Hide 'N Seek (29 page)

Tranquility.

How long had it been since she’d sat back and just enjoyed life. She couldn’t remember. It was always one project after another.

For some reason she thought of Beck. This country club scene wasn’t his thing. Yet, he would fit right in, but she couldn’t picture him playing golf or… Never mind what Beck would like or dislike she told herself. She was here to work not to daydream about him.

Markie wiped the sweat from her forehead squinting against the sun as she took off her jacket. She sat beside O’Malley, reaching for the lemonade. The cool refreshing liquid hit the spot and she almost finished the glass.

“I think you could get used to this place, Brooks,” O’Malley chuckled as he got up to crank the lever adjusting the umbrella to shade the table from the sun. “Maybe their lemonade anyway.”

“This place has a certain draw. You have to admit, this has got to be the best lemonade—”

“Jeffery Booker informed me you were coming to see us,” Mr. Daniels said when he strolled out onto the patio, hand shoved in the pockets of plaid navy walking shorts his white polo shirt stood out against his dark skin. He was talking to O’Malley, but he was looking at Markie’s chest. “My wife will join us shortly.”

He was tall, distinguished and handsome. He knew it too. Probably used to getting anything he wanted, but not from her, Markie thought as his eyes traveled down the length of her body and settled on her chest when she stood up to greet him. He smiled at her and she immediately felt the need for a shower.

“This is Marklynn Brooks, a private investigator.”

“A private investigator? And an attractive one too.”

O’Malley saw where Mr. Daniels’ eye’s landed and stepped in front of Markie and extended his hand forcing Mr. Daniels to shift his gaze.

“I don’t know what else I can tell you except to reiterate we don’t know where our daughter is. She has cut off all ties with us.”

A few minutes later a woman floated onto the patio, tennis racket in hand, resting on her right shoulder. She looked like she was peeled from the cover of some sports magazine with her white tennis skirt and polo shirt. Toned and tanned, she seemed annoyed that her tennis game was interrupted.

“My husband is correct. If that’s all then I’d like to return to my game. The court is reserved,” she said looking at Markie, as if she was something stuck on the bottom of her shoes.

“No, that’s not all, Mrs. Daniels,” Markie said not hiding the annoyance in her voice.

Was this woman for real? With her hair in a neat bob and her makeup flawless, it didn’t look like she was playing tennis at all. More than likely lounging by the pool she would guess.

She and her husband were in their sixties and it was about time they started taking responsibilities for someone other than themselves. That responsibility should start with Melanie.

“You’ve ten minutes,” Mrs. Daniels said, looking at her watch as if she was starting a count down.

They all sat down around the patio table. Mr. Daniels shoved the lemonade aside when the waiter appeared with a scotch. Markie made a point of putting her jacket back on before taking her seat to avoid his wandering gaze.

“Melanie is a troubled young lady and we’ve done all we can for her. She belongs in an institution. Until she decides to accept our help there is nothing we can do for her,” Mr. Daniels said glancing at his watch.

“Are we keeping you both from something more important?” O’Malley asked a hard edge in his voice. “I would think that your daughter is worth more than
ten
minutes of your time.”

“No one talks to me like that, not even an underpaid cop like you.”

“We mean no disrespect, Mr. Daniels.” Markie gave O’Malley a look that told him to simmer down. “Melanie is more than troubled. She kidnapped my sister. We found her yesterday barely alive. Your daughter has also killed a man I’m told she was fond of. That makes two murders. The first one you covered up.”

“Get out!” Mrs. Daniel sprang up from the chair she’d folded her slender frame into pointing to the door. “Now!”

Markie didn’t budge. “You already lost one daughter,” she said looking up at the woman. “Why won’t you try and save the other? I understand Melanie has mental issues, but all that will be taken into consideration if she turns herself in. We need your help to find her before she hurts someone else.”

“And you’re not going to get it. My baby doesn’t need your help,” Mr. Daniels replied inspecting his nails as if he’d just had a manicure.

It was the way that he said
my baby
that got Markie thinking and it wasn’t a pleasant thought.

“When did you start?” Markie pinned him with a disgusted look.

“Start what?” Mr. Daniels asked, brows drawn together.

“Molesting Melanie.”

O’Malley, whose gaze had drifted down to the pool, whipped his head around to look at Markie then to Mr. Daniels. Mrs. Daniels picked up her glass of lemonade and threw it into Markie’s face.

Markie jerked back when the cold liquid hit her face, squinting when the lemon juice stung her eyes. Hatred blazed in woman’s eyes when she glared at Markie and stormed away from the table.

“You two are finished,” Mr. Daniels hissed.

“Not yet,” O’Malley said when Mr. Daniels pushed his chair back and got up from the table. “A Jane Doe was identified as Monika Beck. If you’re interested, I can tell you where she’s buried.”

“Monika died four years ago and we buried her.”

They both watched as Mr. Daniels ran from the patio to catch up to his wife.

“I think we’ve outstayed our welcome,” O’Malley said dabbing the napkin along the arm of his jacket where the lemonade splashed.

“You think?” Markie wiped her face with the napkin. She removed her jacket and dabbed at the wet shirt then threw the soiled napkin on the table.

When they got to the car, O’Malley paused for a moment before starting the engine. “How did you know he molested Melanie?”

“I didn’t, but Mrs. Daniels did. It was the way she looked at me and I knew.”

“Do you think he molested Monika as well?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say no. Melanie has problems so it was easier to manipulate her than Monika. If he’d been hurting Melanie since she was a child, which I suspect he was, she has escaped into a world inside her head.”

“She’ll kill again,” O’Malley said with a grim look on his face.

“I know,” Markie said wondering if Beck would be next.

“Be careful,” he warned.

•  •  •

Beck didn’t even know why he came into the office. After a sleepless night, productivity was not the name of the game this morning.

He couldn’t think straight. The fight with Marklynn at the hospital had soured his mood. Bringing himself to the task at hand was proving to be an undertaking. All of Malcolm’s files were brought to his office. He sat there staring at the Lincoln Heights file. They had agreed not to pull the account. He could have asked someone else to go through the files to see what was pending. Peta Ann had offered, but he wanted to do it.

At least he had opened the file, but after Malcolm’s parents had telephoned him upon their arrival at the hospital an hour ago that was as far as he had gotten. They had caught a red-eye after their conversation yesterday and were preparing to take Malcolm’s body back home.

The funeral would be in a couple of days if they could get the body released by then. O’Malley was helping them with the paper work.

Beck had called O’Malley to thank him for all his help. He had a lot to say. More than Beck wanted to hear.

After four long years of assuming Monika was dead, he was assured she was dead. They had evidence. Her body was identified. Since her parents could care less or maybe they were in denial, he didn’t know, he’d asked O’Malley to ensure she had a proper burial. He would pay for it and finally have closure.

Beck looked up from his desk when the door opened and Jamie walked in. No suit today just a sport shirt with the Brooks Investigations logo and jeans.

“Hey, you okay? You didn’t answer my knock so I came in.”

“Sure.” Beck pushed the folder aside leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”

“You wanted an update.”

“Sure. Sit down.” He vaguely recalled sending the email request earlier for a meeting. When he’d sent the email he also wanted to ask about Marklynn, but decided against it. How could he walk away? He didn’t have a choice. She pushed him away and shut him out.

“Beck?”

“Sorry. What did you say?”

“We’re just about done,” Jamie said looking at him funny. “We found the backdoor. It’s been closed. Melanie’s access to the system has been cut off. The monitoring software is being rewritten and will be uploaded by the end of the day. Sooner if testing goes well. Your team has been great.”

“You must be relieved you’re done?”

Beck was glad yet a part of him was saddened. The completion of the job meant he wouldn’t see Marklynn again. Brooks Investigations would stay on as a security consultant, testing to ensure that Beck Security Systems would not be vulnerable to attacks again, but nothing else. The contract was clear about that.

Jamie shrugged. “It’s bitter sweet. I can’t believe Malcolm is gone.”

“I know what you mean.”

“What’s next for you?” Beck knew that Marklynn and Jamie hadn’t spoken since the meeting in the conference room and he felt responsible. She felt Jamie had betrayed her.

“A new challenge who knows.”

“Does that include Brooks Investigations?”

Again, Jamie shrugged. “Anything is possible.”

“You shouldn’t let her push you out,” Beck said. “She needs you.”

“What about you? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her so wound up about someone. She needs you as well.”

“She blames me for what happened to Sydney.”

“And you’re going to let that stop you?” Jamie snorted.

“I could say the same to you. You’ve been together a long time.”

“There’s a big difference between you and I. I’m not in love with her.”

Beck didn’t respond just stared off into space thinking about the last time he and Marklynn were together.

“Bottom-line: we have control of Beck Security Systems. No need to hang a “For Sale” sign on the door.”

“You understand why I couldn’t even consider it, right?”

He kept replaying that moment in his office when Markie had wanted him to honor Melanie’s request to sell the company. He could still see the look of disappointment on her face. It was more than disappointment. It was betrayal. She believed he had betrayed her and for that he would not be forgiven. The fight at the hospital that night confirmed that.

“Beck, you did what you had to do.”

“Would you have chosen differently?”

“I didn’t when I found out you had your ex-wife’s case reopened. I chose not to tell her. I wanted to give you the time to do what you had to do. I guess we’re in the same boat. Until she tears down that wall there’s nothing we can do, is there?”

•  •  •

“Hi Cate,” Markie said when she walked by her office. O’Malley had dropped her off at her house an hour ago. She’d changed and headed straight for the office. It wasn’t work she had on her mind. She wanted to see Jamie.

“Hi, how is Sydney?” Cate’s voice stopped Markie before she headed up the stairs.

“Sydney’s fine. Thanks for asking. She should be out of the hospital today, if not then tomorrow.”

“That’s wonderful.” Cate clapped her hands together. “Jamie told me about Melanie. They still haven’t found her?”

“No and her parents were no help at all.”

“Perhaps she’s gone for good.” She had a hopeful look on her face.

“I don’t think so.” Markie shook her head remembering what O’Malley had said about Melanie killing again and thought about Beck. She wanted to call him. Thought about it on the drive back from Jamaica Plains but hadn’t acted upon it. “She planned all of it, the sabotage and the murders. She has an ultimate end in mind. I’m not sure what that is, but I don’t think she’s finished yet.”

“Sydney?” Fear registered in Cate’s eyes.

“Carlos is at the hospital.”

“Good. You better be careful,” Cate warned, her maternal nurturing kicking in as it often did.

“Count on it.” She turned her head towards the stairs. “Is Jamie around?”

He just got back. He was at Beck Security Systems all morning.”

“Is he with anyone?”

“Not as far as I know.”

“I’m going up to see him. Oh, could you clear my calendar for the next couple of days. I want to spend some time with Sydney.”

“Already done, and an update report listing what everyone is working on is on your desk.” She smiled. “So you can take off on a clear conscience.”

“Thanks. What would I do without you?”

“I hope we never find out,” Cate laughed and went back to her desk.

Jamie’s office was a couple of doors before hers at the top of the stairs. She knocked on the glass door and he waved her in.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” he replied twisting his mouth, staring at her in silence.

She could always count on a smile from him, but not today. His trademark scowl was directed at her in spades.

“Got a minute?”

Jamie indicated for her to sit in the visitor’s chair with the point of his chin then leaned back into his chair. Moving the laptop to the corner of his desk, he gave her his undivided attention. He’d told her once he liked order at the office and it showed.

Files were laid out neatly on his desk of various projects he was working on. The bookshelves were lined with computer books, and his degrees were hung upside down on the wall behind him. A private joke which he had not shared with her.

“I’m sorry about what I said in Beck’s office. I was angry and afraid. I took it out on you. It wasn’t fair.” Jamie opened his mouth to speak but she held up a hand to stop him. “Let me finish. Please.”

Jamie nodded for her to continue.

“I don’t want you to leave.” Jamie’s eyebrows raised in surprise as if wanting to know how she’d found out. “If you had treated me the way I did you, then I would be thinking about leaving or at the very least questioning our friendship.”