Deadly deception, p.33
Deadly Deception, page 33
He reached in to grab her arm. She rolled away toward Gemma. The other woman pretended to be unconscious. He caught her other one to yank her out of the trunk. Her stomach caught on the lip. She pushed with her feet to help lever herself, her free hand gripped the edge.
“Get out!”
“If you’d let go of me, I could climb out.”
There was a moment’s pause before he dropped her arm. Free of his grip she was able to use both hands on the trunk rim. She was able to scramble out. Her stomach burned and her legs were a little weak. She’d be damned before she let on. With all the determination she could muster she straightened her spine and willed her legs to hold her.
She glanced around to get her bearings. To her left a beautiful lake, free of breeze the water was as smooth as glass. To her right a large cabin, smoke curling from the chimney. It was surrounded by trees of various kinds. The scene serene and peaceful. Smoke curling from the chimney. Someone was inside.
“Good the housekeeper has the place ready. Always efficient and gone before I arrive.” He gave her a shove in the back. “Get going. I’ll come back for Gemma.”
While one hope dashed another hope sprung. Maybe Gemma could escape and get help. “Where are we?”
“A cabin by the lake, are you dumb or something?”
No this was not the charming doctor she thought she knew. She swallowed her thoughts before the fear took over. She did her best to generate anger at her situation. It would serve to keep her emotions equaled. Or maybe stable.
He reached around her and pushed the door open. The housekeeper had left the door unlocked. But the cabin appeared to be empty as he’d said, gone before he arrived.
“You stay here.” He pushed her in and slammed the door.
He’d gone back for Gemma. Please let her have gotten away.
But after another moment the door flung wide, and the other woman stumbled over the threshold. Gemma tossed an apologetic look at her. Dr. Graham, too formal, he didn’t deserve the title. Liam on her heels through the door. He left it open with only the screen. The daylight stretched over the room. Liam stepped around Marcie to go over to the fire and stoke it up. He turned to the women.
“Apparently, you two have met.”
Marcie’s thoughts raced. She’d been too busy trying to free them from the trunk to wonder who Gemma was. Booker had told her about the other person at the Zinnal lab, the woman who seemed to work with Doc Rob. Somehow Marcie didn’t think if the woman had worked with the doctor, she would have been in the trunk.
“Gemma now we can work together with no interruption from Mac.”
Gemma’s jaw tightened and she looked Doc Rob in the eyes. Her hands fisted as she stepped toward the doctor. He was forced to step away.
“Fuck you.” Then she focused on Marcie. “Why the hell did he bring you here?”
“Hm, I thought you two got all cozy in the trunk.”
“Rob, we were a little busy trying to get away from you. You’re a lunatic.”
He ignored her. “Let me formally introduce you. Gemma, this is Marcie Faraday. Her father has been kind enough to agree to the HIMEP clinical trial.”
Gemma’s eyes narrowed. She stiffened. Her lips pressed together.
“There is no clinical trial, Rob. What are you doing to her poor father?”
“It’s Liam, and I’m saving his life with the HIMEP.”
Gemma shook her head. For a moment when she glanced at Marcie again, sympathy flashed quickly replaced by anger when she turned to Liam again.
“Did you up the voltage so the cells do not mutate?”
“His next treatment will be tomorrow.”
“Over my dead body. He’s not having any more,” Marcie bit out.
Two pairs of eyes swung in her direction. Liam’s brow lifted, his mouth curled in a smirk.
“That can be arranged.”
His words echoed over the cabin. Silence followed. Marcie wasn’t sure how to respond. She could hardly dictate what happened to her father with no communication here in God only knew where. What were his plans? And why was his research partner here? She quickly took in an assessment of the cabin. It was larger than any cabin she’s been in, more like a home in a cabin setting. Doors led off from around the kitchen. Maybe he had a lab through one of them.
She stopped on that thought. From what she’d been told he had a lab in his home. Why drive all this way with Gemma to research. Her mind went to where she didn’t want to go. He had kidnapped them both.
For what purpose?
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Liam regarded the two women. One he needed and the other, a pain in his ass. He drew in a breath. What to do now? Marcie glanced around, no doubt looking for an escape route. He’d take care of that. A sleeping Marcie would be the easiest control.
“You know I’ll be missed, right? And people know I was going to see you.”
Irritation rippled over him. He could not let her get under his skin. He was too close to his goal. And he needed her father.
“They know you went to see Doc Rob. No one knows who I am.”
Something skittled over her face so quickly he’d almost missed it. He paused, had she known? The look of surprise when she’d made the discovery had been too genuine. Time was too important to waste. He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Call your mother and let her know you’ve lost your phone and you’re dealing with it.”
She stood in the exact spot she’d been in since he’d pushed her through the door. And she wasn’t moving to take the phone. Anger joined irritation. It was all he could do not to lash out. What was wrong with him? He didn’t care about her or anyone. Trying to launch his HIMEP was driving him in ways he’d never experienced. If he didn’t get it all under control things would not go well.
“Take the phone.” When she didn’t move. “Your mother is already worried about your father, do you want her to worry about you too.”
The tightening of her lips and narrowed eyes told him he’d hit his mark.
“Fine, give me the damn phone.”
She tapped in the number and put it to her ear.
“Put it on speaker.”
Her face tightened. She’d planned to give her mother a clue. He’d ruined her plan.
“Mamma,” she said.
“Cara, where have you been? Did you find that Doc Rob?” There was indrawn breath. “I’m so worried about your father. And no one can find Dr. Graham.”
“Hey,” Gemma yelled startling everyone.
“Who was that?”
Marcie glanced to Liam then to Gemma. He stepped between the two. He nodded for Marcie to continue.
“I lost my phone. I’m at the store trying to get a new one. I guess someone is having issues with their toddler.” She glared at Liam, he shrugged in response. “Has something happened with Papi?”
“Nothing new. But I worry that his doctor hasn’t been in. When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure. I’m sorry. I will do my best to get back soon.”
Liam sliced the air in front of his throat to signal to cut it off. She glared and twisted around to face away. Once again, he had to force himself to calm down.
“Mom take care of Papi and yourself.”
“Mom?”
He could hear the bewilderment in her mother’s voice. Why?
“Need to go. Talk later.”
Liam stepped around her and grabbed the phone.
“What was that about?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” She gave him his phone and went to sit across from Gemma.
“You don’t want to piss me off Marcie.”
“What happened to the oh-so-charming Dr. Graham, or just call me Liam? All an act to get my dad to agree to the treatment?” She turned to Gemma. “Just how dangerous is this HIMEP?”
“It’s not dangerous, or it wouldn’t be if mister impatience would take more time.”
“That is why you’re here Gemma...”
“And why the fuck am I here?” Marcie interrupted him.
“Wrong place, wrong time. Now you shut the fuck up.”
He turned back to Gemma.
“You and I are going to solve all the minor glitches. Come on.” He waited until she reluctantly stood, then turned to Marcie. “You’re going to be a good girl and stay put.”
Marcie glared at him and defiantly walked to Gemma and stood by her side. “I’m not leaving Gemma’s side.”
“And I’m not going anywhere with you.” Gemma linked her arm through Marcie’s.
He did not have time for this. He pulled a remote out of his pocket and clicked. The snap of the doors locking and the automatic window shades dropping into place echoed over the silent room. He had the satisfaction of watching the fear drop over Marcie.
Then before either woman knew his plan, with all the anger propelling his fist, it landed on Marcie’s nose. The crack reverberated around the room, the sound made even his stomach roll.
Marcie’s body slumped to the floor Gemma had no choice but to let go. Her face registered shock and her throat worked, obliviously trying to keep the contents of her stomach down.
“Now get your ass moving, toward that door.”
She didn’t need any more encouragement to follow is directions.
~~~~~
After the call disconnected, Sophie frowned at her phone. She glanced at Leo, he hadn’t moved. He was sleeping soundly. Good. She turned her attention back to the silent phone. Why had Marcie called her ‘mom’? She couldn’t recall her daughter calling her anything but mamma since she could talk. No way could it have been a mistake. What did it mean?
She went through her contacts until she found KaDee’s number. She clicked on it and called.
“This is KaDee.”
“KaDee, this is Sophie, Marcie’s mother.”
“Hi, what’s up?”
“I’m not sure. Have you seen Marcie today?”
“No. She did call to check-in and said she was going to see that Doc Rob from Zinnal.” There was a pause and a rustle of paper. “Why?”
“She just called to check on me and told me she lost her phone and had stopped to get a new one. But there was something about her. She sounded nervous and she called me mom.”
There was a pause. “Well, now I know why she didn’t answer when I called. But what do you mean nervous?”
“Her voice just seemed to waver. But I think she was trying to tell me something.”
“Why?”
“She called me mom,” Sophie repeated.
“I don’t understand.”
“Have you ever heard my daughter call me anything but mamma?”
Silence for several beats. “No, I don’t think I have. But she called you mom today?”
“Yes. She said ‘Mom take care of Papi and yourself.’ And then she said she had to go and disconnected.”
“She never calls you mom.”
“Exactly, something’s wrong.”
“I think you’re right, but what do we do? What was the number? We can have the police trace it.”
“The number was blocked. But you still need to call the police.”
“And tell them what? Sophie, you take care of Leo. I have an idea. I’ll call you if I find out anything. Don’t worry.”
Sophie frowned down at her phone when the connection broke. Don’t worry indeed. Her husband hadn’t stirred for hours after his last seizure. Now her daughter seemed to be missing.
“Don’t worry, she says.” Her words echoed in the silent room.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Bingo!”
Chief Garcia grinned as he rolled away from his desk enough for the others to see. Booker leaned in to read what he’d found. He glanced up at Lashelle then to Garcia.
“Rob Liam? How in the hell did you think to use that for a property deed search?”
Garcia turned toward him. “I used every combination of the guy’s name I could think of. If he was using two different names, why not a third, or hell a fourth?”
Lashelle gave a fist bump to the ceiling. “Let’s go, daylight’s burning.”
Garcia stood, the chair rolled away and almost hit Medcath. “Medcath, let Agent White know where we’re going.”
“You don’t need me, sir?”
“Yes, I meant while we’re on the road.”
Another thirty minutes passed by before they were on their way. Agent White agreed Garcia needed to request a search warrant from Mayor Gregerson for the cabin. Of course, it wasn’t that simple as the mayor had to fill in the Lake George Mayor so he could actually request it from him. Once the warrant was signed and ready for them to pick up at the Lake George station they were on their way.
“Nothing like jumping through hoops.”
Booker glanced to Garcia. “No kidding. Hoops we didn’t have time for. Every minute counts.”
“Do you think we’ll find this Gemma person who also seems to have gone missing?” Lashelle asked.
Medcath piped up for the first time. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised. She is his lab partner. The HIMEP isn’t ready for clinical trial. But the doc needs it to be to get it on the market. Everything points to the fact he planned from the beginning to take credit and reap the profits all on his own.”
“I agree, but there is more than one hole in the theory and only Doc Rob slash Dr. Graham can fill it in,” Booker grumbled.
Booker studied the scenery as it flew by, his mind in a jumble of ongoing thoughts. Why did the doctor take Marcie?
It was intent to commit fraud, to promote an unauthorized clinical trial. As peace officers they had cause.
He pulled his mind in and focused on what they would find at the cabin. Possibly two women. Booker wondered if the doctor would hurt Gemma, the doc needed her mind to help with his research. Marcie was a liability, he must think she knew something about her father’s treatment. Knowing the man was living two different roles wouldn’t put her in danger, or would it?
Garcia’s phone startled him out of Booker’s musings. It was on the hands-free speakerphone.
“Garcia.”
“My technicians have reviewed the home surveillance for the last two weeks and confirmed that the other missing woman was also taken from the doctor’s home. He gave her a pretty good whack on the head with the fire poker,” Special Agent White’s voice filtered over the car. “I spoke with Chief Carlyle of the Lake George PD. He will provide backup.”
Garcia looked chagrined. Annoyance hit Booker in the gut. He hated the Feds, they swept in when all the leg work was done and took the credit in the end. But kidnapping was a federal crime as was the medical end of doc’s list of crimes. Again, White’s voice interrupted Booker’s thoughts.
“Proceed with caution. We have found evidence that could lead to a murder, or two.”
“Or two?” Garcia’s voice lifted on the second word.
“We’ll find out, this is going to take far longer to investigate than anticipated. For now, go in with the knowledge the man wouldn’t hesitate to kill one or both of the women.”
The connection disconnected without a goodbye. Booker turned to Garcia. He glanced over to Booker with a raised brow, then returned his attention to the road. Medcath and Lashelle had their full attention on the front.
“Who could he have murdered? And how did he keep it quiet?” Lashelle asked
Medcath answered before Booker had a chance. “This is just a put-together two-minute theory. He has this leading technology he is trying to get approved to get on the pharmaceutical market. I don’t understand why he would hire on with Zinnal if it was his idea. But we’ll find that out later.
“He hacks into the FDA Website to add a clinical trial...”
“He didn’t hack it,” Lashelle corrected. “He cloned his pages. If he’d hacked it, navigating the site would have led back to the clinical trial. But the way it is cloned, the cloned page with the clinical trials was edited. It is linked to the clinical trial page for the HIMEP. But when you navigated away from those two pages, like the home page, and then went back to the list of trials, you’d be taken to the FDA original list, no longer able to get to the cloned page.”
Booker watched as the confusion spread over Medcath’s face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Garcia grin. Medcath continued as if Lashelle hadn’t interrupted his theory.
“Anyway, the guy sends the...” Medcath glanced over to Lashelle. “...cloned pages to Browning and requests a clinical trial. Since he’s an oncologist on staff, he knows there is a candidate that fits the trial to perfection, Ms. Faraday’s father.
“His home has a full lab for research and testing. Another reason I do not understand why he hired on with Zinnal....”
Booker spoke up. “The lead researcher at Zinnal, told Lashelle and me that he thought Boche paid for the lab. The theory is they had a deal with the doctor for him to provide the research to them. However, Lashelle and I have found no evidence between a connection of the doctor and Boche, it is all speculation.”
Again, as if Booker hadn’t interrupted Medcath continued.
“Because his research documents human testing before the trial is approved, the Feds must have found evidence of murder. The homeless population would be a very good resource for human lab rats and the good doc was experimenting at home...” Medcath fell silent.
Booker had to admit being impressed it all made sense. “In order to gain the financial resources and research resources, he was playing everyone. Research from Zinnal. But I no longer believe he needed financial from Boche. From what we’ve put together when he went to Zinnal the only thing he had was the model appearance for his treatment. And he needed the backing. The problem was, he never had any intention of anyone getting the credit or reaping the profits for his treatment but himself.”
Nods of agreement rounded the car.
“Wait,” Lashelle said. “Remember he may have a lab for his own use, but when the product is ready for production can he do that himself? I don’t think he can, I bet he trolls Zinnal’s database or whatever they use, for contacts.”
