Remember Me (Men of Honor Series Book 1) (18 page)

After getting off the phone with Mike, he’d tortured himself by listening to Tess’s voicemail message over and over again. He was given an opportunity to make it right with her, yet it slipped through his fingers like sand through a sieve. If only he’d taken his cell phone with him. If only he’d tried harder to explain the truth to Tess. If only. If only. If only.

Why did he make the decision to go after Carlos in the midst of grieving for his parents? What a stupid thing to do. It stunk that hindsight was so blatantly clear. He pushed his coffee mug away, his stomach suddenly sour.

After his parents’ death, his grief caused him to retreat. Become angry. But Tess never gave up on him. He was too blind to see that then. He took her encouragement as nagging and pushed her further away. He honestly believed she would never understand his need to get back at the person who took his parents from him. He also believed revenge was the answer. What a fool.

His cell phone danced across the counter as it vibrated, pulling him from his thoughts.

He tapped the answer button. “Yeah.”

“Wow. You don’t sound good.” Mike’s familiar baritone sounded genuinely concerned.

“Hey, Mike.” Ben’s heart skipped a beat. Maybe Mike was calling to say Tess would listen to him. Let him explain himself.

“Ben. I have some bad news. It’s Tess. She’s gone.”

“What?” He sat up straight, every fiber in his being on alert. “Gone? Gone where?”

“Gwen just called me from the hospital. Security found Tess’s purse and cell phone on the ground next to her car. The driver’s-side door was open and her keys tossed on the seat.”

The room spun. This couldn’t be happening. Not Tess. All this time he thought she’d be safe where she was instead of near him. “How long ago did she leave the hospital?”

“Gwen said Tess left about an hour after her shift was done. But security didn’t see anything until later. She sent a text to Emma at seven thirty.”

“Thanks. That’s helpful.” He glanced at his watch. 10:40 p.m. The digital numbers glared at him, taunting him. She’d been gone over three hours.

He dug in his back pocket for his wallet. He pulled out cash and laid it on the counter near his empty plate.

“Have you called the police?”

“Yes. They’re at the scene right now. Gwen said she’d keep me posted.”

“Great. If you hear anything else, let me know. I’m gonna see what I can find out myself.”

“Okay.” Concern dripped from Mike’s voice through the phone line.

“Mike. I will find her, you got that? I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I believe you. But Ben…how?”

“Just trust me. I have a feeling I know who has her.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I can’t get into it with you now. There’s no time. Look, I know I haven’t given you any reason to do so, but I’m begging you to trust me. Thanks for calling. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll check in with you, and you do the same.”

“I will.”

Ben ended the call and sprinted for the door. He knew exactly who had Tess, and he wasn’t about to let him get away with it.

***

Ben barreled through the front door of the café and straight into Dane.

“We really need to stop running into each other.” Dane said. “Literally.”

“Dane! I’m so glad to see you. I was just about to call you.”

Dane held up both hands. “Okay. Wow. Slow down. What’s going on?”

“Wait a minute. What are you doing here? Do you know about Tess?”

“Aimee called me and told me about Tess seeing you with Sophia. I figured you might need someone to talk to. I tried the boat but you weren’t there and since Gus and Fran are your personal chefs, I figured you’d be here. Are you okay? What’s going on? Aimee said Tess was pretty ticked. That’s gotta be rough.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. But that’s not what’s wrong.”

“It’s not?”

“Where are you parked?”

“Over there.” Dane pointed across the street to a dark sedan. An unmarked police vehicle.

“Great. Let’s go.” Ben tugged on Dane’s arm.

“Where are we going?”

“To talk to Carlos.”

“What?” Dane stopped in the middle of the street. A car honked, motivating him to walk again. “Why in the world are we going to do that? If I go with you, he’ll know for sure you’re a cop.”

“I don’t care anymore.”

Dane unlocked the doors and both men hopped in and buckled their seat belts.

“You don’t care anymore? I really did miss something.”

Ben looked his friend in the eye. “Tess was kidnapped, Dane. Carlos took her.”

Dane started up the car and peeled out of the parking lot.

***

Dane sped down the freeway. Ben was grateful for the late hour. Even without a bunch of traffic, they still couldn’t get there fast enough to satisfy him. His right hand grasped the door handle, his left tapped against his leg.

“What makes you think Carlos has Tess?”

“A hunch.” He looked over at his friend. “A strong hunch.”

“I’m all for hunches, but before we go barreling in and blowing your cover, do you mind telling me if you have any concrete evidence?”

He didn’t need concrete evidence. Every cell in his body knew it was Carlos. It had to be. Who else would go after someone he loved?

“Forget it. I already know the answer.” Dane sped up, the hum of the engine matching Ben’s adrenaline.

“You don’t have to go in there with me, you know.”

Dane nodded. “I know. Try and stop me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Ben knew he didn’t deserve a friend like Dane. And in a circumstance like this, there was no one he’d rather have at his side.

“I’m still calling for backup, though. You have no idea what we’re about to charge into.”

“I understand.”

Dane grabbed his radio and called in their location. Carlos worked out of a restaurant on the south side of the city. A family-owned establishment, the perfect front for behind-the-scenes deals. Mexican food served out front, drugs and despair served from the back room. Ben shook his head and rubbed his beard.

Dane finished and put his radio back. “So, at least tell me about this hunch of yours. Why Carlos?”

“I think he’s using Tess as leverage to get to me.”

“Get to you how?”

“Sophia said that when I disappeared for a few weeks, Carlos watched the police station looking to see if I was a traitor.”

“But she also said he backed off and didn’t have you followed.”

Ben shrugged. “That may or may not be true. Carlos doesn’t tell Sophia every detail. Maybe he kept her in the dark because he didn’t want her telling me anything. Carlos knows she…likes me.”

“Likes you, huh? Are we still in seventh grade? Is there something else I need to know?”

Ben didn’t like the look Dane gave him. “No. There’s nothing between Sophia and me. She wants it to be more, but I was clear with her.” He hoped he was clear. After their conversation on the pier, he wasn’t so sure where he stood with Sophia.

Dane nodded. “Does she know about Tess?”

“No. Up until recently I didn’t think either she or Carlos knew about Tess. But after Tess was attacked while running and then that guy was in her house, I got suspicious.” Fear tickled the back of his neck. He tried to rub it away. “I think he
did
follow me, found out about Tess, and is now holding her to test my loyalty to him.”

“Okay. So what’s the plan?”

A plan. Ben hadn’t thought that far ahead. After Mike called and said Tess was missing, his only thought was to get to Carlos and find her. Immediately. Besides strangling Carlos with his bare hands, he hadn’t thought through a plan.

As if reading his thoughts, Dane shook his head. “Man, I’m so glad I found you. You charging into this thing alone, all fire and rage…not a good idea.” He reached behind the seat and handed Ben his 44 Magnum. “I had a hunch myself when you weren’t at the boat. I grabbed this for you just in case.”

Ben chuckled. “I’m not so sure it was a good idea to give you a key to the marina or the boat.”

“You’ll thank me later. I was surprised to see you didn’t have it on you, that you’d left it behind.”

Ben remembered leaving the boat to walk. His head in a fog, he’d only wanted to escape the pain of hurting Tess yet again. He hadn’t given a thought to his own safety.

He checked the gun. Fully loaded and ready. He looked out the window. Was he ready for what was coming? He had to be. Tess’s life depended on it.

She was out there somewhere, being held prisoner because of him. He didn’t even want to think of her already dead. No. If Tess were gone, he would know. He would sense it. His heart told him she was still alive, waiting for him to find her.

Hold on, babe. Just hold on.

***

Dane parked the car a few blocks from the restaurant. Both men got out and made their way toward the alley that led to the back door.

Carlos liked to work late in his office. The light from a small desk lamp shone through the tiny window. Ben’s pulse quickened, his hand twitched. He saw Carlos through the glass, bent over his desk, going through paperwork. The cool steel of Ben’s 44 against his back brought comfort. Confidence. Carlos was going to pay for even touching a hair on Tess’s head.

Dane grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?”

Ben blinked, his anger palpable. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You know we’ve got to handle this right or we won’t find Tess. He’s not just gonna hand her over.”

Ben looked at the window then back to his friend. “No worries. I just want to have a little chat with him.”

Dane laughed. “Sure. A chat. This I’ve gotta see.” He let go of his hold on Ben and put out a hand. “Lead the way, my friend.”

Ben marched toward the back of the restaurant. Bam! His boot made contact with wood. The handle busted and the door flew open. His heart pounded in his chest. His fury pacified for the moment, thanks to the door now splintered and hanging on only one hinge.

Carlos jumped from his desk chair. Ben locked eyes with him. The fury returned.

“Geez, Jake. You scared the crap out of me. What in the world are you doing?”

Carlos went to take a seat again. Ben moved around the desk and grabbed him by the shirt collar before his backside got anywhere near the chair. Kicking it out of his way, he shoved Carlos against the wall, the weight of his body pinning him. A head taller than Carlos and twice the size, the man hung helpless from Ben’s grasp.

“What’s going on, Jake?” Carlos’s words came out strained. His eyes moved franticly from Ben to Dane to Ben again.

“You might get more out of him if he can talk, ya know.” Dane stood just inside the doorway, poised to move if Ben needed him.

He was right. Ben wanted to scare Carlos. No, he wanted to hang him upside down and use him as a punching bag. But none of that would get the answers he needed. And he needed them fast.

He just barely loosened his grip on Carlos. He wasn’t about to let the worm wiggle away.

“Where is she?”

Carlos’s dark eyes stared at Ben as if he’d just grown a third ear. “Where’s who?”

“You know exactly who I mean. I want to know what you’ve done with her.”

“Honestly, Jake. I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Sophia? You mean Sophia?”

Ben tightened his grip once more. “No, you slime. Tess. What have you done with Tess?”

“Who in the world is Tess? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ben looked into Carlos’ eyes. The same eyes as his sister, only full of greed and filth. Carlos was the worst kind of slime, but something in Ben’s gut told him he was telling the truth. Impossible. He released his hold and tossed Carlos into the chair he’d kicked away moments before. Dane took a step towards the door. A warning to Carlos. Running would be a mistake.

Carlos adjusted his shirt. “What’s gotten into you, Jake?” He looked at Dane. “And who’s this guy?”

“A friend.” Ben breathed in deep. He had to keep his anger in check if he was going to get information from Carlos. He crossed his arms and stared down at Carlos, who rubbed his neck and ran a hand through his slick, black hair.

“I thought we were friends. What’s with you barging in here and attacking me like that?”

“You’re not my friend.”

Carlos looked up at him. “Oh yeah? I’m beginning to see that. First you take off without a word. Now you’re back and full of piss and vinegar. Sheesh. Now you’re ranting about some woman.” He waved a hand at Ben and tried to scoot the chair back to the desk. Ben stepped in his way.

“I told you, Carlos. I want to know where Tess is. I know you took her.”

“I already said it, man. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ben had known Carlos long enough to know if he was lying or not. He wasn’t a tough man to read. That’s what made Ben believe from the beginning that Carlos wasn’t the head of the operation. He was greedy, but not smooth or smart.

If he didn’t have Tess, then who did? No. He couldn’t go down that path. Not yet. Without Carlos, he had no leads. And that was unacceptable. Panic rose in his throat. He swallowed it down.

“I’m going to give you one last chance, Carlos. Where is she?”

“I swear on my mother’s grave, Jake. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ben looked at Dane, who shrugged. Code for “It’s your call.”

He could walk away right now and keep his cover. He’d still be able to go after whoever had Tess. Still be able to help Sophia. But if Carlos didn’t have her, Ben had no idea where to start.

“Where is Sophia?”

“Damn it, man. Now I’m my sister’s keeper too?”

That was it. He had one last card to play, and it was time to play it. He leaned down in front of Carlos, his hands on the arms of the chair. “Listen, Carlos. My name isn’t Jake. It’s Ben Russo.
Detective
Ben Russo.”

Carlos leaned back, his eyes wide. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Good. The exact reaction Ben was looking for.

“You’re a cop?”