In the Shadow of Vengeance Read online

  “Emma?”

  “No. This is the emergency room at Johns Hopkins. I’m looking for Detective Noah McNeil.”

  “And you got him. What’s this about?”

  “Sir, we have a young teen who’s been badly beaten. He won’t give us his name, but he had your card in his pocket.”

  Danny. Son of a bitch. “Is this kid about five feet, 100 pounds with dark brown hair to his shoulders?”

  “Yes. Do you know him?”

  “His name is Danny Merlot. Let me talk to him.”

  Noah backed out of his driveway while he listened to the muffled conversation.

  “Detective, he’s being difficult.”

  “Put the phone to his ear.”

  An instant later, a moan pierced a hole into Noah’s gut. “Danny, I’m on my way. You hear me?”

  “Don’t tell Mom.” The words were followed by another groan. “Promise!”

  “You can’t keep this from her. Now tell the nurse how to get in touch with your mom.”

  “This will hurt her. I can’t do that to her again.”

  “She’s a very strong woman and loves you.”

  The silence in Noah’s cab raked on his nerves. He could hear Danny’s painful breathing as he tried to choke back tears. “It’s going to be okay. I promise you, I’ll make this okay.”

  “Noah?”

  “I’m here.”

  “I messed up bad. I’m sorry—”

  “It’s okay.”

  “Noah?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Please hurry.”

  Chapter Five

  Using his badge, Noah charged through the security doors into triage and made his way down the long hallway toward the nurses’ station. Every emergency room looked the same, and for some God-forsaken reason, smelled the same. The pungent, sweet smells of industrial cleaner, dried blood, vomit, and the ever-present scent of burnt coffee grounds made his stomach roil. How in the hell his sister and mother enjoyed working in this environment day after day surprised the crap out of him. Give him a crime scene any day.

  “The young teen, Danny Merlot. Where is he?”

  A man in blue scrubs stood. “Are you a relative, sir?”

  “No.”

  “Then I have to ask you to leave. You can’t be back here.”

  Noah again flashed his badge. “And this says I can. Now where is he?”

  The man moved from behind the counter. “Come with me, detective.”

  “Have you contacted his mother?”

  “We’re trying to track her down. No one is answering the home phone, and the boy is not offering up his mom’s cell number. You wouldn’t happen to have it?”

  “No, I have Danny’s cell number but not Elizabeth’s.”

  A nurse stepped out of one of the examination rooms. “You McNeil?”

  He nodded.

  She pointed to the cubicle. “He’s all yours. I can’t get him to say a thing.”

  “How is he?”

  “He was worked over pretty good, but nothing serious. Couple of bruised ribs, black eye, cut lip, and other abrasions. He’s uncomfortable but will be fine in a few weeks.”

  “Who brought him in?”

  “Ambulance. A witness watched three men gang up on him on the sidewalk outside the arcade on Lombard Street. That’s all I know. If you get his parents’ contact information, I need it.”

  “I’ll get his mother’s cell number.”

  Noah thanked the nurse and entered the room. Like most emergency exam rooms, the cubicle was covered with a ceiling-to-floor curtain. A low light shown over the sink, but the rest of the small space was bathed in shadows.

  “Danny, it’s Noah,” he said as he moved back the curtain.

  Danny’s body was turned to the wall. He repositioned himself on his back, a groan escaping.

  What the nurse failed to mention was Danny’s right eye was almost swollen shut, his bottom lip was slit at the corners, and blood oozed from the cut. From his hairline to his jaw, the bruising and swelling made his face almost unrecognizable. What the hell had happened in the last hour?

  A simmering rage erupted in Noah’s veins. “Who did this?”

  “It’s my fault.”

  “Fuck that. Tell me who did this to you.” Noah’s hands gripped the bed railing. “I need a name, Danny.”

  “The guy who sold me the gun and his friends.” Large tears spilled over onto his cheek, and he swiped them away with the back of his bandaged hand. “I tried to fight back. I’m not good enough yet.”

  Shit! Who in the hell expected a thirteen-year-old to hold his own against three grown men? “I want his name.”

  “I don’t know it.”

  “Danny, that’s not gonna fly.”

  “No, seriously, Noah. I don’t know his name. He’s just a guy who hangs out at the arcade. I saw him sell some stuff once. So …”

  “What?”

  “So I asked him if he could get me a handgun. We settled on a price, and he said he would let me know what he could do. I didn’t see him again until this afternoon.” He swallowed. “I’m not lying. I know you hate that.”

  “I left you in your bedroom less than two hours ago.”

  A rush of color slipped into his cheeks through the bruising. “I knew Mom would make me tell her what I knew about the guy and then she would tell you. I sneaked out to warn him. But the second I mentioned the police, he started punching me. I kept trying to tell him I wouldn’t say anything.”

  “You were warning him? Why would you do that?”

  Danny turned his head back to the wall and in a slight whisper said, “I asked him to get me the gun. He shouldn’t get in trouble. It was on me.” His voice grew quieter. “He told me if the police came for him, he’ll do the same to Erin.”

  “Believe me when I say he isn’t going anywhere near Erin. Now, where is your mom? I thought you two were going to have this heart-to-heart at eight.”

  “Mom forgot about Erin’s dress rehearsal for the competition next weekend. Erin’s dance partner called when she didn’t show up on time.”

  “So as soon as they were out the door, you took off.”

  Danny nodded.

  “You know I have to call her, right? She’s your mother. There is no way you can keep this from her.” Noah placed his cell phone screen up to Danny’s face. “Look.”

  Danny let out a harsh sigh. “Shit. I was hoping it just hurt like hell.”

  Noah chuckled. “Her number?”

  It took Noah three tries before Elizabeth picked up. Odds were she was checking caller ID and chose not to talk to him.

  Her tone wasn’t pleasant when she finally answered. “Twice in one day, detective. If you’re calling about that name, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Danny.”

  “I have. Elizabeth, he’s at Hopkins ER. You need to come down here.”

  “What?”

  Noah glanced at Danny, and his heart went out to him. He had gotten into enough scrapes when he was Danny’s age to know exactly what was going through the boy’s mind.

  Noah shifted away from the bed and lowered his voice. “Danny went looking for the guy who sold him the gun. The ganger wasn’t happy to see him and took a few swings. Danny’s a little beat up, but no serious injuries.”

  A dead silence lasted for several moments before Elizabeth’s strained voice asked, “Why didn’t they call me?”

  “They tried. No one was home, and Danny wouldn’t tell them his name because he didn’t want you to know. They found my card in his pocket.”

  “Is he really okay?”

  “He will be.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” She seemed to choke on her words. “And Detective—Noah—thanks for being there with him. I can’t stand the thought he’s—”

  “No problem. I’m glad they called me.”

  Noah said a quick good-bye and eased down onto the bed. “Rough day.”

  Danny nodded, then wiped another hand over his eyes.


  “When I was your age, my dad would tell me tomorrow would be better.”

  “I know I fuc—messed up, but I was trying to do the right thing both times. I just can’t get anything right.”

  “I was a phone call away. I told you to call me if you ever need me.”

  “My family, my problem.”

  “I get that, Danny, but that plan isn’t working very well for you. I’m a Maryland State Police detective, but even I would have never gone into a situation like you walked into tonight without backup. I would have had your back tonight. I may not have agreed with your plan, but we could have discussed it, come to something we could both live with.”

  “Noah, do you believe me about the guy in my room?”

  The question threw him for an instant. He reached into his pocket and handed Danny the photo Jennie gave him.

  “Have you ever seen this guy?”

  Danny took a quick look and let out a gasp. “Yeah, that’s the guy from my room.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Like a hundred percent sure. That’s the guy.”

  Noah glanced away from Danny as he tucked the photo back into his pocket. Crazy-ass shit. Hell yes, he believed him. But how could he explain that the man Danny spoke to had been dead for almost eighteen years?

  “Tell me what you remember about him and what he said exactly.”

  Danny let out a painful groan as he turned onto his side to talk to Noah. He seemed to have trouble forming his words.

  “Danny, just tell me what happened. I’ve seen crazy things in my life.”

  “I was playing a video game one second, and the next, he was sitting next to me. For some reason, I wasn’t scared. He told me his name was Evan and he was a cop.”

  “Did you talk to him?”

  “Yeah, I asked him what he wanted. I guess … it’s like I knew he wasn’t real. He said my mom was in trouble. The guy in the subway was a plant and more are coming. Those were his exact words.” Danny took his bandaged hand and rested it over his eyes. “The next instant, I was alone, my game was gone, and the screen was filled with white noise. I think I wasn’t scared because he had kind eyes.”

  “Kind eyes?”

  “Yeah, like Ms. McKenzie—I mean, Mrs. McNeil. They have the same eyes.”

  Chapter Six

  Elizabeth placed her key in the lock, opened the door, and stood back. Noah had an arm around Danny, taking most of his weight. As gently as possible, he half carried Danny up the steps and into the townhouse.

  She eyed the narrow staircase to her son’s room. It had never seemed that long before.

  “I can do it, Mom.”

  “How about we set you up on the rollaway?” Elizabeth asked, trying to hide the terror Danny’s face put her through with every glance.

  Who would beat up a kid this badly? Moments like these she understood murder. She could kill the man who hurt her son. And a quick death was out of the question. She wanted him to hurt, badly.

  Her heart constricted with such immeasurable pain, she didn’t know where to put it. One thing was for certain, Danny didn’t need her losing it in front of him. He felt bad enough. In the last two hours, he had apologized at least ten times. Each one crushed her just a little deeper.

  “I can get him upstairs. He will be more comfortable in his own room,” Noah said from behind her.

  She shook the vicious thoughts from her head and placed a hand on Danny’s shoulder.

  “It’s up to you, sweetie. Are you okay with doing the stairs?”

  “Yeah, I’m good, Mom.” He lifted his foot to the first step and let out a deep groan.

  “Danny, lean your weight on me. I got you,” Noah whispered. “Erin, you go ahead of us and clear the way.”

  Erin rushed up the stairs. Noah and Danny seemed to understand each other and worked in unison as they slowly made it up each step. Not knowing what to say or do, Elizabeth followed behind Noah.

  In less than five minutes, Danny lay comfortable in his own bed. Noah stepped back and leaned against a dresser. His very presence seemed to overwhelm the small room. But for once, Elizabeth wanted him there. His gentleness had been such a surprise. She could have helped Danny up the stairs on her own, but it would have taken so much out of each of them.

  “What can I get you?” she asked, placing her hands behind her back so Danny didn’t notice the trembling.

  “I’m good. Just a little tired.”

  She eased down onto the bed and brushed away the hair that slipped down over his eyes. She ached to pull him into her arms and make all this go away. Instead, she shoved down her panic and planted a smile on her lips. “If you change your mind, I’m right across the hall.”

  “I’m camping out on the floor,” Erin said, sitting on the other side of the bed. “That’s okay, right, Danny? We can watch a movie until you fall asleep.”

  “Yeah, that’ll be cool.”

  A slight sense of calm brushed over Elizabeth. At least Erin would be close if Danny needed anything. She would give anything to do the same. But what thirteen-year-old wanted his mom camping out on the floor of his room?

  Leaning down, she kissed her son’s forehead. He had stopped giving her good-night kisses two years ago. But for once, he didn’t seem to mind her acting like a mother.

  She began to rise, but he grasped her hand. The anguish on his face ripped a new hole in her heart.

  “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Thanks for not freaking out.”

  She tried to smile. “I’m the cool mom, remember?” She took in a deep breath and tried to find some sort of comfort she could offer her son.

  “Mom, about the gun—”

  “We’ll talk about that tomorrow. Right now, you need your rest.”

  She rose and stepped back from the bed just as Erin entered the room, her arms laden with pillows and her sleeping bag. Noah said a quick good night and left the room.

  Elizabeth leaned against the door frame and studied her kids’ interaction. Danny was trying to be so damn brave, not letting on the amount of pain he must be feeling. Erin seemed to be holding onto her tears by a thread, but did her best to keep the mood light. The scene was almost too painful to watch.

  Her children’s world should be safe. Her son shouldn’t have been compelled to buy a damn gun off a gang member or find himself beaten up on the sidewalk only a few blocks from home.

  A hand rested on her shoulder, and Noah nodded for her to follow him. With one last glance into Danny’s room, she shut the door with a soft click and studied Noah as he headed downstairs. It might have been nice having him help her get Danny settled. What was she going to do now that the kids were no longer her buffer?

  • • •

  Noah lifted his jacket off the back of the lounge chair. He had tossed it there before helping Danny up the stairs. “Elizabeth, are you okay?”

  The tenderness in his tone almost rocked the last pebble holding the dam of tears at bay. She moved further into the living room and, keeping her back to him, adjusted the afghan draped over the back of the chair. He eased behind her but didn’t touch her. She didn’t know what she would have done if he did. Strangely, just the warmth radiating off him seem to help calm her raw nerves.

  “I’m fine. Can’t thank you enough for coming back into the city. That was very kind of you.”

  “Rough day.”

  He stood too close. It would be so easy to reach out just once and take the comfort he was so obviously offering. It had been so long since she felt a man’s arms around her. Even after Danny went missing, she wouldn’t allow friends to hold her. She was so afraid if she didn’t keep herself together, if she even allowed a thin wall in her armor to fall, what was behind that wall would consume her.

  She inched away from him and placed a chair between them. “And you kept it from becoming a nightmare. I won’t forget that, Noah.”

  He closed the distance until only the chair was between them. “I’m going after this guy. He’ll not
get away with this.”

  “The police took Danny’s statement at the hospital. I’m sure they will keep an eye out for him.”

  Like earlier that afternoon, the expression on Noah’s face changed; his irises turned from deep pools of blue to almost black. He was angry, and at her. What did she say? She stood her ground and stared back as a dead silence enveloped the room.

  “You’re exhausted. I’ll get out of your hair.” He turned toward the door.

  “Wait. What just happened? You were so kind to Danny. Why are you all of a sudden so angry at me?”

  Noah raked a hand around the back of his neck. “Do you expect me to do nothing?”

  Her emotions of gratitude flip-flopped. She could almost feel the blood boiling in her veins. “No, I expect you to let the cops do their job.”

  “I’m a cop, Elizabeth. Danny means something to me. I’m not going to sit on my fucking hands and wait until the BPD finds the manpower to look for this bastard.”

  The fury she had been holding in all evening erupted. She dashed from behind the chair and rammed a finger into his chest. “I don’t know who you thought you were speaking to just now, Noah McNeil, but I don’t allow that language in this house.”

  “Cops cuss.”

  “Not in my face, they don’t. And definitely not that word.”

  He slammed his hands to his hips. “What word?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. It’s offensive and distasteful. Find another way to express yourself in my home or get out.”

  A hint of laughter appeared in his eyes. The jerk was laughing at her. She never considered herself a violent person, but it took every ounce of control to keep from slapping that grin right off his stupid face.

  The damn man was thick as a brick. If those men beat up a harmless kid like Danny, what would they do to a smartass cop?

  “You think your badge makes you invincible? This guy is in a gang, you hardheaded buffoon. He has mean friends, and his friends have meaner friends.”

  This time he let out a loud laugh. “Oh, that’s adorable.”

  Before she could react, he curled his hand around the nape of her neck and lowered his head, his lips barely touching hers. The laughter was gone, and for some reason, she didn’t yank out of his hold but stood completely still. Her mind screamed to back off, but her curiosity got the best of her. His lips brushed over hers, sending an electric jolt to her toes. The hand at her waist tugged her against him while his lips went back for another taste and then a third. “Damn sweet. You’re worried about me.”