Speak in Winter Code

Home > Other > Speak in Winter Code > Page 10
Speak in Winter Code Page 10

by S. M. Harding


  * * *

  I sent those details to Nathan, then I went back to paperwork but found myself checking the clock every ten minutes. My shift was almost over when I saw Caleb striding through the bullpen with Win at his heels. He put the new schedule on my desk with a flourish.

  “I never thought I’d see the day,” Win said.

  Caleb grinned. “Me neither.”

  I scanned the duty schedule. “Starting this week?”

  “Yep. So I won’t be here tomorrow. But Sarah, just like always, you need something, call. All I have on the plate tomorrow is watching football. I recorded all the games I missed, so I got all day to catch up.”

  He saluted with two fingers and left.

  “Ready to go?” Win asked.

  I put my last file in the out-box. “You meet the guy who’s going undercover?”

  “Tell you about him on the way home.”

  On the drive, Win was quiet but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  “So who?”

  “Nolan McBride. He was on my team in Afghanistan when the UAV hit Azar’s village.”

  “An old friend?”

  “Yeah. More than a friend. The kind of brother I never grew up with.” Win sighed. “It’s hard to describe the bond a small team forms. With four of us, usually embedded in enemy territory, we got close. Fast.”

  I glanced at her. “How close?”

  “Not like that, Sarah.” Win frowned. “I said ‘a brother.’ But it sure was good to see him. First time since that night.”

  I suddenly felt so distant from Win’s previous life, though she’d talked about it some. It chilled me to think what would have happened to her had she been captured by the Taliban or Al Qaeda, and that could’ve happened any day she was there. “So you think he’ll do a good job?”

  “The best. He’s a genius at detecting lies. Summing a person up from one meeting. Knowing their weak spots as well as a quick assessment of their strengths.” She glanced at the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. “When this is over, I want to invite him over to dinner. Have him meet you.”

  “Did you tell him about us?”

  “That we’re married, yes. He knew about Azar and me. I never realized how much his support meant.” Her eyes went to the rearview mirror again. “Let’s stop and pick up some calzones. Call dispatch, Sarah. See if there’s a patrol car behind us. If not, get one.”

  I’d been watching the side mirror and called in. “They’re on their way. Probably pick us up when we stop.”

  “Good. These guys know where we live.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “Where did they pick me up the last time?”

  “But how could they find out?”

  “County property records, open to the public if you pay the fee. You might want to inquire when you go back in.” She made the turn into the parking lot. “What I was going to say is, since they know where we live, why the tail?”

  “They mean business this time?”

  “Or just shake us up?”

  She pulled into a parking space in front of Duo’s. We watched the truck pass slowly on the road. I couldn’t make out the plate. “GMC, late nineties, black,” I said to dispatch. “They drove on by, but I saw brake lights come on down the street. Don’t stop them unless they initiate action, but get the plate number.” I disconnected and looked at Win. “You go in—I’ll cover you.”

  Win gave me a searching look, then nodded. “Won’t be long. Don’t initiate action.”

  “You too, except for food.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Win

  As I stepped out of Duo’s with bags in hand, a sheriff’s cruiser streaked by with siren and light bar going. It disappeared in the direction we had come. “What’s going on? Deputy’s going the wrong way.”

  Sarah took the bags and settled them on her lap. “Smart deputy. He got the plate and eyes on the driver. When the driver looked at him, he took off in the opposite direction with a splashy U-turn. I’m waiting for them to run the plates. Maybe this time, we’ll get something concrete.”

  “We go home now?”

  “Yeah. Deputy will turn around and follow us, or the truck if he’s still there.”

  I saw our tail pull out and follow us for a mile or so, then turn off. “He’s gone.”

  “He probably noticed the deputy behind him,” Sarah said with a satisfied smile.

  “When we get home, can we give all of this a break?”

  “What? You don’t want to think about it?” Sarcasm in Sarah’s voice.

  “No, I don’t. I want us to eat in front of the fire and relax,” I said, glancing at her. “You have to work tomorrow and go back to this full-time. I want us to have one stress-free night together.”

  “I have Monday and Tuesday off.”

  I checked in the mirror. “So you’ve got two days off if nothing breaks. Let’s take this opportunity while we can.”

  “Win, are you sure your PTSD isn’t coming back?”

  “It never leaves,” I said as I sought Sarah’s hand. “I’m hypervigilant, but in this case, I have reason to be. Otherwise, I’m okay. We’ll see how I sleep when I’m in Bloomington next week. I don’t want to leave you, Sarah.”

  “I’ll be safe. Dad and Nathan will shadow me and keep an eye out for nefarious folk.”

  I squeezed her hand. “I sure as hell hope so.”

  When we got home, I gave Des some exercise. She hadn’t been getting the long walks she needed since this began. Tomorrow I’d make up for some of it with a hike to the top of Foley’s Knob.

  As we ate dinner, we talked about the girls’ room, what we still needed and what I thought they’d like. Some of Sarah’s questions stumped me. How could I describe the radical cultural changes these kids faced? After dinner, I showed her photos I’d taken in Azar’s village. Interiors of the houses. Inside Azar’s quarters. Sarah studied them intently.

  “Where’s the furniture?” she asked.

  “They don’t need tables or chairs because they sit on the floor. Mattresses are on the floor.” I switched to the next image. “Azar’s quarters were unusual because she had a fireplace and a small platform for the mattress. Her husband had built both for her out of a desire to make her comfortable. Some of the villagers said she lived in a mansion because the fireplace used more fuel.”

  “Mansion? It’s so not.”

  I switched to a series of exteriors. “These compounds remind me a lot of the pueblos in New Mexico.” I stopped abruptly when I saw a photo of Azar and me, my arm around her, smiling at the camera.

  “That’s Azar, isn’t it? She’s beautiful, Win. Her eyes…it’s like you can see into her essence.”

  “I could.” I swallowed. Turned to Sarah. “We Americans guard our eyes. Our souls.”

  “Do I do that?” Sarah asked.

  “Not too much anymore.” I closed the file, turned the computer off. “It’s a struggle to stay open, isn’t it? We’re so afraid someone will see our demons and use them against us.”

  “Have I met your demons, Win?”

  “Some of them.”

  * * *

  Tailed by a deputy I took Sarah to work. I wondered how long we could keep this up. I knew the sheriff’s department was stretched thin. So were Sarah and I.

  “Is the guy following us on overtime?” I asked.

  “Gal,” she said. “Dad set up a schedule, asked for volunteers and we have coverage for the rest of the week.”

  “Not much time to catch the shooter.”

  “One step at a time, Win. One week at a time for scheduling.”

  I drove into the lot behind the building. After Sarah had unfastened her seat belt, I pulled her close to me, held her. “Be careful today.”

  “You too. I’m not even going to ask what you have on your agenda.” She took a deep breath. “Trust.”

  I watched her go inside. All this protection wasn’t going to save her from a sniper. I would’ve ra
ther seen her in full battle gear.

  I pulled out the burn phone Bill had given me and called Nolan. “Can we meet today?”

  “Yeah, if it doesn’t take too long. I have to start looking for a job today.”

  “At Zelcore?”

  He laughed. “Where do we meet?”

  I gave him directions. Told him I’d wait at the last turn. Half an hour later, we drove into the clearing and Nathan waved us into his cabin.

  I made the introductions. “You know I trust both of you with my life. No doubts. But I’m placing Sarah’s life in your keeping. Don’t screw up.”

  I got two simultaneous hugs. “What’ve you got, Nathan?”

  “Not much. Whoever’s doing their network is one clever bastard, but I’m working on it. It just takes time.”

  “The clock’s ticking.” I told them about the tail last night. “What really worries me is the shooter. He’s fired three times. The only reason he didn’t kill the second time is because the sun hit the windshield. He’s not using a sniper rifle, guys. Not sure whether he meant to hit me or not.”

  “You think it’s military training or a long time hunting?” Nolan asked.

  “Seems like if he’s military, he’d being using something more sophisticated. The thirty-aught-six has limited range. Can’t be broken down.” I shrugged. “Nathan?”

  “I agree, not that I know much about the military. But if anyone can make shots like that, they’ve been shooting that rifle a long time and are comfortable with it.”

  “Anybody like that on your lists?” I asked.

  Nathan shook his head. “But I can get the DNR’s records for deer hunting licenses. I’ll cross-check. Maybe Micah can think of someone who’s that good with a rifle. I know a few, but none of them are on the Ranger list.”

  “Remember Nathan, the ballistics match the Coeur d’Alene murder on the reservation in Idaho. This may not be a local guy.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I can’t understand why we can’t get a better picture on these people.”

  “Maybe there’s more to them than a local outfit,” Nolan said. “I can show you some databases, Nathan. Maybe if we put our heads together…”

  Nathan nodded and led Nolan over to a bank of computers.

  “Shit man, I’m impressed.” Nolan stood with his hands on his hips, examined the servers with interest.

  “You’re on your own, McBride,” I said. “I’m going snowshoeing with Des.”

  “Wear a vest, Win,” he said.

  * * *

  Back home, Des did her happy dance when I picked up the snowshoes. I angled diagonally across the road, Des still danced around me, woofed at the sky. The sun was out, casting short shadows across the field. Good to see details. I put the snowshoes on when we hit the soft stuff. While my target was the top of the Knob, I didn’t want anyone picking up my tracks. I headed in the opposite direction across the field, then switched course to the woods. I backtracked through the woods until I came to a deer track up the Knob. No sign of tracks other than a rabbit and mice. I worked upward, wishing I’d brought my poles. I stopped as I breached the summit. Scanned the area. “Shit.”

  Someone had not only been here, but had lain in the snow. From the body print, I could see his head had been facing our house. Deep elbow prints. Hands holding binoculars? I took photos. Wished I had moved faster because the shadows had flattened as the sun moved across the sky. Still, with the zoom lens I could pick up some good detail.

  The person in question had come up the other way. I sidestepped down through the trees, off-trail, looking for a clear print. Found one, laid a ruler down next to it. Irony because I’d bought it for the girls. I took the shot, then worked laterally across the Knob to where we hit the trail down.

  Des had been so well-behaved at the scene, sitting and waiting for me, that I gave her an extra treat when we got back home.

  I called Nathan. “Somebody’s been scoping out our house from the top of the Knob. Any suggestions on how we find who?”

  Nathan let out a long breath. “Cold weather, Win, with colder temperatures coming. The batteries for a camera won’t last more than a day or two. I’ve got another solar powered one like the two I put in for you, but with the trees bare I don’t think I can disguise it. Let me think on it.”

  “Think fast. I’ll attach some photos to an email.”

  “Are you going to tell Sarah?”

  “Yeah. I reamed her out for not telling me about the letters, so quid pro quo. The front of the house doesn’t have large windows. A shot would be really tricky from the Knob.”

  “Tricky, but not impossible?”

  “Impossible with a thirty-aught-six. Out of range. With a sniper rifle? No, not impossible. Especially when we went out the front door or at the bottom of the drive.” I banged my fist on my desk. “We’ve got to get this guy. These people.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Sarah

  My office was the last place I wanted to be. Snuggled in Win’s arms in front of the fire, talking about the girls and planning for them, that’s what I wanted. I was tired of the constant escort and weary of the danger behind my need to have one.

  Dory intercepted me. “We ran the plate from last night but it don’t match the truck. Supposed to be on a Toyota. Here’s the info.”

  “Damn.” I took the sheet Dory handed me. “I thought we’d finally caught a break.”

  “Your daddy’s waitin’ in your office.”

  Dad was seated on my couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him. “Mornin’,” he said as he unfolded his body and stood. “Went back an’ chit-chatted with our esteemed postmistress an’ she pulled this.” He handed me a folder containing one sheet. “Don’t mess it up. I gotta return it.”

  I stared at the sheet. A color copy of an Indiana driver’s license, the ID James McNab had used to get his post office box. Now we had a face to run, but it wasn’t the face of Joshua Leatherby. “Doesn’t seem like McNab is Leatherby’s alias. What the hell is going on?”

  “Dang if I know. Send that to Nathan an’ let him sort it,” Dad said. “I understand he has access to databases we don’t.”

  I scanned the image, sent it to Nathan and returned the sheet to Dad. “Thanks for keeping after this.”

  “We got a bunch of puzzle pieces an’ I know it’s frustratin’ right now, but they’ll come together. You got a passel of good folk workin’ on this.” He hugged me. “Keep the faith, Sarah Anne.”

  I knew what he said was true—given enough time. But did we have enough time? I knew Win was worried about a ticking clock only she could hear, but I was beginning to listen for it.

  My phone rang. Emily?

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “Getting better,” she said. “Win gave me a damn good kick in the butt. Sorry I shut down, but I needed to, at least for a little bit. I’m calling about you two. I’m hearing rumors about you both being in danger and that you’re taking it seriously.”

  “True on both counts.”

  “How’s Win doing?”

  “Fraying around the edges, but basically sound,” I said. “But Em, this situation is taking its toll on both of us.”

  There was a silence. “That’s what I was afraid of. Can you both see me this afternoon in my office?”

  “I should check with Win,” I said. “But let me accept. If you don’t hear from me, we’ll be there. What time?”

  “Four thirty?”

  “See you then.”

  I printed out the two photos we had and walked them up to the detectives’ loft. John was going through some files and sighing. He looked up. “Hey, something new?”

  I placed the photos on his desk and told him what Dad had found out. “We seem to have two men who’ve got access to the post office box, but only one visits regularly.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “I don’t either. Seems like this is all smoke and mirrors,” I said as I sat on the edge of his desk. “They look enough alike
to be brothers.”

  “Maybe they are. Or cousins.”

  “Nathan’s tracking McNab. I need to call him, see if there’s any progress.”

  “Let me do it. I need to work with Nathan more. That is, if you don’t mind?”

  “Getting ready to take the reins, eh?” I said with a smile and thumbs-up. “Who do we have covering the post office tomorrow? No, never mind. It’s your op.”

  “You want me to keep you updated tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Only if it’s a big break in the case,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “If I get too curious, can I call?”

  He gave me a big smile.

  * * *

  Win picked me up at four and we drove to Em’s office with our escort unobtrusively tucked a block behind us.

  “How’d she sound?” Win asked.

  “Not her usual prickly self.”

  “You think she’s prickly?” Win asked. “I’d say sharp-edged like a laser.”

  “You’ve definitely been working with her too long.” I took Win’s hand and squeezed it.

  Em’s office door opened as soon as we walked into the waiting room. “How are the two of you holding up?” she asked.

  “Fair to middling,” I said. “I’m getting really tired of looking over my shoulder.”

  “Win?”

  “I’m angry. Guys like this play games, just like spooks. They rattle the target, keep the pressure on, push until someone makes a mistake. This time, Sarah is the primary target and we have to get them before we make a mistake.”

  Em was silent for a minute. “Were you ever a spook, Win?”

  “No. I had the misfortune of working with them on occasion.”

  “Do you think these threats come from people who’ve had, uh, spy experience?”

  “Possible. It’s been methodical, done in increments of harassment. But anyone who’s a bully knows the technique,” Win said. “Are you joining the investigation?”

  “God no! Professional curiosity is all.” Em recrossed her legs. “What I’m trying to do is tell you Win, how amazed I am you’ve survived at all. Much less thrived like you are. I remember you when you first came home.”

 

‹ Prev