Chapter 12
“I don’t think we need to be here when Krystal gets here,” Apollo said, setting his coffee mug in Micah’s sink.
They’d had to hide out in Apollo’s truck while they waited for the Feds to clear out of downtown Sanctuary Falls, then arrived back at his place not too long ago to a waiting, slightly impatient Clover.
Micah liked her being at his place.
“I’m with Apollo.” Cormac set his mug next to Apollo’s then nodded once at Clover before he and Apollo left.
“I still can’t believe Ilena might be involved in a kidnapping,” Clover said, shock lacing her tone.
“I’m not saying she one hundred percent is, but the Feds are in town for one reason only.
Then she makes a phone call on a burner phone after leaving some kind of physical message…
and then the FBI shows up minutes later?
” Not to mention that one room at Betty Anne Kendrick’s home with the window blacked out.
Clover took a sip of her coffee, nodded. “I’m not arguing or anything. I just…maybe you never really know anyone. It still surprises me. Ilena seemed like she was trying to steer her life in a positive direction.”
“There’s a possibility she’s being pressured into this or something worse.
We don’t know, and this isn’t the kind of thing we need to get involved in.
It’ll only make things worse. As much as I hate to say it, the Feds actually have a solid rep where kidnappings are involved.
Their HRT people are highly trained.” He paused at his doorbell going off.
Krystal had gotten here faster than he’d planned.
Moments later he walked back into the kitchen with her in tow.
In her work uniform of jeans, a Sanctuary Falls Sheriff’s pullover and Columbia boots, she had her own giant steel mug and a covered plate of something in her hands. “Mike made too many blondies,” she said, setting the plate on the island top. “Please take these.”
“Thanks. You need a refill?” He indicated at her mug.
“Nah, I’d just left the house when you called. So what’s up? Why did you want to talk in person?” She shot Clover a curious look, then focused back on Micah.
“It’s complicated,” he said.
“Well uncomplicate it. Just tell me the facts of whatever it is you need to say.” Her tone was quiet, neutral and nonjudgmental. In that moment he knew exactly how she got people to admit to things they otherwise might not.
“I think a friend of mine might be in trouble,” Clover blurted suddenly. Then she spilled everything up to the point of him and his brothers sneaking onto the property.
Where he took over and told Krystal everything that had happened in the last few hours.
“Apollo and Cormac went along with this?” Her jaw tightened.
He shrugged. “They decided they didn’t need to be here for this.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” she grumbled. But then she straightened. “You were right to call me. And you’re right about the call the Feds received. It was from a burner phone telling them where the kidnapping instructions were. At a random law office downtown with no link to the kidnapped victim.”
“What’s the deal with the woman kidnapped?”
“I don’t know all the details, just that she’s in her twenties, from a wealthy family. Generational wealth, it sounds like. They moved to Sanctuary Falls two years ago. The Feds haven’t brought us into it. They’re just using our space basically.” She shrugged, took a sip of her coffee.
“How would you feel about receiving a tip from a local?” Micah asked. Then added, “Anonymously.”
“That’s fine. I can pass it on to them and they never need to know you were involved in anything. Is there anything to trace you back to the Kendrick homestead?”
“The three of us were downtown following her so we might be on some cameras. But only Apollo got out of the truck and he was careful when tailing Ilena.” There weren’t a ton of cameras downtown anyway. Nothing compared to big cities where there seemed to be eyes in the sky everywhere.
“Okay, we’ll cross that bridge with the Feds later if necessary.
Send me the tip soon so I can discover it when I get to work.
I’m heading in straight from here…and we need a code word or phrase in case I need to talk to you in person.
We’re opening me up to scrutiny now, so if for some reason the Feds monitor my phone calls—”
“They can do that?” Clover asked. “I mean to you. You’re a detective.”
“Anything’s possible,” Krystal said. “And I’d rather be prepared for the worst-case scenario.”
“Agreed,” Micah said. Because his sister was right, they needed to be ready for all situations. “They won’t be able to trace the tip, so it’s likely to put a little heat on you.” He paused. “Should I send it to another detective? Peter maybe? Or even Levitz? He seems all right.”
“No,” she muttered. “I’ll handle this. If we need to talk in person, I’ll call you and tell you we’re having pizza at my house that night and not to be late. You’ll know that means I need to talk.”
Micah nodded once. “Perfect.”
“I’ll see you both later. Clover, don’t forget, Sunday dinner at my place. I know I already told you so I’m reminding you. Just bring your sweet self,” Krystal said.
Clover’s cheeks flushed pink as she nodded, seeming pleased by his sister’s words. Once she was gone, Clover turned to him. “I don’t have to come to the dinner.”
He wanted her there, wanted to spend all his free time with her. “Why not? Your brother will be there. And Krystal’s husband is a great baker. We’re all sort of obsessed with what he comes up with.” Speaking of… He pulled back the aluminum foil and plucked out a blondie.
Clover’s eyes widened. “Those are the biggest chocolate chunks I’ve ever seen.” She snagged two and set them on a plate next to her coffee.
“Told you. He makes everything from scratch too.”
“Jeez, if I found a man who baked for me, I might get married too.” She groaned as she took a bite of the thick blondie.
And sweet gods and goddesses, that sound went straight to his core. He made a note of the baking thing, decided to ask Mike to teach him a couple recipes. He would absolutely bake for this woman if that was what she wanted. “You don’t want to get married?”
She snorted and set down the partially eaten blondie. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy for my brother and Berkley, but I don’t know if marriage is for me.”
He could actually understand that, considering her parents’ marriage—and the fact that marriage benefited men more than women on the whole. But in a part of him he hadn’t even known existed, he felt a sharp disappointment at her words.
Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m going to grab my laptop.”
She nodded. “I can help you come up with the message if you want.”
Ten minutes later, they’d crafted a simple anonymous tip and sent it to Krystal’s email.
Dear Detective Knight,
I don’t trust any of the blowhards at the sheriff’s office, but after seeing you on the news a couple months ago, hope that you can be trusted.
I think that kidnapped rich woman is being held at Betty Anne Kendrick’s property in the main house, second floor.
There’s foil over the window of the room she’s in and multiple men with rifles guarding the place.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
“I wonder if we should have included more details,” Clover murmured once they were done.
“No, that’s short and to the point. It’s more likely to get their attention. The Feds will get a warrant or honestly just not even bother with one. They’ll send in a drone and see what we saw. And then in all likelihood, send in HRT. Ah, HRT is—”
“I know what HRT is,” she said with a smile, her cheeks flushing pink again. “One of my favorite authors, Kaylea Cross, has a Hostage Rescue Team series.”
He made another mental note, this one to read her favorite author. He wanted to know everything that made this woman tick. “Yeah? Can I borrow the first in the series?”
She looked at him cautiously. “We’ll see. What’s your opinion on bookmarks versus dog-earing?”
“Bookmarks only. Dog-earing pages isn’t a real option.”
She grinned at him. “Agreed. And sure, I have the whole series in print.” Then she sobered. “Are you positive the message won’t be traced back here? Like we shouldn’t be expecting the Feds to bust in at any moment, weapons drawn and telling us to get on the ground?”
He gave her a dry look.
“I’m not questioning your expertise…okay I guess I kind of am. Fine, I withdraw the concern. I just don’t want your sister getting in trouble. And also I don’t want to be shot by the FBI.”
He snorted. “No chance of that happening. The email address I sent it from won’t even exist when they try to backtrace it. And they won’t be able to do that because of… It’s complicated.”
“As long as you’re sure, then I trust you.
” She took another bite of the blondie, made that sound again, and yep, he was going to have to take a cold shower soon enough.
Then she said, “If Ilena is under duress, maybe I can get her a good lawyer. I don’t think she can afford anyone worth a damn so… ” She nibbled on her bottom lip.
He had to look away, so he poured himself another mug, turning his back and getting sweet relief from watching her eat. “Why not call Sinead Goode?”
“She’s more my brother’s friend than mine.”
“I can cover her fees.” He’d made so much money over the years, and what he didn’t donate to good causes was basically just sitting in various accounts.
She was silent for so long that he finally turned around.
“What?” he asked.
“You don’t have to do that. I can…probably afford her. I actually don’t know her fees.”
He did, and they were astronomical. She also had a one hundred percent success rate—that’s right. So he figured she was worth it. “I got it.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Should I not be nice to you?” He leaned against the countertop, glad for the distance.
“No. I don’t mean it like that. Just…” She shoved out a sigh. “Never mind. I don’t know what I’m even trying to say, and I’m tired. I didn’t sleep while you guys were gone so I’m going to head home to grab a couple hours of sleep before heading in to work.”
“You’re going in today?”
“Yeah, late, but it’s better than missing the whole day. And my brother won’t know since I told him I’m scouting a couple historical homes this morning.” Her grin was a little feral.
And he liked it. More than liked it. “Why don’t you just crash here? You don’t have to go home to get ready.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m just going to be catching up on some work. And you know where the guest room is.” He half smiled.
“Thanks. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.”
That wasn’t possible, but he kept that thought to himself. Telling her that he wouldn’t mind if she just moved in wasn’t going to do him any favors.