Always Watching (39 page)

“
The number is programmed
into the speed dial on my phone,” Celeste said.  “Number
two.  Before you call, I’d like to know why you really came
over here.”

I cleared my throat and stared at the floor
for several seconds.

“
It’s about Danny’s
murder, isn’t it?”

“
In part.  It has
more to do with Sofia’s kidnapping.  As the investigation
continues, I can’t help but realize that the two events are
absolutely related, Celeste.”

“
His uncle is
involved?”

The dismay in her voice dragged my eyes up
to meet with hers.  “No Celeste.  There is no doubt in my
mind that this mess has nothing to do with Sully Marcos.  In
the first place, Danny wasn’t exactly cooperating with the feds in
their case against Sully.  That information that I found and
turned over to them, it was what your husband was trying to find to
prevent us from using against his family.”

She stiffened and pulled her hands free from
mine.  “Then what are you saying?  That my husband had
something to do with Sofia’s –”

“
No
,” I interrupted with absolute conviction.  “Danny was
devastated by Sofia’s kidnapping, Celeste.  He was frantic
with worry for you and his daughter.  He cooperated with me
completely.  Let’s be clear on that right now.  I do not
believe and have no evidence whatsoever to support Danny’s
involvement in what happened last week.”

“
Thank you.”  More
tears sluiced over the dam.

“
But the woman who had
Sofia when I found her, she’s making claims that Danny voluntarily
placed Sofia with her for a legal adoption.”

“
He would
never
do
that!”

“
I know.  I’m sure
you understand how and why someone would want to point a guilty
finger at Danny, given his legal problems prior to his
murder.”

“
Of course.  But
that’s not fair, Helen!  He did one bad thing, made one
terrible mistake.  It doesn’t make him responsible for every
crime in this city.”

“
I know.  And I agree
with you.  Unfortunately, what I merely believe isn’t
admissible in a court of law.  We need evidence of his
innocence in this matter.”

“
How can you prove
someone
wasn’t
involved in a crime?”

The door to what I needed creaked open
loudly.  “Well, if I can take evidence to the district
attorney that shows conclusively that Danny’s business life was
completely legal, that like you said, he made one terrible mistake,
for which he had been caught and was being prosecuted, it shifts
the burden of proof back onto the woman who claims Danny was
responsible for Sofia’s abduction.”

Her tousled blonde curls cascaded about
Celeste’s shoulders.  “Wait a minute.  They’re claiming
that Danny somehow used one of the companies to do this?”

I nodded. 

“
But I already told you
that Destiny would be cooperative –”

Devlin finally spoke.  “She wasn’t
cooperative, Mrs. Datello.  She told us that if we wanted to
see anything that we’d need a warrant.”

“
Can’t you talk to Mr.
Stefano?  Surely my husband’s lawyer could tell you that Danny
had nothing to do with what happened to Sofia.”

“
We’re only interested in
looking at the records of one business, Celeste,” I measured my
words carefully.  “You see, an allegation has been made that
Danny was involved in something far more illegal than custodial
interference with your daughter.”

“
Like what?”

“
Have you read the papers
this past week?”  Devlin sat beside her on the sofa. 
“There was an article about a little girl found dead on the shore
the night that we were searching for your daughter.”

“
I think I recall reading
something about that.  But what’s that got to do with
Danny?”

“
Her body washed up in an
area that is routinely used by Danny’s fishing business,” I
said.  “This little girl wasn’t a native of Darkwater Bay,
Celeste.  She had been abducted.  Now, Melissa Sherman’s
lawyer is desperate enough to use any thing that looks even
remotely suspicious to get his client deemed not guilty for what
she did to you, to Sofia.  We need to prove that Danny wasn’t
involved in that or anything else.”

“
Oh my God. 
Oh my God
.  Will
they never let him rest in peace?”

I gripped Celeste’s hands again.  My
legs started to ache from my position crouched in front of
her.  I ignored it and soldiered onward.  “Celeste, if
you, if Destiny are completely cooperative with our investigation
to prove that this Sherman woman acted alone, that Danny had
nothing to do with any of this, it goes a long way in showing that
Danny wasn’t involved.  As it stands now, Destiny’s lack of
cooperation is exactly what Melissa Sherman’s lawyer is counting
on.  It makes it look like Danny had something to hide.”

Her eyes widened in comprehension. 
“You want access to the fishing business?”

“
Yes,” I said.  “Only
to prove that Danny wasn’t involved in anything illegal.  As
you know, Johnny Orion and OSI had been watching all of Danny’s
businesses for a very long time.  They saw nothing that
indicated there were illegal activities in any of them.  A
peek at the books would be all the confirmation we
need.”

“
Of course,” she
rasped.  “I’ll call the office right now and tell them that
you are to look at any records you request.”

“
You told us that Destiny
has Danny’s power of attorney,” Devlin reminded her.  “Doesn’t
that permission need to come from her?”

“
It did,” she said. 
“Until Danny died.”  More tears fell.  “His attorney
informed me that he left everything to me in the will.  It
doesn’t matter if Destiny runs the company or not.  It belongs
to me now.  She has to do what I say.”

“
Give me your mother’s
phone number,” I pulled my cell out of my pocket and poised to
dial.  “While you talk to the office and clear the way for us
to prove that Danny had nothing to do with any of this, I’ll call
your mother.”

She rattled off a number and slipped away to
use the phone. 

One of Devlin’s eyebrows danced the mamba
while I dialed.

A moment later, a feminine voice answered
the phone.  “Yes, hello?”

“
With whom am I
speaking?”

“
Kim Hughes.  Who is
this?”

“
Ma’am my name is Dr.
Helen Eriksson.”  That was as far as I got before the woman on
the other end of the call became hysterical.

“
Oh my God!  Has
something happened to my daughter?  Tell me she’s all
right!”

“
Ma’am, Celeste is fine,
physically at least.”

“
Oh thank God.”

“
Emotionally, she could
really use some family support right now.”

Tension crackled across the phone
line.  “My daughter made it perfectly clear who her family is
now, detective.”

“
I’m not a detective
anymore,” I said.  “And I understand how you feel, believe
me.  When I learned that my late husband was related to the
Marcos family, I too wanted nothing to do with him.”

Stunned silence.

“
But your daughter is
grieving the loss of her husband.  Her child was
abducted.  She’s in a very fragile state right now.  Do
you really want her surrounded with Danny’s employees instead of
her real family?”

“
She could’ve called me,”
Hughes whispered.

“
Sometimes that’s the
hardest part for children, making the first move.  Please Mrs.
Hughes.  Celeste needs you now more than ever.  I’m with
her right now in the penthouse.  Could you come –”

“
I’ll be right
there.”

I shoved the dead phone back into my purse
and glanced at Devlin.

“
Is she
coming?”

“
Right away.  Who
knew it would be that easy.  Is Celeste still on the phone to
the office?”

He nodded.  “You were pretty honest
with her about your belief that Danny wasn’t involved in any of the
other mess, Helen.  What if we learn otherwise?”

“
I can’t think about that
now.  Besides, he has three huge companies under the umbrella
of his empire.  It wouldn’t be the first time we learned that
the mice were up to no good while the cat was away.”

“
I have a hard time
imagining that someone like him would have been ignorant to any
aspect of his business ventures, Helen.  Like you said, given
the family history…”

I pressed one fist against my gut.  “I
know he wasn’t involved in this, okay?  Could you trust me on
this?  If we find anything, it’s going to be so subtle that
nobody would’ve noticed unless they knew exactly what they were
looking for.”

“
What makes you so sure
he’s not part of the bigger picture here?”

“
You were there when I
interviewed him after Sofia was abducted, Dev.  You were part
of the investigation that resulted in Danny’s arrest.  You
know how this man feels about close family, and I’m not talking
about the extended bullshit that Uncle Sully always
represented.  None of this would’ve happened if David Ireland
hadn’t stumbled across evidence that Danny was ratting his family
out.”

“
So now you’re saying he
had justification to murder another little girl’s
father?”

I rubbed my temples. 
“It’s not that cut and dried.  Danny wanted to protect
his
family.  Sully
murdered Anthony Datello.  Danny would’ve never been able to
let that go.  It was his father.  Believe me, I
understand the sentiment.”

“
But your dad is in
prison, Helen.”

“
Yes,” bitterness bubbled
on the tip of my tongue.  “And the traitorous wretch who tried
to kill him was thankfully the one who died instead.”

“
What?  Who tried to
kill your father?”

Our eyes met. 

“
My mother.”

He blinked slowly.  “Helen…”

“
Shh.  Celeste is
headed this way.”

“
Helen, I spoke with
Raleigh Shaw.  He’s the man that oversees the fishing
business.  I told him that he’s to give you whatever you
request.  He’s expecting you at the office.”

“
Is this Danny’s office
building in Darkwater proper?”

“
No,” she said.  “The
fishing business operates right here on Hennessey Island.  Do
you know where the marina is?”

“
Yes.”

“
There’s an office
building right there.”  She hesitated.  “Helen, did you
talk to my parents?”

“
Your mother is on her way
over here right now.”

“
Could you… could you stay
until she gets here?”

I saw the protest perched on Devlin’s lips
before he spoke.  He wouldn’t understand why Celeste wanted me
to stay.  After all, Bay View Division still had officers
posted inside the casino and outside to make sure Celeste was
safe.

No, her request was rooted in a different
kind of fear.  I was the only person left who understood her
husband and his twisted sense of justice.  It was something we
shared after all.  Guilt uncurled in my heart.  Danny was
dead.  I was just as guilty as he was and walking around not
only free, but with my sins completely cloaked by a man I alienated
last night.

“
Of course we’ll stay,” I
said quickly.  “Where’s that beautiful little baby of
yours?”

Tears evaporated under the heat of a radiant
smile.  “Stay right here.  I’ll go get her.  She’s
probably going to be awake starving to death in a minute
anyway.  Who thought someone so small could eat so much?”

“
Helen,” Dev spoke low
when Celeste hurried from the room, “we really don’t have time for
this.”

“
Trust me.  It’ll be
a miracle if her mother doesn’t get a speeding ticket on the way
over here.  Do me a favor and let the guys from Bay View know
we’re expecting company and that these people are authorized to be
here whenever Celeste wants them.”

She reappeared with the cooing infant in her
arms.

“
She’s been so happy this
morning, Helen.  Would you like to hold her?”

I nodded and accepted the tiny bundle. 
Butterflies fluttered in my chest this time.  I wondered how
it would feel the first time I held the child growing inside
me.  I barely noticed when Devlin excused himself.

“
She seems like she’s
grown so much since the last time I saw her,” I said.  “Is it
my imagination?”

Celeste laughed.  “I don’t think
so.  My mom warned me that they grow up too fast.  I
don’t want to miss a second of her life, Helen.  There are no
words that can express how grateful I am that you found my
daughter.”

Big brown eyes looked up at me, seemed to
focus more than possible for a newborn.  “She’s very
alert.”  Protective instincts, some might even call them
motherly, swirled in my belly.  “It’s easy to understand how a
parent would do anything to protect his child.”

“
The last time I spoke to
Danny, he told me not to worry.”

I glanced up at her.  “Was that after I
talked to him at the jail the night we started searching for
Sofia?”

She nodded.  “He said that no matter
how you might feel about him personally, he knew that you’d find
Sofia.  He knew that there was nobody else who would take it
personally enough not to rest until she was found.”