Danger Comes Home (Kelly O'Connell Mystery) (15 page)

She was horrified. “Should I come over?”

“No. I think the fewer people around Jenny, the better. Too many people would make it look really serious and while it is that, we don’t want to scare her any more. I’ve told her I’m sure we’ll find her mom.”

“Don’t lie to a child, Kelly. Ever.”

“I’m not. But I don’t want to dash any hope she has when we don’t know yet what’s happened. I told you, didn’t I, that they found her husband’s body. So that rules him out.”

After muttering about innocents caught in somebody else’s mess, she got back to the subject of Johnson Goodroe. “I don’t think he’s your man. He’s married, faithful as far as I know, and a generally good guy.”

Thanking her, I hung up with a sinking feeling. A police officer. And either he knew where Mona was or, awful thought, he’d kidnapped her and done who knows what?
Push that thought away, Kelly.
Or there was the possibility that he scared her and she’d gone into hiding, which I knew she would do to protect Jenny. I could think of two places to look for her but short of breaking and entering, I couldn’t check until tomorrow. And I thought Mike would throw cold water on my ideas and tell me to let the police do the investigating.

So we waited, and when Mike came home he literally blew in the door, blazing mad and clutching a handful of papers. Then he stopped to stare at us. Bless him, he started with Jenny, sitting next to her on the couch and pulling her over for a hug. “Jenny, we haven’t found your mom, but I have some good ideas. I want you to take my daughters into their rooms and close the door. Adults have to talk.”

All three girls balked, Jenny more quietly but more intensely than our girls. It was her mom, she claimed, and she wanted to hear.

“Jenny, if you hear what I’m going to say, it will put you in danger.”

Theresa saved the day. “Girls, I have a cake mix in the apartment. Let’s bake a cake for dessert.”

Maggie and Em were immediately enthusiastic, but Jenny gave me a long look over her shoulder as she reluctantly followed them.

Joe immediately held out a hand. “You want me to look at that drawing, Mr. Mike?”

“Sure, Joe, but I don’t think you’ll know who it is. I do though. It’s an officer out of the Central Station. He must be our snitch, but I could have sworn the snitch is in the Narcotics Squad—whoever it is knows too much about our operation. Now I’m thinking it’s two people…or more. After our squad meeting, Conroy and I have our eyes on a couple of guys, but this guy isn’t one of them.” He waved the papers, and I reached to take them out of his hand.

“I’m going to call Conroy,” he said.

Joe and I studied the picture, but it was no one we’d either one ever seen or so I thought until Joe reached for the paper and asked, “Let me look again, Miss Kelly.”

He studied it for a long minute and then said, “I’m not for sure, but it looks a lot like a cop I saw when they pulled me in. I remember him because he was especially nasty to me, kept calling me a punk. I pegged him for a holier-than-thou type.”

“Sometimes that’s the kind you have to be suspicious of,” I said.

Mike came back, sat down, and rubbed his hands over his head—he couldn’t run them through his hair like Anthony because he keeps it too short. “Conroy’s coming over to look. If he agrees, we’ll put an immediate tail on the guy. Scum!”

“Mr. Mike, he looks sort of familiar to me from the day they pulled me in. I told Miss Kelly he was really nasty to me. He would have taken a swing if he could.”

Mike nodded. “Showing everyone else how tough he is on drug dealers.”

All Joe said was, “I’ll leave before Captain Conroy gets here, thank you.” And he left, presumably to go help bake a cake.

Conroy agreed that they had a probable ID, and he got on the phone with internal affairs to order a tail. “I want to know everywhere he goes. And I mean everywhere,” he yelled. Too agitated to even ask for a beer, he left, saying he’d drive around looking.

I had no idea what he hoped to find.

****

In spite of Mike’s best efforts to lighten the atmosphere, dinner was a pretty dismal affair. The stroganoff was not the peak of my culinary achievement, though I will say Theresa made better suggestions to improving it than I would have thought of—white wine,
etc.
But the food was the least of our worries. Everyone focused on Jenny, and no one wanted to be obvious about it, so we averted our eyes and then glanced as she toyed with the food on her plate and ate not one bite. It wouldn’t have been fair to urge her—when she got hungry, she’d tell me, and I didn’t care if it was midnight.

Mike’s phone beeped to let him know he had a text, which he read right there at the table—usually a forbidden practice. He replaced his phone and got back to making light-hearted conversation, but there wasn’t much he could be light-hearted about.

In spite of her nap, Jenny was exhausted, and our girls were worn out by the tension. I started to make Maggie a pallet in Em’s room, so Jenny could have some privacy, but it occurred to me that the child might want company.

“Jenny, do you want Maggie to sleep with you in her room?”

Maggie looked a bit aghast that she hadn’t been consulted, but she said quickly, “I’ll sleep on the floor, Jenny.”

“It’s my turn to sleep on the floor,” Jenny said. “And I probably won’t sleep. I’m too worried.”

I didn’t comment, just left the pallet where it had been the night before.

Theresa cleaned the kitchen, while I put the girls to bed. None of them complained, except for a plaintive, “Do we have to go to school tomorrow?” from Em. I assured her she and Maggie did have to go to school and they were to say nothing to anyone about Jenny’s mother. Jenny would spend the day at my office, and Maggie was to bring her homework and assignments. Both girls grumbled, and Jenny said, “Thank you. I…I don’t think I could go to school tomorrow.”

I stroked her hair. “No, Jenny, you probably couldn’t. I’ll talk to Mrs. Smith in private, and it will be an excused absence. We’ll do your schoolwork tomorrow.”

“Maybe Mom will be here by then,” she said wistfully, but I could tell she was beginning to lose hope.

Em elected for a pallet with the older girls, and neither of them objected. So I finally had all of them settled in Maggie’s room. I kissed each sweet head, wished them “Sweet dreams”—how futile was that?—and closed the door. Then I closed the second door between the bedroom wing and the living room—my, there were times I blessed that door!

Mike, Joe and Theresa were sitting at the kitchen table, a solemn looking bunch if I ever saw one.

“Our guy has not left his house tonight at all,” Mike said.

“You can’t get a warrant and go see if Mona’s in there, can you?”

“Nope. No probable cause. And he’s got a wife and fairly young kids. He’s not going to forcibly bring someone there.”

Joe offered, “I’ll go for pool and a beer or two tomorrow night, see what the word is on the street.”

“Isn’t it possible Mona sensed a threat and disappeared to protect Jenny but disappeared voluntarily? Maybe she had to think things through.”

Mike looked at me thoughtfully, when I’d expected him to reject the idea outright. “You may be right, Kelly. But where would she go? Maybe an anonymous, fleabag kind of motel, and we can’t search all of those in the city.”

“I can think of two places,” I said, suddenly offering the information I’d been holding back. “The apartment she wants to rent or Faith’s Diner.”

He shook his head. “No way she could get into either. And lights and any sign of activity in either place would alert other people. I’ll mention it to the NPO for the night—José is off—but I doubt it.”

“I’m not so sure,” I said slowly.

“Kelly, don’t go doing police work yourself. Fair warning: I’m going to see about putting a tail on you, not because I don’t trust you but because I’m afraid for you. I know you won’t hide in your office all day and someone knows you know too much about this case.”

I wondered if a tail on me would be as ineffective as the one on the suspected rogue cop.

Mike changed the direction of my thoughts. “What are you going to do about Jenny tomorrow? I don’t think it would be fair to her to send her to school.”

“Way ahead of you,” I said. “She’ll stay at the office. I’ll talk to Susan Smith in the morning and explain in confidence what’s happened.”

“Make sure it’s in confidence,” he emphasized.

“Susan’s trustworthy. I’ve got to call Keisha.” I asked Keisha if they were eating breakfast at the Grill in the morning and she countered with, “It’s a work day, isn’t it? What else?”

So I asked if she’d come get Jenny and not tell the girls where they were going, just say Jenny was spending the day with her. I could hear the girls howl if they thought Jenny was getting breakfast at the Grill and they weren’t. Then of course I told her the whole story, but I left out the suspected dirty cop. She’d just tell José and that could do no good.

“The fat’s in the fire now, Kelly. We got to find that woman yesterday.”

“I have a couple of ideas.”

“Girl, you don’t go detectin’ without me.”

“You’re watching Jenny,” I said and hung up.

The morning went as I’d hoped. Keisha picked up Jenny and told the girls she was simply taking her to work. Over loud protests and mumbled complaints, I took my daughters to school and went in with them. Once they were settled in their rooms, I went to see Susan, but I had to wait until the school day got under way to her satisfaction.

Finally she walked into the office and asked, “Kelly, what kind of problem are you bringing me now?”

I motioned to her office, and she led the way, closing the door after me. I told her the whole story, stressing the confidentiality.

She shook her head. “You’re right not to force the child to come to school. I’ll bend the rules and make it an excused absence. But, Kelly, you get into the darndest situations.”

“I know, and I’m really worried this time. It might do well to keep an extra eye on my girls too. I don’t expect trouble, but you never know.”

She agreed, and I went off to put my plan into action. I began of course at the office.

Keisha took one look at me as I walked in and asked, “Boss lady, what you got on your mind?”

I looked at Jenny, seated in a chair pulled up close to Keisha, and said, “Nothing. I’m just going to be out of the office a bit this morning. Jenny, did you eat breakfast?”

“Yes, ma’am, I did. Keisha got me a Belgian waffle. I’ve never had one of those before, but it sure was good.” She looked thoughtful. “I think my mom had to go away. She’s protecting me, but she’ll keep herself safe. I bet she just has to figure things out after Todd’s death.”

Curious, the way the child never said, “My father.” I thought her logic was pretty good. In fact, it was the idea I was operating on this morning, and I was relieved to see her a bit more lively.

“Good. You’ll have a good day with Keisha. I’ll come get you for lunch, but what do you two have planned for this morning?”

“I won’t be getting’ any work done, that’s for sure,” Keisha muttered, while Jenny said,

“Keisha’s going to teach me about computers.”

If Jenny went back to our house this afternoon and announced that, the envy would be palpable. “Well, you two have fun. Keisha, try to sell three houses before I get back.”

She gave me a black look. “Don’t suppose you’re tellin’ me where you’re goin’?”

“No,” I said airily, “I’m not. But not far. I’m walking.”

“Oh, good. That makes me feel a lot better.”

I stomped out to walk the few blocks from my office to Faith’s Diner. Even though summer was almost upon us, the temperatures climbing along with the heat, it felt good to be outside. Pretty quickly, I was aware that someone was following me—a shabbily dressed young man, with pony tail, jeans, scuffed shoes, and a T-shirt though I couldn’t make out what it said. Of course, the tail Mike threatened—he really had followed through. I knew I wasn’t even supposed to be aware of this guy, but I was, and I wondered if he even had a gun and a cell phone or some connection to the police. Some help he’d be in a crisis. I didn’t want to find out. I resisted the urge to wave at him or do something else outrageous. The very idea that I was in danger was preposterous.

The diner was closed. Doors locked, front and back, no lights inside, no response to my knocking. I tried so long that my tail came up and said, “Hey, lady, let me try to help you.” He pounded on the door, tried the locks, peered in the windows—all the things I’d done—and then shrugged and said, “Sorry. No one there. See ya!” and walked off in the other direction. I was telling Mike that night that my protection was no protection.

I went around to the back of the restaurant and pounded on the door. Maybe Mona would think someone was trying to make a delivery—oh, I don’t know what I thought she’d think. But I couldn’t leave without trying. No answer. I went back to the front and tried to peer through the windows, but I didn’t exactly expect her to be sitting on a stool in plain sight if she was hiding from someone—or from the world in general. Besides, the windows were so dirty, I couldn’t see much. Pony Tail had disappeared by now.
Really dedicated to my safety! Probably figures it’s a dumb assignment to have to follow someone’s wife.

I wasn’t quite defeated. I called Doris on my cell phone and asked if I could get into the apartment in the Mehl Building. Improvising quickly, I said, “Mona thinks she left her cell phone, and she asked me to check. If you’re busy and you trust me, I’ll just stop by and get the key. Bring it right back.”

“Matter of fact, Kelly, I am tied up on a deal right now, but I’m sure the owners won’t mind if I let you take a quick look. I’ll have the key ready.”

To get to Doris’ office and the Mehl Building both, I had to walk right by my own office. I considered going around an entire city block to avoid letting Keisha see me, but that seemed like a foolish waste of time. Head high, I walked right by those darn plate glass windows. If Keisha saw me, or Jenny did, I had no idea.

Doris had the keys—one to the building and one to the apartment—in an envelope, and I promised I’d be right back. I looked around as I left her office—don’t know if I expected to see Keisha or Pony Tail, but the street was empty.

When I had let myself into the building, I knocked on the door of the apartment as a precaution. Then I turned the key and slowly opened the door. Somebody jumped me—literally—and we both went down on the floor. I struggled to get control, even as I fought to stifle my surprise and indignation, but whoever was on top of me was strong. I looked and saw a raised fist ready to strike.

And then I said, “Mona!” just as she cried, “Kelly!” We both laughed in relief and scrambled to our feet, but I noticed she was quick to close and lock the door.

“Sorry,” she said. “I heard you knock, and by this time in my life my self-preservation instincts are pretty good. Just be glad the apartment is empty. If I’d had a chair or something, I’d have cold-cocked you.”

I wiped my forehead. “You don’t know how relieved I am that didn’t happen. But I’m even more relieved to find you. Jenny’s worried sick. You’ve got to come with me.”

“No. Tell Jenny I’m okay. I’ve got to hide. I know this is only temporary. But, Kelly you’ve got to stay out of it.
I’m being watched, I know it, and the people watching me will have no idea what I did or didn’t tell you. You’ll be in danger too for having found me, although I don’t think anybody knows I’m here.”

“I’m already in danger. My husband made that quite clear last night.”

“And it’s my fault. I am so sorry I involved you. All I ever wanted was to protect Jenny. I don’t care about myself.”
She paced the room, nervously twisting her hands. “Saturday night, I was afraid. I had to think things through. You know I went to dinner with a ‘friend’ Saturday night….”

“Yes, I wondered who. Forgive me, but I didn’t think you had any friends because Todd kept such close tabs on you.”

“You’re right,” she said bitterly. “I didn’t…and I still don’t. The so-called friend was a cop, the one who came to the house to tell me Todd was dead. He called, said he wanted to know how I was doing. One thing led to another, and he asked me to dinner. Kelly, I know it was foolish, but you have no idea how starved I’ve been for that kind of life, the kind where I could go out to dinner in a nice restaurant and enjoy myself, like a normal person. Besides, Jenny was so excited about spending the night, and I didn’t want to stay in that house alone. I figured there couldn’t be any danger. After all, he’s an officer of the law.

“I was so wrong. He propositioned me. Oh, it wasn’t my body he wanted—it was my cooperation. He wants me to take over Todd’s operation, says I have the perfect skills, and I know the score—don’t know where he got that idea, but he’s unfortunately right. Of course, I flatly refused.”

My head was spinning with questions, but I kept quiet, and she went on.

“That’s when Jenny’s name came up. I should have expected it, but he blind-sided me. Told me he wouldn’t want anything to happen to my daughter. Then he ordered coffee and chocolate mousse as though it were a perfectly ordinary evening. I nearly threw up.”

“Jenny’s got to be safe, but you can’t do that. Even without Jenny in the picture, it would be too dangerous for you.”

She waved that thought away and finished her story. “I didn’t stay in the house. As soon as he was gone, I sneaked out and came here by a devious route—and on foot. I was afraid he had someone watching. I didn’t even think to bring a toothbrush…let alone a gun, which now is probably a good thing.”

“How did you get in here?”

“Todd taught me a few things. Picking locks was one of them. This is not the secure apartment you thought it was.”

“You’ve got to tell Mike. We figured out who you went to dinner with, and Mike’s got a tail on the guy. He says he’s got a tail on me too, but not a very effective one.” I had wandered over to the window and glanced at the street. There was Pony Tail, leaning against a building across the street. Suddenly it dawned on me that Pony Tail wasn’t one of Mike’s guys.

“Mona, stay away from the windows. I’ve got to call Mike. Someone followed me here, and it’s dangerous for either one of us to go out there right now.”

“Kelly….”

“Please just trust me. Think of it this way, I have Jenny’s best interests at heart.”

She opened her hands in an “I give up” gesture. I punched in Mike’s number, and that was the first time I noticed my cell phone was turned off. How did that happen?

He was angry when he answered. “Kelly, why was your phone off? I tried the office and Keisha said you were out ‘detecting.’ I’ve been trying to call your cell. I know where you are, and I know you’ve been tailed. Stay there, away from windows, and don’t open the door. I’m already on my way, with backup in plain cars.”

“How do you know where I am? And who’s tailing me?”

“Two people apparently. I had someone tailing you as I told you I would…”

“Yeah, a guy with a pony tail. I spotted him right away.”

“No. That’s your other tail, the one we need to be afraid of. I put a woman on you, and she’s good. Neither you nor Pony Tail spotted her. But thanks to her, I’m pulling up behind the building now. Is he still across the street?”

I edged across the room and stood to the side of one of the windows. “Yes. He’s talking on a cell phone.”

“All the better. He may call for help, and we’ll get more than one person. In just a minute, I’ll knock on the door. Ask who’s there, and I’ll say Cynthia sent me. Don’t open the door for anyone else.”

“Okay.”

It was barely half a minute before he knocked and heard the answer to my question: “Cynthia.” I threw open the door and fell into Mike’s arms.

“Kelly,” he said in exasperation, “will you never learn?”

That stung. I pulled away from him and flung back, “You never would have found her. I told you where to look.”

Conroy, who had followed Mike into the apartment, barked, “Could we save the domestic quarrels for another time.” Then he introduced himself to an astonished Mona. “Mrs. Wilson, I’m Buck Conroy, chief of narcotics.”

“Narcotics?” she echoed, her voice rising in a nervous pitch. For just a moment, she looked around in panic, as though looking for an escape route. Then she calmed down, took the offered hand, and said, “Mona Wilson.”

Buck had gotten the signal. “Ma’am, we’re a hundred percent sure your husband was dealing, even though we didn’t find proof at your home, and now we’re pretty sure you’re in trouble with a rogue cop. We’re here to help.”

“Help?” Back came that frightened look. “I don’t know anything about narcotics.”

“Mona,” I said softly. “This really is the time to be truthful.”

She looked at me. “Jenny,” she said softly. “Remember what you said about Jenny.”

Mike stepped in front of Conroy, which I though took a bit of nerve since Buck was his immediate superior. “Buck, let’s hash this out later. Right now, we’ve got to deal with Pony Tail down there. Here’s what I suggest, and it’s asking you ladies to take a risk, but I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t fairly sure you’d be safe. I want you to leave the building together, and try as hard as you can to chat about kids, recipes, shopping, whatever turns you on and makes you look unconcerned. Walk to Kelly’s office and then drive to our house. Buck and I will meet you there. We’ll have two people on the street with you, but you won’t know it.” He turned to Buck. “Okay?”