Poker Face Page 18

  “And the cash?” He was quick to fix her with his gaze.

  She looked away before he did. “It’ll be in the usual drop spot.”

  He nodded, satisfied, then put the envelope on his lap. “Are the routes shifted?”

  Teep nodded. “Boren is now the hub. We’ll re-route things as you get established somewhere else.”

  He nodded, pleased with himself. He had no intention of telling them what he was actually going to do, but as a back-up plan, it wasn’t bad.

  “Any luck on finding it?” His voice was cool as he looked back at Veronica.

  She flushed, then shook her head.

  He sighed. “Disappointing.”

  “I’ve tried Cairo’s house, Steven’s, anywhere she would have gone.” Veronica sounded as frustrated as he did.

  “Well, you know what’s at risk if you don’t find it.” He tsked. “I’d search harder if I were you.” There was a reason he’d installed a key logger virus on his computer. It’d told him Cairo had made a copy, just not where she had stashed it.

  Veronica stood, her hands fists at her sides. Then she pushed out of the hidden room, heading into the main area before leaving.

  “Such a temper,” he remarked.

  Teep laughed, but didn’t speak.

  He swirled his alcohol, staring at it. Veronica was targeting the cop. Why? Was there something special about her? Maybe Cairo was bluffing and the flash drive didn’t exist.

  Maybe she wasn’t. He was in too much potential danger to ignore it. But the option ‘kill everyone and run’ was looking more and more tempting.

  Starting with the nosy coffee shop owner.

  28

  Monday 7th November; 6pm

  Liv stifled a yawn as she headed home from the hospital. Gram’s surgery had been a success and she would be coming home soon. Liv had parked her car back behind another building, to keep from cluttering up the main street. Mocha was by her side as they walked the couple blocks to the cafe.

  The air was brisk around her, and she tilted her head up with a smile, looking at the stars starting to twinkle in the sky. Everything had gone well, and Gram would be home soon. What would things be like? How much help would she need? Even as the anxiety threatened to surround her, she remembered Ryan’s words.

  No matter what happened, they would be okay.

  It was strange, how so few words could make her feel that much better. But they did. Especially since she had seen Ryan almost every day since Gram’s fall. She sometimes even stayed over. They were officially dating now. It was such a strange concept to Liv after ten years, but it felt so familiar at the same time.

  “Hey.”

  Liv didn’t recognize the voice at first, until she half-turned and saw Veronica. Cairo’s cousin. Liv’s brow furrowed. There was anxiety in Veronica’s face, an apprehension she didn’t like. “Do you need something?”

  Veronica came closer, her gaze shifting. Liv gripped Mocha’s leash tighter, preparing to run.

  “I wouldn’t do that.” The blade of a knife tickled Liv’s throat. Mocha was starting to growl now. “I’d shut the dog up.”

  Liv would have much rather let Mocha chew the shit out of Veronica, but she didn’t know exactly how dangerous she was. “Shh, Mocha.” Mocha quieted, but it was reluctantly.

  “Where is it?” Veronica asked, the knife wavering against her neck.

  “Where’s what?” Liv sounded puzzled, but then the pieces clicked in her head.

  “I know she gave it to you.” Veronica started them walking, the knife going behind Liv’s back to keep as a silent threat without being noticed. “We’re just two friends, going on a nice walk.”

  Liv wanted to snort, but she didn’t. It didn’t take her long to realize they were heading towards her cafe. She was looking for the flash drive, the one Liv had found.

  Had Cairo placed it there? Or had someone else? Either way, it seemed to be in demand. Where had Veronica come from? Liv hadn’t seen a car. Was it hidden somewhere?

  Liv unlocked the back door, grunting when Veronica shoved her through. “Find it,” Veronica demanded.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liv repeated, but her gaze flickered towards the front area of the cafe.

  “I know you know what I’m looking for.” The knife tickled her throat again.

  “I don’t have it.” Liv’s voice was flat.

  “But you did?” Veronica held her taunt.

  “Someone stole it.” Liv shrugged and tried to casually put a hand in her pocket.

  “Hands up.” Veronica’s voice was lethal. Liv put her hands where Veronica could see them.

  “Where is it?” Veronica repeated, and there was a desperation to her voice that confused Liv.

  “I don’t know.” Liv put as much truth into that as she could. “You can stab me or hurt me and I still won’t know where it is.”

  Veronica started flipping tables over, looking underneath them. Liv could spot the table from a distance, the one she had taken the flash drive from. Now that she knew what to look for, it was easy as pie to spot the indent. But Veronica didn’t.

  Liv slid her hand into her pocket and texted Ryan.

  SOS. Cafe.

  Hopefully Ryan would see it and come to her rescue. It was Liv’s best chance, whether or not Veronica let her go.

  “He’ll kill my family.” Veronica sounded desperate, and she whirled on Liv. “Where is it?”

  “Who?” Liv asked. “Go to the police. The police can protect you.”

  Veronica snorted. She turned back to the cafe, which was now going to be a pain in the butt to clean. Well, if Liv survived long enough to clean it.

  “Damnit.” She threw a towel across the room, frustration clear across her face. Veronica turned to look at Liv, hatred warring with a need to do whatever she could to get what she needed. Then she cracked, settled down on a chair and began sobbing.

  Liv texted Ryan again, highly cautious of Veronica’s mood switches. She needed to get out of there, and she knew it. But her phone hadn’t vibrated with any incoming messages.

  Where was Ryan? Why wasn’t she answering?

  Ryan sat at her desk in one of the group rooms, going over the financial statements they had on all three of the primary players. Some of Cairo’s big deposits could be traced to Steven, some couldn’t. There were also some deposits into Charles’ account. But others, the ones that couldn’t be traced, were obviously coming from foreign sources.

  Gambling? Drugs? There was so much Ryan didn’t know.

  “I thought I ordered you off this case, Olsen.” The Chief’s gruff voice caught her off guard.

  “It’s in relation to my missing person’s case, Sir,” Ryan said with as many manners as she could manage. It was hard, when she really wanted to tell him to stuff it.

  The Chief stared at her, and there was a hardness there that Ryan didn’t appreciate at all. Then he disappeared.

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Ryan muttered under her breath. She heard Dane snort next to her.

  Ryan turned back to her documentation, thinking over the cases. They all had something to do with the bar. And Ross hadn’t been able to confirm Steven’s alibi. Maybe it was worth having another talk with him.

  Leaving Dane behind, she headed to the bar and saw Ross’s car in the parking lot. She let out a sigh of relief. At least he was there. Locking the patrol car behind her, she headed towards the bar’s entrance. It was closed, so she knocked a few times, her ear tilted towards the bar so she could hear.

  It took a few seconds, but then she heard the scraping of someone getting up and heading to the door. Then the bolt made the clacking noise and the door swung open. Ross stood there, his hair a bit ruffled. “Detective Olsen.” He seemed surprised. “Can I help you?”

  Ryan nodded. “May I come in?”

  “Sure.” Ross pushed the door open further, letting Ryan in the door. “What can I help you with?”

  Ryan headed towa
rds the bar, taking a sweeping view of the room. It looked just as she remembered it, except the bar was half-stocked, as if they weren’t quite ready for the evening crowds yet. “So you serve alcohol here?”

  “Yes.” Ross looked perplexed. “It’s a bar.”

  “What about other types of drugs?” Ryan leaned forward slightly. “Off the record.” Kind of. Not really, but sometimes people bought that.

  Ross frowned. “Of course not. I don’t allow that stuff here.”

  “What about Veronica?” Ryan kept her voice casual. There was something here, there had to be. She wasn’t certain where else to look.

  Fear passed over Ross’s face, and Ryan knew she had hit on something. “We’ll keep your name out of it,” she assured him.

  Ross exhaled slowly. “Steven deals drugs here, sometimes,” he said. He grimaced.

  “Why didn’t you tell me when we spoke previously?” Ryan knew there were tons of various answers, but she was curious as to his reasoning specifically.

  “He threatened to kill my family.” Ross looked away from her.

  “You’re married?” There was a hint of surprise in Ryan’s voice.

  He nodded. “Wife’s back in Seattle. I’m just down here for a few months to get experience so I can get a job back home.”

  Ryan jotted that down in her mind. “Is there anything else you can tell me about Steven?”

  Ross thought for a moment and then shook his head. “Don’t mention me when you talk to him, okay?” There was a pleading tone to his voice.

  “I won’t,” Ryan assured him. She pulled out her phone to jot down electronic notes and paused, seeing Liv’s text.

  “Shit,” she muttered under her breath. She looked up at Ross. “Look, I have to go. If you think of anything, give me a call, yeah?”

  Ross nodded, and before Ryan could ask him anything else, she ran out the door.

  She got to the cafe quickly enough that she probably should have earned a speeding ticket, but she didn’t care. She didn’t see Liv's car nearby, but that didn’t mean anything. Maybe she had parked it somewhere else.

  The front door was unlocked, and she pushed it open. The cafe was dark, now, and empty. Apprehension was gathering in Ryan’s stomach, worry pulling at her. Where was Liv? What had happened?

  Maybe she was at home. Giving the cafe one last look, Ryan turned and headed back to her car.

  “I’m sorry.” Veronica’s voice was whisper-soft in Liv’s ear. Liv was pulled against her, Veronica’s back to the cobblestone walkway at the rear of the coffee shop. The knife was pressed against Liv’s throat again, close enough she could feel it against her skin and she was afraid to swallow.

  Liv didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure what to say, after all. What did you say to a crazy person holding a knife to your throat?

  She could hear Ryan’s voice calling her name. Could hear the sound of Ryan’s car driving away. All she wanted to do was scream and run, go flee to Ryan and her protection. But she couldn’t.

  “He’ll kill your grandmother,” Veronica said, her voice dark and gravely.

  Liv didn’t answer.

  “And my family.”

  Liv knew that was more important. She wanted to close her eyes, hide from the horror in front of her, but she couldn’t. Instead she felt Veronica grab something from her pocket. “Hands behind your back.” Liv did as she was told.

  Zip ties were put around her wrists, bound tight but not too tight. She was grateful for that, at least.

  “Now walk.” Veronica nudged her forward.

  Liv wanted to kick, to fight. But what if Veronica was telling the truth, that someone would go after Gram? She was in the safety of the hospital for now but what would happen if Liv wasn’t there for her? Hot tears spilled down her cheeks, the emotion threatening to choke her.

  It was a few blocks before they got to where Veronica wanted her. “Get in the car.” Veronica popped the trunk open, and pointed for Liv to get in. It was a new Chevy of some sort. The trunk was quite roomy. Not that Liv particularly cared, but at least she wasn’t going to suffocate to death. Numbly she sat on the rim of the car and then tried to scoot in without hitting herself.

  Then Veronica grabbed her feet and bound them together with the same zip ties she had used on Liv’s hands. “Don’t say a word, or I’ll gag you,” she threatened.

  Liv closed her eyes, and felt the car shake as Veronica shut the trunk. She was alone in the darkness. Even when the trunk lights lit up, they were only faint slivers of light that didn’t give her a lot to work with.

  Her breathing was starting to come too fast, her heart racing. She had to get it together.

  She took a few deep breaths, trying to settle herself. She’d get out of there.

  It was like Ryan said. No matter what, they’d get through it. Liv would make it out of this situation.

  She hoped.

  Shifting in the trunk, she oriented herself so that her feet were pointing towards at least one of the tail lights. It was something she’d read in a book, being able to kick out a tail light to alert passersby that someone was in the trunk and needed help.

  Was it even possible in modern-day cars? She had no idea. It wasn’t like the book had included a list of cars that it worked on.

  She took another deep breath and tensed her core muscles so she could kick the small light that signaled the rear-view lights. Nothing. But she kept at it.

  What other choice did she have?

  She was starting to make progress, feeling it give a tiny bit, when the car slid to a stop. Where were they? Were they done already?

  A chill ran down her spine. Had Veronica taken her somewhere remote to kill her? No, that made less sense. Veronica was obviously working for someone. Was it Steven, maybe?

  She heard voices, muffled by the fabric of the trunk. She shifted again, trying to get her feet so she could kick whoever came. It was a stupid move, really, but it was the only one she had.

  Liv knew that once she was out of the car, once she was in their grasp, she was in serious trouble.

  The trunk popped before she was ready, the bright lights around them blinding her before she could do anything. Was that a flashlight? No, it was something else. Something that hurt.

  She was pulled roughly out of the trunk, the binding on her feet cut so she could walk. Her hands stayed bound behind her back. Which was worse compared to binding them in front of her, in her opinion.

  “You’re still poking around.” Ross’s voice surprised her, then he sighed.

  Liv lifted her head, looking between him and Veronica. Veronica wasn’t looking at him, and the knife had apparently gone somewhere else. Ross apparently didn’t need such tools to threaten someone. The ice Liv could see in his eyes was scary enough.

  “Now, what are we going to do with you?”

  29

  Monday 7th November; 8pm

  Ryan parked back in front of the cafe, her heart starting to race. She’d checked Liv’s home, her home, the hospital. No one had seen her. Deciding to take it a step further this time, she started walk a block to the right from the cafe, looking down any of the alleyways she could see.

  Nothing.

  The other direction. Three more alleyways, and then she saw it. A zip tie lying on the floor.

  Ryan’s heart sank. That wasn’t good. Had someone taken her?

  Duh, she reminded herself. That was the obvious answer. Maybe it was the Chief? He knew how close Liv had gotten to the case - and how close Ryan had gotten. He was the logical person to be snarled up in the murders. If the drug runners had a police contact, it’d make sense for it to be him. How else would they have avoided trouble for so long?

  She dialed Dane. There wasn’t anyone else she was willing to talk to. She’d worked with Dane for over five years now. He was one of the smartest cops on their small force. “Dane?”

  “You okay, Ryan?” His voice was muffled, like he was half asleep.

  “Liv’s gone.” Ryan paced, the
n headed back to her patrol car. “Where can you meet me?”

  “I’ll meet you outside the department in ten.” He hung the phone up.

  Ryan tossed her cell onto the passenger seat and started her car, heading straight to the station. Speeding tickets were worth it, because every second mattered in a possible abduction.

  When she got to the station, Dane’s patrol car was parked off to the far side of the employee lot. Ryan pulled up next to him, casting a glance around the parking lot. It was late enough and dark enough that no one could see or overhear them. That would be useful.

  “What happened?” Dane asked, concern in his face and voice.

  Ryan showed him the SOS text from Liv. “When I arrived, no one was there.” Her face was grim. “I think someone’s been targeting Liv.”

  “What?” Dane blinked, then it dawned on him. “The break-in?”

  “Yeah.” Ryan sighed. “What do we know?”

  “About what?”

  “The cases.” Ryan exhaled in a rush. “Steven’s got an alibi for Charles’s murder but not for Cairo’s, and vice versa. Of course Charles has an alibi for his own murder.” She made a face at herself. She was starting to get senseless with worry.

  Then it hit her. “He said he was scared of Steven.” The words were almost a whisper.

  “What?” Dane looked at her, curious.

  “I talked to Ross and he said he was scared of Steven, that Steven was dealing drugs in his bar.” There was triumph in her voice now. “How would he have not noticed Steven in the bar that night?”

  “So who’s lying?” Dane frowned. “Or are neither of them lying?”

  Some of the air deflated out of Ryan’s sails. That was a good question. “Let’s go to the bar.”

  They took Dane’s car, and were quiet on the drive. All Ryan could do was turn the cases over and over in her head, trying to look for anything she had missed that would potentially bring everything together. No matter what details she had, her gut was telling her that the bar was at the middle of it.