Hooked

be goaded into sinking to Russo’s level, although the temptation equaled an alcoholic’s desire for the taste of whiskey on his tongue. Linc drew a deep breath, let it out slowly. “Tawny Dell cheated the government. She will pay.”
    “Determined to get your man…or woman, are you? I hope you find Tawny, Officer.” Russo snapped his fingers. “Oh, it’s detective, isn’t it? Sorry. Anyway, hope you find her. She’s a special lady.” He smiled. “But then you know that, don’t you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Russo shook his head. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Best be going. Good night.”
    I can’t let the fucker just walk away. Linc wanted to go after him, but for what? No one denied Tawny was at Cooper’s tonight. The only lie Linc caught was Cooper saying he didn’t know who Cindi Dyson was. Without Tawny’s verification that he did, he couldn’t prove that either. He’d drag in every woman who worked there if necessary. Someone would break. He could pull the Coopers in too, but their lawyer would have them out within the hour. Rounding up everyone tonight wouldn’t help find Tawny, and he had a sick feeling he needed to do that before he did anything else.
    He stood on the doorstep. He believed Benny Cooper. The man was a sex fiend and a pimp, but he didn’t know where Tawny was or he would have told. But Russo knew. He gave the orders. He’d made people disappear for years, and the police had never nailed him for any of their disappearances. Linc watched him walk down the street to his car with a stride that said Gotcha, cop.
    Linc turned around, safely out of the mob boss’s sight, and punched in Clauson on speed dial. “Did you hear from Steele? Did anyone leave through the back entrance?”
    “I’ve tried, but he hasn’t answered. I saw your partner head toward the alleyway a few doors down. Check, will you? I’ll stay on Russo.”
    Linc had a bad feeling. He hurried toward the alley, then started running, past two buildings, three. Turning up the speed, he got to the end of the buildings to the alley and backtracked until he saw Dennis hunched over a fallen figure.
    “Steele,” Dennis said. “He’s bad. Looks like a sledge hammer hit him. Before he passed out, he said they took the woman out the back door and the big guy took him down. I’ve already called it in.”
    “Cart. Shit. Shit.” Linc’s heart raced as he punched in Clauson’s number and told him what happened. “Dennis called it in, and I’m calling the captain for a warrant to turn this place upside down and putting out a BOLO for Cart and his buddy. Stay on Russo. He’s our only hope to get the woman.”
    Linc called the captain, then he punched in Harry’s number. “I’m getting a warrant for Cooper’s place. Russo was there, but he’s gone.”
    “You talk to him?” Harry asked.
    “Yeah, but Cart hammered your man Steele. We’ve called EMS , and Clauson’s on Russo now. If he can stay on him and he goes to Dell, we’ve got him.”
    “How’s Steele?”
    “I don’t know. He’s out cold. We’ll have to wait and see. The two men drove off with Tawny Dell right under our noses.”
    “If Russo’s behind this, and he knows Dell saw Cart at Martell’s, she’s in serious trouble.”
    “Yeah, I know.” He shut off his phone, disgusted with himself for being so tunnel-visioned. When he arrived, all he could think of was getting Tawny out, even if he had to arrest her. He should have gone in earlier. Should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. All moot. He didn’t. He slapped his leg, impatient. Getting a warrant would take forever.
    “Hurry up,” he said under his breath. “Hurry up.”
    “We’ll get her,” Dennis said. “Someone will tell us where she is.”
    “Let’s hope.”
    Tawny had done her job too well and found out enough to get her killed. He’d put her in danger, and if she died he’d be at fault. A sick feeling roiled in his stomach that he hadn’t felt since he was a boy. Since the day his whole world came crashing down in a bloody sea of red.

Chapter Thirty-Eight
    So Close , So Far Away

    O h, Walsh, I messed up.
    Tawny wriggled in the backseat of the car. When they drove past Upper Eighties, she glimpsed two men standing at the door of the townhouse. She couldn’t see clearly for the passing cars, but the one ringing the bell looked like Walsh. She’d screamed Walsh in her throat. Look this way. I’m right here. A few feet away. So close.
    But tape covered her mouth,