Stealing Shadows - Hiding In The Shadows Part 5

"And she never told you what she was working on?"

"G.o.dd.a.m.nit, Noah, you know Dinah. She's always been like a clam when itcomes to a work in progress.

With that amazing memory of hers, she never needs notes. And sure, astory absorbs her, sometimes makes her oblivious to most things. b.u.t.this time it had gone on long enough to bother me. So I tried to get herto talk about it that last morning, to tell me what she wasinvestigating. She told me practically nothing and ended up mad at me toboot."

"Stop feeling guilty," Bishop said. "You couldn't have known she'ddisappear that day."

Since guilt was only a small part of what Kane was feeling, he was ableto shrug without commitment.

Bishop looked at him thoughtfully. "And you're sure, absolutely sure,that wherever she went, it wasn't't willingly?"

"Absolutely positive. And even if I'm wrong about that, she would neverstay away this long without letting me know where she is. If she couldget to a phone, she'd call me."

Bishop was silent for a couple of miles, then said, "We're reasonablysure that nothing in her personal life would have driven somebody to s.n.a.t.c.h her."

It wasn't't a question, but Kane answered anyway.

"Nothing I can imagine. When her father died a few years ago, he was thelast of her family, I told you that. Or at least the last she knew of.

He left her a huge portfolio of stocks and other investments, but shejust turned the management of everything over to someone and more orless ignored the money, as far as I could see."

"You said both you and the police talked to her financial consultant?"

"Sure, early on. Easy enough for me, since he man- ages my money aswell. He said Dinah's business affairs were perfectly in order, that shewasn't't being blackmailed or pressured in any way as far as he knew. Nolarge, unexplained deposits or withdrawals to or from any of heraccounts. Nothing. Not a single G.o.d d.a.m.ned breadcrumb to follow."

"Still," Bishop said, "maybe it'd be worthwhile to talk to him one moretime. Money tends to be at the root of most bad things one way oranother. He might know something no one else could tell us, especiallynow that he's had plenty of time to think about' .

By this point, Kane wasn't't willing to discount any- thing, even goingover familiar ground a second time.

Dinah had been missing for more than a month, and so far theinvestigation had led nowhere.

Noah Bishop, special agent for the FBI, had come into the picture onlythe day before, when he'd arrived in Atlanta. He had been out of thecountry, whether on Bureau business or his own, Kane hadn't asked. Hewasn't't formally a part of the investigation, but both his badge andhis manner meant that when he asked questions, even of cops jealous ofthe' territory, he usually got answers.

Kane and he had been good friends since college, when they'd competed intrack-and-field events, and had been roommates in their junior andsenior years.

Their career choices had taken them 'in different directions after graduation, but Noah always found a long weekend every few months tovisit Atlanta.

He had managed three of those visits after Kane had become involved withDinah, so he had known her fairly well. And since she had beencharacteristically curious about the FBI and Noah's very specializedabilities and knowledge, and he had a high regard for investigativejournalists with integrity and strong ethics, they had found much totalk about.

So, he was almost as upset over her disappearance as Kane was, but onlythe white of the scar down his left cheek bore witness to that emotion. Other- wise, he appeared completely calm and in control, his voicesteady and sometimes filled with a dry humor, his powerful body relaxed,pale sentry eyes watchful as always but tranquil.

Kane wasn't't fooled.

In response to Bishop's statement, he said, "Okay, we'll talk to ConradMasterson. I'll call him tonight. In the meantime, there must besomething else we can do."

"Between you, the cops, and your private investigator, I'd sayeverything that could be done has been." As if ticking off the facts onhis fingers, Bishop said, "Her movements that last day have been tracedas much as possible and every potential lead followed. Everyone she'sknown to have talked to that last week has been questioned at least once.

You've kept a fire burning under the police. Your P I. has been d.o.g.g.i.ngevery step of the investigation and working his own contacts. You'vespent days in Dinah's office going through ten years' worth of files,and weeks running down information on anyone she might have p.i.s.sed offin the course of doing a story.

You've talked to her financial manager, her co-workers, and her boss.

You've talked to neighbors in her apartment building. You've searchedher apartment. You've offered a million-dollar reward for information."

Kane braced himself.

Quietly, reluctantly, Bishop said, "Unless something new comes to light... Jesus, Kane. I'm sorry as h.e.l.l- but the trail is looking awfully G.o.dd.a.m.ned cold."

Kane hadn't wanted to admit that to himself. Not today, when Bishop hadkept him from lunging across the desk of a police lieutenant and chokingthe man.

Not yesterday, when the last of Dinah's known rrues had proved tobe in prison on the fifth year of a ten-year sentence. Not the daybefore that, or the days and weeks before that, when useless informationhad piled up and leads dwindled and hope dissolved.

"I know," he said. "I know."

Conrad Masterson had always amused Kane. He was average inappearance-average height, average weight, an average bald spot atop hishead. He didn't care how he dressed, which explained his badly cut suit,and wasn't impressed by impressive surroundings which was why his smalloffice was filled with aged furniture and worn rugs and smelled vaguelylike a wet dog. Or two.

He had no charm, tended to stutter when he got excited (always about anew stock or other investment opportunity), and had been known to arriveat the office wearing different colored socks and unsure where he'dparked his car. But what he lacked in common sense and personal style,Conrad more than made up in financial brilliance. In the investmentcommunity, it was well known that he made money for all his clients,handled their business with scrupulous honesty, and was the absolutesoul of discretion.

Blinking behind his thick gla.s.ses, Conrad said miserably, "I want tohelp, Kane. You know I do. And if I thought there was anything, anythingat all, in Dinah's financial dealings that might help find her, I wouldhave said so to you or the police long before now."

"But you won't show us her file?" It was Bishop who asked, his voicelevel.

"I can't do that. As long as there's no proof other- wise, I have toa.s.sume she could walk in that door any minute. And given that, I have tokeep her files confidential. I can't give you details-I just can't. Andthe judge agreed with me when the police tried to get a warrant, Kane,you know she did. Unless you or the police come up with information thatindicates Dinah's disappearance was somehow connected to her financialdeal' , my hands are tied."

His "Legally tied," Kane noted.

"I have to protect my clients' privacy."

Kane drew a breath and tried to remain patient, knowing only too wellthat he would want his own affairs treated exactly the same way. "Okay,Conrad.

But think. Surely you can tell us if there was anything unusual, say inthe last few months. You've had time to think about it."

"Yes, but ... unusual how? Dinah left her investments to me for the mostpart, you know that, Kane.

Occasionally she sold stocks against my advice for quick cash, usuallybecause she was trying to help somebody."

"What do you mean?" Bishop interrupted.

Conrad considered the question and whether he would be breachingconfidentiality, then decided to answer frankly. "Just that. She'd do astory on a home for battered women, and then call me to sell some stockso she could give them fifty thousand to remodel or hire a betterlawyer, something like that.

She'd do a story on a poor congregation losing its church, and rightaway pour tens of thousands 'into their rebuilding fund."

He said with wistful fondness. "I could always tell. She'd have thatnote in her voice when she called, so determined you could call ith.e.l.l-bent, and I'd know she'd found another wounded soul or bird with abroken wing. She's given millions over the years. Even before her fatherdied, she used most of the income from her trust fund to help others."

Kane swallowed. "I ... never knew that. She never said anything about.i.t."

"No, she wouldn't have. It wasn't something she talked about. She oncetold me that her father had taught her a lesson she'd never forgotten atyou helped people without shouting about it, because just the act ofhelping them made you and your own life better. She believed that. Shelived up to that." Bishop glanced at Kane, then said coolly to Conrad,With that in mind, don't you think she'd want you to help us find her?

So she can help more people, if nothing else. The trail is cold, Mr.Masterson. And she's been missing for five weeks."

Conrad bit his bottom lip. "I wish I could help, Agent Bishop. You haveno idea how much. But-" "Had she come to you recently and asked you to sell stocks without anyexplanation, or without an explanation you considered reasonable?"

"No. She always had a reason, and, after all, it's her money. She's freeto spend it however she pleases. Usually, it was her stories andlearning about somebody in need that started it for her.

Something that got her pa.s.sionate and made her get involved."

Bishop frowned. "Did she talk about her stories to you before they werewritten, Mr. Masterson?"

That question surprised Kane; it was not one he would have thought toask. But the investment manager's answer surprised him even more.

"Sometimes," Conrad said, clearly unaware of having said anythingremarkable. "She'd come in here and talk, and days or weeks later I'dread one of her articles and there'd be the things she told me about."

"How about recently?"

It was Masterson's turn to frown. "Let's see. She told me about that murder out in Buckhead about six months ago."

Both Kane and Bishop nodded; that article and its outcome had alreadybeen thoroughly checked out.

"And a few weeks after that she was talking about that political scandalshe covered, all those goings-on in the lieutenant governor's mansion."

Kane said, " Like all good scandals, ended with a miserable whimperinstead of a bang." Bishop lifted a brow at him, and Kane explained.

"They paid the girl off and she suddenly remembered it was somebody elsewith his pants down around his ankles. Then she decided she'd ratherlive elsewhere, and moved out to California."

He looked back at Conrad. "But that was more or less just reporting, andeverybody knew what was going on. What else did she talk about?"

Conrad pursed his lips in thought for a moment, then an arrestedexpression crossed his face.

"What?" Kane demanded instantly.

"Well ... let's see, it must have been around the first of August orthereabouts when she came in looking really upset. Said she felt rottenand the heat made it worse. It was terribly hot that day, just dreadful.

I asked her what was up, and she said she'd just stumbled across whatlooked like a really big story. She said ..."

He closed his eyes, the better to concentrate. "She said heads weregoing to roll, no doubt about that, and what made it worse was that itappeared some- body she liked an awful lot might be involved. I saidinvolved in what, and she shook her head and said it was big, very big.

Then she got a look on her face I'd never seen before, sort of cautiousand very worried."

He opened his eyes and peered at them. "She wasn't-isn't cautious, youknow. Reckless if any- thing. Always p.r.o.ne to rush without thinking ifin somebody's in trouble."

"I know," Kane said.

Bishop looked at him, then at Masterson. "Sounds like it might bepolitical. Did she tell you anything else?"

He brooded. "No, not that day. And I didn't hear from her again forweeks. She called me about a month later, very ... subdued. Said shewanted me to free up half a million."

Bishop blinked. 'And you didn't find that request unusual?"

"It wasn't the largest amount she'd needed, if that's what you mean. But.i.t was big enough that I asked her if she was sure she wanted to dothat, since it'd mean selling a few things better kept awhile longer.

She just said somebody had gotten hurt because of her, and she had totake care of the matter." He shrugged. "I did as she asked, freed up themoney, and wired it to her bank. @ Kane frowned. "There was no depositthat size into her account in the last six months." Dinah's bank had been more cooperative than Conrad in releasing information to thepolice.

Conrad hesitated, then said, "Well, it wasn't her regular bank. She usedanother one for this sort of thing. And a lawyer other than her usualone to arrange things, I believe."

"Will you tell us which bank, so we can verify this?" Bishop asked.

After a few moments, Conrad nodded. "I suppose I can do that." He jotteddown the name and address of the bank on a piece of paper.

Bishop took it.

"What about this other lawyer, Conrad? Who was it?" Kane asked.

"I'm afraid I don't know. She just mentioned once that it was sometimeshandy to have two attorneys on retainer, one for public stuff and oneprivate."

"And you have no idea exactly what she intended to do with that halfmillion?"

Conrad shook his head. "I never asked how she planned to help thisfriend of hers. And ... that was the last time I spoke to her."

A few minutes later, driving away from Conrad's office, Bishop said,"You know, it occurs to me that half a million dollars to help a friendis a bit excessive.

Didn't you tell me this friend of Dinah's had been in a car accident andhas been in a coma since?"

"Yeah." Kane paused, then muttered, "Oh, s.h.i.+t. I should have gone by tosee her. Dinah went twice a week, regular as clockwork." His guilt wasobvious.

"Isn't she in a coma?,) "Yes. I looked in on her that first week, when Iwent to talk to the hospital staff about Dinah's visits. They couldn'ttell me or the police much we didn't already know, and Faith Parkercertainly couldn't help. I gather they aren't expecting her to come outof it."

"Then," Bishop said, not uncaring but matter of fact, "she wouldn't knowif you visited or not."

"I said something like that to Dinah once," Kane confessed. "And shegave me the oddest look. She didn't say anything-but she didn't have to.

I kept my mouth shut about it after that."

Bishop looked at him. "Dinah told Masterson this woman had been hurtbecause of her. Was that true?"

Kane shook his head. "Only 'in that she was driving to meet Dinah whenit happened. But she felt responsible and nothing I could say made anydifference. Said if it hadn't been for her, her friend would never havebeen driving that afternoon, and so would never have run her car into anembankment."

"She lost control of it?"

"According to the police report. I asked about it as a matter of course,after Dinah disappeared. The police couldn't see a connection, and Icouldn't either.

just a common traffic accident, caused by carelessness.

"And she was a good friend?"

"It certainly sounds that way, although I can't remember Dinah evermentioning her before the accident. Not that it's all that unusual forher to have old friends I've never heard of. Especially if they're workrelated. "

"And was Faith Parker work related?"

"Dinah was so upset about the accident, I didn't ask too many questions.