ToServeAndProtect (29 page)

“Yeah, she left with another guest.” He continued to
dry and stack glass tumblers while he spoke.

“Shit.” Dustin ran his hands through his hair as he
slowly spun a three sixty, watching his reflection in the mirrors behind the
bar. He didn’t have to consider long where she was. There was only one
alternative.
The Marinos
.

Dustin couldn’t think of a way to peacefully disarm
the situation. He assumed McKenna was in their room with the Marinos. He
couldn’t exactly barge in with guns blazing. And yet he didn’t see an option
that didn’t include the use of force. He needed backup, but no way could he put
off going in. Involving the locals was an absolute last resort. He’d been
working their turf—without their involvement—and explaining that little detail
could get complicated. Especially for him. He finally took the elevator up. If
tonight ended badly, McKenna would know that he hadn’t abandoned her to the
Marino family.

Walking down the corridor felt like trudging through
quicksand. How many were in the room? What if they’d somehow gotten McKenna out
of the hotel without his seeing? He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand
and then rapped his knuckles twice against the door.

* * * * *

Tyson tried to stay calm amidst a flurry of activity.
An FBI informant currently working the Marino case in California had quietly
made contact. Now the entire department was scrambling because they hadn’t had
any recent communication with Dustin.

“As far as we know, Detective Pearce is in good
health. We operate as if everything is fine, and we focus on getting Ms.
Porter.” Captain Baird paced across the room. “I should’ve known better than to
let Dustin traipse around Los Angeles. Roslyn Meadows may not have any bearing
on Dr. Porter’s homicide investigation. But the Marinos think the Porter woman
does.”

“Captain, our team will be ready to go within the
hour.” Special agent Peters slid his palms into his dress slacks. “That is…if
you want us to go in? Officially, we haven’t assigned this as a kidnapping.
Until I’m told otherwise, we’re your support.”

“Tyson, you’ve got one hour to find your partner.”

* * * * *

McKenna sat in the chair across from Robert Marino at
the little table in the hotel room. His eyes continued to scan the documents
she placed before him. Everything she and Dustin had discovered thus far was in
the folder. It wasn’t clear by his facial expression if he was discovering
anything he didn’t already know. If it wasn’t what he wanted, McKenna wondered
what his plans were for her.

She thought about telling him about the discs in the
car. Her chances of getting away were better out in the open than they were
sitting in the hotel room. But Joe paced by the door and Robert Marino had a
dangerous glint in his eye. Time had come to make a stand. Without a doubt, if
Dustin hadn’t already been dealt with by one of the Marino thugs, he would be
making a plan to rescue her. If he came barging into the room, he’d be shot.

The man who had taken her from the lounge stood next
to Robert Marion and read over his shoulder. “Roslyn obviously deceived a
number of her clients. Who knows how much money she shuffled into off-shore
accounts?”

“Who the hell cares? Do I look like someone who gives
a damn about anyone else’s money? No one fucks with Robert Marino!” He abruptly
stood, causing his chair to fall backwards.

“She went to Mexico.” McKenna shrank back from Robert
and clenched her fists. She’d fight if she had to, even though there wasn’t a
chance of winning a physical confrontation with these brutes. “Why don’t you
hop on a plane and deal with her?”

“Because I’m dealing with you first,” he quietly
stated.

“Like you dealt with my dad.”

Someone wrapped on the door. Robert took a long
barreled gun from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. The knock sounded
again. He nodded to his brother to get the door.

Joe peeked out the peephole. “It’s the detective.” He
waited for Robert to nod again.

Breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded
painfully against her ribs. This might be her only opportunity. “Wait!”

Robert and Joe turned to her. “No, Ms. Porter. It’s
time your detective friend joined our little party.”

Joe opened the door. Tears burned behind her eyes and
her skin heated. Dustin stood in the corridor. Their eyes met. As happy as she
was to know he was still alive, coming to the room was foolish. Did he expect
to waltz into a room full of killers and politely ask the Marino’s to let them
go? They murdered her father. They’d tried to take her out. Disposing of Dustin
would be all in a day’s work.

As soon as Dustin crossed the threshold into the room,
they threw him against the wall and patted him down.

“Have a seat,” Robert said lighting a cigar. “Glad you
could join us.”

“Are you okay?” he asked McKenna, his eyes drinking in
every detail of her face.

“You can see for yourself, Detective. She’s fine.”
Robert resumed his seat across from McKenna. “Where’s my money?”

“Mickey,” Dustin said, looking directly at McKenna.

“Talk to me!” Robert’s slammed his palm to the table,
at the same time producing the gun and aiming it at Dustin.

McKenna screamed. “No!”

“Wait.” Dustin put his hands in the air. “You aren’t
going to learn shit about your money unless you put the fucking gun away, pull
your head out of your ass, and listen.” He turned his attention to McKenna. “I
haven’t shared everything with you. I didn’t want to upset you if I was wrong,
and I’m not sure I’ve got it right, but I think I’m close.”

“Just tell me.” McKenna wrung her hands in her lap.

“Shut up!” Robert kept his hand on the gun, but the
barrel no longer aimed at Dustin. McKenna’s purse rang again. “Turn that damn
cell phone off,” he hollered to his brother.

“It’s my phone,” Dustin interrupted. “I’m expected to
answer it.”

Robert nodded, and his brother handed the ringing cell
phone to Dustin. Caller ID displayed Tyson’s number.

“It’s my partner.” Dustin touched the screen to take
the call. “Pearce.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Tyson hollered. “The
precinct is in chaos. The feds want the Marinos. An informant said you and the
princess are being held hostage in your hotel room.”

“That about sums up the situation. Your information is
correct.” Dustin spoke while watching Robert Marino point his gun at McKenna.
“But tell the captain to hold back. I’m with McKenna.” Dustin met Robert’s
stare. “Wait for my instructions.” He ended the call.

* * * * *

“Hold everything!” Tyson hollered. “Dustin is with
McKenna.” A few cheers erupted in the room. “Don’t celebrate too quickly. He
just confirmed our information. The Marinos have them both. I got the distinct
impression that he has the situation under control.”

Captain Baird came storming out of his office.
“Explain how my detective has control. This is a goddamn mess! Next time you
speak to him, you tell him to get his ass on the line and talk to me.” He
shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks. “If you’re sure he’s not
in trouble, I’ll get the feds to call off their agents.”

Tyson rubbed beads of sweat from his baldhead. “Can’t
be sure, Captain, but I trust Dustin would’ve found a way to let me know if he
needed backup.”

“Then you trust him more than I do. Sit tight. I’ll
see what I can do.” He went back into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Tyson picked up the phone on the desk and called his
house. Although he asked Dawn not to answer, he knew she would. The girl had no
limits. She also didn’t have a job, and over the last two days had made herself
quite comfortable in his house. Truthfully, he should be scared to death. He’d
driven down the relationship road enough times to know that he wasn’t licensed
for long term. Dawn’s girlie things on his bathroom counter were a bad omen. He
never claimed to be a prudent man. He looked forward to going home because he
knew she’d be waiting there with a spark of fire in her eye. Like a moth, the
flame drew him in.

“Hello,” she sang. “If you’re looking for Tyson, call
him on his cell.”

“Is that any way to answer my phone?”

Dawn giggled. “If I’d known it was you, I’d just
breathe heavy and ask what you’re wearing. So what’s up? And please tell me
it’s you and that you’re on your way home to use your weapon on me.”

He could hear her fumbling with pans in the kitchen.
“Dustin and McKenna have run into some trouble. I don’t want you to worry, but
I know you will.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“There’s only one kind. The Marinos.”

“I don’t understand. Why aren’t you calling in the
cavalry to help?”

Tyson sighed. That was precisely what he wanted to do,
but he had to give Dustin an opportunity to remedy the situation on his own. “I
might not be home tonight.”

“I want to be there with you. I can bring a late
dinner down to the station?”

“Don’t,” he sharply stated.

“Tyson, I’m afraid.”

“Awe, baby, don’t worry. Dustin won’t let anything
happen to the princess. Just sit tight. It’s madness around here. The captain
is pissed as hell. I don’t need him breathing down my neck because my
girlfriend is underfoot.”

“Watch your tongue. I’m no one’s girlfriend.”

Tyson couldn’t help but smile. Of all the craziness,
hers felt good. “You’re still a distraction. I’ll pass on any information I
can. I really don’t think we have to worry, yet. Dustin thinks on his feet.
He’ll figure a way out of this mess. And while he does I’m going to revisit the
crime scene. We’re missing something.”

“Come home and get me, Tyson. We’ll search together.”
She paused. “Please, I’ll go crazy waiting here. Let me help.”

“I doubt I’m going to be out of here anytime soon.
This place is a zoo. I’ll call back as soon as I know something.”

The line was silent for a moment. “Come home to bed
where I know I can change your mind.”

“Damn Dawn.” He growled. “I would, but you don’t let
me sleep. I’m about ready to start crashing here at the station.”

“Yeah, it’s easy for you to sound tough when you’re
not in bed with me. I don’t hear you complaining then.”

Tyson laughed. “You’re too nasty to kick out of bed. I
have to be tough on the phone. You cast wicked spells on me. Gotta go, here
comes the captain.” He hung up hearing Dawn’s soft chuckle echoing through the
line. He was glad she could still keep a sense of humor.

* * * * *

Dustin didn’t like the direction of the conversation.
Robert fed on power and intimidation. And at the moment, the intimidation
aspect was working. Robert held the weapon that meant he had the power.
Dustin’s only advantage was information…information on Roslyn Meadow’s.

Robert Marino rolled the tip of his cigar in one of
the glass tumblers from the hotel vanity. He narrowed his gaze on McKenna. His
eyes were black, threatening pools of danger. “Maybe you can explain to me why
I shouldn’t believe Ms. Porter helped her father.” He glanced over to Dustin
from beneath hooded brows. The visible pulsing of his heart in his thick neck
was a steady rhythm. The cocky bastard knew he finally had the upper hand.

“I’m not explaining anything until you put the guns
away.”

“And after you do that, talk to me since it’s my
father, my life, my future. Consider this Mr. Marino, my dad could’ve been just
as gullible as you were. You were a victim of Roslyn’s. Maybe he was, too. If
you kill me just like you killed him, you’ll feel as I do—lots of questions but
no answers.”

The chair creaked as Robert leaned back and puffed on
his cigar. “I didn’t rub out Porter.” He blew a stream of smoke toward the
ceiling. “Not that I wouldn’t have if I’d gotten to him first.”

“I need something to drink.” McKenna dropped her head
between her knees. “I’m dizzy, and I think I’m going to be sick.”

Dustin jumped from the bed and rushed to McKenna’s
side grateful he didn’t feel the bite of a bullet drawn from his quick
movement. “Mickey.” He knew she could pass out. When they were upstairs a few
days after the murder, she had come close to unconsciousness.

“He lies!” she screeched. “I can’t do this anymore.
I’m sick of it.”

Dustin squatted down in front of her and put his hands
on her thighs. “I don’t think the Marinos killed Elliot.” His voice softened.
“I haven’t put it all together yet, but I don’t think we’ve looked at all the
possibilities. I think we were wrong.”

Mascara streaked across her cheeks as she wiped tears
away from her face with her fingers. Dustin turned to Robert. “Don’t shoot me.
I need to get a paper out of my pocket.” Then he brought his attention back to
McKenna. “We may never know what happened to your father.” He unfolded the
snapshot.

She took the picture. Dustin watched her tormented
expression turn to one of confusion. “What am I looking at?” The question was a
hypothetical one. Her father had his arm wrapped around the shoulders of Roslyn
Meadows. “We already know they were involved.” She handed the picture back to
Dustin.