The Other Side - J. D. Robb [128]
He read it, then placed it on top of the pile and set them right in front of old Wickham as he took his seat at his desk.
“Huh. I remember this.” Henry glanced at one of the cold cases that had never been closed. An elderly woman had lost control of her car and was killed. The tests hadn’t yielded enough information to make an arrest, even though at the time he’d suspected her much-younger lover of being more in love with her software company than with her.
As he began to set aside the document, he caught sight of the name of that young lover: Mark Deering.
He glanced at his watch and then snatched up the documents and hurried out of his office. Instead of phoning Christina Crenshaw with the news, he would go to her house.
If what he suspected was true, she and her brother were in grave danger.
Henry Wickham pulled up in front of the graceful mansion, grateful that the long drive had given him time to think about what he would say to the young woman who lived there. He would gently but firmly suggest that Miss Crenshaw hire an armed guard until the murder of her parents was solved.
Instead of the charming young lady he’d first met, Christina entered the room looking distraught and teary-eyed.
“Miss Crenshaw, has something happened?”
“It’s my little brother. He’s missing . . . ”
They both looked up as Mrs. Mellon stepped aside to admit Jake Ridgeway, with a murderous expression in his eyes.
“Jake.” Christina fell into his arms. “The police told me that they suspect you of taking Tyler.”
“They’ve made it very clear that I’m their only suspect, thanks to Deering.” Jake led her toward a chaise and knelt in front of her, taking both her hands in his. “How are you holding up?”
“Not very well. Oh, Jake. I’m so afraid.”
Henry Wickham spoke up. “You said thanks to Deering. What did you mean by that?”
For the first time, Jake noticed the rumpled detective across the room. “Christina’s fiancé suggested that I’m some kind of itinerant laborer looking for a chance to make a fast buck. He has the police wasting all their time investigating my background instead of searching for Tyler.”
“Which is precisely what he’d hoped for.”
At Wickham’s words, both Christina and Jake stared at him in silence.
Watching and listening, Ted and Vanessa embraced.
“Finally we have everyone on the same page, babe. Now, if only they can rescue Tyler before he can be harmed, arrest that monster Mark, and put him away before he can hurt anyone else.”
“Oh, Ted. I pray it’s so.”
“From your lips, babe . . . ”
“But we know from experience that we don’t always get our happy ending.”
“Shhh. If we can see Tyler safely back home and Mark Deering locked up, we won’t ask for anything more.”
Ted kissed his wife soundly before turning back to listen as Henry Wickham phoned the police detective who was handling the case.
Eight
Mark Deering was feeling supremely confident. With the police focusing all their attention on the carpenter, he’d bought enough time to carry out his plan without interference. The kid would never be found. Christina would turn to him in desperation. He’d be more than happy to comfort her. And take charge of her and her bank account.
He made his way to his car parked in the garage and drove to his office, pulling around to his private entrance. Once there, he picked up a blanket-covered burden from the backseat and carried it inside, dumping it unceremoniously in a corner. There was a faint moan, the only sound the kid could make with his hands, feet, and mouth taped. Mark intended to add more tape in a minute, after he made a call.
He sat at his desk and dialed a number, then waited for the familiar voice.
Mark sounded almost euphoric when he finally spoke into the phone. “Time to get over here and pick up the package.”
With a smile, he replaced the receiver.
He was still smiling when the hammer caught him on the side of his head, causing him to let out a cry of pain and rage.
Stunned, he