Part 12 (2/2)

Francesca winced, because he clearly meant it.

”What does Craddock have on you, Shoz?” Bragg asked, his gaze unwavering.

Shoz smiled, and it was hard. ”He hates my guts. This isn't about money-this is aboutrevenge.” Francesca s.h.i.+vered. ”Why?” His cold gaze shot to hers, and clearly he did not like or appreciate the question. Francescaforced a smile. ”If you don't mind, it is probably important.” She felt as if she was making aterrible mistake in even addressing this man. He was not a man to cross. Someone moved to stand beside her. The gesture was a protective one; Francesca startedand managed to tear her gaze from Shoz. She looked up and, although he wasn't looking ather, Hart stood at her side. Her heart skipped a beat and lurched oddly. ”Let's just say I stole his woman,” Shoz drawled. Then he added, ”We ran guns togetherbefore I met my wife. Back in '96, '97.” Francesca glanced at Bragg. He stepped forward, appearing determined. ”Who murderedRandy Cooper?” Shoz shrugged, his smile hard, mirthless. If he was surprised by the sudden question, onewould never know it. ”The prison held seventy-one men. Any one of them-or all of them-could have done it. Myguess is it was Craddock and a few of his hoodlum buddies. No one cared that Cooper got.i.t; even the warden was glad to be rid of him. The case was closed before it ever began,” hesaid flatly. ”What does this have to do with my daughter?” ”You escaped a week later. And Cooper was tortured before he died, not to mention thatyou took his name as an alias.” Shoz seemed amused. ”You accusing me of something ... Rick?” he asked, whisper-soft. Francesca froze, her heart lurching with dread. She looked from one man to the other. Before Bragg could respond, Rathe stepped between them. ”No one is accusing you ofanything,” he said firmly. ”We're wasting time. We need to find Craddock, now.” If Shoz was relieved, it did not show on his impa.s.sive face. The man was probably anextraordinary poker player. Francesca had to briefly close her eyes, breathless now. Shozwas guilty. She simply knew it. A heavy, tense silence fell. There was a knock on the door. Hart answered it, not looking at her as he turned to do so. ”Alfred?” ”The police are here, sir,” Alfred said. Hart hesitated and turned to Bragg, Shoz, and Rathe. Then he sighed and faced Alfred.”Show them in.” Francesca now had a very bad feeling. It was intensified when the chief of police walked in. Brendan Farr took one look at the cast of players a.s.sembled in the room, and said, ”I heardthe terrible news, Rick. I decided to take over the case personally.” And he smiled.

Chapter Eighteen.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1902 - 1:00 P.M.

Francesca was stunned; she met Bragg's gaze briefly. He was as surprised; he quickly recovered. He said, ”I shall appreciate your help, Chief. Time is of the essence now. We must locate Joe Craddock, and I want every precinct notified. Wardsmen should begin beating the streets. Someone must have seen him recently. I want Craddock found before a ransom note arrives.”

Farr said, ”Craddock took your niece?” His eyes glinted with surprise while his face remained rather impa.s.sive. But he glanced at Francesca.

Hart now drifted over to their small huddle. His gaze narrowed on Farr.

”That's right.” Bragg looked the chief of police right in the eye. ”I believe you have read his

file?”

”Oh, yes,” Farr said. ”But his style isn't abduction and ransom; it is blackmail.”

”Apparently his style has changed,” Bragg said.

”And the child's parents?”

Shoz stepped forward. ”The child's name is Chrissy Savage. She is my daughter; my wife is upstairs.” His eyes continued to blaze with anger. His fists were clenched.

Farr studied him. ”Any idea of why Craddock wished to pick on you, Mr. Savage? Other than the fact that your daughter is Derek Bragg's great-granddaughter?”

Shoz's mouth curled. ”Isn't that a good-enough reason? My father-in-law adores Chrissy.

He'd do anything to get her back.”

Farr studied him, then said, ”When did you marry into the family? Is this the wedding I read about, the one that took place in Heaven, Texas?”

”It was Paradise, Texas,” Bragg said. ”Chief, I need men out on the streets, now.”

Farr smiled; it was benign. ”May I use the telephone?” he asked. Being polite did not suit him. Francesca thought she saw suspicion in his eyes.

Bragg gestured and Farr walked over to Hart's ma.s.sive desk. He did not sit down as he dialed headquarters and began to instruct the captain there on the wording of the telegram that would be sent to every station house in the city. Francesca quickly stepped over to where Bragg and Hart stood. She spoke in a whisper. ”He wants motive, Bragg. This is not good.”

His gaze met hers. ”I am aware of that. I do not want him interviewing Lucy. Not now, not later, not ever.” He turned his hard gaze on Shoz. ”And you give him nothing, Shoz. Not one detail of your life. I don't want him figuring out that you served even a day with Craddock.”

Shoz's response was a mirthless flash of teeth. ”My pardon is an official record, Rick. He'll find it if he digs deep enough.”

”I'll worry about that when the time comes.”

”He is already suspicious,” Hart remarked flatly. His gaze locked with Rick's. ”You do not have a loyal subordinate, Rick.”

Bragg's jaw flexed. ”I am aware of that.”

Hart stared; Bragg stared back. ”A knife in the back,” Calder finally murmured. ”We must all watch our backs now.”

They exchanged glances, the four of them, absorbing that. Francesca felt that Hart was right.

She tugged on Bragg's sleeve. ”We need to find J.C. first,” she said in a whisper. Then she let go, as she heard Farr hanging up the receiver. He returned to their group. Now they were all conspicuously silent.

Farr looked from Bragg to Francesca, then at Calder, and finally at Shoz. ”I'd like to speak with your wife,” he said to Shoz.

”She's sleeping. She's extremely upset and I don't want her disturbed,” Shoz returned flatly.

He spoke in a way that was not open to debate.

Farr glanced at Bragg. ”It would benefit the investigation if she could be awakened.”

Bragg said, ”I can fill you in. I know every detail of the case. Now is not a good time to speak with Lucy. She is hysterical, Chief.”

Farr shrugged. ”Very well, then I am going to go back to headquarters,” he said. ”It will probably be a few hours before we have any rumors to go on.”

Bragg nodded and slapped his shoulder. ”Thanks, Chief.”

Farr met his gaze and nodded at them all, his gaze lingering on Francesca. She did not flinch or flush. He said, ”Perhaps we might speak privately, Miss Cahill?”

Alarm filled her.

Bragg said, ”Miss Cahill is on her way home.”

Farr smiled oddly-clearly aware that he was being thwarted at every turn-and walked out.

Francesca would have fanned herself if she had a fan.

Shoz said, ”I'm hitting the streets, too. I am not going to sit around this house waiting for someone else to find my daughter.”

”Money buys just about everything,” Hart said coolly. Francesca realized he was still ignoring her. He hadn't looked at her since Bragg had arrived at the house. ”I think we should split up and begin dispensing large amounts of cash in order to buy what information that we can.”

”I agree,” Bragg said. ”Craddock's last known address was Eighteen Allen Street. No one's seen him there in over a year, but that may be a good place to start.”

”Actually, until last week he had taken a room over a saloon on West Tenth and Broadway,”

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