Jo ignored her staring and spoke to Hearn.
“Thank you for coming in on such short notice.”
“It’s not a problem; I’m willing to help in any way I can.”
“Where’s Rick?” Rachel asked.
“Detective Parker is busy interviewing someone else.” Jo said.
“You two don’t do interviews together?”
“Not always,”
“But you do other things together, don’t you?” Rachel said, and Jo heard the venom in her tone.
She’s jealous. She thinks that Rick and I are sleeping together and she’s jealous. Jo thought.
She ignored Rachel and asked Hearn about his whereabouts on the night of the murder.
“I was home watching TV with an acquaintance of mine, a man named Nico Umbria.”
“And are you two good friends?”
Hearn smiled. “I said we were acquaintances, not friends,”
“I’d like you to sign a statement that reiterates what you just told us.”
The lawyer, Manetti, held up a hand.
“Why does he need to sign a statement? He’s come in willingly and answered your questions.”
“We find that people become forgetful and that stories change over time, and so we like to get all statements on record.”
Manetti turned to Hearn. “I’d advise against signing anything.”
Hearn held both hands, palms up. “I’m going to follow my attorney’s advice.”
“I see, but tell me Mr. Hearn, do you have any involvement in the acts of vandalism and violence that have been perpetrated against the bar called Taggart’s?”
“No. I would never be involved in such activities.”
“Do you know anyone who would be?”
“If I did, Detective, I would tell you.”
“Even if they were a friend... or an acquaintance?”
“Yes. I don’t condone such behavior.”
Jo looked up at Chief Howard and he shook his head slightly, she then looked back at Hearn.
“Thank you for coming in, and if you think of anything helpful, please call.”
Hearn stood and headed for the door, but Rachel paused for a moment to glare at Jo, before walking out, her head scanning back and forth in an effort to spot Parker.
“Do you think I should have pushed on the affidavit?”
The chief pointed at the ceiling, where the camera and microphone were, a camera and microphone that looked like an ordinary smoke detector.
“We have all we need on camera. Go tell Rick to cut Umbria loose, but to make sure he gives us a way to contact him.”
“It’ll probably be no good.”
“No, Umbria’s cocky, he thinks that Hearn’s lie will protect him forever, but he’s wrong. I know you and Rick will nail him someday.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but now that Umbria has an alibi, this case is dead in the water.”
A few minutes later, Jo and Parker watched a smiling Nico step on the elevator.
As the doors closed, Parker held up a slip of paper for Jo to see.
“He listed Hearn as his contact. I think those two are covering each other’s butts.”
Jo told him about her interview with Hearn, and also about Rachel’s behavior.
“I’m sorry if she gave you any grief, but she seems to have more interest in me now than when we were married. She was also rude to Heather the other day.”
“Some people want something more when they can’t have it.” Jo said.
“I know the feeling. Heather is off-limits until we solve this case, and it looks like that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
Jo looked thoughtful.
“You know, if Hearn wasn’t with Nico that night, he might have been with someone else, and that someone might just be your ex-wife. We need to check her whereabouts, and if they were together, she’ll either have to back up Umbria’s alibi or deny he was there.”
“I hope you’re wrong about that. We’re through as a couple, but I don’t want to see her go to jail for perjury, or as an accessory.”
“Still, it’s an avenue to explore,”
“You’re right, and I’ll talk to her about it.”
“If she tells all she knows, I doubt the D.A. will go after her.”
Parker let out a long exhale.
“The chief was right; this case is becoming too personal for me.”
“You can handle it; just let me deal with Hearn.”
“Fine, but if it ever comes time to put the cuffs on and lock him in a cell, he’s mine.”
Jo grinned. “I would never deny you that pleasure.”
Rachel and Hearn talked as he drove them back to his home.
“Why are you lying to protect this man, Nico?” Rachel said.
“Who says I’m lying?”
“I remember that night, and you were with me, not him. Remember, I cooked you dinner and then we ordered a movie.”
“That was that night?”
“Yes, and there are ways I can prove I was there that night. I’m sure Rick and his sexy new partner will figure it out soon as well, and when they do they’ll ask me about Umbria.”
“You’ll say he was there too, if you know what’s good for you.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Hearn reached over and took her hand.
“You know I’m not like that, but this guy Nico... he’s unpredictable. You don’t want him after you, trust me.”
“If I came forward, Rick would protect me, I know he would. After all, he loved me enough to marry me, unlike some men.”
Hearn released her hand and then pulled to the curb that bordered the park.
A few hundred feet away, a group of kids played on a baseball diamond.
“You’re trying to blackmail me, aren’t you? You’re trying to blackmail me into marrying you?”
Rachel smiled.
“I just think that we’d be good together. I understand you, Tim, that one woman isn’t enough for you, and that wouldn’t have to change if we were married.”
“And if I don’t marry you, you’ll go to your ex and tell what you know, tell him that I lied?”
Rachel leaned across the seat and kissed him passionately.
“Would marriage to me be so bad?”
“I could tell Nico to have a talk with you.”
“And if anything happened to me, then Rick would never leave you alone, and would probably hurt you. I might be his ex, but he still loves me.”
Hearn sat quietly as he stared out the window, but when he turned back to Rachel, he was smiling.
“Would you settle for a small wedding?”
She grinned. “I love you too.”
Hearn pulled back onto the road and Rachel looked sideways at him.
“Tim,”
“Yeah?”
“Marriage will be nice, but there’s one more thing,”
“What’s that?”
“Taggart’s, I know you’re going after it and I know you’ll get it. You always get what you want.”
“Not always, but what’s your point?”
“I want half of it, the two of us partners in it.”
Hearn closed his eyes for a second as he sighed.
“And then I suppose you’ll want half of everything else, hmm?”
“No, just Taggart’s,”
“Why?”
“I think owning a bar would be fun, and I’ve grown tired of nursing.”
“Just Taggart’s, but I get to run things, not you, deal?”
“Deal,”
Hearn shook his head.
“I don’t know who’s tougher, you or Nico,”
“When we get to your house, I’ll do things to you that Nico never could.”
“I like the sound of that,” Hearn said, and drove faster.
Chapter 19
That night, Parker called Heather as promised, but was surprised when the first words out of her mouth were words of apology
.
“You don’t have to apologize; your mother was only looking out for you.”
“It still makes me look like a child.”
“You’re young, but I’ve never thought of you as a child.”
“How do you think of me?”
“I could say, but as a police officer I shouldn’t engage in phone sex.”
Heather laughed, and the sound made Parker wish that he could reach out and hold her.
“So, how is the case going?”
“Ah, things are a mess, but we’re hoping to uncover the truth soon.”
“I thought that man, Umbria, was your main suspect.”
“He still is, but there’s been a complication,”
“But you’ll still solve it, I know you will.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Are you working tomorrow?”
“Yeah, the evening shift, but I called earlier and they said that business is dead; it’ll just be me and one other girl.”
“I’ll stop by there for dinner,”
“All right, and Rick?”
“Yeah?”
“Solve this case; I want to be able to do more than talk on the phone.”
“We’ll solve it; we’ve only begun to put on the pressure.”
Hours later, Nico applied a little pressure of his own, as he walked about the circumference of Taggart’s with a five gallon can of gasoline.
When he was done, he strolled off into the woods, where he dumped the empty can behind a tree; he then took off his gloves and walked back to his car.
Taggart’s began serving food at eleven each day, however, long before the cooks arrived, there were workers on site doing prep work, such as peeling potatoes and refilling supplies.
Sal Venno arrived earlier than anyone, including the man who delivered the day’s bread from the local bakery. He had been at Taggart’s for many years, and other than a change in the weather, one day at work was much the same as another.
Today would be different.
As soon as Sal rode his bike into the parking lot, he smelled the fumes and braked to a stop.
After looking around, he walked to the building and saw Nico’s handiwork. Knowing that one spark could set the building aflame, he took out his cell phone and called the fire department, then, he rode his bike back to the edge of the driveway, where he made another call, this one was to his boss, Patrick Taggart.
An hour later, Parker and Knight stood beside Taggart as they watched the fire department spray down the building.
“I don’t understand why someone went to all that trouble but didn’t light it.” Taggart said.
“It’s because it’s cheaper to renovate than to rebuild,” Parker said.
“You think Tim Hearn is behind this, don’t you?”
“Absolutely,”
“So does my grandfather. He called Hearn and asked for a meeting.”
That news surprised both Parker and Knight.
“He’s willing to give in to him and sell?” Jo said.
“I don’t know. I do know that I would sell. I can’t stand the thought of anyone else being hurt, and look at this, what if this had happened during business hours.”
Parker had been thinking that same thought.
“Mr. Taggart, when and where is this meeting between Hearn and your grandfather taking place?”
“At eight p.m., at the house,”
They watched the fire department finish up their work, and then the fire chief walked over and told Taggart that the building was safe again, but cautioned that ideally, the wooden steps and latticework should be replaced.
Taggart thanked him and headed toward the front door.
Parker called to him, and pointed out the police car that was keeping watch.
“There will be someone here night and day for the time being.”
“Thank you, but I’m just going inside to call everyone and tell them to stay home. Safe or not, I’m not opening our doors again until things are settled.”
“And you think this meeting will settle things?”
“My grandfather thinks so,” Patrick said, and then he went inside.
“Things are getting out of hand.” Jo said.
“I’m going to speak with Rachel. If she knows anything, maybe I can get her to talk.”
“Do you want me along?”
“No, I think it would be best if I talk to her alone.”
“All right, and good luck,”
“Thanks, I’ll need it.”
Timothy Hearn heard the knock at his back door and found Nico standing there.
“What the hell did you do now?”
Nico smiled. “That’s how you say good morning?”
“I’m serious. Old man Taggart called me and said he wants a meeting at his house. He said that my latest ‘stunt’ crossed the line. What was he talking about?”
“I doused the building in gasoline.”
Hearn’s face went white.
“You burned down the building?”
“No, I just soaked its base in gasoline, but it got the message across. By the way, I was here last night. The two of us played cards until dawn.”
“You want me to alibi you again?”
Nico smiled and slapped Hearn lightly on the cheek.
“We’re in this together, Timmy, now tell me, what time is the meeting?”
“It’s at eight,”
“I’ll go in your place.”
“You’ll go?”
“I’m sure I can get a lower sale price than you can, and the less you pay for the bar, the more you’ll have left to pay me.”
“What if the police have bugged the place?”
“Let them. I’ll admit to nothing and only name a figure. Either the old man accepts the deal or he gets more grief.”
Hearn walked about in a circle with his hands pressed against the side of his head,
“I should have never gotten involved with you.”
“This is just the beginning, Timmy, in a few years we’ll own this town.”
Hearn dropped into a chair and sighed.
Out in the hallway, Rachel turned and slowly eased back up the stairs. When she reached the top, she heard the back door open and close. She rushed to the bedroom window and saw Nico climbing over the rear fence.
Her phone rang. When she checked the caller ID, her eyes widened in surprise, even as her lips spread in a smile.
“Hello Rick,”
“Good morning, Rachel,”
“To what do I owe this call?”
“I need to talk to you. Can we meet this morning?”
“Sure, I’m on second shift today, so why don’t I come over and make you breakfast?”
“No, I’m already out and about, but I could meet you at the Main Street Diner.”
“All right, I’ll be there in an hour, and Rick?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I just want to talk, Rachel.”
“Whatever you say,”
Parker made it to the diner first and snagged a booth in a back corner.
When Rachel arrived, he felt his heart speed up as he watched her walk his way. She was a beautiful woman and a part of him still loved her.
When she reached him, she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
“I’m so glad you called.”
“You may not be when you hear the reason.”
A waitress came over. She was pretty, but Parker thought her smile looked tentative, as if she could sense his distress over this meeting. After he and Rachel had both ordered only coffee, the girl returned swiftly with their cups and then disappeared.
Rachel pushed her cup aside and smiled seductively.
“Why don’t we go back to the house? You know you want to.”
“Stop it. This is not about us. I’ve come here to warn you.”
The smile left Rachel’s face.
“Warn me about what?”
“Nico Umbria is not someo
ne you want to tie yourself to, Jo and I are certain that he killed Charles Woolley, and he’s also behind the trouble at Taggart’s.
“Jo and you are certain? Jo and you do more than work together, don’t you?”
“What?”
“I met her yesterday; and yes, she’s beautiful, but I bet she doesn’t move you like I do. Take me home, Rick, and I’ll make you forget all about that partner of yours.”
Parker hung his head and closed his eyes, as he tried to keep his anger in check.
“Joanna Knight and I are not sleeping together; she’s my partner on the job, and a friend.”
Rachel studied him.
“I believe you.”
“Good, now, back to Nico, we know why Hearn is offering him an alibi, the two of them are working together to buy Taggart’s cheaply, but there’s no reason why you should let them drag you into this thing. Come back to the station with me and make a statement.”
“What was the name of the girl who came to the hospital with you the other day?”
“Her name is Heather, but now listen to me, we will question you eventually and it’s much better if you come in yourself. We’ll find out the truth anyway. If you lie to protect Hearn or Nico it will not end well, and then there won’t be anything I can do to help you.”
Rachel stared at him, as her features grew harsh.
“You’re bedding that girl, aren’t you, that girl Heather?”
“What? Rachel, listen to me. If you get tangled up in Hearn’s lies it will drag you down with him.”
“That girl is young enough to be your daughter, Rick.”
“That’s none of your business, now will you come back with me to the station and talk?”
Rachel stood and glared down at him.
“I’m not going to help you hurt Tim, and once we’re married you won’t be able to make me testify against him.”
“Married? You’re marrying him?”
“That’s right, so go have fun with your teenager and leave us alone.”
Rachel walked out of the diner in a huff as Parker sat stunned by the news of her impending marriage. By the time he roused himself and went outside, she was driving away.
He took out his phone and called Jo.
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