Count to Ten (50 page)

After a moment his heart started beating again. He opened the folder and stared at the photo inside. He hadn’t looked at his brother’s face in nine years. He’d been such a beautiful little boy. Too beautiful. Too much of a temptation for perverts like his aunt’s boyfriend and Tyler Young. They’d killed him. Every last one of them had killed Shane.

And they were all dead. Penny Hill was no innocent. She had Shane’s file. She’d known where he was all along. All those months of hell in the Youngs’ house.

Mitchell had lied. There was no Milicent Craven. She’d lied to lure him into the open. She was as conniving as the rest of the women. She should suffer for that.

She should die for that, just like Penny and Brooke and Laura and his aunt.

They’d be watching Milicent Craven’s house. The minute he went in, he would have been dead. So he wouldn’t go in. And he’d master their game. His original plan would stand. He’d draw Mitchell to him. And then he’d kill her. He’d see her burn.

First he’d get a good night’s sleep. She’d wait for him outside Craven’s house all night long.
She’ll be tired tomorrow and I’ll be fresh as a spring daisy.

Monday, December 4, 12:45 A.M.

“Wake up, Reed.” Mia poked him in the darkness of the car. They were staked out, watching for Kates. Anita Brubaker was inside the house, armed to the teeth while their unmarked cars watched from all directions. If Kates approached, they’d know.

“I’m not asleep,” Reed muttered, turning from the window. “Wish I were, but I’m not.”

“Poor baby. You worked hard this afternoon, cleaning your house.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d come help.”

“I did... just later. I went to see Jeremy.”

His eyes softened. “You’re getting attached to the kid.”

Her chin lifted. “Is that so wrong?”

“No. Not if you don’t plan to walk away. He’ll have enough people walk away in the years ahead. The kid’s got a long row to hoe.”

Her gaze swept the area and seeing nothing, returned to Reed. “I wish I could take him home with me. But he’s not a cat. I can’t take him. I don’t even have a home.”

“So you gave him to Dana. It’s the next best choice. You did good, Mia.” He resettled himself in the seat, grimacing. “Where did Spinnelli get this car? Yugoslavia?”

She chuckled. “We couldn’t use yours. Kates’s seen it.”

“And five minutes in your car would put me in traction.”

“Hey, it’s a classic. I can’t help that you’re too big.”

“I don’t get it, Mia. You wait to buy a coat until you get paid, and it’s a nice coat by the way, much better than the old one, but you have enough cash for a sports car?”

“Most of my money goes to Kelsey’s lawyer. Every time we get close to parole, his billable hours go up, so I’ve been cash-strapped this month. Besides, the car wasn’t that expensive. David got me a deal on a fixer-upper. I’d broken up with Guy and wanted something to lift my spirits, so I splurged. David fixed it up, keeps the engine happy.”

He frowned. “Mia.” He hesitated. “About Hunter.”

“Friends. Just friends. Always have been, never will be more.”

He looked unconvinced and she sighed. “Look, I’ve told you all my secrets, but I won’t tell you his. It would have been easier if we had wanted each other, but we didn’t.”

“You were with him last night.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I guess I wanted to be with someone else who couldn’t have who they wanted.” She smiled. “But things change.”

He smiled back. “Yes, they do.”

“I never asked, did Beth win the slam poetry competition last night?”

“First in her age-group.”

“Did you hear her poem?”

He shook his head. “We haven’t made up quite that much.”

“You should ask her to... slam it for you, or whatever the right word is. It was good.”

He frowned and looked out the window at shadows. “Christine was a poet.”

She thought about the poetry book she’d found.
This is my heart.
“Really?”

“We met in college. I was taking a lit class and poetry was like ancient Greek to me. She saw me scowling, told me if I bought her a cup of coffee, she’d explain it all.”

“And she did.”

“She did. Then she read me her poems and it was like... listening to a ballet. She brought beauty into my life. I’d made myself disciplined through the army, gave myself a career with my degree. Made myself into a son the Sollidays were proud of. But I couldn’t make beauty. Christine did that for me.”

Mia swallowed hard. “I can’t do that for you, Reed. I don’t have that gift.”

“Not for ribbons and bows, no. But last night I realized you make me happy.” He turned his head. Met her eyes. “And what’s more beautiful than that?”

Moved, she had no words to give him back. “Reed.”

His lips quirked up as he settled back into the seat. “Plus you’ve got really nice breasts. So when I’m feeling lonely for ribbons and bows, I’ll just look at those.”

She laughed. “You’re a bad man. Who makes bad rhymes.”

“I never claimed to be a poet.”

But he has the soul of one.
Christine had been his soul mate. She wondered if each person truly only got one. And hoped not.

After a few minutes he sighed. “Mia, listening to Young had me wondering something. It’s going to come out sounding bad, but I don’t mean it that way. I just don’t know how else to ask.”

She frowned. “So just ask.”

“You grew up around cops. Why didn’t you ever tell one of them about your father?”

“If you only knew how many times I’ve asked myself that same question, especially after Kelsey went to prison. When I was little, I was too afraid. Then when I was older, in high school, I didn’t think anyone would believe me. He was a respected police officer. Then later, when I became a cop, I was... ashamed. I felt people would pity me if they knew, that I’d look weak and I’d lose respect. Then when Kelsey finally told me the truth, it was guilt. And now he’s dead, so it doesn’t seem to make much sense to tell now.”

“You told Olivia,” he said and she winced.

“And that went well, didn’t it? I didn’t want her to feel rejected. I should have just kept my mouth shut. When this is over, I’m going to Minneapolis to talk to her.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

She studied his face. There was no pity there. Only support. “Yes, I’d like that.”

He smiled. “You accepted my help. Progress. Now, let’s talk about your shoes.”

She grinned. “Watch it, Solliday.” The grin faded. “And thank you.”

His eyes became intense. “You’re welcome. I think we need to change the subject because it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to touch you.” He shifted again and looked out the window. “I wish the sonofabitch would come. I want this over with.”

Monday, December 4, 7:55 A.M.

Mia sat at her desk. “I can’t believe this.”

Reed yawned. “He either didn’t see Wheaton, or he made us.”

Kates hadn’t taken the bait. “Shit,” Mia grumbled. “Now what?”

“We regroup. Then after morning meeting, we go back to the hotel and get some sleep. There’s no way we’ll find him if we’re not sharp.”

“Maybe he’s gone after Tim Young.”

“Santa Fe PD is watching,” he said, then sat up straighter. “That’s interesting.”

Mia twisted to look then shook her head. Lynn Pope from
Chicago on the Town
was walking her way, a distinctly hurt look on her face.
Crap.
“Lynn,” Mia said.

“Mia. I’ll be brief. You met with Holly Wheaton yesterday. Then last night Wheaton gets this great scoop. Why? You hate Wheaton.”

Mia met Pope’s eyes. “Yes, I do.” Head tilted, she continued to hold Pope’s gaze until the woman drew in a breath and cognition dawned.

“Oh. And it didn’t work, did it?”

“Nope. Look, Lynn, when this is over, I’ll call you.” One of her neurons fired unexpectedly, and the idea made her smile. “Wait.” She walked to Solliday and whispered in his ear and he nodded. “Lynn, check out a guy named Bixby. Runs an outfit called Hope Center. It’s juvie. You might need to dig a little.”

Pope brightened. “I will. Call me when this is over. And watch your neck.”

“I will.” Mia leaned on Solliday’s desk. “She’ll do it right.”

But he wasn’t listening. “Now serving number two,” he said and again she twisted.

Margaret and Mark Hill must have passed Lynn Pope in the elevator. The brother and sister wore twin looks of grim resolve. “Mr. Hill, Miss Hill. How are you?”

“Have you caught him?” Margaret asked.

“No, but we’re close. Why are you here?” It felt strange to be the one saying it.

Mark Hill drew an envelope from his coat pocket. “Our mother’s lawyer read her will on Saturday. He gave us this. We agonized yesterday over whether or not to give this to you. But we want our mother’s murderer found and punished. So here.”

Mia took the envelope, read the letter inside. “Oh boy.” She passed it to Reed, who shook his head silently. “We’ll try to keep your mother’s name out of it. Thank you. I’ll call you as soon as we catch him.” The Hills walked away, Mark putting his arm around his sister’s shoulders. Margaret leaned against him. “I guess they cleared the air.”

Reed stood. “So it would seem. Come on, Mia. Let’s get to morning meeting.”

Murphy and Aidan were already there. Spinnelli frowned when they came in. “You’re late.” Mia gave him the letter and reading it, he sat down. “Oh boy.”

“What is it?” Murphy asked.

“A letter from Penny Hill,” Mia said, “documenting what happened when she returned from disability, nine years ago. She went through her files, found Shane’s buried at the bottom of some other records. No one had been assigned the boys. She then found Shane was dead and Andrew had been placed in another home. She went to her supervisor, who told her to destroy the file. She threatened to go higher, he convinced her she’d be fired if she did. She had medical bills, so she stayed silent.”

“This letter is dated six years ago,” Spinnelli said. “She was experiencing a great deal of guilt, nightmares. She sealed the letter and gave it to her lawyer for -safekeeping. I’ll take care of this.” He blew out a breath. “So where are we?”

“Either he didn’t see the news or he made us,” Mia said.

“I figured that out for myself,” Spinnelli said darkly. “What will you do next?”

“Follow him to Santa Fe?” Mia shrugged, frustrated. “Set up Tim Young as bait?”

Spinnelli’s brows went up. “Tim Young it is.”

Mia shook her head. “Wait, I was just... We can’t use a civilian as bait, Marc.”

Spinnelli’s mustache went down. “He said he’d help. Kates must be stopped. And now we have one more victim. Mia, your super was found dead in the closet of an empty apartment in your building. Her keys were gone.”

As Mia’s mouth fell open, Jack came in carrying a box. “Kates was there. He left a mess in your bedroom, Mia. Blankets, pillows on the floor, clothes everywhere.”

Mia felt her cheeks heat even through the shock of her super’s death. “That doesn’t mean he was in my place. I’m not much of a housekeeper. The bedroom was like that.”

“Did you leave your photo album out?”

Her heart started to pound. “No. Hell.” Jack put the box on the table and Mia lifted the album to the table, sorted quickly. “I’m not organized, but I know what was here. Bobby’s obituary is gone.” Then her pounding heart stopped. She held Dana’s wedding invitation in her hand. “And so is Dana’s reply card. He has her address.”

Spinnelli reached for the phone. “I’ll send a unit out there now.” But Stacy poked her head in with a frown.

“Marc, there’s a Dana Buchanan on line one for either you or Mia. She’s upset.”

Spinnelli put the phone on speaker. “Dana, it’s Marc -Spinnelli. I’m here with Mia and others. Kates has your address.”

“Kates has Jeremy,” Dana said, her voice frantic. “
Mia.
”

Mia’s blood went cold. She slowly rose, trembling. “
How?
How did he get Jeremy?”

“Let me talk to her.” The phone changed hands. “Mia, it’s Ethan. We’re at Jeremy’s school. We came in early this morning to get him enrolled. Jeremy went to his new class while we were still signing forms. The fire alarm went off right before school started and it wasn’t a drill. Fire blocked one of the exits. It was chaos. We immediately started searching for Jeremy, but he was gone. How did he know Jeremy was here?”

“He had your address from my apartment. Marc, when was my super murdered?”

“Sometime Saturday afternoon.”

“I shook a tail when I left your place Saturday night, Ethan. I thought it was Carmichael. It must have been Kates. He must have come back yesterday and found Jeremy.” Her knees buckled and she sank into her chair. “He was looking for me. He killed my super and now he’s using Jeremy to get to me.” She drew a shuddering breath. “Get Dana calm. This isn’t good for the baby. We’ll find Kates. And Jeremy.”

“Was anyone hurt in the fire at the school?” Reed asked.