Janet Evanovich - Full Tilt

"He wants the money as well," Muffin said. "He supports a number of causes, specifically paramilitary organizations, and the damn Ku Klux Klan, for God's sake."

"Sounds like it would be easier if the government put him behind bars for the rest of his life," Jamie said. "Or took him out."

"They can't," Muffin said. "Swamp Dog has too much information on their black ops and mistakes, and it's all well documented. He's got it hidden — the government can't find where, and he's got a fail-safe on it. Something happens to him, the lid is blown off the whole thing."

"He lives like an animal because he is an animal," Jamie said.

"You've got a call coming in, Max," Muffin said. "It's Lamar Tevis from the police department."

"I'll take it on the speaker phone."

"Max, is that you?" Lamar asked once Muffin put him through.

"Yeah. What's up, Chief?"

"We got problems. Alexa Sanders's boy is missing. Somebody broke into the house tonight while they were sleeping and snatched him right out of his bed. Ms. Sanders asked me to contact you. Said you'd know what to do."

Max and Jamie arrived at Alexa's place fifteen minutes later. Patrol cars surrounded the small frame house that was painted a robin's egg blue and surrounded by a flower bed where orange tiger lilies grew in abundance. They found Alexa and Lamar were talking quietly in the living room. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She stood the minute she spied Max.

"You know why this happened," she said.

Max took her hand. "We'll find your son. First, I need the facts."

"I've already gotten the facts," Lamar said.

"I want to hear them from Alexa."

Alexa sniffed and mopped her eyes with a tissue. "Like I told Lamar, I went into Danny's room to check on him before I went to bed."

"What time?"

"Shortly after ten. When I went in, I found him gone. Danny's diabetic. If he doesn't eat the right food on schedule or he misses his insulin injection—" She paused and choked back fresh tears. "He could go into a diabetic coma."

"That's not going to happen, Alexa," Max said. "Now, did you hear anything in the house before you noticed he was missing?"

She shook her head. "I was watching TV in my bedroom."

"Your doors were locked?"

"Yes, but I had the windows open so we could get a breeze. I can't afford to keep the air-conditioning on."

"The screen has been cut in Danny's room," Lamar said. "I smelled chloroform on the boy's pillow, so he probably slept through most of it."

Jamie took Alexa's hand in hers. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

Alexa looked from her to Max. "He's all I have. Find him."

* * * * *

"Holy hell, Frankie!" Beenie said. "Would you look at the knockers on this babe?" He passed the magazine to Frankie, but Deedee snatched it from her husband's hand.

"Don't you dare, Frankie Fontana. The only knockers you're going to look at are mine."

"Oh, yeah. I wasn't thinking."

Beenie stretched. "Man, I'm bored. I should go out."

Deedee regarded him in his jeans, a wrinkled T-shirt, and old sneakers. "You're not supposed to drive."

"You feel like doing a little night fishing, Frankie?"

Frankie started to answer when the front door opened. Big John led Swamp Dog into the room. His black eye patch appeared more ominous.

"Duncan just called my cell phone," he said. "They found Choo-Choo."

Deedee leapt from the sofa. "Where is he? Is he okay?"

"Who's Choo-Choo?" Beenie said.

Deedee waved her hand at him impatiently. "My dog. Is my little boy all right?" Deedee repeated.

Swamp Dog nodded. "He's fine. Duncan is trying to grab a nap since he hasn't slept in about eighteen hours so I offered to drive over and pick up the pooch."

"I'm going with you," Deedee said. "Choo-Choo gets nervous around strangers."

Frankie put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll go, sweetheart." He looked at Swamp Dog. "How long will it take? I don't like leaving Deedee."

"He was found in an abandoned building in town. I don't know the details, only that Duncan wants me to pick him up right away. We can drive over and back in twenty minutes."

Frankie got up. "Let's hit the road."

"But Frankie—" Deedee tried to argue.

"You need to stay with Beenie," he said.

"You want me to tag along?" Big John asked.

"No. I don't want anyone coming through that door while I'm gone."

Big John nodded.

"We can go in my old truck," Swamp Dog said "It'll be quicker that way." They hurried out.

"You know where I'll be if you need me," Big John told Deedee, returning to his post at the front door.

"I don't like it," Deedee whispered to Beenie once they were alone. "Something doesn't feel right."

"What are you worried about?" he asked.

"I'm sure you don't remember all that's gone on around here, but believe me, we've all been in a lot of danger."

"I assumed as much when I regained consciousness in the ambulance."

"I don't like the idea of Frankie going off like that with—"

"Swamp Dog?"

She nodded. "He looks evil."

"Yeah, he even sounds evil, and if you ask me he's got a sucky attitude. I could probably take him down."

Deedee ignored him and began to pace. She turned for the door. "Come with me."

"What?"

"I need your help."

Beenie sighed and followed her into the kitchen where Choker was making a sandwich. He smiled at Deedee.

"You want me to relieve you for a while?" Beenie asked.

Choker looked straight at him, but it was obvious he was trying to keep a straight face. "I think I can handle it, cowboy."

Deedee headed for the door to the wine cellar.

"What are you doing?" Choker asked.

"They've found Choo-Choo," she said excitedly. "I want plenty of champagne on hand to celebrate."

"I'll get it," Choker said.

Deedee shook her head. "Oh, you'll never find it. I keep the good stuff at the very back of the cellar. Even I have trouble finding it."

"So I'll look," Choker said with a shrug. "John Wayne here can look after you while I'm gone." He started down the stairs.

"Would you please tell me what you're doing?" Beenie demanded.

"We're going after Frankie."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Has your curling iron fried your brain, lady? Why would I want to do something stupid like that when your husband specifically told you to stay put?"

"Because you and I used to be very close, and when your memory returns you're going to feel crummy for not helping me."

"Okay, one more time in case you misunderstood. Frankie said—"

"I don't care what Frankie said, and I'm tired of being treated like a porcelain doll that will break at any moment. I still have a mind of my own."

"Good speech. What are you trying to say?"

"I'll go alone."

Beenie blocked the door. He sized Deedee up. "Just how close were we?"

She hesitated. Finally, she put her hands on either side of Beenie's face and kissed him passionately. She released him, and he whistled under his breath.

"Does your husband know?"

"He doesn't care what I do." Deedee smiled beguilingly and opened the back door. The security guard looked up. "I need a teensy-weensy favor," she told the man. "Choker, the wrestler, is in the cellar looking for champagne. I don't want him down there alone."

"We have a man posted down there, ma'am," the guard said.

"Yes, but I'd feel so much better if you'd check on him," she said, pinching his cheek lightly. "He's been down there a long time, and well—" She whispered the rest. "He's terrified of spiders. Are you afraid of spiders?"

The man straightened his shoulders. "Absolutely not. I'll be happy to help." He opened the door to the cellar and started down the stairs.