Provoked (15 page)

              Kennedy had already called 911 when Riley ended his call. Riley asked him to send a uniform over to the building, in case Darek returned. Kennedy nodded. Riley grabbed his jacket.

              “This news will devastate Adam. She’s the only tenant he liked. He always spoke highly of her. I hope this will get him to open up. Keep searching, Kennedy, and call me.”

Kennedy nodded. Riley walked out of the precinct and dialed Basia’s number. He was worried about her. He wanted to protect her and find Darek at the same time. But he knew he couldn’t be in two places.

              “Are you home now?” 

              He checked in with Basia along the way and gave her a brief update. He wanted to explain that he had to mention her connection to the women to Kennedy, because now it seemed to be connected to Darek.

              “No, I had to come to the hotel to collect my things. Then I’m going to the grocery store with my bodyguard,” she added and chuckled.

              “This isn’t funny, Basia.”

              Riley wondered if her laugh was more so of anxiety and worry and most likely a touch of fear. From what he’d read in her letter and her brief explanation—he’d scared the hell out of her before he knew she tried to kill him.

              “I know it’s not a laughing matter, but I need to make light of it or it’s going to drive me crazy. You have to find him, Riley. I can’t live like this. I want my life back. I want to get back to work.”

              Riley’s heart ached. Her words only confirmed to him what he needed to do.

              “I’ll find him, Basia, and you’ll have your life back. Don’t take too long at the store. I don’t want you in public view for too long. Call me when you are home safe. There’s an officer waiting outside your door. I already spoke with Mark at the building.”

              “You know my building security by name?” Basia surprisingly asked.

              “Yes, and I like his concern to help keep you safe,” Riley confirmed.

              “Detective, you finally made it back.”

              Riley called ahead to have them bring Adam into the interrogation room. Adam was seated at the table in cuffs and asked why Riley never came back to read his statement like he’d promised.

              “Someone poisoned me.”

              Riley took the chair across from Adam. His words seemed to grab his attention.

              “You seem to be okay.”

              There wasn’t much concern in Adam’s tone.

             Riley laughed, “Luckily someone knew I was poisoned and told the paramedics I’d need the antidote.”

              Riley told Adam he spent the night in the hospital instead of returning to read Adam’s statement, but he enjoyed the copy on his desk when he arrived at work. Adam grinned and sat up straight in his chair. He leaned forward with his elbows on the table and crossed his hands.

              “I’m happy to get a good review from the detective.”

              Riley looked down at the folder on the table and opened it. He wasn’t going to comment any further. He played Adam right where he wanted him. He could tell the man’s ego jumped up a notch. Riley knew he could now get the answers he needed. He started to read a fake report that another tenant had been poisoned at the brownstone late last night.

              “That one wasn’t me. I was here, locked up.” Adam quickly and defensively responded. Riley looked up at him.

              Adam squirmed in his chair. His mood changed to reflect the news annoyed him.

              “Is someone attempting to steal my idea of the perfect poison?”

              “Well, without you, Adam, we wouldn’t have guessed poison. You know, since it’s odorless, colorless, and basically untraceable unless it’s searched.”

              He was not surprised Adam sat there with his usual cocky smile.

              “So, Adam, how did you administer the thallium? Did you slip it in their coffee?” Adam laughed and told Riley he should have read the manuscript.
Cocky bastard

              “You and your damn so-called bestseller…is that all you are concerned about?”

              “No, actually I’m concerned about Mrs. Clarke. I hope someone will watch out for her.”

              Adam went quiet after the mention of her name again. Riley realized she’d been the only person in Adam’s life he cared about.
Perfect timing.
Riley sighed before he told Adam that Mrs. Clarke had been the one poisoned. Adam sat quietly. Riley noticed he squirmed a bit in his chair.

              “Do you know who poisoned her, Adam?”

              “How would I know? I’m locked up in here.”

              “Oh, I wasn’t asking; I’m just wondering why your partner in crime wanted to kill that sweet little old lady.”

              Riley could tell Adam wasn’t prepared to hear this news. Adam said nothing. Riley figured he wouldn’t bring Darek into this because he wanted the glory for it—the book.

              “So how did you meet Darek?” Riley continued before Adam could interrupt him. Riley hadn’t let on that Mrs. Clarke was alive and informed him he knew Darek had been to the brownstone a few times. Adam remained quiet.

              “Were the murders Darek’s idea? Did you even murder those people, Adam?” Riley spoke in a compassionate tone. Maybe Mrs. Clarke was right. Maybe he was a gentle soul and wouldn’t harm anyone. Adam sat speechless. Riley stood and paced. He stopped and turned to Adam.

              “You know, Adam, whether or not you actually committed the murders. You conspired with Darek. That I will prove. You’re still guilty of a crime and will serve time for it. Either way, your book will still be a bestseller.”

              Riley knew how to play Adam. He knew what Adam needed to hear to keep his ego a notch up there. He buzzed for the guard.

             Adam spoke up when the door opened. “You’re right. Darek is the mastermind behind it all. It was his idea. He approached me. This better not screw up the book.”

              Riley stood at the door. “Why, Adam? Why confess to murder if you hadn’t committed it? Don’t tell me you did this just to sell a book?”

              Adam’s expression changed to reflect defeat and sadness. Riley closed the door and took his seat again and listened.

              “I’m nobody. I’m not important. I never have been my whole life. When I was fourteen, the girl next door asked me to the junior prom. I thought it was because we’d grown up together and we were friends. I thought so anyway. She was the most beautiful, popular girl. I was a computer geek and not the most popular or attractive boy. I know I was referred to as a loner because I spent so much time on my computer. We had been friends since kindergarten. All that changed once we hit junior high. She practically ignored me. Then one day she asked to walk to school with me. For the next week, we talked about good times and crazy things we did as kids. She asked me to the junior prom. I was over the moon. I had been in love with her since we were five years old. But it was only a dare to her from her friends. At the prom she kissed me on the dance floor and took me by the hand to the hallway outside the gym and kissed me again. She asked me to remove my pants. I thought I was going to get lucky with her. I was standing in my underwear when the popular group of kids arrived and laughed. The popular boys duct taped me to the hallway wall, where kids going to the bathroom would see me. If that wasn’t bad enough, when I finally got home, a police car was in my driveway. My mom had been killed in a car accident. I lost both the women I loved in one night. I was alone, lost, and with no one to talk to. My father took to the bottle and lost his job. Within months, the bank foreclosed on our home and we were forced to leave Manhattan. We moved to the dingy brownstone my grandfather left us. My father drank himself to death by my eighteenth birthday. I never returned to finish school. I know what people say about me. I’m that creepy guy everyone wants to stay away from. I’m quiet, but I have a lot to say. I just choose to put it in writing.”

              Riley sighed when Adam paused. “I’m sorry, Adam. It sounds like you had it pretty rough. But why didn’t you just write? Why get hooked up with Darek Bernard?”

              “I decided to write the perfect murder. Not long after I started, I met Darek. When he discovered I was writing a murder, he gave me a proposition to join him. He said I could take all the credit and it would make a bestseller. For once in my life, I had something to look forward to. Now that’s screwed up, too.”

              Adam leaned back in his chair. Riley felt sorry for the guy. He hadn’t had a break his whole life. But Mrs. Clarke was right; he was a gentle soul and got caught up twice in his lifetime; being bullied into something that only ended up hurting him.

              “How did you meet Darek?”

              “At the brownstone, he said he’d followed the three women home. I found him lurking the halls, one night. Before I could even ask him what he was doing there, he proposed a solution to the drug operation I’d been so desperate to end. Don’t ask me how the hell he knew. He just did.”

              Riley figured Darek must have been in New York longer than they’d thought. He probably had been following Basia and him, too.

              “What about Beth? Did you murder her like you told me?”

              Adam shook his head.

              “Darek did. I cleaned up the mess in the basement. But he made me take her body and dump it, or he threatened to ruin the bestseller. It was hard. I liked Beth. She was always kind to me.”

              This man had suffered enough. Riley wanted to help him. He needed help but he didn’t need to be behind bars.

              “Adam, will you help me? I’ll see if I can get you some help without keeping you behind bars.” Adam looked up with a confused expression.

              “Trust me, Adam. I do want to help. I’m not Darek or those boys back at school. I’m one of the good ones. I need your help and I want to help you. I need you to write down what happened to the other two girls, Beth’s friends; and where we can find their bodies. Trust me. Your book will still sell because it’s still based on real-life murders.”

Adam agreed with a nod.

              Riley checked his phone for messages after he left Adam, not one from Basia. She’d promised to call when she got home. He dialed her number and it went directly to voicemail. His heart began to race. Quickly he called Kennedy.

              “Briggs, how did it go with Adam?”

              “Good. He’s in. I tried Basia’s phone and it went straight to voicemail. She promised to call once she settled at home. She hasn’t called. I’m a little worried. Can you check in with the officers stationed at her building? I’m going to try Mark at the security desk in her building.”

              Riley hadn’t the time or the focus at the moment to fill Kennedy in about the Adam situation. Adam had agreed to help lure Darek in, but what worried Riley is that he may not have to. His worst fear raced through his thoughts: Darek had found his way to Basia.

              “On it and I’ll meet you at Basia’s building.”

Riley thanked him and disconnected their call. He called Mark next.

              “Park Avenue Towers,” Mark answered on the second ring. Riley took a breath.
At least the building is still standing.

              “Mark, its Riley Briggs. I’m only getting voicemail on Basia’s phone. Did she arrive at the building?”

              Riley hit speaker on his phone and backed out of his parking spot. He hoped traffic wasn’t going to keep him long from getting to Basia. He’d put the siren on to get there faster; one of the perks of being a cop.

              “Mr. Briggs. Yes, she did arrive about an hour ago. There is an officer in the lobby with me and one upstairs outside her door. Would you like me to go upstairs to check on her?” Mark offered. He probably read the panic in Riley’s voice.

              “Yes, please, Mark, and have her call me.”

              Riley thanked Mark and pressed end. He hoped to hear something soon. Riley’s phone rang as soon as he ended his conversation with Mark, but it was Kennedy. He was stuck in traffic too and hoped to get there as soon as he could. Within minutes, Riley’s phone rang again. This time it was Mark. The name on the call display only made Riley’s heart race faster. He needed to talk to Basia. He had a very uneasy feeling.

              “Did you speak with her, Mark?” Riley asked without a hello.

              “I’m sorry, sir, I haven’t. She’s not there.”

              “What do you mean she’s not
there
?” Riley’s tone grew louder, as panicked thoughts raced through his mind.

              “I went upstairs and there was no officer at her door. I knocked and after no answer, I let myself in. I called out her name a few times. When there was no answer, I searched the apartment. She’s not there, Mr. Briggs.” Mark’s tone sounded apologetic but also worried.

              “You didn’t see her leave the building with the officer?”

              Riley wondered if she went back out for something she forgot, then the officer would be with her, but Mark and the other officer would have seen them leave. His worst fear entered his head. Darek had her.

              “No, sir. She didn’t leave. Both the officer and myself have been in the lobby since she came in.”

              “Is there a back entrance I don’t know about?”

Riley hadn’t thought about a back entrance; just the front lobby and the underground garage.

              “There’s an exit door but not one you can access from outside. All tenants use the front doors or the underground garage.”

              “I’ll be there in a few minutes, Mark.”

              Riley disconnected and said a prayer for Basia to be safe. He arrived at the building moments after Kennedy, and they headed upstairs to her apartment immediately. There was no sign of her in the apartment, in the building, or in the garage. Kennedy immediately called in a possible kidnapping of an NYPD officer and her missing red Corvette. An APB was immediately released for both Basia and her car. Riley sank down on the sofa and placed his hands on his head.

              “I should have stayed with her, Kennedy. How the hell did the bastard get in? And where the hell is that officer that was posted outside her door?”

Riley had many questions and Kennedy had no answers for him.