Cold Case

by Susan Sleeman

  “Detective Petrov?” she asked, though now up close, she was certain of his identity.

  “Yes,” he said warily before he recognized her. “Ms. Calloway.”

  “Eryn,” she said. “Would you have a few minutes to answer some questions for me?”

  “About?” He blew on the top of his cup and stared down at her.

  “The class.”

  “I suppose, but you have to make it quick.”

  He and Trey eyeballed each other like two evenly matched boxers in a ring, so she introduced Trey as her friend.

  “Why don’t we take a seat where it’s less crowded.” She didn’t wait for them to agree but started toward a deserted area.

  She found an empty seating group with windows overlooking the ocean and took a seat. Petrov sat across from her, and Trey stood next her, his hand on his sidearm. She gave him a pointed look, telling him to relax or she would never get Petrov to talk. Trey shifted and let his hand fall to his side. Petrov turned his attention to her.

  “Did you enjoy the class?” she asked, hoping it would break the ice.

  “Yeah, sure. I’m not big on computers, but I like to stay on the cutting edge.” He was a master at veiling what he was thinking—not surprising for a seasoned detective—but his rigid posture said he was being cautious. But more important than posture or expression, according to Rudd, this guy didn’t value technology in investigations at all… so he was lying, and it was up to Eryn to find out why.

  “Do you have any cases that you can use it for?” she asked to see if he would tell the truth.

  “Not right now.” He angled his body away from her.

  Okay, so he continued to lie, and his body language added to that. “I was surprised to see another detective from PPB attending the class, too, when you could share information with her.”

  He didn’t flinch as her mention of Rudd. Not even a blink of his eye. “Yeah, Rudd seems to like computer stuff so I encouraged her to take the class even though I was already signed up. Figured since I’m not great at using electronics, we could compare notes.”

  “I don’t have any other questions for you, detective.” She stood and held out her hand.

  He blinked a few times, and she knew she’d caught him off guard. “Oh, okay. That was quick.”

  They shook hands, and she noted his were moist, proving he was more uncomfortable than he let on.

  “Thank you for your time,” she said and watched him go.

  Trey frowned. “The guy is obviously lying through his teeth. Why didn’t you press him?”

  “If he feels a need to lie about the innocuous questions I posed, he’ll lie about the big questions, too, and I don’t want him to know I’m on to him.”

  “But you think he’s hiding something.”

  “Oh yeah, he’s hiding something.” She felt that old investigative spark that once consumed her when she zeroed in on criminals during her FBI days. “My only question is… what?”

  Rodrick Newton was younger than Trey expected, maybe twenty-seven or so. He had dark scraggly hair and a mustache that he was either starting to grow or there was no hope of it developing into more than a few whiskers. He wore a blue hoodie over a green knit shirt.

  “I musta done something really bad if it takes three of you.” Rodrick laughed nervously and wiped his palms over his jeans.

  Eryn sat across the metal table from him. “We have a few questions for you regarding your former rental home.”

  “Oh, okay.” He scrunched thick eyebrows together into one large unibrow. “But I paid the rent and left it clean. Even got my security deposit back so don’t know what the problem might be.”

  “It’s regarding your cable.” Blake joined Eryn at the table, and Trey leaned against the wall where he could see all faces and observe the conversation.

  “Cable?” Rodrick asked. “I cancelled that the day after we moved out, so I’m not sure how that can be a problem either.”

  Blake slid a cable bill across the table. “As you can see, it hasn’t been cancelled.”

  He scanned it, brow furrowed, then looked back up. “But I have the email confirmation.”

  “The company says you cancelled the service then chatted with them online and told them you changed your mind.”

  “No. No. I never did that.”

  Blake took another page from a file and slapped it on the table. “The chat transcript says otherwise.”

  Rodrick grabbed the page and stared at it. “I didn’t chat with them. Someone else musta done it.”

  “The chat connection was tracked back to the house,” Blake added.

  Rodrick’s mouth dropped open. Either the guy was surprised that he got caught, or he was surprised that someone impersonated him with the Internet provider.

  “Then someone musta broke into the house and connected to the Internet.”

  “Why would someone do that?” Eryn asked.

  “I don’t know, but they did.” He tapped his finger on the tabletop then suddenly his eyes brightened. “I took my modem with me so have them check the modem and serial number used to connect to chat.”

  Blake looked at Eryn. “Can they do that?”

  She nodded. “Should be able to.”

  “Why’s this a problem anyway?” Rodrick picked up the bill. “I would’ve gotten a bill for it, so it’s not like someone is stealing the Internet.”

  Eryn leaned closer to draw his attention again. “It’s a problem because a ransomware attack was launched from your former rental house. I confirmed it was deployed through the router we found in the home.”

  “Man,” he said and his gaze shot around the room. “That’s crazy.” He dropped his hand. “Wait. Do you think I’m behind the attack, because I swear I’m not. No way. I didn’t leave a router there, and I didn’t launch any ransomware.”

  “But you have the skills to deploy a basic ransomware program,” Eryn stated.

  Trey knew if he admitted he had the ability to do so that he was more likely innocent.

  “Yeah, I do. Maybe more than basic. But I didn’t do it. Not possible.” He shoved a hand into his hair messing it up even more. “I got kids, you know. I wouldn’t do something that stupid. My wife doesn’t work, and they need me. I wouldn’t hurt them like that.”

  He seemed so earnest that Trey believed the guy.

  “So tell us who knew about your move,” Blake said.

  “Family. Close friends. People at work.” He sat back and crossed his arms. “Guys on my gaming forum, too.”

  “Did you tell any of these people your rental address?” Eryn asked.

  “Well work already knew it and so did my family and friends.”

  Eryn laid her hands on the table. “What about the forum?”

  “Yeah, a guy asked about renting it so I gave him the address.” Rodrick’s eyes widened. “You think he did this?”

  “Could be.” Eryn passed her notepad and pen to him. “I’ll need the forum URL and your login information.”

  “But I—” He shook his head. “I don’t really want to share that with you.”

  Erin eyed him. “Would you rather be locked up for hacking a company network and deploying ransomware?”

  He crossed his arms. “I have credit card information saved there, and I don’t like others having that information.”

  “Look.” Eryn leaned closer, her expression one that would make Trey take notice if he were Rodrick. “I can get that and more information on you if I tried hard enough. But I’d never use it, so relax and give me the login.”

  He grabbed the pen. “Fine, but when you get done I’m changing the login credentials.”

  “Not until I tell you you’re clear to do so.”

  He scribbled on the notepad and pushed it back to Eryn, scowling the entire time.

  Blake stood and handed the guy a business card. “You’re free to go now, but I’d advise you against leaving the area without informing me first.”

  Rodrick charged for th
e door, and Blake escorted him out.

  Eryn rose and faced Trey. “Let’s get out of here, too. I have enough time to check out this forum and still make lunch with Bekah.”

  They exited the room, and by the time they reached Blake at the main lobby door, Rodrick was long gone.

  “I’ll contact the cable company and let you know what they say about the modem,” Blake said.

  She smiled at him. “And I’ll get right on the forum.”

  He nodded and opened the door for them.

  “Have you found the fox woman’s car?” Trey asked before Blake could shoo them out the door.

  He turned back and blew out a long breath. “My deputy just started on it. He has to gather all the plates, look up the registrations, and then compare them to the list. That takes time.”

  “We’re eager to get her identified,” Eryn said, likely in an attempt to appease Blake.

  “As am I.” Blake scrubbed a hand over his face.

  His frustration didn’t deter Trey. “I assume if you strike out with cars in the lot that you’ll have deputies canvass the area and also watch for abandoned vehicles.”

  “Exactly. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. The car could very well be in the lot, and we’ll have the woman’s ID soon.”

  13

  Eryn sat back in the desk chair and pondered her recent discovery. On the popular computer forum, she located the private message where Rodrick shared the rental address with a guy who went by the screen name ShadowPrince. She’d gathered as much information as she could on the guy, short of having Blake get a warrant to request ShadowPrince’s login credentials. Something she would ask him to do if needed.

  But first she had to give it some thought. Did the name mean anything? Was he a hacker who worked in the shadows? One who believed he was royalty? Maybe exceptional at what he did?

  She quickly opened a search engine and typed in ShadowPrince. A book series came up in the search results, but so did several forums where ShadowPrince was active. In those forums, he referred to the dark web, an area of the Internet that most people didn’t know about and where criminals prospered. The perfect place to buy ransomware. She needed to dig deeper to find his true identity, but if he was familiar with the dark web, he also knew how to hide his identity from others.

  Bekah cried out with joy, grabbing Eryn’s attention. She was bouncing on Trey’s lap and singing “This Little Light of Mine,” her favorite Bible song. He watched her intently, a soft smile on his face, and if Eryn was right, a hint of longing for his own child.

  One thing she knew for certain after these last few days with him. He really was a good guy. A great guy, even, and would make a wonderful dad. If she ever considered dating again, it would be with a man like him.

  He looked up and caught her watching him. His smile widened, and her heart started thumping.

  Man, he got to her in a way she hadn’t experienced with anyone but Rich. And maybe not even this intensely with him. It had been too long to remember. And maybe that was all this was. She was longing for something she’d once had. But if she kept her mind focused on what had happened with Rich, surely she could resist Trey.

  Bekah spun. “I’m hungry, Mommy.”

  “Then let’s get that lunch.” Eryn closed her laptop and tucked it under her arm so she could go straight to her class after their meal. “Go get Gammy.”

  Bekah ran to the bedroom as fast as her chubby legs could carry her, and Eryn had to smile over her daughter’s enthusiasm for everything.

  “She’ s something else.” Trey laughed as he got up.

  Eryn stepped over to him. “If she ever gets to be too much for you, please tell me. You didn’t sign up to be a babysitter. Well, at least not for anyone but me.”

  “No worries. It’s been fun.”

  She kept her focus on him, searching for any hint that he was just being polite.

  “What?”

  “Does anything ever bother you?”

  His eyes twinkled. “Sure, you do.”

  “What?” Her mouth dropped open.

  He chuckled and with the tip of his finger, he lifted her chin. “In a good way, Eryn. A very good way.”

  “Mommy, how come Trey is holding your head up?” Bekah skipped up to them. “Is it too heavy?”

  Trey burst out laughing and lowered his hand. Bekah immediately slipped hers into his and towed him toward the exit.

  He paused by the door and released her hand. “Wait here a minute, sweetheart.”

  He stepped out.

  Bekah pouted. “Where’d he go? I want him to come to lunch with us.”

  “Don’t worry. He’s waiting outside the door for us.”

  “But why? I want to hold his hand.”

  “Remember how I told you I have to work? Well, Trey does, too, and part of his job is to step outside before we leave to make sure the hallway is clear.”

  Her face screwed up like she planned to ask one of her famous questions, but Eryn’s mother joined them, taking Bekah’s attention. Eryn wasn’t often thankful for a four-year-old’s short attention span, but she was at the moment.

  Eryn opened the door. Bekah bolted for Trey and took his hand. They made their way down to the restaurant and into a big booth, and once again it felt like they were a little family. She tried to ignore the feelings that warmed her heart, but they lingered through the entire meal.

  Bekah pushed her empty ice cream bowl away. “Can we go to the playground again? Or swimming? Or for a walk? Or to the beach? Or—”

  “It’s time for your nap,” Eryn interrupted before her daughter could mention another outing.

  Bekah crossed her arms. “Don’t want a nap. Not sleepy.”

  “Then you can take a rest,” Eryn’s mother said.

  “No! Don’t want to rest.” Bekah’s face screwed up, and she burst into tears, drawing the attention of the other diners.

  Eryn scooped her sleepy daughter up into her arms, she snuck a quick peek at Trey but he seemed unaffected by the boisterous tantrum.

  “Shh, pumpkin.” Eryn rocked Bekah and rubbed her back until her tears wound down. “Gammy will take you up to the room, and when I get done teaching my class I’ll come up, too. Then maybe we can do something fun.”

  “Promise we’ll have fun?”

  “Promise.”

  “K.” She wiped her eyes and slid off Eryn’s lap.

  Eryn offered her mother an apologetic look for sending her off with a cranky child, but her mom simply smiled, patted Eryn’s shoulder, and took Bekah’s hand to leave.

  Eryn watched them depart and sighed. “Now I’ll bet you’ve had enough.”

  “Actually, no,” Trey said, seeming as pleasant as usual. “She’s bound to have cranky times. We all do.”

  “Who are you?” Eryn laughed, and their gazes locked.

  His heated up, and she forgot all about the meltdown. About the people around them. The potential danger. She simply reveled in the way he was looking at her as if he never wanted to stop. And at the moment she didn’t want him to.

  His phone dinged, and he jerked his gaze away to look at the text. “It’s from Riley. You’re cleared, and we should get going.”

  She nodded, jumping up and reclaiming her work composure. What was she thinking? She had an important class to teach and needed to be vigilant of her surroundings at all times.

  She followed him out of the restaurant and the security guard arrived to lead them into the staff catacombs. After a very roundabout trip, they reached the classroom and the guard departed. She connected her computer to the projector then brought up her PowerPoint presentation and made sure it displayed properly on the large screen.

  She turned to Trey. “I’m all set, and I’m going to head to the main door. I usually greet the participants as they arrive.”

  He ran a hand over his hair. “Not today, okay?”

  She loved how even with his apparent angst, he asked her, and it made her want to cooperate. Meeting the
class members wasn’t urgent, and she could let it go. “Okay.”

  She was rewarded with a wide smile that made her suck in a breath.

  “Riley will remain at the front, and I’ll take the back door,” he said. “I’ve already notified the staff that they won’t be allowed to come in during the class.”

  “This sounds like overkill to me, but I appreciate you arranging it.”

  He came closer and held her gaze. “I’ll do anything I have to do when it comes to keeping you safe. Don’t you know that by now?”

  She nodded. “But I wish you weren’t so invested. I feel like I’m taking advantage of that when there can never be anything between us.”

  “There’s already something between us.”

  “Right, but I mean a relationship.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” he said, his good mood still in place. “I’ve been thinking about it, too, and actually, it’s not a good time for me to get involved either.”

  Just what she wanted to hear, so why did it bother her? Maybe she wanted an explanation. “Why’s that?”

  His smile faltered. “With the injury, my life is really unsettled. I can’t support a family if I don’t have a job.”

  “There’s Gage’s offer,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, and I hope if I really can’t return to patrol, I’ll be able to accept it. But…” He shrugged.

  “But you’re still worried these feelings between us complicate it.”

  “Aren’t you?” he asked, his tone quieter now.

  “Maybe.”

  “Besides, I don’t even know what Gage pays. And I have to make a good living to afford the five kids I plan to have.” He smiled then, that wide luminous grin that sent her head spinning.

  She let out a breath of relief at his ability to lighten the mood so she didn’t have this on her mind during the class.

  Riley opened the door. “We good to let participants in?”

  “We’re a go,” Trey called out. “Be sure to scan everyone carefully.”

  “Roger that.” Riley propped the door open and positioned himself so everyone had to file past him.

  Eryn stood to the side and watched participants enter the room. Usually, she tried to predict the officers who would be strong interactors, but today she was watching for shady or evasive behavior. The hard part to accept was that most—if not all—of the officers would be carrying, so she couldn’t use that as a reason to keep an eye on anyone in particular. She, on the other hand, never carried during her trainings. She’d learned that for some reason, many men were enamored by women who carried, and it changed the tone of her class. So she’d stopped long ago.