Foresight is Flawless – Chapter 8

I didn’t know how long I sat out on the patio after Jenna went in the house. What she’d said didn’t make any sense to me. It couldn’t just be over between us. We had been through too much together to end things like this.

“You all right, Caldwell?”

I looked up at him. “Yeah, I’m fine, Dinsley. What’s going on in there?”

“Most of the cops have cleared out. Elaine seemed calmer the last time I saw her.”

“And Daniel?” I asked.

Brandon shrugged. “Who knows with that guy? He was sitting by himself in Lana’s room last I saw.”

I stood up. “Let’s go find out if Atlantic City has anything to do with Lana’s kidnapping.”

He followed me to Lana’s room. “Is this such a good idea? This isn’t our case.”

“I know, but I have to do something. I can’t just sit around here and wait for something else to happen.”

Brandon nodded and followed me into Lana’s room. Daniel was sitting on the floor, holding a stuffed animal. His anger seemed to be gone, but he still didn’t seem happy to see us. I decided it would be better get straight to the point.

“Look Daniel, I know all about Atlantic City and I want to know if it’s connected.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. I know you love your daughter, so please, help us find her faster.”

Daniel looked hurt. “Don’t you think that I would tell you if I knew where Lana was?”

I shook my head. “Give it up, Daniel. I put you under surveillance last year. It’s all in your file. We have photos of you with the woman, records showing how much you owed in gambling debts…Do I need to go on?”

His face crumbled. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

“Does this have anything to do withLana’s kidnapping?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve been getting a lot of heat for not being able to pay them.”

“Pay who?” Brandon asked.

Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know who they are. I assume it’s a mob thing, but I don’t have anything to support that.”

“Then how did you end up owing them so much money if you didn’t even know who they were?” I asked.

“The woman. I met her in a casino one night and we hooked up. I started seeing her every time I went to A.C. She got me invited to an underground High Roller’s game. I cleaned house the first few times, but…They must have been hustling me because they ended up cleaning me out.”

“How much do you owe?” Brandon asked.

“Five hundred large.”

I didn’t think I’d heard him correctly. “How much?”

“Half a mil. The vig alone is taking every dime I can get my hands on.”

I shook my head in disgust. “Why would you do something like this to your family?”

“You have no right to make judgments about me. You don’t know what it’s like being married to Elaine. If you did then you wouldn’t be looking at me like that.” Daniel realized he wasn’t getting any sympathy from us and shrugged. “Besides, I think I was being played the whole time. The games were fixed.”

I didn’t know how much of what he was saying could be believed, but it was all I had to work with. “Do you think they have Lana?”

“I don’t know, but I hope not. These guys don’t play by any rules they haven’t made themselves.”

Brandon had been quiet for most of the conversation, but he slanted a fierce glare at Daniel and said, “You need to come clean with your wife.”

Of all the reactions he could have, he laughed in response. “You have to be kidding me with that bullshit.”

I could tell Brandon was about to lose it so I stepped in. “Look, Daniel, Elaine has a right to know why her little girl is missing. Either you tell her or I will.”

Jenna was right. I should’ve told Elaine months ago.

I didn’t wait for Daniel to respond. Instead, I motioned towards the door so Brandon would know it was time to go and he followed me from the room. Neither of us said anything about it, but we were both thinking it.

If the mob had Lana, her time was severely limited.

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