Graham, Jan - Finding Angel [Wylde Shore] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (65 page)

“Miss Wylde is present because, as my girlfriend, she and I had just finished having lunch with Steve before bringing him home. Does anyone have any more comments?” Christian scanned the faces before him.

Not a word was uttered. Not that Christian expected anyone to say anything more. He had a better “don’t fuck with me voice” than Trevor, and in this circumstance, he used it to his advantage. Trevor’s teams were instructed to canvass the neighbourhood, seeing if anyone had seen or heard anything. Forensics was now inside working their charm, and Trevor was finally getting Steve to speak. Christian walked over and sat next to Angel while his lead detective took her statement. He laughed quietly as Angel described herself as Christian’s woman, before interrupting to remind his lead that he expected all reports to use the terminology
girlfriend
. His lead smiled in amusement before uttering an obliging “of course.”

It was glaringly obvious that someone with a link to Adrian Hastings had taken Kathy. Christian could only surmise the motive was to hurt Steve and cause trouble for Hastings. Considering that the only known threat received against Steve had come from Markham on the day IA had interviewed him, they had their first lead. Trevor Duncan insisted Steve once again go home to Christian’s. He returned Steve’s mobile that had been locked in his office for the last few weeks, assuming if there would be any contact it would be via that mobile. Christian alerted surveillance to put a tap on the phone, so any incoming calls could be recorded and traced. Angel agreed to take Steve home while Christian went back to the head office to work the case.

Angel thought the drive home would be a silent one. Instead, Steve talked. He talked about the possibility of who had Kathy, and where they would be holding her. Angel tried to help, which she mainly did by listening as Steve spoke. When Angel’s mobile rang, they both assumed it was Christian updating them on the case.

“Hello, is this Angel Wylde?” the male voice asked.

“Yes, it is. Who is this?” Angel asked warily.

Angel didn’t get mobile calls. In fact, few people had her number. Well, actually, no one really had her number.

“This is Detective Markham, and I need to meet you to discuss the ledger that I know you have in your possession.”

He sounded professional. If Angel didn’t know what he had done, she would have assumed the call was legit. She touched Steve gently on the arm and motioned for him to pull over to the side of the freeway.

“Oh, Detective Markham, I’ve already spoken to Detective Jax about that matter. I don’t have the ledger you’re referring to.” Angel heard Markham laugh.

Steve had pulled the car over to the side of the road and mouthed the word “speaker” to Angel. She clicked the speaker phone button and shivered as Markham’s eerie laughter ended and he once again began to speak. This time he wasn’t polite and professional, the tone of his voice sending a chill down her spine.

“You are so full of shit, you deceptive little slut. I know you have that ledger, I know you have been with Steve, and I know you’re playing Hastings for a fool. In fact, say hello to Steve for me, because I know he’s there with you now. I wonder how he feels knowing that while he’s been protecting a whore like you his wife has been spending the day with me. She was a bit quiet at first, but once I put a knife to her throat she told me all sorts of things. Including that you and Steve have been together all this time.”

“Steve went home today, Mr. Markham, but you’re right. I do have the ledger. I’m on my way to post it to Adrian today. So, what is it you want me to do?”

“Steve has gone home. Very well, here’s the deal. I want the ledger and Steve Jax at your lovely little shoebox of a house within the next two hours. If you don’t arrive, I’ll kill Kathy and then come after you. So call Steve, tell him Kathy will die if he doesn’t show, make sure he doesn’t bring any of his squad buddies. I just want the two of you and that little fucking book. Do you understand, Angel?”

“I understand,” Angel stated clearly into the phone. “Can I talk to Kathy so I know she’s okay?”

“No, you can’t talk to her, you stupid bitch. You have no negotiation power at all in this matter, Angel, now get you arse into gear and do what I’ve told you.”

Markham ended the call abruptly, leaving Angel shaken. She felt Steve stiffen beside her and when she looked at him, she saw the look that men got just before they exploded in rage. Steve silently opened the car door and stepped outside. Angel cringed as she heard Steve scream and felt the car begin to rock as he kicked its tyres and slammed his fist into the hood. Angel watched him pace back and forth in front of the car. Steely determination flooded his face as he returned to take up position behind the wheel. Angel grabbed onto the dash as Steve accelerated out onto the freeway before swerving across the medium strip to change direction and head back in the direction they had just come from.

“What’s the plan?” Angel finally asked.

“Well, you have the ledger and you have me, so we are going to get Kathy back,” Steve stated calmly.

“That’s it. That’s the whole plan.” Angel looked at him with surprise.

“Yes, that’s it. Oh, I did leave something out. I have my gun and a knife. So that makes the plan you, ledger, me, gun, blow Markham’s head off, and get Kathy back.” Steve smiled and accelerated.

“We need to call Christian. You’ll need back up,” Angel pleaded.

“Markham said no police, and hostage scenarios don’t go well if the police come in, sirens blaring.”

“Christian will be more careful than that,” Angel replied

The conversation became circular as they drove back to Angel’s house. Angel argued with Steve, they sat in silence, then they argued some more. Finally, Angel reached for her phone. Steve tried to grab it from her and the car swerved.

“I’m not ringing Christian, so just drive.” Angel slapped Steve’s arm as her call was answered. “Adrian, I’m in a bit of trouble, and I need your help. It would appear this whole ledger thing isn’t over after all.”

Steve glanced at her and then rolled his eyes as she began to speak. She began to argue with Adrian, stating that she was going into the house whether he liked it or not, that she had to help Kathy. When Angel hung up, she looked over to Steve and quietly told him Adrian was going to call her back. Steve didn’t say a word. Angel didn’t know if Steve was happy with the situation or not but if Adrian Hastings could help, then so be it. After all, it was one of Adrian’s men that they were dealing with here.

The phone rang, and Angel quickly answered. She realised her answers of “okay,” “yes,” and “I’ll tell him,” really told Steve nothing and he kept glancing over to her, obviously keen to know what was being said. They were now approximately thirty minutes away from Angel’s address when she disconnected the call.

“Pull into that service station. We need to buy a little time.” Angel was surprised that Steve obeyed without argument.

Angel explained Adrian had sent two local goons to check out the house.

“They pretended they wanted to buy drugs. There were five men inside, one being Markham, and yes, there was a woman who looked a little upset. Adrian’s men described the woman, and it appears to be Kathy. There are also two men outside. Apparently, one is up a tree with a gun.”

Angel continued to explain the conversation. Adrian wanted them to hold off on entering the house until close to the two-hour deadline so he could get a couple of his men in place. Adrian had also instructed that even though they may not see the men when they arrived, they would definitely be there to give backup.

“He also asked if my house was still under surveillance,” Angel asked.

“No, the surveillance was pulled once Trevor knew you were safe and that we had Markham by the neck,” Steve replied glumly.

“Figures, it’s in place for months, and the one day we could use it…” Angel laughed at the irony of it all.

“If Adrian has sent men there already, why can’t we use them?” Steve seemed impatient

“The men he sent only collect information. They aren’t trained for this sort of thing.” Angel sighed. “So we need to wait till the right men get there.”

“The guys there aren’t hit men.” Steve stared at her blankly. “Well, at least he is taking it seriously.”

Waiting to get back on the road again was agony. Angel made Steve drink a cup of coffee and stood silently near the car, watching him chain smoke. She wasn’t sure that Steve was thinking clearly. He couldn’t take out seven men, and she didn’t know how many men Adrian would send. She desperately wanted to speak to Christian and Daniel because she knew this could go horribly wrong. They waited fifteen minutes before setting off again, time which Angel used to try and convince Steve to bring Christian in on the situation.

Steve dialled a mobile number and flicked the call to operate via the Bluetooth system. Angel sighed in relief as Christian’s voice suddenly filled the car.

“I just rang the house. I thought you two would be home by now.”

“We stopped for coffee,” Steve replied.

Angel knew that Steve didn’t really lie to Christian, they had just drunk a cup of coffee.

Angel listened as Christian began filling Steve and her in on where they were at with the investigation.

“We’re sure it was Markham. He had a photo of Kathy at his house and also your home address. He also had information on Angel and her old address. Unfortunately Markham wasn’t at home, but we have a bulletin out for his car. According to Markham’s girlfriend, he had gone out on business early this morning. He had explained the suspension to her as a mistake and said that he had been set up. Markham also told her that he was getting information today that would compel the police to reinstate him and also go a long way to take down a major player in organised crime in the state. I’m about to send two men out to Angel’s house in the event Markham is there waiting for Angel to show up. If Markham knew anything about the meeting Angel was supposed to have with Adrian, then he may believe Angel will go home at some stage.”

“Fuck, Christian, it’s late. Send the team to Angel’s tomorrow,” Steve snapped.

Angel could hear the surprise in Christian’s voice as he asked Steve to repeat what he’s just said. The pause on the line after Steve repeated his demand of delaying an action that may find his wife, or at least the man who had her, didn’t surprise Angel. Obviously, Christian suspected something was wrong. When Angel heard Christian call out to someone inside the office and use the words “hold off” she knew the shit was about to hit the fan.

“How far are you from the house and is Angel with you?” Christian growled angrily into the phone. Steve growled back in an equally menacing tone.

“Thirty minutes and yes, Angel is here. But I have backup on the way courtesy of Angel’s Uncle Adrian, so tell your guys to stand down.”

“Fuck you, Jax. How dare you take my woman into a situation that will likely get everyone killed.”

Angel heard Christian yell, “we’re all moving,” followed by the sound of voices and hurried movement.

“No, Christian, fuck you,” Steve yelled. “Tell your guys to stay the hell away or Markham has made it perfectly clear Kathy is as good as dead.”

“I’ll cut you a deal, Steve. You don’t get my woman killed, and I won’t let anything happen to yours.”

Steve ended the call as the air in the car turned blue from Steve swearing. As the mobile rang once more, Steve turned it off and accelerated toward Angel’s home.