Donna/Tammy actually answered the door of her condo when Rex knocked. Without discussing her part beforehand, Marla stayed to the side and let Rex handle their entry. She tried counting to a hundred in her head to keep from picturing all the possible dire outcomes of this visit if this woman really was their killer. She’d put on a brave face for Rex, agreeing to come with him to face Tammy, but as soon as they got to the woman’s door she’d had second, third and fourth thoughts.
Rex spoke before Tammy. “We’re back with a few more questions, Donna, since earlier you took off without our being finished.”
“I told you all I know.”
“We’ve learned a few things about you we’d like to check,” Rex said, sticking enough of his shoe in the door to keep her from slamming it shut.
“It’s not a good time,” Tammy replied.
“We won’t take long,” Rex said.
When his over-six-foot frame did not budge from the entry, she relented, but not before releasing a heavy sigh. “Five minutes. That’s all I can spare,”
Though she barely stepped aside, Rex pushed his way in. Marla followed in his wake, barely able to move her feet.
The living room was cluttered with her paraphernalia, which included a small hairdryer, various cans and bottles of hair product and a blond wig. Two small suitcases, a bag that appeared to be filled with groceries, a couple cardboard boxes and sealing tape and scissors were stacked on the coffee table.
“Going somewhere?” Marla asked.
“That’s my business,” Tammy replied.
“Our questions aren’t scaring you off, are they?” Rex asked, edging even farther into the room.
Tammy stood her ground next to one of the suitcases. “Scaring me? No. I’ve told you several times I didn’t know the man and know nothing about his murder. It’s just time to be moving on.”
“Then let’s go over these questions before you go,” Rex said evenly. “What is your real name, Donna?”
She blinked. “Donna Walker is my real name.”
Rex nodded at Marla, indicating she should handle the next part. “That’s not the information we have. Your real name is Tammy Wyler, although there may have been other aliases in between,” she said. She used one of her Letitia voices, discovering the more she spoke, the less this probable killer intimidated her.
“Where, where did you get that?” Tammy replied.
Marla continued. “But your name’s not the only false information you’ve been using. You don’t work for Wentworth Enterprise and the former address you gave the rental agent for this condo is bogus.”
One more blink. “So I made up a few details. There’s no crime in that as long as I’ve paid my rent on time.”
“No,” Rex agreed, “but why the subterfuge?”
“I’m running away from an abusive relationship. I didn’t want that jerk to find me.”
She apparently had been prepared for this contingency. Time to get serious.
Rex took his turn next. “As Tammy Wyler, you did time in prison in Illinois,” he said. “It seems you’ve developed quite a knack for bunco. Swindling investors into buying worthless property. Imagine that? From what we’ve learned about Drake Elliot, also known as Doug Evans, that occupation seems to have been what he excelled at. So why did you show up in town? Was he the so-called abuser or was it to join the team?”
“Or maybe you threatened to blackmail him if he didn’t let you in on his game?” Marla added.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tammy replied,
“We have to credit you for tenacity, Tammy, but even you should know when it’s time to bail,” Rex said. “Thanks to the security cameras planted around the complex, we’ve got video of you chasing Doug Evans out of the parking garage at gunpoint on the very night and approximate time he was murdered.”
Wyler didn’t reply at first. Questioning whether Rex was blowing smoke?
“I’ve got a copy of that video on my phone if you don’t believe me,” Rex said, reaching in his pocket for his phone.
“I suppose it shows me out there on the lawn with him? Maybe you even have me raising my hand when he fell over and clobbering him with a rock I picked up from the riprap around the pond?”
Marla held her breath while Rex stared straight at Tammy. “Are you admitting that was you?” he asked slowly and deliberately.
She snorted. “If there was proof showing me doing any of what I just described, the police would’ve arrested me immediately. But I’m still here.”
Damn! Marla was sure they had her, but Tammy Wyler had been at this game long enough to know not to admit to anything where there wasn’t absolute proof. Proof they didn’t have and had been hoping to scare out of her. Maybe they just had to hold firm a little longer. “Funny you should say that. The police have never released what they suspect was the murder weapon, and yet, you didn’t hesitate a second when you said you hit him with a rock.”
“How do you know what the police have?” Tammy asked suspiciously.
Marla turned to Rex. This was his call. “Ms. Dane and I are working with the police at their request. How else do you think we’ve learned about your background as well as Elliot’s or Evans, as I guess was his real name.”
They waited for Tammy’s response. Her expression had gone harder than the very stone she probably used to kill Elliot. She flinched. It only lasted a brief second, but they were ready for it. Anyone else might have missed it if they weren’t attuned to the woman’s every move. “What I said was just a lucky guess.”
Marla didn’t give up. “Mighty lucky, I’d say. You could’ve fooled me. I thought I heard a confession coming from you.”
“Dream on, TV lady. You wanted a show. I gave it to you.” Tammy headed back to open the door. “Sorry, folks. Show’s over.”
Rex beat her to the door and prevented her from opening it. “That was just the prologue. We figure you came here not just to find the money he supposedly stole from you and your boyfriend when your scam back in Illinois fell apart but also for revenge.”
“Revenge?” she asked.
“When your multimillion-dollar scheme went south,” Marla added, “your boyfriend, Hal Cummings, got caught and went to prison for it. You managed to escape. So did Evans, and he had the money. Six months ago, Cummings died from a respiratory illness he’d had for years. Two months ago, you showed up in Minnesota, new haircut, new hair color. That wasn’t just a coincidence.”
“Where are you getting all this?” she asked incredulously. “You have no proof of any of it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Marla said, now joining Rex near the door. “It’s amazing what fingerprints can show these days. They write their own record of your past exploits and criminal charges. We’ve got you. Just try taking off. The police will be waiting.”
Marla was writing her own script as she went, trying not to say too much but just enough to scare the woman.
She glanced at Rex for her next cue. In that flicker of a moment, Tammy ran to a nearby chest of drawers and removed a gun. “I don’t need to listen to any more of your speculation. I’m getting out of here before you convince the police I killed him. You two, head back to the guest bath.”
Foiled! They didn’t have a backup plan for being held at gunpoint. All Marla knew was not to argue with a gun.
They appeared to have no recourse but to do as ordered, unless Rex overpowered her. And with his bad back, Marla dismissed that as an option as soon as it came to her.
“Step into that tub. Both of you,” Tammy told them when they got to the bathroom.
Marla climbed in first, then Rex. Tammy nudged the roll of packing tape into Marla’s stomach. “Start wrapping this stuff around him, mummy-style. Make sure you get it tight around his arms.”
Marla had never imagined herself in such a dangerous and demeaning situation when she agreed to help Scottie. How had the tables turned on them so quickly? With a gun pointed at her she had little choice but to take the tape.
She started at Rex’s shoulders and draped the tape around him. Her hands shook so much, it was difficult to complete each round, especially pulling it loose from the roll. The fact that she had to stand so close to the man didn’t help her nerves, either.
“It’s okay, Marla,” he told her calmly.
Goodhue should be on his way. Just so he got there in time. It was not only mortifying to be standing in an empty bathtub almost on top of Rex but also awkward. If they didn’t get out of here soon, it would be painful too.
“Gimme that roll of tape,” Tammy demanded, after Marla brought the tape across Rex’s ankles.
Marla handed it over. In order to mummify Marla, Tammy had to set the gun aside on the lavatory counter. If she’d been ready for it, Marla would have thrown herself at the woman in that instant while Tammy didn’t have the gun. Maybe Letitia would have taken the chance, but Marla Dane was frozen in place.
Tammy didn’t use as much tape on her as Marla had on Rex, but she managed to disable her arms and legs. Finally, she ripped off short pieces of the tape and placed it over each of their mouths.
“I won’t say it’s been fun, but seeing you out of commission in this bathtub comes close,” Tammy said, pulling the shower curtain shut and then disappearing.
Immobilized and unable to speak, Marla fought not only to stay upright but to ignore how close she was standing to Rex. The scent of his after shave overpowered her nose. The rapidly increasing heart beat she felt beneath his shirt matched her own heart’s progressively insane pounding heart.
She attempted to step back to give them both more room, but the slightest movement had her losing her balance and toppling over. She righted herself as best she could and continued to stay in the same position.
How long could they remain like this? She was already uncomfortable after a few minutes. Her legs were complaining and might give out at any time. The result could be disastrous. If she fell over, she’d probably take Rex down with her. Not good for his back, but especially not good for their partnership.
Tammy had shrewdly taped their mouths shut so they couldn’t call out for help. Neither could they communicate with each other except with their eyes, and Rex was enough inches taller than her that she couldn’t really see him. That left only their bodies to telegraph whatever was going through their minds, and the message she was receiving from Rex had her confused. Fear or excitement? Don’t go there, Marla. Puzzling over that enigma wouldn’t help at the moment. She had to focus on getting through this confinement.
A minute later, two gunshots rang out. They were close by, coming from somewhere within the condo.
Two meant it probably wasn’t suicide. More likely, Tammy was attempting to shoot her way to freedom.
Marla glanced up at Rex, hoping he’d been better at interpreting what had happened, but all he did was close his eyes briefly.
A minute later, the door seemed to rumble as someone attempted to enter. Within seconds, it burst open and Goodhue stepped in. “Alcorn? Ms. Dane?”
He pulled aside the curtain. “Omigod! Are you two okay? Of course you’re not,” he said, answering his own question. “Let’s remove that tape and get you out of there.”
Before that happened, an officer stepped forward and took several photos. Probably necessary to build a case against Tammy but not exactly the kind of publicity stills Marla wanted.
Goodhue unwrapped Rex, and a female officer helped Marla.
Although the removal of the tape over her mouth hurt briefly, she was delighted to be rid of it. “We heard gunshots. What happened out there?” she asked, attempting to work her mouth again.
“Let’s get out of this bathroom first,” Goodhue said. “You two should probably sit down. Somebody get them some water.”
Even though they had only been immobile a short time, walking out to the living room was an effort. Marla collapsed on the sofa and thankfully accepted a bottle of water from the female officer.
There was no sign of Tammy Wyler, although another officer was busy mopping up what appeared to be blood on the floor tiles.
“Okay, Goodhue. We’re both fine. Did you get her?”
“Not without a fight,” Goodhue replied. “She wouldn’t let us in. Good thing we anticipated the gunfire. She shot right through the door. That’s when Officer Linden here used her tactical hostage training to break through the door and shoot back at Wyler. I’d given orders not to use lethal force and just wound her. We want her alive so we can get as much information about Elliot/Evans as possible.”
“So? It’s over?” Marla asked.
Goodhue nodded gratefully. “The arrest phase, yes. All thanks to you two. You kept nibbling away at this case until you found enough evidence to get her to break. Now that we’ve got her in custody, she’s starting to talk.”
“Good! She’s been a hard nut to crack,” Rex said.
“Have to admit. I had second thoughts asking two civilians to pair up and help with this case, but you’ve both come through for me with better results than I had a right to expect.”
Marla exchanged a look with Rex that sent her head whirling. It hadn’t just been a comrades-in-arms gaze. It had been something more. Something she thought she recognized, but it couldn’t be, could it?
Rather than speculate about what had just occurred, she turned her attention to the chief. “I never thought I’d ever again find myself involved in a murder investigation when my stint on TV ended, let alone one involving a real homicide. I appreciate your confidence in me,” Marla said sincerely. “But I couldn’t have come close to learning who murdered Drake Elliot without Rex.” Goodhue had challenged her to use what she’d learned subliminally in her role as Letitia and step beyond her reliance on someone else’s words to solve this mystery.
“Marla held her own,” Rex replied, that penetrating look still there.
“I’ll let you two figure out who did the most,” Goodhue said. “I need to get back to the jail. As far as I’m concerned, you made a pretty good pair of detectives. Who knows, I might just call upon you again. But let’s hope it’s not for another homicide.”