Everyone's Man – 56

 

Keyes looked down from the balcony at the man talking to friends during the intermission. He wondered how such a person could look and act so human and still be such a monster. It had taken three days and more help from Janice in pulling together an expanded list of social contacts for the three men Colin had identified from the first set of pictures, but now Keyes knew the names of all eight men involved. The one he was watching now was the ringleader. He was also a hanger-on, someone who'd normally fade into the background at the elite parties he attended. If the rich and powerful thought about him at all, they'd barely consider him a friend of a friend, according to Janice.

 

When Colin had seen his picture in one of the files, he'd seemed headed for another full-blown episode. Then, much to Keyes amazement, he'd taken control of his emotions. Not totally, but enough that he had avoided any flashbacks to the rape itself. Instead, he had channeled them into what had started the whole mess in the first place, the knife attack that had come about when he refused to do what the man had ordered.

 

Colin had wanted to confront the man personally, and it had taken all of Keyes' diplomatic skills to convince him this was not a wise idea. The better route was to wait until they had enough evidence to arrest him and his cohorts.

 

That was why Keyes was now at the theater watching Mr. James Kadrey and three of the other men who were members of his sex club.

 

When the bells chimed to announce the end of the intermission, Keyes watched Kadrey separate himself from the two couples he'd been talking to. They turned into the auditorium, but Kadrey seemed to hold back, glancing around. Moments later, one of the other three men joined him and they talked briefly while the lobby emptied. Then they strolled casually to the doors leading to the street and left the theater. Keyes hurried down the flights of stairs from the balcony.

 

All four men headed to the parking lot. Keyes waited, remaining in the shadows until he saw the last of their cars pulling out. He thanked his lucky stars he'd used his department parking placard. It meant he was close to the theater and could reach his car in time to follow the last of them.

 

* * * *

 

The man Keyes had been following drove into a neighborhood of expensive homes much like the area Colin had described. The man finally turned up a long driveway. Keyes continued on past it, then parked a block further on. He walked back with the casualness of a homeowner out for a late night's stroll. As he passed the house, he noted that were six cars parked along the side of the driveway where it curved in front of the house. Four of them belonged to the men who had been at the theater.

 

Finding a shadowed spot across the street, Keyes settled in to wait for the last guest to arrive.

 

Twenty minutes later, his wait was rewarded as a black car came down the street and pulled into the drive. Two people got out: Marcus Randall and his companion, a young man who seemed somewhat hesitant. The older man put an arm around his waist as he led him up the front steps.

 

Lift off.