crime spree. Or I’d close down the fund-raiser.”
“What’s being done about the safety of the guests?” Daniel said.
“A leak to the media will happen in a few hours that will indicate the FBI is investigating reports of a bomb threat at Cayden’s fund-raiser. We have agents in place for tonight. Up until thirty minutes before the doors open, agents and K-9s will be searching for explosives. It’s a risk we have to take. At that point, we’re there on alert. Cayden has instructed Laurel to switch baskets with the credit card information and give that to a man waiting. One of our agents will be right there. Those guests will not lose a penny tonight.”
“If I receive the credit card info, it’s not going anywhere,” Laurel said. “None of us trust Cayden, and he doesn’t trust us. We must assume his plan is for Wilmington and me to take the fall, from start to finish. He’s too smart to reveal to Wilmington how he’s taking off with the credit card info. What’s certain is that someone other than Cayden will take the fall. The wild card is Erin.”
“From what I’ve seen, Cayden is devoted to his daughter.” Daniel’s mind sped with the few times he’d seen the man with Erin. Not an act. “I don’t think he’d leave the event without her. This whole scam could be a catalyst to get what he really wants—his daughter and plenty of money to support them for the rest of his life.”
“Unless we find Natalie Cayden dead and can bring Geoff in for questioning, all we can do is keep our noses to the grindstone,” Preston said.
6:30 P.M. THURSDAY
Laurel arrived at the Junior League with Daniel and Wilmington per Cayden’s directions. All three were dressed in fashionable black. She chose a cocktail-length dress—to make running easier. FBI agents and two K-9s with handlers completed their building search. The banquet hall awaited guests and was filled with round tables for eight, spotless white tablecloths, white roses and candle centerpieces, exquisite china and crystal, and linen cards and envelopes for noting the donations.
Erin, in a long lavender gown, sat on the edge of the stage listening to the band tune up. She waved to her dad, and he returned the gesture.
Cayden motioned for Laurel, Daniel, and Wilmington to move back from the little girl to where they could see the guests as they entered. “The FBI told me they’d received a bomb threat for this evening.” He chuckled and tugged on the jacket of his tux. “As if I’d walk into a trap. They can attempt whatever their policy and procedure book calls for. I won.”
“No word from Natalie?” Wilmington said.
He frowned. “Don’t know what she’s doing. I can see where she might be upset about Vega’s death, but leaving Erin is cruel. When tonight’s over, I’ll deal with my wife and her apparent affair with my bodyguard.” Bitterness topped his words.
As if Geoff Cayden hadn’t initiated enough deceit in his day. She glanced at Daniel and Wilmington. What a disparate bunch. No one trusted anyone, except her and Daniel.
“Last-minute changes,” Cayden said. “Laurel, you and Wilmington leave with the credit card envelopes during the video. Everything else adheres to the original plan and schedule.”
That sealed the blame on the ex-con and FBI agent.
Guests arrived in a parade of black ties and evening gowns from a list of who’s who in the world of the incredibly wealthy with hearts for the needy. Without pause, they signed the guestbook. Cayden had done his homework. He greeted each one with a welcome.
Promptly at seven, the singer began, not too loud, entertaining the crowd with soothing melodies. At seven thirty, salads appeared on the tables and Cayden welcomed the group. Servers ushered in prime rib cooked to perfection, asparagus with hollandaise, wild rice, and three types of rolls. Dessert trays with an assortment of cheesecakes and pies sweetened the crowd.
Cayden took his spot and introduced Morton Wilmington, an old Army bud who’d found the Lord while in prison, a man Cayden loved like a brother. “In the past, he was called Robin Hood. Now he calls himself an honest man. He’s also donated a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to aid our nonprofit for the care and advancement of research for those afflicted with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”
The crowd applauded and Wilmington took the mic from Cayden. “Honored guests, I’m humbled to be speaking to you tonight at this grand dinner. I confess it took me to age forty-three to walk the straight road, but no U-turns for me. God showed me . . .”
Laurel half listened as she concentrated on the guests. Two women from opposite sides of the room returned from a bathroom break. FBI agents stood in the room’s shadows, earbuds in place. Daniel sat on the other
side of Wilmington’s chair.
When Wilmington completed his testimony and received a standing ovation, Cayden hugged him. “I’d like to take ten minutes and tell you about my grandmother,” he said. “She lived with us because of dementia. My parents refused to place her in a memory care facility because they felt it was their duty to care for her. What I learned from my parents’ example . . .” He completed his story and paused as though emotion had overcome him.
“At this time, I’m going to ask our lovely singer to grace us with another song, and I implore you to examine your hearts for the amount you can donate to our nonprofit. Cards, envelopes, and pens are on the tables, and our servers will gather them when you’re ready.”
The clock ticked closer to scam time. Laurel, Wilmington, and Daniel stood in the back of the hall opposite Cayden. The entertainment continued.
Once the envelopes were gathered, they were placed in a basket and set on the front of the stage. A server stuffed them into a larger envelope and laid it back in the basket. That wasn’t the plan. Nerves on alert, Laurel checked in with agents and the two men beside her. She kept her eye on the basket and walked forward.
“I’d like for you to watch a brief video,” Cayden said. “At the end, Morton Wilmington will close in prayer.”
The houselights dimmed.
The video started.
Laurel kept half her focus on Erin and Cayden. They remained seated.
Five minutes into the presentation, the video came to a halt and complete darkness swept across the huge room. No emergency backup lights came on. This had to be Cayden’s doing.
“Please excuse the delay,” a man shouted. “Remain seated and calm while we rectify the situation. Thank you for your patience. Should take only a few—”
An explosion rocked the building. Screams pierced the air. Chairs crashed to the floor. Ten seconds later, another explosion burst the air.
“There’s smoke coming from the front parking lot,” an agent said over Laurel’s earbuds. “Two car bombs.”
Darkness and confusion imploded into a deafening roar.
Smartphones with flashlight apps looked like glowing candles. Laurel, Daniel, and Wilmington hurried to the front of the room. Cayden and Erin were gone.
Daniel bolted through an exit near the stage and on to the rear parking lot with Laurel and Wilmington on his heels. Outside, the three stopped cold.
Natalie held a .38 Special on her husband and daughter.
CHAPTER 67
9:00 P.M. THURSDAY
In all the hours Daniel had spent on this case, he’d not imagined a child caught in the crosshairs of a violent crime. Cayden held Erin in his arms as though cradling a baby. The envelope with the donations lay atop her. They leaned against a car on the driver’s side away from the light illuminating the small rear parking area.
“Put her down.” Natalie aimed the revolver. “This is between you and me.”
“Mommy, why are you pointing a gun at me and Daddy?”
“What are you doing? We’re a team,” Cayden said.
Erin sobbed against his chest.
“Let me take her,” Laurel said. “She’s an innocent child.”
“She’s my daughter!” Cayden shouted. “No one’s taking her from me.”
“Geoff, listen.” Wilmington stepped closer. “Let me have her.”
“You,” Cayden said. “You owed me. You and Laurel were going to take the fall for all of it.”
“Sure. Whatever you say. I do owe you. Let me start by taking Erin.”
“Get away!” Natalie shouted. “Erin is mine.”
“Then why let her see this?” Cayden said.
Wilmington took a few more steps forward. “You have an option here, Geoff. I know you love Erin. Give her to me so she’ll be safe.”
“I can’t. She goes with me.”
Only a handful of agents covered the area, since the majority of them worked the front parking lot explosion. Daniel had no doubt a SWAT team and negotiator were on their way. In his opinion, too late.
“I helped you every step of the way since before we were married.” Natalie spit her words like venom. “I hacked into your brother’s account and got what you deserved. All you had to do was eliminate them. Tell me, Geoff, who was the real brains behind this operation? Had it all worked out before mentioning it to you. All you are is a grunt man.”
“Natalie, stop. We can talk about this later. Look around you. Cops everywhere.”
“Do I care? You sent Ignacio on a hit that would get him killed. He loved me. Not like you.”
“You were the one having an affair.”
“Me? And where does Josie fit into your miserable excuse? Or Trey? I spent hours putting together impeccable databases that brought us millions of dollars. You were the idiot who didn’t want to complete each segment and go dark until the time was right again.”
“Natalie, shut up.”
She laughed. “I’m such a good housewife. I stayed home and did the laundry. You have no idea the money I’ve stashed away.”
Laurel inched closer. Daniel failed to secure her attention. She’d be killed. He moved toward Natalie.
“For you and Vega? Wasn’t he a bit beneath your level?” Cayden shifted Erin in his arms. Was he going to let her go? Reach for his own weapon?
“The truth, Geoff. You and Josie. She told me the real story. No wonder you spoil Erin.”
At least she hadn’t revealed the man was Erin’s father.
“Who designed the life insurance policies? Who gave you the list of rich old people? Who showed you who to eliminate, where, and when? Who gave you the idea of setting up Wilmington? You are nothing without me. Who arranged for the poisoned feed?”
“Please, Mommy. Daddy wants to take us someplace special.”
Wilmington touched Cayden’s shoulder. “Hey, Geoff. Let me take Erin before she gets hurt.”
Laurel moved into Natalie’s path. “We can keep her safe for you.”
Natalie twisted and aimed at Laurel. “Don’t think so.”
“No!” Wilmington raced into the line of fire.
Natalie fired.
Wilmington fell back, his chest exploding in spurts of blood.
Laurel rushed to Erin and snatched her away from the scene.
Daniel wrestled the gun out of Natalie’s hand.
Agents took over and apprehended Natalie and Cayden. Daniel rushed to Laurel.
She handed Erin to a female agent.
They’d all been wrong about Morton Wilmington. They’d believed he was part of the scam when all he wanted to do was help.
CHAPTER 68
9:10 P.M. THURSDAY
Laurel dropped to her knees over Wilmington’s body. Why had he taken the shot? Blood soaked his shirt from a gaping hole. Her stomach churned. “Morton, an ambulance is here. They’ll get you to the hospital.” It couldn’t arrive soon enough.
He wet his lips. “I—”
“Please.” Laurel took Daniel’s tux jacket and covered the raw wound, applying pressure with one hand and clutching his hand with the other. Urgency whispered a deadly message. “I’m so sorry, Morton. I should have believed you.”
Daniel knelt beside her, but she didn’t acknowledge him. Couldn’t.
Morton opened his mouth as though to speak, but she stopped him. “Save your strength. We can talk at the hospital.”
He peered into her face, his own a mask of white. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “This is how it’s supposed to be.”
She breathed in regret. His eyes widened, the color draining from his face.
“Hey, buddy, we’re right here,” Daniel said. “The three musketeers, remember? We’re going to form our own investigation business.”
“Not in this life.” His ragged breathing, the ebbing away of life, caused her to grip his hand even harder.
“Don’t die on me, Morton.” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
His eyes fixed on Daniel. “Take care of her.”
>
“Sure. You can help me.”
He opened his eyes. “Laurel, search for Jesus. You’ll find Him.” His hand went limp, and he breathed his last.
She jerked away the jacket and leaned over his blood-soaked body, weeping. How had she been so blind? “Morton, you were telling the truth all along, and I never saw it.” She drew in a sob as though he might still hear her.
Daniel draped his arm around her shoulders. But she didn’t want comfort. She wanted Morton alive so she could apologize again.
CHAPTER 69
12:25 P.M. MONDAY
Laurel and Daniel sat outside a small French café near Rice Village. Meeting him hadn’t been a good idea. But she had to tell him what was on her heart. Neither had eaten much, although the restaurant served excellent food. The time neared Morton’s two o’clock funeral, the final tribute to his life. She’d wept until one tear chased another. Dark circles under Daniel’s eyes revealed the same stress of the past days. They both shared guilt over not trusting Morton.
Natalie and Geoff Cayden were in custody for a series of crimes, both willing to nail the other. Geoff’s DNA testing linked him to two cold case murders seven years ago. Erin had been placed with social services. That part tormented Laurel, a glimpse of her own past that no child should have to endure.
“Daniel,” she said, “who chose Pastor Emerson to officiate the funeral?”
“Morton. I met with him earlier. The pastor said he’d seen Morton a few times before his death. Wanted Pastor Emerson to officiate in the event of his death and me to do the eulogy. We discussed his conversion and how he wanted to make a difference.”
“Did the pastor say anything else?” She’d learned over the past few weeks that Daniel was a processor. But her habits mirrored his. “I need to know, to help with closure.” She swallowed the ever-present lump in her throat.
