I pulled into the TBI parking lot, which was located in a business park not far from my old rental home. I was relieved when Red sent me a text that he was taking Dixie here rather than down to the police station for questioning. I’m sure he wanted to spare her the embarrassment of being taken to the police station, although I wasn’t sure how his superiors would take it.
The Chattanooga TBI office was just a small brick building that resembled a post office more than a law enforcement agency. However, it was still not the way that Dixie would want to spend her Sunday.
There weren’t a lot of cars in the lot, but I did notice a black-and-white police car and knew that the officer leading the investigation was there. When I got to the door, I saw Red, Dixie, and another man standing in the lobby. Based on his military haircut, his authoritative stance, and the gun strapped to his waist, I knew he must be a plainclothes police officer.
Red opened the door and winked. He turned to the officers. “Mrs. Echosby is here as a witness.”
The man turned and stared at me. “Witness?”
“Officer Lewis.” I extended my hand. “Nice to see you again . . . although I wish it were under different circumstances.”
Officer Lewis shook my hand, but his eyes indicated he too would have preferred any circumstances other than a murder investigation. “Mrs. Echosby, I’m surprised to see you here.”
Officer Lewis had been the investigating officer when Aggie dug up a dead body. He was with the Chattanooga Police Department, and I tried not to hold it against him that he thought I’d murdered the man. In the end, when the real murderer was identified, we’d buried the hatchet that had made us opponents rather than friends. He was a light-skinned African American man with light gray eyes, which were looking skeptically at me before he flashed them at Red.
“I should have known when they told me you specifically asked to work with me that you had something up your sleeve.”
“Hey, all I said was that I wanted to work with the best investigator the CPD had.” He spread his arms wide and shrugged. “How was I supposed to know they’d send you?”
The two men stared at each other for a few seconds, and then Officer Lewis shook his head and sighed. “Okay, I see how this is going to go.” He gave Red an intense stare. “What do you want?”
“All I want is an intelligent investigator—”
“You can cut the flattery. If I remember correctly, you didn’t think much of my intelligence when I was investigating your girlfriend here.”
Red smiled. “Water under the bridge. I just need you to keep an open mind and—”
“Keep an open mind, and sit back, and let Nancy Drew here solve the mystery and find the murderer?”
Red must have known that I wouldn’t take kindly to the Nancy Drew reference because he shot me a glance that said Let me handle this before any words could leave my mouth. “Look, we both know that Officer Dan Martin has the finesse of a freight train.”
Lewis grudgingly nodded.
“Besides, Lilly did help catch a murderer. Actually, she’s solved several murders and saved the CPD from some embarrassing arrests.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, I know how it looks, but I’ve also come to know . . . and love these people. Dixie didn’t murder Naomi Keller, and regardless of what you or I or any law enforcement officer does, I also know that Lilly Echosby will move heaven and earth to prove it. She will find the real killer.”
It took everything in me not to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him in the lobby of the TBI office. Instead, I wiped the tears that threatened to leave me a blubbering baby from my eyes and tried to look dignified and . . . sleuth-ish.
Officer Lewis glanced from Red to me and eventually shrugged. “Alright.”
The two men stared at each other and came to some type of manly, law-enforcement, telepathic understanding, which reached completion when they both gave the slightest of nods.
Red’s posture relaxed. “Thanks. I owe you one.” He turned to escort Officer Lewis down the hall. When he noticed I was following, he turned and said, “Sorry, but you’re going to need to wait here in the lobby.”
I sat and waited. My brain was in overdrive, so I didn’t wait patiently. From time to time, I stood up and paced. When I was tired of pacing, I sat until I was tired of that, and then I paced some more. Half an hour later, Monica Jill and B.J. arrived. And we waited. Time stood still, or at least it felt like it. Eventually, Beau arrived. He looked wild-eyed but relaxed a mite when he saw me. We hugged.
“Where is she?”
“She’s in a room with Red and Officer Lewis from the Chattanooga Police.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “She shouldn’t be in there alone.”
“I got a text message from Red that Dixie’s lawyer was there.”
He released the breath he’d been holding. “I’m her husband. I should be in there with her.”
“I don’t think that’s how this works.” I tried to reassure him. “Stephanie sent her a text message not to say a word without legal counsel. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” I said, with more confidence than I felt.
I looked up and was surprised when Dr. Morgan and Mai Nguyen arrived. We had met Mai a few months ago, and she and Dr. Morgan had been dating ever since. Mai was five feet tall and petite with long dark hair.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked.
“B.J. sent us a text message that Dixie was in trouble.”
“Well, I figured the more the merrier,” B.J. said, “especially if we needed to stage a breakout.”
“You can’t joke like that,” Monica Jill said. She glanced around and then whispered, “We’re at the TBI. They probably have this entire place bugged and videotaped. We won’t be able to help Dixie if we all end up getting arrested.”
I couldn’t help myself from looking around and noticing all the cameras. However, I doubted that the facility was bugged, but I’d be sure to ask Red later.
Beau paced like a wild tiger in a cage, ready to pounce any time he heard a noise.
I glanced at my phone and noted the time. I’d been there for two hours. I was just about to suggest someone go for coffee when I heard footsteps.
Red, Dixie, Officer Lewis, and a man I didn’t recognize came around the corner.
Beau rushed to Dixie and wrapped her in his arms.
We waited for a few moments before interrupting.
“Dixie, are you okay?” Monica Jill asked.
B.J. glared from Officer Lewis to Red. “’Cause, if they tried to railroad you, we can get the news media down here real quick.”
Dixie smiled. “I’m fine. Although I’m rather surprised and touched to see all of you.” She wiped away a tear and nodded. “They just asked a few questions.” She turned back to the man who was standing behind her. “This is my attorney, Theodore Jordan. Theodore, these are my friends.”
Theodore Jordan was a tall, handsome African American man who looked to be in his early seventies with salt-and-pepper hair. He shook hands with each of us.
Beau put his arm around Dixie’s shoulder. “Let’s go home. You can fill me in there.” He shook Theodore Jordan’s hand again. “Thank you for dropping everything and coming out so quickly on short notice.”
Theodore smiled. “No problem. I’ll let you two get some rest and come by tomorrow, and we can talk more.” He turned and nodded to Officer Lewis and Red. “Gentlemen.”
They nodded.
We all went outside. Before getting into our respective cars, Dixie turned to face everyone. “I really am fine.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Red and Officer Lewis were extremely courteous.”
I relaxed a bit. I loved Red, but I also loved Dixie. She was my best friend. The biggest struggle I faced while waiting in that lobby was the internal one going through my mind. I’d heard about the blue wall and how law-enforcement officers stuck together. What if Red was forced to arrest my best friend? As much as I cared about him, it would hurt knowing that he would arrest someone he felt was innocent, someone he knows. Fortunately, he’d managed to avoid actually arresting her . . . for now. But what if he was ordered to arrest her? I knew in my head that he would only be doing his job. However, my heart was struggling. It didn’t make sense, but I still had idealistic expectations that the police should be more interested in finding the right person than in merely arresting someone they knew was innocent. Sure, it was his job, but that idea was the excuse used in the Nuremberg defense in World War II. I was only following orders. I knew this situation wasn’t on the same scale as Nuremberg, but I firmly believed that men of character, especially men in positions of authority, wouldn’t simply follow orders. I’d grown up with the belief that there was no right way to do a wrong thing. If he believed Dixie to be guilty, then arresting her would be the right thing, but I knew he didn’t. These were the thoughts that had tortured me for the past few hours, and I still didn’t have an answer to them.
“I want to thank all of you for taking such good care of my Dixie,” Beau said, choking on his emotions. After a moment, he swallowed hard and continued. “Please, let us provide dinner for everyone tomorrow at our house.”
Everyone nodded their agreement.
Dixie leaned close and whispered, “I can come get you. I know you don’t like driving up Lookout Mountain.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure David will love it. Worst-case scenario, I’ll drive to the bottom of the mountain, and you can come get us.”
I glanced back at the building before getting in the car. Red and Officer Lewis were still inside. I had the drive home to think about Naomi Keller, Dixie, Red, and murder. By the time I arrived, I decided the only thing to do was to find Naomi Keller’s murderer before I was forced to make a choice between my boyfriend and my best friend.