For His Daughter

by Dani Sinclair

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’re going home.”

  “Only if that’s where you’re going.”

  “I’m not in the mood to argue with you, Kayla.”

  “Good. Let’s go over to Fay’s and finish looking around.”

  He stared at her.

  “We never finished our earlier search, remember? Who knows what we might turn up?”

  His expression turned thoughtful. “Do you still have the key to her house?”

  “Of course. I even still have the rubber gloves.”

  His lips quirked up. “I don’t think we’ll need those this time, but I’d like the key.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Kayla—”

  “I’m coming with you. That way it won’t be illegal entry. Fay gave me this key. I have the right to go inside and look for my favorite sweater.”

  Lee glanced pointedly at the blazing sky.

  “Well, it might cool off,” she said with a grin. “You never know.”

  “Kayla—”

  “I’m going with you.” She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.

  “You’re a stubborn woman.”

  “You don’t know the half. I keep telling you, we’re in this together.”

  Lee surprised her by leaning over and kissing her. When he would have pulled back quickly, she held him there and made a thorough job of it.

  “You’re determined to get me arrested for lewd behavior, aren’t you?”

  “Kissing isn’t lewd.”

  “It is if I follow up on what that sort of kiss leads to.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  His smile was relaxed, nearly wiping out the worry lines that creased his forehead. “I’m glad you’re on my side.”

  Satisfied, Kayla settled back for the short drive to Fay’s house. This time Lee pulled boldly into the driveway. Kayla stepped from the car and came to a halt.

  “What’s the matter?” Lee followed her gaze to the street.

  “That’s my brother’s car.”

  “I thought he rode a motorcycle.”

  “He has both.”

  Lee frowned. “Wait here.” As he started across the lawn, Kayla realized someone was inside the vehicle. She chased after Lee, thinking she was going to have to break him of this idea that he could order her around like a puppy.

  Lee reached the car ahead of her. He tried the door handle and then ran to the other side of the car.

  “Kayla, call an ambulance.” Lee had no success on the other side of the car, either, but Kayla had a clear view inside now. Alex was slumped over the steering wheel. Blood was matted in the back of his hair.

  “Alex?”

  Lee muttered a curse. “Do you have a set of his car keys?”

  She shook her head, numb with fear. Lee scanned the neighboring yards. He ran to a decorative metal sign in the nearest front yard that read Cat Crossing. Pulling it from the ground, he ran back and swung the sign at the window. It took three tries before the window cracked and two more blows to shatter it. He tossed down the sign and opened the door.

  “He’s alive,” Lee said, as he searched for a pulse in her brother’s neck. “Call for help.”

  She fumbled in her purse, finally remembering the cell phone. Her fingers dialed as Lee ran gentle probing hands over her brother’s inert form.

  “HE WAS BEATEN,” the doctor told them bluntly, hours later. “He has a concussion, two fractured ribs, lacerations and massive bruising. Those aren’t life threatening, but I’m concerned with the head injury. He’s fading in and out of consciousness. We’ll need to monitor him for at least twenty-four hours to be sure the brain doesn’t begin to swell.”

  Lee gripped Kayla’s icy hand.

  “There really isn’t anything you can do for him at this point. He’s young, he’s healthy...” The doctor shrugged. “He should pull through, but we won’t know the extent of possible brain damage for a while yet.”

  “Brain damage?” Kayla echoed hollowly.

  “Thank you,” Lee offered. He ushered an unresisting Kayla outside.

  “Lee, he can’t have brain damage,” she whispered in anguish.

  “He won’t,” Lee said forcefully. “Your brother is tough as nails, Kayla. I’m sure his head is just as tough and stubborn as yours. He’ll be okay.” Lee prayed that was true, knowing how close the bond was between the brother and sister.

  “But—”

  “Trust me.”

  She stared at him for several seconds and then slowly began to nod. “Osher,” she said.

  Lee relaxed, knowing she was starting to think past the doctor’s tactless words. “I suggested that to Hepplewhite. Believe it or not, that was the first person he checked out. Osher doesn’t have a mark on him, but your brother has bruised knuckles, Kayla. Whoever did this didn’t walk away unmarked. I’ve struggled with your brother, remember? He’s tough, he’s fast, and he’s smart. He’s going to be fine, Kayla.”

  She blinked back a film of tears. “What about Jason Ruckles?”

  “Anything’s possible, including the fact that this beating may have nothing to do with Fay’s murder. Your brother is running with some tough people, Kayla. It’s possible he ticked someone off over something totally unrelated to Fay’s murder. In fact, I’d say that was probably a stronger possibility.”

  “But you don’t know that.”

  “No, I don’t know that, however, I took this from his pocket before the ambulance came.”

  He held up a small cardboard square containing a sealed white pill. “What’s that?”

  “Probably the same drug I was given the night I argued with Fay. Either your brother drugged my drink, or he found Fay’s supply.”

  “Alex didn’t—!”

  “Shh. I don’t think so, either. But if we assume Fay did, this may indicate he had time to search Fay’s house before he was attacked. What do you say we go back and have a look around ourselves?”

  “Won’t the police be there?”

  “Depends on whether they’ve brought in the county boys. With only a four-man department, Hepplewhite’s stretched pretty thin right now.”

  She nodded decisively.

  “Let’s do it.”

  He knew any activity was better than letting her sit and brood over Alex’s condition. As they came up on the exit ramp for Fools Point, Lee slowed the car, debating.

  “You want to talk to Ruckles first, don’t you?” Kayla asked.

  He nodded, not at all surprised by her perception.

  “Chief Hepplewhite won’t be pleased.”

  “No. He won’t.”

  Kayla had a predatory expression. “Who cares? I’d like to see if Jason’s knuckles are bruised.”

  Lee chuckled at her fierce expression. “Fine with me. Do you mind if we stop at the motel first?”

  “Why? Any evidence not destroyed in the fire will be in police hands now, won’t it?”

  “Yeah. I just want to check out something Hepplewhite told me about the murder scene.”

  Lee pulled into the empty parking lot. Wood smoke scented the muggy air as they stepped from the car. The office area and family quarters had been completely destroyed, leaving blackened rubble behind. The entire right wing had suffered enormous damage. Much of the roof had collapsed on the right side of the ell, while the other side was water-damaged rather than fire-damaged.

  Lee led the way to the unit where Fay had been murdered.

  “What are you looking for?” Kayla asked.

  “I want to see the sliding glass door around back.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ll show you.”

  Behind the motel, the fire damage looked even worse. Fortunately, Fay’s unit was near the end so the fire hadn’t done more than scorch a few walls. Most of the damage here was caused by smoke and water rather than flames.

  The sliding glass door was locked, the drape closed, but the metal security bar wasn’t in place. It hadn’t been in
place the morning after the murder, either, Lee remembered. Bearing in mind what Hepplewhite had told him, Lee pulled hard on the door, lifting up on the handle and jiggling the door in its track at the same time. He was rewarded when the lock loosened and worked itself free. The door slid open.

  “How did you do that?” Kayla demanded.

  A weight lifted from Lee’s chest. The police had solved the locked room question the day of the murder. If he hadn’t been so rattled that morning, he might have discovered this himself. Still, Lee breathed his first sigh of real relief. It was one thing to be told the lock was defective, it was another to see the evidence firsthand. If he hadn’t tampered with the crime scene, the police might have been able to prove someone else had been in the room.

  On the other hand, the evidence would have been so strong against him, they might not have looked any further. For certain he would have been arrested and then he never would have been given this opportunity to get to know Kayla.

  “Hepplewhite said the maid found the room locked from the inside that morning,” he explained for Kayla’s benefit. “The police discovered this lock was broken, which told them how the killer had gotten out of a locked room. I just wanted to have a quick look at it for myself.”

  “Oh.”

  There wasn’t much to see inside the room. The bedding, including the mattress, was gone. As was everything of a personal nature. All that was left was an empty, water-stained motel room that reeked of fire damage.

  Lee stepped back outside and tugged the glass door closed. The lock fell into place just as it must have done when he left that morning.

  “Lee, do you think the killer knew about the faulty lock?”

  “Either that or he just got lucky.”

  Kayla looked disappointed.

  “Don’t worry, Hepplewhite is checking everyone connected to this motel.” He walked toward Trowbridge’s unit. “I wonder if there’s anything left of the pictures on the wall.”

  “Wouldn’t the police have taken them for evidence?”

  “Evidence of what? Those pictures still don’t prove a thing. The fire marshall was all over this place, but he wasn’t looking for evidence of murder, only arson.”

  “There can’t be any doubt about the arson, can there?”

  “No.”

  Kayla stopped dead. “Lee?” The odd note in her voice braced him for trouble. But Kayla stared at the motel pool opposite them. The water was already dark with algae. Leaves and bits of ash and debris floated on the surface. So did something else.

  Lee broke into a run.

  The gate leading to the pool was unlocked. Lee ran inside. Along the metal fence hung a telescoping pole with a curved hook on one end. Remembering his days as a lifeguard, he snatched up the shepherd’s crook, extending the pole until he could slide the hook under the body that floated facedown in the brackish water.

  He pulled the victim to the side of the pool and dropped on his stomach to get more leverage to lift the man from the water. But the body rolled and Lee stopped. No amount of resuscitation would bring Barney Trowbridge back to life.

  “Oh, my God,” Kayla whispered behind him.

  Lee released the corpse. A bullet had torn its way through the man’s face, while another had gone through his neck. Barney had been dead before he ever hit the water.

  Lee quickly surveyed their surroundings. His fingers itched for his service weapon. They were completely exposed here at the pool. He stood and walked over to Kayla. “You okay?”

  She swallowed hard. “I...think so.”

  “Have you got your cell phone?”

  She opened her purse and reached inside.

  He took the phone from her hand, firmly guiding her toward the gate. “Head back to the car.”

  Her head lifted quickly. “Do you think the killer is still here?”

  “I don’t know, and we aren’t taking any more chances. Let’s go.”

  “I thought Barney was in the hospital under police guard.”

  “So did I. Let’s wait up front.”

  While they waited for the police, Lee quickly stepped past the yellow crime tape, into the rubble of what had once been Barney Trowbridge’s apartment. The unit had been well gutted. Lee couldn’t even open the charred remains of a wooden dresser. Debris crunched underfoot and he noticed whatever remained of the pictures was gone. Something suddenly skidded out from under his shoe. Lee lifted the misshapen bit of metal and stone.

  “What did you find?”

  He stepped onto the sidewalk and held out his hand. An approaching siren heralded the arrival of the police.

  Kayla wiped at the stone and looked at him. “It’s Alex’s ring!”

  “I thought it might be. Stick it in your purse.”

  The Fools Point police car pulled into the lot with a squeal of tires. Thad Osher climbed out, hand hovering over his gun. Lee wondered if he always approached a scene this way. He decided he could really dislike this man.

  “Move away from the building,” Osher commanded, “and keep your hands where I can see them.”

  “We didn’t do anything! We just found the body,” Kayla protested.

  “Whose body?”

  Lee shook his head. Kayla caught the motion and clamped her lips together in a tight line.

  “Why don’t we wait for Hepplewhite?” Lee suggested.

  “You aren’t giving orders here, Garvey.”

  A second police car pulled into the lot, lights flashing, but without the wail of the siren.

  “Fortunately for all of us, neither are you,” Lee told Osher. And he noticed Hepplewhite had been right. Osher showed no visible signs of having been in a fight. He did, however wear a wedding ring.

  Too bad the pictures were gone. He wondered if Hepplewhite had realized their importance. Lee figured it was a good bet Osher had been one of the men on Trowbridge’s wall.

  Hepplewhite came forward with an angry scowl. “You two can’t stay out of trouble for five minutes, can you? What are you doing here, Garvey?”

  “Helping out?”

  Hepplewhite clearly condemned that sentiment with a sour expression. “Where’s the body?”

  “In the pool out back.”

  “You left him there?”

  “He wasn’t going anywhere. I pulled him to the side. When it was obvious he was already dead, I left everything alone to preserve the crime scene. I thought you had Trowbridge under restraint at the hospital.”

  Osher scowled.

  “He slipped away,” Hepplewhite said mildly. “Wait here.”

  Lee watched him stride toward the pool and found Osher glaring at him. “Failed Bodyguarding 101, huh, Osher?”

  “Shut up.”

  But the red that spread up his neck told Lee he’d made a direct hit. No wonder Osher was bent out of shape. He’d let a material witness escape and get killed. Hepplewhite couldn’t be any too happy with his second-in-command.

  It wasn’t until late afternoon that Hepplewhite sent them on their way. The police investigation was in full swing. They’d given their statement several times and would probably have to give it again several more times, Lee knew. Hepplewhite wasn’t happy with them.

  Once free, they returned to the hospital to check on Alex. His condition hadn’t changed, but the doctor felt he’d be upgraded by morning. Kayla was allowed inside to sit with him while Lee made a few phone calls. He started with his lawyer and then his sister. By the time he got back upstairs, Kayla was waiting for him.

  “He woke for a few minutes, Lee! He knew who I was!”

  “I’m glad.”

  “You were right. He’s going to be okay,” she announced happily.

  Lee put his arm around her as they walked back to the car. After a brief discussion, they drove to the restaurant where it had all begun. Unlike the last time he’d been inside Jake’s, there were no lines of people, but there was a decent crowd for a weeknight. After being ushered to a table and placing their drink orders, Kayla went to the lad
ies’ room, so Lee walked over to talk with the bartender on duty. While a chatty fellow, once he saw the badge Lee flashed, the man wasn’t much help.

  “Heck, don’t you guys get tired of asking questions?” He laughed ruefully. “Like I told everyone else, the place was a zoo that night. Who would have thought so many people would eat out on Father’s Day? Jake had three new people working who couldn’t even take a simple drink order without screwing it up. I seriously doubt anyone here remembers anything about that night except what a relief it was when we finally closed.”

  Lee didn’t doubt him. “Do you remember when a couple of people collided in here with a tray full of drinks?”

  The bartender groaned out loud. “Don’t remind me. That girl was a hopeless klutz. An hour earlier, she spilled coffee all over one of the local cops. He was sitting over there in the corner minding his own business when she bumps into his table and a full cup of coffee goes all over his lap. Man, was he ticked. Good thing he wasn’t in uniform or he probably would have run her in. Thad doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.”

  “Thad Osher?”

  “Yeah. You know him?”

  “We’ve met.”

  The bartender gave a half laugh. “To know him is to dislike the guy. He’s not a bad cop, don’t get me wrong, he’s just a little too gung ho for a sleepy town like this one.”

  Lee spotted Kayla coming out of the ladies’ room. He thanked the bartender and walked her back to the table.

  “Did you get anything?” she asked.

  “Osher was in here the night Fay was killed. Alone, and apparently off duty.”

  “Most of the town was here that night, Lee.”

  “I know. Did you notice Osher wears a wedding ring?”

  Kayla shook her head. “Does it matter? Oh! You think he was the man Fay was supposed to meet?”

  “The thought did cross my mind.”

  “We should tell Hepplewhite.”

  “Just because the man is married and was seen kissing the victim is hardly proof that he murdered her. We need evidence, Kayla. So far all we have are suspects. Where’s the motive?”

  Kayla sighed. The waitress appeared with their drink order and Kayla looked pointedly at the bottle and frosty beer stein on the table in front of him. Lee smiled and turned it around so the label faced her. “Root beer,” he said mildly. “I’m not a complete idiot.”