Key West Gone into the Night Elizabeth Hilleren (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

on the breakfast bowl while running through the reports for the morning. The desk phone rang.

“Sharkey here.”

“Detective Sharkey, you’re in early. You asked for a trace of the phone records from Carl Abbott’s cell. The day you requested us to check showed that his cell pinged off a local tower.  He, or at least his phone, was in Key West that day.”

 “So, he was here in Key West. Even though he said he was in Miami?”

“That’s correct, Sir.  I can send you a report of his calls from that night to when it stopped functioning. The battery is currently dead or out of the phone.”

Sharkey hung up the phone…interesting…He’s probably dead now.

He called up to the Chief.

“Sharkey, what’s up?”

“I need to talk to you in person, sir.”

“Come on up.”

Sharkey entered the Chief’s office and slid into the chair that Chief Sullivan pointed to.

“Okay, what’s on your mind?  Something’s not right?”

“Sir, I…”

“Spit it out, Sharkey, I’m on your side.” His eyes softened and he nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Chief, Carl Abbott was abducted and most likely killed last night. An eyewitness saw him injected and forensics found a syringe at the scene that the lab said held a lethal dose of morphine. That leaves the seven-year-old son missing without any next of kin except Harris and Stephanie. Carl has elderly parents.”

“My Lord, people are dropping like flies…stay on it. Any word on the kids?”

“No, Sir.”

“Carry on.”  Chief Sullivan let out a long breath.

Sharkey didn’t look like he was through yet. “What else?” asked the chief.

“Harris is off the radar.”

“How so? Where is he?”

“That’s all I know, Chief.  But Harris’s gun, phone and badge are missing. No response on the phone.”

Sullivan leaned back in his chair. Sharkey could practically hear his brain whirling.

“Harris is good.  If he’s in a captive situation he’s at his best. He uses his brain and more than likely he’ll survive. I know he would not go off halfcocked.”

“I agree.”

“He called me from a local phone. He more than likely has the battery out of his and will contact us when he’s able. Most bad guys will hesitate before killing a cop.  But these guys are ruthless, so I’ve got to say I’m worried.”

“Okay, at this point Harris is on bereavement leave. He’s one of the toughest detectives we have. He’s seasoned and he can usually take care of himself. I don’t think he went rogue but was met with a situation that he feels he can handle. Keep me informed.”

*    *    *

At nine o’clock that morning, Roslyn appeared at the door to Rex’s home office.

“I’m ready to take the kids and go to Miami with Piper.”

“Have a good trip.” Rex smiled and took her in his arms. “I love you so much. You be safe now.” She gave him a big smile and said she would.

“Hey, Dad, wish me luck. Mom is dropping me at the College for my interview. One of my friends will drop me back home after lunch.”

“You don’t need luck.  You’re as sharp as a tack.”

Rex hugged Enrique.  “You’re almost as tall as I am.”

Enrique laughed. “I should be. I’m going to start my senior year with mostly college credit courses.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

He watched as the gang climbed into Roslyn’s SUV and pulled out. He started to close the door but was just in time to see a green SUV pull in and park by the garage. Harris got out and a tall young man followed him to the steps.

“Harris, good to see you.”

“Rex, this is my friend Javier.”

“Welcome. Good to meet you,” they shook hands, “I’m Rex Jamison.”

“Thank you for letting me come.”

Harris nodded to Javier and they went into the house.

“We have the house to ourselves. The family is off on a shopping trip to Miami. Roslyn left me with coffee and cake.”

“Great,” said Harris. “You’re in for a treat, kid. She can cook.”

“Thank you,” Javier said, sitting down in the chair to the left of Harris.

“Okay, here’s the deal, Rex. This young man is up to his neck in crap.” Harris took a bite of cake and a swallow of coffee. “It’s imperative,” he continued, “that his presence here and his identity is not mentioned to anyone. Even the task force must not know who he is.”

“All right,” Rex said, “I can assure you that your identify is safe with me.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jamison.”

“Please, call me Rex.”

Javier nodded. “As you wish.”

“I need to talk to Sharkey,” Harris said, “but I’m hesitate to see him in person at this time. I gave him a heads up and I believe that the Chief is aware of me being under the radar.”

“Good, so how can I help?” Rex asked.

“We’re dealing with sketchy thoughts and memories about the man who is manipulating Javier.”

“All right. In a very general way can you tell me about this man, Javier?”

“He’s a relative, my only living relative. He assisted me in getting an education in business and taking over my family’s winery in Chile. I owe him a great amount of money and gratitude. He forced me to help him in abducting my child and his mother’s other son.”

“To what end?”

“He would take my child as his own because his girlfriend lost her son. This he does for her. He told me the other older child will die immediately if I should betray him.”

Rex took off his dark heavy rimmed glasses and sat back in his high-backed, rounded, upholstered chair. He was quiet for a moment.

“Okay. That’s a good glimpse at the whole picture,” he said softly.  “So now tell me more about your relative.”

“He was my mother’s brother. Both my parents were killed in a plane crash