BlackMoonRising (8 page)

Steve hadn’t dreamed at all during the night. He actually
felt rested when he looked at the clock. Eight a.m. He’d slept all night for
the first time in years. He was no longer having the lost-love dream about
Herman and he didn’t have the dad dream. After realizing that Herman hadn’t
slept with him, he rose and went into the living room.

Herman took a sip of his coffee and smiled. “You slept well
last night. Sawing logs and all that jazz. I could have never lasted in that
room.”

“So if I actually do start sleeping all night, you won’t be
able to sleep with me? Is that what you’re saying?”

Herman tilted his head. “Something tells me I had better
pass on that question for now. Did I mention the coffee is on? Get it while
it’s hot.”

Steve grinned as went he went through the motions of getting
ready for work. He had the boring job of sitting at a stakeout that morning.

An hour later, as Steve sat in a rented car outside a
fugitive’s frequent haunt, all he could think of was Merlotti. How would they
prove he was the murderer instead of Herman? Steve was sure he did it. He
almost felt like going by Barbara’s home again and finding some way of asking
about Merlotti. Maybe he could use the female factor and take his sister to do
the questioning. Every woman loved talking to Suzy. She was cute and personable.

Brainstorm!
That was it.

His phone rang and he looked at the caller. Nahla. He
frowned. Why would she be calling him? “Hello?”

“Steve, this is Nahla. Something awful has happened.”

Steve sat up higher in his seat. Goose bumps popped. He
dreaded hearing her next words.

“I suddenly had a strange feeling that something was going
on with Herman. As I opened my door, I heard commotion in your apartment. By
the time I ran downstairs, two men had dragged Herman out to their car. They
were werewolves. After throwing him in the trunk, they sped off. I’m sorry my
premonition didn’t come sooner. I’ve been too involved with myself this week.
I’m sickened by it.”

Steve’s heart thudded in his throat. Herman had been
kidnapped! His gut feeling was that Merlotti was behind it. Wonderful Herman,
the man he had given his heart to, was in the hands of the person Steve was
sure had killed his father
and
Herman’s father. Would it be the same
fate for his love? That was his worst nightmare. He wanted to vomit.

“Steve? Are you there?”

He could barely speak. “Yes.”

“I’m enraged that someone would do that to Herman. I want to
help.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“We have extra power tonight with the black moon. Remember
that. I am the link. Let me know once there is a plan.”

“Will do.” He ended the call.

It was time for action. Steve forced himself to leave the
bleak moment he was in and take the leap forward. His next call was to his
mother. He touched her number on his phone and waited.

“Hey, Steve,” she answered.

“Merlotti’s thugs took Herman from my apartment.”

“Oh no! Where are you?”

“Right where I’m supposed to be this morning.” He swallowed
hard. “I’m going to the country club and storming the place.”

“You absolutely can’t do that and you know it.”

Steve let out a deep breath. It was important to think
logically.

“Leave the stakeout now. Get over here so we can come up
with a plan.”

* * * * *

“I agree that Merlotti probably took Herman,” Joni said once
Steve had arrived at the office. “The good news is that Herman is probably
somewhere inside that country club. But we have no proof of anything. If
Merlotti wanted to kill Herman, he is already dead. You know that, Steve. I
don’t need to pour any sugar on this. We have to work from the angle that
Herman is alive and a prisoner.”

Steve hung his head. What his mom said was true. “I want to
talk to Barbara to see if she knows anything about this. Suzy, will you go with
me?”

She nodded and rose from her chair. “Sure. Let’s go.”

Forty-five minutes later they sat in the living room of the
Fleming estate.

“Mrs. Fleming, we’re here to ask a couple of questions,”
explained Steve. “This is my sister, Suzy. She works with us too.”

“Nice to meet you, Suzy.” Barbara smiled. “What an odd job
for such a beautiful young lady.”

“It’s a family thing.” Suzy rolled her eyes. “I didn’t have
a choice in the matter.”

“Do you have any news on Herman?” asked Barbara. “It’s been
a week since he’s been gone.”

“We were hoping that you may have some additional
information,” said Suzy.

“Me?” Barbara put a hand on her chest. “He would never
contact me.”

“Leads usually come from family members, friends, old
business acquaintances, lovers,” Suzy offered. “Did Herman ever go to the club
with you?”

Barbara blushed. “No. I, ah, I’d never let him go there with
me.”

“Which reminds me.” Suzy snapped her fingers. “We had a
rather unusual call earlier that I wanted to mention. It was from a man at the
club. A Roberto something-or-another. He thought he saw Herman in the parking
lot.”

“What? Roberto said that?” Barbara wrinkled up her nose.
“They don’t know each other at all. Roberto has never seen him in person. I
wouldn’t think Herman would ever go there.”

“Oh, you know Roberto?” Suzy looked at Barbara with widened
eyes of innocence.

Barbara appeared distressed. She wrung her hands and her
eyes darted around the room. “Yes, I know him. Roberto owns the club.”

“For the record, may we ask what your relationship is with
him?” asked Steve.

She crossed her arms and let out a breath. “We’re friends.
I’ve been going to the club for years. Once he took over, I offered to update
the policies and procedures manual, which hadn’t been done in a long time. He
appreciated my knowledge of the club’s history.”

“So that’s why you were going more frequently to the club?”
Suzy pulled a folded set of papers from her purse.

“Of course.”

Suzy handed the papers to Barbara. “If you were going to the
club so much, why were so many phone calls between you and Roberto necessary?”

Steve looked her in the eyes. “As we work to locate Herman,
any information can be important. We need you to be upfront with us.”

Barbara glanced through the phone records and shook her
head. “Okay, I will admit it. We are having an affair. The excitement I have
with Roberto makes me feel alive again. It’s something I hadn’t experienced in
a long time living with an invalid. Roberto is handsome, sexy and charming.”

Charming like a rabid dog
, Steve thought.

“You have to understand that Lawrence and I had nothing left
anymore. We were housemates. The affair hasn’t been going on long.”

“We don’t judge,” Suzy said. “That’s your personal
business.”

“But the affair had nothing to do with my husband’s death.
People have affairs every day of the week. I never wanted anything to happen to
Lawrence. I felt fine with the way things were.”

“How about Roberto?” asked Suzy. “Was he fine with it?”

Barbara threw up a hand. “Oh my goodness! I know what you’re
implying. He didn’t kill Lawrence. He’d never hurt a fly.” She put her hand
down suddenly and sat stone-faced.

Steve thought she remembered how Merlotti had attacked him
and his brother when they were dogs at the club.
Never hurt a fly, huh
?
How
about a couple of cute little do
gs?

Suzy prodded. “Do you know where Roberto was that day?”

“I hadn’t seen him. He was supposed to be in the city. I had
been at the club in the morning for cards, but they ended early and I went home
just in time to see Herman sticking the knife into Lawrence’s back.”

“What if Herman found Mr. Fleming that way and was holding
the knife stable until 911 could get there?” Steve raised his eyebrows.

“That’s what Herman told me.” Barbara looked down. “I didn’t
believe him.”

“What would be Herman’s motive for killing his father?”
asked Steve. “Was he looking for an early inheritance?”

Barbara didn’t answer.

Suzy spoke softly. “Does Roberto have a key to your home?”

Barbara nodded. “One day I had locked myself out of the
house and Lawrence had gone to the doctor’s office with Herman. I wanted
Roberto to have one in case it happened again.”

“I’m sorry we’re asking so many questions,” Suzy said. “We
must always be on the alert for new information.”

“What do you think about what Roberto mentioned about Herman
being in the parking lot at the club?” asked Barbara. “That’s new information.
Are you going to check it out?”

“Yes,” confirmed Steve. “We check out all leads. Will you be
talking to Roberto or seeing him today?”

“He called earlier to tell me he was busy with business in
the city. I’ll see him tonight. There’s a big party at the club. A grand
reopening, since Roberto took the helm.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to
get going to my hair appointment. You’ll have to excuse me.”

Steve and Suzy stood.

“One last thing, Mrs. Fleming.” Steve looked her in the
eyes. “Does Roberto always wear gloves?”

“Why would you ask that?” Barbara appeared distracted, as if
she was in deep thought. “Yes, yes. He had an accident many years ago and lost
a couple of fingers. Wearing gloves makes him feel better about the injury. The
missing fingers are hidden.”

The rage inside Steve built and he needed to get it under
control. He bit the side of his mouth until he tasted blood.

“Thank you.” Suzy shook Barbara’s hand. “We’ll be in touch.”
She grabbed Steve by the arm and pulled him toward the door.

As they drove back to the office, no words were needed.
Steve was now sure that Roberto had killed their father. It was obvious Roberto
had killed Lawrence Fleming and that Roberto had kidnapped Herman. But until
they knew otherwise, he would force himself to believe that Herman was still
alive and well at the club. What remained to be seen, however, was how the Beck
family would get into the club and end this.

* * * * *

Suzy’s youthful good looks and style turned the head of
every man sitting in the lobby of the club as she entered, and the two tiny Chihuahuas
sticking out of her large Burberry bag drew further attention. One lady ran up
to her right away.

“What darling dogs!” The woman smiled. “And their tan coats
match your Burberry stripes perfectly.”

“Thank you,” gushed Suzy. “They love to travel with me.”

The woman’s nose twitched. “Do they have on cologne?”

“Yes,” Suzy affirmed as she glanced around the lobby. “That
way I get no complaints.”

“How interesting. I should consider that with my Shih Tzu.”

The woman petted Steve’s head. He hated the smell of that
cologne but it disguised him and Eric from being revealed as shifters to any
wolves they came in contact with.

“Is there someone I can speak with about joining the club?”
Suzy inquired.

“That man right over there at the desk,” said the woman, pointing
to a man with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. “We’ve changed
ownership and I know they’d love to bring in some younger people.”

“Thanks again.” Suzy winked.

She walked over to the desk as the man hung up the phone.

“Good afternoon. May I help you?” He glanced at the dogs and
then to Suzy’s face.

“I’m interested in joining the club and getting information
about the requirements,” Suzy explained.

“The manager is out today and we’re setting up for a party
tonight.” He flashed a grin. “Is it possible to come back tomorrow?”

“I was in the area and thought I would run in.” She wrinkled
her nose. “Could I walk around a little to see the place? I’ll only be a few
minutes. Promise.”

“I’d love to show you around but I can’t leave the desk.
We’re too busy right now getting everything ready.” He glanced around him and
then spoke softly. “If you can be quick, walk around the first floor. Feel free
to look inside the ballroom, check out the fitness center. Go outside and peek
at the golf course and pool. The basement is off-limits to members and guests.”
He handed her a brochure as the front desk phone rang again.

“Will do.” Suzy shoved the brochure into her bag.

“Please don’t let the dogs out of your bag. We will not be
responsible if anything happens to them.” He picked up the phone.

“Thank you.”

He gazed at her. “I hope to see you another day.”

She walked to her left, down the hallway with the most
doors. The dogs peeked out of her bag, taking in everything around them. Suzy
encountered the large open doors of the ballroom first. It took up most of the
left side of the building. Workers were setting up tables and decorating the
walls. Suzy and the dogs briefly glanced into the room and moved on. They
looked into the fitness center on the opposite side of the hallway and saw
people working out. The locker rooms were next, followed by a locked door. They
had reached the end of the hallway.

A large oil painting with an opulent frame hung there. It
was a painting of a den of wolves, with three cubs poking their heads out from
a cleft between rocks in a dense forest.

“Pretty picture,” cooed Suzy. She gave a knowing chuckle.

The locked door next to her suddenly opened and a man came
through. He barely gave her a glance as he hurried away. Before the door closed,
she grabbed the doorknob. The three peered down a dark set of stairs leading to
the basement.

“I don’t hear anything,” she whispered to the dogs. “Guess
this is your chance to have a look down there.” She sat her bag on the floor
and they hopped out. Suzy pulled off one of her shoes and propped it in the
door to hold it open. “I’ll stand here as long as I can. You both know the
signals to tell me what you need. Hurry.”