Tony stood and slammed his fist against the wall. Would he ever see Kelly again?
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
Gem called Pazzini who answered after the third ring. It was six o’ clock in the morning but she figured he kept odd hours.
“Pazzini” his voice was sharp and curt. He sounded agitated.
“Hey, Detective.
It’s Gem Michaels.”
“Oh, hey.”
“I know it’s early and I’m sorry, but I think I’ve got something.”
“Spit it out. I’m in the middle of a situation here and don’t have a lot of time.”
“Listen, if you want in on this, meet me at US Airways. I’ve booked a flight to Newark out of LAX. Flight 7682. We leave in an hour and a half, so you better get moving. If I’m right I am going to lead you to Jake Hamilton’s killer. I hope I spelled your name right for the ticket. Hope to see you on board.” Gem hung up.
Yes, there was a strong possibility Pazzini would blow her off. She’d called him out of common courtesy because he’d allowed her to pursue her story without interfering, and had even given her a few decent leads. She’d also called him because she was scared. Gem did not know what she would find when she got to Jeanine Horner’s cabin. Hell, she didn’t even know if the woman had been telling her the truth. For all she knew, she was headed out on a wild goose chase…one that could potentially result in someone getting hurt, or worse. But she felt it was a risk worth taking. And she felt if she had given Pazzini all the info over the phone, he would have cut her out of the entire thing. She was too deep in this to allow that to happen. Gem crossed her fingers and hoped the detective would take the bait.
CHAPTER SEVENTY
Redding was mid-flight when he was finally able to log-in to his e-mail account. Based on the number of calls he’d received, he was certain someone had sent him an e-mail or two. Only a few people had his e-mail address and when he saw one from Frederick, his head guy in Germany who’d been tracking Horner, he immediately opened it.
Mr. Redding,
We have located Dr. Horner and family. They are in the Catskill Mountains in a cabin at 2893 Back Hills Lane. I am in pursuit and am boarding a plane from Heathrow to New York at 2:00pm this afternoon, my time. I will not let you down.
Färber
Sent from my iphone
“Yes!” Redding smiled.
He left a message for Connor to take care of Morales and her new special agent friend. Redding had a bigger fish to fry and damned if he wasn’t looking forward to it. It had been far too long since he’d been in the field removing “problems” himself. He ordered the plane to redirect.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
Ryan could not help but feel smug. His hands shook for a good five minutes after sending the e-mail. He ordered a cocktail from the flight attendant, hoping to calm his nerves. He wondered if anyone had found that prick, Frederick Färber, yet. He hoped he was dead. Ryan did not feel guilty for killing that son-of-a-bitch and locking him in a toilet. Not in the least. He palmed the man’s phone and thought about the day Färber approached him in the café parking lot in San Diego. How he’d taken him, tortured him with the horrible images of what was done to The Petersens.
He was going to get these bastards. All of them. He had a feeling Redding would show up at the cabin. And when he did, Ryan would take him out. He would certainly beat him there. Redding would need to get to the airport and then it would take six hours to fly east from there. Then he’d need a car, and that would take another three hours to make the drive. He’d likely take his time, assuming Färber was going after them, but Ryan was sure Redding would show. Ryan knew Redding wanted him dead and he was sure he would want to be involved. But Ryan had a head start…he was already 37,000 feet in the air and had been for three hours. He would beat Redding to the cabin, get the girls out, and lay in wait. By tomorrow morning, there would be no more Peter Redding and all of his plans would be destroyed.
Three hours later the plane landed, Ryan rented a car and then went to a gun shop in a seedy area of town where he illegally purchased a nine-millimeter glock.
He now had to get to his family and hide them, and then Redding would come to him like a horse to water. And with any luck, Redding would soon meet his maker. If it was the last thing Ryan Horner did, he would send Redding to Hell.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
Kelly and Julio were only a half hour from landing in The Caymans. Kelly slept a good portion of the flight. She woke feeling…well, not exactly refreshed but better than she had in days. Julio glanced over at her and smiled.
“Hey, sleepy head.
Wait until you hear what I’ve found out.”
Kelly rubbed her eyes and took a sip from her bottled water. “Do tell.”
“The pre-natal vitamins being stocked at the women’s center in East L.A. are supplied by Frauen Pharma. They’re based in Germany and have a satellite office in Los Angeles. Apparently, they’re supplying meds to half a dozen clinics around the country—just like the one in L.A. They’re all located in poor areas, neighborhoods with a lot of welfare recipients, that kind of thing. I’m still trying to find out if there have been any pregnancy related deaths in the hospitals or centers near these clinics. Anyway, my guess is these six clinics were field test centers. They’re distributing the drug to see how it works on real people. Once they get it right, they’ll probably go national.”
“Oh my God.”
Yeah, and check this out. The CEO of Frauen Pharma is this guy, Peter Redding. Apparently his adoptive father was a pretty high up in the Ku Klux Klan.”
“What?” Kelly sucked back a deep breath of air. She took a moment to digest everything and looked back at Julio. “In this day and age, to think people like this can actually put a horrible plan into action…it’s, it’s, I don’t know…”
“Disgusting,” Julio said.
“At the very least.”
She looked out the window, her thoughts scrambled and full of emotion. After a few moments she spoke again. “But…”
“But what?”
“The detective.
The one I told you about. He’s Italian. I mean he doesn’t exactly fit the racist profile.” She frowned. “I really thought he was one of the good guys.”
“You like him, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. I mean…yes. I thought I did anyway.”
“It could be a simple misunderstanding.”
“Maybe.”
She wrapped her sweater around her shoulders. “Back to the issue at hand…I keep wondering about Brightman. I mean, why move to The Caymans?”
“Off-shore accounts. I already traced it. I got an address on the dude and in about an hour, I’ll be paying him a little visit.”
The plane touched down and Kelly shot him a look. “Wait a minute. You? What about us?”
He shook his head. “Kelly, this thing is bigger than I initially thought. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come with me. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt…or worse.”
She folder her arms against her chest.
“I don’t care. I’m going. I want to look that bastard in the eyes and get an honest answer.”
Julio sighed. “You know how to shoot a gun?”
“Of course.”
He opened up his duffel bag and took out a Beretta
,
handing it to her. “Think you can shoot this?”
“Hell yes I can.”
He smiled. “I thought you might say that. That’s why I brought an extra. I figured you weren’t the type to stay behind.”
“You figured right.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
Jeanine knew she had to make a move. The girls were hungry. They’d eaten the last of the Top Ramen stocked in the pantry. Oliver was almost out of formula and the diapers were gone. She’d been using towels and a pair of safety pins she found in her aunt’s bedroom. The little guy was miserable and between the whining, the crying, and the hopeless feelings, Jeanine was close to losing it.
She’d parked the kids yet again in front of the TV and began flipping through channels, searching for a cartoon. She’d caught a glimpse of CNN earlier and was shocked to see she was wanted for questioning in Melanie’s murder and suspected of kidnapping Baby Oliver. How was she was supposed to get out of this mess?
The sun was setting, and she knew she’d run out of options. Jeanine had to go to the police. She had to take the risk.
“Hey girls, Mommy is going to go upstairs and pack.”
“Are we leaving?” Chloe asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’m bored,” Taylor said. “And he stinks.” She pointed at Oliver.
Chloe giggled. The simplicity of youth. If they only knew the kind of trouble they were in. If they only knew it was likely they’d be placed with social services if caught until Jeanine could prove her innocence to the cops. And that was a
good
outcome, comparatively speaking. She looked at her blue-eyed girls and didn’t know if she could do it. She did not know if she should take the risk and leave the cabin.
What choice did she have? They couldn’t stay here and starve to death. She made her way up the stairs. Jeanine had just finished putting the girls’ things into the pack when she noticed how quiet it had become down stairs. When it came to kids, silence was rarely a good thing.
She hurriedly slung the pack over her left shoulder and Oliver’s diaper bag over her right. She grabbed a couple more towels for Oliver and then quickly made her way back down. Suddenly, one of the girls cried out, “Mommy, help! There’s a bad man!”
Jeanine dropped the bags with a thud and leapt over the last four steps to the landing below. A man stood in the middle of the living room. He was dressed in a suit and tie. He had graying sideburns and could have been a businessman, if it wasn’t for the large gun pointed at Chloe’s head. Taylor was on the ground next to her sister with her head bowed between her legs. She was sobbing. Fortunately, the baby had drifted off to sleep.
“Mrs. Horner. Hello. So nice to meet you. I’m Peter Redding.” He had a bag over his shoulder and with his free hand, pulled out a roll of duct tape and tossed it to her. “Your husband is a stupid man. Tried to trick me. But he is not a good criminal. I have people everywhere and the man he tried to kill, well, it didn’t quite work out as planned.” He glanced at the kids. “I don’t like children much. Tape their mouths for me, or I’ll kill them.”
She fumbled for the tape and it fell to the ground.
“Pick it up.”
Jeanine bent down, hands shaking, and grabbed the thick, silver role. How had he found them? “W-what do you want?” What did he mean Ryan had tried to kill someone and had messed up?
“Shhh.
No time for questions now. We have to work quickly. If I’m right, your husband should be here soon to join the party.” He chuckled warmly, sending chills down her spine. “Too bad for you and the little ones here that his little ruse didn’t fool me. Now get to taping, Jeanine.”
She bent down in front of Taylor first. “It’s going to be okay, honey. I promise. We’re just playing a game.” She knew the guy was sick enough to pull the trigger at any moment. She figured the best chance they had was to follow his orders and pray Ryan saved them, if he truly was on the way.
“Get the fucking tape on the kid, Jeanine. Now.”
Tears welled in Taylor’s eyes as Jeanine put tape over her mouth. Jeanine tried not to cry. She needed to be strong for the children. She had to figure out what to do.
“Okay. Now tape her hands and feet together.”
“No!”
Redding sighed dramatically. “Jeanine, I don’t have much patience. You’re a smart lady
and
you have cute kids. You might just live if you follow the rules.”
She taped Chloe’s mouth and gently bound her hands and feet. Jeanine looked up at Redding. “Can you put the gun down now?”
“I don’t think so. Do the infant.”
“He’s asleep. He could suffocate!”
“Do you think I care?”
“Please don’t make me do that,” Jeanine begged.
“I could pull this trigger real easily, Jeanine.” He waved the gun menacingly towards the sleeping child on the sofa.
With trembling hands, she placed the tape as gingerly as possible over Oliver’s mouth. To her surprise, he didn’t stir. She prayed he would stay asleep.
“Okay, kids! Everyone take a seat on the couch. We’re going to wait for your daddy to come home.”
Redding took the tape from Jeanine, tore off a strip, and placed it across her mouth. But before he could get her hands, she took one of the safety pins in her pocket, pressed it open, and stabbed it towards his face as hard as she could. It caught him on the check, just below his eye. He cried out in pain and jumped back, out of reach. Jeanine quickly raised her leg and with a sharp upward jerk, kicked him square in the balls. Redding grunted and grabbed himself. She tried to kick him again but he’d moved out of range.
“You fucking bitch!” He screamed, swinging out with his right hand and punching her hard across the jaw. Jeanine fell back onto the floor and Redding began kicking her in the ribs as she lay on the ground. He placed a foot on her and held the gun to her head.
“I don’t like aggressive women, Jeanine,” he grunted. He turned her around, tearing off another piece of tape while keeping his knee in her chest. She could hear the muffled cries of the children next to her. Redding deftly taped her hands together and then bent down to do the same to her feet. Jeanine closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle. Suddenly, Redding lifted off of her, and there was a loud commotion.
Jeanine rolled to her side and spotted another man on the ground with Redding. Then she heard the sharp retort of a gun. Her eyes focused and she realized the other man was Ryan. And he was bleeding. He’d been shot by Redding who was now standing up and coming back towards her.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Julio and Kelly rented a Jeep and drove it up the coast to Brightman’s new home. The turquoise water and sandy white beaches seemed totally inappropriate considering the task at hand. But she couldn’t help but gaze admiringly at the gorgeous setting. She’d always wanted to visit the Caymans but this wasn’t quite they way she’d imagined it happening. The sun was slowly sinking down over the ocean. It was almost eight o’clock and dusk was fast approaching.