CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

 

To say I wasn’t looking forward to some time alone in the lab with Beck Durant was an understatement. When I got to the lab, he was, of all things, working. He had the clothing Amanda and I had processed during the night out on a worktable in front of him.

“Hey, Beck,” I said. “I’m here to finish up on the Walsh murder case. Anything I can do?”

My attempt at civility only got me a sneer, which I’d expected. He replied, “I don’t need your help.”

“Okay, then do you mind telling me what’s left to process just for my own information?”

He rolled his eyes at me. “The boots and the shirt. Happy now?”

Actually, I was elated. I’d processed the boots and the shirt, so that meant I couldn’t do the second examination even if I wanted to. It had to be done by a different person to be legitimate.

“Very, because it means I’m done and out of here.”

I sailed out of the lab and was almost to the front door when I realized two things: I’d forgotten my burly babysitter, and therefore had no way home, and I should probably at least tell Baxter goodbye, since it could be another three months before I saw him again.

I found him at his desk, flipping through an old case file. “Hey, making any headway?”

He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me. “Not as much as I’d like. You?”

I sat down in the chair next to him. “Well, it turns out I’m finished. Someone must have lit a fire under Beck, because he’s processed nearly everything today, which means I have nothing left to do. I’ll complete the finished sketch at school during some down time tomorrow.”

Baxter’s face fell. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”

An uncomfortable silence strained the air between us until I managed to think of something to say. “So the sketch artist you sent over was really great. She was easy to work with and incredibly talented. She captured the image I had in my head exactly. Did you get the local news to broadcast the pictures?”

“Yes. Most of the Indianapolis stations have been breaking in once an hour to run the shots of Parsons and the tip line number.”

“Any luck on the tip line, or is it the usual bunch of nutjobs calling in?”

Baxter frowned. “The usuals so far. We normally start doing a little better after five. After the sane people get home from work and turn on the news.”

“Right.” I chuckled. “Well, um…I guess I should be going and let you get back to it.”

When I got up to leave, he caught my arm. “Ellie, when we’re both not exhausted, and I’m not under the gun…do you think we could get together to talk? I feel like there are still some things we need to work through.”

I nodded. “I agree. I don’t like the way we left things, either.” Smiling, I added, “You know where to find me.”

The corner of his mouth pulled up. “Especially since I have a tail on you. Let me find out who’s got the next shift.” He picked up his phone and made a call. After hanging up, he said, “Deputy Martinez will meet you out front.”

My jaw dropped. “Martinez? Nick, come on. Please do not waste Martinez’s time on babysitting me. He’s one of the best deputies we have.”

“When he heard it was you who needed babysitting, he volunteered. Besides, I don’t think he likes his new partner much, so he’s happy for a break.”

I griped, “This is a monumental waste of department resources. As a taxpaying citizen, I want to lodge a formal complaint.”

Baxter chuckled. “Duly noted. I’ll put it in the circular file along with the tip line information.”

***

Deputy Carlos Martinez was waiting for me in the parking lot in an unmarked car. I’d worked with him many times before. He was one tough cop when he needed to be, but personable and easygoing otherwise. He’d been with the department for a long time and had more commendations than practically anyone. I knew Jayne had offered to let him work his way up the ranks, but he loved being a deputy.

When I got in, he said, “Hey, Matthews. You drew the short straw today, getting stuck with me.” I noticed he was in plain clothes. I hoped he wasn’t offering to watch me on his day off.

I smiled. “Absolutely not. Don’t tell anyone, but you’re my favorite.”

“I thought Sterling was your favorite.” He tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t help bursting out laughing at his own joke.

“Keep talking, Martinez. I’ll become a hostile prisoner, and then we’ll see who’s laughing.”

He sobered. “I know it sucks to have someone looking over your shoulder, but with what I’ve heard about this killer, we don’t want to take any chances.” He put his vehicle in gear. “Where to? You gonna drag me to get matching mani-pedis or what? You know, my wife did that to me once, and it was a nightmare. I don’t like people touching my feet.”

I chuckled. “I would never make you do that. First I’d like to stop by my stepdad’s house and see my nephew. Then it’ll be straight home to sleep. I’m afraid I’m not going to be very interesting company, considering I haven’t slept in nearly thirty-six hours.”

“Fair enough. I’d say you’ve earned some rest.”

I gave Martinez directions to David’s house, and he sat outside in his vehicle while I went to the door.

When David answered, he took one look at me and pulled me into a hug. “I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through in the past day, Ellie. Come on in. Marjorie’s got supper almost ready.”

“You know you don’t have to feed me—”

“Auntie Ellie!” squealed Nate, rushing over to wrap himself around my legs.

I picked him up and held him tight. “Hi, baby boy. Did you have a good day with Grandpa and Nana?”

“I sure did. We made slime.”

It floored me how Marjorie had had no problem welcoming Rachel and me into her family when she married David. It took a special kind of woman to take two girls she had absolutely no connection to (her husband’s ex-wife’s children, no less) and treat us like her own. She’d done the same thing for Nate when he came along.

I raised my eyebrows at David. “Sounds messy.”

David smiled. “It was fun.”

Nate wiggled out of my arms. “I’ll go get it so I can show you.”

When he raced off, I noticed David staring out the window at Martinez’s car. “You have a police escort?” Turning to me with a worried expression, he said, “Ellie, is there more going on than you’ve told me?”

I sighed. “Yes, and that’s partially why I came over here. I can’t reveal case information, but it’s possible that Jenna’s killer may also be targeting me in order to get to Jayne. I’m under police protection until he’s caught.”

David’s face became ashen. “I don’t know if I can handle much more of you being in danger, Ellie. You don’t know how happy I was when you decided to switch to teaching. And now with you working with the department again…”

I laid a hand on his arm. “I know you worry about me. And I appreciate it.” I pointed toward Martinez. “But that guy out there is the best deputy in Hamilton County. No one can get to me with him around.”

“What about Rachel?”

“I’m going to have Rachel continue to stay on campus. They’ve got that place locked down like Fort Knox after all that’s gone on. She’s much safer there, plus I think it’ll help her to be with her friends right now.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay. We’ll keep Nate for as long as you need.”

“Thank you. I hate to put you out like this, but—”

Holding a hand up, he said, “It’s no trouble at all. We enjoy having him here. You know that.”

Nate ran back to us, holding a large Ziploc bag full of green goo. “Feel the slime, Auntie Ellie!”

I dutifully opened the bag and squished the gooey mixture between my fingers. “Eww, gross.”

Giggling, Nate snatched the bag from me and ran back to the kitchen with it.

***

I stayed for a while, after Marjorie wouldn’t take no for an answer about eating dinner with them. After that, I had Martinez drive me home. To my dismay, Rachel’s car was in the driveway.

I rushed into the house, Martinez on my heels. “Rachel? Rachel! Are you here?”

“In my room!” she yelled.

I hurried down the hall toward her open door. “Why in the hell did you leave campus?”

She appeared in her doorway just as I got there. “Would you relax? I’m going straight back. I needed some clean clothes, and I didn’t feel like doing laundry at the dorm.” She looked past me to Martinez. “Who’s your friend?”

Rachel and I had a standing “no men in the house” rule, for our own safety as well as Nate’s. Neither one of us had a great track record where dating was concerned, hence the rule.

“This is Deputy Carlos Martinez. He’s going to be…watching out for me tonight.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do you need watching?”

I frowned and flicked my eyes at Martinez. I pushed Rachel into her room and closed the door. “You remember when you came into my office yesterday?”

Her face fell. “Yes.”

“You remember the guy who was in there?”

“Not really. I was kind of freaked out.”

“Well…we believe he’s…Jenna’s killer.”

Her jaw dropped as her eyes filled with tears. “You know who…who…?” She cleared her throat, unable to finish her sentence. “Is he the one whose photo is up all over campus? The guy who’s ‘potentially dangerous’ but no one will come out and say why?”

“Yes.”

“And he was in your office? Holy shit.”

I nodded. “He said he wanted to write an article about me for the Voice. I thought he was a student.”

She dropped down onto her bed, shock written all over her face. “What do you think he wanted with you?”

“One theory is that he wanted to use me to get to Jayne. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but he seems to have some kind of vendetta against county law enforcement. Please don’t repeat that.”

“You know I won’t,” she said quietly.

I sat down next to her and put my arm around her. “I know.” After a moment, I asked tentatively, “Do you need to talk?”

She bowed her head. I knew she wanted to hide the tears that were no doubt flowing. “Probably, but I don’t have time for a breakdown. I’m supposed to be at a study group in thirty minutes.”

“Okay. I still feel bad about ditching you last night. I kind of shirked my big sister responsibilities.”

Sniffling, she said, “It was more important that you did your job. It sounds like you did if you have a suspect already.”

I hated to admit that was more luck than anything, or maybe even the killer purposely letting us see what he looked like, knowing we had no way of finding him.

“Um…right. Now we’re to the point of looking for a needle in a haystack. It goes without saying that if you happen to see him, don’t accost him. Run.”

“Duh.”

I gave her a squeeze. “I’ll let you get back to packing. I want you to call me as soon as you get to study group.”

“Yes, Mother.” As I went to get up, she grabbed my hand. “Did you stop by David’s to see Nate?”

“I did. He’s having a ball there, as usual.”

Her eyes filled with tears again. “Do you think I’m a bad mom because I haven’t stopped by to see him yet?”

“No, you could never be a bad mom.”

Rachel’s face crumpled. “I don’t think I can talk to him without breaking down, and I don’t want him to see me like this. I don’t want him to be scared. He senses when I’m upset, and it upsets him. I can’t turn my feelings on and off like you can and pretend like nothing’s wrong.”

I smiled. That was where she was wrong. She could absolutely do that, just like I could, but she refused to be anything but truthful with her son. That was why, even at the young age of twenty-one, she was the best mom I knew.

“Rach, it’s fine. He’s fine. When you get yourself together, you can go see him. I’ll go with you if you need the moral support.”

She nodded. “Tomorrow. I’m too raw today.”

“Okay. You know I’m here, whatever you need.”

She threw her arms around me. “I know. Thanks, sis.”

We clung to each other for a few moments, but not long enough to let ourselves get weepy. I left her to pack some clothes and met Martinez in my living room.

He cleared his throat. “I know it’s maybe not my place, but I took the liberty of calling a deputy to escort your sister back to campus and get her settled.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Martinez. I know I can always count on you to have my back.”