Deadly Target (Detective Sarah Spillman Mystery Series Book 6)

by Renee Pawlish

  “I was hoping you’d have information about my husband’s killer. It’s extremely important to find out what happened to him.”

  Ernie nodded. “Yes, we’re working on it. That’s why I’m here.”

  She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, of course. You just said that.” She focused on him and blinked a few times.

  “First, let me express my condolences,” Ernie said. She didn’t respond to that, so he went on. “Tell me a bit about your husband.”

  She beamed. “Nick was a great guy. I know I’m looking at the positive right now, but it’s true. He had a great laugh, and he always made me smile. He was quiet, and we didn’t fight a lot.” A finger went around the rim of the cup. “I suppose in some ways he avoided conflict, but it seemed to work for us. We had a nice steady routine, and things were comfortable. We went to the gym Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. We do a spin class Mondays and Thursdays, and we work with a trainer on Wednesdays. Besides that, we had our favorite things to do, restaurants that we would visit, going to the movies on Friday nights, that kind of thing.”

  Given Ernie’s recent conversation with Julie Novack, he wondered how Rachel could possibly be that naïve. He studied her closely and wondered whether she might be giving him a line. Obviously, things were not perfect, or Nick wouldn’t have strayed from the marriage. But as he studied her, she seemed genuine in her feelings that her marriage had been good. Ernie switched topics.

  “Now that a little time has passed, is there anything that’s come to mind since last night? Anything that might point to your husband’s killer?”

  She looked away. “No. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, as you can imagine.” She stifled a yawn. “I don’t think I’ve slept an hour since.” She bit her lip to hold back tears.

  Ernie gave her a moment. “As you think back, was your husband acting strangely? Was he concerned about anything?”

  The finger stopped moving around the rim of the cup. “No, I don’t think so. Nick’s work had been a little stressful lately, but that wasn’t necessarily unusual. His job ebbs and flows. There are times when things go smoothly, but then he could get a difficult client, and that meant longer hours and some traveling. This was one of those times, when there seemed to be more travel.”

  “So Nick had been out of town more lately?”

  She nodded. “Yes, the past few months it had definitely increased. Just overnight trips, but there were quite a few of them.”

  “Where did he go?”

  “He had to go to Grand Junction a lot, so he would drive there. He’d leave Thursday morning, and usually be home Friday night. Every once in a while, he had to stay over the weekend.”

  “Did you ever go with him?”

  She pushed the cup away. “No, I never really wanted to. I’ve been to Grand Junction, and there’s not much there. And it’s hard to coordinate time off together for short trips.”

  He noted the lack of interest in wanting to spend the time with her husband. “What do you do?”

  “I’m in finance. I manage retirement funds and finances for several clients. Some big ones, some individuals, too.”

  “Sounds interesting.”

  “It’s okay.”

  He turned his focus back to Nick. “Did you have an impression that anything was wrong with your husband?”

  She stared at him. “No, everything was okay.” This was a little more forceful.

  Ernie waited, and she finally broke eye contact. “You seem pretty sure of that,” he said.

  She sighed. “Yes, I am. I’m sorry if I sound a little defensive, but it’s hard to think that somebody would want to go after Nick.” She gulped back a sob. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Ernie wasn’t so sure about that, but he pressed on carefully. “Nick wasn’t in any kind of trouble?”

  Her jaw locked. “No, he wasn’t. I’m sure you’ve looked into his background, and you won’t find anything there. I don’t think he ever even had a parking ticket.”

  He nodded. “Yes, I can actually verify that.” He smiled in an attempt to disarm her a little. “We have to look into everything, and we did a background check.”

  She pulled the cup toward her again. “Yes, I’m sure you did.”

  “You’re sure there’s nothing there, no trouble for Nick?”

  The finger started on the cup, and she realized what she was doing and stopped. She stared at him. “No Detective, there’s not. I’m sure I would know.”

  Again, Ernie noted the apparent naivete, then turned the conversation in a different direction. “At a time like this, you really need family and friends around.”

  “Yes.” She looked down. “My parents will be coming into town tomorrow. It’ll be nice to have them here. I feel so lost right now.” She let out a big sigh. “I’m so glad that Julie has been here.” Her head came up. “Do you know who she is? She lives down the street. Nick and I would hang out with Julie and her husband, Kevin. When she heard about Nick, she was here right away. I swear she’s as upset as I am. She’s really helped me with making some phone calls and following up on some things. There’s so much to be done, and you hardly have time to think. I’m really glad she’s been around.”

  Ernie contemplated her and concluded that, despite his earlier skepticisms, she was indeed as naïve as she seemed. She had no idea about Nick and Julie. And he wasn’t going to be the one to tell her, at least not yet.

  He treaded carefully. “How long have you and Nick known Julie and Kevin?”

  “It would be about five years. Nick and I met them shortly after we moved in here. We hang out with Julie and Kevin, some barbecues, dinner and a movie. Kevin helps Nick with some things, and Julie and I visit once in a while.”

  “Is there anybody that Nick didn’t get along with?”

  She hesitated. “There was one guy at the office – Brian – that Nick said a couple of things about. It was just office stuff, how Brian didn’t know what he was doing, or he screwed up something. But I never got any more than that.”

  He watched her, not sure he bought the explanation. “Are you sure there wasn’t a bigger problem than what you’re telling me?”

  She shook her head. “No, it was nothing. Nick would complain about Brian, that’s all.”

  Ernie waited a moment, then went on. “And you didn’t notice anybody following you lately, or suspicious people around the house?”

  “That other detective, Oakley? He asked the same things. I don’t recall any of that.”

  Ernie pursed his lips. “I know it’s hard to answer these questions again, but sometimes people think of something later.”

  She glanced out the back window at a garden where young plants were just poking through the soil. “No, I haven’t seen anyone around. We have a doorbell camera, and we gave all of the footage to Oakley. And I watched it as well. I didn’t see anybody suspicious. Detective Oakley asked about a dark SUV, and I didn’t see that, either. As far as I know, Nick didn’t receive any unusual phone calls.”

  “Are you sure you’re doing okay? Is there something making you nervous?”

  She carefully rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve just lost my husband. So yeah, maybe a little. And then to have to answer all these questions again.” She tried to shrug off her edginess.

  Ernie smiled to put her at ease, but it didn’t work. “Well, I’ll be going then.” He stood up. “I certainly appreciate your taking the time to talk to me. You never know what might help.”

  She got up and led him to the front door. “Thank you, Detective.”

  Ernie walked down the sidewalk and when he got to the car, he called Oakley.

  “She has no idea about the affair,” he said when Oakley answered.

  “Really? You’d think at some point she’d pick up on something.”

  Ernie opened the car door and got in. “Maybe. I think Nick and Julie were hiding it well, and I also think Rachel is in her own little world about her marriage. But there’s some
thing with Nick that she’s not sharing.”

  “Was he doing something that got him into some trouble?”

  Ernie stared out the windshield. “That’s what I wonder. I think we should be looking at Nick Armistead more closely.”

  Oakley agreed. “I’ll get on it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Spats drove away from the 7-11, then parked and called Ernie from the car.

  “How did it go?” Ernie asked. His voice was tight with concern.

  Spats smiled wryly. “My conversation with Shrimp was one of the more interesting ones I’ve had with somebody in a while.”

  “What happened?”

  Spats told him everything, including how McNair turned the tables on Shrimp and his friend.

  Ernie laughed, the sound deep from his belly. “Man, I needed that. I’m coming up with nothing, although Oakley has some info on the SUV.” He told Spats about how Oakley had gotten a license plate number for the SUV, and that he’d be following up on it.

  Spats felt his muscles tense with frustration. “I’m going to check out Shrimp a bit more, and I’m going to get surveillance on him. Everyone says he’s crazy. Hell, he says he’s crazy. Maybe he took out Cody, and he went after the other people just for the thrill of it. Other than that, nothing else. No one seems to know anything. I talked to Hackman, too. His crew has been interviewing other people that Cody knew, professors at his classes, more co-workers, and no one has any information that’s helpful. People liked Cody, and they don’t think he was doing anything that would get him killed.”

  Ernie let out a deep breath. “I may be onto something with Rachel and Nick Armistead. Turns out, Nick was having an affair.” He filled Spats in on the conversation with Julie Novack. “I talked to Rachel as well. She seems clueless. Oakley and I are going to investigate Nick some more. I also need to talk to Monica Walker, that old acquaintance Sarah knew. It’s a long shot, but remember how Sarah had issues with her? Some old history?”

  Spats glanced out the windshield. “Doesn’t she have offices east of downtown?”

  “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “I think I’m pretty close. Why don’t I stop by to talk to her, see what I think?”

  “That would be helpful. I’ve still got to get over to Cindy Olinger’s gym to check her alibi.”

  “Dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

  Ernie laughed again, this time without humor. “Yeah, although I’m not sure what I think of Cindy Olinger as a killer.”

  “I need to talk to Cody’s ex, Samantha, but I have a feeling that’ll be a dead end. Cody’s sister says she was still in love with him. And I need to stop by Auraria to check Austin O’Neil’s alibi.” He swore. “What are we missing?”

  “That’s a good question. You might want to talk to Sarah before you visit Monica Walker, get Sarah’s take on whether Monica might go after her.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “If I can, I’m going to grab a bite, too.”

  “I’ll keep you posted.”

  Spats ended the call with Ernie, then called the hospital and was connected to Sarah’s room. Harry answered.

  Once Spats identified himself, he said, “Do you think Sarah would talk to me for a few minutes? Is she feeling okay?”

  “She’s awake. I’ll ask her.”

  Spats heard muffled sounds through the phone, and then Sarah’s voice.

  “Spats, what’s going on?” Sarah sounded groggy, but a little more alert than earlier in the day.

  Spats gave her the quick rundown of their progress, or lack thereof. “I thought I would talk to Monica Walker. Just in case she might’ve decided to get back at you.”

  “Eh … I don’t think she would do anything like that. She’s a successful professional here in town. Sure, she was upset about the past, but not obsessed with it. I can’t see her deciding to murder me, or to hire someone to do it. Just doesn’t feel plausible.”

  “Yeah,” Spats said slowly. “I tend to agree with you, but we have to check all angles. What if we didn’t and we were wrong?”

  “That’s true.” Sarah was silent for a moment. “I’ve been going over the investigation, but I’m fuzzy on the details. Did Cody go out for a smoke break at the same time every night when he was at work?”

  Spats shook his head as if she could see him. “No. He doesn’t work the same nights, and he doesn’t start at the same time, so his breaks would’ve been at different times. Or if the restaurant was busy, not at all.”

  Sarah sucked in a breath, and Spats knew she was thinking. Then he heard something else and thought maybe she had to go, but she spoke again.

  “And I don’t take walks on Severn very often; it’s certainly a random thing for me.”

  “Yeah, I got that.” Spats waited for more.

  She went on. “And what about Nick and Rachel Armistead? Did they leave the gym at the same time every evening?”

  Spats thought about that. “When they’re in town, yes. Sometimes Nick’s out of town. I have to check with Oakley for the exact dates of when Nick traveled recently.”

  “But when Nick’s here, he’s a regular at the gym? He shows up at the same time, leaves at the same time?”

  “Yes,” Spats said. “They take a spin class Monday and Thursday nights, and they work with a trainer Wednesday nights. They’re consistent about going.”

  “Hmm.” Sarah paused as she collected her thoughts, and Spats didn’t interrupt her. He wondered if she was going to confirm a suspicion he had.

  “So two of these shootings appear to be random. Granted, Cody was killed and I wasn’t. But the timing is random. Neither Cody nor I were ever at the same place at the same time on Monday evenings.”

  “Yes,” Spats said, “but Rachel and Nick Armistead were. Someone could have known they would be at the gym last night.”

  “What if my shooting and Cody’s were just to throw off a homicide investigation?”

  “Get us looking in all different directions, so we don’t see what’s really happening.” Spats mulled that over. “I certainly think there’s validity in that. But what was Nick Armistead doing that someone would want to kill him?”

  Sarah yawned. “Well, I’m a little indisposed, or I would try to be of more assistance.”

  Her sense of humor was coming back. That was good. Spats chuckled.

  “I’m still going to talk to Monica.”

  “Do what you need to do,” she said, “but I think she’ll be a dead end.”

  “You take care, okay? I want to see you across that desk from me at the station soon.”

  Sarah laughed, then groaned. “Oh, don’t make me do that. It still hurts.”

  “You take care.”

  Spats ended the call and drove to a medical building where Monica Walker worked. It was near the end of the day, and he hoped she hadn’t left yet. He strode into her office, and a receptionist looked up at him politely.

  “May I help you?”

  “Is Monica Walker here?”

  The woman, named Blake, set down a pen. “Yes, she is, but I’m afraid we’re not taking any appointments at this time.”

  Spats flashed his badge. “I promise I won’t take up too much of her time.”

  The woman blinked nervously, picked up a desk phone, and dialed a number. She murmured for a moment and quietly hung up the receiver. She looked at Spats. “She’ll be up in a moment.”

  Spats stayed standing and watched a video about good health on a TV hung up in the corner of the waiting room. A minute later, Monica Walker appeared in the lobby. She wore dark slacks and a blue blouse, her eyes wary.

  “What can I do for you, Detective?” The tone was polite, but also slightly put out.

  Spats smiled at her. “Could I ask you a few questions in private?”

  Monica nodded and said to the receptionist, “I’ll see you later, Blake. Have a great night.”

  Blake watched as Spats turned to follow Monica. She led him into a sparsely decor
ated office, and he took a seat across from her desk. She sat down, turned off soft music playing from her computer, and studied him. “What’s this about?”

  Spats glanced around. “I’m sorry to bother you at the end of the day, but I do need to ask you a few questions that pertain to Sarah.”

  Monica hesitated. “I saw that Sarah had been shot last night. I wondered when someone would come around to talk to me. I had nothing to do with it.”

  “You and Sarah did have a history,” Spats said.

  “What do you know about that?”

  She was perceptive, Spats thought. “I know there was some unpleasantness back when you two were in college.”

  “Unpleasantness,” she repeated wryly. “Yes. I finally found out some disturbing details about an incident with her and me. She came to talk to me about it and apologized. I appreciated that, and even though I’m not sure what to think of what happened back then, I moved on from that a long time ago.” She put her hands on the desk. “And if you think that I would’ve wanted to shoot her, well … that’s just ridiculous. That would gain me nothing.”

  “No desire at all to see her punished for what she did to you? No little thought of revenge?”

  Monica sighed and then smiled. “Detective, I was here until almost seven last night, and the security in this office, as well as in the building, will show that. I’d be happy to get the videos from those cameras for you, so you can see for yourself.”

  “If you could do that, I’d appreciate it,” Spats said, although he knew it would be fruitless. He had no doubt it would confirm that she was here. “And when you left, what did you do?”

  “I met a man for dinner. His name is Joe Coben. And here is his number.” She grabbed a pen and wrote on a piece of paper, then handed it to Spats. “We went to Luigi’s Restaurant, and we were there until almost nine. Then he went home with me.”

  It was obvious she was prepared for someone to question her, and it was possible that she had worked extremely hard to have an alibi set up. But again, Spats doubted it. It was all smooth, and his radar for lies wasn’t dinging. Spats nodded. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”