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Drawing his service weapon, André walked to the rolled-up quilt. “Thank you, Detective Drysdale. Officer Nolan, can you get a tarp to put under the quilt? I don’t want to lose any evidence when you cut him loose.”
Nolan did as asked, then took a knife from his utility belt and began slicing at the quilt.
Remembering Val’s warning, Kaj stepped back, and, holding his breath, he watched as the man’s body was revealed. He wore nothing but a pair of boxer shorts and began shivering when the quilt was cut away from his torso.
“André,” Kaj said urgently. “Look. He’s alive.”
“The goose bumps?” André asked. “That’s rigor. Dead bodies have goose bumps.”
Kaj shook his head. “No. He’s shivering.”
“He is, Captain,” Nolan agreed. “He’s alive.”
“Fuck. You’re right. Drysdale, get a thermal blanket.”
The detective went to his vehicle, returning with a thermal blanket as a blue Escalade pulled up behind André’s SUV.
Burke got out and jogged over. “What’s going on?”
“He’s alive,” André said tersely.
Burke stood next to Kaj, his hand on the gun holstered at his belt. Protecting me.
Kaj’s concern had been all about Elijah, but Aaron’s people probably still believed Kaj held power over Aaron. The press release regarding his recusal hadn’t been posted yet.
Eliminating me would not be out of the question. It was unlikely that they’d dropped off an operative in a Trojan quilt who’d fire on them when uncovered, but it never hurt to be careful.
Carefully, Officer Nolan sliced the quilt away from the man’s face.
Kaj gasped. “Holy fuck.”
André took a step forward. “What the actual hell?”
“That’s...” Burke trailed off, shaking his head.
“Rick Gates,” Kaj said numbly.
“There’s a note, Captain,” Detective Drysdale said.
Squatting, André shone the light from his Maglite on the piece of paper duct-taped to Rick’s bare chest. The frown on the captain’s face said the note’s contents were not good.
“Read it, for fuck’s sake,” Kaj demanded. “Please,” he added.
“ ‘Dear Mr.Cardozo, Rick failed and has been punished accordingly. Set Aaron Gates free or the next body we’ll leave you will be that of your son.’ ” André looked up. “Signed with an S and D entwined.”
“Sixth Day,” Kaj whispered as the detective and the officer dropped to their knees on either side of Rick’s still form. “My God.”
“Elijah is safe,” Burke murmured. “We’re going to keep him that way. Breathe, Kaj.”
Kaj sucked in a breath that burned. Elijah is safe. Elijah is safe. Elijah was safe.
But Rick Gates was not. His legs were bound above the ankle and his hands were also bound with duct tape behind his back. Another piece of tape covered his mouth and his eyes were closed.
His chest didn’t appear to be moving. Detective Drysdale had pulled on a pair of gloves and was carefully peeling the tape from Rick’s mouth. André held out an evidence bag and Drysdale dropped the tape into it, careful to maintain the chain of evidence.
Drysdale hovered his hand over Rick’s mouth. “Five breaths a minute.”
“Pulse is about twenty,” Nolan added.
