Explosive Alliance (17 page)

“Do you know where we can find them?” Cash asked.

“No idea about Leo, but Hugo's dead and buried.”

“Dead? When?” Cash asked.

“Last week. Guy was in terrible pain all the time. He went to the hospital to have a morphine pump implanted in his back to relieve it, but he got an infection and never recovered.”

Hugo's death was the perfect reason for Leo to start taking revenge after such a long time. Jake's knowing expression said he thought so, too.

“When's the last time you saw Leo?” Jake asked.

“Not since Sunday. The guy's rent is due, and I figure he's hiding out 'cause he doesn't have it.” She scowled. “I wasn't going to toss him out right after Hugo's passing, but the kid don't need to know that.”

Cash's hope plummeted. If she hadn't seen Ketchum for three days, that meant Otto wasn't here.

“We have a warrant to search their room.” Cash half expected her to close the door in their face.

She stepped back. “First door at the top of the stairs.”

“My associates would also like to have a look around the house.”

She frowned. “Now, why would I let you do that?”

Jake stepped forward. “If you don't, I'll come back with a warrant for that, too. You should know that will make my deputies cranky. You don't want to deal with cranky deputies, do you?”

“Fine,” she said. “But leave my things be.”

Jake called Skyler and Archer to the front. They started through the first level while Jake and Cash climbed the stairs to Ketchum's room. It held an old iron bed with a well-worn quilt, scarred dresser and matching nightstand. A single lightbulb hung from above, casting shadows in the room.

“Let's tear this place apart,” Jake said eagerly.

“Not like there's much to tear apart.”

Cash went through the nightstand while Jake searched the dresser. Nothing. Cash dropped to the dingy carpet to look under the bed. He pulled out a few boxes and dug through them. Nothing again.

Angry at coming up empty, he shoved the last box and hit the bed frame. A clanking noise sounded from one of the posts.

“You hear that?” Cash asked.

Jake was already shaking the bed. “The corner post is hollow. There's something in it. I'll lift up the bed, you unscrew the foot.”

Cash twisted the rusty foot from the post and a key dropped out. He looked at the tag. “It's for a storage place. Unit 23. Just down the street.”

Excitement sparked in Jake's eyes. “You think that's where Leo's hiding Otto?”

“Wouldn't Leo have the key with him if he was?”

“Maybe this key belonged to the father.”

“Worth checking out.”

They quickly looked through the other rooms on the second floor, then met Skyler and Archer outside. Cash didn't have to ask if they'd found Otto. Their sullen expressions said it all. They climbed into the truck and within minutes pulled up to the storage facility. They left the truck near the entrance and crept toward the long building.

“Over there,” Cash whispered and pointed at a unit where light shone from under a cracked-open door.

Jake gestured for them to fall back, and they circled together.

“Two scenarios I can see,” he said. “Otto's inside alone or Ketchum's with him.”

Cash appreciated that Jake didn't even entertain the idea that Otto wasn't here. “We can't simply breach the place and risk Otto's life.”

“We could get a snake camera inside without him seeing it,” Skyler suggested.

“I'll get it.” Cash ran back to the truck before anyone else could volunteer. If he took control of the camera and spotted Otto inside, Cash planned to be the first one through the door to rescue the sweet old guy and maybe lay Ketchum out in the process.

* * *

Krista hung out in the family room, staring out the window. Waiting for Opa to arrive home had given her time to calm down. To compose herself. To take the time to pray and reflect on her life. She now possessed an insight she'd never had before.

Worrying was pointless. So was trying to control things she had no power over. She'd worked hard to plan for what could happen to her once she returned to Portland. Had even prepared her escape if needed. But God saw fit to let others thwart her plans.

That meant only one thing to her. She'd come to the end of what she could do for herself and had to listen to Opa and let go. Let go of the worry. Let go of the strife, or she'd spend a lifetime needlessly worrying.

“Watching won't bring them back faster,” Brady said from the sofa. “Besides, it's not a good idea to stand in front of the window.”

She spun. “They have the bomber in custody. How's he going to hurt me from there?”

“You
think
they have him in custody. We don't have confirmation yet. And if that's not enough to get you to move, think about Cash. Would he let you stand there under these conditions?”

She thought about his deep need to protect her. “No, but—”

“He'll see you when he pulls in the driveway. I'd rather you move away from the window than have to explain why I let you stay there.” Brady grinned.

She saw headlights flash into the driveway, and she bolted to the door.

“Wait,” Brady warned. “It might not be Cash.”

Brady joined her, and they both watched out the side window.

“That's not Cash's car. Stay here. I'll check this out.” Brady stepped outside and closed the door.

Krista heard him talking with another man before he poked his head in the house. “Guy's name is Ian Summers. Says he's an old college friend of Toby's and claims to have important information about Toby's murder.”

“Then let him in,” Krista said eagerly and went to greet Toby's friend.

Krista immediately recognized the short, powerfully built man who entered carrying a briefcase.

“I don't know if you remember me,” Ian said.

“Yes, of course.” She shook hands with him. “You came to our wedding. Please come in.”

Krista motioned for Ian to sit on the sofa. As he settled in, she sat next to him and introduced Ian to Brady, who leaned against the wall watching carefully.

Krista turned her attention to Ian. “You have information about Toby's death?”

“I do.” He rested the briefcase on his lap, then snapped it open and rummaged around.

Krista chewed on her lip and hoped the evidence he was retrieving could solve Toby's murder and finally clear her name. Couple that with the bomber being arrested and Opa coming home and her life was finally looking up.

Ian glanced over the briefcase at her. Smiled. She returned the smile and then looked back at the case. Waiting. Eager.

His hand shot out. A small gun was clasped in stubby fingers. He jabbed it into Krista's side before she could do anything but gasp.

His smile widened into a sick, twisted grimace. “I know all about how Toby died. I'm the one who killed him.”

TWENTY-TWO

J
ake took a stance in front of the storage door while Cash stood behind him wearing his EOD suit. They had to go in quick and precise to keep Ketchum from taking the place down. Their camera had revealed him sitting alone at a table filled with explosives. They couldn't risk harming him, or they may never learn where he'd stashed Otto, but they also couldn't risk stepping inside without protection. Jake would slide the door up, then move out of harm's way, and Cash would go in gun drawn.

It was risky, but a risk Cash and Jake would willingly take for Otto. Hopefully, Ketchum wouldn't be able to react faster than the team.

Jake nodded at Cash, then slid the door open.

Ketchum looked up from behind the long metal table. Cash charged and had his gun to Ketchum's head within moments. He hauled Ketchum to his feet and dragged him away from the explosives. Outside, Cash shoved him to the ground and pressed his face into the concrete as the team came charging in.

Jake cuffed Ketchum, and as soon as he'd read him his rights, he asked, “Where's Otto?”

“Who?” Ketchum asked.

Jake got in Ketchum's face. “Otto Schiffer. The man you kidnapped.”

“I didn't kidnap anyone.”

Cash's anger flared, and he reached up to jerk off his helmet so he could have a go at the creep.

Jake grabbed his arm. “Before we do anything else, go clear the place in case we have a ticking timer inside.”

Cash would rather stay and pummel Ketchum, but he headed into the unit. Didn't take long for him to see that Ketchum was building another device but hadn't activated it. Cash sifted through papers and found blueprints next to supplies that were of the same specifications as the other bombs, but no impending explosion. Back outside, he gave a thumbs-up. Skyler removed his helmet, and Cash pulled the quick-release toggle to shed his suit so he could get his hands on Ketchum.

“Found blueprints for the stadium and construction office. Plus diagrams for a suicide vest.” Cash stepped closer to Ketchum. “You're making another bomb. Who's this one for?”

“Wouldn't you like to know?” Ketchum sneered.

“Look, creep.” Jake suddenly bent over Ketchum. “We have enough to put you away for a very long time. We know you set the stadium bomb and put the vest on Upjohn to get revenge for your father's death. But if Otto dies, that's a whole other thing. I'll make sure you never see the light of day. You get me?” He tugged on Ketchum's shirt. “So knock off the wise-guy stuff and answer our questions.”

“Seriously, I don't know who this Otto guy is,” Ketchum replied, sounding truthful.

Cash charged at him, but Jake stepped in the way. “Then tell me what you do know about. Like these supplies, Upjohn and the stadium.”

“They all got away with killing my dad,” he said, emotion raw in his voice. “Sure, the stupid doctor was ultimately to blame, but the others killed him when they decided to cut corners.” He shook his head, his eyes burning with hatred.

Archer moved closer. “And you want them to pay.”

Ketchum nodded.

“But something went wrong at the stadium,” Archer continued and Ketchum stared as if in a trance.

“It was me,” he said. “I screwed up. I was after the stadium manager who signed the contract with Upjohn Construction. Only him, but he's such a big baby he couldn't sit out in the rain.” Ketchum swung his head sorrowfully. “He let my dad work in every kind of weather condition, but no, he couldn't handle a little rain. So I moved locations. But I should've waited for a better chance. Then I wouldn't have run into the freaky woman who reported me.”

Archer moved closer. “The woman you've been stalking all week.”

Ketchum's eyes opened wide. “What? No. I'll admit to breaking into her house to retrieve my flash drive, but she woke up and screamed.”

“And that's when you tried to abduct her?”

“Abduct her? No, you're nuts.
She
came after
me
.”

“Then why drag her toward the door?”

“I was just trying to get out of the house. But, man, she was a pit bull. Couldn't get away from her so I took her with me. Once I got the door open, I planned to shove her down and run.” He shook his head. “No way I'd try to take that woman. No way.”

Cash had to smile at how tenacious Krista had been.

“So then you came back the next day,” Archer said, resuming his role.

“Yeah, for the coat she'd worn to the stadium, but it wasn't in the house.”

“And that's when you started following her and planted a detonator in the couch to make her look guilty,” Skyler stated.

“Really? Where are you people getting these crazy stories? I didn't plant anything.”

Cash felt like taking the guy's head off for his continued attitude, but held his temper. “How'd you find her in the first place?”

“You're a cop and you have to ask?” He smirked. “I tailed you when you drove her home.”

Cash clenched his jaw and warred with the guilt of letting this guy get to her. “You expect us to believe you just gave up looking for the flash drive?”

“Dude, after you stuck to her like glue I wasn't gonna risk getting caught for a stupid drive.”

Cash eyed the man. “If it was so stupid, why give it to her in the first place, then come looking for it?”

“The crazy lady mentioned my backpack, I figured she'd get nosy and report me, and I didn't want the cops stopping me on the way out. My bomb schematics would get me hauled downtown. I can always figure out a new algorithm to beat the lottery, but I can't plant a bomb from jail.”

“The lottery? This is about winning the lottery?” Skyler said in disgust and crossed her arms.

“You claim this algorithm is important,” Cash moved on. “So why carry it with you?”

“I shouldn't have, but what else was I supposed to do with it? I couldn't leave it here. Something could explode and destroy it. And Yapp goes through our rooms. She doesn't think I know about it, but all her boarders know. She searches top to bottom. Anyway, I have to work on my algorithm on library computers and the drive makes it easy to store my information.”

“Ever hear of cloud storage?” Skyler said sarcastically.

“Sure, hasn't everyone? But I can't leave a trail behind at the library. Not if I planned to pull this off and beat the lottery, too. Too risky.”

“So you wanted the drive back because the algorithm would let you win the lottery?” Jake clarified.

Ketchum nodded. “I'm nearly there. A few more days work and I would have it.”

Skyler gestured for the team to join her away from Ketchum.

“You move one inch, and I'll let Deputy Dixon have at you,” Jake warned Ketchum.

Skyler leaned closer and kept her voice down. “Do you guys think Ketchum is as innocent as he's making himself sound?”

“I'm not sure what vibe I'm getting from him.” Archer narrowed his eyes. “He admitted to all the bombings. Why not confess to the incidents at Krista's house and kidnapping Otto if he did them? Especially after Jake put him in his place.”

“Because kidnapping adds a whole new level to his crimes.” Skyler settled her hands on her hips. “We need to keep after him just in case he's leading us astray.”

“Then let's get him down to County for further questioning,” Archer said.

Cash nodded his agreement. “I'll go with you.”

Jake shook his head. “Not a good idea. You can hardly keep your hands off the guy.”

“Tough.” Cash crossed his arms. “I won't go back to Krista until I know Otto's location, so don't even bother trying to stop me.”

* * *

Krista stared at Ian in stunned disbelief. With his eye on her, he'd forced Brady to his stomach on the floor and searched him, removing two guns. Then he'd held Krista at gunpoint and made her haul two dining chairs into the middle of the room. He'd tied Brady to one of them. Next, he'd bound Krista's wrists with thick cable ties and shoved her onto the chair beside Brady.

“Why are you doing this, Ian?” Krista asked.

He blinked in surprise. “Really, you have to ask? I want my money and you're finally going to tell me where it is.”

“Money, what money?”

He turned and glared at her, his eyes hot with anger. “Like you don't know. The half million you moved from your bank account.”

“You were involved in the scam?”

“Involved.” He sneered, his face contorted in ugliness. “It was all my idea. I'm the one who convinced Toby to join me. You wouldn't have had your fancy car or pretty clothes without me. He was such a loser. Could never think outside the box. Let his goody-goody Christian morals control him. Which is why I didn't tell him what I was really doing.” His lips tipped in a mocking smile. “It was so amazing to see him excited about the company, only to learn he'd been living off seniors' retirement funds.”

“Then he didn't lie to me.” Guilt flooded Krista's heart for not believing in him.

“Oh, he lied to you, all right. First, about being involved.” Ian faked a gag. “He wanted to surprise you with a European vacation so he kept it all a secret. Then, when he found out what I was up to, he was too embarrassed to tell you. Wanted to wait until he turned me in to the cops and made things right.”

How could she have doubted Toby's innocence? She'd been so wrong about him.

“If he was too innocent for you,” Brady said, “why involve him in the first place?”

“Schemes like these eventually go bust.” Ian turned his attention to Brady. “You more than anyone should know that, copper. One disgruntled investor gets the SEC involved. Things snowball. People go to jail. But not me. I had it all planned with Toby as my fall guy. I structured everything in his name and made sure he deposited all the money. But he discovered what I was up to and threatened to go to the police. I had to stop him. That meant Toby had to die. At least one thing went right—the detectives never figured out Toby had a partner.”

“So you killed him, but how?” Brady asked.

Ian smiled again, his pride evident. Krista could see Brady was trying to elicit a full confession from Ian, but he was too full of himself to realize what Brady was doing. Or he didn't care because he didn't plan to let either one of them live.

The thought sent terror to Krista's heart.

“Toby was so stressed out he was taking Valium—another secret he kept from you. When we met for a drink late that night, I added a bit of GHB. Deadly combo.” He turned his focus to Krista. “When he started having trouble breathing I brought him home and dumped him into bed to set you up for the murder.” His grin disappeared. “Enough with the explaining. I know Toby moved the money to your joint account before threatening to report me to the police.”

“Maybe you should've thought of that before you killed him,” Brady said.

Ian turned on Brady and backhanded him. “You think I'm such a fool that I'd kill him with the money missing? I had no idea he'd moved it until after I killed him.”

Brady smirked. “Maybe you should've checked.”

Another crack to Brady's face, but he didn't even flinch, just smiled up at Ian.

Brady might have doubted her innocence, but she respected the strength and determination he was exhibiting on her behalf.

“Leave Brady alone,” Krista called out. “He had nothing to do with this.”

“You're right.” Ian stepped menacingly toward Krista. “It's all on you. I didn't count on you taking off after I trashed your house while looking for the account information.”

“That was you, too? Not my neighbors?” Krista swallowed hard. “But why the hateful messages?”

Ian laughed. “I planned it that way so you wouldn't suspect anyone had searched your house. Just like planting the detonator at your house this week. I had to make the cops think you were involved in the bombing to keep them from suspecting that I was looking for something. If I'd only known you had a grandfather before now, I would've kidnapped him and had my money years ago. Now that I have him, maybe you'll sing a different tune to get him back.”

“Opa?
You
took Opa?” Krista's heart dropped to her stomach.

“Yes, and if you'd given me the location of the money at Pioneer Square like I'd asked, your grandfather would be here and I wouldn't.”

They had been wrong about so many things, and now Opa might pay for it. “Where's my grandfather?”

“Don't worry. He's fine. I made sure he didn't see me. I'll release him after you hand over the account information. If you love him, you'll comply.”

Brady looked at her. “On the other hand,
we've
seen Ian, so you know what he plans to do with us.”

Ian grinned, a sick, mean slash of his lips. “But not until I have my money, of course.”

“I can't give you what I don't have,” Krista said, her own voice so frantic it scared her.

“Still sticking to that story?” Ian let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay, have it your way. You won't be able to stay quiet for long. Not with what I have planned.” Ian jerked her up by the cable ties, his face twisted in anger. “You'd be surprised at what a little time in an icy river can do to lower your resolve.”

* * *

The creep Ketchum refused to talk. No matter Skyler's tactics in three hours of intense questioning, Ketchum wouldn't tell them about Otto, leaving Cash no choice. He had to tell Krista he'd failed to find her grandfather.

Imagining her disappointment, Cash slid into his car. She had to be frantic for news about Opa.

Odd that she hadn't called to ask about him. Or had she?

Cash checked his phone and found no messages, missed calls or texts. An uneasy feeling tightened his gut. Something could be wrong at the house. He grabbed his phone and dialed Brady's cell. No answer. He called Krista. After three rings, the call went straight to voice mail.