“But we haven’t been dating that long,” she added, hesitancy back in her voice.
His blue gaze captured hers. “Do you love me?” he asked.
Her smile widened as she answered, “Yes. You know I do.”
“When you look into the future, who do you see yourself with?”
“Mitch…you know it’s you. It’s been you since I was six years old!”
“Then don’t you think we’re now old enough to know what we want? I know I want you in my life…for as long as you’ll have me, and, babe? I’m hoping that’s gonna be forever.” Seeing her smile, he brought her in for a kiss…a sweet kiss, full of promise.
Pulling back, he said, “So, if you want, dump the insurance policy. When we have kids down the road, we’ll get our own policies.”
“When?”
“Oh, yeah…no doubt about it. You and me, staying together? Count on it!”
*
Mitch stared at the board on the wall in the station workroom, knowing something was staring him in the face and frustrated the culprit’s identity did not appear before him. His eyes roamed from the pictures on the board to the map of The Dunes Resort. Condos. Lots of condos. Many owned by companies for their employees. Who the hell are these companies?
Picking up the phone, he called Gareth. The phone rang several times with no answer. Jesus, Gareth…you need a receptionist! Just as he was about to hang up, Gareth answered.
Before giving the PI a chance to greet him, Mitch immediately asked, “Did you find out what companies own any condos at The Dunes?”
“Working on it today. They would be public records at the courthouse. Whatcha thinking?”
“Thomas works for a big real estate company. I want to know if they’re owners. That’d give him opportunity to be here in town and not have to go through the checkpoints at the security station at the resort. If he had the code, he could come and go at will. He could have stopped by her place, done the shooting, and been around for the fire, all within easy distance from her without having to travel back over the bridge.”
“You don’t believe his fiancé’s statement for his alibi?”
“Hell, no! I don’t trust her to tell the truth where he’s concerned at all.”
“Okay, give me a little bit of time and I’ll let you know what I find out.”
As Mitch hung up, Grant and Ginny walked in from beach patrol, arguing about who had the best crabcakes in the area as she headed straight to the refrigerator to grab her lunch.
“I’m telling you, the diner’s got amazing crab cakes. And don’t roll your eyes at me. They may just be a diner, but they fry them up so crisp on the outside and—”
“Yeah, the focus is on fried,” she argued. “Too much grease. The Sunset View Restaurant broils them and they’re healthier.”
“It’s a crab cake. A little piece of heaven on Earth. Who gives a fuck if they’re healthy?”
Before the argument could get further, Mitch interrupted, gaining the officers’ immediate attention. “Got Gareth checking on the companies that own any of The Dunes condos. I realized that could be how Thomas moved so easily around without detection if he was able to slip back into one.”
“You think it’s him for sure?” Grant asked.
“Don’t know, but he’s the only one with motive, means, and opportunity…especially if he’s managed to be local during some of this.”
Ginny added, “No one would notice him…not with all the tourists in town.”
“And Vanessa?” Grant prodded.
“I’m not discounting her either, but that million dollar insurance policy in Thomas’ hands is motive enough for me to want to pursue him.” Mitch viewed Grant carefully, seeing his intelligent eyes viewing the board. “What are you thinking?”
“Don’t know, but there’s something about the sister that I don’t trust either. Even if she’s not the one who’s doing it, …but hired someone.” Dropping his head down to stare at his feet for a moment, Grant sighed. “God, high school seems a million years ago. But I still remember how, even back then, I noticed how condescending she was to those of us who lived here. So maybe I’m holding on to some regressed dislike.”
“That’s honest,” Mitch agreed. “It is hard when you have a personal dislike with a suspect. It can cloud judgment. Doesn’t make them innocent…just means you have to look at the facts carefully.” He looked back at the board before adding, “I’ve got the same problem with Tori’s ex. Part of me really wants him to be the guilty party.”
*
Cabin fever was stealing her sanity as Tori dusted the same piece of furniture for the third time. Jason had gone for the morning to meet with the town’s city manager concerning the architectural plans for his garage and shop. Jillian and Katelyn had gone to the North Heron Gardening Club meeting in Easton and would be gone for the morning. Mitch had mentioned that his dad had a doctor’s appointment in Virginia Beach and his mom had driven him.
At her wits ends, she tossed the dusting rag down and flopped on the sofa. I hate this! It’s like being held hostage in my own house! Just then her phone rang and she answered, glad for the distraction.
“Ms. Bradford?”
“Yes, this is Tori Bradford.”
“This is Dr. Camden from Virginia Beach Memorial Hospital. Your mother was brought in early this morning with stomach pains and we have admitted her for observation. You were listed as the point of contact.”
“Oh, my God! Will she be all right?” Tori forced her grip to loosen on her cell phone as her heart pounded.
“At this point, we can’t tell anymore until some tests come back, but she is asking for you.”
Interrupting him, she exclaimed, “I’ll be there. I’ll leave right now. It should take me about forty minutes to get to the hospital.” Already jumping up, she barely remembered disconnecting as she ran up the flights of stairs to her bedroom. Throwing on capris and a t-shirt and pulling her hair up in a ponytail, she flew back down the stairs and out the door, pausing only to lock it behind her.
Once in the car, she dialed Mitch as she backed out of her driveway, but she could only leave a message. “Mitch? I just got a call from Memorial Hospital in Virginia Beach. Mom’s there so I’m heading over the bay bridge to see her. I’ll call as soon as I have any news.” With that, she was ready to head out of town and stepped on her accelerator.
*
Gareth hustled into the Police Station, looking for Mitch. Gaining a nod from Mildred, he jogged toward the back workroom. “Mitch!” he shouted, gaining the attention of the group. “I found something. Not sure what it means but wanted you to have it immediately.”
Mitch’s heart leaped, sure that the noose was about to tighten on whomever was threatening Tori. “What? What’ve you got?”
Shoving a couple of pieces of paper toward Mitch, while the others quickly circled around, Gareth said, “Here’s a list of companies that own condos in The Dunes Resort. Take a look at the ninth one on the list.”
Scanning, Mitch read the name. Looking up, he nodded, then announced to the group, “This may be exactly what we need to get them.” Jolted into action, he said, “Sam, you and Ginny have town and beach patrol today. Burt, I need you to stay here and work with Gareth to see what else you can dig up on this. Keep it all legit. Go to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, or at least call her, to let them know what we’re doing. Grant, you come with me. We’re going to pay them a little visit.”
With nods of agreement from everyone, Mitch and Grant hurried out to the cruiser. Looking down at his phone, Mitch said, “You drive. I’ve got a message from Tori.” Before he could listen, he and Grant were on the road heading toward the long bridge. Time to finally break this case wide open!
Chapter 29
Ten minutes after Tori left her house, she heard a loud whump and felt her car jerk over to the right. Quickly pulling off to the shoulder, she put her car in park. Getting out, she walked around to the passenger side, staring i
n dismay at the blown front tire. No! I’ve got to get to the hospital! Glad that the blowout occurred before she got on the long bridge, she opened the passenger door to grab her phone from her purse. I may be Jason’s first customer before he’s even opened his shop.
“Miss? Miss? Can I help you?”
Tori leaned back up, noticing a car had pulled directly behind her. A nicely dressed, handsome man alighted from the vehicle and her instinctive nervousness dissipated as she saw an attractive, smiling woman in the passenger seat.
“I’ve had a blowout,” she explained, pointing to the flat tire.
“We were heading into Baytown when we saw you swerve and turned around to check on you. Can we take you somewhere?”
His voice was pleasant and she noted he made sure to stand away from her in a conciliatory manner. His greyish blond hair and mustache were neatly trimmed and she had the feeling she had met him before. Her mind too full of what she needed to do, she dismissed trying to place him. “I was going to call a friend in Baytown to see if he could come tow my car.”
“We can give you a lift so you don’t have to sit on the side of the road. Just lock up your car and we can have you there quickly.”
Seeming uncertain, she added, “I was on the way to Virginia Beach. My mother is in the hospital.”
The woman leaned her head out of the passenger window, concern on her face. “Oh, I’m sorry. If we take you back to Baytown, can you get someone to drive you there? Then you won’t have to be sitting on the side of the road waiting with your car before trying to get to the hospital.”
Nodding, Tori realized she was right. “Thanks,” she replied. “That makes sense. Let me call my friend to tell him about the car.”
The man and woman shared a look but neither said anything while she made the call. He did not answer, so she left a message. “Jason, when you have a chance, my car is on the side of the road, about half a mile from the Exxon on Rte 13. I’m getting a lift back into town with a nice couple and will get Jillian to take me to Virginia Beach. If you can arrange to check on my car later, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!”
Disconnecting, she grabbed her purse and locked her car. Following the man back to his BMW, she nodded as he held the back door for her. Sliding in, she forced a smile at the woman who turned back to look at her. Jesus, I just want to get to the hospital! Can this day get any weirder? Leaning back in the seat, she closed her eyes momentarily, before reaching for her phone. Wanting to call the hospital to let them know she would be late, she startled when the woman in the front seat spoke sharply.
“Put the phone down.”
Looking up at the harsh order from the woman, who had just been smiling, Tori’s eyes widened in shock at the tip of the gun pointing at her.
*
Mitch listened to Tori’s message then relayed it to Grant before calling her back. The call went straight to voicemail. “Damn, I wish I had listened to this earlier. Her mom’s in the hospital and Tori’s headed there to be with her. She said it didn’t sound serious, but the doctor said Tori was listed as the contact person.”
“We can detour and go to the hospital first,” Grant offered. “You can talk to Tori, check on her mom, and then we’ll finish our interview.”
Looking at his watch, Mitch shook his head. “No, I’ll let her get there and find out what’s going on with her mom. We can do the interview and then head over to the hospital. Maybe by that time, she’ll know more.”
Thirty minutes later, Mitch’s anger simmered as he and Grant climbed back into their cruiser. Glancing at his Chief, Grant asked, “Since he’s not at work, you want to go by his home?”
“Hell, yeah,” Mitch growled. “Don’t know if she’ll be there, but we can see. I’d rather not upset Tori at the hospital now if I don’t have to.”
Soon, Mitch and Grant were standing on the front stoop of the large house. The housekeeper let them in and then moved back as Vanessa walked into the entrance foyer. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she saw them.
“I don’t have anything else to say to you,” she bit out.
“We’re not here to talk to you, but to your husband. Seems you left out the little fact that his company owns one of The Dunes Resort condos.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened before darted between the two men, her nose flaring in irritation. “Well, even if he does, that hardly means I’m using it to try to murder my sister.”
“True, but I’d like to talk to him nonetheless. He’s not in his office today so I thought I’d try here.”
Mitch observed Vanessa’s breathing change as her grimace tightened. And for the first time, he noted she appeared nervous.
“I have no idea where my husband is at the moment. He could be in a meeting or having lunch with a client. He has many important clients.”
“I’m curious why you aren’t with your mother in the hospital,” he commented, watching her reaction. Instead of anger, she met his statement with confusion.
“Huh? Why would I be at the hospital?”
A sliver of fear began to coil around Mitch’s heart as he stared at Vanessa. “Tori got a call this morning from a doctor saying Vera Bradford was in the hospital.”
Cocking her head to the side, Vanessa argued, “Well, she’s misinformed. I was just on the phone to mom when you two showed up. She’s fine and planning on attending her Garden Club meeting today.”
Forcing his knees to hold his body up, Mitch grabbed his phone as Grant immediately took Vanessa by the arm and moved her to the side.
Calling Tori first and receiving no answer, he then called the hospital. Receiving the news that no Vera Bradford had been admitted, he turned back to Vanessa.
“I would advise you to tell us where your husband is, Mrs. Hurkamp. We need to talk to him…before there’s another attempt on your sister’s life.”
Still standing in her entrance foyer, Vanessa’s haughty expression was replaced with uncertainty that slowly morphed into anger. “I honestly don’t know where my husband is right now. He…keeps…well, let’s just say that I’ve had a feeling that he isn’t exactly alone on his lunch hour…and he’s certainly not with me.”
Mitch, his mind struggling to focus on her words, was a step behind. Grant, glancing at his Chief, took over.
“Do you have any idea who your husband’s…uh…lunch partner might be?”
Lips tight, Vanessa lifted her chin as she held their gazes. “I have no idea.” Barking out a rude laugh, she added, “At first, I thought it was payback.”
“Payback?”
“Yes. I wondered if my sister was having an affair with my new husband as payback for my affai—well, indiscretion with Thomas.”
“What made you think it was Tori?” Mitch asked, anger simmering.
“I saw him out one day, leaving a restaurant,” she admitted. “And before you suggest it might have just been with a client believe me, the hand on her ass and the kiss he gave made me sure.” Her voice had taken on a hard edge, incredulity seeping into her words. “A fucking red-head. He was with a fucking red-head.”
Turning, Mitch walked briskly out of the house with Grant on his heels. Pulling out his phone, he called the Station. “Mildred, I need the make, model, and license number for Nelson Hurkamp. Once you have it, put out a BOLO on it and call Sheriff Colt Hudson. I want his deputies on this as well. Grant and I are heading back now. And find someone who knows where the hell Tori is! ETA is thirty minutes.”
Grant gunned the SUV, heading to the entrance of the bay bridge. Glancing sideways, he watched as Mitch tried to call Tori’s cell again only to curse when it went to voicemail. “What are you thinking, Mitch?”
Before he could answer, Mitch’s phone rang. Answering, he listened as Jason told him about Tori’s car. “I found her car on the side of the road, but her tire had been tampered with. The blowout was intentional, man. And she never made it back to town. No one’s seen her.”
“Get everyone you know to the station,” Mitch barked. Hangin
g up, he called Mildred back. “Call the others. Have them meet back at the station, and that includes Colt and any spare deputies he’s got.”
Rubbing his hand over his face, willing the shaking to still, he looked at Grant and replied, “Could be anyone with Nelson, but I’ve got a bad feeling I know who the red-head is. I was looking at the fucking wrong people all along.”
*
Tori sat staring at the gun pointing toward her before managing to lift her gaze to the pretty red-headed woman whose eyes were now hard. Seeing the man make a movement, she watched as he pulled his mustache off.
“Still don’t recognize me? My dear sister-in-law, you should have come to my wedding to Vanessa, then you would have recognized me.”
“Ne…Nelson? Neslon Hurkamp?” Tori asked, her voice shaking. “But…I…what…”
“It’s very simple, my dear. I need you out of the way, but you’re proving to be quite the hard young woman to get rid of.”
Not understanding, she quickly looked out the window noticing they had passed the turnoff toward Baytown. Jerking her head back, the realization of being kidnapped finally hit. “You can’t do this,” she cried. “I’m nobody. This is madness.” Glancing back to the young woman sitting in front of her, she said, “Who are you? I don’t even know you.”
“No, but I know you. I know you are the woman my fiancé sees every time he makes love to me. Actually, he just fucks me, but I know in his mind he’s making love to you.”
Her eyes searched the woman’s face, but she still did not recognize her. She looks familiar…actually she looks kind of like me. Like me…Oh, my God! “Thomas? You’re my ex-husband’s fiancé?”
Laughing, the woman said, “Give the woman a gold star! She finally figured it out!”
“But I’m no threat to you. I don’t want him back. I—”
“It doesn’t matter if you want him or not, bitch. I know in his heart he wants you. And that’s enough reason for me to want you out of the way. That, plus the million dollars he’ll get off the insurance policy.”
Coming Home: Baytown Boys Series Page 24