Runaway Fate: Moonstone Cove Book One

by Hunter, Elizabeth

  “So it’s pure coincidence that the day Sarah Jordan killed her horse, Greg Hammond was seen at the stables?”

  Whoa, what? Katherine and Megan exchanged a wide-eyed stare.

  Alice Kraft shrugged. “You’d have to ask Greg about that.”

  “What’s your relationship with Greg, Professor Kraft?”

  She took a deep breath and considered. “Let’s see, I worked with him on this study of course, and I’ve advised him in a limited capacity during his thesis development. He’s preparing a doctoral thesis on the use of so-called smart devices in neuropsychology.”

  Drew took out his phone. “Like smartphones?”

  “Wearables more than devices, but that’s the general idea. Developing the app for the study helped him clarify some of his own work. It was an overall positive interaction.”

  “Nothing personal?”

  She shook her head. “I’m sure there are rumors—there always are about young, attractive professors when they advise students—but none of them are true. I was his professor and advisor only.”

  She was too smooth, too practiced. She’d been expecting this series of questions and didn’t hesitate with a single answer. Her entire demeanor was superior. Condescending even.

  “What about the data mining?” Katherine said out of the blue.

  Her eyes shifted. “Sorry, what?”

  Hmmm.

  “Data mining in the app.” Katherine stepped forward. “You said you oversaw the app development. There’s a lot in that program that patients wouldn’t be expecting. Location tracking. Access to health data.”

  “I don’t know anything about that.”

  Detective Bisset said, “But I thought you designed the app. You said you did. Are you saying that Greg Hammond snuck all that programming in without your knowing?”

  She raised another eyebrow. “You’d have to ask him.”

  “And I don’t suppose you know where he is?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry. I really have no idea.”

  Her eyes said it all.

  And I really don’t care.

  Detective Bisset took another step closer. “Let me be frank, Professor Kraft. I think you’re full of shit. I think you and Greg knew exactly what that app did. Or at least you thought you did. I looked you up. I thought it was interesting that about five months ago, right after the incident with Sarah Jordan, you formed a limited liability corporation called Pacific Tranquility and trademarked the name STIL in all caps for use in a computer application. At least that’s what the trademark application states.” He held up his phone. “An app. You were planning to put out a smartphone app.”

  Alice Kraft’s composure hadn’t cracked. “I’m a computer scientist. Is it so hard to believe that I might develop an app on my own?”

  “But you weren’t on your own,” Katherine said. “You had plans to take the biofeedback app from the study—after you’d tested it on students and worked all the kinks out—and sell it as your own.”

  Megan said, “Everyone wants to cash in on that sweet California wellness lifestyle, right?”

  Alice Kraft narrowed her eyes at Megan. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

  “Don’t be sorry, hon! I’m Megan. And I’m the one who’s been cleaning up the messes you’ve been leaving around Moonstone Cove. I stopped two of your experiments from killing people so far. Now would you be a peach and fill me on how many more are out there?” She smiled sweetly. “I’m a planner.”

  She tried to step back in the house. “You’re all very misguided, and you can speak to my attorney.”

  “What was the plan?” Detective Bisset asked. “Were you always going to sabotage the results for the others so they couldn’t publish? Sweep everything under the rug so you could launch your little company with no questions asked?”

  She said nothing.

  “Did Greg get in the way?” Detective Bisset asked her. “You didn’t have the control you thought you did, did you? He went… a little off script.”

  Alice Kraft shut the door in their faces, but Katherine had seen enough. Detective Bisset had hit every nail on the head.

  “She really created an LLC?” Megan asked as they walked to the car. “Doesn’t she know those are public record?”

  “Who was going to look?” Detective Bisset asked. “That’s the thing. I think she’s dirty, but she’s not an idiot. Creating this much chaos attracts the wrong kind of attention. No…” He opened his car door. “I think Greg saw an opportunity to get even with a girl he resented. And after that, it was all his game.”

  Chapter 30

  Drew Bisset sat on the back deck at Katherine and Baxter’s house, drinking a cup of Earl Grey that Baxter had brewed for him. After the two men had bonded over the vulgarity of the coffee drinkers they were forced to spend time with professionally, they joined Katherine, Megan, and Toni on the porch. Megan already had their notes spread out on the table.

  “I called my wife,” Drew said. “Told her I’m working late tonight.”

  “Sorry about that,” Megan said. “I know you have children.”

  “No worries. Happy to say it doesn’t happen too often around here.”

  “Is there any word on Greg Hammond?” Toni was examining their notes.

  “Not so far. I parked a car outside Alice Kraft’s house and a couple of plainclothes men in the neighborhood to keep an eye out. If he tries to go there, we should spot him.”

  Katherine watched Drew study their notes. “How long have you known about Sarah Jordan’s connection to Greg Hammond?”

  “Months.” He looked up. “I caught that case months ago and something about it always bugged me. The girl had no memory of the events. Vet said the horse had been euthanized, but there was no way of knowing who did it. People were in and out of that stable all day. Sarah claimed she doesn’t remember anything before being in that pen with the animal and finding him dead.”

  Toni shook her head. “That’s so messed up.”

  “Agreed. Everyone I talked to said the girl adored that horse. Best friends. I’ve never been a horse person, but I get the feeling that she was highly attached to the animal. I don’t think there’s any way she’d hurt it if she was in her right mind.”

  “I grew up around ranchers,” Toni said. “Horses are damn smart, and if they’re attached to a human, they’re very devoted.”

  “My initial thought was that someone had killed the animal to get back at Sarah. It made the most sense since she was so wrecked about Tucker. A couple of Sarah’s friends mentioned Greg Hammond, so I checked it out. Sarah and Greg had only gone out a few times. She didn’t think he was right for her, broke things off. He didn’t agree, made a nuisance of himself for a while, but eventually backed off. According to her, months passed and she never saw him. Then Tucker happened.”

  “You said Greg was at the stables that day?”

  “A man matching his description was seen, and Greg didn’t have a good alibi. Said he was home studying. But other than that? It wasn’t enough to really determine anything solid. Nothing close to real evidence. The woman who saw him couldn’t be certain. I had to let it drop.” Drew turned to Katherine. “But then you mentioned her name after Justin McCabe nearly attacked that gym.”

  “It was Kaylee who mentioned Sarah’s name to me,” Katherine said. “I spoke to her, and she told me about the study, but I couldn’t tell you any more details than that without risking my professional reputation.”

  Drew frowned. “So people really take the confidentiality of those student studies that seriously?”

  “Without question,” Baxter interjected. “Breaking confidentiality in an academic study like that could ruin a career.”

  “Seriously?” Drew nodded. “Well then, props to you, Professor Bassi. Didn’t realize you were sticking your neck out so far on that one.”

  “I just wish I could have told you more,” she said. “I feel like we have all the pieces of this puzzle except the last.”

&n
bsp; “Greg Hammond.” Drew pointed at the board. “If you’re right, he manipulated Sarah Jordan with this app to get revenge. But then there’s a big gap here.” He pointed at Justin’s page. “What made him go after Justin and Abby?”

  Megan said, “Maybe he found out about Professor Kraft’s plans for the app. Maybe she told him, maybe she slipped. Maybe they decided to tank the study altogether so they could make money off the app.”

  “One student having an episode wouldn’t be enough to throw out a whole study,” Baxter said. “Not in my opinion. But four or five?” He nodded. “I believe that would do it.”

  “But murder? Mass shootings?” Detective Bisset shook his head. “I don’t know if Greg Hammond was behind all that. I think Alice Kraft could be the mastermind on this one.”

  “Because she’s a professor?” Toni asked.

  “Because she’s cold.” Detective Bisset looked up at Toni. “Something about her? All I get is ice.”

  Katherine noticed that Megan was mulling over something in her head and absently floating a handful of sea glass she’d taken to carrying in her pocket.

  Katherine kicked her leg under the table.

  “Ow!” The glass fell into her palm. Megan glared at Katherine. “What was that for?”

  Katherine looked at the sea glass and raised an eyebrow.

  Megan made a small O with her mouth and shoved the handful of glass and pebbles in her pocket. “Right.”

  Drew looked up. “I miss something?”

  “We all did.” Katherine nodded solemnly. “We really need to find Greg Hammond.”

  * * *

  Two days later, Greg was still in the wind. The university was abuzz with news about the behavioral science experiment, but no one could seem to satisfactorily assign blame. The professors who’d led the study had come forward voluntarily after a series of unexpected and tragic incidents with students, and no obvious wrongdoing had been identified.

  Baxter folded a newspaper and placed it on the table at the university student center. “Very unsatisfying for all the gossips.”

  “I imagine.” Katherine picked at her lackluster chicken salad. “You know, we have a culinary program here.”

  “I know we do. And we live in one of the most agriculturally rich regions in the state. The fact that you can’t get a decent lunch here is appalling.” He smiled at her. “I can’t complain about the company though.” He reached down and brought her ankle up to rest on his knee. “How’s it feeling today?”

  “Better. I think it’s given up trying to be an old-lady ankle and has realized it’s going to have to toughen up.”

  Baxter’s eyes lit up. “Is that how it works? I’ll have to tell my shoulder.”

  “You should. You could get back to murdering John on the racquetball court.”

  “Alas, I think our days of racquetball murder are well behind us.” His smile fell. “Has Detective Bisset made any progress finding Greg?”

  She shook her head.

  “That man tried to kill you and Megan, and the police don’t have any kind of protection assigned to you.”

  “Drew thinks that Greg won’t come after me again. He’s focused on Alice Kraft. He thinks she’s the mastermind.”

  “And you?”

  “I think Greg staged the wild scene and tried to run me over to make himself look less guilty. I don’t know who the mastermind is.”

  “So he’s still a threat.”

  “I’ll be very careful, okay? And I’ll stay off public sidewalks as much as possible.”

  Baxter grumbled, but he didn’t say anything more.

  Katherine poked his side with her toe. “I’m getting a medium-sized fluffy dog. I don’t expect you to clean up after it or walk it or anything. It will be my responsibility.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “It can’t sleep in our bed.”

  “That’s fine. We can close the door. It can sleep in the kitchen.”

  “Nothing that lifts its leg.”

  “I’ll look for a girl.”

  He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t frowning. “Fine.”

  Katherine grinned. “I’ll start looking at rescues this week.”

  “That seems like the most ethical decision.”

  “You’re going to love it.”

  “It’s an animal living in our house. Much of human civilization has progressed specifically so we no longer have to live with animals in our houses.”

  “I don’t know if that’s actually true.”

  “Nevertheless.” He patted her ankle, and she put it down so he could stand up. “You shall have your dog, and I’m sure I will learn to live with it.”

  “I’ll find one that doesn’t shed.”

  “Excellent.” He bent down and gave her a kiss. “I have an evening lecture tonight. Toni and Megan will be at the house by the time you get home, correct?”

  “Yes. I won’t be at the house by myself.”

  “Good.”

  “Will John be dropping you off later?”

  “Yes, which means he’ll want to get a drink before we make it home. I could be late.”

  “No problem. Have fun.” She raised her briefcase. “And I have much grading to do. Enjoy your lecture.”

  “Always, my darling.” He hooked a messenger bag over his shoulder and turned to go.

  “Professor Pang.”

  He turned with a half smile on his face. “Professor Bassi.”

  “I love you more than Star Wars.”

  He put a hand over his heart and pretended to swoon. A smile lit up his face as he walked away.

  Katherine had been fortunate to find a parking spot near the student center, so she walked to her car instead of calling the student security patrol in the little golf carts. Her department chair told her to make use of them since her ankle was hurt again, but she felt silly asking for help. She made it back to her car just as two-o’clock classes let out, which meant she sat in traffic for nearly twenty minutes just trying to make it out of the parking lot. At three thirty, she was heading home.

  Megan called her on the way. “Hey, I’m running a little late. Maybe just wait in the parking lot at the coffee shop, okay?”

  “I’m sure Toni will be there. No worries.”

  “Are you sure? Baxter was really set on you not being alone.”

  “I’ll be fine. See you soon.”

  Katherine started to get excited about the dog. She already knew what rescue organization she wanted to adopt from. They specialized in poodles and poodle mixes. She wanted medium-sized. She wanted fluffy and smart. She didn’t much care if she got a puppy; she thought a grown dog would probably be better suited to her and Baxter. Maybe something two or three years old.

  She pulled into the driveway and got her phone out, looking at profiles of the animals as she walked toward the house. She unlocked the door and walked inside, kicking the door closed as she set her bag on the table.

  Her vision went black and white, time slowed down, and her senses went haywire. She felt the rope around her neck—

  Katherine spun and threw her phone at Greg Hammond’s face, startling him as he reached for her with both hands.

  “Bitch!” He sputtered and grabbed at her arm. “Get back here!”

  She ran through the kitchen and down the short steps leading to the living room, heading for the back doors that led to the deck. Her vision had given her only seconds to react, but if she could make it out the back doors and scream for help—

  Katherine’s neck jerked back, pain ripped along her scalp, and she fell hard. He’d yanked on her braid and dragged her back. Thankfully she had enough padding that she didn’t feel anything break, but her whole body was jolted.

  “You think you can get away that easy?” he muttered. “Old bitch. Think you can ruin everything I’ve done. Think you’re so much smarter than me?”

  Greg dragged her back to the kitchen by her braid, and Katherine couldn’t stop the cry that left her lips.

  He chuckled. �
�You have no idea. This is going to be fun.”

  “No?” She gasped, but she kept speaking. “Tell me about your brilliance, Mr. Hammond. Please. I’m sure I’ll be so impressed.” She made her voice as patronizing as she could while she was in so much pain.

  Toni, where are you?

  “You wouldn’t understand.” Greg shoved her into a corner by the sink. He stood over her with his hands on his hips and looked around, the rope still resting in his left hand. “Nice house. I noticed it in one of Abby’s Facebook pictures last year. She was such a bitch to me. Thought she was so much smarter. Her and her stupid boyfriend.”

  “You knew Abby?”

  “I made sure the random students assigned to me weren’t too random.” He poked her knee with his booted foot. “By the time they were finished in the lab, they all thought I was best friends with them again.”

  “So you were… what?” She rubbed the back of her neck and looked for ways to escape. Greg had cornered her in their L-shaped kitchen and was blocking the exit. “You were just getting back at women who wouldn’t go out with you? What about Kaylee? Justin?”

  “Justin was just a challenge.” Greg grinned. “I wanted to see if he’d do it. Kill all those people. He was so self-righteous about it, you know? And he had a thing for Sarah. He pretended he didn’t, but he totally did.”

  “How did you do it?” She struggled to sit up, making herself look more injured than she was. “Was it hypnosis? Deep meditation? What?”

  Greg ignored her and looked up. “Love the construction on this place. These open rafters are perfect.”

  Katherine touched her scalp, searching for blood. “Perfect for what?”

  “Poor, lonely Professor Bassi.” He threw one end of the rope over a rafter. “Never see her walking with anyone but her husband. Never see her with friends. Stuck in her little office, talking to herself or eavesdropping on students. Kind of pathetic, right?” He jumped a little to grab the end of the rope and pull it down. “Isn’t it strange how she keeps getting injured? Now she’s talking to the police, looking for attention.”

  Katherine narrowed her eyes when she saw him tying a noose. “You actually think you’re going to make people believe that I killed myself? You’re not as smart as you think you are, Mr. Hammond.”