As Good as Dead (28 page)

Callen reached over to take her hand. “You don’t have to go back to work.”

“It’s not that, and yes, I do. I was just thinking about my father.”

“He’d approve.”

“I know. I feel bad that he died thinking I’d given up.”

“I don’t think he ever thought that about you.”

“He was disappointed.”

“In himself, not you.”

Angel hated dredging up the old hurts. She’d set them aside after her father’s death, intending to move on. Frank Delaney had loved her. She knew that. His anger and disappointment had probably been in himself. “Why does it matter so much?” Angel found a box of tissues behind the front seat and grabbed a couple to blow her nose. “Why do I still feel like I need his approval?”

Callen slowed as they neared town. “It’s a natural tendency to want to please a parent. We feel validated when we know our parents approve of us. When they don’t, or when we think they don’t, we feel unfinished, inadequate.”

“I was never good enough for him. At least that’s how I felt.”

Callen squeezed her hand. “To hear him talk, you were perfect.”

She smiled. “He told you that?”

“Yeah, a time or two.”

“He never told me.”

“I’m telling you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across her knuckles.

Too many emotions. So much confusion. How would she ever sort it all out? Eventually she would, but for now, she had to set aside her feelings about her father and his death. For now, she had to focus on finding Luke.

FORTY-FOUR

T
he rental car agencies had a total of ten cars matching the description Angel had given them of the white Lexus. None of the names was familiar. But then she hadn’t expected them to be. Three of the cars had been returned. Still, she folded the list, complete with license plate numbers, names, car model, and make, and placed it in her bag to give to Callen when he came to pick her up for dinner.

The phone rang, and Angel answered on the second ring.

“Good afternoon, Angel. How would you like to see your brother?”

Angel gasped. “Who is this?”

“That doesn’t matter at the moment. Do you want to see him or not?”

“Of course. How much do you want?”

He chuckled. “This isn’t about money. It’s about you. You are the key to your brother’s survival.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will eventually.” That voice. Had she heard it before? Angel couldn’t remember.

“What do you want me to do?” Angel concentrated on breathing normally.

“I’ll take you to your brother, but I need your assurance that you won’t go to the police.”

“So you can abduct me too? I don’t think so.”

“Let me reiterate. Do you want to see your brother again?”

Angel didn’t know what to answer. It would be crazy to let this man take her anywhere. Somehow she’d have to notify Callen, but how closely was she being watched? If she could get a GPS or a wire, Callen would be able to track her.

“Okay.” Angel had no intention of following his orders without talking to Callen, but she couldn’t let the opportunity to see Luke slip away.

“There’s a public park just southwest of the resort. Follow the walk along the river and you’ll see it to your right. Walk through the park to the street on the west side. You’ll find a maroon van with the keys under the seat. Get in it and drive.”

“Where to?”

“You’ll find instructions in the car.”

“When?” she asked

“Now. No cops, no global positioning devices, no wires.”

“What’s my assurance that you’ll take me to Luke?”

“You’ll just have to trust me. Do as I ask and you won’t be hurt.”

“How do I even know he’s alive?”

“He is.”

“You expect me to trust you?”

“As I said, Luke’s life depends on your cooperation.”

“All right. I’m leaving now.”

“Ten minutes.”

“Will you be in the van?” Angel asked, but the line went dead before she could get two words out.

Angel dialed Callen’s number and was relieved when he answered immediately. “How soon can you get a GPS or a wire to me?”

“What’s going on?”

Angel told him about the phone call while she put on her shoes and grabbed her bag.

“Forget it.” Callen said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll follow the instructions myself.”

“That isn’t going to work. He’ll be watching me. I’m afraid that if I mess up in any way, he’ll kill Luke.”

“I hate to say this, Angel, but Luke may already be dead.”

“Don’t say that. I’m going. He said ten minutes.”

“There’s no way I can set you up with a GPS or a wire that soon.”

Angel punched the elevator button, then opted to take the stairs. “He said it would be a maroon van. Maybe you can just follow me. Stay a safe distance behind. I’ll try to call you again.”

“This is crazy.”

“I know. I don’t understand why he wants me, but we’ll find out soon enough.”

“Be careful, Angel.”

“Always am.” Angel pushed open the main door to the resort and walked out into the cool, crisp air. She’d put a jacket over her knit top and was glad she had. Her trepidation grew as she walked into the park. She could see the van parked just where the caller had said it would be.

Hurrying through the park, Angel wondered who the caller could have been. He hadn’t sounded like Bernie or Dan, but she still didn’t know how they fit in, and Bernie could have hired someone. Justin was out of the equation. The caller could have been the DA or the original hit man who had let Luke escape.

Angel slowed as she approached the van. It appeared empty. Maybe she’d get lucky and Luke would be in the back. Maybe someone was waiting inside to finish her off. She opened the side door on the van and looked inside. Empty. She glanced around, worried when she didn’t see any sign of Callen or a cop car. She climbed into the passenger side seat, then looked around for the instructions the caller had promised. On the passenger side seat was a note:
“Drive to Silver Lake Mall, located off Highway 95 at Hanley, park near an entrance, and walk inside. Go into the Bon Marche, to the cosmetic counter.”

Angel did as the note said. The guy was obviously playing games. She called Callen to tell him what the note said. He assured her that he had her in his sights and would keep tailing her.

Once inside the mall, Angel located Bon Marche and made her way to the cosmetic counter, where a young woman offered assistance.

“Um, actually, I’m waiting for someone.”

“Are you Angel?”

“Yes.” Angel frowned. “Who are you?”

“Amy. I work here.” She smiled. “A gentleman left this for you.”

Angel took the envelope and glanced around. Callen stood at a counter nearby looking at jewelry, and no one else seemed interested in what she was doing. Officer Denham, who’d come with him, was nowhere in sight. Opening the note, she read:
“Lose the cops and go to the exit at the back of the store. You’ll see a red Camry at the curb. Get in. No games this time.”

She glanced at Callen, walked to the far side of the cosmetics counter, then ducked into the juniors section, weaving through the racks of clothes until she got to the exit. Callen was nowhere in sight, and neither was Officer Denham. Angel stepped outside. As the note indicated, the red Camry sat at the curb. Angel jumped inside. Callen would be furious, but she didn’t feel she had much choice, not if she wanted to see Luke again.

“It’s about time,” the man behind the wheel muttered.

Angel glanced over at him while she closed the door. “You...” she sputtered.

“You were expecting maybe Tom Cruise?”

Angel stared, speechless at the man’s profile. She couldn’t be seeing right.

Luke’s professor, Ethan Hathaway, drove off, following the curve of the mall, then cutting around one of the back streets. He made several twists and turns before getting onto the freeway, where they headed west toward Spokane. He took the first exit, then went back on the freeway heading in the opposite direction.

“Where are we going?” Angel asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Where do you fit in all of this?”

“In good time.”

“Luke trusted you and...”

“It’s not as it seems, Angel. Just be patient.”

Angel prayed that Callen or Officer Denham had seen her leave and had been able to follow them, but she didn’t have much hope of that. She wondered if they’d even made it to the mall entrance in time to see the car. To pull this off, Dr. Hathaway must have rented three different vehicles.

“Better buckle up. We don’t want to get stopped.”

Angel pulled the belt around her and snapped it into place.

“I’m disappointed in you, my dear. You made my job more difficult, and you’ve wasted valuable time.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you kidnap Luke?”

“It’s a long story. First of all, I apologize for all this cloak-and-dagger business, but I couldn’t chance Detective Riley following us. Did he manage to equip you with a GPS or a wire?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Good.”

“How are you involved in all of this? I checked you out online with the college and you really are Professor Hathaway, aren’t you?”

He smiled. “I am, and Luke was my student. But none of that matters at the moment.”

They drove past the exits for Coeur d’Alene and before long had bypassed the lake completely.

“Why did you kidnap Luke?”

“I didn’t.”

“So are you working with someone? The DA—Alton Delong? Were you his professor too?”

“Alton?” He chuckled. “I may be old, but I’m not that old. Actually, we went to law school together. Alton and I go way back, but I’ve never worked with him. We weren’t exactly best friends. Why would you ask about him?”

Angel pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, debating whether or not to tell him about Bernie’s suspicion that the DA was crooked. She decided not to and picked up on Dr. Hathaway’s comment instead. “You weren’t best friends—were you enemies?”

“Not exactly.”

Angel cast him a disparaging look. “I found a listening device in my bag. You put it there, didn’t you?”

Hathaway sighed. “No, but I know who did.”

“You took advantage of my mother’s hospitality and planted a bug so you could listen in on my conversations.”

“We needed to find Luke and thought you would be the best bet.”

“We? Who are you working with?”

“All in good time, Angel. Just be patient.”

Angel scanned the road ahead, looking for road signs. If she got out of here, she wanted to be able to bring authorities back to the cabin. For a time, Angel thought they might be heading toward the condominiums where Bernie and Dan were staying, but the professor continued on, driving along a twisting, curving road.

She didn’t feel especially threatened by the professor, but that meant nothing. “You know about the Penghetti brothers and the trial Luke was involved in?”

“Of course.”

“They’re looking for Luke too,” she admitted.

“Then he’s lucky we got to him first.”

“What about the hit man who killed the witness and guard and let Luke go? Do you know who he is?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

“How could you know that? Are you the one who hired him?”

He shook his head. “Of course not. I am a law professor. I have lived an exemplary life.”

“You call this exemplary?”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“Then what’s your connection with the hit man?”

He turned off the gravel road and pulled into a driveway. “Your brother is in there, Angel.” He pointed to a log cabin that had to be forty years old. Beyond the cabin was a lake. A dock extended out into the water, and a boat with oars and a small motor rested beside the dock.

“Nice, isn’t it? Been in the family for years.”

Angel nodded.

His features held a hint of regret. “Let’s go inside. You’re about to meet the man who killed John Stanton and his bodyguard and who allowed your brother to go free.”

FORTY-FIVE

A
ngel squared her shoulders, determined to keep her wits about her as she walked into the cabin.

Luke was lying on the couch, clean shaven now and looking like the Luke she knew and loved. He’d gotten heavier, and if anything more handsome than he had been in college.

“Luke!” Her only goal at that moment was to rush to his side. She stopped when she saw the bloody bandages wrapped around his thigh.

“No!” He tipped his head back. “Why did you bring her into this?” His gaze darted to Ethan. “Professor? What... why are you here?” Luke covered his eyes and dragged his hands down his face as if to wipe away the images.

“What happened?” Ethan asked before Angel had the chance. His anger was directed toward the man with the gun.

“He tried to escape.”

Turning toward the matter-of-fact voice, Angel locked gazes with the man seated at the rustic table, a gun lying within easy reach. He was a big man, dangerous looking. He had piercing, dark brown eyes and a square jaw. While the professor hadn’t seemed the least bit threatening, this man did. Her mouth went dry as she remembered what Ethan had said. This man was a cold-blooded killer.

The professor didn’t seem inhibited; if anything, he had an authoritative tone. And he looked none too pleased. “We agreed there’d be no bloodshed.”

“I had to stop him.”

Dr. Hathaway rubbed his forehead. “Luke, I’m sorry.”

Luke looked as confused as she felt. “So am I.” He let his head drop back to the pillow.

Angel turned back to her brother and closed the distance between them, then dropped down to her knees beside him. Angel hugged him for a long time, her face resting against his chest, his hand resting on her head. She had prayed every day that he was still alive and that some day he would surface, but not like this. She leaned back and looked into his teary brown gaze. “What on earth is going on? We need to get you to the hospital.”

“Medical treatment is the least of my worries,” Luke said. “I’m sorry you had to be involved in this mess. I never should have gone to Dad’s funeral.”