Grant and Stan both looked at Sonia to see if she would volunteer. When she didn’t, Grant said. “We can find out where he’s staying pretty quickly.”
Scott smiled and said, “No need. I already have that information. I’m glad I’ll be able to help you with at least that much since I’m afraid that most of the information in this case can only go one way, from you to me.”
When it looked as if Stan might object, Scott said, “My hands are tied.”
“Now, as I told the chief yesterday, we have reason to believe that unknowingly Mrs. Newcomb has something in her possession that the other generals want. Someone has already tried to break into her apartment twice now. Everything she and the general owned is being shipped here and will arrive tomorrow. We will need to start surveillance on their house by then for sure, sooner if we can manage it.”
When no one said anything, he said, “I’ve told you everything I possibly can at this point.”
Grant kicked Stan under the table when he said, “Looks like we do all the work and you get all the credit.”
Instead of getting angry, Scott laughed and said, “That’s about the story, Detective. Only, I will be helping you as much as possible, but behind the scenes of course.”
Scott looked at the chief who seemed to take it as some kind of signal since he said, “Detectives, what Special Agent Scott needs from us is for us to make ourselves totally available to him 24/7. We will be investigating this somewhat as we would any other murder case.”
He paused then said, “Of course, as Agent Scott said at the beginning, we have to do this without letting anyone know that there is anything else going on. That means, at least for now anyone else on the force. And, of course, he will be simply hovering in the background without anyone else knowing he’s here.”
Scott spoke up. “You do need to know that I plan to meet with Harold Newcomb, the general’s father, Friday morning and will be letting him know that I’m here but only that I’m investigating the general’s death. If any of you could arrange to go with me, it would help greatly.”
Grant looked at Stan then back to Scott. “We’ll be able to go with you, sir.”
“Thank you.”
The chief cleared his throat and glared at Stan before he said, “Do any of you have any pertinent questions right now?”
The detectives looked at each other and all three shook their heads. The chief looked back at Scott.
“Okay.” Scott slid a small piece of paper across the table to Sonia. “This is the name and address of the resort where General Walker is staying in Sedona.” When Sonia passed it on to Grant, he continued. “I would like for you to wait until Monday or Tuesday before you go talk to General Walker. According to our information, he’ll still be in the area. I would like to go with you on this one.”
Grant looked up from the piece of paper in his hands. “But I thought you wanted to stay in the background only.”
“That’s right, I do, but I would like to conduct this interview. I think it’s about time we shook the generals up a bit. And OSI talking to one of them might do the trick. Also, just in case they show up here as well, the other two generals are Ryan Preston and Duncan Rennick. I would like to caution you that any one of those three men will be dangerous if cornered, but all three together could cause quite a problem. I am fairly certain they’ll all be armed and have equally armed staff members with them.”
Grant finally thought of something to ask. “You mentioned that we are supposed to be on the lookout for these other three generals. Do you have photos for us?”
“Yes.” He pointed to a thick folder sitting in front of the chief that Grant hadn’t noticed before. “Everything you need is in there including my contact information on a card for each of you. Please do not give any of that information to anyone without clearing it first with either Chief Winters or myself.”
“Now, if there are no further questions, I have a flight to catch down at Luke.” At the looks he received from around the table, he added, “I haven’t seen my family for two weeks. But I will be back here early Friday morning to go with you to Newcomb Motors.”
With that, he left and no one spoke for a moment.
As usual, Stan was the first to speak up. “Wow! What kind of crap have we gotten ourselves into?”
Chief Winters laughed and said, “As Agent Scott said, we have a murder to investigate. I suggest that’s exactly what we do until the Feds need us to do anything else, if they ever do.”
Grant was quicker than the others. “You said Feds. Does that mean that the OSI isn’t the only federal agency involved?”
The chief’s smile turned almost into a grin. “That’s right, Grant.” He looked at each one in turn. “Detectives, what we have here is a not so simple case of federal alphabet soup. I’m not even aware of all the agencies involved. Just suffice it to say that we’re involved in something many times more complicated than a simple murder case. This is so big that I’m afraid that none of us in this room will ever know just how big it really is.”
He stood and started walking to the connecting door to his private office. “Let’s get out there and show all those Feds that we’re more than just some small town PD.”
* * *
Kelly watched Jane as they all walked through the large enclosed parking area and entered her grandparent’s house. This was the home she and her brother had lived in as teenagers and was still more home to her than her condo would ever be.
She followed the others through the hallway, and into the great room. The woman, technically her step-mother, didn’t seem to know what to do with her hands, and she also seemed to cower like a frightened animal. Kelly did not want to feel sorry for this stranger.
Grandmother was speaking, and Kelly decided she’d better listen instead of continuing to daydream.
“Let’s go upstairs so we can show you where you’ll be staying Jane.”
As they walked over to the elevator, movement to her left caught Kelly’s eye, and she couldn’t help but smile when she noticed her grandfather and Leo slip quietly into the study, closing the door behind them.
That caused her to remember that she had been meaning to ask about Leo. She was walking behind the other two, so her question could have been directed at either of them. “I don’t mean to be rude, but why is the sergeant here?”
Beth opened the elevator door and they both turned back to Kelly.
Jane tried to smile shyly, “Some time ago, Harry made Leo promise, in front of me, that if anything ever happened to him, Leo would take care of me.” She shook her head slightly, “You have to understand Leo’s tenacious personality and his devotion to Harry. He would have done anything Harry asked him to do without a moment’s hesitation.”
She smiled and touched Kelly’s arm with her fingertips. “I have no idea how long it will take for Leo to feel that he has fulfilled his obligation to Harry. I’m hesitant to ask him. Leo really is a very sensitive person. I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.” She laughed at Kelly’s look of incredulity. “Yes, he really is, in spite of his rather imposing size.”
Beth held the door for Jane and Kelly, entered behind them, closed the door, and started the elevator. “Your grandfather and I felt that it would be easier for him to do that if he were staying here, at least for a while, until Jane gets situated.”
Nothing else was said as Beth proceeded to show Jane the upstairs suite which, in addition to a huge bath and walk-in closets, had its own sitting room and private balcony. All of Jane’s things that had come on the jet with them were already in one of the closets.
When they stepped out of the elevator downstairs, Beth motioned toward the front of the house, “Why don’t we all go into the front parlor and relax for a bit. I don’t know about anyone else, but that long plane ride tired me out. Maria will have dinner ready in less than an hour.
Once they were seated with Beth and Jane on a sofa and Kelly in an armchair facing them, her grandmother wasted no time i
n her attempts to gather information about her only child. “Well, Jane, you and Harry were married for twenty years. The wedding must have been about the time he was transferred to Germany, which is also about two years after he and Kelly’s mother were divorced. After that he began to cut off all ties with the rest of his family.”
Kelly could tell that her grandmother was close to tears just thinking about losing her son for over twenty years, and now losing him forever.
Jane leaned forward and said, “We were married at Luke Air Force Base twenty years ago last month, but I don’t know anything about what happened before that, Beth. In fact I don’t even remember my own wedding.”
“Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot about your amnesia. That must be terrible not knowing anything about your life before you married Harry. You must have been in your late twenties by then.”
Kelly hid a smile again. Her grandmother was good at extracting information. At first, she had been testing Jane to make sure she really didn’t remember anything before her accident. Next, she was finding out how old Jane was.
Jane nodded her head. “Yes, I was twenty eight.” She brushed an imaginary piece of lent off her wool skirt. “Harry said I’d been married before and had several miscarriages, one that was actually still-born. That’s why he said we shouldn’t try to have any children. He said he was afraid that next time I might die too, and he didn’t want to lose me.”
“That’s okay, dear, you now have two children.” She gave Kelly a pointed look, and then placed her arm around Jane on the sofa they shared.
When Jane looked over at her too, Kelly forced herself to nod. When Beth continued to sooth Jane, Kelly hid a smile as she could see that her grandmother had just shifted back to her maternal mode as she squeezed Jane’s shoulders.
Jane gave Beth a puzzled look. “But, you didn’t have your son for all those years? I’m truly sorry for that. Harry never told me anything about any of you.”
Jane looked at Kelly. “I didn’t even know he had a daughter or a son. It makes me wonder how many other important things that Harry didn’t tell me after the accident.”
“Well, I don’t know what you know, so I’ll just tell you everything I can think of.”
Beth began to tell Jane all about the family including Wayne, and their mother, Gwen. Kelly tried to tune it all out. She didn’t want to relive her past just then.
After about ten more minutes of family history, Kelly heard a sound in the doorway and looked up to see her older brother, Wayne, standing there giving Jane a hard look. Kelly could tell that Wayne not only did not want to be there right then, but he wasn’t going to like Jane, no matter what she was like or what she did. For that, she did feel sorry for Jane and maybe even a little sorry for Wayne too. He was just so bitter.
The meal that evening was, at least to Kelly, rather uncomfortable. Wayne had been almost unsociable, never joining in any conversation, and only giving as brief an answer as he could when a question was directed at him.
He had finally excused himself as soon as he thought he could without incurring the wrath of either or both of his grandparents.
Kelly was ready to leave by then too. She needed to process all that she’d just heard. She was beginning to feel too much, emotions she didn’t want to feel, wasn’t ready to feel. She didn’t want to feel anything for this stranger. But, what did she feel for the other stranger, the one who had died, the one who had been her father?
It was all too much for her to think about right then. She had to get out of this house and drive her Mustang convertible around the valley for a while. That was usually how she relaxed enough to do her best thinking.
* * *
That evening Grant was going out the door of his apartment when his cell phone rang. He was surprised to see his sister’s name on the caller ID. After all, he was on his way over to Sybil’s house to have dinner with both of them.
“Grant I need to talk to you before we get to Sybil’s. Could you come by my house on your way?”
Grant knew better than to ask her why on the phone, since he knew she wouldn’t tell him anyway. He just said, “Sure, Alison, why don’t I just pick you up, and we can talk on the way?”
As soon as Grant pulled his pickup into Alison’s driveway, she dashed out the front door and jumped into the front seat next to him.
“Sit right here a minute, Grant. I don’t think the short drive to Sybil’s house will give us enough time to talk about what I want to talk about.”
Grant shifted into park and leaned back in his seat to wait for Alison to tell him what was on her mind. He didn’t have long to wait.
“Grant, I’m worried about Sybil.”
Grant waited for her to elaborate, and when she didn’t, he said, “In what way?”
She looked out the window to her right, then back at Grant. “Does she seem to be a little more flighty that usual to you?”
Grant laughed. “Alison, she’s always been a little flighty. That’s just who she is, and we should both know that better than anyone else. After all, she’s all we have for family.”
“No, Grant, you don’t understand.” She blew out an exasperated breath. “She seems to be so forgetful lately. It’s almost as if something really heavy is on her mind, but she won’t tell me what it is.”
Grant chuckled and Alison punched him on the shoulder. “I take that to mean that you asked her.” When she only nodded, he sobered and said, “Alison, don’t you remember that Uncle Lonnie was killed in August?”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that. You’re right, Grant, she always gets a little funny every year at this time.” She shook her head causing her hair to fly into her face. “I should have remembered that. But, you’d think she’d stop doing that by now. That happened twenty-five years ago.”
“That’s just it, Alison. Twenty-five is probably more emotional.”
He shifted into reverse and backed out into the street, then headed the truck toward Sybil’s house. He took a quick look at his sister and caught her frowning. He didn’t think he wanted to know what caused that. Neither said anything else on the way to Sybil’s.
When they pulled into Sybil’s driveway, Sybil was standing on her front porch. She seemed to be rather agitated as she waited for them to walk toward her together.
They had barely reached the top step when she grabbed Grant’s arm and pulled him into the house, causing Alison to rush to keep up with them. Sybil didn’t stop pulling him until they reached the dining room table. She released him and plopped into a chair. He pulled out the one next to her and sat down facing her. Alison sat next to him. When he looked at Sybil’s face, he really did grow concerned for her health. She was so pale she looked sick.
Before Grant could ask her if she was okay, she said, “Did you two read today’s paper?” When they both nodded, she said, “I guess it wouldn’t jump out at you the way it did to me. You were both so young.
Alison reached across the table and laid her hand on Sybil’s arm as it rested on the table in front of her. “Sybil, what are you so worked up about?”
The newspaper was open in front of Sybil, and she slid it across the table until it was in front of Grant. She pointed to an article that was circled in red ink. Grant smiled at the red ink. Only a teacher would have red ink pens around handy.
Sybil stabbed the article with her index finger and said, “Read that.”
Grant leaned over the paper, and Alison looked over his shoulder as they both read the article. It was about the Air Force general who had been killed in Afghanistan. It said that his wife had brought him back home to be buried. The article also mentioned the guy’s dad and all the new car dealerships he owned in three states. Grant looked at the photo of the guy in uniform and thought about it for a minute, but he couldn’t think of any reason why this article should have Sybil so upset.
Sybil slapped her hand loudly on the table top and said, “Don’t you see it?”
Grant realized he must have missed
something that seemed rather obvious to her as well as very important. He looked at Alison and she only shrugged her shoulders looking just as perplexed as he was. “What was I supposed to see, Sybil? I don’t know that guy. Do you?”
She shook her head and said, “I don’t know him now, but I did twenty years ago.” She stopped and gazed across the room into the dark, empty fireplace.
Just when Grant was about to prompt her, she said, “Do either of you remember the man that your mother married after your father died?” When they both continued to give her blank looks, she pointed at the photo and said, “That’s him!”
Then he remembered. “But wasn’t that guy’s name Harry?”
“Yes, he always went by Harry, but his real name was Harold.” She stabbed the photo with her finger. “That’s him.”
Grant shook his head and tried hard not to smile. “I don’t mean this wrong Sybil, but so what? Since our mother died, he must have married another woman and that’s her mentioned in the article.”
Sybil shook her head. “Look a little closer, Grant. What does it say his wife’s name is?”
Grant dutifully looked back at the article, looked up at Sybil and said, “Jane.”
“Grant, don’t you see?” She leaped from her chair and paced around the room. “Your mother’s whole name was Sarah Jane.”
Grant felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. Then he tried to take a deep breath around the sudden lump in his throat. He tried to reason it out the way he would a piece of evidence in a case that wouldn’t quite fit with the others. “That could just be a coincidence. Didn’t you tell Alison and me that she didn’t like the name Jane?”
“Yes, she especially didn’t like it when we would call her Sarah Jane.”
Grant stood and caught Sybil in his arms as she paced past him. “It’s just a coincidence, Sybil. Our mother is dead. Didn’t we bury her twenty years ago?”
Lost Memories (Sycamore P.D. Series Book 1) Page 5