Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set Nanci Rathbun (i love reading books txt) 📖

stand the boredom, so I sent him to observe the Zupan residence on Monday night.” I took a breath. “He thought he spotted Petrovitch in a black Park Avenue with Illinois plates. The car circled the cul-de-sac twice, but didn’t stop. Bobbie, against my instructions, followed it the second time, but he lost it. However, he did get the plates, so I ran a search. It’s registered to Oliver Wendell Peterson.” I explained about the name coincidence. “It could be an alias for Attorney Petrovitch. My plate search didn’t provide a DMV picture for Peterson. The address for the plates was a townhouse in Glenview, Illinois.”

“With easy access to the Chicago bank account and every form of transportation short of a space launch,” Wukowski added.

I nodded and we all sat in silence for a few moments.

Iggy piped up. “This is real helpful, Angie.”

“Payback time,” I told him.

Wukowski and Iggy exchanged glances. Wukowski nodded and Iggy spoke. “I can apply for a warrant for Petrovitch’s bank records, with this as probable cause. He’s not officially a suspect, but the evidence, while circumstantial, is pretty damning. I’ll go back to the office tonight and start the process. I’ll also request the Illinois DMV picture and ask the Glenview PD for information on the address and on Peterson. But it’s a small village, Angie, and I imagine the PD there doesn’t have a large investigative unit. I’ll ask for surveillance on the place, but it’s not likely I’ll get it.”

Wukowski joined in. “We need a way to contact Adriana and Bobbie without Bart’s interference.” I gave him the cell phone numbers and he wrote them in his little notebook. “We got the autopsy reports yesterday,” he said. “The bullets that killed the Johnsons and Dragana Zupan were 9mm NATO. They’re used by NATO forces and some military forces around the world. Private gun enthusiasts use them, too.”

“Not police?”

“Nope.”

“Is it easy to buy those bullets?”

“You can get them online and at a few local dealers. Some Walmarts sell them. It doesn’t tell us much, without the gun.” He checked with Iggy. “Have I forgotten anything?”

Iggy shook his head and rose. “Good to see you again, Angie. Marianne sends her regards and says to call her when you have time.”

“I will.” We hugged briefly and he headed outside.

Wukowski and I remained seated. He looked mighty fine to me. By the dilation of his pupils and his fast breathing, I surmised that I looked good to him, too.

“Who’s providing protection for you tonight?” he asked.

“You are.”

It didn’t take long to get our coats on and drive to my condo. Once inside the front door, I was grateful that my dress was stretchy and had no buttons. Let the workout begin!

Chapter 19

I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.

—Benjamin Disraeli

I felt very relaxed and clear-headed when Wukowski left the next morning. There was a message on my answering machine from Bart Matthews, recorded at seven-oh-eight last night. “It’s Bart. I was able to find accommodations for your out-of-town friends.” Translation: Bobbie and Adriana were tucked away safely.

People who want to leave secure messages don’t use voicemail. There are companies that sell fake caller ID equipment that lets you mimic another number from your phone. Then you can call the number and check or even delete their voicemail—unless they’ve established a password, which many people don’t do. Of course, my message box was password-protected, but it’s only a matter of time before some hacker figures out how to get past that, too.

I returned Bart’s message. “It’s Angie. Thanks for getting rooms for my friends. Is this a good time for your consultants to come over?” Translation: Send the personal security team to my place.

After showering, I wiggled into skinny dress jeans and a soft raspberry-colored boat-neck sweater, settled on the couch with a cup of java and dialed Bobbie’s cell. He picked up on the second ring. “Angie—”

I interrupted. “Remember this isn’t a secure call, amico. Don’t give me any information that could help someone locate you. And no names.”

“Uh. Well, I’m fine.”

“Good to hear.”

“This is crazy, Angie.”

“It is,” I agreed. “But necessary. Call my home number from a landline.” I figured no one could tap a hotel phone that quickly and I have a detector on my line that alerts me to anything short of a government tap.

Bobbie called back within a few seconds. He blurted out, “Angie, sometimes you scare me.”

“A private investigator has to be vigilant, Bobbie. If you prepare for the worst, you are often pleasantly surprised, and if the worst comes to pass, you’re glad you were ready for it.”

“Gotcha.” After a moment of silence, during which I bet he was making a note, he said, “You’ll never believe what happened after Adriana and I left Bart’s office yesterday.”

“You’re both okay, aren’t you?”

“Oh, sure. Nothing bad went down. I got her stuff from my place, packed a small bag for myself and took them out to the car, which I deliberately parked outside, where anyone could see it. Then I drove back to Bart’s office, parked on the street, and hauled the suitcases in. This is where it gets good.”

I could almost hear him squirming with delight through the phone line. “Tell me.”

“Remember Bart said there were ways out of the building that didn’t involve going outside? Well, there are underground tunnels, Angie! We freakin’ went through a tunnel, into the basement of another building, up to the roof and across to a third building, via a metal grate. From there, we separated. Bart went with me and Mighty Mary went with Adriana, each of us in anonymous black sedans with smoked glass windows. I felt like Will Smith in Enemy of the People.”

“Man, Bobbie, I had no idea about this. How did Adriana take it? Was she scared?”

“Maybe at first. I don’t think she liked the tunnel. But Mary talked to her, which helped. Once we were aboveground again, Adriana was okay. I have to hand it