Chapter 36

Kyra popped into Jake’s mind as he reviewed Stack’s evidence. Relieved that there was nothing connecting her to Stack, Jake ran her financials. He knew he was walking a thin line without a warrant. Over the line, in reality, but if he linked her to Lucci, he’d have probable cause. His ringing cell phone killed his next plan of action. He picked it up, answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Hi.” He’d been expecting Kyra’s call. Instead, it was Mia’s voice on the line.

Hmmm! “Hello.”

“Everything all right?”

“Yes, I have a couple of cases hitting their peak, putting in some crazy hours to wind them up.” Cops made lousy life partners. It took a special person to put up with the hours.

“How are things on the personal front?” What did she need? They weren’t supposed to contact each other until Monday.

“My week has been interrupted with a cop killing. And I’m fighting insinuations that I had Kyra’s ex-husband’s beaten up. It’s cramped our socialization, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Silence from Mia. Interesting.

“Was the cop anyone I knew?”

“No, he wasn’t at Louie’s party.” The one where we met.

“I guess I’m a bit jealous. That’s new for me. I’m counting the days until Monday.” It had to be hard for her to admit that. But damn it, he needed to focus on his cases, not his love life.

“I hope I can clear these cases soon. How about we plan on a long weekend away next month?”

“I like that idea. I won’t bother you again until Monday.”

“You’re not bothering me. I have a lot on my mind right now. I’ll call you tonight if I can.”

* * * *

Kyra bought the car at lunchtime. The silver Audi looked to be in good shape. Title in hand, she dashed off to the Motor Vehicles Department and got temporary plates. Before she took it home, she stopped at Staples and picked markers to play around with the numbers on the temporary plate. She drove the car home, garaged it, then called a cab to pick up her car. At the curb, while she waited for the taxi to arrive, she placed a call to Dina. Nobody needed to know about the new car.

“Dina,” she said, the minute the phone was answered. “I won’t be back this afternoon. My errands are taking longer than I expected. Mark it off as vacation hours.”

The cab arrived as she hung up. When she got to her car, Kyra headed to her parents’ house to visit her mother. She feigned a headache and asked to lie down for a while. Once upstairs, she opened her old closet. She moved around several of her mother’s hat boxes. In the largest one, she hid half the money, in case she got caught.

This money took care of Trevor’s future. With the money secured in the closet, Kyra left an envelope addressed it to her parents on her old bed. Her mother vacuumed all the rooms every day. She’d find it tomorrow. It was a dramatic gesture, but she needed to let them know how much she loved them and trusted them to take care of Trevor if anything happened to her. She’d given them ammunition against Tom and his parents to make sure they got custody.

Back downstairs in her mother’s kitchen she sat at the table while her mother made tea. The kitchen needed updating. It hadn’t changed since her teens. The maple table displayed a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers her mother had picked from her garden. The wallpaper, yellowed with time, needed to be changed out. She’d go nuts looking at those big blue flowers on the wall all the time, but her mother didn’t seem to mind.

“What’s the matter, Kyra?”

“Everything and nothing.”

“Well, that makes sense.” Her mother’s concerned look almost had her confessing.

“Mom, someone beat Tom up last night.”

“No.” Fear and suspicion spread over her mother’s face.

“Yes, I was questioned, but I didn’t have anything to do with it. It seems he’s been out drinking every night. I hate that Tom’s been leaving Trevor with his parents most nights. It’s not good for Trevor.”

“No, it isn’t. His mother’s a horrible woman.”

“She is. Trevor doesn’t like her. I have a favor to ask, Mom.”

“What is it?”

“If I can’t get custody of Trevor, will you and Dad petition the court for it?”

Her mother didn’t answer right away. She walked back to the stove, lifted the teakettle and poured the water into a cup. After a few seconds she turned and locked eyes with her.

“Yes, we will.”

Kyra got up from her chair and hugged her mother. Pleased that Trevor’s future was settled, Kyra left her parents’ house to head to the school to pick him up. Before she reached the school her cell phone rang.

“Mrs. Russell?”

“Yes?”

“This is Sister Mary Joseph at All Saints School. Can you come immediately?” Oh God, had something happened to Trevor? “Yes, what’s wrong?”

“It seems during recess Trevor went into the building to use the restrooms and hasn’t been seen since.”

“What do mean he hasn’t been seen? Someone abducted him?” Kyra screamed into the phone.

“Our cameras don’t show him leaving the building again. I’m sure he’s in a classroom playing somewhere.”

Her hands trembled on the steering wheel as she pressed the pedal to the floor. Was he okay? Did someone take him? Was Phil involved? He’d better stay away from her son or she’d kill him with her bare hands.

“I’m a block away. I’m going to hold you personally responsible for finding my son. And he better be safe.” She didn’t care she was screaming at a nun. How dare they lose Trevor.

Kyra sped down the street and had to swerve to avoid hitting a delivery truck. She frantically called Jake, informing him of the situation and begging him to meet her at the school. As she pulled up to the building, she slammed out of her car and raced up the school steps. The information officer tried to stop her. “Get the hell out of my way. Why weren’t you doing your job when my son went missing?”

“Mrs. Russell, please come to my office,” Principal Sister Mary Joseph said.

“I want to search along with your team. If Trevor hears my voice he’ll come out if here’s still here.” Dear God please let him be here.

Kyra rushed into the first classroom, pulled open every door and the closet, then moved on to the next one. Twenty minutes later her cell phone rang.

“Right out from under their noses. See how easy it is, Kyra. Make sure you stay loyal.”

“Where the hell is my son?” she shouted into the phone, but the line went dead.

Jake rushed down the hall. Kyra saw him as she turned. “Do you have news?” she asked him.

“No, who were you talking to?”

“Someone, and I didn’t recognize their voice, is taunting me. He said it was easy to snatch him from under their noses. Oh, Jake, we have to find Trevor.”

“We will, Kyra, let’s keep looking.”

In the basement by an unused furnace, they found him in the corner playing with some toys.

“Mommy, I was scared.”

“Who took you here?”

“One of the teachers told me to wait here. It was a game, but she never came back.”

Well, at least they knew they were looking for a woman. But who?

“I’m your mother’s friend, Trevor. Do you remember me?”

“Yes, you’re a policeman.”

“That’s right, can you tell me what the teacher looked like?”

“No, she’s a new one.”

Kyra and Jake both looked over at Sister Mary Joseph. “We have two subs filling in today. Let’s go talk to them.”

The first substitute Kyra questioned wasn’t the one, Trevor insisted. The second one was nowhere to be found.

The principal checked the cameras while she, Trevor and Jake watched the screen.

“There she is,” Trevor shouted as a woman with her face partially covered dashed from the building.

“Do you know her, Sister? Kyra?” Jake asked.

“No,” they answered in unison.

“She’s never substituted here before?”

“No,” Sister Mary Joseph said.

Kyra hadn’t let go of Trevor since she found him. Her heart rate hammered away in her chest.

“Kyra, I need your phone. I’ll put a trace on the caller. You said it was a man?”

“It sounded like one,” she said as she handed it over to Jake. “I want the bastard caught and locked away, Jake.”

Jake escorted Kyra to her pediatrician’s office to get Trevor checked out.

“Where to now?” Jake asked when the doctor had finished with Trevor.

“I have to take him to Tom’s, but I don’t want to let him out of my sight.”

“I understand that. I’ll follow you there. After you drop him off we’ll need to talk. I’m going to trace the number before we get together. How about we meet at my house?” Jake asked.

“It might be awhile, I have to update Tom.”

“Not a problem, call me when you’re done.”

* * * *

Kyra sat with Trevor and Tom for over an hour. Her fear still had its claws in her. She understood who the call had come from. Though Phil wasn’t in the area, he had somehow arranged it. While she played with Trevor, she realized she’d have to tell Jake everything for Trevor’s sake. What ripped her heart apart was the realization that if she took Trevor with her, he’d be in constant danger. Something she didn’t want for her son. No, she had to disappear and break all contact with him. Hopefully someday he’d understand.

“Mommy, you’re smothering me.”

“Sorry, honey. I was scared today. Remember always how much I love you. Promise.”

“I promise.”

She kissed Trevor goodbye and hugged him to her chest. At the door, she turned back for one last look. How had she ruined their lives? Gambling, but it was more than that, it was all rooted in her stubbornness. If she’d only gotten help in the beginning…now she had to pay the ultimate price. Her son.

* * * *

Sitting at the curb for a good ten minutes before she was able to steady her hands, Kyra put the car in gear then drove across town to meet with Jake. He’d picked his house for privacy. Was she walking into a trap? Did he find out who the caller was? Her anxiety level rose as did the bile in her stomach. A tidal wave crashing onto the shore, its contents rushing up before heading out again. Halfway across town she pulled to the curb, threw open her door, leaned out, and threw up. The horrible taste stayed in her mouth, but she didn’t have any water to rinse it out. Better get driving, Kyra. Relax. Jake can’t know anything unless he’s clairvoyant. Hold it together, and in two hours you’ll be gone. Sentenced to hell. A life without Trevor.

As she drove into Jake’s driveway, his front door opened. Great. What’s he in such a hurry to tell me? Kyra got out of her old car. Glad she was smart enough she didn’t use the new one. At least something had gone her way today. She walked to the door and was shocked when Jake leaned down and kissed her. Well, that’s another good sign.

“Come in. Do you want something to drink?”

“I promised Tom I’d be back. Trevor’s still upset.”

“Is it safe to be at Tom’s?”

“Yes, Trevor’s safety is our only concern. What do you want to talk about? Mia?”

“No, it’s not. First the caller’s number was a burner cell. We can’t trace it. I want to discuss several things. A cop was killed the other day. It’s looking like Phil Lucci is involved.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m positive. This cop was on the take. He ties into the Missing Persons’ case I’m working.”

“Who was the cop?”

“Carl Stack. I asked you about him the other night.”

“I remember, but I didn’t understand why you did.”

“Because of your connection to Phil Lucci.”

Kyra stared at Jake, dumbfounded. “Jake, my connection—two dates doesn’t make a connection. We’ve been over this time and time again. Why do you keep asking?”

“You’ve had more than two dates with him, which you told me yourself. You went to his house for dinner a couple of times and to a restaurant in Rhode Island. Why?”

“He asked me. I didn’t see the harm in it then. I won’t go again, now that I know he’s tied into a murder. I took your reaction as jealousy.” Lord, she hoped he brought it.

He seemed to ignore her answer. “I asked myself over and over what Phil Lucci wanted with you. In the beginning, I kept coming back to the fact that you’re a beautiful woman. Then I found out who and what he was. I had to ask myself the question again. Each time the answer I come up with is that he wanted to use you. It only made sense if it had something to do with what you do for a living.”

She stood paralyzed. Sweat gathered between her breasts as she tried to find the strength to form an intelligent answer. It had to be a good one to appease him.

“You’ve got nothing to say?”

“I—I’m speechless. What exactly do I do for him?” Dear God, don’t make me only a few hours too late to leave. A fist squeezed her heart until she almost burst open and confessed. Hold it together. You’re almost gone.

“You’re not that naïve.” Jake hadn’t broken eye contact with her since she’d walked in the door. Was he trying to intimidate her?

“What you’re suggesting is obscene.” They’d been standing. She walked farther into the room, took a seat in one of his chairs.

“I’m going to find my answers, Kyra. I hope I’m wrong.” He sat on the coffee table in front of her and took her hands in his. “If you are involved with him, tell me now. I want to help you. I’ll go to the DA and get you a deal. It’s Lucci they want, not you.”

Cops are liars. Was this a trick to nail her? What should she do? Christ, all she’d wanted was money to get custody of her son. Now she had money and no Trevor.

“After today, I trust no one.” She stood. “Don’t bother coming over tonight or any night, for that matter. We’re done.”

She turned. Started walking toward the door. He grabbed her by the arm, spun her around.

“Don’t you understand that I care about you? If you’re in trouble, I’ll help you. You have to trust me.”

“Trust is a two-way street, Jake.”

She disengaged her arm as tears ran down her face. “This isn’t how I pictured our last night together.”