One of the tallest boys nudged the guy next to him. “Cop,” he muttered.
Grayson held up his hand. “I’m not a cop. I’m trying to find a missing woman.” He pulled up a picture of Mackenzie on his phone. “You see her around at all?”
The boys looked at one another, then to the ground. Several shook their heads without looking at Grayson.
The tall black-haired boy hesitated, then shook his head too. “Nope. What’d she do?”
He didn’t buy their denials, and he couldn’t tell them she was dead or they’d really clam up. “Someone attacked her and hauled her off, leaving a lot of blood behind. We’re afraid she’ll die without medical treatment.” He passed the picture to the other five. “Take a good look.”
“We’re no snitches.” The redhead hauled his pants up a few inches as he sneered.
“Look, I’m not going to turn you in for the pot you’re smoking or anything else. No one will know you gave me any information. I’ve got a feeling you know something about this woman. Do you want to be responsible for her death?”
The black-haired boy who appeared to be the leader frowned and stared at the picture. “She might have been hanging around this dude in a black car.”
“A Taurus?”
He shrugged. “A Ford, yeah. I didn’t pay attention to the model.”
“When was this and what did you see?”
“About three weeks ago, wasn’t it?” he asked the redhead.
Redhead scowled but nodded. “Watch what you say, Dex.” Dex shot him a deadly look, and Redhead put his hands up. “What? Dex is a nickname, not your real name. That’s not telling him anything.”
“Shut up,” Dex growled.
Grayson held out the picture again. “Like I said, I don’t care who you are or what you’re doing. I just need to find this woman before it’s too late. What did the man look like?”
“Dude was driving, and she was in the passenger seat. She jumped out while the car was still moving. It was something else, man! She rolled on the pavement like she was a stuntman or something, then got up and dusted herself off.”
“Did she get away?”
“She argued with him for a minute, then took off running and got into the grocery store.” Dex pointed out a run-down store on the corner. “A little while later some dude came to get her. She was crying, and he was patting her back and stuff. They walked out and went around the corner. That’s all I know.”
Had to be Trafford. Or did it? “What did the guy look like?”
Dex looked down and kicked a stone with his ratty shoe. “It was Nasser.”
“Tarek Nasser?”
“Yeah.” Dex glanced around and lowered his voice. “A terrorist you don’t ever want to meet. He’s heavy into cocaine trafficking.”
Finally, a decent lead. “Where can I find him?”
Redhead shook his head. “You’d better listen up, man! You don’t want to mess with him. If he has her, she’s dead anyway.”
“You ever been with him yourself?”
Dex shuddered. “No, and I don’t want to. He hangs around the liquor store down the street once in a while, but it would be a fluke for you to find him. It’s usually one of his lackeys who hits the store for supplies.”
“A terrorist, like, for real? One who bombs buses and things like that?” Grayson asked.
“His group deals in drugs to raise money for terror camps. He’s downright scary.”
Dex grabbed Grayson’s arm. “You won’t say you even heard me say his name, right? I don’t want to be worrying about him taking me down one dark night.”
“I won’t mention I even talked to you boys.”
They were still muttering among themselves when he walked away. While Grayson was here, he might as well check out the liquor store. He might just get lucky, or he might be able to follow one of Nasser’s men to their lair.
He slid back under the steering wheel. “Those kids saw Mac with Nasser and told me where he often hangs out.”
She brightened. “That’s great news!”
“It’s in this same neighborhood. I’m going to check it out.”
“Let me go in. A woman is less threatening.”
She had a point. “If the store’s empty, we might give it a try.”
And if it brought her smile back, all the better.
Chapter 32
Never, and I mean never, tackle more than one room at a time. Do the one job first or you’ll end up living in a disaster zone for months or even years.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
Gray parked in front of a run-down brick building with one E out in the neon beer sign hanging in the window. “It just opened, and it doesn’t look like there are any customers. You sure you want to go in by yourself?”
She opened her door. “I want to do it.”
“I’ll keep watch out here and come get you if anything looks dangerous.”
The store looked empty when she approached the plate-glass window. Glancing inside, she saw a skinny male clerk behind the counter. When she opened the door and stepped inside, the place smelled yeasty, like spilled beer, and it was none too clean.
The clerk glanced her way. His black eyes examined her face. “Can I help you, miss?”
“Um, I’m looking for a missing woman I thought you might have seen.” She pulled out her phone and showed him Mac’s photo. “Recognize her?”
The clerk stared at it. “I think I saw her a few weeks ago. She didn’t buy anything, though. She just strolled through the aisles and kept looking at the door every time someone came in. I thought maybe she was supposed to meet a boyfriend here or something, but he never showed. She left after about an hour.”
Ellie dropped her phone into her purse. “Did you speak to her at all?”
“I asked her if she needed any help about three times, but she always said no.”
The guy was readily answering questions, so Ellie decided to take a chance. “You know Tarek Nasser?”
The clerk rubbed his kinky hair and backed away, glancing at the door. “Everyone in this part of town knows him.” He dropped his voice. “Or knows of him.”
“Did the woman ask about him?”
The clerk shook his head. “She just hung out watching the door.”
“Did she speak to anyone else?”
The young man shook his head again. “That’s all I know. I only remembered her because she was a looker.”
Ellie knew it was a long shot. “Thanks anyway.”
“If she has anything to do with Nasser, though, she’d better be careful. We had two kids in my neighborhood killed in drive-by shootings last month. They were part of Nasser’s gang.”
“Do you know anyone else who is with him? Or any idea where he is holed up?”
The man’s eyes nearly rolled back in his head, and he stepped back. “Don’t ask and don’t tell when it comes to Nasser. I’ve heard he flays the skin from his enemies. It might just be a rumor, but I don’t want to find out.”
“Thanks for your help.” Ellie started for the door when the guy called her back.
The clerk looked down at the floor. “Look, don’t say where you heard it, but you might check out the cabin at the end of Gandy Lane. It’s not here in Port Angeles, but up in the mountains. Not many know it’s back there. Don’t even try to drive there. You’ll have to walk, and be careful.”
“You must want this guy caught to risk telling me where to look.”
The man nodded. “My younger cousin got mixed up with him and he’s dead now, thanks to Nasser. I’d like to see him shut down.”
“Does he have many men working for him?”
“Probably ten or so.”
Enough to mount a formidable defense with the right weapons, and Ellie suspected the guy had the best weapons out there. “Thanks again.”
She exited into a fine drizzle that had already dampened the sidewalk and road. She slung herself into Gray’s SUV. “He remembered Mac, but she didn’t talk to anyone
. She kept looking out through the window like she was watching for someone.”
“Probably Nasser.”
She told him about the Gandy Lane cabin. “Maybe the FBI could check it out.”
“I’ll call Lance.”
She listened with half an ear as he told Lance what they’d learned. It felt important, and she prayed they managed to stop the attack before it began. Surely the FBI was making progress. She had to believe that.
He ended the call and glanced over at her. “How about we get out of this neighborhood and get some lunch?”
She forced herself to smile and nod, though she wanted to rush out to Gandy Lane and see what was happening there. “Sounds good.”
Grayson had found a surprisingly good hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with picnic tables looking out on the fall foliage. The temperature hovered near seventy, so it was pleasant enough to sit outside at a secluded table and eat their lunch. Ellie had fallen into silence again, and she kept looking out at the glorious landscape of gold and orange as if it held the secret to all her questions.
The spicy aroma of cumin and peppers mingled with the scent of pine and loamy soil. It was a feel-good kind of moment, but he couldn’t seem to get to that emotion with her staring anywhere but at him. There was a curious tension coiled around her, and he was on tenterhooks waiting for the hammer to fall.
He scarfed down his enchiladas. “I think I’ll see if the sheriff has any idea about that body he found.”
“Oh, would you? I’ve been trying to be patient.”
“He probably doesn’t know anything yet, but I’ll ask.” He texted the sheriff and got a reply in seconds. “The blood type is wrong for Mac. It’s not her.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, Gray, that’s wonderful.”
But it didn’t mean Mac wasn’t dead.
Chapter 33
When choosing a color for a room, consider the measurements of the space. More wall space makes the color seem deeper.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
Friday night came too soon for Grayson. A dinner party was not his type of event, but having Ellie on his arm made up for his discomfort with the tux. When had he last worn a tux? Probably to his sister’s wedding.
So much was riding on this evening. Ellie looked stunning under the glow of the chandelier. Her light-brown hair was up in some kind of fancy do that left little twists of hair touching her cheeks. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her in makeup, and tonight she wore only a light touch, but skin like hers didn’t need much. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, and though he knew she felt it revealed too much, she had her shoulders squared and her head up. No one would know how uncomfortable she was.
Guests milled around the expansive room that held a massive marble fireplace soaring all the way to the fifteen-foot ceiling. The ultra-contemporary home had to be fifteen thousand square feet, and this room was easily fifty feet long. The party spilled out through an open sliding wall that connected with an enormous flagstone patio. Bar-top tables had been brought in, and servers offered flutes of champagne and hors d’oeuvres on black trays. Everyone was dressed to the nines. He’d thought about opting for a sports coat, but he would have been out of place, and they wanted to mingle and try to discover something helpful. He wanted to blend in with the sea of black suits.
He scanned the crowd. “Do you know what Terrance Robb looks like? I’ve never met him.”
“Oh, yes, I know both of them. I babysat for them.”
“So we want to know what Mac told him about the flotilla.”
She nodded. “He might have done some digging into whatever she told him. Even if he discounted it, there might be a lead we can use.”
“Hmm. Lots to dig out at a party where it’s going to be tough to get them alone.” He stopped and took her hand. Her fingers closed around his, and he liked the feel of her trusting hand in his. “I think that’s Rear Admiral Hutchinson, Candace’s father.”
Grayson had met the man a few times over the years, and he recognized the leonine head of white hair topping an aquiline nose and chiseled chin. Hutchinson stood talking to a blonde woman who hugged his arm affectionately. “Is that his daughter?”
“Sure is.” Ellie started that way, but Grayson caught her arm. “We probably ought to talk to Candace alone. We don’t want to get thrown out before we have a chance to learn something. Let’s mingle and look for her husband.”
She nodded, and he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. A server passed, and he snagged a couple of tiny pastries for them. His was gone in one gulp, which left him eyeing hers longingly.
“You can have it.” She lifted it to his lips, and he opened his mouth.
Her fingers grazed his lips, and he kissed them lightly before she could snatch her hand away. “Tasty.”
Her cheeks went pink at his forward remark, and she looked away.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I’m not embarrassed.” Her choked voice told a different story.
Why did he like to make her blush so much? And heaven help him, he liked being with her in more ways than he could count. He was in serious trouble. Her business was firmly established here, and his work was in Seattle, hours away.
She inclined her head. “Don’t look now, but there’s Terrance. He’s by himself too.”
Grayson gave a surreptitious glance to the corner. Robb was about six feet tall with blond hair and a rangy build. He had a slight pudge from sitting at a desk all day. “Let’s go talk to him.”
She nodded, and he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “You start the conversation since you know him,” Grayson whispered.
They reached the man, and Ellie extended her hand. “Mr. Robb, so good to see you again. My partner and I just bought your house in Lavender Tides, and you’re going to be so pleased with what we’re doing to it. It will have a wonderful open floor plan when we’re done, and we’re putting in top-of-the-line finishes.”
Robb took her hand. “Ellie, I haven’t seen you in ages. You’re all grown up. And I’m glad you’re pleased with the house. You’ll have to let me know when it’s done. I’m sure Candace will want to take a peek at it.” His smile widened to show perfect white teeth. “Though maybe that’s not safe. She’ll likely want to buy it back for a vacation getaway.”
“She might,” Ellie agreed. “Your wife has good taste. Mr. Robb, have you heard about my sister, Mackenzie? She was attacked and has been missing. There was a lot of blood at the scene, and the FBI thinks she was killed. We haven’t found her body.”
His smile vanished. “I hadn’t heard about it, but I’m so sorry. Any idea what happened?”
Ellie shook her head. “We’re still trying to figure that out. We’ve been researching her last few weeks, and we heard she wanted to cancel the tall ships flotilla. When the committee refused, she said she was going to talk to you because letting them come here was dangerous. Can you tell me what she said to you?”
“She did come to see me. She believed someone named Gun Moon planned to set off an EMP bomb. It was pretty far-fetched, of course.”
And Gun Moon was dead. “Did you investigate it?”
“Just a cursory look. She was very distraught about it. I’m not sure where the notion came from.”
“Mr. Robb, someone killed Gun Moon and left his body in your secret basement room.”
The man blanched. “Murdered?”
“Garroted. An efficient execution method often used by ISIS.”
“If the CIA can be of any help, be sure to let me know.” He looked over her shoulder. “My father-in-law is beckoning me. Good to talk to you.”
Once he was out of earshot, Grayson steered Ellie deeper into the corner. “He didn’t really investigate it. If he had, maybe Mac would still be with you.”
“Now what?” Ellie skirted the patio in the shadows with a glass of iced tea in hand.
The party had started to thin out a bit
, and they still hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to Candace. People stood under gleaming lights on the patio, and some had wandered down to the edge of the water.
“Let’s give it a little more time to see if we can catch Candace by herself,” Gray said.
“What do we hope Candace can tell us?”
“Maybe she overheard Mac talking to her husband. He’s trained to spill nothing. She might offer some kind of insight. It’s worth a shot.”
She’d found it hard to keep from staring at him all evening. The tux spanned those broad shoulders without a wrinkle, and the contrast of black and white was an amazing look on him. Tonight was a Cinderella night for sure, but she knew she’d transition back into a scullery maid much too soon.
A group of women began to disband, and she spotted Candace’s blonde head walking down to the beach. “There she is. Let’s go.”
Gray clasped her hand. “Steady. This yard is soft, and one of your heels could snap right off.”
Whatever reason he wanted to give for holding her hand was fine by her. She clung to his strong fingers as they hurried to catch up with the other woman in her flowing pink gown. She looked like a true princess with her shining blonde hair piled high on her elegant head. Ellie could never dream of appearing so beautiful and put together.
The moon glimmered on the waves rolling to shore, and the lights on passing boats added a romantic touch to the scene. She caught the scent of the blazing lanterns. A foghorn echoed across the water and blended with the putt-putt of the engines. The distant murmur of people from the party talking and laughing grew louder, and Ellie knew she had to stop Candace before other partygoers distracted them.
Ellie’s ankle turned under her and she nearly fell, but Gray caught her, and they both stumbled out of the lights from the yard lamps and into the shadows from the trees lining the property.
Gray caught her against his chest as she reached down to rub her ankle. “Are you okay?”
“I think so.” She tried to put weight on her foot and winced. “Yikes, I think I sprained it.”