THIRTY-TWO
When Noah got back to the command post, everyone seemed busy. Reinhardt was talking to Detectives Armstrong and Bridges. Noah was headed their way when Ron intercepted him.
“Armstrong and Bridges have some information about Michael Edmonds, the nurse in prison for killing four patients.”
“Oh yeah? What’s up?”
“Seems Mr. Edmonds was adopted. About three months ago, his biological father popped up. Contacted Edmonds. Even visited him in prison.”
Noah frowned. “What are you saying?”
“This guy, his name is”—Ron looked down at a piece of paper in his hand—“Marvin Chambers. Seems Chambers has a long rap sheet, and he’s angry. Says his son is innocent. A guard at the prison overheard Chambers telling Edmonds he would ‘get the people who put you here.’”
“Really?” Did they finally have a lead? “Where is he now?”
“We’re looking. He seems to have dropped off the map.”
“We need everyone on this,” Noah said. “We have to find this guy right away. Put out a BOLO on him. Name, description, any known vehicles registered to him. You know the drill.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Ron said. “Do you want me to call a meeting?”
“Yeah, we need to brief everyone and talk about the poem. Kaely and I have some concerns.”
Noah could tell Ron wanted to ask more questions, but instead he gave one of the agents working at a nearby desk instructions about issuing the order to be on the lookout for Chambers. Then he began to inform the team to meet at the conference table.
Noah stood where he was, trying to figure out what he was going to say to them. Should they go after Chambers—or should they concentrate on the killer’s next move? Noah had been honored to be named lead agent on this case, but he needed to make the right decision here. With authority came great responsibility. And that responsibility weighed heavily on his heart and mind.
When Kaely got to Alex’s room, an agent from ERT was just leaving. After showing her credentials to another agent guarding Alex’s room, she pushed open the door. He was sitting up in the hospital bed. When he saw her, he gave her a rather strained smile. He looked tired. Not himself.
“How are you?” she asked.
“I feel like I’ve been bashed on the head and strangled. How are you?”
In spite of her concern for him, Kaely laughed lightly. “I’m fine. Just worried about you.”
Alex reached up and grabbed her hand. “Seriously, I’m gonna be okay. The doctor says there’s no permanent damage. I’ll recover completely.”
“I know. I just talked to her. But she also said you need to take it easy, Alex. Don’t push it. I want you to come and stay at my condo while you’re recuperating. It’s a perfect place to recover, and you’ll be safe there.”
“Thanks, Kaely, but I don’t think I’ll need to do that. I still have that room at the hotel, and I have no intention of lying around for two days anyway.”
“You’re going to need protection when you leave. I’m not sure the hotel is the safest place for you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, I saw how you took care of yourself. Besides, it’s policy. We have to make sure our UNSUB doesn’t come back and try to finish the job. You know how it works.”
Alex’s expression tightened. Kaely knew that look. “Please work with us, Alex. We just want you to stay safe.” She reached over and brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “And you’ve got to listen to the doctor. If you don’t . . .”
“If I don’t, what? I don’t have a concussion. My head’s fine. No damage to my throat or vocal cords. Lying around isn’t going to change anything.” He let go of her hand and shook his finger at her. “And as far as brain damage, you know me. I’m not any more damaged mentally than I was before that creep wrapped a chain around my neck.”
“And here I was hoping somehow you’d actually improve.”
“Funny. Knock the injured guy.”
She closed her eyes for a moment and sucked in a deep breath. “Look, don’t fight us. Take the doctor’s advice like an adult. I know it’s hard for you to sit back, but if anything happened to you because of me . . .”
“Because of you?” Alex shook his head. “Of course I’m worried about you, Kaely. But people are being murdered and my job—and yours—is to keep them safe if we can. It’s what we’re trained for.” His eyes locked on hers. “You wouldn’t step back before you got your guy—and neither will I. But I will be as careful as I can. You have my word.”
“Your SAC may have something to say about it, you know. Solomon’s going to tell him what happened. You’ll probably be ordered back. Not only for your own safety, but also because you’re not supposed to be working cases right now.”
“Guess I’ll face that if it happens.”
Kaely didn’t need an ability to read people to see that Alex had already made up his mind. When he got like this, there was no way to reason with him.
“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I guess that’s the best I’m going to get.” Kaely leaned closer to him. “I need to know what happened, Alex. Everything. I’m hoping you can recall something that will help us.”
He blew out a quick breath. “After he hit me, I can’t remember . . .”
“Start at the beginning. Why were you there?”
He frowned at her. “I got a text from Fish. One of my old CIs. Do you remember him?”
“Sure. You talked about him a lot. Wasn’t he pretty unreliable?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. But I’d sent out some feelers looking for information. I thought there was a slight chance he’d come through.”
“And if he couldn’t, you planned to make sure he was eating and taking care of himself?”
Alex shrugged.
“You’re a good man, Alex Cartwright,” Kaely said gently. “But it almost got you killed.”
Alex tried to sit a little straighter in the bed, and Kaely saw him wince. He was obviously still in pain. “I know now it wasn’t Fish, but at the time I had no reason to think otherwise. Except . . .”
“The message was spelled correctly. Fish’s spelling is atrocious. I should have caught it, but it just didn’t occur to me until later.”
“ERT has your phone?”
Alex nodded.
“Do you remember what the message said?”
Alex squinted with an effort to remember. “It was something like I heard you’re looking for information about The Elephant. Meet me at the playground at Parkview School in North St. Louis. I may have information.” Alex shook his head. “That’s as close as I can get it.”
“No specific time?”
“No, but that was normal for Fish. I was always supposed to go immediately to meet him when he texted me. As soon as I could, I headed over there.”
“Alex, how many people know about Fish?”
“Almost everyone I worked with. Since I never used his real name in public, I didn’t see the need to keep my relationship with him private.”
“And you went without questioning who this really was?” Kaely asked. She was angry at him for being so naïve. “You should always take backup in a situation like this, just in case. You know better.”
“I really didn’t think he had any pertinent information, Kaely,” Alex said again. “And at the time I really thought it was Fish.” He rubbed his face with his free hand. His other arm was hooked up to an IV. “It was stupid. I realize that now.”
“Were you going to tell me you met with Noah?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I was just trying to protect you.”
“I don’t want you to protect me, Alex.” She sighed in frustration. “Between Solomon, you, and Noah, it’s a miracle I’m allowed to get out of bed in the morning. Seems all my FBI training was for nothing. I don’t need it with you guys watching over me.”
He didn’t respond to her comment, just began to finger an unopened container of green gelatin sitting on the tray in front of him.
“Okay, let’s go back,” Kaely said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. “Tell me what happened after you got there.”
“I got out of the car and walked around the building, trying to find the playground. I turned a corner and spotted the swings. But suddenly someone came up from behind me and hit me on the head. Hard. I passed out. When I came to, I was on the swing with the chain around my neck.” He lowered his voice. “I was really scared, Kaely. To keep the chain loose I had to sit perfectly straight. And I was woozy from the hit on the head. Every time I started to slump, the chain tightened. Toward the end, I’d almost decided to give up. Just relax and let nature take its course.”
This little elephant called it a day. He said good-bye and drifted away. Kaely shivered even though the room was warm. “Can you remember anything about him, Alex? Even the smallest detail could help.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. He never spoke, and I didn’t see him. The doctor said from the way he hit me he was probably of medium height. Strong. Right-handed.”
“That’s not much help.”
“I know. Sorry I can’t tell you more.”
“Okay. Maybe ERT will come up with something,” Kaely said, choking back her disappointment. She’d expected him to have more information, but she knew he was doing his best and didn’t want to push him.
“Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” she asked.
“No, but thanks. You need to get back to the CP and work the case. I’ll be fine. Really. With my watchdog outside, no one can get to me.”
“You call me tomorrow morning when you’re ready to go, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Thanks. Now get going and catch this guy.” Alex reached up to pat his thick blond hair. “He messed up my hair, you know, and I can’t abide that. You know how much I like my hair.”
Kaely grinned at him. “Yeah, I know. You hated it when we worked cases in bad weather. Especially when it was windy.”
He returned her grin. “I have my priorities.”
“I’m relieved to see you haven’t changed.” She bent over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll call later to check on you, okay?”
“Sure, but make it after dinner. I’ll probably be taking a nap.” He laughed abruptly. “I can’t believe I just said that. I haven’t had a nap since kindergarten, but I feel one coming on today.”
“That’s because your body is telling you what it wants. It’s pretty good that way. Learn to listen.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alex saluted her.
“That’s more like it.” She patted his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re okay, you big goof.”
He smiled at her, but Kaely noticed he wouldn’t meet her eyes for more than a few seconds and his right hand tapped lightly on the bed. Signs of deception. She tried to chalk his actions up to her imagination, but her concerns weren’t so easily vanquished. Was there something Alex wasn’t telling her?