Elena Estes - Dark Horse Part 22

suspects."

"Then do."

I told him about Chad Seabright, and told him again about Don Jade.

"And I'm waiting to hear from a connection to Interpol about priors on Tomas Van Zandt. He has ahistory of bad behavior toward young women, and by all accounts he's as crooked as a dog's hind leg." "Charming crowd these horse people," Landry said.

"The horse world is a microcosm. The good, the bad; the beautiful, the ugly."

"The haves and have-nots. That's what keeps the prisons full," Landry said. "Jealousy, greed, and s.e.xual perversion."

"Make the world go round." Landry sighed and backed the tape up again. "And what's your stake in this mess, Estes?" "I told you. I'm helping out the little sister." "Why? Why did she come to you?" "It's a long story that doesn't really matter. I'm in it now, and I'm staying in it to the end. Do you have a problem with that?" "Yeah, I do," he said, his attention on the television. "But I'm sure that won't stop you." "No, it won't." He hit the pause b.u.t.ton and squinted at the screen. "Can you make out that tag number?" "No. I tried. I couldn't make it out on Seabright's tape either. You'll need a technical wizard. "Look, Landry, I'm already on the inside with Jade's people," I said. "I'm more than willing to work with you. You'd be stupid to take a pa.s.s on that. You're a lot of things, I'm sure, but I don't think stupid is one of them."

He gave me a long look, trying to see something beyond what I would allow him to see. "I've done my homework too," he said. "You're a loose cannon, Estes. You always were, the way Ihear it. I don't like that. You think this Seabright guy is a control freak. I consider that a virtue. When I'mon a case, I own it. Period. I don't want to be in this thing and wondering what the h.e.l.l you're going topull next. And I can guarantee no one else in the SO is going to stand for that either. My lieutenant findsout you've got your fingers in this, he'll have my a.s.s."

"I can't do anything about that. I am in it, and I'm staying in it. I said I'll work with you, but I don't workfor you. You don't control me, Landry. If that's your focus, we have a problem. There's only one goalhere: getting Erin Seabright out alive. If you think it's some kind of contest, you can keep your d.i.c.k inyour pants. I'm sure yours is bigger than anybody's, but I don't want to see it. Thanks anyway.

"Now can we get on this?" I asked. "We're burning daylight." Landry took a beat, then motioned toward the door. "Lead the way. I hope I don't regret this." I returned his look and his sentiment. "That makes two of us."

B ruce Seabright was not happy to see me. He came to the door himself-no doubt having forbidden everyone else to-dressed for golf in khakis and a tangerine polo s.h.i.+rt. He had the same ta.s.seled loafers as Van Zandt. It was now 8:15 A.M. "Mr. Seabright, this is Detective Landry with the Sheriff's Office," I said. Landry held up his s.h.i.+eld. "Hetells me he hasn't heard from you."

"It's Sat.u.r.day," Seabright said. "I didn't know how early I could call."

"So you thought you'd get eighteen in before you tried?" I asked.

"Ms. Estes tells me your stepdaughter has been abducted," Landry said.

Seabright glared at me. "The kidnappers said no police, so I didn't call the police. I certainly hope Ms.

Estes hasn't put Erin in greater danger by bringing you here." "I don't think this trumps blowing off the ransom drop," I said. "May we come in?" He stepped back reluctantly, and closed the door behind us lest the neighbors see. "Have you received any further communication from the kidnappers?" Landry asked as we followed Seabright to the inner sanctum. There was no sign of Krystal. The house was as silent as a mausoleum. I

spied Molly crouched in the upstairs hall, peering down at us through the bal.u.s.ters.

"No."

"You last heard from them when?"

"Thursday night."

"Why didn't you pay the ransom, Mr. Seabright?"

Seabright closed the doors of his office and turned around to go behind his desk. Landry had already taken a position there, standing behind the desk chair with his hands resting on the chair back.

"I'm sure Ms. Estes has told you, I'm not convinced this whole thing isn't a hoax."

"You're convinced enough not to call the Sheriff's Office for fear of what might happen to Erin, but notenough to pay the ransom?" Landry said. "I'm not sure I understand that, Mr. Seabright." Seabright paced the end of the room with his hands on his hips. "I'm sorry I don't know the protocol for kidnapping victims. This is my first time."

"Do you have the money?"

"I can get it."

"On a Sat.u.r.day?"

"If I have to. The president of my bank is a personal friend. I do an enormous amount of business with

him."

"Good," Landry said. "Call him. Tell him you may need to ask him a favor later today. You need three

hundred thousand dollars in marked bills. He'll need some lead time to get that together. Tell himsomeone from the Sheriff's Office will meet him at the bank to a.s.sist him." Seabright looked shocked. "B-but we're not actually going to give them the money, are we?"

"You are if you ever want to see your stepdaughter alive again," Landry said. "You do want that, don't you, Mr. Seabright?"

Seabright closed his eyes and huffed a sigh. "Yes. Of course." "Good. I'll have people out here within the hour to put a tap on your phone. When the next call comes inwe'll be able to trace its origin. You'll set up the drop. You'll tell them you'll show with the money, butErin has to be there where you can see her or it's a no-go. They already know you're not a pushover. Ifthey haven't already killed her, they'll bring her. They want the money, not the girl."

"I can't believe any of this is happening," Seabright muttered. "You'll be there? At the drop?"

"Yes. I've already spoken with my lieutenant about your situation. He'll be calling shortly to speak withyou himself." "What about the FBI?" Seabright asked. "Don't they always get involved with kidnappings?" "It's not automatic. They can be called in if you like." "I don't. This is way out of hand already. They said not to call the police, now my home is going to be crawling with them."

"We'll be very discreet, Mr. Seabright," Landry said. "I'll want to speak to everyone living in thehouse." "My wife is sedated. Other than Krystal, it's just myself, my son Chad, and Krystal's younger daughter, Molly."

"Detective Landry is aware of the s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p between Erin and Chad," I told him. Color spread up Seabright's neck like the red in a thermometer. "He'll definitely want to speak with Chad."

"My son has absolutely nothing to do with this."

"Because you say so?" I challenged. "Your son had plenty to do with Erin. He was seen at her apartment

two nights before she disappeared, arguing with her." "That was all her doing," Seabright said bitterly. "Erin goaded him into a relations.h.i.+p just to spite me." "You don't think Chad would want to spite you for his own sake?" Seabright came over and stuck a finger in front of my face. "I've had it with you and your accusations. I don't care who you're working for, I don't want you here. The Sheriff's Office is involved now. I'm surethey don't have any use for a private investigator either. Do you, Detective?"

Seabright looked to Landry. Landry looked at me, his face as unreadable as mine.

"Actually," Landry said. "Ms. Estes' cooperation in this is very important, Mr. Seabright. I wouldn't be here if not for her."

Good cop, bad cop. I almost smiled. "Perhaps you'd like to explain that to Detective Landry's lieutenant," I said to Seabright. He wanted to put his hands around my throat and choke me. I could see it in his eyes.

"I'm sure he'll be very interested to hear all about how you didn't want to be bothered with your stepdaughter's kidnapping," I went on, walking away from him. "You know, Detective Landry, maybe you should call in the FBI. I've got a friend in the regional office I could reach out to. After all, this could have international implications if one of the foreign nationals at the equestrian center is involved. Or it could involve some out-of-state client of Mr. Seabright's. If Erin has been taken across a state line, it automatically becomes a federal case."

All I had to do was mention his business dealings and Seabright's sphincter curled into a French knot. "I don't like being threatened," he pouted. I walked past him again, leaning toward his ear as I murmured, "That would be the point." "Your focus needs to be on your stepdaughter, Mr. Seabright," Landry said. "Complaining about the people who seem to care more about this girl than you do isn't going to stand you in very good stead. Doyou understand what I'm saying?" "You're making me feel like I should call my attorney," Seabright said. "Feel free to do that if you have concerns about talking to me." That shut him up. He rubbed his hands over his face and looked up at the ceiling.

"Do you consider me a suspect?" he asked. "Investigations of this type of crime are always of a two-p.r.o.nged nature, Mr. Seabright. We have toconsider possibilities both outside the family and within it," Landry said. "I'd like to speak with your sonnow. Is he home?"

Seabright went to an intercom panel on the wall and pressed a b.u.t.ton. "Chad, would you come to my

office, please?"

I imagined being elsewhere in the Seabright home, Bruce Seabright's voice ringing out of the walls. All he needed was a remote-control burning bush and his image would be complete.

"Has Chad been in any kind of trouble with the law, Mr. Seabright?" Landry asked.

Seabright looked offended. "My son is an honor student."

A polite knock sounded against the door and Chad Seabright stuck his head in the room, then slipped

inside with the expression of a shy, hopeful puppy. He was dressed neatly in khakis and a navy Tommy

Hilfiger polo. He looked ready to hit the links with the Young Republicans.

"Chad, this is Detective Landry and Ms. Estes," Bruce Seabright said. "They want to ask you some questions about Erin."

Chad put on big eyes. "Wow. Sure. I've already spoken with Ms. Estes. She knows I haven't seen Erin.

I wish I could be more helpful."

"You and Erin had a relations.h.i.+p," Landry said.

Chad looked embarra.s.sed. "That was over. I admit that was wrong. It just sort of happened. Erin is very persuasive."

"You had an argument with her last week. What was that about?"

"We broke up." "Chad!" Bruce Seabright snapped. "You told me it was over months ago! When Erin moved out." Chad looked at the floor. "It was . . . mostly. I'm sorry, Dad." "Chad, where were you last Sunday between four and six P.M.?" Landry asked. Chad looked around as if the answer might be pasted on the walls. "Sunday? Um . . . I was probably- ".

"We were at the movies," Bruce Seabright said. "Remember, Chad? Wasn't it Sunday we went to thatnew Bruce Willis movie?" "Was that Sunday? Oh, yeah." Chad nodded and looked at Landry. "At the movies." "Which movie?" "Hostage. It was great. Have you seen it?" "I don't go to movies," Landry said. "You don't happen to have a ticket stub, do you?" I asked. Chad flashed a goofy smile with a little laugh. "Who keeps those things? a.n.a.l-retentives?" "Then I'll ask you, Mr. Seabright. You strike me as a man who would keep his stub and have it laminated." "No, I'm not." "You're just the kind of man who would encourage his child to lie to a sheriff's detective," I said. "Did you go with friends?" Landry asked. "Anybody who could say they saw you there?" "No," Bruce said. "It was a father-son outing." "Which theater?" "The big one on State Road Seven." "What time did the movie start?" I asked. Seabright was on the verge of losing his temper again. "The late matinee." He glared at Landry. "Why are you standing here grilling us? If someone has taken Erin, they probably knew her from the equestrian center. Aren't there all kinds of lowlifes involved in the horse business? Shouldn't you be speaking with them?"

"Have you?" I asked. He looked at me blankly. "You set her up for that job through Trey Hughes. Have you spoken with him? Asked him if he's seen Erin, if he knows anything, if he's heard anything?"

Seabright's mouth moved, but nothing came out. "After you saw the tape and knew Erin had been taken from the show grounds, you didn't call the oneperson you knew who had a connection to her?"

"I-well-Trey wouldn't know anything about it," he stammered. "Erin was just a groom."

"To Hughes. She's your stepdaughter."

Landry's cell phone rang and he excused himself from the office, leaving me and the Seabright males looking at each other. I thought they both should have been strung up by their s.c.r.o.t.u.ms and beaten with canes, but that isn't proper procedure even in south Florida.

"I've dealt with a lot of cold, rotten people in my time," I said to Bruce. "But you, Mr. Seabright, really must be crowned king t.u.r.d on the s.h.i.+t pile. I'm going to step out for a moment now. I'm having anger management issues."

Landry was standing near the front door, brows drawn together as he spoke quietly into the phone. I looked upstairs and saw Molly, still sitting against the railing. She looked small and forlorn. She had to feel absolutely alone in this house. Krystal was of no help to her, and Bruce and his sp.a.w.n were the enemy.

I wanted to go up the stairs and sit with her, and put my arm around her shoulders, and tell her I knew how she felt. But Landry had finished his call.