Night Watch

by Susan Sleeman

  Kennedy watched him as he described their need, his enthusiasm not waning as he listened to Londyn’s response.

  “Perfect,” he said. “You know anything about the potential anthrax investigation?” He tapped his finger on the table as he listened. After a moment, he said, “Can you ask around?” A deep frown marred his usual pleasant expression. “Yeah, I get it. You can’t tell me anything, but thanks for your help on the video.”

  He looked like he was going to lower the phone but then said, “Of course not. I don’t want to get you in trouble.” His frown deepened. “Thanks. Have Mackenzie call me ASAP.”

  He lowered his phone but kept it in his hand. “I forgot to mention Londyn’s a detective with PPB. She can’t share anything about the investigation.”

  “But the video?” Kennedy asked.

  “She’s going to have her cousin Mackenzie give me a call. If only Londyn had caught the anthrax investigation, we might know more about what’s going on from their side.”

  “Wouldn’t the police have looked at this video by now? I’m surprised they haven’t asked if I know this guy.”

  “Maybe they haven’t seen the footage yet, but trust me.” He met her gaze and held it. “The minute they think you can help with their investigation, you’ll be hearing from them.”

  12

  Erik hung up with Detective Johnson. It was almost as if the guy had known they were talking about him, because he’d called just a few minutes later. Erik shared the information about inDents, but Johnson wouldn’t promise to follow up on it. On the bright side, Johnson did confirm that the Veritas staff could continue with their evidence evaluations as long as they reported to him and him alone.

  Erik wanted the results. How he wanted them. But he’d rather the evidence remained in-house and was properly processed more than anything else. So he notified Sierra, Maya, and Emory, then he and Kennedy continued reviewing videos. She hadn’t said a word, but a few loudly expelled breaths and a tight expression told him she hadn’t found anything else.

  She looked up from across the dining table, catching him watching her. He thought to look away but held her gaze.

  “While we wait for the files from Mackenzie, I’m going to move on to reviewing the GPS data from your mother’s phone,” he said.

  “I doubt she used GPS. Not with her avoidance of most technology.”

  “She wouldn’t have to do anything. Many phones default to on for frequent locations, so if what you say is true about her not being proficient in technology, she most likely didn’t turn it off. Means we’ll have a list of the places she’d recently visited.”

  Kennedy shook her head. “I didn't realize that, and I’m sure my mom wouldn’t have either. So I doubt she turned it off. I sure didn’t help her do it, but Finley might have.”

  “We’ll soon see.” He turned his attention back to his computer and navigated to the files he’d uploaded from Wanda’s phone to run a JavaScript he’d gotten from Nick at Veritas. “GPS is on. We have a long list of addresses. We’ll have to check them on a map to find out what’s at each location.”

  “Can I help?” She stared at Erik with eyes wide and vulnerable.

  “Sure.” He was already creating a secure text to her so he didn’t keep looking into those enchanting brown eyes. “I’m texting you a link on our server for the spreadsheet with the data. I sorted by location. You can open it on your computer, and we’ll share the document in real time so we can see each other’s work.”

  She clicked on her keyboard and looked up. “The first is the lab.”

  He noted the location and filled in all the correct cells on the spreadsheet. “Go ahead and take the first half, and I’ll do the second. Enter the place that she visited in the spreadsheet, and then we can review them.”

  She focused on her screen with a deep intensity. An adorable little line formed between her eyebrows, and she pursed her lips. Working with her had been great so far. Another surprise for sure. He didn’t expect to ever enjoy her company again, but the silence in the room was easy. Not at all forced, as he might have guessed it would be. More like the easygoing days when they sat across a table doing homework in college.

  He flashed back to those times. The work was often interrupted with kissing. Sometimes he’d initiated those kisses. Other times, it had been Kennedy leaning across the table.

  Lips locking. Work forgotten.

  No. This is just torture. He shook his head to clear her from it. That was not going to happen here. No way.

  He dragged his focus back to the computer and entered addresses into a map program. The first locations were places he would expect. Grocery store, post office, home. And frequent stops at restaurants for very short periods of time. Likely takeout.

  “Done,” Kennedy said an hour later. “Man, she got a lot of takeout, which I guess her credit card confirms.”

  “Indeed.” He scanned the completed list. “Only two unexplained stops. The one in Tigard, which she visited often. It’s an apartment complex.”

  “That’s Finley’s apartment.”

  “Okay, so that leaves one location in question. It’s in Sherwood. Let me map it and take a look at the place.” He entered the address in the map program and clicked on the street view. “It’s a house. Know anyone out there?”

  “Maybe Finley does. I’ll text her and ask.” Kennedy sent the text.

  “While we wait for a reply, I’ll get started reviewing the image I took of your mom’s computer.”

  Kennedy sighed and started twirling her hair.

  He met her anxious gaze. “What’s wrong?”

  Her hair twisted tight, she wiggled her finger and let it go, only to wrap it around her finger again. “I don’t like invading my mom’s privacy like this. What if we find something she wouldn’t want us to see?”

  He could see Kennedy’s point, but they couldn’t stop. “You mean like the money?”

  “That and more.” Kennedy let go of her hair and nibbled on her lower lip, worrying it hard with her teeth.

  He didn’t like seeing her upset and started to reach for her bandage free hand. A knock sounded on the front door, and he snapped his hand back.

  “Probably one of the guys.” Erik charged to the hallway, thankful for the interruption.

  Pong came running from his crate and trotted alongside, his footfalls a rhythmic clicking on the hardwood floors. He might be a trained search dog, but he was also just a dog who wanted to protect his owner at every turn, and Erik wanted to hug his little buddy for that. But he also didn’t want Pong to lose his training and paw everyone who came to the door.

  “Sit,” Erik said at the door. Pong immediately complied. “Good boy.”

  Secured building or not, Erik glanced out the peephole and found Aiden standing in the hall.

  Erik opened the door.

  “Got the information on the assistant.” Aiden tapped his foot. “Thought you would like it right away.”

  Erik eyed his brother. “You could’ve emailed.”

  “I could’ve, but one of us needs to keep an eye on the two of you.” His tone was joking, but his expression held a note of warning, as if Erik needed to be reminded to remain impartial in this investigation.

  Erik rolled his eyes and stepped back.

  Aiden entered, stopping to scratch Pong behind the ears. “Besides I need to make sure you aren’t suffering any anthrax symptoms.”

  “We’re both fine.”

  Aiden looked up and locked gazes. “You’re acting awful cool about this.”

  Erik lowered his voice. “I don’t want to worry Kennedy any more than she is. So please don’t say anything to her.”

  “Your wish is my command.” Aiden mimicked zipping his mouth closed and marched down the hall.

  Erik followed, wishing everything with his strong-willed brother was as easy. Erik took a few breaths to let out his concern about the anthrax and offered a prayer that Aiden wouldn’t say anything that would make Kennedy uncomfor
table.

  Aiden greeted her and pulled out a chair across the table to straddle it. “How well do you know Nora?”

  “Not well,” Kennedy said. “I only saw her a few times. She seemed very efficient.”

  “Especially for her age, right?” Aiden asked.

  Kennedy’s eyebrows went up.

  “I’m not one for age discrimination, but I was surprised to learn that she was over seventy.”

  “My mom hiring Nora surprised me too. First that Nora was still working at her age. But my mom wasn’t very social, and she said she wanted someone closer to her age who she could relate to. I worried Nora wouldn’t have the computer experience the job required, but I was wrong. Nora has great technical skills.”

  “Good enough to erase your mom’s phone?” Erik dropped onto a chair by Kennedy and explained the empty call log to Aiden. “Nora was the only other person with access to the lab so it could’ve been her.”

  Kennedy tapped her chin. “I suppose she could’ve done it.”

  Aiden rested his elbows on the back of the chair. “She was the one who found your mother. Means she had the opportunity to erase it before she called the authorities, but what motive would she have?”

  Erik gave it some thought. “Maybe Nora knew Wanda was up to something that she didn’t want anyone to know about.”

  “Could be, I suppose,” Kennedy said. “Even more reason to talk to her.”

  Erik looked at his brother. “Did you find anything suspicious in her background?”

  Aiden nodded. “There seems to be some question about why she left her last job. Money went missing, and then she was fired.”

  “Doesn’t mean she took it,” Kennedy said.

  “True.” Aiden patted Pong, who sat between him and Erik. “But the detective who investigated the theft was suspicious because she was one of the few people who had access to the cash.”

  “Still, if charges weren’t brought, we have no proof,” Erik said.

  “No charges.” Aiden continued scratching Pong’s head as if the movement was helping him work this puzzle out. Pong rested his head on Aiden’s thigh looking content.

  “Even if she did steal money,” Kennedy said, “it wouldn’t mean she tried to steal from my mom, much less kill her. I doubt Nora had access to my mom’s medicine.”

  Aiden returned his arm to the chair back. “She could’ve lifted Wanda’s keys while she was working in the lab and had a copy made. And if she needed money, she might’ve given the key to someone else. Like the drug counterfeiters who wanted to stop your mom.”

  Kennedy pinned her focus on Aiden. “I don’t know about Nora, but my mom was usually so focused on her work that she didn’t notice much of what was going on around her. Nora could easily swipe the keys and get them copied.”

  “But there’s the matter of getting your mother to take the extra doses,” Erik pointed out.

  “My mom’s schedule was like clockwork, rarely deviating. She took three breaks a day and powered down protein drinks in each of them. She kept them in a small refrigerator in the reception area, where Nora would have access. And my mom didn’t allow food or drinks in the lab due to potential contamination, so she took her breaks in the reception area. In fact, she frequently had lunch with Nora when she was there as Nora often picked up carryout on the way in.”

  Aiden sat up, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. “So she could’ve crushed the tablets and mixed them in the food, though that might be too gritty. Better to dissolve them in the liquids.”

  “Still, what’s her motive to kill my mom?” Kennedy looked at Aiden, then at Erik as if she really expected them to answer her.

  “Men and women commit murder for different reasons,” Erik said. “For men, it’s often jealousy, revenge, arguments. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to be involved in gain homicides.”

  “Gain?” Kennedy asked.

  “They gain something from the killing. Money, the end of abuse, making life better for their children for various reasons, etcetera.”

  Aiden tapped his finger on the chair. “I would think the only thing that works for Nora on that list would be money, but then I don’t know her.”

  “She is still working at her age, so maybe she doesn’t have enough savings or social security,” Erik suggested.

  Kennedy frowned. “Or she just likes to work. At least she seemed glad to be there when I saw her.”

  Erik was starting to like Nora as a suspect. “Think of her from the counterfeit drug manufacturers’ point of view. If she needed money, it’s not farfetched to believe they approached her and offered a payoff to help them stop the research.”

  “Sounds possible,” Aiden said. “And maybe Nora learned about the safe, but she didn’t have the right combination so she sent the guy to the house to find it.”

  “Why not just do it herself?” Kennedy asked.

  Erik leaned forward. “Age. Insecurity. Maybe she’s working with this guy. A son maybe?”

  “She does have five children,” Aiden said. “Three are male.”

  Erik lifted the lid on his laptop. “Then we need their pictures to see if they fit the profile of our intruder. If they do, are they even in town?”

  Aiden stood. “And if so, we’ll need to interview them and check their alibis for each incident.”

  “I don’t know.” Kennedy grabbed that dangling lock of hair and swirled it around her finger. “I want to go on record as saying this seems pretty unlikely.”

  “Unlikely or not, we have to follow up on every lead.” Erik looked up from his computer. “Starting with paying Nora a visit right after we pick up Wanda’s college files. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers to our many questions.”

  13

  Kennedy was thankful to be riding in the backseat of the Nighthawk SUV with Aiden driving and Erik riding shotgun. Erik hadn’t wanted her to come along to Nora’s place, but Kennedy persuaded him by pointing out that Nora would likely be more open to talk with Kennedy present. Still, she had to promise to follow his directions and wear a Kevlar vest. Plus, he’d done a thorough risk assessment and brought Aiden along for additional protection. Erik clearly took his job seriously, and she was impressed with the many skills he’d learned over the years.

  On the way to the house, they stopped at Finley’s apartment to pick up the college records, and now Aiden was pulling into the driveway of Nora’s small bungalow near the city. He wore reflective sunglasses, hiding his eyes and mood, but his body was alert for any potential danger, as was Erik’s.

  Erik’s cell rang. “It’s Drake. I’ll put him on speaker.”

  “Yo, bro,” Drake said. “Just left the prison. Waldron’s wife was the only person who visited him, and she stopped coming ten years ago when she divorced him. According to Waldron, it wasn’t an amiable divorce, and she married his best friend. He’s bitter about the whole thing. Said she poisoned his son against him, and he won’t have a thing to do with him anymore. I’ll stop by the ex-wife’s place on my way back to confirm, but I just don’t see her or the son trying to kill Silas or Wanda. And Waldron worked this scam alone, except for Silas’s accounting help, and the people he knew in the investment community have turned their backs on him. He really does seem to be on his own.”

  “Do you think he was telling the truth?” Erik asked. “He is an expert liar, after all.”

  “You can’t fake the bitterness he displayed. Or the hatred of Silas that Waldron still feels. But the only way I can see him taking Silas out would be by paying for a professional hit, and the feds seized all of his assets when he was arrested. He’s broke and couldn’t possibly pay for it.”

  “And what about how he feels about Kennedy and Finley?” Aiden asked.

  “I don’t see any danger there,” Drake said. “His hatred is pinned to Silas. I could see him wanting to hurt Wanda to pay Silas back if he were still alive, but with Silas gone, there’s no point for him.”

  “Okay, let us know what the wife says. We’re
about to interview Nora.” Erik brought his brother up to speed on what he’d missed at the meeting.

  “Hope she can shed some light on things. We could use a solid lead.” Drake ended the call.

  “Let’s not be too quick to dismiss this angle.” Erik ran a hand over his hair. “Waldron could get one of his fellow inmates to act for him, and we don’t want to be blindsided by that.”

  Aiden looked at Erik. “There’s a brotherhood in prison so it could happen, and you’re right. We need to keep it as one of our lines of inquiry.”

  “Wait, what?” Erik stared at his brother. “I’m what?”

  Aiden rolled his eyes. “You’re right.”

  “Could you say it again? I don’t hear it often enough.”

  Aiden socked Erik and climbed out.

  Erik’s good humor vanished as he swiveled to look back at Kennedy. “Okay. The rules again. Don’t leave the vehicle before I get out. Don’t get ahead of or behind me or take off in any direction. Stay by my side at all times. And if I or Aiden tell you to take cover, do it immediately. Don’t ask questions. Just move.”

  “Aye aye, captain.” She saluted him to lighten his mood.

  He reached back and clutched her knee. “This is serious, Kennedy.”

  “Don’t worry.” She smiled but she could feel her chin tremble. “I’ll do as you say.”

  He held her gaze for a long moment, then released her knee and got out. She waited in the vehicle, taking in the freshly painted home, which looked recently updated. Kennedy didn’t know how long Nora had lived at this house, but if she’d been a long-time resident, she’d put some money into the place.

  Erik stopped outside Kennedy’s door and looked around, then gave a sharp nod as if cementing something in his mind. Maybe he did this for all his clients, but she liked to think he was taking this extra step because he cared about her. She was a very independent woman, but she really liked his protectiveness.

  He pulled the door open. The minute her feet hit the walkway, he slid an arm around her back and snugged her up against his body. He whisked her past Aiden, who had a hand on his weapon, and Erik’s gaze was like a constant radar blip, moving over the area.