Long After Midnight (32 page)

“Gone,” Phyliss said. “Why weren’t you here? Where the hell were you?”

“I had something to do. Are you going to tell me where she is or yell at me?”

“Ishmaru,” Joshua whispered.

His heart lurched. “What happened?”

“She got a phone call and ran out of here.”

“How long ago?”

“Two hours maybe.”

“You’re sure it was Ishmaru?”

“She said the name and I saw her face. It was Ishmaru.”

“Where did she go?”

“She wouldn’t tell me. She just said to take care of Joshua.”

“What are you going to do?” Joshua asked accusingly. “You promised you’d take care of her.”

“I will take care of her.” He crossed the room and grasped Joshua’s shoulders. “Listen to me, Joshua. I won’t let anything happen to her. I’ll find her and bring her back to you.”

“You don’t even know where she is.”

“I’ll find out. Trust me. It will be okay.”

“That’s what she said. But she was scared. I could tell she was scared.”

Seth was scared too. Jesus, he had never been this scared before. “I mean it. I’ll bring her back.”

Joshua just looked at him. Seth couldn’t blame him. It was hard to comfort someone when you needed comfort yourself. He released Joshua’s shoulders and walked out of the room.

Rimilon was outside in the hall.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“I saw you get off the elevator and went downstairs to see if I could find out anything from the doorman. She ran right by me. It’s not my fault. I tried to stop her. You told me that my job was to take care of the other two.”

“What did you find out from the doorman?”

“She took a cab but he didn’t hear the destination.”

Shit. He strode past Rimilon toward the elevators.

Okay. Be cool. Think.

Why the hell hadn’t she waited for him?

Kate.

Dammit, close out the emotion or he wouldn’t be able to help her.

But first he had to find her.

He could find her. He had only to find Ishmaru.

And Blount knew where Ishmaru could be found. He had time. Blount had mentioned Ishmaru had hopped a plane after Migellin’s death.

Unless he had changed his mind and come back to Washington.

He didn’t even want to think of that possibility. He had to assume he had time, that Kate was flying somewhere to meet Ishmaru.

So it was only necessary to add a new equation to the mix. Keep the top spinning and make sure that he found out where Kate was meeting Ishmaru before it stopped.

The cut on his lip stung like hell.

Blount scowled at his reflection in the mirror. The lip was swollen too. Damn Ogden to hell.

And damn Seth Drakin too. He was a marked man. Just as soon as the clinic was up and running, the bastard would die. He’d let his father handle it. It was fitting. Like to like. Scum to scum.

He scraped his aftershave, deodorant, and toothbrush off the vanity into his overnight kit. Except for the open bag on the bed, his luggage was packed and ready. He’d call a taxi and then he’d be out of here. He wasn’t about to sit around and wait for Drakin. Though it was a shame he wouldn’t have the chance to push the prick into Ogden’s path.

Ogden was probably stinko by now. He’d seen the servant carrying a fresh bottle of vodka into the library when he’d crept down to the office to retrieve his belongings. He’d also taken the opportunity to pluck a few files that would prove troublesome to Ogden. Nothing too incriminating; he kept those in his private safe. But the newspapers would be glad to hear about that land deal for the plant in India. It would be—

“Am I late, Blount?”

He stiffened, then turned to see Drakin standing in the bathroom doorway. “How did you get up here?”

“Not through the front door. I thought it might prove awkward. I climbed the tree outside the window and jumped onto the balcony.”

“You went to a lot of trouble.”

Drakin smiled. “Not so much. Did that dossier you have on me mention that I was a cat burglar at one time?”

“No.” He looked like a cat burglar now in that black sweater, jeans, and sneakers, Blount thought.

“Then of course it isn’t true. Because you know everything about me. Right, Blount?”

“I know enough.” He pushed past him into the bedroom. “And I have no intention of sneaking out through a window. We’re going downstairs and out the front door. Grab that suitcase.”

“Not yet.” He leaned against the doorjamb. “You’ll have to rein in your impatience. Because you know something else that’s very important to me. Where’s Ishmaru, Blount?”

“I don’t have time for this.”

“You have all the time in the world. I want to know where Ishmaru is. Is he here in Washington?”

“I told you he wasn’t.”

“Kate Denby got a call from him. He might have come back.”

“I don’t think so. What difference does it make? Let Ishmaru kill her. She’s more trouble alive than dead. We can handle the inheritance problems.”

“Let Ishmaru kill her,” Seth repeated softly. “Is that what you said?”

Blount stiffened warily. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong about the way Drakin was staring at him. . . .

“Is that what you said about Noah and Migellin?”

“Get out of here, Drakin. Jump out the window or walk out the front door. I don’t care.” He moved toward the open suitcase on the bed. “I’m not going to stand here and let—”

Drakin’s arm had encircled his throat from behind. “Where’s Ishmaru?”

He couldn’t breathe. He tore futilely at Drakin’s arm. His hand touched rubber—no, latex. Drakin was wearing latex gloves like a fucking doctor.

“Ishmaru?” Drakin said.

“He’s working at a hospital—Pinebridge.”

“Where?”

“Near . . . Dandridge.”

“Good.” He released him and stepped back. “That’s all I needed to know.”

Rage seared through Blount. “You bastard.” He lunged toward Seth.

Drakin wasn’t there. He had whirled aside and when he faced Blount again he had something in his hand. The brass Chinese foo dog statue from the table.

“Come on.” He motioned for Blount to come at him again. “One more time. Just once and it will be over.”

A sudden chill banished Blount’s anger. The prick wanted to kill him, he realized in astonishment. He didn’t move. He had no intention of rushing Drakin again. His gun was in the open bag on the bed. When he moved, it had to be for the gun. He forced a smile. “What’s this all about? I know I lost my temper, but that’s no reason for us to do anything rash. The deal is what’s important.”

“Is it?”

“Okay, I told you where Ishmaru is. Now we can take up where we—” He leaped for the suitcase on the bed and grabbed the gun. He raised it as he turned toward Drakin.

He had no chance to use it.

Drakin swung the statue with precision and hit the exact spot on the left temple, killing Blount instantly.

Done.

Seth got a towel from the bathroom and wiped the statue. He had worn gloves, so none of his fingerprints were on it, but it would look as if the statue had been wiped clean by someone not wearing gloves. Someone who had picked up the statue on impulse and struck Blount.

He dropped the statue beside the body.

He quickly rifled through Blount’s suitcase.

Ogden’s files. He’d thought Blount wouldn’t be able to resist a little revenge after the way Ogden had beaten and humiliated him. Blount’s body would be discovered and Ogden would go through the suitcase before the police were notified. He took the files and slid them under the mattress. Then he opened the door to the hall and left it ajar.

Anything else?

He surveyed the room. No, nothing else. Time to get out. Actually past time. He had to get to Kate. He moved across the room toward the balcony.

Let Ishmaru kill her.

The hell he would.

Pinebridge

It was after midnight when Kate parked the rental car in the parking lot and got out.

It looked the same, Kate thought as she walked up the long driveway toward the hospital. The lights shone soft and welcoming and the lawns were green and tidy.

No, it wasn’t the same. It would never be the same. Ishmaru was here.

She had half expected him to appear ever since she had gotten out of her car.

She pushed open the door. The lobby was deserted at this hour of the night.

Where are you? You called me. Now where are you?

“He’s not here. I’ve already checked at Administration.”

She stiffened in shock as she saw Seth get up from the chair by a potted fern. “What are you doing here?”

“Having a nervous breakdown,” he said grimly. “I didn’t even know if you’d come here first. I thought he might have told you to meet him somewhere else.”

“Go away, Seth. I don’t want you here.”

He ignored her. “I described him and the clerk said they’d hired the man as an orderly. He’s going by the name of Sanchez. He was on duty this afternoon but he’s off this evening.”

“Go away, Seth.”

“No.” He took a step closer to her, his voice low and intense. “Dammit, you don’t have to hide anything from me. What do I care if you killed someone? I
know
you. They must have deserved it.”

“How did you—” None of that was important now. She couldn’t stand here arguing. She had to find Ishmaru. She strode past Seth to the elevators and punched the button.

Seth followed her into the elevator. “For God’s sake, let me help you, Kate.”

“I can’t. He told me to come alone.” She pressed the button for the fourth floor. “This is my business. Let me do it.”

“Where are you going? He’s not in the hospital. His quarters are in the bungalow at the rear of the building.”

She didn’t answer. The doors swung open and she strode quickly to the nurses’ station.

The nurse on duty was dark and plump. Kate didn’t recognize her.

She smiled pleasantly. “I’m sorry, it’s far too late for visitors.”

“I’m Dr. Denby. Is Charlene Hauk on duty?”

“Charlene’s working the day shift. She’s on at six
A.M.
” She glanced at the clock. “She’s probably sleeping.”

“Get her out of bed. Tell her Kate is here.” She moved quickly down the corridor. “Right away.”

Seth fell into step with her. “Where the hell are we going?”

“I think I know where Ishmaru is.” She turned left and stopped in front of 403. She drew a deep breath. “Stay here.”

She pushed open the door. The room was dark.

“Ishmaru? It’s Kate Denby.”

No answer.

Seth pushed her aside and faded to the left of the door. The next minute the room was illuminated. It was empty except for the figure huddled under the covers on the bed.

It was too good to be true.

She strode into the room and pulled back the sheet.

No one was in the bed. Only blankets rolled to resemble a figure.

Agony wrenched through her as she stumbled away from the bed.

Seth’s hands were on her shoulders, comforting, supporting. “Who was supposed to be here, Kate?”

“Daddy.” Tears were running down her cheeks. “Daddy.”

Her legs wouldn’t hold her. She dropped down in the wheelchair by the bed. “Daddy.”

Seth dropped to his knees in front of her. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s happening. I can’t help if you don’t talk to me.”

“You can’t help,” she said dully. “No one can help. Ishmaru has him. He took him away.”

“Kate.” She looked up to see Charlene in the doorway. Her hair was mussed and she was wearing a sweater over her robe. “What are you doing here?” Her gaze went to the bed. “Christ, where’s Robert?”

“When did you see him last?”

“I went off duty at three but I came back at six and gave him his supper. We have a new LPN and I didn’t trust her to make sure he ate. But he’s still got to be on this floor. Everyone knows Robert. He couldn’t just wander around the hospital. But I’ll call Security right away.”

“No.”

“We’ve got to find him, Kate. You know how fragile he’s been lately.”

“I’ll find him.” She forced herself to rise to her feet. “Go back to bed, Charlene. I’ll bring him back.”

“Don’t be silly. I can’t go to bed. I love Robert. We all do, Kate.”

Seth’s gaze was searching the room, skipping over the soft peach walls adorned with several framed pictures obviously drawn by a child, the colorful crocheted cover on the bed, and came to rest on the Tiffany lamp on the bedside table. An envelope was propped against the base of the lamp. He picked it up and handed it to Kate.

Emily

Ishmaru was the only one who called her Emily.

She tore open the envelope.

We’re in the woods in back of the hospital. At least, I am. I don’t know if he’ll survive a night in the open. He seems weak. Not like you. Come to me. Find me.

Seth took the note from her hand and scanned it. “Bingo.” He turned toward the door.

“No.” Kate was there ahead of him. “He wants me. If he sees you, he might kill him. I’m the one who has to go.”

“Bullshit. I’m not letting you go alone.”

“What on earth is happening, Kate?” Charlene asked as they went past her.

“Don’t do anything,” Kate called back to her. “Do you hear? Nothing.”

“Well, are you going to tell me about your father?” Seth asked quietly as the doors of the elevator closed.

Talk. It didn’t matter now. Maybe it would help to keep her from flying apart. “He has advanced Alzheimer’s.”

“Christ.”

“He’s helpless.” She had to stop to steady her voice. “He’s like a baby. He couldn’t defend himself from a cockroach much less Ishmaru.”

“You told me he was dead.”

“That’s the way he wanted it. He’d treated hundreds of Alzheimer’s patients. He knew what was in store for him.” She moistened her lips. “You have to understand. My father was a very special man. He was warm and kind and had a deep sense of personal dignity. He had thousands of friends. Everyone loved and respected him. He always told me that Alzheimer’s was probably harder on the family than it was for the victim. He couldn’t stand the thought of what it would do to all of us. He didn’t want Joshua to see him deteriorate. He didn’t want anyone to know. He wanted them to remember him as he was.”