“Look,” he said. “If you think I did something, just come out and say it.”
“Released any ransomware lately?”
He took a step back, and his gaze darted around as if looking for a reply. Eryn stood patiently waiting when Trey wanted to shake the answer out of the guy.
“You must think I have,” he finally said.
“I think it’s a good possibility.”
“Then I assume you have facts on which to base your accusation.” He tipped his head at his team. “Because they’re filming this, and I’d hate to take you to court over defamation of character.” A snide smile crossed his mouth.
Trey’d had it with this guy. He was going to take him down a peg. He moved toward him.
Eryn held out her hand. He could push past her, but she’d figured out what he planned to do and was stopping him from advancing any closer. Probably a good thing with Coker’s associates filming the discussion. As a deputy, if Trey laid hands on Coker, Trey would make the news for sure.
“See, here’s the thing, Coker,” she said. “I asked you nicely to step inside and talk in private and you chose not to. So the way I see it, you wanted me to tell your people about your activities.”
“I didn’t say I released any ransomware.”
“You also didn’t say you didn’t.”
“I don’t have to justify my actions to you.” He scowled. “Now, if that’s all your questions, we have important work to do here to stop your teaching of lawless surveillance.”
Eryn looked like she wanted to argue with him about her class topics, but that was what he wanted, and she was smart enough not to say anything and let him twist her words in the media.
She spun. Trey knew she had to want to get as far away from Coker as fast as she could, but she took measured steps toward the door. She obviously didn’t want Coker to think she was fleeing from him.
Inside, Trey faced her. “Did you notice he was carrying?”
“Yeah, he always does. Says he needs protection from all the crazies out there.” Eryn rolled her eyes.
“It took everything I was made of not to deck that guy.”
“Me too.” She chuckled.
“I’ve been impressed with the control you’ve possessed in your interviews. Even laughing with someone like William Newton who could be the hacker.”
“Learned that at the FBI.”
He grinned. “I would have loved to see you in your agent suit all kamikaze agent.”
She laughed. “I don’t much wear suits anymore, but I still have them, so I suppose I could start again if I wanted to.”
“I won’t ask you to, but I’m sure it was a sight to behold. Still.” He paused and ran his gaze over her from head to toe letting it linger along the way. “I like this whole commando attire you’ve got going on.”
She swatted a hand at him. “I really like that you can be playful after such a tense situation.”
“I’m not sure playful is the word, but yeah, I’ve learned how to let go of stress pretty fast or I’d be a basket case.”
“Not me. I wish I did, but it usually stays with me for hours.”
“Then maybe I’m a good influence on you.”
“Maybe,” she said, but it was followed by a frown of monstrous proportions, and he knew she was distancing herself again.
Two hours had passed since the interview, and Eryn was still riled up as she walked toward the back exit with Trey, Bekah, and the team. She managed to control outward signs of her distress, but not inside. All the while she wrote her report for Blake and started on the background checks, she stewed about how she might have better handled the interview with Coker until she felt anxious and overwrought. Thankfully, this trip to the playground with Bekah should ease some of her anxiety.
“Wanna take Trey’s hand,” Bekah said.
“Sorry, Kiddo,” Trey said. “I need to talk to your mommy. Can you hold Gage’s hand, and I’ll make it up to you at the playground?”
She pouted but skipped ahead and slipped her hand into Gage’s. Eryn smiled her thanks to her boss. He, Bekah, and Alex stepped outside. Trey slowed to scan the parking lot, and Eryn followed suit. Several officers were departing for the day and others were heading out to play golf. A perfectly normal day at the resort, and yet it wasn’t. At least not for Eryn.
Trey caught her gaze. “I want to go on record as saying I don’t think this trip to the playground is a good idea.”
“If everyone on the team agreed with you, I would have cancelled. But they didn’t. Plus I promised Bekah, and I don’t break my promises.” Eryn pushed through the door.
Trey followed. “I respect that about you, but I don’t like taking chances.”
She gestured at Gage and Alex marching across the lot. “Pretty sure my safety is covered right now.”
“Maybe from a close-up attack but what about a long shot?”
She inhaled a deep breath of the coastal air and let it out before speaking. He was just concerned for her well-being, and she didn’t want to snap at him. “We have no reason to believe that will happen.”
Trey sighed.
She stopped to rest her hand on his forearm. “We’ll be watchful. And the team has already cleared the area, and Riley’s on his scope on the rooftop. We’ll be fine.”
“Coker heading your way,” Riley said into their earpieces.
“Gage, will you take Bekah ahead of us?” Eryn needed to make sure her daughter wasn’t anywhere near a potential altercation with Coker. Not that Eryn thought he would try to harm her in the light of day. He was more of a hide-in-the-dark kind of guy. But as Trey kept saying, you could never be too careful.
Gage swung her up into his arms and started off at a fast clip.
“Hurry up, Mommy,” Bekah called out. “Don’t want to play without you.”
“I’m coming baby girl,” Eryn replied. “But I need to talk to Trey a minute.”
The others headed down the path, and Trey looked at her. “Coker’s pretty unstable, so humor me and stay behind me until he passes.”
“Sure,” she responded as it wasn’t worth arguing about.
Coker soon crested the hill. His gaze was wild-eyed, his breathing hard. He barely gave them a glance, but she still stepped behind Trey like he requested. He slipped his shirt back and planted his hand on his sidearm. She heard Coker’s thumping steps coming closer. Trey turned, bringing her with him. She took that to mean Coker had passed.
“You’re clear,” Riley said.
She moved around Trey, and they headed down the winding path to the playground area. “Coker must have someone else in his sights already.”
“He’s still a suspect.”
“I know.” But she couldn’t think about that now. She needed to make sure Bekah had fun while Eryn still kept her eyes open for any danger. She doubted there would be any, but she would still be cautious.
They reached the play area with a huge jungle gym in bright orange and yellow. It also had three swings and two slides—one with a winding tunnel.
Bekah came sliding out of the tunnel. “Did you see me, Mommy? Did you?”
“I sure did, pumpkin.”
She ran to a swing. “Push, Trey.”
“Please,” Eryn said.
“Please, Trey.” Bekah peered up at him, her lower lip poking out.
“Looks exactly like you when you don’t want to haul equipment,” Alex said as he came up beside her.
She wanted to punch him, but he was right, so she simply shrugged.
“You sure you’re okay?” His eyes narrowed.
She nodded, but felt tears prick her eyes at her teammate’s concern. They’d all been so kind and ready and willing to come to her aid so she could fulfill her promise to Bekah.
“Good.” His lips split in one of his famous grins. “We can’t let our feisty know-it-all get hurt. Who would nag us all the time?”
She couldn’t resist punching his arm this time, but laughed, and her tears evapora
ted. “You’re a good friend, Alex. Even if you are a smart aleck. Wait, a smart Alex. Why have I never put that together before now?”
“Don’t know, but I sure hope you forget it.”
“Mommy, look.” Bekah was swinging high thanks to Trey.
Eryn joined them and sat in the swing next to Bekah. She kicked it off swinging.
“I’m flying higher.” Bekah’s grin of pure joy erased the last of Eryn’s anxiety, and she put all her effort into having fun.
After Bekah rode the swings and played on the slide a few more times, plus a stint on monkey bars that Trey held her up to navigate, she settled in the sandbox with him. Eryn stepped off to the side to watch them and still have a good view at the path leading down the hill.
At the edge of the play area, she noticed something fuzzy poking out of shrubbery. It looked like a large animal tail. Concerned, she eased over to the shrub, and her mouth dropped open.
Laying unmoving was a woman dressed in a fox costume that was so real, if Eryn hadn’t seen her face, she would think it was a giant fox. Eryn ducked into the shrubs, and that’s when she saw the bullet hole in the woman’s forehead. The wound was circled in soot from a close-range shot and fresh blood had seeped into the ground. The woman’s eyes were open and lifeless, making it clear that Eryn didn’t need to check for a pulse.
For a moment, Eryn stood in shock. A woman had been murdered not less than twenty feet from where Bekah was playing.
Bekah. Eryn couldn’t let her see this woman. Eryn shot out of the shrubs. “Gage will you take Bekah up to the room right now.”
Gage cast her a questioning look.
“I’ll tell you later. Hurry!”
Trey must have caught the panicked edge to her voice as he was already out of the sandbox and quickly at her side.
Gage stepped over to Bekah, no questions asked.
“But, Mommy. I’m having fun,” Bekah complained.
“I know, pumpkin, but something has come up, and I need you to go with Gage. I’ll make it up to you.”
He scooped her up into his arms and took off despite her continued to protest.
“Riley,” she said into her comm unit. “You see anyone in this area?”
“Negative. You’re clear.”
“What is it?” Trey asked sounding breathless.
Alex joined them.
“A woman in the shrubs,” Eryn said. “She’s dead. Bullet hole in her forehead. Close-up shot.”
“Then we need to get you out of here.” Trey reached for her arm.
“I’m fine.” She stepped back. “Riley said we’re clear. The danger has passed. Besides, the close-range shot says she likely knew her killer, and he’s long gone.”
“I don’t like this, Eryn,” Trey said. “Does she look like you? Like maybe a mistake was made.”
“No chance of a mistake. Wait until you see what she’s wearing.” She led them back to the body.
“What in the world?” Trey said.
“Crazy, right?” Eryn asked.
“What’s that in her hand?” Alex took a step toward the body.
“Stop! You might contaminate the scene,” Trey commanded and took out his phone. “I’ll zoom in with my camera, and we should be able to read the card she’s holding.”
He tapped the screen on his phone, and Eryn was impressed at his quick thinking. He used his fingers to zoom in. He suddenly looked up, his face pale. “Man. Just man.”
“What is it?” Eryn asked, her stomach tightening
“She’s holding your card, Eryn. Your business card.”
11
The medical examiner loaded the victim onto his gurney, and Eryn stood in shock as she tried to come to grips with the murder. Alex had gone back to the room, but Trey stood next to her and Riley remained on overwatch until Blake was ready to release her.
Blake had arrived to take her statement, and then the medical examiner joined them. He confirmed Eryn’s assessment of the powder burns from a close-range gunshot. Likely from the small caliber of a handgun, and they all agreed that the shooter used a silencer or the gun’s report would’ve brought officers running. A silencer only masked the sound, didn’t completely eliminate it, but with the playground located more than a football field away from the main buildings where officers attended classes, it would’ve sounded only like a pop to them.
She stepped back to let the ME and his assistant pass with the gurney. They started up the hill, one of the wheels squeaking with each turn.
“I wish we knew the woman’s name so we could place her connection to you,” Trey said.
Eryn was certain she’d never seen the victim before, much less given her a business card. But then, Eryn handed out cards in her classes and someone could have passed one along to this woman. “Hopefully when the ME removes the fox costume he’ll find ID in a clothing pocket or her prints will return a name.”
Blake finished a phone call and crossed over to them. “My forensics team is on the way. There’s really nothing more we can do here.”
“So Eryn’s free to go, then?” Trey asked.
Blake eyed Trey for a moment before nodding. No doubt he was picking up on Trey’s obvious concern for her safety.
“You planning to talk to Coker now?” Trey asked.
“I want to hash this over with the team before I interview him,” Blake replied.
“I know Coker was in the area, but it’s hard to believe he’d commit murder,” she said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. He’s a pain and underhanded, and honestly, I think he’s mentally unstable, but that doesn’t make him a killer.”
“He was carrying, though.” Trey’s steely eyes narrowed as he glanced around. “And I could easily see him snapping and shooting someone in the heat of the moment.”
Blake nodded. “He’s been on law enforcement’s radar for some time, and he’s growing more and more desperate to bring his cause to the forefront.”
“Desperate thinking isn’t stable thinking,” Trey added.
“Exactly,” Blake nodded. “But we can’t jump the gun here. Coker may have a solid alibi. I’ll work on that once the ME pinpoints the woman’s time of death.” He lifted the fluttering crime scene tape and gestured at William Newton standing near the yellow tape. “Detective Newton will ensure the scene is protected. I’ll walk up to your room with you.”
“Heading back to the suite,” she told Riley over her comm unit.
“Roger that,” he replied. “Let me know when you’re secure.”
“Will do.” She was suddenly struck by everything Riley did for the team. Of all the team members, he often had the most thankless, yet one of the most important jobs. She didn’t know how he could hunker over a rifle scope for hours on end, but he could and did. Often. Serving as the frontline of defense for the team’s safety. She made a mental note to thank him.
In the suite, she found her teammates seated in the living area, and her mother’s bedroom door closed. When they were all inside, Trey let out a long sigh of relief, sounding like he might deflate. She’d never had anyone worry about her this much before, and despite being an independent person, she had to admit that she liked how much he cared. Maybe liked it too much.
She pointed at her mother’s room. “I need to check in with my mom, and I’ll be right out.”
She knocked on the door and entered to find Bekah sound asleep next to her mother, which was unusual for this time of day.
“Is she feeling okay?” Eryn stepped over to touch her daughter’s forehead.
“She’s fine. She told me you cut the playtime short, started crying, and cried herself to sleep.” Her mother sighed. “I’ll be glad when we get back home, and she returns to her normal routine.”
“She always does get out of sorts when her schedule is altered.”
“She’s definitely not like you in that regard. Except for being leery of water after that time our canoe tipped, I’ve never seen a child who could go with the flow like you did.” Her mother
chuckled.
Eryn smiled, but the memory of being trapped still made her breath catch. When the team’s op involved water, she powered through her fear and did her job. And in her personal life, she did her best to make sure Bekah didn’t pick up on the fear and had a carefree childhood.
Eryn shook off her thoughts. “Did Gage tell you about the woman I found?”
She frowned. “Yes. It’s terrible. Was she really wearing a fox costume?”
Eryn nodded. “But why, I don’t know and can’t begin to figure out until she’s identified. Still, I’ll spend some time tonight looking for any connection to the hack.”
“So you think this is related to you?”
“She was holding my business card.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” Her mother shot to her feet and came over to hug her. She was a few inches shorter than Eryn and had to reach up to pull Eryn tight.
The minute her mom’s arms went around Eryn, tears pricked her eyes, and she felt a crying jag coming on. That wouldn’t do. She couldn’t go out to meet with Blake and the team with blotchy red eyes. She stepped back and blinked hard. “Thanks, Mom, but if I let you hug me, I’m going to cry and the team is waiting for me.”
“My tough baby girl.” She smiled softly.
Eryn sighed. “I’m not a baby.”
“You’ll always be my baby. Like Bekah will be yours.”
Eryn knew her mother was right, but she was an only child. What if Eryn had other children some day? Would she think of Bekah as her baby or would the youngest child fill that role? What was with thinking about having more children anyway? Especially at this moment when she needed to join the others and help find a murderer.
“I’ll come back when the meeting ends, and then we can grab dinner,” Eryn said.
Her mother patted her arm. “I think we’re all too emotionally worn out to manage Bekah in a restaurant. Let’s do room service.”
“Agreed.” Eryn turned and swallowed hard before stepping into the room where all eyes focused on her. She gave herself a mental pep talk to keep out of the emotional danger zone.
The door opened, and Riley stepped in. He was carrying his rifle and set the bag on the hall table.
Cold Case Page 11