Cover Me (11 page)

Chapter Eight

Lily’s heart sank as she stared at Mack.

She’d never imagined he’d use her to find something bad against her father, that he hated him that much.

She wanted to lash out, but after Winston’s escapade the night before, she had to watch what she said in front of him.

So she stepped into the hallway to call Tate. Mack was watching her, but she turned away
from him as she made the call. Then she phoned Winston’s friend’s mother asking for him to stay with them.

When she returned to the kitchen, Winston was finishing his breakfast. “Honey, get dressed. I’m going to drop you off at Drew’s house.”

Winston looked confused. “Why can’t I just hang out with Dad?”

Mack opened his mouth to speak, but she shot him a warning look. “He has work
to do. You can see him later.”

Mack patted Winston’s back. “Your mom’s right. We’ll hang out tonight or tomorrow. I promise.”

Winston accepted what he said and ran up the steps. Lily grabbed the file.

“You used me last night to gain access to my computer.” Hurt hardened her voice. “How could you? I...” She’d thought he wanted her back.

Mack closed his fingers around her wrist.
“It wasn’t like that, Lily. I’ve never stopped loving you—”

“You don’t betray someone you love.” She glanced down at the files. The printout showed her father’s financial information. “What is this anyway?”

Mack sighed. “Eight years ago I was working on a task force to blow the lid on police corruption. I think Barnaby framed me because I was getting too close.”

“What does this
have to do with my father?” Lily asked sharply.

Mack scraped a hand over his jaw, the sound of his beard stubble grazing his hand a reminder that they’d spent the night together. That she’d given herself to him out of trust and love, and he’d broken that trust. “There are dummy companies set up in your father’s name,” Mack said. “It appears that he and the mayor are laundering money.”

Lily gasped. “Why would my father steal money?”

“I don’t know. Greed maybe.” He shrugged. “But according to this, they’re skimming money that you’re raising for rebuilding.”

Lily shook her head in denial. “I don’t believe you, Mack.”

Mack’s eyes went cold. “Just like last time.” Bitterness laced his voice. “I should have known you’d side with him.”

“It’s not about choosing sides,”
Lily said. “I know my father. He loves this city and cares too much about helping New Orleans to do what you’re suggesting.”

“And you don’t know me?” Mack said. “You didn’t know me back then?”

Lily didn’t know what to say. She should have believed in him when they’d arrested him. “I’m sorry, Mack. I know I hurt you. Is that why you’re doing this? To get back at me for not standing up
for you?”

“No,” Mack snapped. “I’m trying to clear my name so my son will look up to me.”

He snatched his jacket then headed to the door. Lily watched him go, her heart breaking.

* * *

F
OR
THE
FIRST
TIME
in a long time, Mack wanted to be wrong about Landry. He hated hurting Lily but couldn’t ignore the evidence.

He drove home and showered, then went to the precinct. When
he arrived, he found Lily pacing inside. Apparently her father and his lawyer were being interrogated.

“Lily—”

She gave him a sizzling look. “Don’t bother, Mack.”

“You don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly,” Lily said, cutting him off. “Just one question. Do you think your son would be proud of what you did today?”

Mack felt as if he’d been punched in the gut.

Before he could respond, the door opened and Landry walked out with a man who had to be his attorney. His manicure alone indicated he’d never done a hard day’s work in his life.

Landry scowled at Mack. “I figured you were behind this.”

The lawyer glared at Mack. “So you’re Mack Rivet?”

Mack nodded. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”

“Tate Manning,” the young man said. “You made a
big mistake coming after Mr. Landry.”

“I didn’t come after him,” Mack said. “I’m just searching for the truth.”

Lily hugged her father. “I’m so sorry, Dad.”

“Don’t worry, honey. I’ll take care of this.” He released her and turned to Mack. “How did you get into my files? Did you use my daughter?”

Mack shook his head. “No. Lily has nothing to do with this.”

“She has everything
to do with it,” Landry said. “For all I know you fabricated evidence to create doubt in her mind so she’d turn to you.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Mack said. “Barnaby’s arrest proves there’s corruption in the city. Hell, half of New Orleans’s officials may be involved.”

Landry’s eyes narrowed. “Be careful where you make accusations, Rivet.”

Manning moved closer to Lily, a protective
gleam in his eyes, and Mack realized that his involvement was personal. At least Manning wanted it to be.

Dammit, had he and Lily been seeing each other?

“I suggest you stay away from my client and his daughter,” Manning said. “And just so you know, these charges will be dropped before you can blink.”

Lily took her father’s arm, and Manning inched up beside her as they left.

Hell, Manning might get the charges dropped, especially if Landry or the mayor owned someone in the department or a judge.

Then he’d be back to square one. Worse, he would have lost Lily’s trust.

What good would it do him to get his name back if he lost her and Winston?

* * *

L
ILY
TRIED
TO
MOVE
AWAY
from Tate’s constant hovering as they walked outside.

“Everything’s going
to be fine,” Manning assured her and her father. “Before this is over, Rivet will be brought up on charges.”

“What charges?” Lily asked. It wasn’t as if he’d broken into her place to access her computer.

“I don’t know yet, but however he obtained that information, it was illegal.”

Lily’s father exchanged a worried look with her. “Let’s just clear me, then we’ll worry about what
to do about him.”

“How about lunch?” Manning said. “I’ll treat you both.”

“Sure, we can discuss strategy,” her father said.

Lily begged off. She didn’t want to encourage Tate. “I have to pick up Winston.” She kissed her dad’s cheek. “I’ll talk to you later.”

He squeezed her arm, and she hurried away before Tate could mention the fundraiser, again.

She was perspiring by
the time she reached her car.

What was she going to tell Winston?

Hopefully nothing about her father’s legal problems. Maybe he would have them solved soon and there would be no need.

She had a few hours until she picked Winston up, so she met with the restaurant owners to finalize the menu.

It was dark by the time she reached Winston’s friend’s house. When Winston climbed
into the car, he babbled excitedly about playing ball and video games at his friend’s house.

“I’m glad you had fun,” she said. “Next time, we’ll have Drew over to our house.”

She called in a pizza order, then stopped to pick it up a few minutes later. When they arrived at the house, he took the box as she unlocked the door.

She reached for the light but the scent of a man’s aftershave
assaulted her. Not her father’s or Mack’s. Then the floor squeaked.

She tensed and clutched Winston’s arm.

Someone was inside.

Before she could tell her son to run, the intruder shoved a gun to her temple.

* * *

M
ACK
’
S
PHONE
WAS
RINGING
by the time he made it back to the bayou so he snatched it up.

“Hello.”

“If you want to see your wife and son again, you’d better
listen.”

Mack’s heart stopped. “Who is this? Let me speak to Lily.”

“Call the cops and they’re dead.”

“What do you want?”

“Make the charges against Landry go away, then stop asking questions.”

Sweat trickled down his back. “Done. But only if you let me talk to my family so I know they’re safe.”

A noise sounded then Lily’s voice. “Mack.”

“Are you and Winston all
right?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “But Winston misses that alligator we bought him at Mardi Gras.”

Mack frowned.

She must be trying to send him a message.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Mack—”

Another noise, then Lily’s voice protesting, and a heartbeat later, the man’s voice returned. “I’ll be in touch.”

Mack cursed as the phone clicked into silence.

Chapter Nine

Lily pulled her son to her, tensing as the man pointed the gun at her. “Please don’t hurt us.”

“Cooperate and I won’t.”

She nodded, playing along until she could figure out a way for them to escape. So far, he’d made her drive them to the city, then forced them to climb some stairs in a deserted building.

He shoved them into a small room and locked the
door.

Winston looked up at her with terrified eyes. “Mom?”

“It’s going to be okay,” she said, although fear had seized her the moment the man had pressed the gun to her temple.

“Don’t worry. Dad will save us.”

Lily gave him a hug. Winston had such confidence, as if he believed Mack could save the world. Maybe they’d connected more than she’d realized.

Still, she scanned
the room, looking for something to use as a weapon.

The room was devoid of furniture, though, and she saw nothing to use to defend them.

The French Quarter stretched below them, the sounds of tourists, traffic and music loud enough to drown out a scream if she yelled for help.

She tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge. In fact, it looked as if it had been painted shut.
She considered breaking the window, but she couldn’t risk that the man holding them might hear.

Bright lights from the voodoo store below twirled colors across the night sky.

She only hoped Mack figured out the reason she’d told him to get the stuffed alligator.

It might be the only way he would find them.

She didn’t trust their kidnapper to keep his word. For all she knew,
once Mack did what he’d requested, the man would kill her and Winston.

* * *

M
ACK
STRUGGLED
TO
CALM
HIMSELF
as he hurried to his SUV. Lily had told him about the alligator for a reason. He just wished to hell he knew what it was.

Palms sweating, he flew onto the freeway toward New Orleans, weaving through traffic and speeding around slower vehicles.

When he reached Lily’s,
he went straight to Winston’s room. He paused in the doorway, scanning the bed and shelves for a stuffed alligator.

On the bed, he spotted a bear and stuffed dog, but no reptile. Then he noticed a soccer-ball-shaped toy chest in the corner.

He lifted the lid and dug inside, plowing through toy cars and trucks, several packs of baseball cards, a football and a magic set. Relief filled
him when he spotted a green tail. He pulled it out and examined the toy, but couldn’t find a tag or anything to indicate where Lily and Winston might be.

Frustrated, he contemplated what to do. He hadn’t been with Lily at Mardi Gras, but he’d seen the picture—her father had been there. As much as he hated to see the man, he needed his help.

He jogged down the steps, then jumped into
his car and drove to Landry’s. Minutes later, he screeched into Landry’s drive, then rushed to the door and pounded on it, ringing the doorbell and beating his fist against it at the same time.

The lights were off, but he pounded again, and suddenly lights flickered on. Shuffling sounded inside, then the door opened. Landry was wearing a bathrobe, his hair rumpled.

“What in the hell
are you doing here?”

Mack pushed his way past Landry. “We have to talk.”

“It’s midnight,” Landry said. “You have a lot of nerve—”

“Someone kidnapped Lily and Winston,” Mack shouted.

Landry staggered back, one hand flying to his chest. “You’re lying.”

“I wish I was. But a man called me a few minutes ago. He said he has Lily and Winston and that he’ll only release them if
I get the charges against you dropped and stop asking questions.”

Landry paled. “God...I can’t believe this.”

Mack shook him. “Do you know who’s holding them?”

“Of course not,” Landry said. “How can you ask me such a horrible thing?”

Mack lifted the stuffed alligator.

“I talked to Lily for a second, and she mentioned this alligator. It must have some significance.”

“I bought it for Winston in the Quarter.”

“Where?” Mack asked.

Landry looked panicked for a moment. “I don’t remember exactly. They were selling them on the street.”

“Dammit, think,” Mack said. “Was there a restaurant nearby? Another store?”

Landry rubbed his forehead. “A voodoo shop. Winston liked the colors swirling in the window.” He snapped his fingers. “It was down from
the market.”

“He must be holding them somewhere near there. Maybe an abandoned storefront.”

“I can get copies of the downtown area and the abandoned properties,” Landry suggested.

Mack nodded. “I’ll call the acting chief of police and tell them that I fabricated the financial files they have.”

Landry’s eyes widened. “Did you fabricate them?”

“No,” Mack said firmly. “But
I’ll do anything to save Lily and Winston.”

Landry stared at him for a long moment. “So will I, Rivet. And whether you believe it or not, I did not steal money from the city’s rebuilding fund. I may be wealthy now, but I didn’t grow up with money. I earned every penny I have.”

Mack swallowed hard. As much as he’d battled with the man, he believed him. “But there were dummy corporations
set up that the money went into,” Mack said. “Who else had access to your records?”

Landry’s jaw tightened. “My attorney Tate also has an accounting degree, so he handles everything for me.” He paused. “But he would never hurt Lily. He likes her.”

“He probably likes his freedom better. And if he’s taking money from your funds, he’s probably afraid the police will figure it out.”

“So he’s desperate.” Landry headed into his office. “I’ll call him right now.”

Mack followed him, grateful they were finally working on the same side. “Wait,” Mack said. “If we tip him off, he might tell the thug holding Lily and Winston and he’ll hurt them.”

Landry exhaled a shaky breath. “Then what should we do?”

“Set up a meeting with Manning and the mayor in the morning. Tell
them it’s urgent.” He’d convince Landry to wear a wire so they could get the dirt on both of them.

If he caught Manning red-handed, he’d have to tell him where Lily and Winston were.

“Now, show me those city plans. I’m going after them tonight.”

* * *

L
ILY
PACED
FOR
A
WHILE
,
but her agitation was only making Winston more frightened, so she sat down and pulled him beside her.
She rolled up her jacket and gave it to him as a pillow.

“Tell me about Dad,” Winston said as he settled down.

Lily rubbed his shoulders. “Your father was a good policeman. In fact, he made detective sooner than most.”

“How did you meet him?”

God, it seemed like a lifetime ago. She’d been so young. “I was in college at Tulane,” she said. “There were several car break-ins on
campus, then a couple of girls were assaulted. One of the victims lived on my hallway in the dorm. Campus security called in the NOPD and your father showed up.”

The moment she’d seen him, all tall, muscular and rugged, she’d fallen for him. “He just took charge,” Lily said. “He was calm, and he reassured the girl the police would find her attacker—and he did the very next week.”

Winston
hugged her. “He’ll find us, too, Mom. I know he will.”

Lily stroked a strand of hair from his forehead. But the stubborn lock fell back, just as Mack’s used to do. “I know, honey. So try to sleep. Maybe in the morning we can go home.”

Winston yawned, then rolled to his side.

She only hoped he was right that Mack would find them.

A second later Winston fell asleep, and she went
to the window. Outside, partiers strolled by as if they didn’t have a care in the world. She wanted to beat on the glass and scream for help, but doing that would only bring their kidnapper running.

She wanted to fight him, but he was a hundred pounds heavier than her and had a loaded weapon.

She couldn’t take a chance on him hurting her son.

* * *

M
ACK
STUDIED
THE
LAYOUT
of
the buildings in the Quarter while Landry drew a red circle around the area where he’d purchased the alligator.

“There,” Landry said as he pointed to the top floor above two storefronts. “That space is empty. It’s been for sale for months.”

“Manning would know about it?”

Landry nodded.

Mack checked his weapon and headed toward the door.

“Rivet?”

Mack’s pulse pounded
as he paused. “Yes?”

“Bring my daughter and grandson home safely.”

Mack looked him square in the eye. “I’ll save them or die trying.”

Landry’s face twisted with emotions, but Mack didn’t have time to deal with it. He jogged to his car, then drove to the Quarter. The town was lit up, the partiers in full swing. He parked, then tugged on a baseball hat as he walked through the streets
toward the market.

As he approached the storefront, he kept his head low in case Lily’s kidnapper was watching, then slipped into the alley.

A window faced the back. A small patio was attached with wrought-iron rails.

Then he saw the face in the window and his heart hammered. Lily.

She saw him at the same time he spotted her, then waved her hands frantically. He threw up a
hand to let her know he saw her, then jumped up to reach the bottom rung of the fire escape.

Dammit, he hated heights, but he’d have to manage.

One by one he climbed the steps, then he plastered himself against the narrow ledge along the building, forcing himself not to look at the ground as he inched toward the wrought-iron rail surrounding the patio. He released a pent-up breath when
he reached it, then climbed over the rail.

Lily looked scared but brave as she pressed her hand against the windowpane.

He was relieved to see Winston asleep on the floor. He gestured to Lily to open the window, but she mouthed that it was painted shut.

Dammit.

It was so old it looked as if the wood was rotting around the glass, so he removed his knife and tried to slide it
between the edges of the glass and wood, hoping to pry it open.

But that didn’t work, either.

Finally he motioned for her to move back from the window. She did, huddled beside Winston. Mack removed a handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped it around his hand and gently hit the glass. Fragments shattered, then he repeated the motion. Winston jerked awake and watched wide-eyed.

When
he’d broken all the glass, Mack crawled inside, but just as his feet hit the floor, the door opened and a big man carrying a gun rushed inside.

He took one look at Mack and fired the .38.

* * *

L
ILY
SCREAMED
AND
COVERED
Winston. Mack ducked to avoid the shot. The kidnapper lunged toward her with his gun pointed.

“Drop it or they both get it,” the man barked.

Mack held
up his hands in surrender, then laid his gun on the floor. The man inched close enough to kick it away.

Winston glared at the man, while Lily held him tight.

“What are you going to do? Kill us all?” Mack asked.

“If I have to.”

“You’re going to jail!” Winston shouted. “My dad will see to it you rot in prison.”

The man jerked his head sideways for a split second, and Mack
took advantage of the moment.

He knocked him backward. The man’s gun flew across the room, then he and Mack rolled on the floor, trading blows.

Mack was big, but this guy was monstrous.

The jerk slammed his fist into Mack’s nose and blood spurted, but Mack delivered a karate chop to the kidnapper’s neck that made the bastard bellow in pain.

Then Mack flipped him to his back,
punched him in the face and pinned him with his legs. One grunt and the man bucked Mack off him and sent him slamming into the wall.

He crawled for the gun as Mack caught his breath. Lily released Winston and kicked the weapon toward Mack. He snatched it and aimed it at the man.

“Make one move and I’ll shoot,” Mack snarled.

The man grunted but raised his hands. Mack inched slowly
toward him, then snagged handcuffs from his pocket and cuffed the man’s arms behind him.

“Are you two okay?” Mack asked Lily.

“Yes.” Lily helped Winston stand and they inched over beside him.

“I knew you’d come, Dad,” Winston said.

Lily smiled shakily. She had known he would, too.

* * *

M
ACK
’
S
MOUTH
SLID
INTO
A
GRIN
.
His boy was going to be tough like him. And Lily
was brave, too.

Mack wanted to be part of both of their lives forever.

“This isn’t over,” the bastard snarled.

Mack gripped his cell phone while he kept the gun trained on the man. “It will be soon. You can make it easier on yourself if you confess who hired you.”

“I’m not telling you anything.”

Mack shrugged. “You’re going to be sitting in jail for a long time, buddy.”

The man cursed, then spit blood as Mack dialed Remy’s number.

Ten minutes later Remy appeared with Greer, and they took the man into custody.

Lily borrowed his phone to call her father while Mack explained things to Greer. Then he confiscated the kidnapper’s phone. “I’m going to keep this in case the person who hired him calls back. If it’s who I think it is, we don’t want to tip
him off that he lost his leverage.”

Greer nodded, then agreed to meet him at Landry’s the next morning. “I’ll need your statements, too,” he told Lily.

She rubbed Winston’s shoulder. He had been tough, but he looked exhausted. “I’ll come down tomorrow. Right now I want to take my son home to bed.”

“I’ll drive you,” Mack said.

He carried Winston and they walked to the car together.

Winston fell asleep in the backseat as soon as Mack started the engine. “What’s going on tomorrow?” Lily asked.