Another lead to follow. Ryan felt like he was chasing after Hansel and Gretel. At least Christina had left a trail of crumbs in her wake. “Did you make any other stops?”
Ajay nodded. “Sure did.”
Meghan stepped forward. “Where?”
“You’re not a cop,” Ajay observed, his gaze raking over her with interest.
Ryan glared at the man, not liking they way he leered at her.
“No, I’m not law enforcement,” Meghan said. “I’m a reporter and that little girl is my relative.”
Ajay frowned fiercely. “Kidnapped?”
“Yes,” Meghan said. “Any information you have could help us.”
With a nod, Ajay said, “Picked up a suit on West 47th. Snappy dresser. He had even less tolerance for the toddler than the woman.”
Meghan made a noise that expressed the disgust Ryan felt. “Did you catch the guy’s name?”
Ajay shook his head. “No. But they were meeting someone and the suit was anxious because they were running behind. Gave me an extra twenty to ‘step on it.’” Ajay snorted. “Give me a break. Twenty bucks will hardly buy me lunch let alone get me to violate traffic laws.” He raised his chin in acknowledgment of Cribs.
“Can you describe the man in the suit?” Meghan asked.
“White. Five-ten, brown hair, brown eyes. Navy pinstripe with a red-and-yellow-striped tie. Like I said, snappy dresser. My guess the guy was a lawyer of some sort. You know how
Ryan took it the guy didn’t have any more of an affinity for lawyers than he did cops. “Anything else?”
Ajay shrugged. “Nope. That’s it.”
“Thank you,” Meghan said and hurried toward the awaiting cruiser. Ryan followed closely behind. Officer Cribs expertly maneuvered through the thick New York traffic, slowly working their way farther uptown.
More questions poked at Ryan. Was this lawyer the same one who had issued the check to Olivia? If so, then how were he and Christina connected?
The 500 block of West 178th was a busy intersection with access to US 1 and I-95 crossing over Harlem River Drive and flowing into the Bronx.
The buildings were defaced with gang graffiti. Piles of black garbage bags sat on the sidewalk. The stench of refuse hit Ryan immediately as he climbed out of the cruiser. A group of teens eyed them warily before dispersing in different directions. He was thankful for the marked car.
“Now where?” Meghan asked, her gaze wide as she looked around.
A metal door of the nearest building rolled up and a man hefting a full garbage bag strolled out and plopped the bag on the curb, adding to the growing mound.
Ryan held out the picture of Christina, figuring she was striking enough to have drawn notice. “Have you seen this woman recently?”
The guy grunted and shook his head before disappearing back inside.
“Of course, that would have been too easy,” Ryan commented wryly.
“Nothing about this has been easy,” Meghan said.
“Too true. Let’s start hitting the doors.”
Fifteen minutes later, a boy of about seven recognized Christina’s picture. “She went in there.” He pointed to a brick building with boarded-up windows.
“What would she be doing in there?” Meghan murmured. “That doesn’t look like a good place to bring a child.”
No, it wasn’t. But given Christina had no problem with guns and thugs…
Ryan’s senses went on high alert as they approached the building. Cribs led the way inside the dark, dank entryway. The smells of urine, decay and burnt cabbage permeated the air.
“Ugh.” Meghan held her hand to her nose and mouth.
The loud retort of gunfire erupted overhead.
Heart jumping and training kicking in, Ryan drew his weapon and pulled Meghan behind him. Cribs grabbed his radio off his belt and reported in. “Shots fired. Second floor.” He spouted the address before taking a position by the rickety-looking elevator.
“Aren’t we going up?” Meghan asked as she huddled close behind Ryan.
He wasn’t taking any chances with her safety. “No. We’ll wait for backup.”
A door at the end of the hall banged open and three people came charging out of the stairwell.
Ryan instinctively drew Meghan back even as his mind registered that he was facing Christina Hennessy and two men. The trio banked right and disappeared down another hallway, obviously seeking to escape.
Meghan must have seen them as well because she burst out of his grip and ran full speed after them. Fearing for her safety, Ryan closely followed as one thought slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs.
Three people. Three adults. His stomach sank. His chest tightened.
Where was Georgina?
A strong hand grabbed Meghan by the collar of the heavy flak vest weighing her down and jerked her to a stop. She yelped with surprise and frustration. She whipped around to find herself brought up short against Ryan’s chest, made thick by the vest he wore.
“Hey, they’re getting away,” she protested. The back door of the building banged shut behind the trio. A horrifying realization worked its way into her consciousness. “Georgina hadn’t been with Christina!”
Where was she? Was she safe?
The sounds of sirens announced their backup had arrived.
Ryan pushed past her and barked out a command as he went. “Stay put.”
He charged ahead, disappearing out the same back door that Christina and her posse had fled through.
Two police officers raced toward her.
“That way!” she instructed, waving in the direction Ryan had gone. “Hurry!”
Breathing hard from adrenaline and fear, Meghan raced to the elevator. Cribs had gone to the building’s front door to greet the officers. She entered the elevator and pressed the button.
“Miss Henry!” Cribs called out just as the elevator doors slid shut.
Her mind worked through what had just happened. Shots had been fired. Christina and the two men had escaped. Ryan had gone after them. Georgina had to be still inside the building.
She stepped out of the elevator onto the second floor landing. An apartment door to the right stood wide open. The smell of gunpowder lingered in the air. Heart pounding in irregular beats, Meghan rushed forward even as dread sent icy tendrils curling down her spine.
She stepped into the apartment. The coppery scent of blood assaulted her senses, triggering her gag reflex. A man’s body lay sprawled on the living room’s threadbare, ugly brown carpet. Dark ribbons of blood stained his once white shirt from what appeared to her untrained eye to be two bullet holes in his chest. Her own chest ached in an empathic response.
Tearing her gaze away from the horror of the deceased man, she searched for any sign of Georgina. There were boxes full of passport folders, a computer and camera sitting on a scarred old table. A dirty kitchenette was at the other end of the room. The messy bedroom and bath were empty. Her gut clenched. Where was Georgina?
“Miss Henry, we haven’t cleared the building yet. This is a crime scene. You gotta stay out of here.” Officer Cribs came to her side, trying to drag her away from the macabre sight.
“Georgina? Have you found her?” Meghan asked, panic making her voice reedy.
“No. There’s no sign of the little girl,” Cribs answered, applying more pressure on her arm, compelling her to leave the apartment.
In the dimly lit hallway, Meghan grabbed his shirtsleeve. “You have to find her. She has to be here, in the building, somewhere.”
The panic gripping her took away all her composure. She could hardly think straight.
He nodded. “We’ll search for her. But you must stay out of the way.”
Frantic with worry and dread, Meghan forced herself to breathe to keep from hyperventilating. She had to find her. Where could Christina have taken Georgina?
