It all seemed so simple when she explained it. She knew Travis and knew what his reaction would be. Adele wanted to see Travis in person and that worked out fine for the plan. When they arrived in Hillsboro, Joseph had her almost convinced Lucy would be better off with Travis. She cried at the thought of giving up her baby, yet Joseph’s words made sense to her. She never knew when she would go off the deep end again.
Travis was late getting to the penthouse. Joseph kept pressuring her that she had to give up the baby. Finally, she told him no, Lucy was her baby and she would keep her. Joseph was beginning to get on her nerves, he wasn’t the same man who played nice music at the Bainbridge Center. All he seemed to care about was the money he could get from Travis.
“I’m leaving, Joseph. I will not give my baby away. I’ll call Travis later and tell him about her. If he wants to see her that will be fine but I’m not asking him for money.”
Joseph was furious, he could see his dreams of Nashville flying out the window. If he didn’t get the money from Travis, the old bat wouldn’t keep her promise of sending him to Nashville.
Adele watched Joseph’s face become maniacal, she had seen that look on some of the residents of the Bainbridge Center before they received their medicine. Lucy was sleeping peacefully on the sofa in the living room. Adele remembered there was a telephone beside Travis’s bed and ran into the bedroom to call 9-1-1. Just as she got to the phone, Joseph reached for a barbell on a shelf and hit her on the back of the head. He knew she was dead, he grabbed a towel from the bathroom and wiped his fingerprints off although he missed a trace of blood. He heard the baby crying in the other room. It occurred to him that a rich guy like Travis might have a surveillance camera in every room. The baby stopped crying and he heard the camera tape rewinding. He didn’t have time to look for it and dismantle it, so he grabbed the baby and the diaper bag. He knew he couldn’t use the elevator, so he found the stairway and ran down the two dozen flights until he opened the door to the street.
“Joseph, are you listening? I’m calling Carter Moss. He’ll tell me when we can get the money. I’ll make it as easy as I can for you, I’ll tell him to leave the money at the security desk by the elevator to Travis’s apartment. You will go there and pick it up. The cameras will be off, so you won’t have to worry about someone seeing you. Do you think you can handle that?”
“I can handle it, ma’am,” he replied with venom. “What about the kid? What are we going to do with it? What if he tells you he won’t give you the money until you give him the kid?”
“You worry too much and the less you know the better. I have a plan for the baby and It won’t get hurt. You might go to jail for murder but I’m not going to have any part of killing a baby.”
She made the call to Travis’s phone thinking Carter Moss would pick it up.
Luke let the phone ring four times before answering to be sure the tracer equipment system was working. He didn’t know who he was dealing with but thought the caller would keep the conversation short to avoid detection.
This is Luke Sullivan; Travis Kincaid has authorized me to handle all business transactions in his name.
The woman was taken back. “Who are you and why isn’t Carter Moss answering Travis’s phone?”
“Again, my name is Luke Sullivan, I am a friend of Travis’s.”
“Well, as a friend are you getting my money ready for pick-up?”
“Yes, I have a rather large suitcase with five million dollars in unmarked bills. Before we arrange a transfer, I must be assured the baby in question is alive and well.”
“Of course, the kid is alive, I’m not a murderer,” she answered and then realized she had taken away the threat. “I’m not a murderer,” she repeated, “although my partner has no qualms about killing.”
“Did your partner kill Adele Kincaid yesterday?” asked Luke.
“You’re trying to keep me on the line, I wasn’t born yesterday. Have Brooke Hartley leave the money at the security desk. Make sure the cameras are turned off and the guard takes his lunch break. Brooke has thirty minutes to drop off the cash and leave. After I count the money, I’ll call you and tell you where to pick up the kid.”
The line went dead.
“Did you get anything, Paul?”
“Not much, Luke. The call was made in the vicinity, but we can’t pinpoint the exact location. It was a longshot; these creeps know better than to keep the connection going long enough to trace the call.”
“I find it interesting that the caller expected Carter Moss to answer and apparently knows Travis and Brooke are friends. That tells me it’s someone who knows Travis and how much he trusts Carter and Brooke. I’d like to know if any of the staff called in sick today, it might give us a clue as to who the kidnapper is.”
Luke called Molly to tell her the kidnapper wants Brooke to drop the money off. “Do you think she’d be willing to do that for Travis? I know she was miffed at him last night?”
“She wants to help now that she knows a baby is in danger. I’ll check with her and meet you at the penthouse as soon as we can get there.”
Molly and Brooke chose to walk the few blocks to Kincaid Towers. Brooke felt the need for fresh air after being in a cell the day before. It was a crisp, cool day as they walked to the building. Molly noticed an open window on the apartment building kitty-corner to Kincaid Towers. She thought she saw a shadow in the window; she turned her head and looked again, and the shadow disappeared behind the curtain.
Brooke was more than willing to deliver the ransom. “You know, Brooke,” said Luke, “this could be dangerous, if you don’t want to do it, don’t hesitate to say so.”
“No, Luke, I want to do this. If this baby is Travis’s or not, I want to help bring the child safely home.”
“Detective Wentworth is on the case. He is holding Travis until the coast is clear to send him home. He is convinced the man who accompanied Adele to Travis’s place is an imposter and most likely murdered Adele. There are several plain-clothed police officers surrounding the area. We are in luck because there is always heavy foot traffic in front of Kincaid Towers. Just put the suitcase down and use your pass to open the elevator door. Don’t look around or try to spot the kidnapper.”
“I’ll do as you say, Luke. Has anyone talked to Travis? Is he all right?”
“Detective Wentworth said he is nervous about the baby, but he is keeping him informed. He’s in a cell to make the arrest look authentic. He’ll be all right, I know he will be grateful for your help. He never meant to hurt you, Brooke.”
“We can straighten all that out after his baby is home, somehow I can’t imagine Travis with a baby. I wonder if he’s ordered mink booties yet,” she laughed to ease the tension she felt.
“Okay, it’s been thirty minutes. Don’t try to lift the suitcase, it’s heavy. Pull it by the handle and good luck.”
How often had Brooke ridden up and down this elevator? In the past, it never seemed to be as slow as it is today. Her heart was pounding. She kept telling herself to leave the suitcase and don’t look around, just get on the elevator, and go back upstairs.
He watched from his rented car parked a block away. He could see someone in the vestibule walking out of the elevator, stopping at the desk, and getting back on the elevator. The old bat told him Brooke Hartley was a blonde and he could tell from what he saw that she was a looker. Of course, Travis Kincaid would get a couple of good-lookin’ dames. Adele was a looker too, at least, he thought she probably was before she got herself knocked up.
When Brooke entered the elevator, he slowly got out of his car. I wish there weren’t so many people around, I don’t know if any of these guys are cops. The old windbag says Travis won’t call the cops, I hope she knows what she’s talking about.
Joseph opened the door to the lobby. He looked around and didn’t see anyone watching him. He reached around the security desk and tried to pick up the suitcase. It was too heavy to lift with one hand. He pulled on the handle
and rolled it easily.
Five million dollars, I’m walking to my car with five million dollars. Why do I have to share it with the old witch? I’m the one who takes all the chances. I’ll drive off and she’ll never know where to find me. I’ll change my name and fly to Tahiti or Jamaica or some exotic place. With this money, I’ll be able to buy myself a little dive on the beach and have the only country bar in the middle of paradise.
Joseph was only three steps from his rental car when he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He knew what happened and looked up, he thought he saw her standing in the window smirking at him. He closed his eyes, trying to keep the picture of his bar on the beach in his mind until darkness came and his heart stopped beating due to the bullet lodged in it.
Three plain-clothed police officers came running. It was too late for Joseph. The officers scattered to find who shot the man lying on the ground. The suitcase was taken and put in a squad car that appeared from around the corner.
The telephone rang in Travis’s penthouse apartment.
“Luke Sullivan here,” he said into the receiver.
“Tell Travis he blew it. I told him not to call the cops. Too bad this cute baby is a goner just like her Uncle Joseph.” The line went dead again.
Detective Wentworth was informed of the shooting. “It’s over, the kidnapper is dead. Someone shot him, and I suspect it’s his accomplice. We’re back to square one.”
Luke relayed the message from his caller.
“We’ve got to find Travis’s baby,” said Brooke.
“We will, Brooke,” said Molly, sounding more positive than she felt.
“The kidnapper said something strange, Detective Wentworth, she said the baby is a goner like her Uncle Joseph. Travis is an only child,” said Luke.
“I’ve never heard him talking about any siblings,” said Brooke. “Of course, he was good at keeping secrets.”
“I’ve told the officers to release Mr. Kincaid. He will be here shortly. In the meantime, we will attempt to identify the body of the kidnapper.”
She sat in the gloomy apartment she’d rented under the name of Beatrice Logan. The furnishings were old and worn but the view from the second story window was perfect for keeping an eye on Kincaid Towers. She watched as Joseph strutted down the street pulling a suitcase with five million dollars in it. Call it instinct, she knew he was up to something and she’d never see a nickel of that money. Now, she’d never see it; she didn’t care about the money; her goal was to get even with Francis Kincaid. She fell in love with him the first time she saw him. He was handsome and powerful. His wife wasn’t worthy of him, if only he would give her a chance, she would make him happy. She tried to look her best while at work, but he didn’t think of her in that way. Ellie Tucker was a docile little thing, not at all Francis’s type. She was a fool not to tell him she kept his baby. What would he have done about it? Probably give her a bunch of money to keep her quiet. Instead, she kept Joseph’s birth a secret; the boy was a birdbrain. She didn’t want to kill him, but she couldn’t let him get away with the money. It was her plan and she couldn’t let him reap the benefits of her hard work. She had plenty of her own money tucked away for her retirement. The money was an excuse to get revenge on Francis through his beloved son. Travis wasn’t a bad sort. He was kinder than his half-brother. She didn’t want to hurt Travis’s baby. In fact, she was beginning to think of Francis’s granddaughter as her own. The baby smiled at her and it warmed her heart. She thought of retiring earlier than planned and moving someplace where no one knew her. She could say it was her granddaughter. Who would be the wiser?
She told her neighbor Annabelle that she was babysitting for a friend. “Do you mind watching her today, Annabelle, I must go to the office? I’ll call in sick tomorrow and will stay with her for the entire day. I can’t miss work today. I have so many important meetings.”
“Don’t worry about this little angel, we will get along just fine. What’s your name, little girl?”
Darn, what is the baby’s name; Joseph called her Lily or Lucy, that’s it, Lucy. “Lucy, her name is Lucy.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Detective,” said Molly, “I think I know where the bullet that killed the kidnapper came from. When Brooke and I walked here from our apartment building, I noticed an open window in the Bryce Arms apartments. I thought it was strange on such a cold day and noticed the shadow of a person standing back from the window. He or she must have seen me watching because the shadow disappeared behind the curtain.”
“Do you remember where in the building the window is?”
“I know exactly where it is. I’d be glad to point it out to you.” Luke followed Molly and the detective down the elevator to street level. The woman saw the threesome walking toward the apartment building when she entered the lobby of Kincaid Towers. It’s the flower girl and her boyfriend, the reporter, with that irksome detective. I’m glad I discovered that panel in the hallway, it is the perfect size to hide my rifle and no one will find it there. An innocent old widow lives in that apartment and she wouldn’t hurt a fly. She chuckled to herself as she walked to her office, sight unseen.
“That’s the window, the third from the left on the second floor. It’s closed now but it was open earlier; I’m sure of that because the breeze blew the curtains outside. It could be a coincidence but because the kidnapper was shot in the chest, it must have come from there.”
“You might be right, Molly. The coroner will be able to verify your theory. In the meantime, I think I’ll have a talk with the tenant in that apartment.”
Molly and Luke followed the detective when he entered the building. The superintendent’s office is on the first floor.
“Good morning, sir; Detective Abe Wentworth,” he showed the man his badge and introduced Molly and Luke.
“Is it possible to speak to your tenant on the second floor, the third window to the left of Kincaid Avenue? We believe she saw the shooting that took place outside the building.”
Mr. Quigley thought for a second and then said: “That is two sixteen, Mrs. Logan’s apartment. The widow has lived here less than a month and she’s quiet as a church mouse. I had better go with you, Detective. We don’t want to frighten the old lady.”
Molly smiled at Luke, they both wondered if the elderly Mr. Quigley had more than an apartment manager’s interest in the lady.
“Mrs. Logan, it’s Sam Quigley, Detective Wentworth and his deputies are here to ask you about the shooting? Hello, Mrs. Logan,” he called again.
The detective didn’t bother to correct Mr. Quigley’s assumption that Molly and Luke were deputies.
After knocking and calling Mrs. Logan’s name several times, Mr. Quigley used his master key to unlock the door.
“It’s my job to assure the safety of our tenants, I didn’t see Mrs. Logan leave the building, I’d best check inside, she might have a medical emergency and needs my help.”
Detective Wentworth didn’t question the correctness of entering the apartment without the tenant’s permission, if Mrs. Logan was standing at the window when the shooting occurred, he would ignore procedure this time.
There wasn’t a sound when they entered the apartment. The furnished room didn’t have the look of anyone living there. There were no dishes in the sink; no magazines or newspapers on the table.
Mr. Quigley walked toward the bathroom and they followed. There was no toothbrush holder or cup for water next to the sink. The medicine cabinet was slightly ajar, without opening it further, Molly peeked inside, and it was empty.
The closet in the bedroom held three dresses and a pair of scuffed ladies’ shoes and two pink flip-flops. Molly thought the flip-flops looked out of place in an elderly woman’s closet.
The carpeting in the apartment looked new compared to the furnishings.
“Mr. Quigley,” asked Molly, “is the carpet new?”
“Yes, ma’am, brand new when Mrs. Logan moved in. Our last tenant, unfortunately, tripped on the thr
eadbare carpet and suffered a broken hip. Poor Miss Bradley, she is in a nursing home now. The owners quickly replaced the old carpet before Miss Bradley’s family could sue. The thing is, Miss Bradley was alone in the world. I didn’t tell them that, I thought the place could stand a new carpet.”
Footprints showed on the new carpet and they didn’t go unnoticed by the visitors.
Detective Wentworth thanked Mr. Quigley for his help. He decided he’d better follow proper procedure and get a search warrant before he snooped any further.
“Mr. Quigley, is the front door the only exit in the building?”
“Oh, no sir, we take safety precautions very seriously at the Bryce Arms Apartments. There are exit doors on the north and south side of the building. A passkey is required to open them from the outside.”
“Isn’t it possible Mrs. Logan used her passkey to enter and leave the building?”
“It’s possible but I don’t know why she would do that, she doesn’t own a car and the front entrance is more convenient to the bus stop.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Quigley. You have been extremely helpful.”
Mr. Quigley beamed, “It was my pleasure detective.”
Brooke waited in the penthouse, although she was furious with Travis, she was anxious to see him. The elevator door opened and the first face he saw was Brooke’s. He smiled slightly and walked to her.
“I know you can’t understand why I kept my marriage a secret, I didn’t want to lose you and now I have.”
Brooke looked at his face and his drawn expression and knew she couldn’t keep her resolve to end the relationship.
“Travis, we have things to work out but for now, we must concentrate on getting your baby to you safely. I can’t imagine the pain you are going through.”
“It’s not real to me. Yesterday, my only concern was divorcing Adele and asking you to marry me. Today I know there is a child out there who needs a father. Brooke, I don’t know how to be a father.”
Murder in Kincaid Towers Page 11
