Chapter 14
Connor slid into a parking spot close to Mark’s apartment building. Fatigue weighed down every muscle in his body, but even if he lay down, he wouldn’t fall asleep. He’d tried last night, and every time he’d closed his eyes images of Monica, tortured and scared, drove him insane.
Mark opened the door before Connor reached it and welcomed him through the threshold with a small pat between his shoulder blades.
A large whiteboard with pictures plastered on it caught his attention.
Scribbled notes attached near the pictures explained Mark’s thoughts, and opened files scattered around the floor.
Mark organized his thoughts the same way with every homicide case he’d worked since becoming a detective.
Mark came up beside him and folded his arms across his chest, his focus aimed straight ahead. “Something’s nagging me about this case, and if you’re right and someone brought me into this investigation to mess with you, I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. It’s pissing me off.”
“Find anything?”
“I’ve talked to friends, coworkers, family—everyone was surprised Hayley was found near Columbia. She was a Brooklyn girl, born and raised, and didn’t leave the borough often. If she did, it was to travel for vacation, definitely not to visit Upper Manhattan.”
“Any prints recovered?”
Mark shook his head. “Nothing.”
Connor’s gaze flitted from a picture of a smiling Hayley to one from the crime scene.
His stomach churned. The lid of a box hung open, and the image of what was inside would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Still, he took a step closer, forcing himself to study not only the body, but everything else around it.
Grooves cut into the wood caught his attention.
He pointed at the picture. “What’s on the box? ”
“Little markings.”
Connor squinted, trying to make out the details. “Decorative?”
“Yeah. It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but the markings had to be done by someone with a lot of experience and with specialized tools. I’m tracking down specific tools and shops that sell them.”
“Could be one of a kind. Gabriel’s into woodworking. I talked to an old buddy of his from school who verified he’s always been interested in building things. His mom bragged about it, too. Said he liked making his ‘little beauties.’” Connor used air quotes for the last two words.
Mark turned toward him with raised brows. “Little beauties, huh? What does that mean?”
Connor shrugged. “Who the hell knows.”
“I wonder if Gabriel uses the same phrase.”
“Sounds far-fetched, but I can run a search. Maybe I’ll come up with something we’re missing.” They needed to cover every angle. “Find any connections with Gabriel and Hayley?”
“A few loose links. We didn’t find Gabriel or anyone with the initials LN, but there was a guy who works for Gabriel and another guy who went to school with him.
” Mark grabbed a file from the desk and flipped it open, pulling out a sheet of paper.
“I have uniforms conducting interviews with most of the men from the sites, but I thought you’d want a crack with these two.
The first is Kevin Myers. He started working for Gabriel’s dad when Gabriel was in college and now runs most of their construction projects. ”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Wilson helped Gabriel with a situation in high school. I met the guy and something about him rubbed me the wrong way. I need to figure out if he’d be sick enough to help his son capture and kill women.”
Mark closed the file, and his sharp blue eyes bore into Connor’s. “What situation?”
Connor rubbed a palm over his head. Shit.
He hadn’t told Mark about his talk with Simon.
“We spoke with the guy who was friends with Gabriel from high school. Turns out this Simon guy discovered Gabriel’s secret obsession with killing birds and placing them in birdhouses he built.
The next day Simon was pushed into traffic and hit by a car.
When Simon’s parents went to look for the houses, they were gone.
Either Gabriel got rid of them himself, or he had help. ”
Mark tightened his fist around the file in his hand and clenched his jaw. “Simon Thompson?”
Connor lowered the paper in his hand and studied Mark’s now-white face. “I never told you his full name.”
“You didn’t have to. He’s the other name we found on Hayley’s account.”
Evelyn wiped the makeup off her face and studied her tired eyes in the bathroom mirror.
Dread had settled in the pit of her stomach as soon as she’d accepted Gabriel’s dinner invitation and had stayed there until she’d finally cancelled.
As much as she wanted to help prove Gabriel’s guilt, putting herself in the direct line of danger was not the way to do it.
Lacey popped her head in the doorway, her beachy waves way too perfect for a quick trip to the store. “Abbie’s asleep. Ben’s waiting for me downstairs. I won’t be gone long.”
Evelyn turned, unable to stop the grin from taking over her mouth. “Nice of Ben to take you to the grocery store.”
Lacey shrugged. “We need a few things, and I don’t feel safe going by myself. Not with everything going on.”
A stab of guilt pierced Evelyn’s side. Lacey would have been pissed if she’d found out about her stupid plan. They both had enough to worry about without adding fuel to the fire. “You look nice.”
A rosy pink stain darkened Lacey’s face, and she averted her gaze. “I just threw on a sweater and jeans. No big deal. You sure you’re okay with listening for Abbie?”
“I’ve been watching that kid since she was two. I’m fine.”
Lacey laughed and threw her palms in front of her. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Thank you, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time,” Evelyn called to Lacey’s retreating form.
Returning her gaze to the mirror, Evelyn gave her wiped-clean appearance one last look before heading for the kitchen for something covered in chocolate.
Ring, ring, ring.
She turned and searched for her phone, which sat on the tall table behind the sofa...next to Lacey’s keys. Crap.
Casting a quick glance to the screen, Evelyn answered the phone with a smile. “Hi, Connor.”
“Hey. Just checking in. Ben mentioned he was taking Lacey to the store. Wanted to make sure you were all right by yourself.”
His concern warmed her. She picked up Lacey’s keys and twirled them around her finger. “I’m fine, but thanks for checking. Abbie’s asleep, and I’m about to sneak some cookies from my secret stash.”
Connor laughed. “Sounds like an exciting night. I’d rather be eating cookies in a quiet apartment right now.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m in your neck of the woods, actually. I’m interviewing a guy who works for Gabriel. Mark found a connection between him and Hayley I want to check out.”
Knock, knock.
“Hold on a second. Lacey forgot her keys.” Evelyn fisted the keys and grinned, an interesting idea posing as she reached the door.
“Did you say you’re in my neck of the woods?
Maybe you could come over. Keep me company until our friends get back with groceries.
I’ve got coffee...” She lowered her phone to her side.
A man in a brown hat and uniform stood outside her door with a package in his hand, his face turned to the side as he spoke on his phone.
Leaving the chain across the door, she turned the deadbolt lock and opened the door a fraction. “Can I help you?”
The man turned toward her but ducked his head to glance at the top of the box in his hands. He blew out a quick breath and lifted the package with an electronic signature device toward her. Evelyn rolled her eyes at the man’s rudeness. I guess I need to sign.
“Just a second.” She closed the door, slid off the chain, and opened the door. She shoved her phone in her pocket so she could grab the box with one hand and give a signature with her other. She reached for the pen, and the man clamped his hand around her wrist. “Hey!”
The delivery man lifted his face, and the bright lights from the hallway chased away the shadows from the bill of his hat. His wide mouth slid into a smirk, and amused hazel eyes laughed at her. “Hello, Evelyn,” Gabriel said. “Thought I’d stop by to make sure everything’s all right.”
She yanked her arm to free her hand, but he tightened his hold. Her heart raced and her mind whirled. Connor was still on the phone. “Gabriel? What are you doing here?” She dipped her mouth toward her phone. Please, God, let Connor hear me.
Gabriel puckered his brow and stepped into her personal space. “No need to raise your voice. I’m sure that pretty little girl is asleep by now. Wouldn’t want to wake her.”
Fear grabbed hold of her, stealing her breath and wiping all thoughts from her mind except one—keep this monster away from Abbie. “What do you want?” she whispered.
“I want you to come with me. If you give me a hard time, I’ll take the girl, too.”
“Don’t touch her,” she snarled. “I’ll do what you want.”
Gabriel flashed a wide smile, and she wanted to smash her fist into his perfect white teeth. “Good.” He threw the box on the floor and pulled her into the hallway.
She pulled the door closed with her foot and followed Gabriel toward the stairs. Abbie was alone, and Evelyn had no way of getting to her. What if she woke up and needed something? What if she fell out of bed or got hurt?
Panic clouded her thoughts, and she pushed them away.
Abbie would be fine, and Evelyn needed a plan before they got outside.
She couldn’t get into a car with him. If she did, chances were she’d never make it home alive.
Something had pushed Gabriel over the edge or he wouldn’t have come for her.
Wouldn’t have shown his face and laid his cards on the table.
Unless he didn’t expect her to get the chance to tell anyone what he’d done.
She stayed close to Gabriel as they crossed the lobby and stepped into the cool night air.
He shoved her in front of him, keeping her back close.
Something hard and sharp poked into her spine.
All the blood drained from her face, and a cold sweat collected at her hairline. Oh my God, he’s got a gun.
People strolled past, oblivious to the panic clawing at her psyche and the madman abducting her. She twisted her head from side to side and stared into their faces, but no one looked her way.
“Don’t do anything stupid.” Gabriel’s words whipped against the back of her head, and he dug the object harder into her back. “I’d hate to go back for the girl.”
She winced and bowed her back away from the pain. “I won’t,” she whimpered, swallowing the sob in her throat. She cast a glance toward her apartment window, but the drawn curtains blocked the view inside. Please stay asleep until your mom gets home.
Gabriel led her to an idling car parked at the curb. “Get in the back. I’m glad to see you didn’t try to make a scene. Good girl, Evelyn.”
Her feet turned to lead, and her muscles refused to cooperate.
Her mind told her to move, to get in the stupid car, but her flight instinct roared to life, and she searched the passing faces for someone, anyone to notice the distress that had to be clear as day on her face.
But the people who passed were too busy to notice, and bright lights against the dark sky weren’t enough to highlight her fear.
Her ragged breaths tore through her and terror squeezed her lungs.
“Tsk, tsk, my little mouse. Don’t disobey me now. I’ve warned you of the consequences.” Gabriel opened the car door. “Get in.”
She took one step forward, and the tinny taste of fear flooded her mouth. She locked her gaze on Gabriel’s. “Please don’t do this.”
He leaned close, pressing his mouth to her ear. “Your fucking cop friend didn’t leave me much of an option.” He jammed the object in his hand into the side of her neck, threw her into the back of the car, and slammed the door.
Nausea pitched in her stomach and pain shot through her veins as she fell to the floor and her world went black.