A Dozen Deadly Roses (26 page)
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but now isn’t the time. Your son’s life is at stake. Get dressed,” he ordered, walking to the door. Placing his hand on the doorknob he paused. “One more thing. Once we’ve found
your
son, I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Jade threw her dress over her head and charged out of their suite, shoes in hand, zipping her gown as she ran. In the elevator, she yanked on her shoes.
Once on the ground floor, she sprinted through the crowded casino, calling out apologies as she ran. Mac was nowhere in sight. As she jogged toward the restaurant where Donnie was last seen, two men wearing blazers and earpieces stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
“I’m the boy’s mother, Jade Donovan,” she gasped.
Upon hearing her name, she saw a flicker of recognition cross their faces. The awareness was soon replaced with a look of accusation. She saw them take in her tousled hair, swollen lips, and wrinkled dress. Wordlessly, the men stepped aside. In the dining area, patrons and employees were at tables being interviewed by plain clothes and uniformed police officers. The absence of quiet conversation, background music or dishes being cleared cast an eerie atmosphere through the room.
The tiebacks securing the curtains surrounding their table had been undone, affording a little more privacy. Jade moved forward and swept the panels apart.
Mona sobbed silently into a linen napkin. Angus rested his chin in his hand, sanding his fingers with the emerging stubble. Seeing him biting the inside of his lip, Jade guessed he desperately needed a drink. Mac wasn’t with them.
Her gaze swept the room for him but there was no sign of Mac. Mona, seeing Jade, got up from the table and ran to her.
“Jade, darling, we’re so sorry. One minute he was here with us, the next he was gone. It’s just awful.” A new wave of sobbing hysteria came over the newlywed bride.
One of the Las Vegas detectives who’d been at the hospital when Jade was poisoned approached. “Miss Donovan, try not to worry. We’ve got an all-points bulletin out for your son, and every available officer is looking for him.”
“What about the surveillance cameras? What do they show?”
The investigator looked uncomfortable. “I, uh, I’m really not sure. I haven’t seen the images myself.”
Jade snorted in disgust. “Don’t feed me that crap. That psycho has my son, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he?” Jade yelled. All conversation in the room ceased as cops, customers, and hotel employees turned to stare at her.
Angus rose and moved to stand beside his daughter. “Darlin’, calm yourself. We’ll find the lad, you’ll see.”
Jade closed her eyes, exhaled heavily and mentally counted to ten. Lifting her lids, she glanced around the room. “Nobody gets it,” she spat out. “My son has been taken by some nut who has already tried to kill me.”
One of the jacketed security men who’d stood outside the dining room approached. “Detective, we’ve got the security camera footage available for you to view, if you’ll follow me, please.”
Before the detective could move, Jade fell into step with the security man. She urged him to hurry as he led several police personnel, Angus, Mona and Jade to a conference room.
Mona’s muffled sobs were the only sounds as everyone wordlessly found seats. The door opened again, and faint sounds of jangling coins and slot machines jarred the quiet.
An impeccably dressed man entered the room. His midnight blue suit set off his coral shirt and shiny silk tie. Chunky gold rings adorned the fourth finger of each hand. A high-dollar haircut and the scent of spicy aftershave completed the look. In the old days of Las Vegas, he might be mistaken for a “wise guy.” Today, he offered his hand and identified himself as Carmelo Grimes, the head of security for the Southern Comfort Hotel and Casino.
“Ms. Donovan, please let me express our sorrow and concern about this unfortunate incident with your son. Be assured our staff and security people are doing everything they can to assist local police with the investigation. May I introduce Captain Haggadorn from Las Vegas Metro P.D.?” Grimes gave a slight bow and motioned to another man.
Dressed in a sport coat, gray flannel slacks, a white shirt and conservative tie, the man walked up to Jade, offering his hand. The sleeves of his well-worn navy jacket were frayed. “Miss Donovan, our department is giving this case top priority. We’re working with hotel security to get your son back safely. Mr. Grimes indicates their surveillance system is excellent and shows exactly what happened.” Captain Haggadorn turned to Carmelo Grimes. “Can we run that video now?”
Jade’s stomach churned as she watched the flickering images on the giant plasma monitor. The picture was so clear Jade had no trouble studying Angus, Mona, and Donnie dancing together. From their flailing arms and rapid footwork, it appeared the song was a fast-paced number. Then the images on the screen slowed their movements.
Jade’s heart pounded as she watched Donnie say something to Angus and then shuffle to their table and reach for a glass of water. Angus and Mona melded into each other and swayed – the perfect picture of newlyweds. Donnie gulped his water. A male server, dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and black pants, moved into the screen carrying a pitcher.
Jade’s breath caught in her throat. She’d know him anywhere. “That’s him,” she whispered. “That’s the dirtbag who left the flowers in my hospital room.”
Horror surged through her body as the waiter said something to her precious little boy. Donnie nodded, extending his arms to offer his glass for a refill. The man smiled, and said something else, pulling a small red fire truck out of his pocket and showing it to Donnie. Then the man held out his hand to the child. Donnie nodded obediently and placed his chubby hand into the hand tainted by tattoos.
“No, Donnie, he’s a stranger,” Jade mouthed. Her warning went unheard – as she knew it would. Tears slid down her cheeks. She watched as the stalker led her son out of the restaurant.
To their credit, Angus and Mona realized almost immediately Donnie was gone. As the surveillance video continued, uneasiness in the older couple morphed into frantic searching. Concerned hotel staff soon joined the mission.
Jade closed her eyes and shook her head after viewing the controlled frenzy that ensued once the staff was alerted to Donnie’s disappearance.
Carmelo Grimes pressed a button on a remote and the picture changed to the covered parking garage. The movie of the suspect and Donnie showed them getting into a small, green, compact car, and driving from the property.
Jade wanted to throw up. All the long talks she’d had with Donnie about not going with strangers had been wiped away with a small red fire truck.
Captain Haggadorn spoke first. “This surveillance tape is so good we were able to pick up the license plate number. The car was reported stolen in the city of Henderson this morning. Just before you arrived here, I got word the vehicle was discovered four blocks away with the engine still running. We’ll get it impounded and printed right away.”
“Was there-,” Jade’s voice broke, “was there any evidence in the car that Donnie’s been hurt?”
Captain Haggadorn shook his head. “No. Nothing like that.” The quiet man stood and offered his hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to report to the command post. Hopefully, we’ll have some good news soon. I’ll call you immediately if we hear anything.” The captain briefly huddled with the head of security, Carmelo Grimes, then both men left the conference room.
“Daughter, I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.” Angus’s brow furrowed with anguish.
“Dad, it’s not your fault.” Jade’s voice wobbled. “I shouldn’t have left him. I was gone too long.”
“Nonsense.” Mona’s tone was terse. “You’re entitled to have a little fun. We promised you we would watch Donnie and we didn’t.” She looked around the restaurant. “By the way, where is Mac?”
Jade’s shoulders slumped and she threw her hands in the air palms up, indicating she didn’t know. “We had a fight. I don’t know where he is and I can’t sit around worrying about Mac. I’ve got to find Donnie.”
Mona eyed a group of hotel employees as the detectives released them. “I wish I could turn back the clock an hour.”
The fatigue in Mona’s voice caught Jade’s attention and she noticed the weariness in the faces and bodies of her father and his bride.
“What a horrible way to spend your wedding night. Why don’t you two go to your room?” She stood and massaged the back of her neck. “I’m going to the command post. I’ll call you if there is any news – good or bad.”
“No, lassie, my place is here with you. I don’t want you to go through this alone.” The elder Donovan cleared his throat. “I’ve never pushed you about Donnie’s father because I didn’t think it was any of my business, but…don’t you think you should notify him that Donnie is missing?”
Jade brought her hand down from her neck and clutched the back of one of the chairs. “He already knows. I might as well tell you now. Mac is Donnie’s father. He didn’t know. I just told him tonight, and when I did, he was furious. He stormed out of our suite, and I don’t know where he is although my first guess would be a bar.”
“Oh, lass. That must’a been a big shock to him.” Angus gave a small shrug. “Can’t say I’m sorry to hear Mac is the wee one’s father. He’s a good man, and I’m bettin’ a darn good daddy.”
Mona nodded as she regained her composure. “Jade, dear, do you want us to go try to find him and have him meet you at the command post?”
Jade waved her hand with impatience. “Mac is the least of my worries. I’ve got to find Donnie.” She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “You both look exhausted. Why don’t you go to your room? I don’t want you collapsing in a casino on your wedding night. Besides, someone needs to be around in case Donnie is found. He’ll need to see a face of someone he knows. I’ll let you know the minute I hear anything.”
Angus put a protective arm around his wife’s shoulder. “Well, daughter, if you’re sure you’ll be okay.” His voice sounded skeptical.
Jade nodded her head and made a brushing motion with her hands.
“I’m thinkin’ the new Mrs. Donovan and I will go to the honeymoon suite, order some room service and wait for some news. Call us if there’s any change at all.” After checking with the detectives, Angus and Mona headed to their room, while Jade went in the opposite direction.
Jade asked one of the detectives and learned the command post was on the top level of one of the parking garages. Making her way through the casino toward the parking structure, she zigzagged through the throngs of tourists, many of them tipsy. Jade tried to tell herself Donnie would be all right, but in her heart she didn’t believe it. Remembering the vicious attack on her apartment, she knew the suspect’s actions had steadily been getting more aggressive. Now he had her son.
Following the path of the gaudy carpet, she strode toward the conference area parking structure of the hotel. The isolated quiet was a welcome relief from the clanking coins, and drunken cheers of the casino.
A beveled sign that hung above a pair of intricately carved oak doors indicated the room inside was a library, and yet when Jade glanced, she realized it was a cocktail lounge. Looking through the open doors, oak paneled walls contained floor to ceiling bookshelves – all of them lined with books, candles and other knick-knacks. Oil paintings and heavy antique furniture were shielded from the desert’s relentless sun by velvet burgundy drapes.
The high gloss bar formed a rectangle around the room. Fewer than a dozen patrons sat on the tapestry-upholstered stools, their faces garishly illuminated by video poker machines built into the flat surface.
Her assessment of the room was made within seconds. Her attention focused on a booth tucked far into a dimly lit corner. There, a familiar figure sat hunched, his back to the wall, utilizing basic cop tactics. Mac rested his elbows on the glossy oak table, his hands clasped, his mouth resting on his fingers. He appeared to be deep in thought or praying. On the table in front of him sat a half-filled glass and a bottle containing an amber liquid.
A voice in Jade’s head taunted her:
once a drunk, always a drunk
.
“You go ahead and tie one on,” she whispered at the distant man, who an hour ago she thought she loved. “I’ll find our son. Obviously, you’ve got more important things to do.” Spinning on her heel she marched out of the lounge.
Jade made her way to a bank of elevators to transport her to the command post in the parking garage. The mirrored doors opened with a whoosh. Before she could step in, she heard her name being called. Letting the conveyance leave without her, she turned to see a female employee of the hotel hurrying toward her.
Jade’s knees almost gave out. The young woman carried a shiny gold florist’s box.
“I’m glad I found you.” The woman was breathless. “A gentleman asked me to find you and give these to you. He insisted you have them immediately.” She pushed her bangs out of her face. “He tipped me very well to track you down. He even showed me a picture of you and your son so I’d recognize you.” She held the box out to Jade.
Jade hoped the woman couldn’t see her hands shake as she accepted the container. “Th—thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome.” The woman turned to leave.
“Oh, miss? Did the man have my son with him?”
“No, he was by himself, but he said he’d be seeing you soon.”
“Did he say anything else? Where he was going? Where he was staying? Anything?”
Jade could see the woman’s demeanor change from relieved to have found her, to worried.
“No, he didn’t say anything else. Is something wrong?”
Not wanting the young lady to get suspicious enough to alert the police, Jade forced a smile. “Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”
Aware of the ‘eye in the sky’ surveillance cameras scattered through the hotel, Jade fled to her room before opening the box.