“Stop stalling.”
“Right. There’s a lot that’s happened since you left. Hey, you want your phone back?”
“No. Not yet. Get on with it.”
I listened as Baldorf covered, in painstaking detail, what he and Skip had accomplished—or, at least tried to accomplish. When he finished with the drone surveillance, he looked at me and asked if I had anything to add.
“Not really.” I pointed at the blue dot on a map that also showed several red ones. “Is that him? The blue one?”
“For sure.”
I peered closely at the map and the familiar street names. “He is on his way to Bruno Panaman’s house. You can’t hide it anymore.”
Baldorf grimaced again. “I suspected…”
“Cut the crap, Baldorf. If you didn’t know for sure, you at least had a good sense of where he’d be heading. Why’s he doing this now?”
“He expects Sonny to come back tonight.”
I watched Baldorf’s face. He didn’t deal well with angry people, and right now I fit that description perfectly. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, but things have to change if you and Skip expect me to stick around. Trust is a two-way street.”
“It’s okay, dude. I should have leveled with you right up front. Look, Sonny Boy’s got to sleep, right? He’ll probably come home, then call his guys in the morning. If we catch that call, I can trace the end location.”
“So Skip is planning on extracting Lily before the ransom deadline? That is just so risky.”
“Isn’t that what you were planning, too?”
I huffed. “No…maybe. I don’t really know what I was planning. I’m just bouncing from one crappy solution to another.”
“I get it, dude. We don’t have any good options. What Skip wants to do is super-high risk, but it might be the only way unless you have the ransom.”
I stared glumly at the monitor to Baldorf’s side. “I don’t.”
Baldorf shook his head, then turned around and watched the screen. “Touchdown. He’s at Papa Panaman’s house.”
“Now I really wish I hadn’t let him leave by himself. I should go there and help.”
“Not a good idea. You’re the backup in case this fails.”
I heaved a sigh and leaned back in my chair. “I don’t like it. I’m stuck here while he’s the one risking his neck.”
“Not much you can do to stop him. He’s determined to keep you safe while he focuses on getting Lily back.”
“That’s sexist. The big strong man goes off to fight the battles while the damsel pines away in the tower.”
“Wow. You are down.”
The blue dot was now almost on top of the red one. There were several other dots displayed, and I was almost certain I knew what they were. “If that red dot is Bruno’s house, what are the others? Is that one my apartment?” I asked as I pointed.
“I pinned the major locations.” His finger traced a path between the dots. “This is Lily’s school. Yes, that’s your apartment. Your mom and dad. I’ve also got the bar where Jackie Fontanal hangs out.” He zoomed the map out and I saw a red dot in downtown Oceanside. There was a pulsing green one a short distance away.
“What’s the green dot?”
Baldorf glanced away.
Anger welled up into my cheeks. I jabbed a finger at the screen. “That’s me, isn’t it?”
“It’s your burner phone.”
“You two have spent all this time chasing me, but you have no idea where Lily is.” I gritted my teeth. “Why am I even here?”
Baldorf frowned and cocked his head toward the front door. “Dude, you can always walk out. I won’t stop you.”
I snickered and shook my head as I gazed at him. “If Skip wanted to keep me captive, leaving me with you was definitely not the way to accomplish that.” Baldorf was anything but a fighter—at least, he wasn’t a fighter in the physical sense. And, as he’d reminded me several times since we’d met, he was the brains in the operation, not the brawn.
I sighed. “I’ll stay. At least for now. I want to see how this goes.”
“Roger that, dude.” He looked back at the monitor and winced. “I’m sorry about the tracking, but logistics are a key element in this operation.”
“I’ve got it, Baldorf. No worries.”
He winked at me. “Besides, if I know you, you’ve got another burner stashed away.”
“And here I thought you didn’t understand people.”
“Got nothing to do with people, dude. It’s all about the master plan, and you’ve always got one. You’re my hero.”
I reached out and touched his arm. He looked down at my hand, then at me.
“You know what, Baldorf? You’re a good friend.”
Skip’s voice came through the speaker on the desk. “Baldorf, can you hear me? I’m at the location.”
“Can he hear us?” I mouthed.
He punched a button. “You’re on the air, bro. Got someone here wants to chat.” He gave me a boyish grin and winked.
“I’m not happy with you,” I snapped. “I could have helped you with this. I know that house. And I’m not helpless.”
“Sorry, Roxy, but this needs to be a quick in-and-out. I’m planting two bugs and leaving. That’s all I’m doing.”
I bit my tongue. This was not the time to start an argument over double standards. The longer I watched the map and had to sit here like a child, the hotter my anger burned. If Skip thought I would sit here all night and do nothing, he was so wrong.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Skip
SKIP HELD THE Sig Sauer in his right hand as he crept around the side of the Panaman residence. At the fence, he hoisted himself over, dropped down on the other side, then crept to the back of the house and craned his neck around the corner.
“The slider’s wide open,” he whispered. “It’s just a screen door.”
Through the earpiece, he heard Baldorf’s response. “You sure you want to do this, bro? What about some backup? Roxy’s right here. Girl’s itching to join you.”
“This is a one-man operation, Baldorf. If this goes wrong, you two still have time before the deadline.”
The kitchen was unoccupied from what little he could see. He returned the Sig to its holster, unsheathed his knife and looked at it in his hand. A blade like that, six-inches of blackened steel, had only one purpose—a silent killing. He hoped he didn’t have to use it as he held it at the ready in his left hand and whispered, “If the screen door is even locked, it will only slow me down for a few seconds.”
In three quick steps, he was at the slider. A tango played in the background. Skip tested the screen door. The latch slid up and the door opened. He looked inside. “Kitchen’s empty,” he whispered.
The overhead lights had been dimmed. This was a burglar’s dream. Leaving the door open behind him, Skip put away his knife and crept across the tile.
“I’m in.”
Roxy’s voice held a note of urgency when it came through the earpiece. “Skip, plant the bugs and get out of there.”
“Happy to oblige. Where would you suggest?” Skip pulled a protective strip from the bottom of a small disk about the size of a dime. He held it so the tiny camera could scan the room.
“Top of the fridge would be awesome,” Baldorf said.
“You got it.” Skip stepped over to the refrigerator and placed the tiny disk on the top. “How’s that?”
“Awesome, dude. Full view.”
“Plan B1 accomplished,” Skip whispered. “And Baldorf, you really need a more original name than B for bug.”
“Gotcha, dude. But I thought it was clever.”
“Will you two stop chitchatting like a couple of old hens?” Roxy snapped.
Skip snickered. “Yes, ma’am.”
He shook his head and walked toward the door separating the kitchen from the rest of the house. With each step, the music grew louder. He recognized the door to his left from when he’d piloted the MD-1—it led
to the living room and the rest of the house.
Skip’s heart raced with each step, the rubber soles of his shoes making no noise as he moved silently. He breathed slowly. Listened. Waited.
The last thing he wanted to do was kill Bruno or Sonny, but he’d do it. He’d take out one or both if it became necessary. He took another breath, listened to his heart rate settle, then stepped forward again, this time going all the way to the door.
A man’s voice hummed to the music in the other room. And the voice was getting louder. Skip readied the knife as he slipped to one side.
Bruno Panaman walked into the kitchen, an empty wine glass in his hand, his voice keeping time to the melody of the tango. He stopped suddenly and peered at the screen door. “Who left that open?”
“Stop right there,” Skip said.
Bruno jumped and spun around, his jaw hanging open.
Two voices bantered in Skip’s ear.
“Get out of there, dude.”
“He can’t, Baldorf. It’s too late!”
Skip ignored the ongoing argument and focused on the man before him. He held the knife to Bruno’s neck. Bruno’s eyes widened with fear and he raised both hands. When he tried to shrink away, Skip followed him.
“Move again and I’ll use this.”
The man’s voice quavered as he spoke. “What do you want?”
“Skip!” Roxy said. “I think Bruno’s afraid of dying. When I was there earlier there was a book about it on the patio.”
Skip took in a short breath. A fear of dying was something he could use. “Bruno Panaman, prepare to die.”
“No!” Bruno’s hands flew up in front of his face. “Please. It is not yet my time. Who? Who are you? Why are you here?”
“If you tell me where Sonny is, I’ll let you live.”
“He is gone. He left hours ago.”
How well Skip knew—and it grated on his nerves that Sonny had gotten away.
“Dude, try to find out a phone number.”
“Don’t tell him…”
Skip yanked the earpiece out and stuffed it in his pocket. The last thing he needed right now was conflicting advice from Roxy and Baldorf. They could argue and strategize; he needed to act.
“He’s kidnapped a child,” Skip said. “And I believe you helped him arrange it.”
Bruno leaned back and let out an anguished cry. “I told him he should not do this.” He pointed a shaking finger at Skip and muttered, “I know who you are. You are the Tanner woman’s boyfriend.”
“Then you should also know what I’m capable of. If you can’t tell me where Sonny’s at, you’re of no use to me. I might as well gut you right here. You’ll bleed out before an ambulance arrives. It’s an agonizing way to die. Your heart will keep pumping blood out of your body until it can’t pump anymore. Then you’ll get cold—after that…”
Bruno’s cheeks paled to a pasty white. “Please…I do not know where he is. He took today’s newspaper and left. All he said was he was meeting someone. He has changed since leaving prison. I no longer know him.”
“You never did,” Skip shot back. “And I’ve already told you that if you can’t tell me where he is, I have no use for you.”
Bruno tried to step backwards, but bumped into the counter. Skip stayed with him, maintaining the pressure of the knife against the other man’s throat.
“Please, my days among the living are numbered. I have nothing left. My son has turned away from me. My money is gone.”
Skip forced himself to focus on his goal, finding Lily, rather than what the scene would look like if he moved the blade even a fraction. This was a man broken by his own life, and Skip doubted if he could really bring himself to kill him. Then again, Bruno Panaman had caused so much pain to so many people. “You have thirty seconds to tell me something useful. After that, you will be unable to talk. Especially once the world begins to fade. At that point, no matter how badly you want…”
“I told you, I do not know.” Bruno leaned back against the counter, the blade still forcing him to arch his neck. His lower lip quivered and tears formed in his eyes. “When he got out he contacted a man who used to work for me. His name is Mateo Carli. Tell him I sent you, and he will cooperate. He surely will be able to help you.”
Skip’s thoughts were a jumble of relief and hope and angst—he finally had a lead, but what did he do with his source? “The problem I have is this, Bruno. I can’t trust you. And once I walk out that door, you could easily call this Mateo Carli and set up an ambush. That means I have two choices. I can either kill you now or take you with me.”
Bruno peered at him and swallowed hard. “Please. I will not say anything.”
“Have you ever killed a man?”
The old man nodded. “Once. When I was young. I see his face every day.”
“Good. I’m glad you have demons. You’ve made my choice much easier.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Roxy
THE VOICES COMING through the speakers stopped. On Baldorf’s monitor, we both watched as Skip pocketed the tiny earpiece.
“What the hell is he doing?” I said. “This can’t be happening.”
Baldorf tapped on his keyboard, which brought up a window with some sort of graph, and shook his head. “Oh, it’s totally happening. Maybe he’s like bluffing.”
“With a knife at Bruno’s throat?” I couldn’t believe Skip would follow through and kill Bruno, but with what was happening before my eyes, I wasn’t so sure. “Skip, do not do this! You are not a murderer,” I snapped.
“I cannot freaking believe this,” Baldorf muttered as he bent over his keyboard. “Who stuffs their earpiece in their pocket? Switching audio source.”
Silence, punctuated only by the tapping of computer keys, filled the room.
“Please, Skip. Don’t do this,” I begged as Skip pressed the knife blade to Bruno’s throat.
“B1 live.”
Baldorf was trying to sound matter-of-fact, but I could tell he was freaking out, too. One little slip and Skip would become a felon.
“I will let you live on one condition, Panaman. You cooperate and take me to this Mateo Carli right now.”
Baldorf and I let out a collective sigh of relief as Bruno steadied himself with one hand on the countertop.
“What will you do once we arrive there? Kill us both?”
“I’m giving you the chance to save your skin, Panaman.”
I said, “Baldorf, is there any way to get communications with Skip?”
“Not until he reinserts the earpiece,” he grumbled.
I wanted to punch the on-screen image of Skip. How could he cut me out like this?
“Both you and Lily Jamison are living on borrowed time,” Skip said. “The best solution is for me to link your fate to hers. If you want to live, you’ll have to help me get her back unharmed. If you stand in my way, you will become an obstacle I need to remove. Do you understand?”
“Baldorf, you said we don’t have communications with him, but doesn’t Skip have his phone with him?”
“Duh. For sure.” Baldorf smacked himself on the forehead. “I can call it if you want me to.”
“Don’t bother. I want to talk to him.” Since Skip already had the number of my burner phone, I pulled it out and dialed. After the third ring, my call went to voicemail. After the greeting, I barked, “Will you stop being such a macho jerk and call me?”
“That should get his attention,” Baldorf said, then added, “Assuming he stops to pick up voicemail.”
I rolled my eyes and glared at the monitor. “I’m about ready to shoot him myself.”
“Papa Panaman?”
“No! Skip. We agreed to trust each other and work together and the first thing he does is push me away. Men!”
“Whoa, dude. Some of us don’t do that stuff.”
I glared at Baldorf, but before I could respond, Skip’s voice came through the speaker.
“I’m back. We’ve come to an agreement. Br
uno’s going to take me to see his contact in Oceanside. Can you two run the background on this guy? I want to make sure this isn’t a setup.”
“I am not lying,” Bruno spat. “You are the one who broke into my home and are threatening me with violence.”
“Wow,” I said. “Spare me your righteous indignation, Bruno. You don’t deserve it after what you’ve done in life.”
“He can’t hear you, dude,” Baldorf muttered as he typed on a different keyboard.
“I know, but it still feels good to call him on it. What are you doing, anyway?”
“Getting background on Mateo Carli.”
I watched the screen as links to news stories appeared on the monitor. Even just reading the headlines made it clear we were dealing with someone who had led a violent life.
“How far back does this guy go?” I asked.
“Carli, Mateo,” Baldorf said. “Born, 3 February 1952. Divorced. Former pawnbroker.”
I sat in the chair next to Baldorf and read a couple of the bullet points. “More like a money launderer and hired gun.”
“Exactamundo. Carli did time for extortion and was suspected in several cases of witness tampering. One of those cases was against Papa Panaman. That must be the guy he killed, it was a murder case.”
“He’s a scum, Skip. You can’t go in there alone.”
“That’s exactly what I need to do,” Skip said. “If this goes wrong, you’ll know right where to start. Now, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to cut you off again.”
I watched, my mouth hanging open, as he stuffed the earpiece in his pocket.
“No. No, no no!” Baldorf slammed his fist on the tabletop and leaned back in his chair. “I do not believe this.” He looked up at me and sighed. “Now what?”
“I’ve had enough of this crap,” I said. “If he can’t treat us like adults, I’ll go back out on my own.”
“No, not you, too! Dude? Please. Don’t do this. He’s gonna hate himself for acting this way. I know he is. You have to trust he’ll come around.”
“I don’t have to trust anything, Baldorf. I’ve lived my entire life without trusting anyone. So if Skip wants to do this all on his own, let him.”
Shadows from the Past Page 9
