He wedged her head between his knees, facing outward so she couldnAEt see him, and lifted the burlap enough to rip the tape from her mouth. Pale light flashed across her vision. She caught a glimpse of a large concrete room. The wan light of a flashlight did nothing to illuminate the thickly shadowed corners. She spat the foul tasting cloth from her mouth. Ignoring the pain in her neck, she twisted to see her captorAEs face.
oNot so fast.o Strong hands wrenched her head back around. Burlap covered her face once more. He released her, letting her fall awkwardly back to the floor.
oWho are you?o Grating laughter answered her question. oSome PI you are, Ms Shaw if you canAEt figure that one out.o Well, Amber reasoned. She hadnAEt expected him to tell her. She merely hoped heAEd be caught off guard enough to answer. Biting back a nasty retort that could only worsen the situation, she said, oI know you, donAEt I?o His laughter died into silence. oOh, you never had much time for me, Ms Shaw.o Never had much time for me. What did that mean? Until now, sheAEd a.s.sumed her captor was either John Barlow or some creature heAEd hired so he wouldnAEt have to dirty his hands in the business of revenge. It stood to reason it would be Barlow. Investigative lore maintained the most likely suspect was the one who was most desperate. The person with the most to lose. All leads led back to John Barlow. Barlow had his house, his firm and his reputation at stake. Barlow had embezzled money from GraysonAEs firm for over twenty years. Barlow desperately wanted to keep his dark secret safe.
But now that the secret had been blown wide open, did Barlow want revenge upon the woman responsible?
Amber would bet her paycheck on it. That didnAEt explain the comment, you never had much time for me.
So it was someone she knew. Someone who held a grudge for a perceived snub. oYouAEre someone whoAEs angry with me,o she ventured.
oAnd youAEre wondering why, arenAEt you?o She nodded. The burlap scratched against the cloth of her jacket.
oYouAEd like me to tell you, wouldnAEt you?o Amber nodded again.
oIAEm not going to do that, sweetheart.o He drawled out the endearment, making it sound more like a curse. oItAEs such a rare treat for me to see the great Amber Shaw at a loss.o Sweetheart. Someone had called her that. Recently.
oYou want me to suffer,o she stated as matter-of-factly as she could. oWhy?o oBecause you made me suffer, Amber. Figure it out. Make the connection, girl. You made me suffer, and you donAEt even remember.o She had made John Barlow suffer. But not in the personal way her captor seemed to suggest. And if he wasnAEt Barlow or in BarlowAEs hire, then that left her without a point of reference. No where to start, she thought fighting back another wave of panic.
oIf I hurt you, IAEm sorry,o she ventured.
oNaw, youAEre not, Amber Babe. You never gave a d.a.m.n about me. You thought the whole world was yours to pick and choose from. Did you think you could keep on taking what wasnAEt yours and get away with it?o oWhat wasnAEt mine?o Amber blurted, anger getting the better of her. oIAEve never stolen a thing in my life. In spite of the fact that life has done a good deal of stealing from me!o Now what on earth made her say that, she wondered.
oOh right,o came that disembodied voice. Closer now, bending over her. The smell of garlic penetrated the burlap. oDaddy ran away when you were little. And even your ex-fiancT decided he couldnAEt live with you.o The barb startled her into silence. oBut how--o oLearn from my example, Amber Babe. I know how to do my research.o Panic struggled for control. Amber fought it back. Telling herself it wasnAEt a matter of the heart they were discussing here, but the cold reality of what might be her murder, she allowed the rational private investigator side of her personality free rein.
Someone had called her sweetheart recently. Someone she had no time for. Someone who also called her babe with the same sickening results. Someone sheAEd taken something from.
oThanks for the other day, babe.o The words seared through her memory. Panic got the better of her. Her heart pounded furiously. Breath choked in her throat.
Suddenly, Amber had the most awful suspicion who her captor was.
Chapter FIFTEEN.
Grayson slammed the trunk shut and leaned against AmberAEs car.
oWhat now?o Roger asked.
oNow I find the b.a.s.t.a.r.d that did this to her, and--o oAnd what?o Roger gripped him by the shoulders. oWeAEve found her car abandoned, and her keys lying on the pavement. But we donAEt know for sure that someoneAEs done anything to her. We should go to the police and get them working on the case. Now, before itAEs too late.o oIt might already be too late, Roger.o Grayson shook off his hands and paced away from him. oBy the time the cops get working on it, Amber could be dead.o oWe donAEt know for certain sheAEs in danger.o oI do. The facts are staring you right in the face. It doesnAEt look to me like Amber decided to have dinner with a friend so suddenly that she left her car door open and threw her keys under the car for safe keeping.o oNo,o Roger conceded. oBut who would want to hurt Amber?o oGood question.o Grayson stopped pacing. oOne name springs readily to mind.o oWho?o Roger asked cautiously.
oJohn Barlow.o oBarlow!o Roger held up a hand. oNow Gray, this is sounding just a little too wild for my liking.o oThink about it, Little Brother. Old Jumpy JohnAEs got this great scam going here. HeAEs been scamming money from Barlow & Charles since we were kids. And he nearly got away with selling a nearly bankrupt firm and making a tidy profit. He would have gotten away with it if it werenAEt for Amber Shaw.o oOkay, IAEm with you there. But number one,o Roger counted the points off on his fingers. oIt hasnAEt been proven yet that Old Barlow was embezzling. Depending on what your investigators find, he could be suing you for defamation of character, slander--o oThat charge would never stick,o Grayson muttered. oBarlowAEs been stealing money. IAEd bet on it. I just canAEt believe I was so blind I didnAEt see it.o oa.s.suming heAEs guilty and really mad at Amber for seeing through his ploy and bringing the law down on him, that still doesnAEt mean heAEs crazy enough to ... to what, Gray? Kidnap her? What would that get him?o oI donAEt know,o Grayson snarled. oBut I intend to find out.o Roger s.n.a.t.c.hed at his sleeve as he rushed past him and yanked him back. oBefore you go charging up to BarlowAEs house and making a scene, why donAEt we spend two seconds considering if there might be any other likely suspects.o oLike who?o oOne of her former clientAEs ex-beaus maybe.o oI told her this revenge thing was dangerous!o Grayson said. And told her he had. When his warnings had gone unheeded, heAEd given her work at Barlow and Charles, figuring if he could keep Fair Game in the black, Amber would turn away from the business of revenge.
oShe sure made you mad enough at her,o RogerAEs voice cut into his thoughts. oMad enough to sue her.o Like he needed a reminder about that just now. Grayson opened his mouth for a quick retort, but his conscience wouldnAEt let him forget that he had been furious with Ms. Amber Shaw, proprietor of Fair Game, Inc. Angry enough to take her to court. Amber wielded the power to yank his emotions in every direction--love, anger, tenderness, sometimes all three combined.
oDo you know who any of her clients were?o oBeside Sandy, no. SheAEs keeps that information confidential.o oSo weAEre back to Barlow.o Grayson shot him a sideways glance. oUnless you can pick a lock?o Roger motioned to the ring of keys he still clutched in his hand, as if by holding them tight, he could somehow protect Amber. oBet we wonAEt have to. Bet the key to her office is right on that key ring.o oNo, weAEve lost too much time already. You go to Fair Game and see if you can get a few of those names and addresses. IAEm going to go wake up Old Barlow.o oMaybe I should come with you.o oWe donAEt have time,o Grayson strode back toward RogerAEs car, intending to drive off with the Porsche himself if Roger didnAEt hurry up.
Instead he found Roger right behind him. oOkay, Gray, IAEll see what I can do. But if this doesnAEt work, weAEve got to go to the police.o It would work, Grayson thought. If Barlow knew where Amber was, if this was another of his partnerAEs devious ploys, heAEd have the answer out of him one way or another.
oDonAEt do anything at BarlowAEs that could get you thrown in jail, okay?o Roger warned. oThatAEs not going to help Amber. Promise youAEll keep your head about this.o oSure, I promise,o Grayson said. Roger took one look at his face and turned away with a shake of his head that said he believed anything but. With a sigh, his twin turned the Porsche in the direction of BarlowAEs house.
Barlow lived in a more elegant house than the one Grayson had grown up in. But then John Barlow always had nicer things than Gordon Charles, Grayson thought as Roger turned down the winding lane. It had never occurred to him to wonder why.
oLet me out here,o he said when Roger would have driven right up to the front door.
oYou sure about this?o his twin asked, plainly worried.
oIAEm just going to talk to him, Roger. Not punch him out. Although,o he admitted, othe thought had occurred to me.o oIAEd better wait.o oYouAEd better get those names,o he said in a tone that offered no argument.
oJust remember what it would do to Mom if you ended up in jail,o Roger warned. And drove off.
As he walked up the path, Grayson saw the edge of the curtain drop back into place. It was past midnight. He wondered if Barlow would open the door to him. He hadnAEt considered what heAEd do if his partner refused to see him.
But the door swung open as he mounted the last of the steps.
oWhat do you want?o Barlow snapped.
In the dim light he barely recognized his partner. In the past few weeks, the older man had dropped a considerable amount of weight, leaving his cheeks hollowed, his face gaunt. His self-a.s.sured, arrogant manner was gone, but the hunger that burned still in his piercing eyes was the same. A desperate man, Grayson thought with an inward shudder. HeAEd called John Barlow uptight, jumpy, never realizing what that look really meant.
oI want to know where she is.o oWhere who is...o...b..rlow asked, knowing well enough Grayson could only mean Amber.
oYou know d.a.m.ned well who.o Grayson heard his own voice rising and made an effort to calm himself. Barlow would find a way to use his own desperation against him.
oRegrettably, I donAEt have a clue what youAEre talking about,o Barlow said, making no move to invite Grayson in. With his body, he blocked the doorway, leaving Grayson to stand awkwardly on the step.
Fine, if that was how he wanted to play it. oIAEm talking about Amber Shaw.o Grayson enunciated her name carefully, playing BarlowAEs game, making sure there could be no misunderstanding.
John Barlow looked truly surprised. oIn what delusion would you think IAEd have any idea where the incorrigible Ms. Shaw is?o oDonAEt play games with me, John. I know you hired that PI to try and split us up.o oEven if I did,o Barlow held up a hand, oand IAEm not saying I did, why would you think IAEd have any idea as to her whereabouts?o Accusation hung in the air between them. If you canAEt control your mistress, Barlow had warned him.
oBecause sheAEs missing,o Grayson spat out. In spite his promise to Roger, he found the urge to deck John Barlow intensifying. All manner of awful things could have happened to Amber and John Barlow insisted on playing games, toying with Grayson to prolong his discomfort. He longed to do something physical, just to relieve his own frustration and the terrible fear that Amber was in danger.
oYou mean she left you?o Amus.e.m.e.nt colored BarlowAEs tone. Grayson ignored it. If he so much as glanced at his estranged partnerAEs smug face, he would hit him. Then Roger would be bailing him out of jail, and G.o.d knew what would happen to Amber.
oI mean sheAEs been abducted. We found her car abandoned.o oI dare say the police would serve you better than I,o Barlow said in that same dry tone.
oI thought--o The words were out of his mouth before he could call them back.
oYou thought what?o Barlow raised an eyebrow. oThat I kidnapped your disagreeable girlfriend? For what purpose, Grayson?o He uttered his partnerAEs name like a curse. oTo buy back the damage sheAEs done to my reputation? You better be building a d.a.m.ned good case against me, Mr. Charles, because I intend to see you in court!o ThatAEs exactly how Barlow intended to hold onto the house he bought with money embezzled from the firm, Grayson thought bitterly, with the proceeds from his slander suit against Grayson Charles.
GraysonAEs arm shot out, preventing Barlow from slamming the door in his face. oIf itAEs really true that you know nothing about AmberAEs disappearance, how about letting me in to have a look around?o oIf you want a look inside, get a search warrant!o Barlow threw his weight against the door.
Grayson yanked his fingers out of the way, as the door slammed shut with a resounding boom.
oAt least I didnAEt get arrested,o he remarked grimly to himself. Though a night in jail would be worth the peace of mind of knowing Amber wasnAEt tied up in BarlowAEs bas.e.m.e.nt.
He should have thought about how long a walk it was back to the street before he let Roger drive off. And how much time would be wasted finding a phone. Grayson cursed the short sightedness of his plan. HeAEd been so certain heAEd find Amber at BarlowAEs that he hadnAEt thought beyond liberating her from BarlowAEs clutches. Standing in the phone booth that was at least a foot too narrow for his shoulders, he dialed RogerAEs cell phone.
Roger answered on the first ring.
oThatAEs brilliant, Gray. Ring my phone, let the guard know IAEm here.o He ignored RogerAEs sarcasm. oWhere exactly are you?o oLooking for the keys to her filing cabinet.o oTry her desk drawer.o oIAEm trying to figure out which key opens the desk.o He could hear the frustration in RogerAEs voice, even over the background noise of the street. oItAEs not like I can turn on a light, is it?o oBest to keep it dark and quiet.o Belatedly, Grayson realized how stupid that sounded.
oI was trying to,o Roger snapped, obefore you called.o Distracting Roger before frayed nerves caused an argument, Grayson asked, oHow did you get past the guard?o oHe was asleep,o Roger said. oCan you believe it? Some security system they got there. Amber should ask for a rebate on her rent.o Realizing what he was saying, he fell silent. oHowAEd it go with Barlow?o oHe insists he knows nothing and threatened me with a new lawsuit.o oTell me you didnAEt hit him.o oI didnAEt hit him, Roger. But I nearly lost my hand in the door.o **** He stood very close to her now. Amber could feel the heat of his body in the damp cold of the bas.e.m.e.nt.
oAlways thinking about yourself werenAEt you, Amber?o He said her name with the same insincerity as telephone sales people. If youAEd just like to give us your credit card number, Ms Shaw, weAEll sign you up for a lifetime supply of--or if youAEd just be so kind to sit there Amber, while I murder you....
Amber stayed silent, testing her hypothesis. She knew of one particular person whom sheAEd made very angry. But that was a matter of business and not to be taken personally.
oYou couldnAEt be satisfied with what was yours, could you Amber? You had to go after what was mine.o His voice rose, bordering on hysteria.
Amber turned her head in the direction of his voice. Somehow she had to calm him, keep him talking until she could tell for certain. Until she could think of a way to convince him to let her go. oLook, I really do want to make this all up to you.o It was hard to sound sincere with her teeth chattering in the cold and a burlap bag over her head.
oSure you do, Amber Babe. Are you going to give me my work back? Are you going to give me my self respect back? How are you going to do that, hmm, Amber Babe?o oWhy donAEt you tell me exactly what it was I did.o She hoped the answer would confirm her suspicions.
His quick intake of breath made her hope fervently he wasnAEt winding up to hit her.
Instead, he brought his head down beside hers. She felt the hot puff of his breath through the burlap, smelled the garlic from his dinner. Scent, sound added pieces to the puzzle. Memory supplied a dark, greasy-haired man leaning over her desk. Garlic wafted down at her on his hot breath as he leered down her top. So, howAEs it going, Amber Babe? She had to keep him talking. In another couple of seconds sheAEd be certain of his ident.i.ty.
The menace in his tone shook her from her reverie. oIAEll tell you what you did to me, Amber Sweetheart. First you took my livelihood....o He gripped her thighs, leaning heavily on her. Shudders worked their way down her spine at the contact. She tried to keep herself from shivering. oBut hey,o he said in a falsely lighthearted tone, oIAEm an understanding guy, and I always kinda had the hots for you, Amber Babe. Kinda admired your s.p.u.n.k. Even if it was costing me.o In that second she did know for sure. Hindsight pointed out all the clues sheAEd missed in clarity that had escaped her the first time. With a sinking feeling Amber remembered the times heAEd come on to her, which had been practically every time their paths crossed. SheAEd a.s.sumed he enjoyed making her uncomfortable. Never had she dreamed he actually cared, albeit in a sick and twisted kind of way.
oSo, I figured, what the h.e.l.l. IAEd tell you how I feel. I wore my heart on my sleeve for you, Amber Sweetheart. And whatAEd you do?o oI didnAEt realize--o oKinda dense for a PI, arenAEt you?o oI really didnAEt--o oWhatAEd you do, Amber?o She didnAEt know how to answer. What could she say that wouldnAEt intensify the anger she could feel radiating from him, in his bodyAEs heat and the vice grip in which he held her?
oSay it Amber.o His grip tightened, bruising her.
She shook her head.
oSay it,o he ordered. oSay you wouldnAEt even look at me when you could have that lawyer boyfriend of yours instead.o oI really didnAEt realize you felt that way.o Her voice shook in spite of her vow to remain calm. oLike h.e.l.l you didnAEt,o he roared, lurching away from her. She heard the scuff of his feet against the rough cement floor. oThat kind of thing,o he said in a voice full of quiet menace that chilled her heart. oKinda messes with a guyAEs head.o ****
oFiling cabinetAEs open.o RogerAEs voice was m.u.f.fled as he held the phone between his neck and shoulder, making it hard for Grayson to hear against the noise from the street.
oSee anything?o oMan, sheAEs almost as obsessively neat as Jumpy John.o oAre there any names, Roger?o Grayson reined in his temper. He refused to fight with Roger here in a public phone booth, not while Amber was in danger.
oHereAEs SandyAEs file.o Paper rustled. oWonder what she said about me.o oRoger!o oOkay, okay. Some stuff on a guy named Marchand, but according to this heAEs a client, not one of her intended victims.o oAnything else?o More paper rustling. The clunk of a heavy file drawer closing. oWhoa! Now, hereAEs something.o oWhat?o Grayson had to restrain himself from yelling into the phone.
oA copy of an invoice addressed to John Barlow from a guy named James Heck of Heck, Sleuth & Company. Who the h.e.l.l, or I should say, who the heck is James Heck?o How could he have been so stupid? Grayson swallowed the bile rising in his throat. HeAEd seen the evidence with his own eyes when Amber brought him the invoice as proof she wasnAEt having an affair with James Heck. SheAEd insisted John Barlow had arranged the whole charade.
oHey, Gray, you still there? Do you know this guy?o oYeah,o Grayson found his voice. oHeAEs the jerk that showed up at the office with a bouquet of flowers for Amber.o oThe one who caused the huge fight?o Trust Roger to phrase it in the most indelicate terms possible. Grayson shook his head. oYeah, thatAEs the one.o oGray, I think we might have something here.o oYou think this Heck guy might be involved?o oIf he was willing to pull a sleazy stunt like that at the office, who knows what else he would be willing to do.o oAnd get paid for it by Barlow,o Grayson finished.
oI think weAEd better check this guy out. He sounds like our man.o HeAEd called Amber paranoid. And all the time she was in danger. oIs there an address on that invoice?o oAn office address.o He heard Roger moving around in the office, opening more cabinets. oBut I bet thereAEs a listing for his home address in the phone book.o oGood thinking.o For once they worked together like they had when they were boys cramming late nights on a science project. Before love came between them. oIAEm at the gas station behind BarlowAEs house. Pick me up and weAEll go have a chat with Mr. Heck.o Grayson imagined Roger frowning at the phone. oItAEs nearly three in the morning. Do you think we should really go knocking on his door?o oYou donAEt have to come with me,o Grayson said. oThereAEs no reason Mom should have to bail both of us out of jail.o oNo, IAEm coming with you, Gray. That way I wonAEt have to explain to Mom how you got yourself killed.o ****
James Heck owned a ramshackle bungalow on the outskirts of town. Even in the darkness Grayson could make out the paint peeling from the sides of the house. The rickety fence looked like strong wind might blow it over.
oNice place,o Roger remarked. oLooks like he started with an outhouse and just kept building rooms.o oThe guy doesnAEt have a lot of cla.s.s. I met him, remember.o Grayson took another look at the darkened house. The chain of munic.i.p.al streetlights ran out about a block earlier. Apparently Mr. Heck didnAEt see the need to install his own.
oWell?o Roger asked. oShall we?o They were about six feet from the fence when a black missile bolted out of the shadows, barking furiously. Roger gripped his shoulder and hauled Grayson backward. oOn second thought, maybe not.o oIf heAEs in there, we just triggered his alarm system.o Grayson looked skeptically at the square-headed black dog throwing itself against the fence in an attempt to break through. One of his arms would fit comfortably within those powerful jaws, he thought.
oThat a pit bull?o Roger asked.
oItAEs nasty, whatever it is.o They stepped back onto the road, which only marginally quieted the pit bull. No one appeared in the darkened windows. No lights came on inside.
oDoesnAEt seem like heAEs too concerned,o Roger remarked.
Grayson squinted into the darkness. The house faced away from the street so that the front door was around the side. oLetAEs try the door.o The pathway to the door ran in a narrow strip between a patch of overgrown gra.s.s and the two sides of the fence. It took about two seconds for the pit bull to see through their plan. The fence swayed, bulged as the heavy dog battered his body against it.
He could only think of Amber trapped inside a place like that. Judging from the exterior, the inside couldnAEt be any more inviting. Fervently he wished for the millionth time that they hadnAEt argued, that he hadnAEt contrived to be absent when she arrived at Barlow & Charles. Most of all that theyAEd gone home together and were now lying in his loft bed, snuggled beneath his down comforter.
oTell me youAEre not thinking of breaking in,o Roger said as GraysonAEs hand closed on the doork.n.o.b. He gave the door a rattle, but the heavy door barely shook on its hinges. Predictably, he found it locked.
Finding neither a doorbell nor a knocker, he raised his fist and pounded on the door.
oI have a bad feeling about this.o Roger muttered.
GraysonAEs pounding echoed through the rambling house. The pit bull threw itself against the fence. Puffs of its hot breath blew through the wooden slats in tiny clouds.
He had to get into that house to be sure Amber wasnAEt in there being subjected to G.o.d knew what. Grayson eyed the heavy hinges on the door. It would take more than his strength to break through it. And what if he found Mr. Heck sound asleep in his bed with no idea to AmberAEs whereabouts? He could imagine the headlines: LAWYER GOES ON BREAK AND ENTER SPREE! He doubted the police would understand about his gut feeling that Amber was in danger. Not when he couldnAEt even convince his twin.
Another resounding boom echoed through the house. Grayson felt his hand bruise under the impact.
oHeAEs not home, Gray.o Roger gripped his shoulder. oThat or heAEs a very sound sleeper. Or packing a really large gun,o he finished. In answer Grayson threw his weight against the door.
Which didnAEt give so much as an inch.
Wood splintered. As one they turned toward the sound.
To find the pit bullAEs head sticking through the fence behind them.
oBefore we break into his house and get ourselves arrested, letAEs try his office,o Roger suggested quickly.
Another tearing sound from the fence. The pit bull had his head and shoulders through.
oHe wouldnAEt be holding her in somewhere so obvious as his own home,o Roger suggested. The grip on GraysonAEs shoulder intensified as Roger slowly pulled him away from the door.
Grayson looked at the narrow strip of wood between them and the pit bullAEs teeth. oOkay, letAEs try the office.o The sound of splintering wood followed them down the narrow path. Grayson heard the sc.r.a.pe of nails against concrete. A black shape bolted out of the shadows.
He slammed the car door just as the pit bullAEs teeth closed on the handle. ****
DidnAEt matter what she said, her captor would find a way to turn it against her, Amber realized. Blaming her for his broken heart, he wanted revenge.
In agitation, he walked back and forth, his shoes scuffing against the floor in a rough staccato beat. He cursed, hotly and harshly under his breath. A pop bottle ricocheted off the wall, narrowly missing her head. A shower of gla.s.s rained down over the burlap bag on her head, settling in the creases of the cloth. Amber cringed, unable to see whether another projectile was headed her way.
oKinda messes with a guyAEs head,o he muttered again to himself. oIt wouldnAEt have killed you to say yes, Amber.o Recognition hit her. His words tumbled into her memory. IAEd forgive you if youAEd go out with me.