ToServeAndProtect (28 page)

“We don’t want to cause you any trouble.” The engine
hummed to life, and the driver put the van in gear.

“They were still here,” the security guard spoke into
the radio. “Tell the lady they’ve left.”

“I called a cab for her. It will be here in ten
minutes.”

“Good,” the guard said as he started to walk back to
the shack.

Dustin laughed as he flung the duffel over the fence.
In a moment, he was over as well. Crouching low, he hurried to the convertible
and started the engine. Driving through the parking lot, he left the headlights
off.

“Shit.” As he was about to pull onto the street, the
utility van crept closer from the opposite direction. They too, had their
headlights off. They hadn’t gone far or waited long. If he left now, there was
no doubt the van would be on top of him before he went two blocks, and he still
had to find a way to get McKenna.

Lights coming from the opposite direction cut through
the night. The yellow cab turned the corner.

Dustin gunned the engine and pulled out in front. The
cab honked. Traffic violations he could deal with. Letting the Marino’s near
McKenna wasn’t going to happen. He sped ahead then drove slowly by the guard
shack making sure McKenna saw him. She stood and walked toward the door, but he
shook his head. The cab pulled up behind him. Dustin pointed to the cab,
nodded, and drove on.

He drove ahead and pulled to the side of the road to
wait for the cab…for McKenna. A few moments later, headlights pulled back into
traffic. He stepped on the gas, but kept the cab in the rearview mirror as he
looked for an opportunity to get her back into his vehicle and away from the
Marino’s.

Opportunity
presented
itself a couple of miles down the road. A motel with a glowing vacancy sign
called to him like a beacon. He put on his right signal long before he reached
the driveway. He pulled into the parking lot and parked under the street lamp
near the front lobby and waited for the cab.

* * * * *

“Where do you think they’re headed? Did the detective
bail on her? Do you think they had a plan for this? Maybe they already decided
on a rendezvous sight?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Joe plucked at his eyebrow while
he thought of a way to get Ms. Porter out of the cab and into the van. The
detective had ceased to be an annoyance and now bordered on becoming a serious
problem…one needing to be dealt with immediately. Too bad Robert told him to
stick to the plan. Joe would rather end this shit now. The idea of ramming the
cab off the road and taking her by force held the most appeal but came with the
most risk. Best to simply follow and see where she went. He grabbed a roll of antacids
from his pocket and chewed a couple.

* * * * *

McKenna kept her eyes glued to the taillights up
ahead.

“Where to, Miss?” the cab driver asked, glancing in
the rearview mirror.

“I’m not sure.” She worried her bottom lip between her
teeth. She had no idea where Dustin was heading but didn’t think he’d want her
to incur the cost of taking the cab all the way back to their hotel. “Can you
just drive for a minute?” She was quiet and kept her eyes pinned to the glowing
red lights in the distance. A few miles down the road, Dustin signaled.

Leaning forward, she pointed. “Drop me off at the
motel.” She pulled a ten-dollar bill from her back pocket and handed it over
the seat. The cab came to a stop, and she scrambled out of the vehicle.

Warm Santa Ana winds blew her hair. Using her fingers,
she raked her bangs from her face. “Oh no.” A white van pulled up to the curb.
She ran across the parking lot and hopped into the car with Dustin. As soon as
she had the door closed, Dustin laid his foot on the gas and sped down the
street. “They’re following.”

“I know,” he replied.

Relief washed over Dustin now that she was in the car
with him. Her cheeks were flushed from the run and her hair was tangled from
her ruse.

“Are you okay?” His gaze skimmed down her body as he
mentally cataloged every detail. The brightness in her eyes, the soft fullness
of her lips, and the rapid beat of her heart pulsing at the base of her neck.
He imagined placing his lips there. Taking a few turns, he pulled onto the
freeway continually checking the rearview mirror for a glimpse of the pursuing
van.

“Are they still following?” McKenna spun around in the
seat.

Dustin glanced at the numerous headlights in the
rearview mirror. One set belonged to the van. He was sure of it. “They’ll
follow. They want what we found.” Dustin changed lanes and swerved in and out
of traffic. He wasn’t going to make it easy on them.

“What exactly did we find?”

Dustin smiled. “Confirmation for two to Mexico.” Not taking a direct route, Dustin attempted to confuse the Marinos on his way to
the hotel. Like threading a needle, he wanted to get there quickly, yet he
didn’t want to drive right into the waiting clutches of a Marino.

“For two? Where in Mexico, and who is she traveling
with?”

“Obviously, she has a partner in her scheme. I want
you to keep an open mind McKenna.” He glanced at her then turned his attention
back to the road. He was fairly certain he had Roslyn Meadows figured out.
Knowing how much McKenna had already been though, he wondered how she was going
to react to his theory.

“I just want to know who killed my father so I can get
on with my life. If money is what he wants, I’ll call Mr. Marino myself and
tell him I don’t know where his money is. I’ll pay him off once the life
insurance settlement comes through.” She stared out the window. “I don’t want
anything of Elliot’s.”

Dustin reached over and squeezed her thigh. “We’ll
head back to the hotel.” He suspected they wouldn’t be alone for long. The trip
to California revealed some clues but not everything about the trip had to do
with Dr. Porter.

Now there wouldn’t be time for making love to Mickey
on a bed or one last walk down the strand. They’d have to gather their
belongings quickly and get the hell out. Hopefully, they’d be long gone before
the Marino’s caught up to them. All he needed was ten minutes in the hotel room
to grab their stuff.

Chapter
Seventeen

Joe Marino’s smile widened into a gleeful smirk. His
arm rested along the rim of the open driver side window, and a cigarette
dangled between his thick fingers. The convertible that had been eluding him
pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. He dialed Robert. “They’re here,” he
said and then ended the call. Finally a little luck had come his way.

* * * * *

Dustin circled the hotel parking lot before stopping.
“I think we’ve got a few minutes.” He hoped they had a few minutes and not
seconds…or worse.

“And if we don’t?”

He couldn’t think about that. They had to get in and
get out. “I want you to find a table in the hotel lounge where you can watch
the exit.” He walked her across the lobby while he continued to scan their
surroundings. He handed her the car keys.

“I won’t leave you,” she stubbornly stated.

“I know, but you can start the car and wait for me. If
I have to climb down from the balcony, I will.”

“There is strength in numbers. We should stick
together.”

Dustin rested his hands on her shoulders. “We don’t
have time to argue about this. Trust me. Sit in the bar and wait. If I’m not
back in fifteen minutes, get out of the hotel and into the car. If the choice
is leaving alone or leaving with a Marino, you need to get the hell out. Get on
the cell phone, dial 911, and get your ass to the nearest police station.
Please, Mickey, tell me you’ll do exactly what I say.”

“Fine.”

Dustin left McKenna in the bar and hurried to the
house telephone in the lobby. After dialing the front desk, he asked for
housekeeping. He needed to secure the floor and the best way to do that was get
staff up there.

A moment later, he was on the elevator on his way up
to their room. Once the doors opened, he walked down the hall, listening,
poised for any possible scenario. He didn’t stop at the room but continued past
and around the corner…where he waited.

Five minutes later, the maid came down the hall and
knocked on the door to their room. “Towels.” The woman tapped her toe. Then she
knocked again. “Housekeeping.” She sighed. “Come get your damn towels,” she
muttered under her breath.

Dustin took a step then slinked back around the corner
when the door to his room opened. “Thanks,” someone said, taking the towels
from the maid’s outstretched arms and then slammed the door.

He cursed as he went through the hall door leading to
the stairwell. His leg throbbed, but he couldn’t risk being seen. Who knew how
many thugs the Marino’s had lying in wait? He and McKenna had to cut their
losses and get the hell out.

* * * * *

McKenna ordered a soda and sat down at a table along
the wall. Musak pumped through the speakers in the ceiling of the well-lit
room. Because of the late hour, there were only a few patrons at the bar. A
gentleman sat a few tables away. He gave her a wide smile when she gazed in his
direction.

Absent was the thick neck and military posture. She
immediately decided he wasn’t a Marino and smiled back. Hopefully she wouldn’t
need to call upon a stranger’s assistance, but if necessary it was good to have
options.

Oh no. The attractive man approached. “You’re a guest
of the hotel?” he asked, having obviously taken her smile as an invitation.

“Yes, I’m waiting for a friend.” She nervously glanced
toward the entrance. She needed backup, not a pickup. The man pulled out a
chair. “Oh, I’m sorry, but my friend—”

He sat in the chair, leaned closer, and whispered, “I
don’t think you’re friend is coming.”

As if someone had turned on a movie screen, she
recognized this man from an earlier encounter. He’d been coming out of the
elevator when she and Dustin had gone to Roslyn’s.

McKenna’s liquid parts weren’t functioning normally.
Her mouth suddenly became dry, and she almost lost control of her bladder.
Sweat dripped from her armpits. Beads of perspiration broke out along her
hairline. “Who are you?”

“Let’s just say I’m your date for tonight.” He stood
from the table and held his hand out for her to join him. His jacket draped
over his other arm. “Make a sound, and I swear I’ll fucking drop you right
here.” He let her see the gun in his hand. “You’ve pissed me off enough for one
night.”

She stood and took a hesitant stop forward. The man
yanked her close and kept his hand on her back while he escorted her out of the
lounge. He guided her to the bank of elevators. “I don’t know what you want
from me.”

“At the moment, all I want is for you to shut up and
smile.”

No way. First opportunity, she’d scream her head off.
Until then, she’d try to reason with the man. “I didn’t know Elliot was
stealing money, and I certainly don’t know what he did with it. I would’ve told
the police. I’d certainly tell you. From what I’ve learned, Elliot stole the
money from you so as I see it, the money would still belong to you. But I don’t
have the money. I swear.”

“I said, shut up.” The barrel of the gun pressed into
her ribs.

McKenna hoped that another person would be riding the
elevator. Maybe…somehow she could signal with her eyes that she was in trouble.
Any other thought was too unsettling to linger upon, like where was Dustin?

The bell dinged and the doors opened to an empty
elevator. She sagged with a sigh.

“Don’t be disappointed,” he said pushing her into the
elevator. “Say a word to anyone, and you won’t be the only person in a
precarious position. Nothing would please me more than to be done with you and
this shit.” The doors closed sealing them inside. The man fully revealed the
pistol and then slipped it back under his jacket. “Not a sound,” he warned.
“Robert Marino wants a word with you. And you’re going to tell him what he
wants to know.”

She chewed her bottom lip then spoke. “If all he
wanted was to talk, he could’ve picked up the phone.”

“Very perceptive of you.”

* * * * *

Dustin glanced into the lounge. His heart tripped and
vise-like pressure tightened on his chest. His hands shook and a premonition of
dread filled his mind. She’d be here unless something or someone changed their
plan.
Please, let her be in the car.
Uneasiness rolled through his
stomach. He fled from the lounge and rushed into the lobby. He looked for
blonde hair, but McKenna wasn’t there either.

“Shit.” He took off for the parking lot. Pain flashed
into his thigh. Adrenaline blazed through his veins.

“Fuck!” The car was where they left it. And she wasn’t
there. Rampant beats of his heart roared through his ears. Muscles in his scar
burned as he raced back into the hotel. He pushed open the woman’s bathroom
door. “Mickey? Are you in here?” No answer. Dustin went back to the lounge and
approached the bartender. “Hey, did you see a young, blonde woman leave? She
came in about ten minutes ago.”