Dancing with Detective Danger (17 page)

Sterling, don’t blow this. You get only one chance.
“Okay, you win. This is really giving me the creeps. My God. Some stranger comes in here and tears up my home! The sooner this case is put away the better I’ll sleep. I’m not going to fight your police protection, but I can drive myself to work. You should stay here and investigate, don’t you think? I don’t want to get in your way.” She picked up her purse and keys.

“You’re right, I do need to stick around. You’ll go straight to your office?” Wariness edged with tension crisped his voice.

“Scouts honor,” Sterling fibbed, holding two fingers to her head. Intensely aware of the minutes ticking by, she would do whatever it took to slip out of his reach.

“Thanks for seeing it my way. This really is police business.” Ben’s gaze traveled up and down her suspiciously, but gave no hint of unmasking her facade.

His eyes paused on her lips, then nearly imperceptibly moved to meet her eyes. The moment hung suspended in time, and in that moment she felt her resolve weaken. It took so much effort to remain safely walled-up against the feelings that longed to pierce her defenses. For a brief second, she felt the strength of Ben and knew the relief surrendering to him would bring.

Seeming to read her thoughts, Ben inclined his head and smiled. “Are you sure you’re okay, Sterling?”

Blinking, her determination revived
. Get a grip. This sinking into weakness and emotions will only get you and your loved ones hurt.

“Yes. I’m fine,” she said, clearing her throat uncomfortably. “Let me know what you find out here. You know how to reach me.”

“Yes. I suppose I do.”

Laden with emotion, his words nearly made her pause again. Sure she knew better than to meet a seriously bad guy alone. On the force, she would have called for backup. But she was on her own. And nothing could stop her from meeting Jerry alone before it was too late.

• • •

Sterling pushed open the glass doors to the stately mass transit building, strolled inside, and paused beside the stairs leading to the second story. Jerry hadn’t said where he’d be waiting, and with every second passing, she felt the air being sucked out of her lungs.

On her way to the building, she’d placed a call to Lacey giving her the partial story. At least the part about meeting Jerry. She didn’t have the heart to tell her sister about the threat to Tyler. Sterling had to make this go away without hurting Lacey. She’d weighed the options; trying to protect her sister and take care of Tyler without telling her sister could be faulty thinking. Her sister could be furious at being left out.

But when it came to it, Sterling’s need to take control and shield her already hurting sister took over. With control she didn’t feel, she sauntered toward a group of chairs near the bus counter, the sound of her heels striking against the stone tile floor echoed conspicuously in the spacious building.

A train from Chicago pulled up and passengers filed off. People waiting greeted the riders and made offers to carry luggage. Furtively, Sterling glanced back at the main entry doors. The large clock above the door read five-thirty — just twenty minutes had passed since the phone call that summoned her here, but it felt like a lifetime.

Sunshine filtering through the wall of windows cast radiant beams of light across the floor. It all seemed so perfectly sublime, she thought. Grandparents visiting family. College kids home for a weekend. But the fear strangling her throat reminded Sterling that her reason for being here was neither sweet nor beautiful. It was a matter of life and death.

“Have a seat, Ms. Aegar.”

Sterling turned toward the voice. “Jerry Rutherford. We finally meet.” Standing at her right shoulder, Jerry’s pale eyes looked down into her face. His appearance matched the picture she had of him: thinning brown hair touched with gray, slim stature, thin lips, and vacant eyes.

“Have a seat, I said.” Jerry motioned to a group of chairs sheltered by a large stone column and planters of dracaenas, aralia, and ficus.

Taking a seat beside him, Sterling felt keenly aware of the items inside her coat pocket. They were the keys to keeping Tyler safe, and she was not about to surrender them.

“So I assume you have my things,” he said, gazing outside at the Amtrak train leaving the station.

“Did you think it would be that easy? I’d just hand them over to you?”

Jerry leaned closer, his eyes slitted and his lips twisted into a smug smile. “Yeah. You see, I know you’re a smart woman, Ms. Aegar. And I know you don’t want anything to happen to that sweet little boy.”

“How can you guarantee me you won’t hurt Tyler once you have the items?” Sterling fisted her fingers tightly. Everything was at stake and she had to keep an upper hand.

“You don’t need a guarantee. You give me what belongs to me and I’ll be out of here. You’ll never see or hear from me again.”

“Oh yeah, Jerry, or whoever you are. Why would you do that? Why should I believe you’d just be out of the picture?”

“Look,” Jerry said, grabbing her arm. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with here. I don’t want to hurt you or your nephew, but I need those numbers.” Desperation and fear glowered from his eyes, and she realized this was a weak man. He was not the threat she had imagined. The threat came from someone else.

“So it’s true. The memory card has information you need, like codes to access bank accounts, right? You’re laundering money. Who for, drug dealers?”

“Ms. Aegar, just forget you ever saw me and give me my book and key.” Jerry gritted his teeth. “I’m warning you.”

“Don’t threaten me, Jerry.”

Suddenly Jerry stiffened, his eyes riveted to a spot past her shoulder. Turning to follow his gaze, Sterling saw a man approaching from down the hall where scents of coffee and sandwiches wafted from Corine’s Café. Judging by the expensive suit the man was wearing, Sterling deduced he was higher up the hierarchy than the sap sitting beside her. “An acquaintance of yours?”

“Just keep quiet,” Jerry ordered, chewing his lower lip.

“Ms. Aegar,” said the man. He stepped behind her and draped his arm across her shoulder. “Rutherford. Two birds with one stone. How neat.”

Sterling shirked off the man’s touch. Standing to face them both, she felt a wave of revulsion wash over. These thugs, these criminals, these drug dealers were the lowest species in the food chain: people willing to feed off the weakness and suffering of other human beings. She pursed her lips and composed her thoughts. “Wow. How original. Take you all day to think of that little threat?”

“Watch your mouth, Ms. Aegar,” said the man who seemed to be in the driver’s seat. Looking to be in his late thirties, the man glared menacingly at her.

“Another threat, and I don’t even know your name. Yet you seem to know me. I’m afraid we’ve never been formally introduced, but that’s okay. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize your kind.” Sterling starred unblinking into the man’s face while Jerry sat silent.

The man ran his thumb along Sterling’s cheek and smirked down at her. “Pretty, smart, and spunky. Tempting combination. My name is Wade Cummings. Be assured, you won’t forget it.” Still holding Sterling in his gaze, Cummings questioned Jerry. “Did she give it up yet?”

Jerry stumbled nervously to his feet. “I told you I’d take care of it.”

“Did she give it up?” he asked, ratcheting up his sternness.

“It’s not nice to refer to me in the third person while I’m standing right here,” Sterling quipped.

“That’s it. Let’s go.” Cummings grabbed Sterling’s arm and marched her toward the door.

Sterling wanted to recoil at his touch, but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Something wasn’t right. Sterling was holding something back, thought Ben. But what the hell was it?

“Boy, whoever did this sure did a number on the place,” commented one of the officers collecting evidence at Sterling’s apartment. “If there was something here, these perps got it.”

Ben’s heart stopped beating. “Damn it. I’m such a sucker,” He grabbed the phone and punched in the number for Aegar Investigations.
How could I have been so blind? Sterling has had all along what these slime bags wanted. And whatever it is, she’s got it with her right now. She’s so determined to solve this case, she’s put her life on the line.

The phone at Sterling’s office rang one, two, three, four times
. Come on, answer the phone.

“Aegar Investigations,” answered Michelle.

“This is Detective Kirby, could I speak with Sterling?”

“I’m sorry, Detective, she’s not here. I haven’t seen her since before lunch.”

“Okay, let me speak with Lacey.” A vise around his heart tightened.

“She’s about to go pick up Tyler from soccer practice. Can I take a message?”

Ben closed his eyes and tried to clear the fog that suddenly clouded his head. It could already be too late to save Sterling. “Is there still an officer guarding the office, Michelle?”

“Yes, he’s sitting outside the door. Do you need to speak with him?”

“No, I’m coming right over. Tell Lacey to wait for me.” Slamming down the receiver, Ben turned to the lab officer. “Are you nearly finished here?”

“Sure. Something wrong, Ben? You look like hell.”

“I hate to think just how wrong things could be. I’ve got to split.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll close up here. Go take care of things.”

Ben took the stairs to the ground floor two at time. Sliding behind the wheel, he turned on the squad lights and squealed away from the building.

Sailing through traffic, the cars and buildings buzzed by in a blur. Ben couldn’t get to Sterling fast enough. With the lead she had, he had to not only think fast, but practically read her mind.

Slamming his fist against the steering wheel, Ben couldn’t stop the fears gripping his heart.

This is all my fault. If I’d kept my mind on business instead of my feelings, I’d have picked up the clues. Sterling wouldn’t have slipped through my fingers. She’s right, I’ve lost my edge.

Ben stormed through the front door at Aegar Investigations, past Michelle’s stunned expression, and in to confront Lacey.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lacey could never tell a lie. Her face always gave her away, blushing at the slightest attempt.

“I don’t have any time to play games.” Ben raked his fingers through his hair, trying to rein in his emotions. “I know she has something Rutherford wants. I know she’s got it with her. And what really bothers me is that whatever it is, it has something to do with the scumbags he’s working for. I have to find her, Lacey, and right now.”

“You know how she is, Ben. She’d kill me if I spoiled her investigation.”

“You’re not getting it. This isn’t about Sterling’s need to prove herself. This is about keeping her alive. I’m worried about her. Lacey, c’mon,” he pleaded, fisting his fingers. The time for making nice was over. He had to get through to her. “We’re wasting time we don’t have.”

Lacey blinked, twice, as realization sunk in. “Jerry’s computer memory card and a key. That’s what she has. I don’t know all the details, but Jerry is not who he says he is. The memory card and key have something to do with bank accounts for laundering drug money. He demanded she meet him at the Laurelwood mass transit building. Oh God, Ben, what are we going to do?”

“
We
aren’t going to do anything. You are going to stay here with the officer, who will make sure you are safe. I’ve already sent another officer to pick up Tyler.”

“Why? What’s going on?” Lacey’s voice seemed to stick in her throat. Her eyes went dark.

“What I’ve been telling your sister all along. This case involves heavy-duty low lifes. I want Tyler secured just as a precaution.”

“I can’t just sit here doing nothing.” Lacey’s voice rose shrilly. “I should have stopped her. I should have — ”

“It’s not your fault, Lacey. Sterling is plenty bull-headed. I’ll find her, don’t worry.”

• • •

Lacey watched Ben rush out the door, leaving her to drop back into her chair. Tyler and Sterling were two of the most important people in the world to her, and both stood in peril right now. How could she just sit here?

Fact was, she couldn’t.

Lacey reached for her car keys, her thoughts a swarm of bees.

“I know how you feel, but there is no point in taking off in a mindless search.” Nick’s warm hand on her shoulder stopped Lacey in her tracks.

“But Tyler is in trouble, and so is Sterling. I already lost you. I’m not going to lose another loved one, Nick. I’ve got to do something to help.” Her heart clenched painfully as she fought a surge of panic.

Nicholas drew her to sit beside him on the couch. “Let’s think about this. Ben said the police are taking care of Tyler. He is looking after Sterling, who, I might add, can take care of herself. Staying right here, for now, is what you can do to help.”

Looking into his tender gaze, Lacey saw something that made her heartbeat quicken. “You’re worried. What is it? Oh, Nick, do you know something? Is it too late? Is it Tyler?” Feeling as if she would explode with despair, Lacey searched Nick’s face for answers.

“You want me to tell you that everything will be okay the way you imagine it must be and you won’t suffer any more pain.” Nicholas took her hands in his and held them tight. “I can’t tell you what you want to hear, Lacey. Some things that happen hurt and hurt deeply. But I will tell you, you’re very strong and that strength will help you no matter what happens.”

All the breath in Lacey’s lungs froze. She stared disbelieving into Nick’s eyes. This couldn’t be happening. “Is this why you’re here? To help me with another death?” Lacey could barely speak.

“I told you, I’m here because of love. Nothing is more powerful, not even death.” Nick put her hand to his chest and Lacey felt the beating of his heart as profoundly as though he had never left her.

Lacey felt the might of their love overpowering the fears and leading her to grasp possibilities. Nick’s presence helped calm the alarm bells clanging inside her head.