Ransom of the Heart Read online

  Harvey shrugged. “Mr. Jarvis and I have crossed paths a few times. I don’t know him well.”

  Eddie came back carrying a cheeseburger plate and a tall paper cup.

  “Here you go. I hope you wanted fries.” He set the plate and the drink in front of Leah.

  She stared at the mountain of food. “Wow. That’s a lot.”

  Eddie shrugged. “Just eat what you want.” He winked at Harvey and sat down.

  Harvey waited until she’d taken a few bites. He finished his sandwich and signaled Brooke for more coffee. Finally, when Leah looked more relaxed and less famished, he leaned toward her.

  “So, Leah, do your folks know you’re here?”

  “You mean—”

  “I mean, school hasn’t let out yet, has it? How did you get here?”

  She froze.

  “It’s okay,” Harvey said. “I just wondered, and I wanted to make sure you were safe and have a way home.”

  “I took a bus. A friend from school took me to the bus station.”

  “Okay.” He let that percolate in his mind and drank from his coffee mug. She’d probably ditched school today and talked a friend into skipping a class or two to take her to the bus depot.

  “Why are you so sure you’re not my dad?” Leah asked.

  Eddie arched his eyebrows, challenging him to answer that one without getting his neck in a noose.

  “I was married back then, during the whole year you were born. I didn’t have any relationships outside my marriage.” Things had been rough with Carrie during that time, and three years later she’d left him, but he didn’t think he needed to reveal that.

  She sat watching him for a minute, then her shoulders drooped. She was holding a French fry, and she dredged it through a puddle of ketchup on her plate but didn’t eat it.

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  “I guess you don’t.” Harvey looked at his watch. He really should get back to work, but he couldn’t send her back to the bus station still wondering. “Look, if it will help you, I’m willing to take a test.”

  “What kind of test?”

  “A test that will show if we’re related or not.”

  “You mean, like DNA?”

  “Yeah. It’s a pretty simple test to show paternity or not. We have a lab in the police station, right over there.” He pointed toward the building. “They could do it.” He wasn’t allowed to use the police lab for personal favors, but he was pretty sure Chief Browning would want this cleared up as soon as possible. It could affect his work if Harvey was targeted with a lawsuit.

  Leah’s eyes sparked. “Oh, yeah, like I want you to have your friends do it. They’d say whatever you wanted them to, wouldn’t they? My dad said you’re a bigshot cop.”

  “Really?” Score one for Mr. Viniard. He’d raised a spunky daughter, even if he’d kept the truth from her for over fifteen years. And he’d discussed the matter with Leah, at least to some degree. Harvey came to a decision and took out his phone. He clicked through a few screens and put in a search for independent laboratories in the city. “Okay, Leah. There’s a private lab on Brighton Avenue. That’s not too far from here. We can go over there and give samples. It will take a few weeks with them, and it will cost more, but you’ll know they aren’t my buddies and that whatever they tell you is the truth. What do you say? Shall we take a ride over there?”

  She breathed three times and then looked him in the eye. “Okay. Yeah. You’re paying for it, right?”

  Harvey laughed. “Of course.” He turned to Eddie. “Take the boys and go pick up your suspect. I’ll leave you in charge until I get back, okay? Help Nate if he needs anything for his case, and tell Paula I’ll be an hour or two.” He would take Leah to the bus station personally after their foray to the lab. Still, she probably wouldn’t get home until well after school let out for the day. “And, Leah, you need to call your mom and tell her where you are.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes, you do. I don’t want her worrying when you don’t come home from school. That’s what mothers do, you know.”

  She had the grace to blush.

  Eddie left to round up Tony and Jimmy. Harvey told Leah to finish her burger and then waited while she used the restroom. Keeping an eye on the ladies’ room door, he called Jennifer on his cell phone.

  “Hey, gorgeous. We don’t have to go anywhere tonight, do we?”

  “No,” Jennifer said. “Why? Will you be late?”

  “I don’t think so, but something’s come up that I’ll need to tell you about when I get home.”

  She was silent for a moment and then said, “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, sweetheart.”

  “Because if you’re calling me from the hospital—”

  “No, nothing like that. But it’s a little sensitive to discuss over the phone. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you all about it tonight.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  Harvey smiled. Jennifer was such a relief. She could always peel through the stress he dealt with at work. “I love you,” he said. “Give Connor a squeeze for me.”

  Leah came out of the restroom and walked over to the table. “I’m ready.” She stooped and picked up her backpack.

  Harvey put his phone away and stood.

  “I should warn you, though,” Leah said. “If this involves needles, I don’t do too good with blood.”

  Chapter 2

  Peter looked up from his computer screen as Sylvia Harding entered his office.

  “Peter, your mom’s here.”

  “Oh, good.” He rose, smoothing down his necktie, and stepped to the door. His mother, trim and stylish as always, stood near Sylvia’s desk at one side of the showroom. “Come right in, Mom.” He closed the door behind her and indicated one of the customer chairs for her. “Thanks so much for doing this.”

  “No problem. I’m picking the boys up at school in an hour anyway.”

  “I thought Abigail was getting them.”

  “I said I’d do it and give her more time to get ready for your big night out. I stopped by and got the boys’ things.”

  “Well, that was nice of you. Thanks.”

  “Does Sylvia know about this?” she asked.

  “Yeah, she’s cool with it. In fact, it was her idea.” Peter sat down and folded his hands on the desktop. “I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with the books, but I want to make sure.”

  His mother frowned. “Something must have set you off.”

  “One of my sales reps. Carter. I just. . .Something’s not right with him.” Peter shook his head.

  “You think he’s stealing from you?”

  He grimaced. “No, I don’t, not really. But he’s been very cagey lately about finances and going all out to make a sale.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?”

  “Sometimes he’s so aggressive, the customer backs off.”

  She nodded thoughtfully. “I can see Carter doing that.” She’d worked at Hobart Chevrolet for more than twenty years—Sylvia had her job now—building the business with her husband. She knew most of the staff. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah. I saw him talking to a man in the lot last week. I thought it was a customer at first, but then I realized they were arguing. Carter looked positively gray. I asked him later who the guy was, and he was evasive.”

  “That’s a red flag, for sure.”

  “Uh-huh. And yesterday Carter really put the pressure on a client. So bad I stepped in.”

  “Oh-oh.”

  Peter sighed and held up his thumb and index finger. “I’m this close to firing him.”

  His mother studied his face. “Carter’s been here a long time, Peter.”

  “More than twelve years. And overall, he’s been a good employee.”

  “You can’t fire him on a feeling. As to the high-pressure tactics, maybe he’s due for a refresher in sales techniques.”

  Peter leaned back in his chair. “He see
ms desperate. And that’s why I decided to take a good look at the books. I told Sylvia I wanted a good, thorough check. She went over the accounts, and she thinks everything’s fine, but she suggested I have someone else take a look to set my mind at ease.” He shrugged. “You seemed like the natural choice. You know our system.”

  His mom smiled. “I set up that system. Of course I’ll take a look. If I don’t feel satisfied in an hour, I’ll come back tomorrow and take the whole program apart.”

  “Thanks, Mom. You can use my desk. That way the other employees won’t see you and wonder what you’re up to. I’ve asked Sylvia to keep it quiet.”

  “Okay.”

  They both stood, and his mother came behind the desk.

  “I’ve updated a few of the programs, but we’re using the same basic setup we had when you left,” Peter said.

  “The easiest place for him to pull something funny would be in the sales and rebates, but I’ll look at the shop accounts, too.”

  “I’ll be out on the floor or in the lot,” Peter said. “You can call my cell if you need me.”

  “Great.” She sat down and pulled the chair in. “I hope you can relax and have a great evening.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure we will, and I’ll worry less once you’ve looked at this.”

  “Abby said you’re having dinner at the floating restaurant and then going to the symphony. She seemed excited about it.”

  His smiled broadened. Everything was good since he and Abigail had gotten married. Andy and Gary thrived under their new mom’s guidance, and Peter couldn’t remember being so happy. This snag with Carter was the only thing bothering him, and it had to be dealt with.

  “Thanks again, Mom. I’ll let you get to work.”

  He walked out into the showroom. Two of his sales reps, Andrea and Jeremy, were deep in conversation with customers. Carter must be outside somewhere. Andrea had the trainee, Kevin, in on her sales pitch. That was good; Kevin could learn a lot from Andrea as far as handling potential clients went. They were talking to a fortyish couple and focusing on a new model Tahoe. Better and better.

  Peter nodded to Sylvia and strolled over to the coffee station beyond her desk. He hoped his mom didn’t find anything in her mini audit. On the other hand, if she did, he’d have more than a nebulous feeling to go by. Either way, he was going to sit Carter down and thrash through this thing. Not today, though, he decided. He needed to simmer down and concentrate on giving Abigail a great evening. She deserved that.

  *****

  Abby Hobart parked near the entrance to the auto showroom and walked up to the door. Surprisingly, it opened at her pull, even though it was twenty minutes past closing time. Peter must be talking to a late customer. Usually if a client lingered after closing, it meant he was buying a new vehicle and they were finishing up the paperwork. She smiled and stepped toward her husband’s office.

  Her throat seized. On the floor between a bright red Malibu and a silver Corvette convertible lay a man in gray pants and a darker sports jacket. A dark pool spread from beneath his head, across the tiles, and a faint acrid scent hung in the air.

  Abby looked away for a second, sucked in a deep breath, then looked again. As a nurse who had done stints in a busy hospital emergency room, she didn’t flinch easily. Even so, this one made her stomach heave.

  Definitely not Peter’s clothing or build. She looked toward the office door. It stood wide open. The lights were on. She stifled the urge to cry out to Peter. She swept a gaze all around the showroom, but nothing moved. Cautiously, she stepped back behind the Malibu’s rear bumper and pulled her phone from her purse.

  It rang four times. Her brother-in-law was probably driving home from work. She almost hung up and opted for 911, but his voice came on, crisp but warm.

  “Abby. What’s up?”

  She gulped. “I just got to Peter’s store, and there’s a man lying dead on the floor.”

  “Are you sure he’s dead?” Harvey asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Who is it?”

  “One of the salesmen, I think. It’s ... well, the exit wound ...”

  “Understood. Where’s Peter?”

  “I don’t know. I was afraid to go to his office.”

  “Right. Get out of the store now, Abby. Get inside your car, lock all the doors, and wait for me. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “But Peter—”

  “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s too dangerous. Get out, Abs.”

  “Okay.”

  “Did you see anyone else?”

  “No, nobody.”

  “Did you try Peter’s cell phone?”

  “No, but I can do that now.”

  “No, Abby, wait. If he’s hiding, that could put him in danger.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed hard.

  “You did just right. I’m hanging up to call the dispatcher,” Harvey said. “I’ll call you right back. Get outside.”

  “Okay, ’bye.”

  She heard his siren go on before she closed the connection. Harvey hated to use the siren in his Explorer. He said it gave him a headache.

  She swallowed hard and peered around the edge of the car she’d sheltered behind. The man still lay there, exactly as she had seen him. Holding her breath, she listened. Nothing. Maybe she could sneak across the showroom from gleaming new car to car and take a peek into the office.

  No. If something happened because of her carelessness, Harvey would never forgive her. But what if Peter needed urgent medical aid, and she didn’t give it to him?

  She sent up a quick prayer and turned to go out. As she pushed the glass door open, an engine surged. She looked right, toward the sound. A dark sedan was pulling out of the parking lot. It was too far away for her to catch the tag number. The car blended in with the rush hour traffic on the street.

  Abby strode to her car. Peter had given her a new Equinox for a wedding present. She got in, hit the lock button, and looked all around the parking lot. Yards away, traffic whizzed by on the street, but the dealership’s lot seemed deserted.

  Her phone buzzed. Harvey.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “I’m five minutes out. We’re sending a marked unit, and they may beat me there.”

  “Okay. I saw a car leaving the parking lot when I came out.”

  “What did it look like?” Harvey asked.

  “Black four-door. I don’t know what kind. It was going out the far exit of the lot. I didn’t get the plate number.”

  “Okay. Was it a Chevy?”

  “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” he said.

  Movement caught her eye.

  “The police car is here.”

  “Okay, why don’t you go tell them what’s going on. I’ll be right there.”

  Abby got out of her car. When she stood, her knees almost buckled. She hung on to the car door and took a deep breath. Peter might be dead inside the building. She managed a wave at the two uniformed officers who got out of the black-and-white city car.

  They walked over to her, looking around the lot as they came.

  “Hi, I’m Abby Hobart. My husband owns this place. Thanks for coming.”

  The female officer said, “Are you the one who called it in?”

  “Yes. There’s a man lying on the floor inside. He looks like he’s been shot. I’m a nurse,” she added quickly.

  The officer nodded. “Anything else?”

  “I called Captain Larson right away. He’s married to my sister. He told me not to go into my husband’s office. But I did see that the office door was open.”

  The woman’s features softened. “Mrs. Hobart, I’m Officer Dalton, and this is Officer Bonner.”

  Abby touched Officer Dalton’s sleeve. “My husband could be in there, in need of medical help.”

  Dalton looked to her partner. “Should we wait for backup?”

  “The shooter could still be inside,” he said.

  “I
did see a car leaving the far end of the lot when I came out.” Abby pointed. “I didn’t get a good look, but it was a black, four-door sedan.”

  A siren announced Harvey’s arrival. His Explorer pulled in with the blue strobe flashing. Harvey hopped out, his usual competent, spare self, with crisp brown hair and a rumpled suit.

  “Abby.” He strode to her and put his hands on her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes.

  She stared back. She’d known him two years, but she still found the blue of his eyes startling.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m fine. But Peter—”

  Harvey looked to the uniformed officers. “Anyone been inside?”

  “Not yet, Captain,” Dalton replied.

  “Let’s go.” Harvey drew his pistol.

  “Do you have body armor, sir?” Officer Bonner asked.

  “Not with me,” Harvey said.

  “Better let us go first. Maybe you should stay with Mrs. Hobart.”

  Abby hoped he would stay with her. Harvey turned to her.

  “We’ve got back-up on the way. Get in your car, Abby. I’ll let you know as soon as possible what the situation is.”

  She nodded, her mouth dry, and walked back to her Equinox. Her hands shook as she opened the door and slid onto the seat.

  Officer Bonner was already through the front door of the showroom, and Officer Dalton hurried around the side of the building. Harvey entered just behind Bonner.

  Abby’s lips quivered as she tried to form a prayer.

  Lord, keep them safe! And please let Peter be all right.

  Her phone rang and she looked at the screen. Her younger sister, Leeanne.

  “Hey.”

  “Abby? What’s going on? Eddie said he heard a call go out for officers to go to Peter’s store.”

  “I’m there now,” she said. “Harvey’s here, and some patrol officers.” As she spoke, another black-and-white rolled in. “Someone’s been shot. Not Peter. Look, I need to go. I’ll call you back, okay?”

  “Sure—”

  She hung up on Leeanne and jumped out of the car, striding toward the new arrivals.

  “I’m Abigail Hobart, the owner’s wife. Captain Larson is inside with Officers Dalton and Bonner. They said they’d make sure the—the shooter isn’t still inside.”