Targeted: A Ray Schiller Novel (The Ray Schiller Series Book 3)

by Marjorie Doering

  “You and Larry Benedict? Give me a break. When were you ever interested in him?”

  “Never. I was drunk, okay? Stinkin’ drunk. There’s no way I would have gone off with him under any other circumstances.”

  “Whatever. That still doesn’t explain the naked picture of you in Hugh’s bureau drawer.”

  Silent, Gail paid keen attention.

  “I’m getting to that,” Jessica said. “After your party, we went to his place and had a few more drinks. Things progressed from there, but even drunk, I finally came to my senses. I mean, c’mon…Larry Benedict? I told him thanks but no thanks and started gathering up my clothes.” An uncomfortable pause followed. “Okay, I know what you’re thinking. I admit things had gone pretty far, and he wasn’t exactly thrilled about my change of heart. But hey…tough.

  “Anyway, I heard him come up behind me and turned my head just as he snapped that picture. We argued about it, but it didn’t do me any good and I finally gave up and left. For the next few months, I half expected to find my bare ass plastered all over the internet, but the picture never showed up. I figured if the sick bastard wanted it for his own personal kicks, it wasn’t that big a deal. Disgusting, yes, but I could live with it.”

  “Then how did it get in Hugh’s things?”

  “For crying out loud, Amy... Larry must have given him the picture, or a copy of it. It’s that simple.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Bragging rights, or maybe it was payback for my walking out on him that night. Giving that picture to Hugh must have given Larry a good laugh. Maybe he had something even nastier in mind. He’s had his eye on you for ages, Amy. He could’ve counted on you finding that photo, knowing it would put a huge wedge between you and Hugh. That would up his odds of getting his foot in the door and his ass in your bed. I wouldn’t put it past that snake.

  “That’s it,” Jessica said. “The whole thing. Nothing ever happened between me and Hugh. Nothing.” There was a long pause. “Well, aren’t you going to say anything?”

  “I’ve got to think this through.”

  “Nicki believes me, Amy; why don’t you?”

  “Nicki?” Amy’s eyes widened. “She knows about the picture?”

  “Oh, damn. She’s going to kill me; I wasn’t supposed to let that slip.”

  “How did Nicki find out?”

  Jessica sighed long and loud. “She’s the one who found it. Nicki said she was looking through Hugh’s things, trying to see how much could be gotten rid of when she found the picture. Until she told me where she found that picture, I had no clue what happened to it. She jumped to the same wrong conclusion you did. Liz, too. Man, did I get an earful from her. My ears are still ringing. She let me have it. I couldn’t get a word in before she hung up on me. I still haven’t been able to get in touch with her to talk about it. At least Nicki and I got it straightened out over lunch the next day.”

  “Nicki should’ve told me about the picture as soon as she found it.”

  “You’ll have to take that up with her, Amy. I don’t know what else to say right now except that I’m really sorry for this whole stupid thing, but nothing ever went on between me and Hugh. That’s God’s truth.” A pause ensued. “I suppose my five minutes are about up, but please, think about what I’ve said. I don’t want to lose our friendship over this stupid misunderstanding. Call me, okay? Please.”

  Amy closed her cell phone as Officer Lathrop stepped forward and poured a glass of water for her. She took it from him with a quiet “Thank you” and turned to Gail. “What do you think?”

  Gail flinched as though she’d thrown a punch at her. “I’m not the right person to ask. I only met Jessie once, and briefly at that. I don’t think I can offer a fair opinion.”

  “But you must’ve gotten an impression at least. I wouldn’t ask, but I don’t know what to think. I don’t have any proof, just Jessie’s word.”

  “Then you may have to trust your instincts.”

  Amy’s eyes brimmed. “I don’t know how trustworthy those are.” She paused. “‘Love all, but trust a few.’”

  “Shakespeare,” Gail said, recognizing the line.

  “One of my mother’s favorite quotes,” Amy said. “I tend to do it backwards. Anyway, the thought of kicking Jessie out of my life is horrible, but if she’s lying to me… I don’t know what to think.”

  Gail hesitated, weighing her desire to help against her better judgment. “At the restaurant after your husband’s funeral, I got the impression that Jessie’s a free spirit, a little unpredictable maybe.”

  “She is,” Amy agreed. “You’ve nailed it.”

  “That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s untrustworthy. As for Larry Benedict, though… Like I said, I spoke to him briefly that day. Before we even introduced ourselves, he made me feel like a piece of meat. I felt very uncomfortable. I guess I don’t have much trouble picturing him pulling off a sleazy stunt like Jessie described.”

  “So you believe her?”

  “I’m saying it sounds plausible to me, that’s all. Look, you know Jessie way better than I do. You’re going to have to make that decision for yourself.”

  “I guess you’re right. Thanks. I’m sorry for putting you on the spot.”

  “That’s all right.” Gail got up and slipped into her coat. “I really do have to get going. I left Joey with a friend. Between him and her four-year-old daughter, she probably needs back-up by now.”

  “Back-up.” Amy smiled. “You even talk like Ray. I love that.”

  Unsure how to interpret the remark, Gail smiled without comment and walked to the door. “I hope you’re better soon, Amy.”

  Lathrop opened the door for Gail and followed her into the hallway. As he let the door close behind them, she did a quick check of his name tag. It read: Clay Lathrop. Clay. A nice solid name. A cowboy name—rough and ready. She let her eyes drift down to his left hand. No ring.

  “Thanks for letting me see her, Officer Lathrop,” she said. “About now, I’m sure Amy could use a shoulder to cry on. I’d offer her one of mine, but I can’t stay.” She smiled up at him. “Maybe if you volunteered one of yours, she’d take you up on it…assuming it’s not against regulations.”

  She sensed the idea appealed to him. Maybe there really was more than one way to skin a cat.

  30

  Ray looked up from his desk the next morning, relieved to see Waverly walking into the department. “Good. You’re back. How was Springfield?”

  Waverly dropped into the chair on the other side of Ray’s desk. “I made it back last night. That was some drive. I’m getting too old for these long treks, buddy.”

  “I heard Roth sent Hanratty with you.”

  “Hanratty, yeah. I warned him if he didn’t lay off the bean burritos, he’d be riding to and from Missouri strapped to the hood of the car. The first place we stopped to eat, the jackass ordered cabbage rolls. Real funny guy.”

  Ray chuckled and asked, “How’d it go with the Conleys?”

  “That was real interesting.” Waverly grimaced as he worked to loosen his neck and shoulder muscles. “Since the funeral, not one of them has set foot outside of Missouri. And like Hanratty pointed out, as well-heeled as they are, if the attempt on Amy Conley’s life was a job for hire, they could’ve afforded someone a hell of a lot more professional than the amateur who rigged her steps.”

  “Learn anything else of interest while you were there?” Ray asked.

  “Just that Brandon Conley, the youngest brother, doesn’t like getting mashed under his parents’ thumbs any more than his big brother did.” Waverly stood, slipped out of his coat, dropped it over an armrest and sat down again, unconcerned that the sleeves were dangling on the floor. “He had a few choice things to say about his parents, but none of it was incriminating. Oh,” Waverly added, “it turns out he was in Branson when Amy Conley’s steps were sabotaged. He produced a used ticket to one of the shows there. It checked out. As far as the ex-in-laws are
concerned, I can’t say I care much for any of them, but I’m satisfied they’re in the clear.”

  “I expected as much,” Ray said. “By the way, I hate to mention it, but you’d already left for Springfield when Amy told me her locks were finally changed a couple of days before the stair incident.”

  Waverly raised his hands and let them drop. “So it didn’t matter whether they had a key or not. Well, that’s par for the course. Hey,” he said, blowing it off, “I got word from the lab this morning. Whoever messed with those stairs used Hugh Conley’s reciprocating saw to do the job. Took the saw from the wall over his basement workbench and put it back when the job was done. The techs found a small piece of metal in the sawdust they collected from under the steps. It matches up with the broken tip on Conley’s saw blade.”

  “Then the perp must’ve known the tool was there before going into the basement,” Ray said.

  “Right, but that doesn’t narrow things down much. To one extent or another, everyone on my list is familiar with that house—Curt and Ronald Retzinger prob’ly more so than the rest. They worked on every floor of that place. And Larry Benedict… Even if he never went into the basement, it’s likely Conley mentioned his workshop to him at some point or other.”

  “But Benedict’s got an alibi, right?”

  “Yeah, well, we’ve both seen alibis shrivel up and blow away before. I’m not giving up on him just yet. That about covers it, buddy.” He stood with audible effort. “I’d better get a move on.”

  “Hold it,” Ray said. “You’re not the only one with news. There’s something you need to hear.”

  Waverly dropped back into the chair. “How fast can you tell it?”

  “I’ll keep it brief.” Ray gave him a quick rundown about the photo of Jessica Hall and her explanation of how it got into Hugh Conley’s dresser.”

  “Holy crap,” Waverly said. “I drive all the way to Springfield and back, come back empty-handed and you got this.”

  “I know. Life’s not fair,” Ray said. “I got to thinking. If Benedict gave Conley that picture to make Jessica Hall sweat, you’d think he’d have told her about it. She only found out a couple of days ago. Benedict could’ve had an ulterior motive. Maybe she’s right about him making an underhanded move on Amy.”

  “Alibi or no alibi,” Waverly said, “that’s the kind of thing that’s keeping Benedict’s name on my list. Hey, this business about that picture… Where’d you hear about that?”

  “From Gail. She visited Amy at the hospital and overheard the whole conversation between Amy and Jessica Hall on the ‘speaker’. She filled me in when I got home.”

  “Your own personal Mata Hari.”

  Ray couldn’t hold back a smile. “I’m starting to think Gail really gets off on this cloak and dagger stuff. Two nights ago, I came home and gave her a long-stemmed, red rose and I got an underwhelming thank you. Then last night, I show up empty-handed and… Well, let’s just say the evening was memorable. I don’t get it.”

  “Yeah, women,” Waverly grumbled. “I started to shake my cold in Springfield. I headed home feeling good and starving hungry, so on the way, I stopped and picked up a frozen pizza so Phyllis wouldn’t have to cook for me, you know?”

  “Pizza.” Ray grinned and shook his head. “How’d that go over?”

  “Worse than expected,” Waverly said. “She got on her high horse about my weight again, and we got into an argument. She stormed upstairs, so I threw the damn pizza in the oven. Fifteen minutes later, the alarm is going off, and the kitchen’s filling up with smoke, so I holler up the stairs, ‘How do I get the oven to stop smoking?’ Know what she yells down to me? She yells, ‘Slap a nicotine patch on it.’”

  Ray doubled over, laughing.

  “Damn it,” Waverly said, “it’s not funny.”

  “Like hell it isn’t.”

  “Well, it wasn’t at the time. But damn, Ray… The woman’s five foot one, ninety-some pounds and it’s all pure sass.” Waverly got up a second time. “Listen, I’ve gotta go talk to Roth. I wanna hear what’s he’s got in mind protection-wise for Amy Conley when she’s released tomorrow.”

  “She’s getting out already?” Ray said.

  “You’re kidding. I found out before you did?”

  “Yeah. Look,” Ray told him, “Amy said Nicki Wright and Liz Dunham both offered to put her up at one of their places for a while. That’s a nice gesture, but a bad idea. In the shape she’s in, Amy’s going to need someone around 24/7. Both of them have jobs. Besides, if this creep plans to finish what he started, he’ll look for her at their places first.”

  “Right. Let me talk to Roth and see what he’s got in mind.”

  Little more than five minutes after he walked in, Waverly stormed back out of Roth’s office. His jaws were clenched, his face frozen in a scowl as he strode back to Ray’s desk

  “Forgot my coat,” he growled as he snatched it off the chair.

  “Hold it,” Ray told him. “What did he say?”

  Before Waverly could answer, Roth stepped into his open doorway. “Waverly, Schiller, get in here.” He slammed the door behind them as they entered. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you, Schiller. You were told to keep your hands off this case.”

  “I haven’t stepped out of bounds.”

  “Bullshit.” Roth jabbed a finger in Ray’s direction. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you the one who found the shoeprints and the light bulbs unscrewed in the sockets at the Conley woman’s house.”

  “I went there to look in on a friend, not to investigate.”

  “But somehow you managed to turn up critical evidence.”

  “Yeah, I just hate when that happens, don’t you?”

  “Don’t get smart with me.”

  “Look, Captain,” Ray said, “I was off duty at the time. The evidence sort of landed in my lap. Was I supposed to ignore it?”

  Roth took a deep breath. “All I know is that I’m tired of seeing the two of you in a huddle, discussing the case. You think I don’t know that’s what you’ve been doing? How stupid do you think I am?” He looked at them with hawkish eyes. “You’d be well-advised to think twice before answering that.”

  “Captain,” Waverly said, “Ray and I both saw the crime scene up close. We saw the same evidence and heard the same information before you took him off the case. Ignoring his observations would be like disregarding a statement from a witness.”

  “Cut the crap, Waverly.”

  Jamming his hands in his pockets, he said, “Okay, Captain, we’ve discussed the case, but Ray hasn’t crossed the line. Not technically.”

  “We’ll get into that another time; I’ve only got a couple of minutes.” Roth sat down behind his desk and began shuffling through a stack of papers. “I called both of you in here to talk about this situation with the Conley woman.”

  “It’s like I said, Captain,” Waverly told him, “someone’s got a hard-on to see her dead. She’s gonna need protection. Serious protection.”

  “And like I already told you,” Roth said, “all I can do right now is arrange to have extra patrols go by her house.”

  Ray glared at Roth. “That’s it? Are you kidding me?”

  “Look, Schiller, considering you know the Conley woman, you’re in here as a courtesy, but I’m telling you the same thing I told Waverly. My hands are tied. You know we’ve got a situation going down on South 8th. I’ve got every available cop dealing with those protestors, and there’s no telling how long it’s going to drag on.”

  “In the meantime, she’ll be a sitting duck,” Ray said.

  “Then have her make arrangements to stay out of town with family members or friends temporarily.”

  “That would be fine if she had any,” Ray said. “Her family’s gone and the few friends she has right now would draw this perp to them like a magnet.”

  “For now, it’s the best I can do, Schiller.”

  Ray planted his palms on Roth’s desktop. “When Amy Conley le
aves the hospital, she’s going to be in a wheelchair. She won’t be able to walk let alone run. What do you think her chances will be if the killer gets into her house between patrols?”

  Roth shot a withering look in his direction. “Then have her get a health care worker to stay with her until I can arrange something else.”

  “Great. So when this maniac makes a beeline straight to her house, instead of one potential victim there’ll be two.”

  “Damn it. I don’t know why I bothered calling you in here. I’ve got enough headaches without this.” Roth pushed his chair back and stood, looking from one of them to the other. “There’s no way I can assign someone to babysit her or anyone else around the clock right now. I’m sorry. That’s just the way it is.”

  “How do you suggest we explain that to her?”

  “Look, I don’t like this any more than either of you, but what I said stands. When we get the protest situation calmed down, I might be able to put a guard in her home. It could be two, maybe three days, but right now I’m telling you it’s not doable. She’ll get the kind of protection you’re looking for the first chance I get. Meanwhile, upping the patrols around her place is the best I can do.” Roth checked his watch and grabbed a file folder from the corner of his desk. “I’ve got a meeting.” At the door, he paused and slapped the file against his leg. “I’ll make sure the patrols are frequent. I wish I could do more.”

  Frustrated, they left the office behind him.

  Ray gritted his teeth. “Dick, do me a favor. See what you can do about getting the hospital to delay Amy’s release as long as possible. I’ve got to run something past Gail.”

  “You got a plan?”

  “More like a thought, and I guarantee she’s not going to like it.”

  31

  From the moment he stepped through the door that night, Ray’s uneasiness was clear. He’d given Gail the usual hug and kiss hello, but his tension was almost palpable. His line of work often had produced that effect, but this time it seemed more worrying.