by Kahlen Aymes
“Mr. Avery, you have to tell us what you know.”
Alex shook his head. “No. I don’t have time to waste answering your questions. You heard what that fucker said.”
Wayne stood by Alex waiting, and soon, both of them were moving toward the door. “Mr. Avery!” the detective called again. “How can we help if you don’t talk to us?”
“I’ve been talking to you for a goddamned week, and you’ve done nothing!” Alex yelled. “You sit around with your heads up your asses, and one of my guys gets murdered! That isn’t the kind of help I need.”
“Calm down, Mr. Avery,” the man began. The three others emerged from the adjoining rooms at Alex’s outburst. “This isn’t helping anyone.”
Alex huffed and shook his head wryly. These idiots didn’t seem in the business of helping anyone. “I’m out. Let’s go, Sid.”
In less than sixty seconds, Alex and Sid were buckled into Alex’s Audi and speeding away from Becca’s parents’ house, toward downtown. Alex was tense, his shoulders rigid and his hands gripped tightly around the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Merging on to I-90, they headed in the direction of KKIS.
“I wonder if I should call Darian,” Alex muttered, as if to himself.
“If you want my opinion, Alex, I’d say let the police crime scene people handle it. It will probably be pretty gruesome.”
“No doubt.” Alex didn’t feel secure calling Cole on his cell, so he asked Sid to contact him on the walkie-talkie.
“Come in, over?” Sid said, speaking into his device. The police band type like they had was equipped to block monitoring. Alex made a mental note to call the home security people who set up the wireless system at his house to inquire about a way to block monitoring on his personal phones.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Cole’s voice was muffled and filled with static as it came through. “Anything?”
“We’re going to the radio station now, but Alex had a call from the suspect.”
Alex cringed. They would be traveling, and Angel would hear the exchange on the walkie-talkies.
“Yeah?” Cole waited.
“He said we’d find Bancroft there.”
“Shit.” Cole paused. “We knew this was coming. Should we maintain our course or return to the city?”
“Maintain your course.”
“We should arrive in a few hours then.”
“Ten-four,” Sid answered. Alex motioned for him to hand over the walkie-talkie so he could speak to his brother. “Hold on, Cole. Alex wants to talk to you.”
He took the walkie-talkie from Sid, pushing the button that would allow him to speak to Cole. “Is the kid asleep?”
There was a slight hesitation before Cole answered, perplexed. “Uh, yeah, why?”
“I don’t have time to ream your ass right now but don’t fucking leave her again. Is that clear?”
“Yes. Sorry, we were—”
Alex cut Cole off. “Good. Put Angel on.”
The next voice was softer and sad but still distorted. “Hey. I’m really sorry about Jason.”
“I won’t be able to get online tonight, so I wanted to let you know.”
“What are you going to do, Alex?”
“Whatever I have to do. Whatever it takes.”
“That scares me.”
“I know, babe. I’m sorry.”
“What did he say?”
Alex swallowed at the tightness in his throat. He was steering with one hand and holding the heavy device with the other. “He was pissed that the money wasn’t wired. It’s what we expected. I don’t want you to worry about it. Just get where you’re going and hole up there. Remember what I asked about Will and Ben?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, do that. Tell Cole.”
“Alex, don’t tell me not to worry about it! I’m going nuts over it. Just please come down here. We can stay with them until it’s over.”
“I’m not going to run from this prick, Angel. You have to trust me. I will keep all of you safe, if it’s the last thing I do.”
Angel’s voice broke. “Don’t say things like that. You made me need you so you better not do anything reckless! You better not leave me, Alex! He’s not worth it.”
“No, but I will, okay?”
He could hear her heavy sigh, even with the interference. “Nothing is worth losing you. I love you.”
“Me, too. It’s going to be okay, babe. I promise. I’ll be in touch when I can.”
“Be careful.”
“I will. Bye.”
He let go of the button and handed it back to Sid, glancing in his direction.
“I’m going to set you up at my folks with Wayne. I don’t trust anyone else. It’s not safe to leave either of you alone with the others. Make up some fake assignment for them. Be creative but keep them busy. I don’t care what it is.”
“Shouldn’t one of us go with you? It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
“I realize that. I have someone in mind to help me, but this fucker is going down.”
13
Unlikely Allies
They found Jason Bancroft in a bloody heap, slumped against the door of the radio station. His jugular had been cut, and he was lying in a sticky pool of his own blood that stretched a good six feet around him.
When Alex and Sid arrived, the police were already there, and the station owners had been called to the scene. The ambulance on scene turned its flashing lights off as it began to pull away.
The police were blocking off the parking lot with yellow “crime scene” tape, and they prevented Alex and Sid from walking in, but it was close enough to see how gruesome the scene was. Alex cringed.
“I’m sorry; we need to keep a perimeter around the scene clear.”
Alex nodded his understanding. Even though he was involved, he knew they wouldn’t let him through, and really, he didn’t need to see that gruesome, bloody mess up close.
“Fuck!” Jason had been alive until this evening. Alex turned from the scene and yelled again. “I should have just paid the bastard off!”
He felt sick to his stomach, and it wasn’t due to the salty stench of blood that permeated the air. His mind was torturing him. This is all my fault, he thought.
“Do you think paying would have stopped him? This guy is a sociopath. He gets off on torturing people, and he has no remorse,” Sid said.
Alex put both hands on top of his head. His gut started to ache. Bancroft’s kids were now fatherless. and his wife was a widow. “Goddamn it!” he swore under his breath. His throat tightened, and his eyes burned.
“Two of the detectives who were at the party tonight arrived; I’m going to talk to them,” Sid said.
Alex nodded. He’d removed his jacket and tie at the James’ house, and his sleeves were rolled up. It was getting cold. The late fall air was crisp, and the lake always made it breezy. Alex was immune to the biting burn as it whipped across his face.
He leaned up against his car and watched Sid walk away. He rubbed the back of his neck. How the fuck was this going to end? He went over the possibilities in his head. After this, it was even more repugnant to pay Swanson off, but he was openly threatening Angel, and the last thing she’d want would be to keep running and hiding from that cocksucker. The cops seemed content to do the barest minimum, but to be fair, Marvin Standish wouldn’t tell the cops what he’d told Alex. The position Alex was in was dangerous; precarious, at best. His whole world could come crashing down and destroy his entire family.
His gut was burning with the knowledge of what needed to be done, and it went against everything he was, but Mark Swanson had to be stopped. At any cost.
Sid returned to where Alex waited. “The coroner is on his way. There isn’t much we can do here. They’ll do an autopsy, but the cause of death is pretty clear. Poor bastard.”
“So who tells his wife?”
“The police will handle it.”
“I feel like a pussy if I don’t go talk to her. Offer my condol
ences. Something.”
“I’m guessing, she won’t be consolable at the moment.”
“Yeah.” Alex sighed. He was tired and tormented. His right hand kneaded his neck wearily.
“There will be time to talk to her. Maybe at the funeral.”
“If this shit is over by then,” Alex responded soberly. His expression turned from sadness to determination. “Let’s get out of here.”
His phone began to ring, and Alex pulled it out. It was Darian. He answered at the same time as the two men got into Alex’s Audi.
“Hello?”
“I just got a call from the station owners. Apparently, there’s a dead guy in front of the station? Is it related to last week’s car fire? Your security guard?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“Not really, D. Just let them clean this shit up. The coroner and crime scene detectives are here. Has Angel’s show been arranged?”
“Yes, the production team set up a pre-recorded show, and it’s on a timer. Thank God.”
“It’s best to keep everyone away then. Is that possible?”
“For now. There is always a syndicated show via satellite after Angel’s gig, and that runs all night, until about 5 AM, when the morning jocks take over. Will it be clear by then?”
“I’m not the one to ask.” Alex started the car and pulled away from the curb.
“I picked up the ring tonight. It’s stunning.”
“Just hold on to it. I have shit I have to do for a few days, so I may be a little out of pocket.”
“Okay. Alex? Be careful.”
“I will. Thanks.”
Alex threw his phone in the console between the seats.
“What’s the plan, boss?” Sid asked.
“We’re going to my parents’ place, and we’ll release all the guards except you and Wayne. I want you heavily armed, so if you don’t have all of your shit, you need to get it.”
“Most of it is in the trunk of Wayne’s car. He has it with him.”
“Good. My dad is a collector, so he has a couple of rifles and some handguns in the house, too. I hope he has ammunition, but I’m not sure.”
“Does he hunt?”
“No. We never hunted. My mother would have freaked if we actually killed anything, but Cole and I learned to shoot as kids. Dad likes the history surrounding old guns, and even if they are never really get used, he’ll leave them to Cole and me.”
“Alex, I really don’t think Swanson will come after your parents or your sister. He knows Angel is your real Achilles heel.”
Alex knew this but couldn’t fill Sid in on his plans. It was no use implicating Sid or Wayne if he did have to kill Mark Swanson. The less they knew about it, the better. But, Alex would be an idiot to go after him alone. “Obviously, I’ve had Cole take Angel away from Chicago for exactly that reason, but everyone I care about is at risk.”
“Do your parents know what’s going on?”
“Cole had to tell them some of it to get them to hole up in the house.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll tell them more when we get there.”
The car was speeding north of the city, the Chicago skyline and the full moon brilliant against the gleam of Lake Michigan.
Sid knew the way to Alex’s parents’ estate, and the two of them remained silent the rest of the forty-minute drive.
Alex’s brain was turning the events of the evening over in his head; his instincts to do the right thing colliding with his need to see Mark Swanson stopped. He considered that maybe the deeds of other men might sometimes dictate whether other, good men’s lives took a less than savory turn. Love, fury, and desperation just to survive might make a man do things he might not otherwise do. Alex was at that precipice, and he knew it. He’d been pushed as far as he could tolerate.
When Alex punched in the security code that would grant entry to his parents’ estate, his eyes strained toward the floodlights positioned all around the house. The glare blinded him, keeping any vehicles in front from being visible. The house was surrounded by trees, and the road leading in had only one or two other properties on it. It was very isolated, more than his home, but both were on security lockdown. With the window down, the engine was still quiet enough to hear the crickets chirping. The rustic, nature smell should have reminded Alex of his youth and all the times that Cole and he would build forts in the woods surrounding the house, but not tonight.
The house itself was only twenty years old but had a classic craftsman styling with stone chimneys and foundation. The outside was painted a light slate gray with bluish tints, but the brightness of the outdoor lights made the color appear more whitish yellow. The lights were motion sensitive and were usually off, but at Alex’s instruction, his father had left them on continuously. To be fair, his family had done what Cole had instructed without many questions, but Alex knew he’d have to explain once inside.
The car sidled up to the house via the curved driveway. The garage entry was around the side of the house, but Alex decided it best to leave his car in front so the security team could leave. Sid and Alex got out of the car and walked up the stone steps to the porch.
“You and Wayne stay here, but excuse the others for the night. Tell them you’ll be in touch with their assignments.” Alex’s voice was low as his hand went to his phone. He texted Allison to alert her they arrived and were at the front entrance. In less than thirty seconds the door was opened by his brother-in-law, Josh. He was tall, thin, and gangly, maybe two inches taller than any of the Avery men, though they all stood at six-foot-two. His hair was combed, and he was wearing jeans and a sweater.
“Hey, man.” Josh stood aside so the two men could enter, closing the door and resetting the security behind them. “It’s good to see you.” He reached out and shook Alex’s hand.
Max barked and came bounding in from the kitchen to jump up on Alex. “Down, Max.” Alex commanded but bent to ruffle his fur. “I missed you, too, buddy.”
Alex’s sister and mother appeared in the entryway, coming from the family room and both came forward to greet him.
“I’ll go find the others,” Sid murmured.
“They’re in the kitchen,” Allison answered, pointing toward the back of the house.
“Thank you. Excuse me.” With that, he disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.
This was the first time Sid had been here, but Alex would make introductions later. He wrapped his arms around his sister, her eyes questioning. She smelled nice, the way she always did. He doubted she’d changed her perfume since elementary school, but it suited her.
“Honey, is everything all right?” his mother asked.
“Yes. Is Dad around? I’d like to speak to everyone together. Including Mr. and Mrs. James.”
“Dad is entertaining them in the den. I think they’re playing pool,” Allison said.
“They are,” Josh added.
Alex hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek before ushering them into the den where his father and the other couple were leisurely talking. Becca’s dad bent over to take a shot but stopped when he saw the others enter the room.
“Alex!” Charles said. “Son, I’m so glad to see you. What’s going on?” He didn’t waste time but got straight to the point. “The women have been worried sick.”
“Hi, Dad. Can you all have a seat, please? I don’t have a lot of time, but I’ll tell you what I can.”
“We know there was some stakeout at the James’ tonight. They told us that much.”
Alex nodded. He wanted a drink, but his exhaustion and everything still in front of him made that a bad idea. “Allison, will you get me some water, please?”
“Certainly.” She went to the far side of the room and grabbed a cold water bottle from the refrigerator behind the bar.
The others were seated, looking up at Alex with a mixture of concern, confusion, and curiosity in their expressions. Ally handed the wa
ter to her brother then went to sit down.
“First, where are the girls and Cole?” Cora asked.
Alex walked to the door of the den and closed it. If any of the security team were still in the house, he didn’t want them to hear any of the details and, most especially, any details of his plan.
“They’re on their way to Angel’s father’s house in Missouri.” He could see a question about to come from his mother, and he put up a hand to stop her. “Last week, after our dinner, I went with Angel to the radio station during her show. One of the perpetrators from a case she is working on has been threatening her.”
His father’s expression became enlightened. He was putting two and two together about Alex’s intervention on the business end with Mark Swanson’s dry cleaning business. “I see,” he said.
“Yes.” The others didn’t know what Charles understood, but Alex would leave him to explain later. “He raped his stepdaughter, and Angel has been trying to put him away, but the slimy bastard cheated her testing methods, and she didn’t have the evidence. I stepped in, thinking if I could ruin him financially, I could accomplish what Angel couldn’t. I thought if he was penniless, he couldn’t evade the law, pay for lawyers… but it only pissed him off.” Alex shook his head. “You get the picture. I can’t tell you all of the details because I don’t have time, but he’s still threatening to hurt Angel, and he abducted one of our security guys and killed him.”
Cora gasped, and Emily, Becca’s mother, put a hand to her mouth.
“Holy shit,” Josh said. “We heard about the man disappearing from that area of town last week. Is that related?”
“Yes. Angel wanted to be here for Jillian’s birthday, but I couldn’t risk it. She got a call from that bastard, and he knew about the event. I sent them out of town to keep them safe, and we have all of you together here so we can do the same for you. The police haven’t done a lot so far, but maybe they’ll find a clue on Jason’s body. He was found tonight at the radio station.”
“I had no idea Angel’s job was so dangerous,” Charles muttered. “Why would she involve herself in something like this?”