by Diane Hester
Tears stung her eyes at the effort the man had gone to. She accepted the mug with murmured thanks, though it was more his regard than the soup that comforted.
An hour later, after telling her story and showing Sam the route she had taken to evade the killer, he informed her she was free to go.
Back in the lobby Ikeman helped her on with her coat and ushered her out into the blustery night. With his hand at her back, they started up the footpath towards the campus.
‘I wonder where the intrepid Detective Macklyn was this evening,’ he said after half a block.
She cleared her throat, disturbed he had spoken her very thoughts. ‘Officer Gifford said he was busy with another matter.’
‘Sounds about right.’ Seeing her look, Ikeman went on. ‘Doesn’t it strike you as a little odd that the one time you have a witness to your claims, Macklyn fails to show up for your statement?’
She slowed to a stop. ‘What are you saying?’
‘He hasn’t believed a thing you’ve told him up till now because you never had proof. Well, this time you did—I saw the man pursuing you as well. Yet where is he now?’
‘You think he stayed away deliberately?’
‘I would say Macklyn’s the sort of man who doesn’t like to be proven wrong. About anything.’ He took her arm and continued walking. ‘The way he’s conducted parts of this investigation have been most unprofessional in my view. Failing to mention his queries pertained to you specifically when he first questioned me at the lab. Leaking that information about you to the papers.’
‘That wasn’t him.’
‘How do you know?’
Lindsay relayed her run-in with Jen at the refectory that morning and a brief account of why the woman had it in for her.
‘That still leaves the rest of what Macklyn did,’ Ikeman countered. ‘He hounds and discredits you then fails to show up when you need him.’
‘He might have been unable to get away from whatever he was doing.’
‘He’s heading this investigation, isn’t he? Two girls are dead and now the killer is after you. One would think you would be his top priority.’
Chapter 32
Mac stormed into the psychology lab, spotted Ikeman standing at a counter in the back of the room and started towards him.
The doctor glanced up from the coffee he was making. ‘Detective Macklyn, do come in. Don’t let a little thing like courtesy deter you long enough to knock.’
‘Where is she, Ikeman?’
‘By she I assume you’re referring to Lindsay.’
‘You know bloody well that’s who I mean.’
Ikeman stirred his mug then set down the spoon. ‘Why would you imagine I’d know where she is?’
‘Because when Sam Gifford took your statements last night in the art gallery you told him you were going to escort her home. I’ve just come from her apartment building; she never signed in. You sure as hell better know where she is.’
Mac struggled to keep his tone level. When Sam had told him of the incident that morning he’d been profoundly annoyed. Annoyed with Sam for not having called him when the matter was reported. Annoyed at himself for having given his partner a reason not to. After what he’d said in the car yesterday, he could hardly blame Sam for thinking he needed some distance from the case.
Nevertheless, he’d decided at once he would need to question Lindsay himself. Not that he doubted Sam’s ability to take a statement; it was more that he needed to see for himself that Lindsay was in fact all right.
He’d planned to hold off and speak with her sometime later in the day. A test of his control as much as reluctance to reveal his concern. But after the phone call he’d received an hour ago, his need to see Lindsay had become urgent. Finding she’d failed to return to her room had filled him with a feeling he’d not often experienced.
‘She’s safe, I assure you,’ the doctor replied.
While the words put a damper on the worst of his fears, the fact that Ikeman knew more than he did about Lindsay’s situation didn’t sit well. ‘That’s not what I asked.’
Ikeman leaned back against the counter and sipped his coffee. ‘I’m not sure she wants to talk to you, detective. She was pretty shaken up last night. The last thing she needs is to be badgered with more unnecessary questions.’
‘She doesn’t want to talk to me, or you don’t want her to?’
‘Someone has to look out for the girl. Police certainly don’t seem able to protect her.’
Mac clenched his fists. He was one breath away from slugging this bastard. ‘I won’t ask again. Where is—?’
‘I’m here.’
Mac looked around to find Lindsay coming through a doorway behind him. Her hair was dishevelled and a blanket was draped about her shoulders. In the office behind her a double-sized futon lay open on the floor.
All reason shut down. For a moment he didn’t trust himself to speak. He turned his ill-concealed shock on Lindsay but she refused to meet his gaze.
‘Why didn’t you go back to your flat last night?’ he managed at last.
‘I did. But when I got there Shaunwyn had left me a note saying she was going to a party and probably wouldn’t be back till morning. After what happened, I didn’t want to stay there alone. Ron offered to let me sleep here.’
Mac’s nails bit into his palms. Ron had offered. And apparently the offer hadn’t stopped there.
Ikeman came over, handed her a mug and took up a protective position beside her. ‘Now that you’ve established she’s come to no harm, what can we do for you, detective?’
In a matter of seconds his feelings iced over. If this was the way things were, then so be it. Christ, they’d probably done him a favour—maybe now he could keep his thoughts on the case.
He moved on to the second reason he’d come. ‘We had to release Collier.’
Lindsay looked up.
‘He claimed his neighbour’s dog bit his hand and that’s why it was bandaged. We questioned the neighbour and he confirmed it.’
‘Then it could have been Collier who came after me in the gallery yesterday.’
Mac shook his head. ‘We didn’t release him till nearly six.’ He watched her pull the blanket around her. A defensive gesture, fragile and childlike. Yesterday sympathy might have distracted him, but just at the moment he wasn’t feeling particularly moved. ‘I take it you didn’t get a look at your stalker.’
‘He was behind me the entire time. I never saw his face.’
‘What about the silhouette? You get any idea of his height? Weight? Something about the way he moved? Could it have been Jason Lars?’
She hugged herself tighter. ‘I … I don’t know. I only saw him for an instant. I was too flustered to take much in.’
‘What about you?’ Mac turned to Ikeman.
‘All I saw of him was his back and that was in a shadowy passage. I couldn’t even tell you what he was wearing.’ The doctor looked duly regretful of the fact, then drew himself up. ‘Look, we told your partner all this last night. Is it really necessary to go over it again?’
Mac took a breath, already regretting what he had to say next. ‘There’s something else. Another girl went missing last night. Jennifer Dawson.’
Lindsay’s hand jerked, spilling her coffee. She made no sound as the scalding liquid branded her hand.
‘That can’t be,’ Ikeman said. ‘Lindsay saw her only yesterday afternoon. How can you be sure—?’
‘We got a call from a friend of hers this morning. Apparently they were supposed to meet last night and Ms Dawson never showed. The friend did the right thing and asked around, called her mobile, checked her flat, even phoned her parents. No-one’s seen her.’
Mac looked to Lindsay. She still hadn’t spoken, hadn’t looked up. A sudden cold certainty bloomed in his gut. ‘You knew, didn’t you.’
Ikeman huffed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, how could she—?’ His mouth snapped shut; he turned to stare at her.
Mac stepped
closer. ‘You’re not surprised because you already knew. Didn’t you, Lindsay?’
‘Maybe. I don’t know.’ She took a step back. ‘I can’t be sure.’
Ikeman took the mug from her trembling hand. ‘Don’t let him bully you. If it was a vision, just tell him what you saw.’
She clutched the blanket with both her fists. ‘I had a dream. Last night. I don’t remember much … I think because of the sleeping pill. All I know is that Jen was in it and …’ She shuddered visibly. ‘I had a bad feeling when I woke up.’
A knot was tightening in Mac’s stomach. ‘You’ve never exactly been best mates with Jennifer, have you, Lindsay?’
The pair looked up at him.
‘She’s said and done some pretty spiteful things to you over the years,’ he pressed. ‘But nothing compared to what she revealed to you yesterday in the cafeteria. Isn’t that right?’
Ikeman frowned. ‘What are you implying?’
‘He’s saying I had a motive for wanting to hurt her.’ Lindsay’s tone had hardened. ‘He’s saying I’m involved in her disappearance. Just like the others.’
‘That’s absurd!’
Mac kept his gaze fixed on Lindsay. A part of him refused to believe it himself, but if the accusation would goad her into telling him more … ‘The girl tells reporters your biggest secret. Reveals the one thing you’ve been trying to hide all these years. Certainly sounds like a motive to me.’
Moisture glistened in her narrowed eyes.
Ikeman stepped between them. ‘Now look here, Macklyn, even barring the fact Lindsay’s incapable of what you’re suggesting, she was here with me the entire night. She never left this room and I’ll swear to that. Why, I gave her a sleeping pill for god’s sake!’
Here with me the entire night. So there it was. Mac clamped off all reaction to the words. His feelings, it seemed, had not been so neatly stowed as he’d thought. Ikeman’s bold, almost gloating statement had brought them all surging to the surface again.
Jaw tight, he glared down at Lindsay. Even when his phone began to ring he held her gaze. He pulled the mobile from his pocket. Only as the caller’s words slowly registered did he close his eyes and turn away.
‘When?’ he choked and awaited the answer. ‘If you would, please; yes, I’d appreciate it.’
He returned the phone to his pocket, and stood a moment feeling nothing at all.
Slowly his awareness returned to the present. ‘I’ll get back to you,’ he said without turning. And left the room.
***
Lindsay pushed out through the psych building doors and stood blinking at the overcast sky. She’d assured Ron she’d recovered enough to return to her flat on her own. But that had been before Macklyn showed up. Now she was feeling so overwhelmed, so thoroughly confused, she hardly knew which way to turn.
For a moment, back in Ikeman’s lab, it had seemed that Mac was almost jealous. That his anger stemmed more from personal feelings than any obstruction the doctor had caused. Then, as quickly as that anger had flared, the man was cool and completely in charge.
Mac had seemed hesitant, almost caring in delivering the news about Jennifer Dawson. But then, barely a minute later, he was bent on linking her to the girl’s disappearance.
And just when things were coming to a head, when it seemed Mac had finally resolved to arrest her, he’d simply turned around and walked out. What on earth had that been about?
Lindsay put a hand to her brow. Reliving the scene just made her head spin. On top of everything else that was happening it was all too much.
She came down the steps and started walking, trying her hardest not to think. The storm had blown itself out in the night, leaving debris strewn over lawns and pathways. Across the common she spotted a woman with flame red hair and a turquoise shawl hurrying towards her.
‘Hey, what are you doing here?’
‘I came to make sure you were all right.’ Shaunwyn closed the distance between them, threw her arms around Lindsay’s neck and held her tightly for several moments.
The show of support nearly undermined her efforts but she managed to hold herself together. Never had a hug felt so good.
Shaunwyn stepped back. ‘I don’t mind telling you I nearly lost it when I got home this morning and you weren’t there.’
‘I know; I’m sorry. I figured you would, that’s why I texted to let you know. I’d have left you a note last night if I’d been thinking clearly.’
‘Well, I can understand why you wouldn’t have been. The question is, how are you now?’
Angry. Terrified. A few other feelings she couldn’t even name. She forced a smile. ‘Hanging in there.’
Shaunwyn linked her arm through hers and turned them in the direction of home. ‘So do they know who came after you in the gallery? Did they catch the guy? Was it Jason?’
‘No. No. And I haven’t a clue. I didn’t get a good enough look at him.’
Shaun waved a hand in an unconvincing shot at indifference. ‘Oh well, not to worry. Keeps the mystery alive a bit longer. Wouldn’t want things to get dull around here, would we?’
‘Right now dull sounds pretty good to me.’
Shaunwyn gave her arm a squeeze. ‘Anyway I think the cops are wrong about Jason. I mean look what’s happened since our flat got trashed—you were attacked in the hall and now chased in the gallery. It sure looks to me like you’re the target. And like you said, what would Jason have against you?’
Lindsay frowned but didn’t reply. She’d been thinking much the same thing herself. But if Jason and Collier were removed from the mix, who did that leave?
‘You did tell Macklyn about what happened,’ Shaunwyn asked.
‘Yeah, he knows.’
‘Good. Then I assume he’ll be giving you police protection from here on.’
Police protection? Not bloody likely. And certainly not the kind she’d want. ‘He didn’t say. He got called away before we could talk about it.’
‘Well, don’t you worry, I’ll make sure he does.’
Despite her fears, despite her confusion, she couldn’t help smiling at the bold assertion. No-one got in Shaunwyn’s way when she was going to bat for a friend.
‘And the good news is I’m going to be around the entire break,’ the woman went on. ‘You won’t have to spend one night on your own.’
‘I thought you were going to visit your dad. You always go home for mid-year break.’
‘Not every year. Besides, Dad and I will have plenty of time to catch up after graduation.’
‘Well, okay. As long as you’re not staying just because of me.’
‘As if I’d do that.’ Shaunwyn turned serious. ‘You know you should’ve called me last night. I’d have come back to the flat to be with you. The party wasn’t that great anyway.’
‘I was okay. I was with Ron.’
‘All night?’ Shaunwyn’s ginger brows shot up. ‘Am I to take it things have progressed beyond the researcher-subject relationship?’
‘No. He’s just a nice guy, that’s all. What’s more he believes what I tell him, which is certainly a refreshing change these days. He offered to stay with me in the lab and I accepted. Nothing happened.’
‘Too bad. His choice or yours?’
Lindsay frowned. As attractive as Ron Ikeman was, and after all the kindness and support he’d shown her, it did seem odd she hadn’t at least considered the possibility of taking things further. Yet something about him, or perhaps in her, maintained a clean barrier against such thoughts. Her lingering prejudice against shrinks, no doubt.
‘Forget it. The chemistry just isn’t right,’ she said at last.
‘It’s got to be better than with you and that cop.’
She let out a laugh. ‘I’ve got a better relationship with Collier at the moment.’
Chapter 33
Mac stood in the doorway of the darkened room, an invisible force preventing him from crossing the threshold.
He stared at the body laid out
on the bed. Was he now to confess the sins of his past, the decisions he’d made?
He edged closer, gazing down at his mother’s face. How could he have let her slip away without telling her why he’d done what he had? Even if it weren’t too late, even if she were still alive to hear, would she ever believe? That it hadn’t been vengeance, it hadn’t been spite—he’d done it to save her?
At a flicker of movement, he turned his head. A figure was approaching up the dimly lit corridor. Catching sight of him, Wexler slowed then cautiously closed the distance between them.
Mac felt the outrage rise in his chest. This man; guilty of so very much yet wholly unaware of what he had done. This adviser who’d convinced his mother to trust in him instead of her doctor.
Barring Wexler from entering her room this final time should have held the sweet taste of retribution.
Instead Mac silently stepped aside to let the man enter.
***
The second floor was eerily silent. No music blasted from neighbouring flats, no talk or laughter echoed in the halls. Nothing but the tick of Nan’s old clock broke the stillness of Lindsay’s bedroom. Mid-year break and the students who made up the bulk of her apartment building’s residents had all gone home.
Lindsay sat alone at the table, staring intently into the doll’s house; the one Macklyn and his partner had carried up from Macklyn’s car the day he’d driven her home from her parents’ house. Her old childhood trick wasn’t working. When she was young she could instantly lose herself in its rooms, but at the moment her mind seemed stuck on replaying the scene of her confrontation the day before.
She just kept seeing Macklyn’s face, his look of shock when he’d seen her emerge from Ikeman’s office. Shock, disbelief, and … Was it betrayal she’d seen in his eyes?
To hell with the man! He had no right to feel betrayed. There was nothing between them. And anyway she hadn’t slept with Ikeman, though clearly that’s what Mac had presumed. She’d have told him as much if he’d only asked. But obviously he wasn’t that concerned.