Fade to Black Page 17

  “Um. Sure. Yes, sir.” The little man’s hands shook as he studied his key ring. Each was labeled with the name of the building they unlocked. Judging from the amount of keys on the ring, they were going to be standing in the cold for a very long time.

  Zach’s eyes roamed the security guard’s uniform for a badge. He squinted in the dim light to make out his name. “Listen, Ralph, we’re in a hurry.”

  “I’m doing the best I can. There’s a lot of buildings on this here campus.”

  Clang.

  The key ring struck the patio with a clatter. Zach bent down and scooped them up. He could flip through the keys more effectively than the security guard. Finally, he reached the key marked theater. Careful not to drop it, he handed the keys back to Ralph. “Do you mind telling me what exactly we’re looking for?”

  “We aren’t looking for anything. You can wait here.” Zach pushed past the security worker into the front lobby. The motion-sensitive light flicked on overhead.

  “I don’t think anyone’s here. Unless they’re asleep. Motion detector doesn’t show anyone in here.” Ralph pointed to a panel alongside the front door.

  “If you don’t mind, we’re still going to look around just to be sure.” Christian walked toward the hallway running to the right of the lobby and waited for Zach to catch up.

  • • •

  “How many more rooms are there?” Zach closed the door to the final dressing room behind himself as he looked down the empty hallway.

  “Just two.”

  “On this floor.” The ever-watchful security guard answered from behind them.

  “Great.” Zach began to question his judgment. They’d spent the better part of an hour searching the building, but there was no sign of Rory. Maybe he should have called her dorm room before calling Christian to help him out on this wild goose chase.

  Christian approached the costume room door and turned the knob. “This door’s locked.” He waited impatiently as Ralph slowly looked through every key — again. “Do you think you could maybe do something to keep that key separate from the others?”

  “Next time, I’ll tie a ribbon around it.” Ralph glared at Christian. The officers were obviously interrupting the man’s nap, and he was getting decidedly cranky.

  Standing closer to the door, Christian pushed past the clothes hanging next to the entrance of the room and waited for the light to turn on. Zach followed closely behind. “Rory?”

  Zach stepped around Christian and walked in the direction of the tiny office tucked into the back of the room. “Well, we know why she’s not answering her phone.” Rory’s messenger bag and cell phone sat on top of the desk.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “And how do you know she’s missing if you haven’t even talked with her roommate?” Ms. Hoffsteadler’s hair stood in disarray as she walked alongside Zach through the seventh floor hallway. Christian stayed in the car to attempt to contact Anita and let her know they were unable to locate Rory.

  “She was supposed to meet a friend for dinner.”

  “That one seems to have a great many friends.” Ms. Hoffsteadler said the last word with disdain. “I don’t know how she keeps them all straight.” She tapped softly on the door to room 718. “I’m not happy about waking her up.”

  “Well, if someone in there would answer the phone, we wouldn’t have to.” Zach shuffled impatiently back and forth as he waited for the door to open.

  “Allie?” Ms. Hoffsteadler rapped louder at the door. “Rory?”

  “Do you have a master key?”

  The older woman gave him an appalled look. “I’m not going to just walk in on my girls.” Her lips puckered as if she’d been sucking on a lemon.

  Zach took matters into his own hands. He pounded on the door loud enough to wake Otis. “Allie. I need you to open the door.”

  “Just a second.” An annoyed voice, still slurred and thick from sleep called out. The doorknob turned slowly and Allie peeked into the hallway. “Officer Rowlins? What are you doing here?” Her lips smacked as she struggled to wake up.

  “Is your roommate here?”

  Allie backed out of view. “Rory?” The overhead light to the room turned on. “No. She’s not.” Instantly awake, Allie looked at Zach with surprise. “What’s going on?”

  “We found some things of hers in the theater building. We’re wondering if you might know where she is?”

  Allie chewed her lip and twirled her hair around her finger. Zach recognized that look. She knew something. Allie stared at Ms. Hoffsteadler and shook her head. “No idea. Sorry.”

  “Ms. Hoffsteadler, can you excuse us for a moment?”

  The older woman hesitated. “You don’t have permission to question one of my girls.”

  “I’m not questioning her.” He paused. “Well, yes, I am. Allie’s not in trouble.” He looked back at Allie. “But Rory might be.”

  Allie’s forehead wrinkled as she crossed her teeth and bit down on her cheek. The door to room 716 opened and a dark head peeked out. “It’s okay, Tasha, go back to bed.”

  “Sure thing.” Tasha’s eyes widened at the group standing in the hallway. Zach suspected she wouldn’t be going back to bed until she’d gotten the story of what was going on from Allie.

  “Mom, can you give us a minute?” Allie beckoned for Zach to follow her into the dorm room she shared with Rory.

  “I don’t know.”

  “My mom’s Captain Davies. I’ve known Zach since I was sixteen.” She widened her eyes and sighed in exasperation. “I just want to talk to him.”

  Ms. Hoffsteadler didn’t look convinced, but she backed away. “I’ll be down by the stairs.”

  Once alone, Allie seemed conflicted. She walked to her bed, sat down, and picked up a worn stuffed rabbit.

  “You wanted to tell me something?”

  Allie didn’t look at him. Instead, she traced the edge of the bedspread with her fingernail. “Rory’s not who she says she is.” She ran her hand through her bangs and her hair tumbled down over her face.

  “What do you mean?” Zach prompted. He didn’t have time to play twenty questions. Either she knew something or she didn’t.

  Allie still hesitated.

  “Allie. If you know something that could help her, I need to know now.” He’d give her ten more seconds before he left. One. Two. Three.

  “I don’t know what’s going on, but I know her name isn’t Rory.” She tossed the rabbit into the air and caught it. She was acting like a guilty ten year old. “I didn’t realize it at first, but I knew she seemed kind of familiar. Her name’s Kennedy. We were best friends when we were in first grade. She still has the washrag from my slumber party that year. I know it’s her. I just can’t figure out why she’s trying to pretend she’s someone else.”

  “Did you tell anyone else who Rory really is?”

  “No!” Allie shot to her feet. “I wouldn’t do that. She must have had her reasons … but there’s something else too.” She stopped talking and clamped her lips shut, obviously second-guessing herself.

  “Allie?” Zach’s phone rang, and he tugged it from his pocket. Christian. That call could wait. “Rory saved your life once. So, if you know something, you need to tell me.”

  Allie shifted in discomfort on the bed. “I don’t know if this even has anything to do with where she might be.”

  “Anything could help right now. She’s missing.”

  She stood back up, cradling the rabbit to her chest. “It’s just, it’s kind of personal. I found out something that I don’t think I was supposed to know.”

  Damn it. Zach’s heart sped in his chest. If Allie had figured out that Rory wasn’t who she said she was, then how many others on campus knew? He thought she’d done a good job of staying in character, but being undercover for
almost four months was difficult. It was easy to slip up.

  “Rory’s pregnant. She promised me she was going to talk with her boyfriend. I haven’t seen her since.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rory fought to open her eyes. She was in a car. Why was she in a car? The last thing she remembered, she’d been talking with Dr. Maxwell … and he was saying he’d seen her on tour in Chicago. Then everything became fuzzy.

  “You’re awake? That was fast. I should have put one more pill in your water.”

  Rory’s eyes snapped open, and she turned in the direction of the driver’s seat.

  “You are way too predictable.” Gabriel clucked his tongue and shook his head. “You still keep your drink on the edge of the piano backstage.” He nodded to himself. “You watch your drink so carefully when you’re at a party. But when you’re onstage? Old habits die hard.” The wheels of Gabe’s car growled to a stop on the mixture of rocks and damp earth. The floodwaters had receded from the lake, but trash and tree limbs were scattered across the beach like a store at the end of a Black Friday sale. Gabriel rolled down the front windows before he took the key out of the ignition. “You know I got in trouble once for knocking your drink onto the floor. We were in Dallas. Or was it Boston?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you don’t.” Gabriel gave a humorless laugh. “You really should be more careful, though. Just because you’re at rehearsal doesn’t mean you’re safe. Anyone could have put something in your drink. You’d better be happy I just dropped a few sleeping pills in your water.”

  Rory frowned. She’d known the water tasted a little off, but she normally put a flavoring packet in her drink. Today, she’d run out. She thought the unusual taste had something to do with her migraine from the night before.

  Gabriel brought his cup to his lips before apparently thinking better of it. Taking the lid from the cup, he blew on the overfull cup, spilling a dribble of coffee down the front of his shirt. “Damn it! I told Carla not to fill it to the top. She never listens.”

  “You bought coffee?”

  “You’ve been out for a while.” Gabriel tapped the clock on the dashboard. “I bought one for you too. I even splurged for a mocha.” He frowned. “Figured you might as well enjoy your last cup.”

  “What are you talking about?” For the first time that night, real fear seized the pit of her stomach. She’d been unsettled before, but she was terrified now. “Why is this my last cup?”

  “Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize you?” Gabriel ignored her question and gulped his drink. “God, you were such a diva back then. Everyone was coming to the show to see you. Guess you were right, though. When you left, the show closed.”

  Rory reached for the door, but she was still too dizzy from whatever he’d given her. Her fingers closed around thin air.

  “Don’t make this any harder.” He waved the gun in his lap. “I’m an excellent shot. My daddy taught me well.” He smiled in the moonlight.

  The final piece of the puzzle fell into place. “You’re the little boy in the picture.” She blinked and rubbed her eyes. “The one holding the rabbit.”

  “You’ve been in my step-dad’s office? That can’t have been fun. I know it was never fun for me when I got in trouble. Mom decided not to put up with it anymore. She left, but she left me with him.” He mumbled to himself. “That’s why I have to do this.” He turned to her and his lower lip was trembling.

  “Do what?”

  Gabriel gulped in a breath. “You’re a good actress, but that’s always been true, hasn’t it? That’s why they let you play the lead.” He chuckled as Rory’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I remembered. I might have just been ensemble, but you don’t forget your first tour — or who’s on it with you.”

  Rory rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes you do.” He nodded with assurance. “Kennedy O’Donovan — the next big Broadway star. Your name was on the marquis and everything. Must have been such a rush. Too bad about your sister. That was bad for all of us. You ruined my career. Theater was my life.”

  “Gabe.”

  He held up a finger and placed it on her lips. “I checked. You completely disappeared, until you turned up here — right after Cadie died.” A corner of his lips turned up in amusement. “Not a coincidence. How’d they get you to work under cover?”

  The rain peppered down harder. Lightning zipped through the clouds and a finger struck so close Rory’s teeth chattered. Of course, that could have simply been the fear. “So, are you working with Dr. Maxwell?”

  Laughter rumbled low in Gabriel’s chest. “You still don’t have it quite figured out, do you?” He turned the key in the ignition and rolled the windows up.

  “Dr. Maxwell distributes the ecstasy.”

  “But you’re still looking for someone else too.” For the first time, a flash of regret crossed Gabriel’s face. “That’s where they all get stuck.” The Adam’s apple in his throat bobbed as he swallowed thickly. “And then it’s my turn.” Sheets of rain blanketed the front windshield as he placed his hand on the gearshift. He shook his head. “An overdose would have been much easier for you. I’m sorry, but he wants me to be a little more … creative.”

  “Who does?” Rory reached for the door handle as the car began rolling backward. The locks engaged in unison.

  “That’s going to have to be my little secret … just like you have a secret, don’t you? Sleeping with your partner? I followed you out to his house once. You really should look in your rearview mirror sometimes. You had a key to his house; y’all are definitely more than just partners. That’s not going to go down well when your boss Anita hears about that.” He stared intently at the choppy waters of the lake. Tires whirled in the muck as the car spun out of the parking place. “Of course, there’s not much she can do about it when you’re dead. Zach’s probably going to get in trouble, though.”

  Rory fought to open the door handle, but she couldn’t get a good grip on the wet lock. “Gabe, you don’t need to do this.” Rory caught hold of the handle this time.

  “Do it, and I’ll make sure it hurts.” He held the gun up to her neck. “And I really want to make this as painless as possible.”

  He was going to drive them into the lake. She saw the insane glint in his eyes. He blamed her for ruining his future. If he drove the car into the lake, he’d be signing her death sentence just as much as if he fired the gun between her eyes. So she had to take the chance. She lunged for the gun.

  White-hot pain exploded through her shoulder as her ears began to ring. Gabriel’s eyes widened in horror. “I … told you I’d do it.” He pressed on the gas and revved the engine.

  Rory clutched her arm as blood poured between her fingers. “Gabriel, don’t do this.”

  The car fishtailed as Gabe floored the gas pedal while pulling onto the suspension bridge. Tires shrieked as Gabe steered directly for the metal guardrail. “Goodbye Rory.” A tangle of metal erupted around them as the car broke through the metal guardrail. For an instant, the car hung in the air before it dropped out of sight.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Zach sat behind the wheel, stunned at what Allie had just told him.

  “So, what’d she know?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head.

  “Then why do you look like Otis just died?”

  “She didn’t know anything. Damn it, stop asking questions.” Zach struck the dashboard with such force a fine crack formed in the plastic.

  Christian’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are you trying to break the car?”

  “Because Rory’s missing.” Zach wanted to hit something … anything. “She was at my house this afternoon. I asked her if she wanted me to back her up at practice, and she said no.”


  Static buzzed in the car as the radio came to life. “All units. We have a report of a car going over Carter Lake Bridge. I repeat. We have reports of a car going over Carter Lake Bridge. Car is described as a silver Toyota Camry.”

  “That’s what Figueroa drives.” Zach started the car and began to back out of the parking space.

  “Gun it.” Christian didn’t even blink. He picked up the radio and depressed the call button. “O’Donovan and Rowlins responding. Send a dive team and an ambulance.”

  Donna’s voice crackled over the radio. “O’Donovan, can you repeat that last request?”

  “Send a dive team and an ambulance to that location.”

  “Copy that.” Donna answered.

  “What are you talking about?” Zach looked to his partner, fear settling in the pit of his stomach.

  “Rory can’t swim. An idiot swim teacher almost let her drown when she was six. She’s been terrified of the water ever since.”

  • • •

  “Did a car go in?” A teenager covered from head to toe in mud leapt off the lead ATV and skidded to a stop as Christian turned on the spotlight from his car. “That’s what it looked like from over there.”

  A girl stood on the bench seat of the ATV and called out. “Has anyone called the police?”

  “We are the police.” Zach kicked off his shoes and unfastened the gun holster from around his waist. “Watch the water for Figueroa. Don’t let him get away.”

  “I won’t.” Christian’s voice had a no-nonsense note that Zach only heard when it was his turn to play bad cop in the interrogation room. Even still, Gabriel had better hope Rory’s brother was the one who arrested him because if Zach got his hands on him first … “Hey, you have floodlights on those things. Aim them at the water.” Christian’s commands were cut off as Zach plunged into the icy lake.

  Never one to be afraid of the water, Zach had spent some of his best vacations scuba diving in the tropics. Exploring undersea caves and catching tropical fish in the beam from his flashlight was like a sophisticated game of hide and seek.