Adam hoped Voss was actually inside. The four cops who’d been watching the front and the back gate swore no one had gone in or out since they’d established surveillance the evening before, but Voss was smart. He couldn’t have built a successful business otherwise. He was also a sick, perverted asshole and Adam wanted to see him broken and humiliated and afraid, much like his victims had been.
‘There’s a keypad,’ Trip said. ‘I can call Mrs Voss and ask her for the code.’
‘Do you have her number?’ Nash asked. ‘I can look it up if you don’t.’
‘I do,’ Trip told him. ‘Her sister gave me all of their phone numbers when I checked their security alarm system last night.’
Adam exhaled. Calling Candace Voss was much more logical than the images flitting through Adam’s mind – specifically those of him crashing one of the department vehicles through the gates and shoving Voss’s fucking head through a fucking wall. Because Voss had stalked Meredith and had maybe tried to have her killed yesterday and quite possibly tried to have them all killed that afternoon. Now Meredith was hurt and Adam wanted Voss to hurt much worse.
Shit. I’m losing it. And I can’t do that. He needed a few minutes to chill. And maybe to eat something. That usually helped. ‘That sounds like a plan,’ he said, his voice far calmer and saner than he felt. ‘I need to get something from my car.’
Both Trip and Nash gave him sympathetic nods because he’d told them about Meredith. ‘Go,’ Trip said. ‘I’ll let you know when we have the codes.’
Grateful, Adam headed back to the car he’d signed out of the department fleet, feeling a bit too vulnerable to drive his own vehicle after being shot at. If he was a target, for whatever reason, a department car lent a small measure of anonymity.
He slid behind the wheel and found one of the power bars Deacon had shoved in his coat pocket, telling him that Faith made sure he never left the house without them. It was thick and stuck in his throat, but ultimately it was fuel and that’s what he needed.
Fuel and sleep. Damn, I’m tired. The amazing sex at the condo had renewed him, but the few hours’ sleep that had followed were not enough, especially since he’d had a sleepless night the night before. And most of the nights before that for the past year. Falling asleep had been so much easier with the booze, and a sudden craving hit him, his mouth gone dry. I just want to be able to sleep again.
Which was a dirty lie. One that he’d often told himself during the months he’d crawled into the bottle. Just enough to sleep. But the sleep had never been restful. He’d woken up sick and even more tired. He didn’t need booze. He just needed peace.
Which he’d felt in Meredith’s arms. Soon, he told himself. Soon, he’d fall asleep in her arms and sleep all night. Until then, he had a warrant to serve. A vile snake to arrest.
A snake who threatened what’s mine. His chest tightened with a combination of fear and rage that stole his breath. Because Meredith was hurting. In the hospital. Without me. Because someone – either Voss or someone connected to him – wanted them dead.
And he needed to put that rage away right now or he really would end up shoving Voss’s head through a wall. Then the bastard would get his lawyers to sue and somehow the snake would slither free. So cool your jets, Kimble. Stay calm.
At least he knew Meredith was feeling well enough to text. He read the message she’d sent him. Isenberg told me that you know about the ER. Don’t want you to worry. I’m fine. They’re prepping me for a CT scan so they can be sure. JUST A PRECAUTION. Followed by three emojis – a heart, a smiley, and a kiss.
Jesus. He made himself breathe. A precaution. Just a precaution.
His pulse was almost back to normal when Hanson’s car pulled up behind him with a squeal of brakes. Hanson jumped out and approached so aggressively that Adam got out of his car to see what was wrong.
‘Your boss is a fucking piece of work,’ Hanson spat. ‘Calling me on the phone and summoning me like a fucking kid to the principal’s office.’
Adam did not have the time nor the patience for Hanson’s tantrum. ‘She can be brusque at times, but she’s a damn good cop and an even better boss. More importantly, she was right. Get over yourself, Wyatt,’ he snapped. ‘We’re here to do a goddamn job.’ And the sooner Adam finished it, the sooner he could be with Meredith.
Hanson was visibly taken aback. ‘Who the fuck shitted in your Wheaties?’
Adam pushed the rage back down. He was angry with Voss, not Wyatt Hanson. He really needed to get hold of himself. ‘Look, Wyatt, I’m sorry. I’m worried right now and . . .’ He shook his head. Focus on the job. ‘I need your help on this. We need to be smart because Voss is a rich sonofabitch with slippery lawyers. This has to be textbook. Neither of us can go in there angry and make a mistake.’
Hanson’s expression softened. ‘What’s wrong? Is it your mom again?’
‘No.’ Although he owed his mother a phone call, just so she could hear his voice and know he was okay. ‘It’s Meredith. Dr Fallon, I mean.’ He told him about the ER visit. ‘I know she’s okay, but I’m worried.’
‘I understand. I’d feel the same way in your shoes.’ His brow furrowed. ‘She didn’t go alone, did she?’
‘No. Kate’s got her. Her grandfather and Mallory went with her.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘Meredith always has an entourage. I’d probably be in the way.’
Hanson’s eyes glinted with humor. ‘I doubt that very much,’ he said kindly.
The air between them was suddenly calmed and cleared. ‘What happened?’ Adam asked. ‘Where were you all this time?’
Hanson huffed out a breath that hung between them for a second or two. ‘I thought I’d seen her. The girl, I mean. But your LT picked that moment to call and give me a ration of shit, and I lost her. Did we get an ID on the victim? Bruiser?’
‘Not yet.’ Adam frowned. ‘Where was Linnie when you lost her?’
‘Outside Music Hall. They’d just let out one of the Nutcracker performances and there were people everywhere, taking pictures and shit.’ Hanson shook his head. ‘The crowd spilled into Washington Park and that’s where I lost her, because your boss called and demanded I return. I looked down at my phone for the Caller ID and that’s when she disappeared. I told the search team where to keep looking, but by then she was long gone.’
Adam sighed. ‘That whole area is congested this time of year.’ The gentrification of Over-The-Rhine had brought in dozens of restaurants and bars. This time of year they were hopping with revelers and holiday work parties.
‘Hey, Adam!’ Trip called. ‘I got the codes.’
‘The gate codes,’ Adam explained to Hanson. ‘Trip had to get them from Mrs Voss because Mr Voss isn’t answering his intercom. Come on. We’ve got a warrant to serve.’
‘What does the warrant cover?’ Hanson asked.
‘Everything,’ Adam said with satisfaction. ‘His little girl told us enough to get us unlimited access to his house, office, car, and bank records.’
‘Then I’m right behind you,’ Hanson said. ‘Good job, Adam.’
‘Wasn’t me. Meredith Fallon got the goods.’
‘Hope he didn’t change the codes,’ Trip said when Adam and Hanson got to the gate.
Trip radioed Deacon, who was with Scarlett at the back gate. ‘Back gate code is 0915.’
‘Got it,’ Deacon replied. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘Front gate code is 0713.’ Trip punched it in, and everyone breathed in relief when it began to swing open. Having to call for an armored truck to push through the gates would have taken time.
Adam radioed Deacon. ‘We’re open here.’
‘Us too,’ Deacon said. ‘We’re driving through right now.’
Adam got back in his car and followed the team through the front gate to the wide, circular driveway. On the porch, Adam tapped his radio. ‘Going in,’ he said. He knocked hard and waited. Nothing. He knocked harder. ‘Mr Voss! Police. We need to talk to you.’
Nothing.
‘Now what?’ Hanson asked.
Adam pulled the house keys from his pocket. ‘We go in.’
Hanson blinked. ‘Where did you get the keys?’
‘His wife gave them to Isenberg.’ Which you’d have known if you’d been at the briefing. He opened the door and was immediately hit with a blast of heat. And then . . .