by Laura Scott
She had some money saved up, but it wouldn’t last forever. She’d need some sort of employment, something that would help support Lucy while offering some flexibility of hours.
Doing what, exactly? She had no clue.
* * *
Nate couldn’t deny being relieved that Willow had quit her job at the Burgerteria, as he didn’t like how Murphy had followed the intruder’s scent to the place. Yet, the forlorn expression on her face bothered him.
“Are you okay?” Now that her apartment door handle was replaced, the lock secure, he moved closer to her. He rested a hand on her slim shoulder.
“I will be.” She put on a brave smile. “Damon isn’t happy with me, but I know it’s the right thing to do, for Lucy’s sake.”
He searched her gaze. “And you’re absolutely sure your boss doesn’t have a reason to be upset with you?”
“You mean other than quitting my job?” There was a brittle edge to her tone.
The break-in had happened while she’d been in East Flatbush. Before the murders? Or afterward? He wished he knew for certain.
“Yes, I mean prior to today. Was your boss unhappy with your work performance for any reason?”
“Not that I’m aware of. In fact, he’d just asked me to take photos for the new menu.”
He raised a brow. “I’m surprised he didn’t hire a professional photographer.”
She snorted. “No way. Do you have any idea how much that would cost? I’m in a photography class, and did a decent job photographing the various types of gourmet burgers, if I say so myself.”
“I’d like to see them.” He didn’t see how pictures of burgers could play into this, but the intruder had gone to the Burgerteria after ransacking her home, and there had to be some connection. Plus, maybe he was also just a little curious to see her work. For some strange reason, Willow Emery intrigued him. Not just because she’d taken her niece in without a moment’s hesitation, but because she was beautiful and smart. Because of the way she’d kept her cool under pressure in the aftermath of violence, while displaying a softer, gentler side toward her niece.
She was a bit of an enigma, but he couldn’t afford to get emotionally involved.
“My camera is in my bag. I tend to carry it wherever I go.” Willow opened the oversize bag he recognized from the day before. She pulled out a midsize digital camera and turned it around so he could see the screen.
“That’s a pretty nice camera.” Nate looked impressed.
“Didn’t cost as much as you might think. I bought it at the new discount store that opened recently, Basement Bargains.” She tapped the screen. “See? Dozens of pictures of burgers.”
He had to admit they were good photos. She’d done a good job of getting the correct angle, displaying the burger in a way that emphasized what toppings were included. Anything from the traditional mushroom and swiss cheese to avocado and alfalfa sprouts.
“Did you use these for your class?”
“Yes, among others.” She took the camera and flipped through the photos. She hadn’t been kidding—there were well over three dozen hamburger photos. “I added a few with people, too. A few at the restaurant but more at the park.”
He recognized Owl’s Head Park and appreciated how she’d chosen interesting people to photograph. An older woman sitting with a large bag at her feet, two young kids chasing each other, a young man resting with his head back, eyes closed. He went back to the photos at the Burgerteria and found one with two men talking to each other.
“Who are these guys?” He held the camera toward her.
She pointed toward the younger of the two men. “This one is Damon Berk, the restaurant manager. I don’t know who the other man is. I only photographed him because of his craggy face. It was so unique, I wanted to capture it.”
He couldn’t deny she was right about Craggy Face. His cheeks were lined and loose, yet his cheekbones were prominent, reminding him of twin mountain peaks overlooking a crevasse.
He thought back to the shadow he’d noticed in the back of the restaurant last evening. Had Damon Berk been back there? As the manager it made sense, but he couldn’t be sure.
“My photography instructor loved that one, asked me to print a copy for the rest of the class to see.” Willow’s voice brought him back to the present.
He jerked his gaze to hers. “You sent it via email? I’d like to see it up close.”
“Of course.” She went over and pulled a small notebook computer from her bag. “The battery is low. Give me a moment to power it up.”
While she plugged in the computer, he noticed Lucy had tied her doll’s bonnet on Murphy’s head. It was a testament to his training that Murphy didn’t go nuts trying to rip it off. Murphy thumped his tail, his large brown eyes looking up at Nate as if saying, hey, whatever makes her happy.
“You’re a good boy,” he praised.
Murphy came over, tail wagging. Lucy followed, clutching her baby doll to her chest. “Isn’t Murphy cute?”
“He sure is.” His lips twitched at Murphy’s bonnet. “Willow, you should take a picture of this.”
She turned from her computer and picked up the camera. As if sensing he was the subject of the photo, Murphy looked away.
It took several attempts, and Willow was chuckling by the time she was finished. “So typical, takes twenty attempts to get one decent shot.”
He leaned forward to see the screen. “It’s great.”
Lucy went back to the sofa, still talking to her baby doll. It occurred to Nate that she needed more things to play with and he made a mental note to find out how soon the crime scene would be cleared so Willow could pick up more of Lucy’s things.
“Okay, here’s the picture of Damon with the man at Burgerteria.” Willow turned the computer screen so he could see it better. “I did make a few changes, but this one was my favorite. Blurring out the background helped make his features stand out more.”
“It sure does.” He stared at the craggy face, committing it to memory. Then he was struck by an idea. “Hey, can you print this one for me? I might be able to put his face through our database to find his name.”
“I don’t have a printer here. I use the one at school. They let us print for free as long as we purchase the photo paper.” She snapped her fingers and rose to her feet. “Wait, I printed extra copies for myself. I’m happy to give you one. The photograph will be better quality than via text message or email.”
“Great, thanks. Although I wouldn’t mind if you texted me the picture of Murphy.”
She glanced at him in surprise, then nodded. “Of course.”
Nate knew there was no proof that Craggy Face had anything to do with ransacking her home, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to ID the guy. Especially since Murphy trailed the intruder’s scent directly to the Burgerteria.
Willow opened several drawers of the narrow desk set in the corner of the living room. “I don’t understand. I thought for sure I left the photos in here.”
The back of his neck prickled in warning, and he shot to his feet. “Those drawers were open when you came in last night, weren’t they?”
Willow straightened, her expression full of concern. “Yes.” She glanced back down at the drawer. “I know for sure the photos were in a brown envelope tucked into this top wide drawer. They were too big to fit in the narrower ones along the side.”
Nate crossed over to join her. In his mind’s eye he remembered how the closet and bedroom drawers were opened and searched, along with the couch cushions being on the floor, and then this desk, with the drawer left open. The rest of the living room and kitchen had been basically untouched.
Because the intruder had found exactly what he’d been searching for.
Willow’s photographs.
SIX
Her pictures had been stolen. Willow stared down at the em
pty drawer, trying to wrap her mind around what had happened. None of it made any sense. “They searched my apartment just for the photos?”
“Looks that way to me.” Nate lightly rested his hand in the center of her back. “I have to believe the person who did this really wanted that photo of the craggy-faced man. Are you sure you don’t know who he is?”
She lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. “I’m sure. Damon never introduced him to me, so he must not be involved in running the place.”
Nate’s blue eyes flashed with interest. “You’ve seen him before? He’s a regular at the restaurant?”
Clearly this was important, so she tried to think back to the day she’d done the hamburger photos. Craggy Face had been there that day, but she hadn’t really paid attention to him, or to Damon for that matter. Her focus was on getting the best pictures possible for the menu. The better the restaurant did, the more job security for her.
At least, that had been her thought at the time.
Had she seen Craggy Face before that day? Her mind was nothing but a jumble of bits and pieces of memories. She honestly couldn’t say.
“I’m sorry.” She hated feeling as if she were letting Nate down. “I don’t remember if he had been around the restaurant before or not. It’s possible. The only thing I can say for certain is that he’s not a regular.”
Nate offered a crooked smile. “Don’t apologize. It’s my job to ask difficult questions. I guess it’s good to know he isn’t a regular. But I’d really like to know who he is. Seems like he must be a significant piece of the puzzle.”
His words hit square in the gut, and she sank to the edge of her sofa. “You were right. This break-in wasn’t related to Alex and Debra’s murder.”
“Yes, that’s my take on the issue.” His tone was gentle and he came over to sit beside her. His musky scent soothed her frayed nerves and she tried not to think about what it would be like to be in the apartment without him and Murphy standing guard. “Something is up with your boss and that guy in the photo. Bad enough to break into your house to get their hands on the picture. I’m sure they believe you deleted them from your camera, but regardless, I’m glad you quit your job, Willow. You need to stay far away from your boss and the restaurant.”
She sighed. “I won’t miss the long hours, especially now that I have Lucy, but the pay was decent. I’ll need to find another job, hopefully one with flexibility.”
His brow furrowed. “Do you need extra money? I can lend you some...”
“What? No!” She jumped up, horrified by his offer. “I’ll be fine for a while. I just can’t live off my savings forever.”
“Okay, but don’t hesitate to call me if you need something.”
She wouldn’t, but it was a kind gesture. She had to call Nanna’s Nook to let them know she may not be bringing Lucy in for a few days. Maybe they’d let her postpone a week or so without charging her. Hopefully by then she’d have at least a part-time job.
She wished she could make a living as a photographer; the hours would be extremely flexible. Yet she knew that while it was a great hobby, she wasn’t good enough to bring in a steady income.
Nate’s phone chirped and he abruptly rose to his feet. “Excuse me.” He moved toward the kitchen. “Hey, Sarge, I have a name I need you to run through the system. Damon Berk, manager of the Burgerteria.”
As Nate moved into the corner of the room to discuss her current situation with his boss, she went over to her computer and went to a job search website. Since her recent experience was in the restaurant business, she narrowed her search to similar types of jobs within a five-mile radius.
She recognized the Sunshine Sidewalk Café, a small but nice place that happened to be located a couple of blocks from her apartment, in the opposite direction from the Burgerteria. The café was advertising for a server position, and while she would prefer to be a cook, the hours as a server at the café might be better for child care.
She glanced over at Lucy. Her niece was stretched out on the floor next to Murphy, talking to herself as she rested her head on his torso. Her blond tresses were nearly the same color as Murphy’s silky coat. Seeing the two of them together had her reaching for her camera.
This time, Murphy didn’t move from his position, almost as if he didn’t want to disturb the little girl. She took several cute photos, wondering what steps she’d need to take in order to become Lucy’s legal guardian. So much had happened yesterday that she hadn’t given the legalities of her new situation much consideration.
She made a mental note to check in with Child Protective Services to find out. But then it occurred to her that not having even a part-time job may actually be a black mark against her.
Setting her camera aside, she went back to the job site and clicked the link to submit her résumé.
Nate returned and she caught the last part of his conversation. “Yes, Lucy is our only witness to the Emery murders. Staying here on protective detail for a bit is good, but I need to work the case, too. Finding and arresting this guy is important to me. Especially given the link to the McGregor murders.”
She remembered he’d said something about her brother’s murder being similar to a previous murder. Was that why he’d seemed so struck by Lucy’s description? She couldn’t help looking directly at Nate as he disconnected from the call.
“Any clues?”
“Not yet. Damon Berk is clean, no criminal record.”
She wasn’t surprised. “He’s a very busy restaurant manager. I can’t even imagine he’d have time to be involved with any criminal activity.”
“You never know.” Nate cleared his throat. “I hope you don’t mind, Willow, but Murphy and I are going to stick around for a couple of days. I promise we won’t be any trouble.”
“Of course I don’t mind. Having you and Murphy stay is no problem at all.” She hoped he didn’t sense just how happy she was to hear the news.
As much as she knew she needed to be careful not to get too emotionally involved with the handsome K-9 cop, she couldn’t deny the overwhelming wave of relief that he and Murphy weren’t leaving anytime soon.
* * *
Frustrating that Damon Berk didn’t have a rap sheet. The more Nate thought about it, the more he believed Craggy Face was the key.
“Listen, Sarge wants you and Lucy to come in for a formal interview.”
Willow frowned, glancing at Lucy. “Today? I don’t know...she woke twice last night with bad nightmares.”
It was troubling to hear Lucy was suffering from nightmares, but she was their only witness to a crime that could help solve a twenty-year-old murder, as well as this current one. “I know. But I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
A resigned expression crossed her features. “Okay, fine. But I want to make a quick stop along the way.”
He tensed. “What kind of stop?”
“The Sunshine Sidewalk Café has a job opening.” She gestured toward her computer. “I want to check the place out.”
He resisted the urge to yank at his hair and kept his tone even with an effort. “This isn’t a good time to get a new job, Willow.”
“It’s not like I’m going to start a new job today.” She closed her computer with a snap. “I’m sure I can start in a week or so, once the danger is over.”
He didn’t like it but figured a quick stop couldn’t hurt. As Willow helped Lucy get ready to go, he thought about his conversation with Gavin. Damon Berk had been a dead end, but they had a new line to tug on. Gavin had told him how neighborhood interviews revealed the Emerys weren’t well-liked because of their party lifestyle, their messy home and the way they often ignored Lucy. Apparently, several neighbors had been concerned about the girl playing outside alone. Even more importantly, they hadn’t paid their rent for the past five months. Late notices and potential eviction warnings had been ignored. The o
wners of the duplex were a married couple by the name of Mike and Liz O’Malley. Gavin had put their tech guru, Eden Chang, on task to track them down.
It seemed extreme to believe a property landlord would stoop to murder—and borrow from the MO of a cold case—in order to get rid of a couple of deadbeat tenants, but stranger things had happened, and he knew every possibility, no matter how remote, couldn’t be ignored. They’d need to verify the O’Malleys’ alibi, if they had one, in order to cross them off the suspect list.
He kept coming back to the similarities between the Emery murders and the twenty-year-old cold case. The exact same day, clown mask with blue hair, dressed in black and the stuffed monkey.
Leaving a small child alive, despite being a potential witness.
Why use the same MO? What did it mean?
“I think we’re finally ready.”
Willow’s voice cut into his thoughts. He turned to find Lucy strapped into a lightweight stroller, clutching her baby doll. They were so cute, his heart gave a betraying thump of awareness in his chest.
“Guess I’m lagging behind. Come, Murphy.” His partner came to his side. He pulled Murphy’s vest on, then clipped a leash to his collar. Murphy instantly straightened, his nose working as he understood he was now on duty. “Do you have everything you need?”
Willow looped her bag over her shoulder. “I think so.”
“All right, let’s go.”
“I hope you don’t mind walking to the café.” Willow pushed Lucy’s stroller into the hallway, then locked the apartment door, stuffing the key into her large bag. “It’s only three blocks away.”
Murphy needed exercise, so he nodded. “Not a problem. But we’ll need to take the SUV to headquarters.”
She stopped in front of the elevator. “Good thing we left Lucy’s car seat in your vehicle.”
He smiled and nodded. “I know.”
The elevator doors opened. Willow pushed Lucy’s stroller inside, turning around so she faced front. He and Murphy crowded in beside her, the scent of lilac teasing his nose.