Reckoning - 47. Chapter 47

A ledge saved him. Adam clawed at whatever he could to stop his descent. He breathed a sigh of relief when he stopped plunging. He tried to get his bearings failing a few times before he got a foot hold. The door opened overhead and AJ leaned down, holding his hand out.

“Adam, grab my arm.”

Adam saw AJ wasn’t alone as other officers held onto the detective as he leaned down. He grasped onto AJ’s arm as he’s pulled to safety.

“The killer was controlling the elevator,” he said, winded.

“Officers are on the way to intercept. What did he say to you?”

“She said. I believe it’s one of Gavin’s mothers. She wants revenge and Patrick is the target.”

“I can send men to protect him.”

“No need, he’s with his family, he’s safe. I need to go.”

“I need for you to stay out of this Adam the police will handle this.”

“Be my guest. You have someone watching Justin?”

“Two men are with him.”

“Good to hear.” Adam walked away removing his cell to call Patrick when he saw a text from an unlisted number. He ignored it as he left the hospital. The night sky overhead he called a Hitch to take him back to his office. He sat on a bench to wait, dialing Patrick’s home number, the phone to the Valdez home rang three times before someone answered.

“Good evening, The Valdez residence,” said Carlos.

Adam recognized his voice. “Yeah, hi, this is Adam Potter, I like to speak to Patrick?”

“Yes, Detective Potter, just one moment.”

Adam sat back, feeling the burn from his ordeal breathe through his muscles and skin. But something nagged at the back of his mind.

“Hello, detective?” said Carlos.

“Yes,” Adam said.

“I’m sorry, but Young Valdez is not answering his door. I’m afraid he might be asleep.”

“Okay. Listen, I need you to wake him up. He’ll take my call. Normally I would call his cell, but he doesn’t have his so I’m begging you to do this for me. I need to hear his voice.”

“Please hold.”

Adam’s Hitch arrived. He boarded the car, still on hold.

“Detective Potter, I regret to inform you Young Valdez is not in his room, his bed is untouched.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Well, he watched a movie with his parents. Then, he retired to his room for one of his games.”

“Games? Do you mean a D&D game?”

“I believe so.”

“Thank you.”

“Good evening, sir.”

“Wait.”

“Yes, sir?”

“It’s a sizeable house. He could be anywhere, right?”

“That’s true. Will that be all Detective Potter?”

“Yes, thank you.”

The line went dead and the aching feeling he had doubled in size. He opened the unknown text and read his greatest fear come true.

Adam, you will not like this, but I snuck out to go to a D&D game. I haven’t seen Mia in forever and wanted to go. Maybe I did it because I felt everyone was trying to control me. I told Mia what I did, and she chewed me out and ordered me to go home. I’m with my father’s driver now. We’re in route to the manor. I’m confessing this knowing you will also be furious with me. Please forgive me. I love you.

Adam opened an app he uploaded to unmask unknown callers and text. It didn’t take long when he saw the number dialing it. The ringing went on forever when someone answered.

“Pat, is that you?” Adam said, anxiously.

“Such diligence, Adam,” The voice of his fake therapist said.

“What did you do to him?” Adam kept his voice low so not to alert the driver.

“Now, now, nothing yet. It isn’t time.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Let me talk to him.”

“He’s unable to talk. 50,000 volts is a lot for such a small body.”

“You bitch if you hurt him…”

“Adam, language. You don’t want to hear his strangling cries over the phone. Or do you?”

“Please, let him go. He didn’t kill your son.”

“That’s where you and I disagree, detective. Patrick Valdez had that monster kill my son in return for sex and I will make him pay.”

“Listen…”

“No, there’s nothing left to say. Move on to someone worthy of your love, Adam. You deserve that much.”

The line went dead as Adam stump back in his seat. His world was about to implode when his cell rang. He saw it was his brother Paul and consider not answering.

“Hey, Paul this is not a good time.”

“Adam, Mia’s here and needs to talk to you.”

Before Adam could respond, Paul gave the phone to Mia.

“Adam, I need to tell you something about Patrick.”

“What is it?”

“We had a game scheduled at the Cave and he told me what’s been going on and that he snuck out to meet me. I told him to go home but, I wanted to be sure he was safe. When I tried to call him, someone answered but said nothing and hung up. Are you with him now?”

“No.”

“Can you check on him and tell him to call me?”

“I will.”

Adam hung up with Mia as he racked his brain to where Patrick could be. If Gavin’s mother was pretending to be Amanda Grieves. There’s a chance she was living in her apartment. He thought. He quickly texted AJ his theory. Then another thought entered his head. What if she wanted Patrick to die the same way her son did? Adam checked the date and discovered it was the same date he first saw Patrick in Gavin’s bathroom and the night he died in the graveyard. The car stopped in front of his building.

“Hey,” he called to the Hitch driver who glanced in the rearview mirror at him. “I need you to wait for me and take me someplace else.” Adam pulled out all the money in his wallet and gave it to the man who followed Adam’s directions.

******

The pricy apartment wasn’t hard to find. Adam stood outside watching the front door. His ride waited around the corner for him eating a free dinner courtesy of Adam. He remembered an open house to the ten story building with its long balcony and doorman. Adam needed to get inside. But going through the front door was out. He moved to the side of the building with an alley and saw a maintenance door. He tried opening it, but it wouldn’t budge. He didn’t have much time when he heard a click. He jumped behind the opening door and watched as two garbage bags came flying out. Someone kicked the door alerting Adam, who watched as they propped it open. A youthful woman wearing baggy work pants and a button up top that was two sizes too big for her came out wearing headphones, bobbing her head to her music. She didn’t see Adam or anything around her. She opened the plastic lid to the dumpster and threw four full bags inside. She went back inside, kicking the piece of wood she used to prop the door open. While her back was to him Adam snuck in.

Inside, she had an empty industrial cart made from plastic. She rolled it away, singing, and returned to her duties. Adam stepped out of hiding and followed her at a safe distance until he noticed a door. He checked to see if it would give and lucked out. It opened to a flight of stairs he took to Amanda’s floor.

He saw security cameras but didn’t have time to worry about them. Instead, he walked down the hall as if he lived there. He removed his lock pick tools and with a minor effort he opened the door.

Once inside, he removed a flashlight, knowing he had a small window before AJ and Artie arrived. A smell came from the kitchen, he checked and found the refrigerator door propped open and Amanda’s dog eating food off the floor. He didn’t see a water bowl, so he gave him a full one.

AJ will take care of the dog. Adam thought as he headed for the bedroom. He found a guest bedroom with an open suitcase of clothes, and an unmade bed and a photo that raise red flags. When he reached the master bedroom, he found what he was looking for and knew his next move.