L.A.P.D. Special Investigations Series, Boxed Set: The Deceived, The Taken & The Silent (59 page)

He smiled. “That’ll keep you awake all night.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got tour duty at ten.”

Back at the table, he slid one cup to her and then sat across the table where he could see the door.

“Thanks.” She clutched the cup in both hands. “I appreciate your coming so late.”

“No problem.”

She moistened her lips, which made him wonder, not for the first time, what it’d be like to kiss her. As far as he could tell, she wore only lip gloss, and her unadorned lashes were black in contrast with her auburn hair.

“I saw the car and got the license number,” she said without preamble.

“The same vehicle?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Ninety-nine percent.”

He leaned back in the booth. “There are lots of black cars out there.”

“I know. Trust me on this.” Her voice was a bit shaky.

“What’s the number?”

She handed him a piece of paper.

“California?”

“I think so. I was too focused on the numbers.”

“Did you notice the make?”

“A Cadillac, maybe. You saw it before, what do you think?”

“What I think doesn’t matter. What matters is what you saw today.” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “Where did you see the vehicle?”

“Uh…at the mall near the high school.”

“Was it parked?”

“No, the car pulled up, someone got out and then he drove away.”

“He? You saw the driver?”

“The windows were tinted, but I could see the driver was big, definitely male.”

“What about the person who got out…male or female?”

“W-what difference does it make?”

“The more information I have the better.”

She sighed heavily. “A girl got out of the car. A teenager.” A second later she added, “I was so upset about seeing the car, I didn’t get the best look.”

“Are you okay now?”

She nodded. “It just shook me up.”

That was obvious. And seeing her this way made him feel even more protective. “I’ll get a DMV check tomorrow.”

“Then what?”

“If I get a name, we’ll run it through NCIC, the National Crime Information Center, and see what shows up.”

“How long will it take?”

“Barring any problems, a few hours.”

“I really appreciate this, Jordan.”

He shrugged, smiling. “I’m here to serve. It’s my job.”

“Will you let me know what you find out?”

“Sure. I’ll call as soon as I can.” He wanted to keep her here, to talk about other things, personal things. “How’s Caitlin?”

She hesitated, then said, “She’s fine.”

“Did the scooter stay together after I fixed it?”

“I didn’t know it was broken.”

“Well, it wasn’t, not exactly.”

“Oh, my.” She rolled her eyes upward.

“Hey, it was my pleasure. She’s a great kid.”

“Well, thank you. I think so, too, though she can be difficult when she wants to be.”

“Can’t we all?”

She laughed. “Yes, I suppose.”

Now more relaxed, her laugh came from deep in her throat, natural and sexy. “You should do that more often.”

“Do what?”

“Laugh. You have a nice laugh.” He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.

She fidgeted under his gaze, making him think he’d gotten too personal for her. He hoped not because he really wanted to get even more personal. “I had a tough day and laughter always takes the edge off,” he added.

She took another sip, then licked the moisture from her lips. Her momentary self-consciousness seemed to slip away. “For what it’s worth, I enjoy a good laugh, especially when I’ve had a tough day.” She fiddled with her cup, turning it in circles. “I’m a good listener if you want to talk about it.”

If only he could. If only he could tell her one of Anna Kolnikov’s friends had been murdered—and that he might be responsible for her death. But what kind of confidence would she have in him then?

His phone rang. “Thanks,” he said, pulling the cell from his pocket. “I appreciate the offer. Can I take a rain check on it?”

“Sure. Anytime I’m available.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I have to take this.” He got up, answering the phone at the same time, then took a step away from the booth for privacy. “St. James here.”

He heard heavy breathing. Then after a few seconds, a whining drone.

As he stood there, he heard another phone ringing. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Laura answering her cell phone. He moved closer to hear.

“Hello. This is Laura.”

Her mouth turned down at the edges. “Hello?” she repeated. “Is someone there?” A second later, she disconnected.

Jordan sat across from her again. “Something important?”

She looked at him, puzzled. “No. It must’ve been a wrong number because whoever it was hung up.”

Jordan’s pulse rocketed.

“It’s odd because I’ve had a couple other hang ups recently. I wonder if the black car and the calls are related?”

He clenched his cup then slugged down the rest of his drink. “Well, with this new information you gave me, we may soon find out.” Two hang ups between them, only seconds apart. A coincidence? He didn’t think so.

Someone knew they were together and wanted to send a message. Only Laura didn’t know about his call, and it wouldn’t be wise to tell her.

CHAPTER TEN

AFTER MEETING WITH
Jordan, Laura picked up Phoebe and they did their stint on street duty. 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., since it was a Saturday night. They had no takers on their offer of a warm place to stay for the night, but managed to talk to quite a few teens and handed out cards with their hotline number.

At nearly two, Phoebe said, “Time to call it quits, don’t you think?”

Laura sighed. “Yep. I’m heading home.”

“So, how’s it going with the detective?” Phoebe turned in the passenger seat to look at her.

She knew what Phoebe was getting at, and she wished she had a good answer. She couldn’t deny she wanted to get to know Jordan better. She couldn’t deny she was attracted to him. And she felt the same vibes coming from him. But even if she’d fantasized about him once or twice, he was a cop. She had to remember that, stamp it in the forefront of her mind. “He’s checking on the black car for me.”

Jordan St. James had pulled no punches regarding his feelings about Anna Kolnikov and those in her profession.

If only she could go back to the womb, start her life all over again. But she couldn’t. And now she had too many secrets to ever share a life with anyone. The thought of never having a close relationship with a man—with Jordan—left her with a sick, hollow feeling inside. And the more she wanted what she couldn’t have, the larger the void grew.

“Great. But what else? I know he likes you.”

“There’s nothing else. And whether he likes me or not, you know his type. I’m not in the market for a fling.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“So, why don’t I believe you?”

Laura laughed, and reaching the driveway to the shelter, she glanced at Phoebe. “Maybe because I’m still trying to convince myself. Damn. You know me too well, Pheebs.”

After she parked, they both went inside. “Well, that’s good to know…for two reasons. One, you’re finally getting some sense, and two, I won’t try for him myself.”

Laura stopped. “My interest doesn’t mean anything is going to happen.”

“Does that mean he’s fair game?” Phoebe cocked her head, interest flashing in her eyes.

Laura didn’t answer.

“Well?”

Even though she knew Phoebe was pushing her buttons, Laura felt suddenly and overwhelmingly proprietary. While Jordan wasn’t exactly a close friend, she realized just then that she wanted him to be. And she sure as hell didn’t want to see him with Phoebe…or anyone else, for that matter. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

She shook her head as she started down the hall. What a liar she was. She wasn’t only lying to Phoebe, she was lying to herself. But not very well.

She wanted Jordan. She’d wanted him from the moment she’d laid eyes on him.

“Good night, Pheebs,” she called, and, after checking on Caitlin, went into her bedroom, closed the door and flopped on the bed. She should be tired, but she wasn’t. Jordan’s face materialized in her mind and along with it, an intense ache of longing. At that moment, the dark specter of her solitary future couldn’t be denied.

The night she’d left Eddie’s and said nothing to the police about what Caitlin had seen, her fate had been sealed. She’d done it to protect her child. And to continue to protect her, she had to keep her silence. If she didn’t…

A soul-deep fear gripped her every time she thought about it. So…she wouldn’t think about it. She would keep her silence, no matter what.

She got up, undressed and went to bed. But just as she slipped under the covers, the phone rang. Her stomach lurched. Oh, God. Not again. Whoever it was wanted to terrorize her, and dammit, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Steeling her reserves, she snatched up the receiver. “If you think you’re intimidating me, you’re wrong. Whatever it is you want, you won’t get it this way.”

“You have no idea what I want.” The voice was deep, obviously disguised.

Laura’s heart stalled, but she knew she couldn’t back down. “Then you’d better tell me.”

“Stay away from the police.”

Laura couldn’t breathe. Her head started to throb. The police?

“Your daughter’s life depends on it.”

***

Mary Beth stood at Jordan’s desk, hands on her hips. “Here’s the social worker’s number on Rita Valdez’s kid. She arranged the foster care.”

“Thanks.” He’d asked her to get the information because he was pressed for time, and Mary Beth had always volunteered to do things before, but this time he got the feeling she felt put out. Her long dark bangs hung half over her eyes, eclipsing her expression. “Sorry if it was any trouble. Is something wrong?”

“No.” The young woman dropped into the chair next to him. “But I would like it if some of the extra things I do around here were appreciated more.”

He hadn’t been giving her his full attention, but he did now. Was that a reprimand?

She clasped her hands in her lap and kept twisting the ring on one finger. “What I mean is…if someone told the captain about the extra things I do, it might help.”

“Sure. I’ll be happy to let him know. What’s it supposed to help with?”

“Me—getting a raise. And a good gig once I’m through the academy.”

Jordan couldn’t disguise his surprise. “You’re going to take the test again?”

She nodded. “I’ve been working out. This time I’ll pass the physical test. It’s the only one I missed.”

“Well, I’ll be happy to let the captain know how indispensable you are.”

She rose from the chair. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

As Mary Beth walked away, Jordan had a strange feeling something else was going on with the administrative assistant. He didn’t doubt her abilities on the clerical end of the job, but he wasn’t convinced about her emotional stability. She sure wasn’t the kind of person he’d want covering his back in a dangerous situation.

“She having more problems?” Luke asked as he passed Mary Beth on his way in. He sat at his desk. “Take my advice. Don’t get involved.”

“I’m not. All she wanted was a little recognition to reach the captain. She does do a lot of our research and paperwork.” Jordan felt as if someone was watching him and looked up to see Mary Beth staring his way. He turned his back.

“You got anything on the Valdez case?” Luke asked matter-of-factly while pulling out a blank report.

“Nothing except the number of the foster care agency so I can find the daughter and tell her about her mother.” Jordan swallowed a wave of regret.

Luke was quiet for a moment, his blue eyes dark like coal. Then he went back to his papers.

Luke was probably remembering when the captain had knocked on his door. Jordan didn’t know how Luke could continue to work in the field afterward. But his friend had been dogged about it, never once saying he couldn’t do the job.

“I talked to Valdez yesterday,” Jordan said. “She gave me some information that might help on the Kolnikov case.”

Luke’s head came up. “You saw her the same day she was killed?”

Jordan heard the implication in Luke’s tone, that his visit might have precipitated Rita Valdez’s murder. “Yeah. I’m wondering the same thing myself.” He shook it off. Couldn’t do his job if he was second-guessing himself. “The MO is strikingly similar to Anna Kolnikov’s murder.”

“Can I help?”

Jordan snorted a laugh. “You’ve got enough with the congressman, don’t you think? Besides, Carlyle put Ralston on it with me.”

“No shit.” Luke glanced to Ralston’s desk. The man wasn’t there. “I don’t trust him.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Just the rumor mill. You’ve heard it.”

Howie Ralston, a power-hungry snitch with an attitude, a guy who’d do anything to save his ass—even rat out his own partner. “Yeah. I heard. But I figure the captain has his reasons.”

“Uh-huh,” Luke said. “Take my advice. Watch your back.”

“I always do,” Jordan teased as his gaze slid to the DMV information on his computer.

What the…? The plate number Laura had given him was registered to a corporation. What the hell was the Belzar Corporation? Without an actual name, he couldn’t get anything from NCIC or III, the Interstate Identification Index. Damn. He did a quick Web search. Nothing. He got up and went to Mary Beth’s desk. “I’m going out, but I need a favor.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I’d really appreciate it if you would call the Corporation Commission and get the name of the president or owner of this company for me.” He handed her the note he’d jotted down.

“I’m glad someone needs me.”

“Thanks,” he said, and headed for the door. First on his list, the social worker, then Rita Valdez’s daughter and last, he’d go to Laura’s to see if the name of the corporation was familiar to her—or her ex.

By the time he arrived at the foster care home, it was 10:00 a.m. Valdez’s child wasn’t exactly a child anymore. She was a sixteen-year-old with a grudge against the world. A girl who didn’t give a damn about her mother and couldn’t care less if she was dead or alive. He saw the attitude every day, and every day it made him wonder whether the job was worth the chunks it sliced from his soul.

But he had to hold on to his beliefs that people were intrinsically good. Victims deserved justice, and bad guys deserved to go to jail. There was a whole lot of deeper stuff in between, but that’s what it boiled down to.

Then, affirming his beliefs, the teen had stopped him on his way out to ask a question. As she stood there trying to get the words out, tears formed in her eyes and he realized her earlier bravado couldn’t mask real emotion. The loss of a mother was tragic. Even though he’d never known his own mother, he felt the loss. Still had the never-ending questions.

“If you call the morgue, they’ll let you see her. I can take you if you want.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Well, let me know if you need help with anything.” He handed her his card. On the way out he said, “You should be in school. Your mother would’ve wanted you to have an education.”

He’d left feeling somewhat better. Someone cared about Rita Valdez. No one should die alone and without acknowledgment.

The next stop was Laura’s. When he turned the corner and saw the van in the driveway at the shelter, his spirits lifted. He was anxious to see her…so what else was new? He’d felt that way since their second meeting.

Rose answered his knock but held the door only partway open. She didn’t invite him in.

“Detective.”

“Hello, Rose. Is Laura here? I’d like to talk to her.”

The woman’s dark eyes narrowed. “No, she’s not. I—I don’t know when she’ll be back, either.”

He peered inside. “Really. You mean she went away and didn’t say when she’d be back?” That was hard to believe.

“Yes. She said it would be a while.”

“What about Cait?”

“She took her along.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No.”

He put his hand on the door to make sure she didn’t shut it. “How about a phone number? It’s important.”

Rose shrugged. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you. I really don’t know where she went. She said she couldn’t tell me because she didn’t want any trouble for the shelter.”

Jordan’s blood ran cold. “What kind of trouble?”

“She didn’t say.”

“What about the van? Doesn’t she usually drive the van?”

As if to solidify her position, Rose squared her shoulders. “We need the van here, so she…made other arrangements.”

The woman was lying. He knew it by the way she wouldn’t look him in the eyes, the crossed arms. He clenched his jaws. He didn’t like what he was hearing. Laura wouldn’t just leave the shelter on a whim and not tell anyone where she was going or when she’d return.

Something was wrong. He felt it in his gut. “I repeat, it’s extremely important.”

“I have to respect Laura’s wishes.” And then Rose shut the door.

“Dammit.” He slammed the butt of his hand against the door frame, then stomped to his vehicle. As he reached the car he heard someone call his name. He turned to see one of the girls waving at him from the side door. It was the blonde, the fifteen-year-old who looked twenty. Alysa. He loped across the grass.

“I think I know where she went, Mr. St. James.” She bit her lower lip. “I could get in trouble for saying anything.”

“Where’d she go?” Jordan gritted his teeth. Clenched his hands.

“I don’t know, but I heard her on the phone to Amtrak. She sounded scared about something.”

“The train station? How would she get there?”

“She got a ride.”

“How long ago?”

“A half hour, maybe.”

“Can you tell me why she left?”

The girl shook her head, and Jordan didn’t have time to pry out more information. He might not know Laura very well, but he knew her enough to know she wouldn’t leave the shelter for any length of time unless it was urgent. He mumbled his thanks and took off.