“Her aunt moved away from Dutton shortly after Bobby married Garth Davis,” Pete said. “And that’s where the trail dries up. No job, no credit cards, no utilities.”
“Maybe Bobby killed her, too,” Talia said.
“But where are her two children?” Mary asked. “Who took care of her kids while she ran truck stop whorehouses and sold young girls to rich men?”
“The Davises have a nanny,” Pete said. “Immigrant lady, likely an illegal. Her English wasn’t too strong. I talked with her when I was trying to track the aunt. She worked nine to five, weekdays. She said Bobby would leave the house every day to work in her interior- decorating business. Sometimes she was asked to work nights if Bobby had a meeting and Garth wasn’t home. The nanny seemed to genuinely care for the Davis boys, and if she had any idea what Bobby was actually up to, she hid it well.”
“Her only other relatives are Garth’s uncle, Rob Davis, and his family,” Chase said.
“I asked Rob Davis if they’d seen her,” Pete said. “I never searched the house.”
“But would Rob hide Garth’s kids?” Chloe asked. “I thought they hated each other.”
“That’s what Kate told us when she came here Thursday afternoon.” A piece of the puzzle fell into place. Luke looked at Chase grimly. “Kate led us to Mack O’Brien.”
Chase rubbed his forehead. “We were played like a cheap harmonica.”
“Kate would have wanted the spotlight off of Garth and the rest of the club, because the closer Daniel got to exposing them, the closer we got to their bunker operation. Kate gave us Garth so that she and Bobby could keep their secrets. We were played.”
“Kate also told us that Garth’s wife had fled with the children after Rob Davis’s grandson was killed by Mack O’Brien,” Ed said. “Hell.”
“We took her at her word,” Luke finished.
“Why wouldn’t you?” Susannah asked reasonably. “You had no idea any of this was going on. So get a warrant for Rob Davis’s house and check for the boys.”
“Next. We got a tip an hour ago,” Chase said. “A call to my cell from Kira Laneer, Garth’s mistress, the one who works at the airport. She says she knows where Bobby is, that Garth knew all the places she might hide. She might just be angling for publicity, but I’ll assign someone to check it out, just the same. Nancy, you’re frowning. Why?”
“I’ve been thinking about Bobby. We’re saying she’s murdered ten people in the last two days. Logistically, she had to have had some help.”
“Tanner is a definite possibility for an accomplice,” Luke said. “Ashley Csorka said he ran Ridgefield House. She called him the creepy butler.”
“I don’t know,” Nancy said. “Unless the creepy butler has some major muscles, he didn’t slit the throat of Chili Pepper. Chili’s a big dude. Was a big dude.”
“Maybe she has other minions,” Pete said dourly.
“Others,” Susannah murmured. “You know, there’s another piece missing. I’m thinking about the thích. That conversation between Simon and Toby Granville happened when I was eleven years old. Bobby was twelve and still living in Arkansas.”
“And so was Tanner,” Luke said, “so it couldn’t have been him.”
“ ‘I was another’s,’ ” Susannah quoted softly. “There’s somebody else out there.”
“We sent the artist’s sketch based on your description up to Manhattan,” Chase said. “The ADA’s office is going to show it to Darcy’s killer. For now we focus on Bobby Davis and her two missing kids. Pete, go to Rob Davis’s and find those boys. Hank, you and Nancy search the Davis house again. Talia, find out anything you can about Bobby’s friends, now and in the past. Chloe, how much longer can we keep Garth?”
“He gets arraigned tomorrow.”
“We’ll have him followed in case he’s more involved in this than we believe. Ed?”
“We found Becky’s body buried outside Beardsley’s cell. Beaten to death.”
“So we have one more confirmed body.” Chase closed his eyes for a moment. “Get me a picture of Becky. I’ll ask the media to help identify her. And,” Chase looked at Susannah, “Gretchen French has scheduled a press conference for four this afternoon.”
“That’s right. In the Grand Hotel. She’s expecting it to be standing room only.”
“We’ll need video surveillance and security teams at the Grand, metal detector required. Bobby might be arrogant enough to come and bask in her glory.”
“Or get another shot at Susannah,” Luke said quietly.
Chase looked at Susannah again. “Where are you going next?”
“To the hospital,” she said. “There are some things I need to discuss with Daniel.”
Her paternity for one, Luke knew. Frank Loomis’s reasons for his falsifying evidence thirteen years ago, for another. “I’ll go with her. I still need to find out who tampered with Ryan Beardsley’s IV. It could be this ‘other’ that we’re looking for.”
“Fine. Be careful, everyone,” Chase said. “Keep in contact and meet back here at two-thirty for a briefing before Gretchen French’s press conference.” Everyone began to file out, but Chase signaled Luke to stay.
“Luke, you’ve been going 24/7 for the last week,” Chase said. “You found the girls.”
“Bobby’s still out there,” Luke began, but Chase waved him silent.
“I’ve got every agent in this department working to find her.”
“Are you taking me off this case?” Luke demanded, anger beginning to boil up.
“Relax. No, I’m not taking you off the case, but I want you healthy and dependable. We’ve taken the wind out of Bobby’s sails for now,” Chase said. “She’s probably regrouping. So go home, recharge. Come back better prepared to track her down.”
“All right. As soon as I’ve taken Susannah to see Daniel, I’ll go home and crash.”
Chapter Nineteen
Dutton, Sunday, February 4, 9:00 a.m.
Bobby snapped the phone shut. Her GBI mole had thought their relationship was finished, just because Bobby had lost a little ground. But secrets were still valid currency, especially now. They know who I am. It meant she had to be more careful.
She scoffed. Kira Laneer thinks she knows where I am. But that Garth had known more than Bobby thought should not be ignored. Her husband was not a stupid man. Bobby didn’t plan to take any chances with Kira Laneer.
She dialed Paul’s number. “I need you.”
“I don’t think so, sugar. I’ve been watching TV and your ass is fried. Susannah Vartanian looked cute on the news stealing your inventory right out from under you.”
Fury bubbled up. “Don’t get smart. I have a job for you.” She gave him Laneer’s address. “Make it painless. She kept Garth from pawing at me, after all.” Bobby hated Garth, hated his touch. She’d borne his two brats, fulfilling her expectations as a Davis wife. The boys, however, had been a good accessory for her suburban housewife persona, and she’d been good to them. It was smart business to keep one’s cover healthy and smiling. “Kill Kira Laneer before she tells GBI what she knows.”
“Bobby, this is too much,” Paul said. “You can’t keep killing these people.”
“Just do as you’re told or I’ll make a call to the police about you.” It was the first time she’d ever threatened to. First time she’d felt the need. Shaking, she hung up. Garth’s victims would be talking to the press this afternoon. Susannah would be there. I will be, too. That GBI had increased security was useful information, although it made things more difficult. But Bobby knew how to manage the problem. Susannah, it’s time to die.