Page 44 of Delivering David

“Yes,” Tate gulped. “And don’t ask me who else, because I don’t know for sure. There’s this guy Tattersall had me tell that David should have been in the house when he went there to kill Mercy Phillips. He threatened to kill me.”

“Tattersall told you that?” Kristopher tried to ignore the roaring in his ears. “That someone had murdered Mercy?”

“Yeah,” Tate whispered. “I guess he was supposed to kill David too, but I swear I didn’t know any of that was going to happen! You have to believe me!”

“Who?” Miller drew out his question. “Who threatened to kill you?”

“I’m not sure,” Tate admitted. “But he’s got this strange accent. Really good English, but funny accent.”

“Bogdan.” Kristopher exhaled. “Where’s David Phillips, you little prick? Is he with the girls or did you hide him somewhere else?”

“I don’t know,” Tate wept. “I swear to God I don’t know!”

“Others have found children and approached Tattersall?” Miller’s words were more of a statement of fact than a question. When Tate nodded, he asked, “And where’s the party going to be tonight where the buyers for these kids are going to be tonight? Brown’s Hotel on Gay Street?”

“The Bradford. Oh shit!” Horror widened Tate’s eyes as he realized Miller’s trap.

“Thank you. That’s all I need to know,” Miller beckoned at the two officers waiting in the corner who came forward to jerk the now shrieking Tate to his feet. “I’ll be sure to place you in solitary once you’re booked. Happy New Year, Henry.”

“Wait a minute, officers,” Kristopher said. “I have one last question for Henry here. Who threw that pipe bomb at my car?”

“Go to hell,” Henry spat at him.

“Have a nice trip, Henry,” Kristopher called as the officers dragged him from the room. “You’re on your way to Hell already.”

He considered calling Suzanne first but instead called Lucinda Gonzalez with the news of Henry Tate’s arrest. She was overjoyed. “And I have some good news for you. I found Mercy’s parents late last night in Lichtenstein. They’re trying to book a flight to London but with it being New Year’s Eve, it’s impossible to get a last-minute flight and–

“If you’ll send me their contact information, I’ll take care of that,” Kristopher promised. “Or at least Brotherhood Protectors will. I know they’re grieving, but maybe it will make the trip home easier in a private plane with everything they would find in first class. We could have them in the air in two hours.”

“They’re already at the airport,” Lucinda said, and Kristopher could hear she was crying. “Where is Suzanne?”

“She’s working today. Elaine and she had some kind of special project. Do you have plans for tonight?”

“I was thinking of going to the Tennessee Cares fundraiser, but I’m just too tired.” she said. “You know, the one Charles Tattersall mentioned during the meeting. Didn’t Suzanne get an invitation?”

“I’m not sure,” Kristopher said as Miller returned to the room. We’ve been so busy, I’m not sure. Where and what time?”

“It’s at the Bradford,” Lucinda said.

“The Bradford?” Kristopher gave Miller a thumbs up as he returned to the room. At least Tate wasn’t lying about that. “Wow. Isn’t that the one that has a penthouse? The one that can hold several hundred people?”

“That’s right,” Lucinda agreed. “The happy hour starts at nine with a cash bar and lots of hors d’oeuvres. I’m not sure how they’re handling the auctions. But I really don’t like crowds, and I’m too tired, so I’m just going to stay home. If Suzanne didn’t get an invitation, I can let you use mine.”

“I’m not so keen on crowds either,” Kristopher told her. Let me check with her and I’ll call you back. Happy New Year.”

He ended the call and looked at Miller. “Do you need me?”

“Maybe for a bit,” Miller said. “Wanna go check out the Bradford? I need to get a crew inside that can pass as servers and bartenders to watch for Tattersall and his minions. I may have to bust the Bradford’s entire staff for their involvement with this, but it will be worth it. Do you want to come with me?”

“Absolutely,” Kristopher declared. “I want to be there to help take Bogdan, Dembowski and everyone else, even if it’s only as a witness. Catching Bogdan after all this time would be a fitting end to the year. And you can be damn sure I’m going to make Bogdan tell me what he’s done with David Phillips. When we finish at the Bradford, I’m going to tell Suzanne the good news.”

CHAPTER 32

A short timelater

“David?Where are you hiding, little dude?” T.J. stared at the empty den. It was neat and tidy except for the table where he and David would eat. Milk from an overturned glass stained the table and carpet and bits of toast littered the floor.

Shit. Someone’s snatched him. Oh shit. If there’s a webcam, where would it be?Frantically, T.J. began lifting pictures from the walls, opening the video cabinet to toss out DVD’sand opening what-not-boxes on the bookcase. Nothing.Think, dude think! What did Mrs. Johnson say about a garden gnome? Haul ass upstairs, man and–

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