Chapter 65

SIXTY-FIVE

A uniformed officer comes to the door and says, "Lucas wants to see him," and he points at Vinnie. Ronnie gets up and leads the way inside. She says over her shoulder, "Just answer his questions the best that you can. Don't elaborate and don't let him get you angry. Anger won't help us. Save the anger for Thundercloud."

Jack wanted nothing to do with Vinnie and was glad when Lucas told him to show Crime Scene where he'd met the kidnapper. The tension was lowered with the removal of one antagonist, but now Jack had been replaced by Lucas's dour countenance.

"Your niece said you spotted a vehicle in Bellingham where someone looking like Duke was getting into an SUV," Lucas says.

Crap! I didn't want him to know about that. And now I'm not sure if Lucas knows we met Vinnie at the motel. Ronnie and Rebecca exchange a look, and Rebecca looks chastened.

"When was that?" Vinnie asks. Good deflection.

"Were you in Bellingham today?" Lucas asks.

"I was there this morning."

"Why were you there?" Lucas asks.

"I don't have to tell you my every move, Sergeant. I'm not on probation and unless you have a warrant for me I can get up and walk out that door."

Lucas is taken aback. "Why…your sister is kidnapped and you don't want to help. Is that right?"

"I never said I wouldn't help. Treat me with respect and I'll answer your questions. Otherwise, I'm out of here."

Vinnie looks at me and I see he's having Lucas for breakfast.

Lucas looks down at the table, collecting his thoughts, or maybe eating crow. He's bitten off more than he can chew with Vinnie.

"Okay. Sorry, Mr. Lombardi. Can we get back to you seeing Duke in Bellingham, please?"

"I never said I saw Duke. Just someone that looked like it might be him. But he was there one moment and gone the next."

"Did he get into an SUV? This Duke lookalike."

"Rebecca must have heard me wrong. Like I said, the guy was there and then gone. I didn't pay that much attention."

Lucas isn't giving up. "Did you know Duke has a warrant out for escape?"

"Escape from where?"

Lucas's scowl is back. "I'm through playing games, Vinnie. Did you see Duke in Bellingham or not? It's an easy question."

"I've answered your question. Just because you don't like the answer doesn't change anything. I saw someone that looked like Duke and then he disappeared."

Lucas leans forward and rests his palms flat against the table. "Do you have an idea who took your sister?"

"Thundercloud and Missy. I thought you'd figured that out by now," Vinnie said.

"And you have no part in what they're doing?"

"I'm here talking to the police. Do you think I would be here if I was involved? You're not stupid, Sergeant. Just because I've had some issues in the past, it doesn't mean I would harm my family. I'm not going to listen to this any longer."

Vinnie stands to leave the room, but Ronnie takes his arm and leads him into the hallway where I can hear her whispering and Vinnie protesting loudly, saying that he's leaving.

"Way to go, Lucas," I say, and earn a dirty look and so I press on. "We've spent all this time looking for him and you piss him off. So what's your plan now?"

Lucas doesn't miss a beat. "Now we pay the ransom."

"It's about time," I say.

"You have no idea what's going on here," Lucas says. "I've got a murder to add to this kidnapping now and you're running around playing detective, spooking all the witnesses."

I'm struck silent.

"That's right. The resort reported a fire. Roger Whiting was just found burned to death in his office. The surveillance system was toast. What a coincidence. Every time I turn around, one of you is turning off the surveillance recordings. I'll need to know where all of you were today. A complete account. You're now possible suspects so don't get in my way or I'll arrest you until I can check your alibis. Got it?"

I open my mouth to respond to that, but decide I'll just say something I regret. Instead, I turn around and walk out to the front porch. Perhaps the fresh air will cool me down, make me less likely to wring Lucas's fucking neck.

Ronnie's sitting out on the porch with Vinnie. As I step outside, she's patting his knee, "I told you not to let him get to you, Uncle."

Vinnie puts a hand over hers. "He didn't. I just didn't want to tell him anything more."

"Uncle Vinnie, I think we're going to need his help."

"Maybe help from the sheriff but not him."

"Do you know something I don't?" Ronnie asks, and Vinnie squeezes her hand.

"The SUV I saw Duke get into belongs to Lucas." He nods toward the black SUV parked in the driveway. "I think Lucas is behind all of this."

"Who's behind what?" Rebecca asks, coming onto the porch.

Ronnie looks up at her sister. "Uncle Vinnie says the SUV he saw Duke get into is Lucas's," Ronnie says. "He thinks there's something off about Lucas."

"Something off?" I repeat, looking at Vinnie.

He's quiet for a moment. Then he simply says, "I know what desperation looks like. And I see it in Lucas."

I ask Vinnie, "You think Lucas could be behind this whole thing?"

Before Vinnie can answer, Lucas comes out, followed closely by his team. The search team heads to their cars and Lucas stops and faces us. "Mr. Lombardi, I apologize for being sharp with you. Mr. Marsh doesn't believe you've had any ill intentions toward his family and is convinced you are helping with the search." He hands Vinnie a business card. "If you think of anything that can help me, please call. My personal cell phone number is on there as well."

With that Lucas gets in his SUV and drives away.

Ronnie says, "I'm convinced."

Rebecca says, "Yeah. Lucas is not helping."

Jack comes outside and leans in the doorway. "Good. He's gone."

Vinnie stands and says, "I have an idea where Duke might go."

Ronnie says, "Uncle Vinnie will stay with Rebecca and Dad. The kidnapper has been here twice. I don't want my family getting hurt."

Good thinking. We'll know where Vinnie and Jack are.