Night Shield (13 page)

“She—she’s gone.”

“But you tried to save her, didn’t you, Richard? You ran out of the house first, to cover for her. That’s why you’re in this jam. She loved you. She’d want you to help yourself. She’d want you to go on living, to do whatever you had to do to go on. Richard, you tried to save her last night, drawing the cops off her so she could get away. You did what you could. Now you’ve got to save yourself.”

“No one was supposed to get hurt. The guns were just a precaution, to scare anybody off if something went wrong.”

“That’s right. You didn’t plan on this. I believe that. That’ll make a difference how this all comes out for you. Things just got out of control.”

“Nothing ever went wrong before. She panicked. That’s all. She just panicked, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do.”

“You didn’t mean to hurt anybody.” Ally kept her voice quiet, compassionate, even while the image of Dietz, bleeding on the ground, ran through her mind. “You just wanted to give her time to get away.” She took a moment while he wept.

“How’d you get past the alarm systems?”

“I’ve got a knack for electronics.” He took the tissues she handed him, wiped his eyes. “I worked in security. People don’t always remember to set their alarms anyway. But when they did, I could usually disarm them. If I couldn’t, it was a wash and we walked away. Where have they put Madeline? Where is she?”

“We’ll talk about that. Help me out here, and I’ll do what I can to arrange for you to see her. Who called you from the club, Richard, to tell you something was wrong with the Barneses? Was it the same person Madeline called from the car?”

He let out a sobbing breath, shook his head. “I want immunity.”

Hickman let out a snort, made a move to draw Ally off the bed, make her the protector. “The son of a bitch wants immunity. You’re bending over backward to help him out, and he wants a walk. Screw him. Let him hang.”

“Hold on. Just hold on. Can’t you see the man’s upset? Lying here like this, he can’t even make arrangements for his wife’s funeral.”

“She—” Fricks turned his head away, and his chest heaved once. “She wanted to be cremated. It was important to her.”

“We can help you arrange that. We can help you give her what she wanted. You have to give us something back.”

“Immunity.”

“Listen, Richard. You can’t ask for the moon and stars on this one. Now, I could make you promises, but I’m being straight with you. Best I can do is leniency.”

“We don’t need him, Ally.” Hickman picked up the chart at the foot of the bed, scanned it. “We got him cold, and we’ll pick up the rest of the pieces within a couple of days.”

“He’s right.” Ally let out a sigh, looked back at Fricks. “A couple of days, maybe less, we’ll have all the answers. But if you save us some time, some trouble, prove you’re remorseful over shooting that cop, I can promise to go to bat for you. We know there are other people involved. It’s just a matter of time before we get to them. Help me out, I’ll help you. I’ll help you do what you need to do for Madeline. That’s fair.”

“It was her brother.” He said it between his teeth, then opened his eyes. They were no longer blurry, no longer wet, but burning dry with hate. “He talked her into it. He could talk her into anything. It was going to be an adventure, exciting. He set it up, all of it. He’s the reason she’s dead.”

“Where is he?”

“He has a house down in Littleton. Big house on the lake. His name’s Matthew Lyle, and he’ll be coming after me for what happened to Madeline. He’s crazy. I tell you he’s crazy, and he’s obsessed with her. He’ll kill me.”

“Okay, don’t worry. He won’t get near you.” Ally took out her notebook. “Tell me more about Matthew Lyle.”

*  *  *

At four that afternoon, Jonah was settled behind his desk, trying to work. He was furious with himself for calling Ally three times, twice at home, once at the station. And equally furious she’d made no attempt to get back to him.

He’d decided he’d made a very big mistake by walking out of her apartment instead of staying with her in the dark, in the bed, instead of taking what he wanted.

It was a mistake he’d have to live with, and he was certain he could live with it more comfortably than live with the options.

All he wanted now was the simple courtesy of information. Damn it, she owed him that. He’d let her into his life, into his business, let her work side by side with his friends while she deceived them. While he deceived them.

Now, by God, he wanted answers.

He snatched the phone up again just as the elevator doors slid open. And Ally walked through.

“I still had your code.”

Saying nothing, he replaced the receiver. She was dressed for work, he noted. Cop work. “I’ll make a note to have it changed.”

Her eyebrows rose but she continued across the room and dropped comfortably into the chair across from his desk. “I figured you’d want an update.”

“You figured correctly.”

Something was in his craw, she noted. They’d get to that later. “Fricks rolled over on his brother-in-law. Matthew Lyle, aka Lyle Matthews, aka Lyle Delaney. Computer crimes mostly, with some assaults. He’s got a long sheet, but most of the charges were dumped. Insufficient evidence, deals. Did some psych time, though. He’s cleared out. We hit his place a couple of hours ago, and he’s gone.”

She paused long enough to rub her eyes. “Didn’t have time to take everything with him. The house was packed with stolen goods. From what it looks like, they’ve turned very little, if anything. Place looked like an auction house. Oh, and you’re going to be short a waitress tonight.”

“I didn’t think you’d be reporting for work tonight.”

“No, I didn’t mean me. Jan. According to Fricks, she and Lyle are …” She lifted a hand, crossed two fingers. “Very close. She’s the inside man. Scanned for the marks, passed the credit card number to Lyle via beeper. The Frickses move in, she helps cover for them while they lift the keys. Then she alerts them with another code when the targets call for their check. Gives the Frickses time to finish up, clear out. Very smooth all in all.”

“Have you got her?”

“No, doesn’t look like she went home last night. My guess is she went straight to Lyle, and they went under together. We will get her. We’ll get them both.”

“I don’t doubt it. I suppose that ends your association with Blackhawk’s.”

“Looks like.” She rose, wandered to the window. He had the blinds shut today, so she tapped a slat up, looked out. “I’ll need to interview your people. I thought they’d feel more comfortable if I did it here. Do you have any problem with me using your office for it?”

“No.”

“Great. I’ll start with you. Get it out of the way.” She came back to sit, took out her notepad. “Tell me what you know about Jan.”

“She’s worked here about a year. She was good at her job, a favorite with a number of the regulars. Had a knack for remembering names. She was reliable and efficient.”

“Did you have a personal relationship with her?”

“No.”

“But you’re aware she lives in the same apartment building as Frannie?”

“Is that against the law?”

“How did you come to hire her?”

“She applied for the job. Frannie has nothing to do with this.”

“I didn’t say she did.” Ally took a photo out of her bag. “Have you ever seen this man in here?”

Jonah glanced at the police photo of a dark-haired man of about thirty. “No.”

“See him anywhere else?”

“No. Is this Lyle?”

“That’s right. Why are you angry with me?”

“Irritated,” he corrected coolly. “I’d classify it as irritated. I don’t care to be interrogated by the police.”

“I’m a cop, Jonah. That’s a fact.” She put the photo back into her bag. “I’ve got a job to finish. That’s another fact. And I’m hung up on you. There’s fact number three. Now, maybe all of that irritates you, but that’s the way it is. I’d like to start the interviews now.”

He got to his feet as she did. “You’re right. It all irritates me.”

“There you go. I’d appreciate it if you’d send Will up now. And stay downstairs. I might need to speak with you again.”

He came around the desk. Her eyes narrowed, flashed a cold warning as he approached her. They stayed level and cool when he gripped the lapels of her jacket and hauled her to her toes.

A dozen desires, all of them impossible, ran through his mind. “You push too many of my buttons,” he muttered and, releasing her, walked away.

“Same goes.” But she said it quietly, after he’d gone.

*  *  *

“So …” Frannie lit a cigarette, peered at Ally through the haze of smoke. “You’re a cop. I might’ve figured it if Jonah hadn’t been with you. He doesn’t like cops any more than I do.”

Frannie had put on an attitude, Ally noted, and nodded. “Now, there’s breaking news. Listen, let’s make this as painless as possible for everyone. You’ve got the rundown on the burglary ring, how the club was used, Jan’s part in it.”

“I’ve got what you’ve decided to tell me now that you’re wearing your badge.”

“That’s right. And that’s all you need. How long have you known her?”

“About a year and a half, I guess. I ran into her in the laundry room of my apartment building. She was waiting tables in a bar. I worked in a bar.” Frannie lifted her shoulders. “We hung out together now and again. I liked her well enough. When Jonah opened this place, I helped get her a job. Does that make me an accessory?”

“No, it makes you a jerk for copping an attitude with me. She ever mention a boyfriend?”

“She liked men, and men liked her.”

“Frannie.” Ally shifted, decided to play another angle. “Maybe you don’t like cops, but there’s one on the critical list right now, and he’s a friend of mine. They’re still not sure he’ll make it. He’s got two kids and a wife who loves him. Another woman’s dead. Somebody loved her, too. You want to go a round with me on personal business, fine. Let’s just get this done first.”

Frannie made a little shrugging movement again. “She talked about this one guy sometimes. Never
told me his name. Liked to be mysterious about it. But she said things like pretty soon she wouldn’t be hauling trays and bagging tips.”

She got up, crossed over to open the panel to the bar in a way that told Ally she was very at home in Jonah’s space. She pulled out a soft drink, twisted off the cap. “I figured it was talk. She liked to talk big about men. Conquests, you know?”

“Did you ever see her with this guy?” Ally nudged the photo across the desk.

Sipping from the bottle, Frannie walked back, studied the photo. “Maybe. Yeah.” Frannie scratched her jaw. “I saw them come into the building together a couple of times. Didn’t seem like her type, is what I thought. He’s kinda short, a little pudgy. Ordinary. Jan, she went more for flash. Studs with platinum cards was her usual type.”

Catching herself, Frannie shook her head, dropped into a chair. “That sounds hard. I liked her. Look, she’s young, maybe a little foolish. But she’s not mean.”

“You might want to keep in mind that she used you, Jonah, and this place. Now, did she ever mention anyplace they went together? Any plans?”

“No … well, she might’ve said something about a place on a lake. I didn’t pay much attention when she started bragging. Most of it was just air.”

Ally questioned her for another fifteen minutes but didn’t jiggle anything loose.

“Okay. If you think of anything, I’d appreciate a call.” Rising, Ally offered Frannie a card.

“Sure.” Frannie skimmed her eyes over it. “Detective Fletcher.”

“Would you ask Beth to come up, please?”

“Why the hell don’t you leave her alone? She doesn’t know anything.”

“But I have such a good time intimidating and threatening potential witnesses.” She came around the desk, sat on the corner. “Okay, there’s the bell. Go ahead with your personal round.”

“I don’t like the way you came in here, the way you used us and spied on us. I know how it works. You did a background check on everybody, pried into all our lives and sat in judgment. I guess you’re sorry it turned out to be Jan instead of the former hooker.”

“You’re wrong. I like you.”

Off balance, Frannie sat again. “Bull.”

“Why shouldn’t I like you? You got yourself out of a spiral that only goes down. You’ve got a legitimate job, and you’re good at it. The only problem I have with you is Jonah.”

“What do you mean, Jonah?”

“You’ve got a relationship with him. I’m attracted to him. That makes you a personal problem for me.”

Baffled now, Frannie took out another cigarette. “I don’t get you. You mean it about Jonah?” she said after a minute. “You’ve got a thing for him?”

“It looks like. But the problem’s mine. Like I said, I like you. In fact, I admire the way you turned your life around. I never had to do that, never had to face those kinds of things, make those kinds of choices. I’d like to think I’d do as well as you have if I had.”

“Damn it.” Frannie pushed to her feet, paced the room. “Damn it,” she repeated. “Okay, first. I don’t have a relationship with Jonah. Not like you mean. Never did. He never bought me when I was for sale, and he never touched me that way when I was free. Even when I offered.”

Though a fine sense of relief ran through her, Ally kept her voice mild. “Is he blind or stupid?”

Frannie stopped pacing, took a long, hard look. “I don’t want to like you. You’re sure making it tough not to. I love him. A long time ago, I loved him … different than I do now. We grew up together, more or less. I mean we’ve known each other since we were kids. Me and Jonah and Will, we go back.”

“I know. It shows.”

“When I was working corners, Jonah’d come by sometimes, pay me for the night. Then he’d take me for coffee or something to eat. And that was it.” Frannie’s eyes softened. “He always was a sucker.”

“Are we talking about the same man?”

“If he cares about you, that’s it. He’ll keep pulling you up no matter how many times you fall down again. Bite his hand, he’ll just ignore you and haul you up. You can’t fight that. You can’t fight that kind of thing for long. I didn’t make it easy for him.”

With a sigh, she walked over to sit again, picked up the soft drink, finished it off. “A few years ago, I was scraping the bottom of the gutter. I’d been on the stroll since I was fifteen. By the time I hit twenty I was used up. So I figured what the hell, let’s just get out of this whole mess. I started to slash my wrists. Seemed just dramatic enough.”