Hold for Release, page 17
He stuffed the phone in his pocket. “Are you sure you are OK?”
Carlotta rubbed her neck with one hand. “I just need some fresh air. Can we go outside?”
“Sure.” Geoffrey opened the sliding glass door. He sat down at the patio table, and she paced around the yard. How much longer until the police arrived? She ambled across his lawn, putting distance between the two of them.
“I’m thirsty. Would you like me to get you some water, too?” he asked.
“No, thank you.”
Geoffrey went back inside.
She swallowed hard. This might be her only chance. She scurried to the corner gate. A padlock adorned the gate lock. Wait, there was another gate. Over by the garage. She jogged over to examine the second gate. It was older and overgrown by ivy. Carlotta pushed some of the ivy out of the way. No lock. This was her chance. Her shoulders relaxed and then tensed as a hand clasped her mouth.
“Shhhh. I see I have a text message that was read before I opened it.”
“What did you do to Jake?” She clawed at his hand, but he held onto her tighter.
“Tsk. Tsk. You should have minded your business. And Jake, he’ll get what he deserves…my revenge.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
He grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him. “What have you done?” Geoffrey strengthened his grip, opened the gate, and marched her out back to his car.
Carlotta gasped. Revenge for what? She’d been mad at Jake for committing adultery. How mad must Geoffrey be to be willing to commit murder? What had Jake done, or what did Geoffrey think he did? Jake reported the news. Maybe a story Geoffrey really didn’t like.
Geoffrey removed a pistol from his pocket, pushed the barrel against the small of Carlotta’s back, and forced her in the vehicle. Once inside, he zip-tied her wrists.
Her heart raced. “You’re hurting me.”
“Yes, but also Jake.” Geoffrey took off down the alley. His eyes exuded a coldness she’d never experienced before.
Carlotta eyed the door lock. Her heartbeat thrashed in her ears. Could she reach for the door lock with her hands tied? And then what? Try to jump out while the car moved? What if he shot her? Then again, he planned on killing her, anyway.
19
A call came over the police radio. Jake was familiar with a few law enforcement codes but wasn’t sure what was taking place. Something lively from the looks on Detective Hadley’s face.
The detective called into the station and then turned to Detective Krouse. “Carlotta Hartman.”
Jake clenched his jaw. What had happened to his wife?
Hadley clucked his tongue, turned the car around, and headed in the opposite direction.
Dare he ask them what was happening? His mind flashed to the butchered dogs at the animal shelter. Had Geoffrey hurt Carlotta? Please, God, no. He made a mental inventory of landmarks along the way. As best as he could tell, they approached the Hyde Park neighborhood. C’mon. Why can’t he drive any faster? Jake took a deep breath. The police were doing their best. Yelling at them wouldn’t help. Detective Krouse was a fair person. She and Hadley had only arrested him based on planted evidence. Now, they would try to help his wife. Time to relax and work with the police, not against them.
Hadley pulled up to a Victorian house, complete with gingerbread woodwork and parked on the street. Several officers walked around the property.
Both officers emerged from the car and headed toward the house, leaving Jake cuffed and locked inside. He peered out the window. Carlotta’s car sat in the driveway. Maybe she was inside talking with police. Jake released a pent-up breath.
Was this where Geoffrey lived? Manicured topiaries lined the front. Jake snickered. Such a beautiful house and property for such an evil man. What was that he’d heard his granny say once? That Satan masqueraded as an angel of light?
He leaned back against the seat. Stuck in a car. Wanted for crimes he didn’t commit. Meanwhile, a madman had befriended his wife. Be strong and of good courage. God is with you wherever you go.
Jake slumped his shoulders. For much of his life, he’d tried to do things on his own. For once, Jake had no other choice but to trust God. His problems were beyond his control. He huffed. And who better to handle his concerns? The Creator of the universe. Why was it he thought he could do better than God in the first place? He shook his head. Pride.
If he and Carlotta ever moved past this, he’d live more humbly. What if Jake did have to go to prison? Well, that sure would bring some humility. Regardless, God was in control. He had a plan, a purpose for Jake’s life.
~*~
Detective Krouse jogged inside the house with the other detective close to her heels. If this man, this monster, had kidnapped Jake’s wife, it stood to reason he’d be the same kind to set up her friend. And she was fixin’ to exonerate him.
Krouse stood defensively and followed Hadley. He advanced toward a bedroom and motioned for her to check out a second room.
She tiptoed inside. No signs of Geoffrey or Carlotta. Crouching, she checked under the bed. Only one more spot, the closet. Krouse used one hand to hold her pistol and the other to slide open the closet door. Boxes stared back at her. No sign of Carlotta or Geoffrey.
Taking another glance around the closet, she spied notes and photos tacked to a bulletin board. Perhaps a clue as to Carlotta’s whereabouts. Creeping closer, she studied them.
Photos of a dead man at the animal shelter. Presumably taken by the killer himself. Photos of a younger man who had been gagged and had his hands bound. Krouse inspected it again. Didn’t he work with Jake? She nodded. Yep, he’d been missing. Add kidnapping to murder. Hopefully, the victim was still alive. Receipts for a florist? Photos of the jogger in the park. Photos of Carlotta Hartman, too. Wait, some of Carlotta and Jake, probably before they separated. She glanced at the desk to the side of the bulletin board. Baggies with a hairbrush and toothbrush inside labeled Jake Hartman. Notes on planting DNA.
Detective Hadley put a hand on her shoulder. “What is all this?”
“Looks like Geoffrey Walters fabricated and planted the evidence on Jake. If that’s true, we have nothing to hold him on. We’ll need to talk to a judge.”
Hadley clucked his tongue and nodded. “I’ll write out an affidavit for a search warrant.”
She shivered. A suspect so daring and proud he displayed the evidence like a trophy.
A cold, strange feeling overcame her. She’d sensed it once before at another crime scene, a particularly horrific one. If she had to put a name to it, it’d be evil. Krouse didn’t believe in ghosts, but she believed in God, and in right and wrong. Right now, she couldn’t help but feel she stood in the presence of something sinister. Protect me, Father, and Hadley. And Jake. Let the truth come out. Protect Jake’s wife. Help us catch this monster. Detective Krouse headed toward the front door of the house.
“I’ll contact the judge.” Krouse trekked toward the car. A wave of relief swept over her. She hadn’t misjudged Jake. Maybe she wasn’t such a bad judge of character after all.
~*~
Good thing Jake had made friends with Judge Raines over the years, and even better the judge made time that afternoon to sign the search warrant, review the evidence, and to release him. Detective Krouse referred to it as a ‘God thing.’ Otherwise, Jake might have remained in police custody longer. He gritted his teeth. Still, he’d wasted several hours. What had happened to Carlotta during that time? He blew out a breath. Please watch over her.
Krouse escorted Jake out of the courtroom. “You were set up.”
He nodded. “Drugged, too, by Allison Console. She’s working with him. I don’t know the connection.”
“Hmmm.”
“Geoffrey is friends with Carlotta, but for all I know, he could be dating Allison. She once mentioned revenge as a motive. But for what, I don’t know. Maybe I investigated something or reported on something they didn’t like.” Jake retrieved his phone from his pocket and sent a text. “There, I texted you her phone number and address. So where’s Carlotta?”
Detective Hadley avoided eye contact. “You are free to go, Mr. Hartman. I’m sorry, but we haven’t found your wife yet. But we won’t stop looking. I’ll let you know if we find anything. Take care.”
“Thank you.” Jake trudged down the sidewalk until he came to a bench and sat down. He called for a cab and then received a text.
Ghostly twin tunnels lie under the Rhine, and also a centaur hidden in time. Come alone to Hopple Street. Or an untimely death your wife will soon meet.
He held his breath. How did Geoffrey know the police had released him, unless… Was there at least one dirty cop on the inside, someone helping Geoffrey? Or perhaps, as an attorney, he’d used his law enforcement connections to pry information?
His phone dinged again. Another text from Geoffrey.
Leave your phone at home.
The creep had taken her, but where?
Come alone. Leave your phone at home.
Without knowing Geoffrey’s connection, and the tools of surveillance he might have at his disposal, Jake couldn’t involve the police. And he’d leave his phone at home. If they knew he had it, Carlotta’s life wouldn’t be worth anything. He shook his head as he reread the text. A riddle. Folklore. Randy would have been good at solving this. Had Geoffrey and Allison killed him, too? Or was he involved?
Twin tunnels? The Rhine…that was a river. Over the Rhine was a neighborhood in Cincinnati. But this was “under the Rhine.” Under? Like a cemetery? A hidden centaur? Hopple Street. Hmm…where was that?
Jake opened a browser on his phone and typed “twin tunnels under the Rhine centaur Hopple Street. He scanned the results. Hopple Street Tunnel? An abandoned part of the Cincinnati Subway? The tunnels. He’d forgotten about them. Mostly because the subway never went through. Guess he should have gone on that tour with Randy back when he’d offered.
He bit his lip. Should he text Krouse and Hadley and let them know what was up?
The taxi cab’s wheels screeched as the driver braked.
Jake climbed inside. After giving the cabbie directions to his house, he continued to read the search results. Caverns that stretched over two miles under Central Parkway. More tunnels under Hopple Street. Twenty-five thousand square feet of black nothingness. A dark, secluded underground location. Alone. He squirmed. Then his gaze shifted outside the window to a large church with stained glass windows. Nope, never alone. God was with Him.
Jake stepped out of the taxi and paid the cabbie his fare. He stood and stared at his house for a moment. It was a wonder Geoffrey and Allison hadn’t tried to burn it down yet. What would he need to wage battle in the dark? Light. Lots of it. He needed to make sure he had that, but first, he needed to print out Geoffrey’s clue.
After driving into town to an army surplus store, Jake bought night vision goggles and then hurried back home. Jake studied the goggles. I’m just a journalist, not a Navy Seal. What am I doing?
He’d been home for about five minutes when the doorbell rang. He stashed the night goggles in a kitchen drawer and answered the front door. “Hello.”
Detectives Krouse and Hadley stood outside. Had they found Carlotta already? Why didn’t they just call? They were there in person. Did that mean something bad had happened, and they’d come to break the news to him?
Jake opened the door and gestured. “Come on in.”
Both detectives stepped inside. “We’re still looking for your wife,” Hadley said. “We believe Geoffrey Walters kidnapped her. With her car outside, and her not at his house, and his vehicle missing, we believe he’s taken her somewhere.”
“Do you have any recent photos of your wife we may use? Also, any items of clothing we can give to a bloodhound?” Krouse asked.
To find her alive or to identify a body? Please let her be alive, God.
“She hasn’t stayed here recently, but she left behind some coats. Follow me.”
Krouse followed Jake into his bedroom.
Detective Hadley stayed behind on the couch.
Jake gave Krouse some photos and two jackets that belonged to Carlotta.
“They’re all here except one. She must have taken one with her. It’s dark green. The hood has fur on it.”
Krouse gave an understanding nod. “We’ll do our best to find her, Jake.”
“I know.”
Both detectives went outside.
Jake waited until they pulled out of the driveway before grabbing his night vision goggles and shrugging on a fishing vest with large pockets. Should he have told them about the text? No, Geoffrey had warned him. Come alone.
~*~
Krouse got into the car.
Hadley started the vehicle and drove away from Jake Hartman’s house. He turned toward her. “I hate to tell you, but Jake isn’t being completely forthcoming.”
She tilted her head to one side and pursed her lips. “What do you mean?”
“I found this on his counter.” He kept one hand on the wheel, and when he stopped at the nearest stop sign, he handed her his cell phone.
Krouse looked at the photo. “A poem?”
Hadley shrugged. “He had a printout of a text message. I took a photo. Maybe the message is from Walters. Can’t blame him for not saying anything though. It’s his wife, and Walters instructed him to come alone and threatened him if he didn’t. Fear can cause people to make poor decisions.”
She read the poem. “Ghostly twin tunnels lie under the Rhine, and also a centaur hidden in time. Come alone to Hopple Street. Or an untimely death your wife will soon meet.” Please, God, help us find this woman.
Hadley knitted his brows. “Under the Rhine? Twin tunnels?”
“Maybe underpasses?”
“Perhaps. Are there any near the Over the Rhine neighborhood?”
Krouse looked out the window and stared at nothing in particular. “Oh, I’m sure there are probably a few. Guess we’ll have to drive around and check each one.”
“There’s that underground nightclub.”
“Would he take her to a public place? Wait, didn’t it mention a centaur? Maybe that’s a clue, too.” Krouse reread the poem. “It also mentions Hopple Street. Wait….” Detective Krouse’s jaw dropped. “The old subway.”
Hadley’s eyes widened. “Hopple Street Tunnel. Over by Central Parkway. Let’s go.”
Hadley looked as though he’d seen a ghost.
“You OK?” she asked.
“Just the thought of that place gives me the heebie jeebies. It takes a lot to do that. Which is saying something. Let’s head over there but definitely call for back up.” He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Look, I know you believe in God. Maybe now’s the time to pray or something.”
“Oh, I’ve been praying. Believe me.”
20
Geoffrey drove Carlotta to a secluded location. He led her out of the car. She glanced at the wooded terrain surrounding her. The forest foliage was a welcome contrast to the interior of the madman’s vehicle. Carlotta studied the landscape. No hikers in sight.
She inhaled fresh air and then swallowed hard. The blonde from Jake’s workplace—Allison—stepped out of the car and flashed a devilish grin. What did Jake ever see in that woman?
“Can’t have you signaling to other people.” Geoffrey gripped Carlotta’s arm, and he and Allison began to stuff her in the trunk of his car. Oh, no, you don’t. Carlotta kicked.
Allison’s hand connected with her face. Shocked, and with a stinging cheek, she fell back into the trunk. Geoffrey appeared to yell at Allison as she slammed the trunk shut.
Carlotta tried to kick out a brake light, but it was no use. For now, she’d conserve her strength. They drove around for what felt like hours.
Now what? The car had stopped. Geoffrey helped her out. Where were they? Some buildings set in the distance. Had they returned to the city?
Geoffrey slid wraparound sunglasses on her face. But not regular ones. These let no light inside. Before a scream could escape Carlotta’s lips, a weapon pushed against her back.
“Quick, before someone sees us,” Allison said. “I don’t think it was a good idea to do this during the daytime.”
Vehicle noises. Hmm… Carlotta could run. Geoffrey might shoot her, or a car might hit her, but better than whatever Geoffrey had in mind.
Carlotta bolted, and someone tugged her backward. Another body pushed against her other side. “Nice try,” Allison whispered.
Geoffrey said. “Step up.”
Sucking in a breath, Carlotta’s foot moved up onto presumably the curb. Had they crossed the street? Now where were they going?
As the two of them shoved her along, Carlotta flinched. Pablo said he’d seen Geoffrey and Allison together. So was this really some plan to get back at Jake for publishing a story? There’d been some pipe bombs at the newspaper office. Maybe they were mad at the paper. But why take it out on Jake specifically? Why not Stu, his boss, or the owner of the newspaper?
“Watch your step.” Geoffrey said. Traffic noise still sounded, but not as loud as before. They were moving away from the street. Away from people and civilization.
Something crunched under Carlotta’s shoes. Glass, maybe? Something brushed against her. Were they in a wooded area?
“Through here.” Geoffrey pushed Carlotta downward and though something. Metal scraped against her skin. Where were they?
They’d stopped. Now what?
“We’re here,” Geoffrey said.
They were inside somewhere. The ground underneath her shoes had been replaced with concrete. It was cold. Even with the dark sunglasses on, it was darker than before. Dark and cold. Where were they? A cave? No, there were no caves in the middle of the city. They stumbled along for quite a while before Geoffrey removed her sunglasses.
Darkness surrounded them. Were they in a basement? The scent of urine, along with a general moldy, damp scent assaulted her nose. Suspicious noises—squeaking and scurrying—sounded in the background. Rats, snakes, spiders, anything could be here.
