Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) (33 page)

“Seeing me on that plane must have given you a jolt.”

“It was fate. If I believed in all that karma shit, I’d say the planets aligned to bring us together. Obviously I was meant to finish this for David.”

Grace snorted. “You’re full of crap.”

His jaw dropped. She was pretty certain she’d never actually seen it happen before. A little burst of satisfaction filled her.
Keep him on edge.

“It’s not karma or the fates coming together to wreak havoc. Get over yourself.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s not even that big of a coincidence. I’m a reporter, a damn good one, and Casey Sutton is about the biggest story going this summer. You obviously have local ties to lowlifes like Estrada, so it isn’t a stretch that he’d hire you despite the fact you’ve left the area. Are you with me?”

He smiled. “Oh, yeah, I can’t wait to see where this is leading.”

“Have you thought about what your brother would want?”

The smile disappeared.

“He cared about me, maybe even loved me despite being a total moron that last night, trying to coerce me into bed. Then drinking himself into a stupor when things didn’t go his way. Eighteen-year-old boys don’t always use their heads when it comes to getting laid.”

“Jesus.” He sucked in a breath and winced.

“Still, I don’t think David would blame me for what happened afterward. I
know
he wouldn’t blame you, and I’m one hundred percent positive he wouldn’t want his baby brother to kill the girl he dated.” Her voice quavered, and she steadied it. “One he claimed to love.”

Mason hung his head, face pale as perspiration beaded his forehead. “Well, this sucks.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because now I don’t want to kill you, but I don’t have a choice.”

Where the hell was Grace? Travis paced in front of the hospital and swore. His bloodstained shirt flapped loosely from his shoulders, and he winced at the sharp pain in his side when he pivoted. He tried her cell again, but it went straight to voicemail. Scrolling through his contacts, he called Fritz.

His old buddy picked up on the second ring. “Are you home yet?”

“I’m still at the hospital. They released me, but Grace hasn’t shown to pick me up. I’m worried.”

“Traffic?”

“She’d find a way around it, and she isn’t answering her phone. Can you check her apartment? I’ll take a cab and meet you there.”

“It’s only been a couple of hours—”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass. Something’s wrong.” He rattled off the address and hung up.

His frustration built as the taxi maneuvered through streets choked with early evening traffic. The drive seemed endless, and his patience was drying up fast. When the cab slowed in front of Grace’s apartment, he tossed a twenty to the cabbie and bolted out the door before the old yellow beater came to a complete stop.

Fritz’s black SUV double parked beside him, and the agent stepped out.

“Any word on Rogers?”

Fritz shook his head. “Nothing.”

Travis punched in the security code, ran across the lobby and bounded up the stairs. Clammy sweat soaked through his ruined shirt as he clutched his bandaged side.

“You don’t look so good. Maybe they should have kept you a little longer.”

“Shit. Her door’s open.”

Fritz drew his weapon and edged past him. “Grace.”

Barking erupted from the bedroom as they entered the apartment.

“All clear in here. Jesus.”

Travis turned before he reached the bedroom door. “What?”

The agent pointed to a pile of stained bandages next to a bloody shirt on the counter.

Pressing one hand against the wall, Travis struggled to breathe. Grace had to be okay. Had. To. Be.

Worried eyes met his as Fritz hurried toward him. “Let me check the bedroom.”

“No. The dog—”

Travis opened the door, and Wylie exploded through the opening, nearly knocking him over. Teeth bared, he growled at Fritz. With a lunge that sent pain shooting through his side, Travis grabbed the dog. It yelped and cowered.

“The bedroom’s empty.” Fritz glanced down. “Is he going to bite me?”

“No. It’s okay, boy.” Squatting, Travis ran his hands through the dog’s fur. When he touched his ribs, Wylie yelped again. “He’s hurt. What the hell happened here?”

“The bloody shirt could belong to Rogers. We know you at least nicked him earlier. Or maybe the dog took a bite out of him.”

Travis rose slowly. “Grace was coming home to get clean clothes for me. There’s no sign of a struggle. If she walked in and found him here, surely she would have put up a fight. Against an injured man…”

Had Rogers overpowered her—or shot her? Had he somehow dragged her out of the apartment despite an injury? He pressed his hands to his head, holding back a wave of terror. His breath came in harsh rasps.
Shit, hold it together.
Panicking sure as hell wouldn’t help Grace.

“I told her not to go home alone. I told her to call that detective friend of hers.”

“Maybe she did. Maybe he has Rogers in custody, though you’d think someone would have notified me by now.”

“Call SFPD. They’ll give you faster answers than they will me. Her friend’s name is Marconi.”

While Fritz waited and talked then waited some more, Travis stripped off his bloody clothes to put on clean jeans and a T-shirt. Wylie stayed close to his side, pressing against his legs when he eased down onto the edge of the bed.

“Rogers hasn’t been arrested yet, but the detective wants to talk to you.” Fritz held out his phone.

Travis took it. “Marconi?”

“What the hell happened to Grace?”

“I don’t know. We think Mason Rogers was here at her apartment. She didn’t call you earlier?”

“No. Shit. Does Rogers have her?”

Travis closed his eyes for a moment. “Maybe. I can’t imagine any other reason she wouldn’t be answering her phone.”

“Is her Porsche there?”

“We haven’t had a chance to look for her car or question the neighbors yet.”

“I’m homicide, and this is missing persons, so I’ll be out of the loop. Will you keep me informed?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you contacted her parents or sister?”

“Not yet. I’d rather wait until we have some news to report.”

“Talk to Kane when you call. He’ll decide how much to tell her mom and dad.”

“I’ll do that, and I’ll be in touch.” He handed the phone back to Fritz.

“The local police will be here shortly. Let’s check with the neighbors before they arrive and take over. Where does Grace keep her car?”

“In a garage a couple blocks away. I’ll start with the neighbor on this floor. Maybe she saw something.”

A middle-aged woman with short, copper-colored hair answered his knock. He struggled to remember her name. “Elsa?”

“You’re Grace’s friend. A lot of commotion across the hall lately. I don’t much like it. This is supposed to be a quiet building.” Her gaze dropped to Wylie. “That dog was barking his head off earlier when I was trying to watch my show.”

“Do you know what time it was?”

She frowned. “My show starts at two, so shortly after that. Is something wrong? Where did Grace go with that young man? I tried to question her, but she just smiled and kept walking.”

He grasped the doorframe and took a deep breath. “I’m a little concerned about her. When was this? Did she look okay?”

“I passed her on the stairs after I got my mail. Must have been around four-thirty. She wasn’t hurt, if that’s what you mean, but she did look sort of nervous.”

Fritz stepped up behind him. “Ma’am, was the man forcing her to go with him? Did you see a weapon of any kind?”

She gasped, and her eyes widened. “No, of course not. I would have called the police if he was holding a gun on her. I’m not one of those people who look the other way and mind my own business when someone’s in trouble.” She frowned. “Come to think of it, he was carrying a jacket over his arm. You don’t suppose—”

Travis interrupted. “Best not to speculate. Grace didn’t say anything to you?”

“No, she just nodded as we passed. Is she in trouble?”

“I’m afraid so.” Fritz held out a business card. “Will you call me if you think of anything else that might help?”

She glanced at the card. “You’re with the FBI? What’s Grace done?”

“Nothing. We’re just concerned for her safety. Someone from the city police department will be by to talk to you shortly.”

The woman pressed a hand to her chest. “This is all my fault.”

Fritz stepped closer. “Excuse me?”

“When I got home, my arms were full of groceries, and I was struggling to open the door. That young man ran up the sidewalk and held it for me. He was wearing a puffy jacket that looked a little too warm for the day and walking kind of funny. When I asked him if he was okay, he told me he was fine so I thanked him and went inside. I bet he held the door open until I disappeared up the stairs and then followed.”

The agent’s lips tightened. “It can’t be helped now, ma’am, and at least you’ve explained how he got into the building.”

Travis cleared his throat. “Elsa?”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind watching Wylie, maybe taking him for a walk? I don’t have time right now, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back.” He held out the end of the leash.

“Heavens, no. It’s the least I can do. Go find Grace.”

“Be careful of his ribs. He’s bruised up some.”

Her eyes softened. “I will.”

“Thank you.” He followed Fritz down the stairs and out the front door with fists clenched at his sides. Grace was alive and uninjured. Or had been a few hours ago. It was something to hold onto. “Let’s go see if they took her car.”

The garage bay was empty. Fritz called in a description of the vehicle as they hurried back to his SUV.

“Now we wait and hope the APB produces results.”

Travis stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m not going to sit on my ass, praying some patrol officer running radar somewhere notices her Porsche.” He glanced at his watch. “That freak has had her for nearly two hours now. We have to do
something
.”

“We’ve been searching for Rogers for weeks. I know you’re frustrated, but we haven’t been able to locate any address for the man other than a penthouse apartment in New York. He’s injured, so there’s a decent chance Grace will be able to get away from him on her own.”

“Why didn’t she run when she was here? He must have threatened her with something—or he had a weapon the neighbor didn’t see.”

“Maybe he told her he’d kill the dog.”

“Grace loves Wylie, but I don’t think she’d risk her life for him.” Travis ran a shaking hand through his hair. “She’s smart and resourceful. Let’s hope she has some kind of plan. Let’s pray she knew what she was doing when she drove away with a killer.” His chest heaved. “I have to call her family.”

“Would you like me to do it?”

He shook his head. “No, I want to talk to her sister. Rogers made a comment to Grace’s co-worker a while back that has been bothering me. He said contacting her was eighteen years overdue. Grace didn’t understand it, but Rachel might have some idea what he meant. The two women are close.”

“Any lead at all would be helpful at this point. Your Glock is locked in the SUV. I’m sure you’d like to have it back.”

“Please.” He stopped and swore. “Well, shit. I don’t have a freaking car. I’ve been using Grace’s.”

Fritz paused with the weapon in his hand and glanced over his shoulder. “Going somewhere?”

Travis kicked a crumbling chunk of concrete then winced. “I can’t sit around the apartment doing nothing. I was thinking of driving up to Vine Haven to break the news in person.”

“Get in. I’ll give you a ride to the nearest car rental agency.”

* * * *

Travis leaned an elbow on the shining surface of the table in the Lafferty’s dining room as he finished recounting the day’s events. “No sign of her car yet, according to Fritz, so they must have parked it somewhere.”

Rachel sniffed and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Her husband picked up her hand and squeezed it.

“Grace is going to be fine. Is there anyone on the planet stronger or more determined than your sister?”

Travis gave her a half-hearted smile of encouragement. “Honestly, Rachel, that’s what’s keeping me going right now—knowing Grace is a lot smarter than Mason Rogers. If she doesn’t kick his ass, she’ll talk him into letting her go.”

Kane grunted. “But you’d just as soon ride in to save the day.”

“I don’t care who saves her as long as Grace walks away in one piece. Hell, I’d even let one of her ex-boyfriends have all the glory.”

Rachel choked on a tearful laugh. “You really must care.”

“I love her. It’s as simple as that. Now, what can you tell me about Grace’s life eighteen years ago? Why would Mason Rogers mention that number in particular? Is there someone she could have known who had a connection to him? He would have been a little kid at the time.”

“Eighteen years ago, Grace was sixteen.” Rachel frowned. “That was a rough year for her. It was the year David, the boy she was dating, died in a drunk-driving accident. We talked about this, about how strange it was the hit man had the same last name.”

Travis knocked over his soda can. Foam and cola spewed across the table. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Kane grabbed a handful of napkins to soak up the mess. “Explain.” He let out a breath. “Please.”

“Rogers. David Rogers was the boy who died when Grace was in high school. It pretty much destroyed her at the time.”

“And Grace didn’t tell
me
this before because—”

“She didn’t see any connection. David was an only child, years older than this freak who…who took her. It’s not an uncommon name.”

“Maybe he’s a cousin or something. Do his parents still live in Vine Haven?”

“His dad died a few years ago. Cancer. Karen Rogers used to be a regular customer at the bookstore, but she stopped coming in shortly after her husband died. I think she sold their house and moved away.”

Kane pushed back his chair. “I can log into the county database from the computer in the office. If we can track this woman down, maybe she can tell us something about Mason Rogers.”