Deadly Visions (18 page)

Cal stood up, smiling broadly.”Well, I don't know if conspiring'is the word for it. I'll meet you back here around six, okay?”

“You're going to leave me hanging, aren't you?”

Cal winked.”Yep.”

Haddenfield climbed out of his car, wishing he'd insisted on a more populous area for this meeting. He and Dylan stood on a dead-end street near Spelman College, and there wasn't a soul around. Were the students on break?

“I really don't appreciate this,” Dylan said. He leaned against his rented SUV and took off his sunglasses. “I thought we were going to keep our get-togethers to a minimum.”

“Where is he?”

Dylan's expression didn't change.”Where is who?”

“My team member. I know you were onto him when he disappeared.”

“How could I not? He made every mistake in the book.” Dylan chuckled.”I told you I'd be staying close to Monica to make sure she didn't inadvertently give anything away. You said you could control your people.”

“I wasn't there when he decided to go over. Where is he?”

“Dead, I'm afraid. I had to neutralize him quickly and quietly, and that was the only way. How was I to know that he was one of yours?”

Haddenfield closed his eyes. Shit. This couldn't be happening.

“Don't get squeamish, Haddenfield. Just keep your eyes on the prize.”

“What the hell are you doing here? Why don't you just leave?”

“I will when you do. Some people in my government are suspicious as to why you decided to come here. After all, we're offering you far more funding than your government has ever given you.”

“I know.”

“Some believe that you're here trying to produce results that will encourage your government to increase your funding. Where would that leave us?”

“You're wrong. I'm just trying to finish my study.”

“That's what you told us. Just know that I'm using my time here to do some research of my own. If I find that you're lying to me, that young man won't be your team's last casualty.”

Joe slipped on his jacket and turned toward Cal. “Okay, Dad, are you going to tell me the big secret?”

Cal shot a glance at Nikki.

She smiled eagerly. She'd said little since emerging from her room a half hour before, but her grandfather always had a way of perking up her spirits. “Tell him,” she said.

“Okay.” Cal shrugged.”I don't know why I've felt so
funny talking about this. It's no big deal, really. Except that it
is
a big deal, at least to me.”

Joe wrinkled his brow.”Well?”

A knock at the door. Nikki walked over, looked through the peephole, and opened it wide.

Carla stood in the doorway.

“Carla?” Joe stood and crossed over to her. “Is everything all right? You haven't heard anything else from the crime lab, have you?”

“Uh, no.” She stammered and looked at Cal. “I—I guess you haven't told him.”

Cal shook his head.”I was just about to.”

“Told me what?”Joe glanced between them.

They didn't answer.

Instead, Cal joined Carla in the doorway, gently took her hand, and kissed her. He turned back to Joe. “
That
'
s
what.”

Joe was speechless for a good fifteen seconds. When he regained the ability to form words, he said, “Together? The two of you?”

Cal raised an eyebrow and mock-whispered to Carla, “Sharp. Real sharp. Can't get anything past my boy. They call him the Spirit Basher, you know.”

Nikki giggled.

Joe still had trouble processing it.”How long?”

Carla snuggled close to Cal. “About eight months, hon. We got acquainted when I took Nikki down to stay with him in Savannah. I went back the next weekend and pretty near every weekend after that.”

“Why didn't either of you tell me?”

“That was my fault,” Cal said.”I just wanted to keep a lid on it for a while. You work with Carla, and I wanted to keep things separate.”

Carla smiled teasingly. “Aww, listen to that malarkey. He just didn't want to complicate things if we turned out to be nothing more than a little fling.”

“That wasn't it,” Cal said.

“Sure it was, big guy. I didn't mind.”

Joe wondered if the shock still showed on his face. He glanced at Nikki.”You knew?”

Still smiling, she nodded.

Cal patted Nikki on the head. “Carla joined us for dinner almost every night Nikki was in Savannah. I asked Nikki to keep it our secret for a while.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”Joe asked.

“I'm telling you now.”

Carla touched Joe's arm. “Are you okay, hon?”

“Sure. I mean, you're two of my favorite people. I just thought you'd scarcely more than met.”

Cal gestured toward the open door. “Joe, you look like you could use a steak.”

“And maybe a few stiff drinks.”

Carla slipped her arm through Joe's. “By the end of the evening, I might even have you talked into giving me away.”

Dylan slid his key card into Tess Wayland's hotel door lock and listened as the tumblers clicked. Perfect. He'd come earlier with his modified Palm Pilot and attached reader, which was all he needed to obtain the current magnetic code. With that, it had been a simple matter to encode the silver magnetic card he always carried with him.

He slipped inside the room and locked the dead bolt behind him. He didn't think Tess would be com
ing back anytime soon, but he couldn't risk her catching him.

He glanced around the room, looking for any portable alarm devices or motion detectors. Such gadgets were becoming increasingly popular among professional women who travel alone. They were rarely used during the day, however, when the housekeeping staff would be running in and out. And what could possibly happen in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia?

Nothing besides a few nasty serial murders.

No alarms, no cameras, no sensors. Dylan walked toward the cluttered dresser. He rifled through a stack of papers. He would've rather taken a look around the
Monica Gaines
'
s Psychic World
production offices, but staffers had been working around the clock since their arrival. It wouldn't be impossible to get in and take a look, but there was far less risk here.

He found a stack of notes, torn from a hotel pad, next to the telephone. He squinted to see past the coffee stains. Nothing of use, he realized. Just the usual innocuous bullshit—a pet-sitter's phone number, rental car confirmation codes, address of a local talent agency, and—

Wait a minute.

Here it was. He raised the piece of notepaper and memorized the address written on it.

Jackpot.

Cal smiled. “Hey, I think the dazed look is starting to wear off.”

Joe dropped down on the sofa. It had been a
strange evening, watching his father and Carla kissing, holding hands, and exchanging their private little jokes. Carla had gone home after dinner and Nikki was now in bed. “I admit to being a little surprised, but I really don't have a problem with it, Dad.”

“Not even a little bit? She's younger than you are, you know.”

“That doesn't make any difference. You're both old enough to know what you want. I've never seen her so happy.”

“I'm happy too.”

“Well, I hope it lasts this time.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“You're not exactly the relationship-longevity king. I don't want to see her get hurt. She's not like those Savannah tourists that you romance for a week, then drop off at the airport. Carla's taking this a little more seriously than a fling.”

“So am I. Hey, did I tell you that one of those nice little women wanted me to live with her in North Dakota? Poor thing was pretty upset with me when I had to decline.”

“That's what I'm talking about. Carla has no shortage of admirers, but I can tell that she really likes you.”

Cal's expression sobered.”I know how lucky I am. I tried to tell her she'd be better off with a younger guy, but she wouldn't believe it. Trust me, I wouldn't do anything to hurt her.”

“If you do, half the department will be coming down on you. And I'll be leading the charge.”

“Got it. Lecture over?”

“For the moment.” Joe emptied his pockets and
placed his wallet and keys on the coffee table. He stared at the phone numbers thatTess had given him.

“What's that?” Cal asked.

“A couple of phone numbers. The top one's a cell phone that Monica Gaines used. The second is a number that she called. She had a habit of disappearing for weeks at a time, and she phoned this number a couple of times during one of those disappearances.”

“Have you called it yet?”

“No, I figure I'll wait and—”

Cal snatched the scrap of paper from his hand. He picked up the cordless phone and began punching numbers.

“Dad, don't do that.”

“Why the hell not? I suppose you were going to run the number through a database and get the person's name first.”

“It had occurred to me.”

“Takes too much time. I've always liked the direct approach better.”

Joe tried to snatch the paper, but Cal held it out of reach.”Dad, this isn't your investigation.”

Cal finished punching in the number. “Consider it a professional courtesy.”

“It's not the way we do things anymore. Hang up now.”

Cal put the phone to his ear.

“It's after eleven,”Joe said.”It's too late to do this.”

“No, it's the perfect time. If we wake them up, they'll be less likely to censor themselves.”

“Dad …”

Cal held up a finger and spoke into the phone.

“Good evening, ma'am. I'm calling on behalf of Atlanta Police Detective Joe Bailey. I'm sorry for phoning so late. Can you tell me how you know Monica Gaines?” He glanced at Joe.”She's your sister?”

Joe held out his hand for the phone.

Cal nodded. “I see. Please hold for Detective Bailey.”

Joe took the phone.”I'm sorry for the disturbance, ma'am. What is your name?”

The woman spoke with a slight nasal pinch that reminded him of Monica's voice. “Lesley Burge. Are you calling to tell me Monica has—”

“No. Her condition is very serious though.”

“I know. My daughter's been ill and I haven't been able to get away. I'm leaving for Atlanta tomorrow.”

“Ms. Burge, I'm calling because Monica phoned you at a time when she wasn't in contact with anyone else. Did you know that she sometimes disappeared for weeks at a time, and no one knew where she was?”

“No, but it doesn't surprise me. She probably just wanted some peace. Wherever she goes, people hound her. They think she's the solution to all their problems.”

“For all intents and purposes, she sometimes just ceases to exist. I ran a check and there were no credit card or ATM usages during these times and no phone calls except for these few to you.”

“When were the calls?”

Joe looked at the scrap of paper. “Several days during the middle of May.”

The woman paused. “I'd just lost my job and I was
very upset around that time. I think she said she was on a book-signing tour.”

“She wasn't.”

“I'm sorry. I wish I could be more help.”

“I might need to talk to you after you come into town. Can you tell me where you'll be staying?”

“The Embassy Suites Buckhead.”

“Fine. Thank you for talking to me, Ms. Burge.”

Joe hung up and jotted down the hotel name.

Cal wore a self-satisfied smile.”See? Sometimes the direct approach is best. With all this Internet stuff and cross-referencing with this database and that, you can strangle yourself with too much information.”

“Don't do that again, Dad. You're not on the force anymore.”

“Aah, I could still show a lot of those guys a thing or two.”

“Yeah, you could. But instead, you decided to go buy a movie theater.”

“It was the right choice.”

“I think so too.”

Cal pointed to the phone. “Did she tell you anything?”

“Not really. She doesn't know where Monica was or what she was doing.”

“Dead end, huh?”

Joe smiled. “She may be a dead end, but Monica's cell phone isn't.”

A
soft orange glow bathed Tess Wayland's nude figure as dawn broke over the city. Dylan looked at his watch. Six-ten A.M.

“Go back to sleep,” Tess whispered. She pulled on a robe and wandered over to the large windows of her hotel room.

“You can't be going to work already.”

“The show isn't going to produce itself. I slept late today. You're a bad influence.”

Dylan smiled. The night before, he'd been on his way out of the hotel, when Tess spotted him. “Looking for me?” she'd asked.

Another few seconds and he would've been gone.

There was dinner, drinks, more drinks, and this. Why was it always so much easier with women who didn't know who he really was and the things he had done?

“You should come to a taping sometime,” she said. “It might be fun.”

“Sure. Maybe Thursday?”

“Good. We'll be in a studio by then.”

“At one of the local TV stations?”

“No. A building downtown has its own studio with a satellite uplink. We're leasing it from them. I told you that the other day, didn't I?”

“Oh yeah, I think you did.” Dylan stood and gently caressed her neck. This was the moment that some of his colleagues might have chosen to eliminate her— one quick twist and a potential loose end would be cleanly removed.