Page 23

CHAPTER 23

They managed to get to Daisy’s in minutes with Bailey dropping them off in the alley. A strong wind teased the tops of the garbage bins while an icy frost was coating the pavement and for the first time that day, Suzanne wondered where David Phillips was and offered up a prayer for his safety.

The back door swung open in answer to her knock and Barry ushered them inside. The kitchen, as usual, was immaculate, the stainless-steel appliance and fixtures gleaming with a polished care. Everything looked perfectly normal.

Except for the uniformed officer standing in front of one of the prep tables, examining what appeared to be a series of metal discs spread out on a towel covered tray. Barry introduced him as Lt. Officer Craig Randolph, who worked in KPD’s surveillance unit.

“Thanks for getting here so fast,” Barry said. “What a mess. Alex is scared to death and Sofia is furious.”

“Alex Langley is involved in all of this?” Suzanne’s head was reeling. “That makes no sense.”

“Wait,” Kristopher said. “Are we talking about Sofia Langley from the youth shelter?”

“Alex is her son,” Suzanne explained. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“When you called, you said something about someone bugging the restaurant,” Kristopher said. “When and where did you find it?”

“This morning, when Alex and I were cleaning under the tabletops,” Barry described. “And I should say them . We’d neglected to clean under there for months. I mean, except for the chewing gum that kids leave there, how dirty can the underside of the tables get? This is my fault. If I’d had the staff clean under there, we might have found them long ago.”

“Them,” Suzanne repeated. “You mean there were more than one?”

“Yeah,” Barry said. “Show them, Randolph.”

Officer Craig Randolph selected a dime thin, nickel sized silver disc from the tray. “These are recording devices, both powerful and sensitive. Whoever planted them knew what they were doing. They’re turned off now, of course.”

“Oh my,” Suzanne breathed. “Do you think they’re the same kind planted on your car?”

“We’ll find out later,” Kristopher said grimly. “What else, Officer?”

“This kind usually only records for a few hours.” Randolph put the disc back among the others. “I’ll need to take this back to our lab to collect whatever data is on them.”

“Barry, I thought you were closed this week,” Suzanne said. “And how did Alex get involved with all this?”

Barry shrugged. “I needed to do some deep cleaning and what better time than when the café is closed? Alex is always willing to help, so I called him. And since you placed him here, I thought you should know about it.”

“Thanks for including me,” Suzanne told him. “Kristopher, Officer Randolph, before we talk to Alex and Sofia, let me explain something about him.”

Her expression became calm and professional, and an unexpected sense of pride flowed through Kristopher. This was the first time he was seeing her in action, acting in her professional capacity.

And by damn, he thought he might be falling in love with her.

“Alex had a closed head injury when he was fifteen,” she said. “He made an almost complete recovery, but stress can cause him severe anxiety, and it sometimes can make him forget things. But he’s amazingly intelligent–can tell you everything you’d ever want to know about Dr. Who– and one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet.”

“He’d have to be, or I wouldn’t have hired him,” Barry agreed. “He’s admitted to knowing about this, but now he’s scared I’m going to fire him.”

“Good enough,” Kristopher said. “Officer Randolph, what’s your part in all of this?”

“I work in KPD’s surveillance division, and was sent to look at the devices, not ask questions about how they got under the table or why,” Randolph said. “But I can take notes and turn them over to Grant Miller. Does this have anything to do with those missing children?”

“It does,” Suzanne confirmed, and Randolph nodded.

“Let’s get started then,” Barry said. “Sofia is so mad about all this, I think she’s gonna blow like Mount St. Helen’s at any minute.”

“Lead the way, then,” Suzanne suggested.

They followed Barry into the dining room and found Alex and Sofia Langley seated at a large, round table in a far corner booth, him looking nervous and her defiant.

“Am I in trouble?” Alex, a handsome young man of about twenty, with a head of dark curly hair, blinked several times while he rolled a pack of sugar between the fingers of his left hand. “I thought I was helping.”

“You were, Alex,” Barry assured. “We wouldn’t have found this if it weren’t for you,” and Suzanne watched Alex’s features relax. Sofia’s expression remained stiff with anger.

“So why are the police here,” Sofia demanded. “Is he going to be charged with anything?”

“No ma’am,” Randolph spoke, taking out a tiny spiral topped notebook. “I’m here about what your son found under the tables and learn what they are. I’m just taking notes to help.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Alex said. “Hi, Suzanne. Did you have a good “Christmas?”

“Yeah, I did,” Suzanne lied. If Sofia hadn’t mentioned Mercy, she wasn’t going to tell him. “What can you tell us about those discs?”

“It was to help us find out what kind of Christmas presents to give,” Alex said.

“Presents to whom, Alex?” Suzanne asked.

“Everyone,” Alex said. “I mean, everyone who comes to eat here. People like you, Suzanne. Not big presents, but something to thank them for coming to Daisy’s.”

“Whose idea was it to put those discs under the table, Alex?” Kristopher asked, and Suzanne quickly introduced them. His presence seemed to calm Sofia.

“Stan said if we listened to what people talked about what they wanted for Christmas, we would know what to give them,” Alex explained. “We put those discs under all the tables so we wouldn’t miss anyone.”

“Who’s Stan?” Kristopher asked.

“One my other employees,” Barry put in. “Go on, Alex. Did Stan help you put up the discs?”

“Oh, we both did it,” Alex said. “But it was his idea.”

“When did he tell you to start doing this?” Suzanne joined in again.

“The day after Thanksgiving,” Alex said proudly, his confidence returning. “We’d take them down when our shifts were done ‘cause Stan and I always did the cleaning after we closed. “He said he’d listen to what people said and write it down and then we’d put more discs back up in the morning. I don’t know when we’re going to start passing out the gifts, but Stan says he was still buying them.”

He looked at Barry and said, “Stan told me it was gonna be a big surprise and not tell you because you were going to get the best gift of all for hiring so many of us.”

Barry bowed his head and his fingers curled into fists. “Thanks, Alex,” he said at last. “Did Stan tell you to do anything else?”

“No, but the day after Christmas, I saw him give some of the discs to some guy,” Alex admitted. “He’d put them in a little bag, but when I asked Stan, he said the guy was helping to buy the presents, so I thought it was okay.”

“Did you recognize the man?” Fear laced with suspicion layered over Suzanne’s skin. “Had you ever seen him in here before?”

“Yeah, because he eats in here all the time and always orders the same thing,” Alex said. “Turkey and Swiss cheese on toast, hold the mayo, extra pickles and a diet-soda.”

“Shouldn’t be hard to find,” Kristopher commented. “Barry, maybe you can go through the receipts or something?”

“Alex, this is great,” Suzanne praised. “Thanks for your honesty and your help.”

“Do you think this may have something to do with your visit to the shelter?” Sofia asked, her anger returning. “And that Mr. Turkey-and-Swiss is involved?”

“Very likely,” Kristopher said. “Officer Randolph, how long will it take to retrieve the data from those discs?”

“I’m on my way right now.” Randolph stood, tucked his notepad in his pocket and nodded at the Langleys. “Thank you, both. I’ll give my report to an officer when I get back to the precinct.”

He left and Sofia stared at them. “Does that mean something?”

“Maybe,” Kristopher said cautiously. “Why don’t you and Alex head for home. Do you mind if our friend Bailey follows you? Just in case? You’re staying with your sister, right?” and Sofia nodded.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Alex demanded. “Am I in trouble?”

“No,” Kristopher said quickly. “Sofia, I think you should tell Alex everything and why him meeting with us is going to help crack the case.”

Sofia nodded again and left with Alex while Kristopher texted Bailey about following them home. “He’ll do it,” he said. “Then come back for us.” Putting down his phone he said, “I’ll bet that’s how the bastards learned that Mercy told you of her suspicions about the Campbell sisters. They’d bugged your table, but I’ll bet that disc is long gone.”

“Who bugged them?” Barry’s raised voice was a near shout. “And why?”

“Bugged by a very dangerous organization that helps traffic children,” Kristopher told him.

“And because Daisy’s is walking distance from half a dozen social welfare agencies,” Suzanne added. “Most of them deal with kids and families, especially Family Services of Tennessee. Families United is just two doors down.”

“Are you saying someone bugged Daisy’s to help them find children? To hurt and exploit them?” Barry’s anger rivaled Sofia’s.

“Yes,” Kristopher said. “We don’t know yet which group it is, but KPD has a pretty good idea. You were right to call the police about the bugs. This just adds to their case.”

Tears filling his eyes, Barry looked at Suzanne. “This is why Mercy Phillips was killed, wasn’t it?” he choked. “She figured something out and they killed her for it.”

Suzanne had to swallow hard before she spoke. “Yes,” she said. “We’re hoping that David somehow got away, but we’re still looking for him. Us and the police.”

“Are they trying to hurt you, Suzanne?” The beginnings of rage replaced Barry’s tears.

“I’ve got Kristopher here to be sure that doesn’t happen,” Suzanne said proudly. “Brotherhood Protectors, the best protection agency there is.”

“Well, when you find David, the two of you can eat here every Friday for free,” Barry promised. “For the rest of your lives. You too, Kristopher.”

“Hold up,” Kristopher protested. “I think I missed something. Who’s Stan?”

“Stanislaus Dembowski, a Polish refugee I placed here,” Suzanne explained. “Let’s go to my office and I’ll find his file and show you. I can’t believe he had anything to do with this!”

“Suzanne, please don’t take this the wrong way,” Barry chided. “But you always see the good in everyone. You wouldn’t know mean and ugly if it slapped you in the face or bit you on your nose.”

“Thanks,” Suzanne said ruefully, trying to ignore Kristopher’s low-pitched laughter. “Stop that,” she told him.

“Yes ma’am,” he gasped, still laughing.

A furious pounding sounded on the kitchen’s back door, prevented her retort and with a worried look, Barry dashed in its direction.

“If you don’t stop laughing right this minute, I’m gonna hurt you so bad, Kristopher with a K,” she threatened.

“You and whose army?” he teased.

“Forget the army,” she growled, but enjoying every minute of this. “I’ll get Bailey to help me.”

“Marines beating the Army?” he snorted. “Ha. In your dreams, Miz Bennett. In your dreams.”

A babble of excited voices rose from the kitchen and then Alex Langley was running back into the dining room, Sofia on his heels. Barry followed, the earlier fury back on his face.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” he said. “Randolph may have to come back and arrest me for assault when I get my hands on that guy. Tell them, Alex.”

“I remembered, Suzanne!” Alex shouted gleefully. “I remembered!”

“What did you remember Alex?” Suzanne prompted, trying to ignore the excitement thumping in her heart.

“That guy! You know. Turkey on Swiss, extra pickles? I remember what he looked like and where he works!”

Suzanne silently inhaled. “Tell us.”

“He works in that building down the street, the one with those big tubs of flowers and that big green awning. The guy has red hair.”

“Are you sure?” Kristopher asked.

“About his hair or where he works?” Alex frowned.

“Both,” Suzanne said. “Go on.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Alex sounded defensive. “Barry lets me do deliveries there sometimes. The guy works on the fourth floor that has all those paintings of the Muppets and superheroes on the walls in the front lobby.”

“Oh my God,” Suzanne whispered, very grateful that she was still sitting. “Are you telling me the man Stan gave that sack of discs to is someone who works at Family Services of Tennessee?”

“That’s right,” Sofia interjected proudly, putting her arm around her smiling son’s shoulders. “And the man he just described is Henry Tate. State Case Manager for the Clark sisters.”