Death on Hanover Read online

  When the Heavyweight Championship took place in July of ’21, Haley, her pa, and brothers circled around the big radio with their ears attuned. Her ma had made sugar cookies, and Haley and Joe fought over the last one, which resulted in it breaking into crumbs on the floor.

  “Now you gone and dun it,” young Joseph had said. He’d tried to sound angry, but Haley could see the twinkle in his eye.

  “Something for the mouse family,” she’d said.

  Pa had shushed them with a firm shake of his head. Only Haley had even noticed when the mice stuck their pink noses out of the hole along the baseboard.

  “Who won?” Samantha asked, breaking Haley out of her reverie.

  “Dempsey. I don’t know why Seth would’ve written those names on the back of a photograph of him and Joe.”

  The telephone rang, and Haley answered. She covered the receiver and mouthed toward Samantha. “Tom Bell.”

  “Hello, Officer,” Haley said. “How can I help you?”

  “Detective Cluney asked me to call you about Mr. Mulryan’s watch. We found a fingerprint on the face of it that didn’t belong to its owner.”

  Haley’s interest was ignited. “Whose print was it? Do you know?”

  “Yes, Doctor. The print was on file with the department. It belongs to Mr. Seth Rosenbaum.”

  23

  Samantha could tell by the look on Haley’s face that something was wrong. Her mouth grew dry, and her chest tightened. “What happened?”

  Haley set the receiver back on its cradle.

  “The police have evidence connecting Seth to Douglas Mulryan. They found his fingerprint on Mr. Mulryan’s watch.”

  Samantha’s throat suddenly tightened, and she struggled to swallow.

  “Are you okay?” Haley asked. “I’ll get you some water.”

  Samantha was grateful for the pause. Her mind raced. How on earth had Seth’s fingerprint got on Douglas Mulryan’s watch? Seth was a lout, but he wasn’t a killer.

  Was he?

  Seven years ago, Samantha’s answer would’ve been a resounding no way. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

  Haley brought a glass of water, and Samantha took a sip. “Thank you.”

  “Do you know where he is?” Haley asked softly. She’d returned to her seat and leaned over the desk. “It’s imperative to say so if you do.”

  Samantha shook her head. “I’d tell you if I knew. I wish I did.”

  Haley worked her lips with a faraway look.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “About the tattoo. Seth has one. The Keating brothers, and this latest John Doe had one.”

  “But Douglas Mulryan didn’t.” Nor did Joe Higgins, but Samantha didn’t say it aloud.

  “The only other person I’ve see with that same tattoo,” Haley began, “is Will Delaney.”

  “Do you think Seth’s with Mr. Delaney?”

  Haley got to her feet. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  Samantha wasn’t so quick to follow. “Do you think we should let Tom know?”

  Haley gave her a sideways glance. “Do you trust him now?”

  “He told you about the fingerprint. He helped us get out of the club. I think he’s working the case.” Samantha felt foolish now for even suspecting Tom. He was her friend. He’d only ever helped her when she needed it. And right now, she needed it.

  Haley nodded toward the telephone. “I’ll let you do the honors.”

  Samantha knew the number by heart. She dialed the operator and asked to be connected to the police station, then on to Officer Bell.

  After several moments, he was on the line. “Bell here.”

  “Tom, it’s Samantha.”

  “Hi, Samantha. Are you all right?”

  “Yes. I just want to tell you that Seth didn’t come home after the fight last night. I’m worried he’s in trouble.”

  Tom simply hummed.

  Samantha continued. “Dr. Higgins and I think he may contact Will Delaney.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?”

  “The two-spider tattoo. Seth has one, and so does Mr. Delaney.”

  “I’m not going to ask how you know that.”

  Good, Samantha thought. “Will you go there?”

  “As it turns out, luck is on your side. Our men are on the lookout for Seth Rosenbaum. Patrolman Fanning spotted him going into Delaney’s building. I’m heading over there right now.”

  “Great. We’ll see you there.”

  “No, Samantha, don’t come. It’s too danger—”

  Samantha hung up before Tom Bell could finish. She sprang to her feet and stared at Haley. “Let’s go.”

  Samantha and Haley remained wordless as Haley drove her car to Delaney’s home. Samantha wasn’t even sure where that was, but she couldn’t bring herself to form the words. She felt as if she were breathing underwater, that even though the world outside the open windows moved quickly, her own experience moved in slow motion. Her world had imploded when Seth had disappeared, but this was worse. Then, she was sad and angry.

  Now, she was afraid.

  Of what, Samantha couldn’t quite say. Seth moving in and them stepping into their old roles of husband and wife had seemed a monumental problem just yesterday. How had it escalated to this? To Seth in hiding once again.

  Only this time, he’d be caught. That was the ball of fire in Samantha’s stomach. Her husband had done something dreadful, a yet undetermined crime, but something dreadful. She felt it in her bones.

  Belatedly, Samantha realized that life as she’d come to know it had been good. Challenging, yes, but comfortable. Predictable.

  Her hands shook noticeably as she brushed stray blond wisps of hair off her face. She tucked her hands under her thighs, hoping that Haley hadn’t noticed. She tensed further when Haley pulled the DeSoto to a stop in the upper-class area of Beacon Hill.

  “Delaney lives here?”

  “Penthouse.” Haley turned. “I don’t know if he’s here or not. Do you want to wait in the car?”

  Samantha shook her head. “I’m okay.”

  Outside, near the front of the building, Samantha noticed a familiar form and frowned deeply. “Johnny’s here.”

  “How?” Haley started.

  “He must’ve gotten a tip from the station.” Samantha swallowed. “That means Seth is here, and there’s going to be an arrest.” Samantha sprung out of the car.

  Haley shouted after her. “Samantha!”

  Samantha ignored Haley’s plea, and sprinted to the front entrance. Despite everything, she felt compelled to warn Seth. He was her husband after all and Talia’s father. To do this she needed to get to the penthouse suite, which meant she had to get past the doorman who saw her coming.

  “Miss?”

  “That man out there?” Samantha pointed to Johnny and silently pleaded forgiveness. “He’s after me. Please, help!”

  The man’s face buckled with outrage, and he ran to the door. Samantha wasted no time. While the doorman threatened to call the police on Johnny, Samantha slipped into the elevator. Police sirens could be heard in the distance.

  “Penthouse, please.” She smiled at the elevator operator and batted her lashes. “Mr. Delaney is waiting for me.”

  Just as the elevator doors closed, Samantha heard Haley’s voice imploring her to stop.

  Too late.

  She asked the attendant, “How many elevators are in this building?”

  “Just the one, ma’am. There’s talk of putting in a second one, but it won’t go to the penthouse.”

  “I see.” She had some time before Haley, Johnny, and the police made it up. She had mere minutes to work out a plan. Not nearly long enough. The elevator bells announced her arrival at the penthouse floor, and she still had no idea what she would do besides winging it.

  “Thank you,” Samantha said. She had a coin in her pocket, one she could ill afford to give away, but she presented it to the elevator attendant anyway. She might need his help later.

&nb
sp; Samantha had never been to a penthouse suite before and was shocked to discover that the step out of the elevator didn’t take her into a hallway, but directly into the suite. Will Delaney sat on a plush settee with his legs crossed and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He stared at Samantha with a look of amusement.

  “Are you lost, or is this my lucky day?”

  “Hello, Mr. Delaney. I don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Fine by me,” he said with a seductive smirk. “I can accommodate your schedule.”

  “You misunderstand. I’m looking for Seth Rosenbaum.”

  Delaney uncrossed his legs and put out his cigarette. “Who?” he said carelessly. He stood languidly and stepped over to the side table. He glanced over his shoulder. “Thirsty? I have the best Canadian whiskey on hand.” He grinned again. “It’s a gift from me to you. I won’t tell if you won’t.”

  “Please, Mr. Delaney. Seth is my husband. I believe he’s in trouble.” Samantha debated telling the arrogant man that the police were on their way up, but it was bad enough she was trying to give Seth a tip. As his wife, the law might overlook her misstep, but they wouldn’t smile on her interfering with a man known to run illegal fighting.

  “Have a drink with me, and then I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

  No time. She shouted, “Seth! Seth!”

  Her pleas did the trick. A door cracked open, and Seth walked out. “Sugarplum,” he said with a scowl. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  At that moment, when she saw the dark blankness behind his eyes, his soulless, uncaring stare, Samantha knew he was right. With long strides he reached her, grabbed her wrist tightly, and pulled her to himself. Not in a romantic way, but as a shield against attack.

  She’d made a big mistake coming alone, and now she would pay for it.

  24

  Haley was astounded by Samantha’s behavior. What did she think she would accomplish by going off on her own like that? Get arrested, likely, but hopefully not worse. Haley didn’t know Seth Rosenbaum, but she was certain he couldn’t be trusted, not even with his own wife’s life.

  “What the heck?” Johnny Milwaukee brushed the doorman off. “She duped you, man! Where is she now?”

  The doorman searched behind him with a look of confusion at not finding Samantha there.

  “See?” Mr. Milwaukee said. “She pulled one on you.”

  By the time Haley and Johnny had made it inside the building and the lobby, the doors of the elevator were closing.

  “Wait!” Haley shouted, but it was too late.

  She let out a long sigh as the police cruisers pulled up. Officers Bell and Harris hopped out of the first car.

  “What are you two doing here?” Tom Bell asked sternly.

  “Samantha’s gone up,” Haley said. “We tried to stop her.”

  Tom Bell blanched then barked at the doorman. “How many floors?”

  “Six, sir.”

  “You go on,” Johnny said. “I’ll wait for the elevator.”

  “You stay where you are, sir!” Tom returned.

  Officer Harris, who appeared to be in good physical shape, stepped in. “I’ll take the steps; you get the elevator when it comes. Still might be faster.” He raced down the corridor and disappeared.

  An unlikely trio, Haley, Mr. Milwaukee, and Officer Bell, waited in silence for the elevator to return to the main floor. The three watched as the arrow ticked down the levels like a clock hand: five, four, three—

  “Maybe you should call for back up,” Haley suggested.

  “We don’t even know if Rosenbaum is here,” Officer Bell said.

  “But he might be,” Haley said, “and Samantha could be in trouble.”

  —Two, one. The elevator doors opened. Officer Bell shouted to the doorman. “Sir, call the station and ask them to send another car on my authority. Officer Tom Bell.”

  The three squeezed in beside the doorman. Tom pressed against Mr. Milwaukee’s arm. “I insist that you stay here,” Tom said.

  Mr. Milwaukee smiled snidely. “You can’t forbid a citizen to ride the elevator.”

  Officer Bell gave the attendant the go-ahead to engage the lift.

  “If you get in my way, I swear I’ll arrest you for obstruction of justice,” Officer Bell snapped. “You too, Dr. Higgins.”

  Haley bobbed her head. She just wished she could make this blasted elevator move faster!

  The crawl of the elevator made Haley’s skin crawl with frustration. Finally, the attendant announced, “Penthouse.”

  The doors opened, and Haley’s heart fell into her stomach. Seth had a neck hold on Samantha.

  Seth’s eyes darted about the room wildly. “Stay back!”

  Samantha whimpered against his grip.

  Tom Bell drew his pistol. “Let her go, Rosenbaum!”

  Seth dragged Samantha toward the elevator and shouted his demands, “Move yourselves against the wall.”

  Will Delaney, with his arms limply in the air, shifted to the far wall, the only one to heed Seth’s demands. “I swear, I don’t know this man,” he said. “He broke in somehow, just before you lot.”

  “Liar!” Samantha cried. “You were at the warehouse on Long Wharf watching him fight. I saw you!”

  Seth Rosenbaum and Will Delaney shared a quick look, clearly wondering how Samantha could’ve known that.

  “And he lost,” Haley said. “Is that why you had him thrown out, Mr. Delaney? Did Mr. Rosenbaum come to see you today to ask for a second chance?”

  “I didn’t want a second chance,” Seth said. “I wanted to kill him.”

  “I told you, he’s crazy!” Will Delaney said. “A common thief, caught in the act.”

  Seth jerked in response. “I’ll kill you yet!”

  Tom Bell had his pistol trained on Seth, but the slightest slip in his aim, and he could shoot Samantha instead. Haley’s pulse hammered in her temples. The moment sizzled. One wrong, impulsive move and the situation could become tragic.

  “Let Samantha go,” Officer Bell said, “and you can take the elevator alone.”

  Seth grinned. “I’m not stupid. Sam’s my insurance.”

  “She’s your wife,” Haley said. “You wouldn’t want her to get hurt, would you?”

  “You leave me to deal with what’s mine.” Seth tightened his hold on Samantha, which made her squeal. Haley tensed. Mr. Milwaukee and Officer Bell did the same.

  Seth yelled, “Git back, I tell ya, or I’ll break her neck, and her death will be on your hands!”

  The man was clearly unhinged, Haley thought. What had happened to him all those years ago to set him on this path?

  “He killed Joe Higgins,” Seth said, nodding toward Delaney.

  What? The throbbing in Haley’s head exploded. She slowly set her gaze on Will Delaney.

  “He’s lying! He killed Joe Higgins. Joe was a better fighter. Made more money. This idiot here was jealous.”

  Seth laughed like a maniac. “Joe had infiltrated the fight club and was about to rat to the police and bust it wide open. I saw Delaney kill him with my own eyes.”

  Was this true? Had Joe been a hero?

  “You killed Joe Higgins,” Delaney insisted. “Besides, it’s your word against mine.”

  Haley heard herself speak, “If this is true, Mr. Rosenbaum, why did you leave town?”

  “Because I didn’t want to end up like Joe.”

  Delaney sniggered. “Because he didn’t want to hang.”

  Haley pressed on, “But you came back.”

  “I came for justice.” Seth’s face was red with fury. Haley worried that he might injure Samantha unintentionally.

  “Let Samantha go,” Haley said.

  Bell had his gun on Seth, but it was apparent that he couldn’t watch out for Mr. Delaney as well. From the corner of her eye, Haley saw him make a move to the window and out the fire escape.

  “I’d stop if I were you,” she said. She removed the H&R from her purse. “I don’t like to use this, but
I’ll warn you, I’m a good shot.”

  “Isn’t this just great,” Jonny Milwaukee chided. He’d been so quiet, taking it all in, that Haley had almost forgotten the journalist was in the room. “Two with a gun and one with a girl. I feel left out.”

  “Isn’t that your boyfriend?” Seth said. His hold was too tight, Samantha couldn’t respond. Seth’s common sense appeared to be overridden by jealousy. “Come here,” he said to Milwaukee. “If you want her, come get her.”

  Tom shook his head, “Don’t.”

  “Do it!” Seth screamed. “Come get her!”

  Milwaukee, like he didn’t have a care in the world, strutted over.

  “Don’t, Johnny,” Samantha said. “I have this.”

  “I know you do, doll.”

  Haley blinked in disbelief as Samantha curled her body into Seth’s and rolled him over her back. In seconds, Seth was on the floor gasping for breath.

  Tom Bell, looking slightly shell-shocked, breathily said, “Samantha?”

  Looking both proud and abashed, Samantha stared back at them. “Mr. Milwaukee taught me how, after our last case.”

  Johnny Milwaukee’s grin curled up crookedly like the proverbial Cheshire cat.

  It wasn’t the answer Tom wanted, and his look of admiration turned to disdain.

  Officer Harris, slow as molasses, it seemed, arrived at that moment.

  “Handcuff him,” Tom instructed.

  But Seth would not give up without a fight. In a flash, he was off the floor and heading toward Mr. Delaney by the window, Officer Harris on his heels.

  Haley thought Seth was after Will Delaney, who apparently thought the same, since he made a dive behind the couch, but instead, Seth continued toward the fire escape.

  “Stop!” Tom shouted, “Or I’ll shoot.”

  Pausing, Seth stared at his wife. “I killed Joe Higgins. Delaney sent me to talk sense into him. Use my fists if I had to, he said. We fought because he was leaving the gang, refused the tattoo. It got out of hand and next thing I knew, I pulled out my blade.” He sniffed. “We were friends. We fought together. I didn’t mean for him to die. I didn’t want any of them to die.”