Mind Games (26 page)

She watched Tony look from Derrick to her.

“What?”

“He would take me out with him and tell me we were going to help the homeless kids on the beach. That’s why I was so upset the night we went to look for Angel. I kept thinking the last time I helped rescue a girl from the beach she ended up dead. I remember the night we brought Katie home.” She gasped. “My mother remembers her, too. That’s why she said ‘she wasn’t ever supposed to come back.’ She helped me and Katie get out of the house that day. She told me to take her back to the beach and leave her. Angel reminded her of Katie.”

Sparrow’s hands flew to her face, and she cupped them over her mouth. “Oh my God, she knows about the bodies he buried, and he suppressed her memory, too.”

“How do you know that?” Tony asked.

“She begged me to come back so we could plant flowers. She kept saying she missed the rose garden, and the tea parties we hosted. She made me promise to come back. Derrick, do you remember the day you came to check on Angel?”

“Yeah.”

“I had my dad put planting supplies in the potting shed. My mom was trying to get me out there so we could dig up their remains. I know it. Katie is buried in the rose garden and the others are in the flower gardens near the potting shed.”

“Back up and explain to me why he killed his patients and buried them on his property?” Tony asked.

“After reading your brother’s journal, we discovered Dr. Von Langley was performing brain surgery on his patients,” Derrick said. “That’s why we went to Our Lady of Sorrow. We figured out that he kept the CT scans there because he had taken Sparrow there, and he would tell her this is what happens to kids who don’t listen to him. When he operated on my sister, she started to bleed, and before she died she told Dana, ‘I’m Kat.’ It’s all documented in his journal. He made Dana his accomplice so he wouldn’t ever go to the authorities.”

Derrick held a firm hand against Sparrow’s back to keep her upright. She expanded her tummy with a deep breath and loudly blew it from between her slightly open lips. She set the glass of orange juice next to her and took off the poison ring, extending her hand to Tony. “Her blood is in the ring. We exchanged the rings to become blood sisters.”

He picked up the ring from the palm of her hand, examining it closely. “If we can find her body, we can tie the blood DNA to her.”

Sparrow nodded. Derrick ran his hand up and down her back and kissed the side of her cheek. “I know how difficult this must be for you,” he whispered into her ear. “Thank you.”

Tony jammed the pad and pen in his shirt pocket and grabbed his cell phone. He put the phone on speaker.

“Henriquez, we’ve got more than child pornography going on here, and a therapist turning kids into sex addicts,” he said, and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “He’s buried his patients on his estate.”

He continued to fill in ADA Henriquez on the sordid details, but she said the evidence was too circumstantial to get a warrant to dig up the property. Tony growled back that he would send Sparrow and her mother out to dig up the grounds. Hearing that nearly made Sparrow faint again, but she knew what she had to do to make sure justice was served.

Tony talked over the ADA to Derrick and Sparrow: “Tomorrow morning, we’re going in. Derrick, you’ll get Angel out, and Sparrow, you and your mom are going to dig up the flowerbeds near that potting shed. Your father won’t suspect a thing. My team and I will be nearby—as soon as you uncover a bone, text me. Then we’re going in.” He paused.

“Tony, I’m as upset as you are. We can’t keep Angel at risk, but I can’t have you putting your career and the department on the line,” Henriquez said.

Tony cut her off. “And I’m not risking this guy hiring a fancy attorney who finds a loophole and we have to release him.”

“We need more evidence, and you know it.”

“I’ve got a poison ring with a drop of Kathlyn Sloan’s blood in the top of it. She and Sparrow decided to become blood sisters after Kathlyn, a runaway from Colorado, was taken in by Dr. Von Langley. Dana documented that Dr. Von Langley performed brain surgery on Kathlyn. She died on the operating table. Her last words to him were ‘I’m Kat.’ Do you think a bone fragment is enough evidence for a search warrant to dig up the damn ground? We need to get this guy on a charge that’ll stick.”

“Let me go back and talk to Judge Thaylor.”

“How’d he take the news that Jessica was going to testify in private chambers?”

“He’s appalled. I don’t know if he’s more upset with himself for trusting his daughter’s emotional care to Dr. Von Langley, or that she didn’t come to him and her mother and tell them what he’d done. His concern is with his daughter. Although he did make an odd comment about how he couldn’t get over the fact an upstanding citizen like Dr. Von Langley could have ruined Crystal Cove’s spotless image.”

“Yeah, well, you tell him we’ve taken on a new status, like what happened in La Jolla when those kids beat that surfer kid to death. If he issues a search warrant, there will be less of a media circus. You know what? With all this reality TV, I bet one of the news networks would love nothing more than to hear from Dr. Von Langley’s daughter, who will guarantee them a live feed of her uncovering dead bodies on the esteemed doctor’s property. If they want live, local, and late-breaking, I’ll damn well give it to them on the spot.”

“Tony, you’re not thinking like a detective.”

“Really? He drove my brother Dana to kill himself. He murdered an innocent girl and God knows how many others.”

“Two wrongs don’t make a right. What about your career?”

“This is about my brother. I don’t give a fig about my badge. I’m taking this guy down tonight, with or without a search warrant.”

“Tony—”

“My father was chief of police for Crystal Cove from its inception. Do you think if he and my mom had survived that car accident that he wouldn’t be on Von Langley’s front step right now? Don’t try to tell me how to conduct myself, counselor. Considering the pile of evidence I have against Dr. Von Langley, you’re lucky I’m even still on the phone. Do you want this guy to make bail and escape prosecution for murder?”

“No. I’ll get you your search warrant, and a crew to excavate the area, where Sparrow
thinks
the bodies have been buried. I’m putting my own ass on the line for you. The evidence better be there, or we’re both out of jobs.”

“Sparrow says she remembers the names of the runaways. All we need to do is check missing persons and we can match bone fragments, dental records, whatever DNA we uncover to the missing girls, and once we have their names we can get the brain scans he’s kept stored at Our Lady of Sorrow.”

Tony smiled at Derrick and Sparrow. “You two did good. Ready to go arrest Dr. Von Langley?”

Derrick’s adrenaline-fueled heart pounded. This was it. Derrick was ready to serve Dr. Von Langley a heaping dose of justice. Tony had insisted they take Dr. Von Langley by surprise to avoid a hostage situation or worse. Even knowing a force of police officers hid in the shadows ready to enter the Von Langley home after Derrick secured Angel, an uneasy feeling stirred in the pit of his stomach on the long drive to the palatial estate. He glanced at Sparrow and put his hand on her thigh. She continued to stare out the windshield.

“I’ve betrayed my father,” she said. “I know I’m doing the right thing. I don’t want him to hurt anyone else.”

Every ounce of her turmoil flowed through Derrick. His heart ached from seeing tears trickle down her cheek. What could he say? Words wouldn’t offer her comfort. When this was over, he would be there for her, however and whenever she needed him. There would be time before Dr. Von Langley’s trial. Derrick would help her get away, perhaps to an isolated cabin in the Italian Alps, where they could enjoy the views of snow-covered mountains, lounge by a crackling fire, and escape the sights and sounds of LA. He vowed to wrap up appointments with his patients and ask one of the other doctors who volunteered at his Mobile Health Clinic RV to take over some of his rounds. Derrick was committed to taking her away from here, if only for a little while.

“Baby, after tonight, I know this won’t really be over—your dad will have to stand trial, but that won’t be for a while, so in the meantime, I want us to get away.”

“Derrick, I can’t leave my mother.”

“Don’t say no just yet. If your mother is up to it, we’ll take her with us. Think about it.”

Derrick slowed the car. He cautiously drove the long journey to the Von Langleys’. He opened the glove box and retrieved the gun.

“I’ll tell you how to load it.”

She didn’t argue when he handed it to her. He instructed her to rack the slide and take the safety off. She handled the gun with ease. Her hands barely shook.

“Put it back in the glove box. I just want to be prepared should I need it on the way out.”

He pulled around the circular drive, making sure they had a quick exit, and stopped the car.

“Go upstairs and get your mother. I’ll stall him for as long as I can. Get her in the car and wait.”

She nodded in agreement. Her green eyes glistened with fierceness. She was ready for battle. Side by side they climbed the stone steps to the front door. The police wire strapped to Derrick made him a little nervous. Although it was well concealed, he worried Dr. Von Langley might grow suspicious when Derrick demanded Angel leave with him. Sparrow reached for the brass doorknob and pushed the door open. They entered the immense foyer. She pressed the intercom to summon her father. Derrick heard the sound of the elevator and cringed thinking about Dr. Von Langley’s mad-scientist chambers.

“Sweetheart, I wasn’t sure if you and Derrick were still coming over.”

His deep voice resonated across Derrick’s being like static electricity, providing enough voltage to zap his heart with a surge of hate strong enough to kill the man who’d murdered his sister with his bare hands. He clasped his hands behind his back. Dr. Von Langley’s sinister eyes sparkled with suspicion.

“We’re a little late. Derrick wants to see Angel, and I want to check in on Mother.”

Dr. Von Langley didn’t back down from Derrick’s glaring eyes to acknowledge Sparrow. He replied, “Angel was complaining about her ankle, so I gave her a little something for the pain.”

Derrick didn’t like the sound of that. “Where is she?”

“She’s resting.”

Derrick’s eyes slid from Dr. Von Langley’s to Sparrow. “Why don’t you go up and see your mom? Your dad and I can check on Angel.”

“O-okay.”

Pretending to check his cell phone for a text message, Derrick waited until Sparrow was out of sight and then started to time her escape. She needed to convince her mother she had to leave with her, and get her out of the house and into his car. He stalled a bit longer. “You’ll have to excuse me—another doctor is trying to reach me. You mentioned Angel was in some pain. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine, just fine,” Dr. Von Langley said, with a big smile on his face and evil in his eyes. He took a step toward Derrick and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you where she is.”

Derrick never imagined he could exhibit so much restraint in the face of his sister’s killer, because right now he wanted nothing more than to rip Dr. Von Langley’s arm from around him and break it into a million pieces. Dr. Von Langley dropped his arm from around Derrick and motioned for him to follow. His self-control remained intact. He glared at the back of the doctor’s salt-and-pepper hair. He recognized the route he’d walked the last time with Dr. Von Langley on the way to the library. Angel was propped up in a leather chair with her ankle elevated on a small ottoman.

“Hey, Angel, how’s the ankle?” Derrick asked.

She looked up at him with glassy eyes. “Not good. Hurts real bad. I better just stay put.” Her speech slurred. “I should rest.”

“Well, now how about you and I go for a little walk, and I’ll be the judge of that. Perhaps a little physical therapy would do you some good.”

“Okay.” She hobbled up from the chair with Derrick’s help.

“Dr. Sloan is right. Let’s go for a walk.”

Derrick’s head jerked up, and he didn’t like the smile spread across Dr. Von Langley’s face that seemed to say, “I’ve got
you
right where I want you.” He wasn’t going to make this an easy exit for Derrick and Angel. He wanted to keep Angel.

“Come now, you can use my office.”

Derrick’s heart hitched. He didn’t like the idea of getting stuck down stairs, but it would make things easier for Sparrow to escape with her mom, and give the crew of experts and police surrounding the estate more time.

“That’s an excellent idea.” Derrick wouldn’t fall prey to Dr. Von Langley’s intimidation. “Lead the way.”

Once Derrick had Angel sitting at the edge of the examination table in Dr. Von Langley’s medical office, he noticed she seemed anxious. She’d gone from lethargic to alert, and her pale, glassy eyes kept darting around the room like she was looking for something. Dr. Von Langley kept guard near the door, and something about the situation didn’t feel right to Derrick. Angel’s pupils dilated. She swayed back and forth, trying to keep upright. Derrick slipped his hand behind her back to steady her.

She fell forward against his chest and whispered, “He has Sly locked up.”

Her neck snapped back, and the weight of her body fell into the crook of his arm. Whatever medication Dr. Von Langley had given her had started to take effect. Derrick helped her settle back against the examination table. Her legs dangled over the edge.

“Dr. Von Langley, if you’ll excuse us, I think she might be having an allergic reaction to the pain medicine you gave her,” Derrick said. “What did you give her?”

“A muscle relaxer. Why don’t you let her rest and come back in the morning?” he asked, and purposefully stood in the center of the doorway, making it impossible for Derrick to scoop up Angel, push his way past Dr. Von Langley, drag her across the white padded cell, and through the office to the elevator doors. They would never make it, and Angel appeared to be out cold.

“I can’t do that. She’s my patient, my responsibility. I appreciate all you’ve done, but—”

Derrick heard the sound of someone moaning. He glanced over at Angel, who was lying unconscious on the examination table. The groaning noise came again. He followed it toward a closet door. Dr. Von Langley left his post and slammed his hand against the door. “I wouldn’t open that if I were you.”

“Why? Who’s in there?” Derrick demanded.

“A very ill patient. I’ve got him in isolation.”

“I bet you do,” Derrick said, stepping closer to Dr. Von Langley. “Move out of the way.” Derrick twisted the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge. “Open the door. Now.”

Derrick kept his eyes steady on Dr. Von Langley’s face, but his peripheral vision picked up movement. When the moaning sound came again from the closet, Dr. Von Langley’s attention shifted to the door. Derrick saw Sparrow approaching, moving with the silent grace bred into her by years of yoga training. His gun was in her hand. Her face set with purpose. He shifted his attention back to Dr. Von Langley, who never saw her coming. Dr. Von Langley’s chest thrust forward when she pressed the gun into his back.

*               *               *

“Daddy, dearest, I know what you’ve done.”

“Sparrow, sweetheart? How dare you come into my home and pull a gun on me?”

Dr. Von Langley’s baritone voice had lost its luster as he questioned his daughter’s motive.

She jammed the gun deeper into his back, making him lurch forward. “Open the door and let the kid out. You’re not getting away with this.”

“Sweetheart, I’m reaching kids. I’m changing lives. I’m helping them. Now put the gun down,” Dr. Von Langley said, trying to use the soft tone of his voice to soothe the gun from her hand.

“No, no, no, no. You’re hurting kids. You hurt me. I remember the isolation room. Let whoever it is you’ve got locked up in that coffin out.”

“You won’t shoot me.”

“You’re right. But I swear I’ll blow out a kneecap and keep going from there until you open the door.”

Thank you. You’ve found him,
the voice whispered in her ear. She glanced to the right. Derrick’s sister stood next to her. She turned her attention to her father and clutched the gun harder in her shaking hand. She drove it deeper into his back, thinking of justice for Katie. But her hand became suddenly limp, and she felt Katie pushing the raised gun down to her side.
Don’t let him turn you into a monster. You’re not a killer.
Her words resonated with Sparrow, bringing tears to her eyes. She turned to Katie. A calm and satisfied look filled her face. A slight smile curved against her thin lips.
Blood sisters forever.
Her spectral image vanished.

*               *               *

Derrick worried Dr. Von Langley might reach for the gun. Several seconds passed. Risking it all, he rushed to Sparrow’s side and eased the gun from her hand then aimed it at the back of Dr. Von Langley’s head.

“Don’t move.” He pressed the gun against the side of Dr. Von Langley’s temple with his left hand, pulling Sparrow close to him with his right. “She might not shoot, but I will if you make one attempt to grab this gun.”

“This is preposterous. I’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t barge in here like this. My daughter has problems. If it weren’t for me, she’d be in Our Lady of Sorrow.”

Sparrow coiled into Derrick’s side. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Dr. Von Langley’s face contorted in anger.

“Sweetheart, I should have locked you and your mother up years ago. You’re both very sick,” he said between gritted teeth.

“Shut up. You’re the one who’s sick. You killed my sister.” Derrick cocked the gun. His finger shook.

He pressed the gun against Dr. Von Langley’s skull. His hand trembled. In a split second he could have retribution for his sister and the others. Sparrow coiled tighter into his side, burying her face into his chest. Even she wouldn’t stop him from pulling the trigger. Bang.

The elevator doors squealed open. Tony and another police officer stormed into the room, yelling, “Put the gun down. Put the gun down.”

“Damn it, Derrick. I said no gun.” Tony glared at him.

Derrick pulled the gun away from the side of Dr. Von Langley’s head and handed it to Tony. He wrapped his arms around Sparrow, hugging her close to him. She trembled in his arms.

“Baby, you shouldn’t have come.”

“I had to see him myself. I had to let him know I remembered.” She whimpered.

“I know.”

“What’s going on here?” Dr. Von Langley asked.

“You killed my sister,” Derrick said over the top of Sparrow’s head, fighting the urge to release her and wrap his hands around Dr. Von Langley’s neck.

“That’s absurd,” Dr. Von Langley replied. The color drained from his face. A sheen glistened above his heavy brows.
You’d better sweat it, bastard.
Derrick gently pushed Sparrow aside and took a step toward Dr. Von Langley. Tony grabbed his arm, yanking him back.

“Let us handle this,” Tony said. “Take care of Sparrow and make sure Angel’s okay.”

Tony turned his attention to Dr. Von Langley. “As for you, Dr. Von Langley, you’re under arrest for sexual exploitation by a therapist, psychological and emotional abuse by a therapist, and murder, and that’s just for starters. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.”

“You’re insane,” Dr. Von Langley said.

“Really. Maybe you’d like to take a scan of my head and perform a lobotomy to fix that, you sick SOB. Now open the door and let the kid out.”

“You’ll be sorry. Your father tried to meddle in my business, and look at what happened to him and your mother.”