“This is really bordering on harassment, Sergeant.” Austin Revere glared at the two detectives as he took a seat behind the desk.
Murphy had instructed them to harass the hell out of them and Jake was starting to enjoy it, especially if either of them had anything to do with assaulting Sam. “We have you on film at Bailey’s arguing with the victim whose body was found at your father’s golf course. You told Sam Casey you had never met Donna Oberweiss.”
Matt, seated in a barrel chair near the desk, picked a piece of lint from his slacks. He leaned over and flicked the lint into a chrome receptacle Jake could only guess was a garbage can. Frank was trying hard to refrain from touching the fabric. Too costly for his pay check.
“Casey, that bitch.” Austin said the last two words under his breath but it was still heard by the detectives. “My father’s going to make sure the mayor fires her ass.”
Jake placed a photo on the desk in front of Austin. It showed Austin gripping Donna’s arm. “I will ask you again, how well did you know Donna Oberweiss? From the look on Donna’s face, she didn’t appear to want anything to do with you.”
Matt rose from the chair and walked behind Austin. Jake wasn’t too surprised at Matt’s reaction. From what Sam had told him after her conversation with Crystal Bordeau, Matt expected everyone to carry the Bordeau image creed to their off hours as well.
“Don’t say anything more. I’ll call our lawyer.”
“It’s okay, Matt. I have nothing to hide. I remember that night. My steak was too well done. The cook had to re-do it twice and the waitress was a bit perturbed at me. What you are seeing is her reaction to my comment. I touched her arm and said, ‘Listen sweetheart. When I ask for medium rare, I expect medium rare.’ She didn’t appreciate my response. But as far as hitting on her, really. Does she look my type? I usually don’t eat at a sports bar either but it was late and I wanted something quick. That’s all there was to it.”
Matt straightened and checked his watch. “Is that all you have, detectives? We have a conference call lined up with a company in England interested in purchasing some franchises.”
<><>
“Damn, this place smells good.” Frank eyed the pastries in the glass case.
After dropping off the picture with Beast, Sam called Jake and asked him to meet her at Java the Hut across the street from the clinic.
“Thought you were going home to rest,” Jake said.
“I wanted to know how it went with the good doctors.”
They ordered their drinks then found a table by the window with a good view of the clinic across the street.
“No pastry, Frank?”
“Nah. I’d spoil my dinner.”
Jake gave her the shortened version of Austin’s run-in with Donna. “Hate to say it, but I believe him.”
“Yeah. Matt tries to keep Austin on a short leash. Austin seems to be the hot head of the two but I’m not sure either one would want murderer on his resume.” Frank sipped his latte as he watched the foot traffic outside. “Place sure is in a great location.”
“That’s how I met Tamara. I saw her coming out of the clinic and befriended her. Asked her about her take on the clinic and the methods the therapists use. She claims hypnosis wasn’t used on her.”
Frank chuckled at that comment. “Unless they hypnotized her not to remember they used hypnosis.”
“Find out anything more about Staples or his ex-wife?” Sam kept watch for Tamara, hoping she’d stop by the coffee shop so Jake and Frank could question her.
“We got sidetracked by the tape and had to poke at the two doctors a little more.” Jake’s eyes kept tracing Sam’s forehead and the dark circles under her eyes.
“I ran into Murphy at Headquarters.” Sam told them that Benny was instructed to only give the DNA results on her attacker to the chief. “Either he isn’t sure what you would do or he wants to save the department from bad press should you go all ape on the guy.”
“I’m mellow.” But Jake hardly smiled when he said it and seemed to growl the words versus say them.
“There’s Tamara now.” Sam nodded toward the attractive woman walking toward the street on the clinic side. She wore a short skirt, boots, and a leather jacket. Sam remembered the smile, bright eyes and dimples, but they were missing today. People jostled past Tamara as she remained on the curb, oblivious to the green walk light. “Something isn’t right.”
“What isn’t, babe?” Jake followed Sam’s gaze. It was after four and the start of rush hour. Shoppers were hustling to the various stores in the strip malls while school buses were starting to make an appearance.
Sam could understand if Tamara were texting or reading something and not paying attention to the traffic lights. “What is she waiting for?”
They slowly stood in unison and watched as the light turned red. From a distance they could see a city bus barreling down the street. Tamara suddenly turned to watch the bus, then stepped off the curb.
“Is she…?” But Frank didn’t finish the thought. He and Jake charged out of the cafe, their attention split between the woman breaking into a run and the bus gaining speed toward the intersection. Bystanders were oblivious to the impending collision and went about their daily routine. Frank reached Tamara first and tackled her to the ground, their bodies a tangle of arms and legs. They escaped with inches to spare as the bus driver laid on the horn. Jake waved his arms in the middle of the intersection to stave off traffic.
Sam dialed 911 as she ran out of the coffee shop. She couldn’t believe shoppers and onlookers weren’t giving the incident a second glance. If they had been crossing the street they probably would have stepped over Tamara’s body without stopping to help.
“An ambulance is on the way.” Sam knelt next to Tamara, expecting blood and broken bones but there weren’t any injuries she could see. “Did you get hit?” she asked Frank.
He shook his head no. “Barely made it with inches to spare.” Frank squeezed his shoulder. “I took the brunt of the impact with the pavement.” He leaned close to Tamara’s face and felt her breath on his cheek. She wasn’t moving and her eyes stared trance-like. “Must be in shock.”
“Tamara.” Sam grabbed the young woman’s hand. “Can you hear me? Does anything hurt?” A crowd started to gather around them. She wanted to scream at them, “where were you when the bus almost ran her over?”
Tamara’s gaze didn’t move but her lips mumbled something. Frank leaned in close. “What was that? Can you repeat it, Tamara?”
Sirens wailed in the distance as gawkers started to gather at the curb on both sides of the street. Shoppers were emptying out of stores, finding the tragedy on the asphalt to be more interesting than the sales. Bar lights from a cruiser and an ambulance pulsed as they approached. The vehicles screeched to a halt several yards away as Sam caught sight of a cell phone near Tamara’s purse. She picked up both then moved away as the EMTs wheeled a stretcher over. Sam quickly checked Tamara’s phone. The last call she received was five minutes ago, probably right as she was leaving the clinic. She picked up her own phone and called Beast.
“I need you to check the following phone number.” Beast remembered enough about the previous requests not to ask her to explain. He placed her on hold for several minutes. She watched as the EMTs checked Tamara’s vitals and hooked her up with an I.V. Jake was watching from a safe distance while Frank conferred with the EMTs. Additional officers had arrived and were pushing onlookers back and directing traffic away from the scene.
“Are you there, Sam?” Beast asked.
“Yes. What did you find out?” Sam listened for several seconds, thanked Beast, and closed her phone. She slowly scanned the faces in the crowd as she joined Jake.
“What’s up, Sam?”
“I picked up Tamara’s phone. The last call she received was from a disposable phone and it lasted four seconds.”
Jake turned his attention to the clinic across the street. Was someone in the building watching what was happening? Had one of the doctors been the one who had called her?
Frank rushed over after briefing the EMTs on Tamara’s close encounter with the bus. “You won’t believe this.” He caught his breath and looked as dazed as the injured woman had. “Tamara said only one word—destiny.”