“Hey, Em. Something’s happened to your car out back.”
She straightened. “Like what?” Concern in her tone.
The teenager grimaced. “Looks like they got your tires again.”
Again?
“Dammit!” Emily jumped to her feet and grabbed her purse. “We’ll have to finish this later, Agent Wells. I think we got through most of what happened this morning.”
“Call me Zander.” He stood. “I’ll come with you.”
He wasn’t done with Emily Mills.
6
Fury rocked through Emily as she stared at the two flat tires on her Honda. She pulled up the hood of her coat to avoid the rain and to hide her anger from Zander.
Two weeks ago it’d been four flat tires. And before that a broken passenger window.
What else will happen today?
She ached to go home and shut down her brain. It had experienced enough trauma.
Sucking in a breath, she focused on the issue in front of her. If her mind wandered to Lindsay and Sean, she’d crack.
“I’ve got to install cameras,” she muttered. She’d considered it after the first incident and then again after the second. Now she was kicking herself for letting it slide.
Isaac stood beside her, mist collecting in his hair. “I’m really sorry, Em. People are shit.”
“You didn’t see anyone?” Zander asked Isaac.
Isaac ran a hand through his long hair, and concern shone in his eyes. “No. I was taking a bag to the dumpster. I didn’t notice until I was walking back. I looked around then, but no one was here.”
“Is this where it happened before?” Zander asked her. He turned in a circle, scanning the small employee parking area behind the restaurant. “No cameras?”
“No cameras, and yes. Last time it was all four tires.” Emily swore under her breath. Buying four new tires had hurt. Now she had to find the money for two more. “I should have put up cameras. Would be cheaper than new tires.”
“You’d still have to buy new tires,” Isaac pointed out. “But at least we’d know who did it.”
She noticed Zander’s gaze lingering on Isaac. She understood. Isaac didn’t present the best first impression. His stringy hair was always in his eyes. He slouched. And his jeans always looked a half second away from falling to the ground. But he was a good kid. Emily trusted him.
“Did you report the last incident to the police?” Zander asked.
“No.” Emily felt her face flush. “I didn’t consider it worth their time.”
Zander’s silence felt judgmental.
“Do it this time,” he said quietly. He pointed at the back wall of the restaurant. “For decent coverage, you need a camera there, there, and over there. A couple out front would be a good idea too.”
Five cameras?
“I need to pay for new tires first.” And pay off the other four. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered. “I didn’t need this today.”
“Can I give you a ride somewhere?” Zander offered.
“I hate to take up your time.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll still be working during that time. We weren’t done.”
He grinned, and she blinked at the transformation of his face. The solemn, serious agent looked ten years younger when he smiled.
“In that case, you can drive me home. I’ll borrow one of my aunts’ cars.”
“Barton Mansion?”
Her head jerked toward him in surprise.
“I was there earlier today, looking for you. I met one of your aunts. Vina.”
“Just one? You’re lucky.” Emily crossed her fingers that Vina hadn’t talked his ear off. She looked at Isaac. “Will you tell Madison I’m headed home?”
Isaac gave her a casual salute and strolled toward the back door, hiking up his pants with one hand and stepping over a giant puddle.
“He’s a good kid,” she told Zander, who was watching Isaac with a frown on his face. “I gave him a chance when no one else would, and he’s paid me back tenfold.”
She tensed, waiting for him to contradict her. Instead he pointed at an SUV on the street. “I’m parked over there. Ready?”
Her tension evaporated, but now she was off-balance. She’d automatically expected pushback on her comment about helping Isaac, and it had never come. Her ex would have asserted that Isaac was a useless teen and not worth her time. She shook her head at herself as she followed Zander, suddenly exhausted.
The tires were nothing compared to her discovery that morning, but the incident had weakened the walls that were keeping her emotions in check.
I refuse to fall apart in front of him.
Zander followed the same route to the mansion from earlier that day. Emily sat silently, but he swore he could hear the gears grinding in her head as she thought about everything that had happened. His own train of thought was going full speed.
“Emily, I know you haven’t reported the damage to the police, but have you told your aunts?”
“No, I don’t want to worry them with extra expenses.”
“How many harassment incidents have you had at the mansion?”
“What?” Her shoulders twitched at his question. “What are you talking about?”
Uh-oh. “I cleaned up a slaughtered raccoon that had been left at your home today. Vina said it wasn’t the first time.”
He glanced at her. Her face was white, her dark-blue eyes locked on him.
“You have to consider that the damage to your car and the dead animals left at the mansion are related. They’re both harassment. Chickenshit harassment. Who has it in for you or your family?”
Another glance showed him she was staring straight ahead now, her lips pressed together. He’d either surprised her or stated out loud what she was already thinking. He parked in front of the mansion, turned off his vehicle, and waited for her answer.
She finally met his gaze, her eyes uncertain. “I don’t know.” Her voice was low but not nervous.
“My statement didn’t surprise you.”
“No. It’s crossed my mind.”
“You haven’t discussed it with your aunts?”
“No, like I said, I didn’t want to worry them.”
“I think they should know about these other incidents. Maybe they’ve seen things they didn’t share with you.” He raised a brow. “You might be surprised at what communication can reveal.”
She tipped back against the headrest and briefly closed her eyes. “I know you’re right.”
He checked the time. “I’d like to talk with you and your aunts some more, but first I need to check in with my partner. I’ll make a phone call and then knock, okay?”
“Sounds good.” She got out of the SUV and marched up the stairs without looking back.
He watched her leave as he listened to Ava’s phone ring.
“Hey, Zander,” she answered.
“Anything out of the deputies?” he asked.
She sighed. “I know these kids went to the police academy, but I swear they forgot half of what they learned. I don’t think there is much around here to keep them on their toes. Sounds like they deal with a lot of DUIs, drugs, and domestics.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. How many did you make cry?”
“Only one. The first responder. Nate Copeland. And honestly I’d barely started asking questions when he fell apart.”
“Losing your touch?”
“Some of these guys are young. I feel I should hand them a video game controller and make them a sandwich.”
Zander grinned.
“Anyway, Copeland was all apologetic about cutting Sean down. He lives in Bartonville, so he knew the victim. They’d had beers together. He said he’d panicked when he saw Sean, and he was overwhelmed with a need to quickly get him down so he could breathe—even though his brain knew it was too late.”
“If he knew Sean, did he have an idea of who would do this?”
“Well, that’s where it gets a little odd. He a
lso said Sean and Lindsay were having marital problems.”
“No shit.” Zander was surprised. This was a different picture from the rosy one Emily had presented. Who was right?
“When I pressed the issue, he said he wasn’t aware of anyone who would hurt the couple.”
“What about the other deputies?”
“They didn’t know Sean. They live east of Astoria. What did you get from the first witness—Emily Mills?”
“I got a slightly different picture of the Fitch couple. She says it was heavenly bliss in their home and can’t think of anyone who would hurt the couple.”
“Huh. What did she say about her father’s death?”
“I haven’t gotten to that. We were interrupted because someone had slashed her tires. Again.”
“What?”
“It appears she and her aunts have been the target of some harassment lately. Dead animals left on doorsteps, car damage. Stuff like that.”
Ava was silent.
“I’m about to talk to her and her aunts. I’ll get more information on the father’s death.”
“It’s so weird. Two of them hanged. But the father’s case was solved.”
“It’s definitely odd.”
“While we’re waiting on forensics and the medical examiner,” Ava said, “I’ll get in touch with Sean’s family in Portland and find Lindsay’s family.”
“I’ll contact Sean’s and Lindsay’s friends here in town and dig into the old hanging a little bit.”
“Keep in mind that’s not the case we are here for,” Ava pointed out.
“True, but since the first victim’s daughter plays a role in this case, I want to eliminate any involvement on her part.”
“She is involved,” Ava stated. “She found the bodies.”
“You know what I meant. Did you check in to our hotel yet?” Neither of them had paused since arriving in Bartonville. They’d jumped in with both feet.
“No. I’ll contact them so they don’t give away our reservations.”
“Okay. Let me know what you find on the families.” Zander ended the call and stepped out into the misting rain.
Emily tried to see her aunts through Zander’s eyes.
No doubt he had noticed that all three women wore the same shade of lime green. It was hard to miss. Dory wore a thick, green cardigan because she was always afraid of being cold, and the tip of the always-present facial tissue protruded from her cuff. Thea’s snug-fitting zip jacket was for runners. One that guaranteed she’d be seen while power walking on the side of the road. Vina’s green blouse was simply practical, just like Vina herself.
The three women were as different from one another as could be, but there was nothing they liked better than coordinating their clothing nearly every day. “It shows people we’re united,” Thea had told Emily one time. “When we’re talking to the city council, they know we mean business.”
Emily didn’t think the matching colors were needed. Everyone in town knew the Barton sisters were a formidable trio.
Emily and Zander sat at the old table in the formal dining room, waiting for the aunts, who had dug out a formal tea set that had to be older than the mansion. Dory had been thrilled when Zander agreed to tea. Emily watched him out of the corner of her eye, convinced he was a coffee drinker but pleased he wanted to make her aunts happy. Dory had pulled Emily aside for a moment and with a wink and a whisper told her that Zander could park his shoes under her bed anytime.
Emily couldn’t think of a response.
She knew the aunts were trying to cheer her up and distract her from thinking about that morning. Their efforts were appreciated and even working a little.
The three silver-haired women happily scurried in and out of the dining room, preparing the formal tea even though it was closer to dinnertime.
Zander leaned in to Emily. “Why aren’t you wearing green?” he whispered.
She snorted. “That is their thing. They’ve been doing it since they were teens.”
“Lime green every day?” His eyes were wide.
“No. Matching colors. They discuss it before bed every night. I’d say they match eighty percent of the time. They get a big kick out of it. Trust me, they’re pleased you’ve met them on a coordinated day.”
“Huh.” Zander sat back in his seat. “They’re charming.”
“That’s just one of their Jedi skills.”
“What are their others?”
The three women bustled in with their hands full before she could answer.
“So nice to have unexpected company, even if it’s because of a horrible tragedy,” Thea said as she poured Zander’s tea, her bright-red lipstick clashing with the lime green. “But I’ll have to do an extra hour on the treadmill to combat all these cookies.”
“I’m really sorry about the circumstances, but the cookies do look good,” Zander told her, eyeing the large assortment of sweets. “I’ll have to hit the treadmill too.”
Her aunt smiled. “I can tell you don’t need to. You’re a man who takes care of himself. Have you ever tried Health—”
“Thea!” Emily and her other aunts spoke at the same time.
Thea blinked. “What?”
“Don’t buy anything she tries to sell you,” Dory told Zander earnestly, placing a hand on his sleeve. “They’re all poppycock and scams.”
“They are not,” Thea huffed. “I’ve had excellent results from everything I sell. I wouldn’t support a product if I didn’t believe in it.” She moved to pour Vina’s tea but avoided eye contact with that sister. She enthusiastically embraced every sell-from-home product; she was a born saleswoman. Emily had a drawer full of crazy print leggings that she never wore and a bathroom counter full of expensive skin-care products that didn’t make her skin look any better than the items she bought at Walgreens did.
It was hard to say no to Thea.
Emily’s appetite vanished as she looked around the table at her smiling aunts. For several minutes she’d forgotten she’d discovered her murdered friends, but reality returned in an abrupt rush. She stared at her teacup. Lindsay would never have another chai latte. Emily would never step into the restaurant break room and be greeted by the rich fragrance of Lindsay’s daily drink addiction.
She filled her lungs and slowly exhaled.
Glancing to her right, she caught Zander watching her, his brow wrinkled in concern, and the oddity of the situation caught up with her.
An FBI agent is having tea with us.
“Aunties,” Emily began. The three women immediately gave her their attention. “I got two flat tires today.” The three women started to talk at once, and Emily held up her hands to quiet them. “This isn’t the first time. Clearly my vehicle has been targeted when I park behind the restaurant. No other employees have had a problem. Vina, Zander told me you found a dead raccoon on the porch today.”
“I did.”
Thea and Dory peppered Vina with questions, which she ignored.
“It’s the third animal in the last six or eight weeks,” Vina admitted.
Zander spoke up, looking from Dory to Thea. “Have either of you experienced any sort of harassment-type incidents?”
The two women exchanged a glance and then shook their heads. “Not that I can think of,” Dory said. “What about Madison? Has anyone asked her?”
“No,” said Emily, mentally shaking herself. She’d forgotten to mention the tires to her sister. “I’ll ask when she gets home tonight. I know her car has been fine.”
Dory peered at Zander. “I thought you were in town to solve those horrible murders, not worry about some flat tires.”
“I am. I was interviewing Emily when the tires were noticed. That’s when I wondered if her vehicle and your home have been targeted by the same person. I’ll finish Emily’s interview when we’re done here.”
Thea leaned an elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand, and studied Zander intently. “What is the next step for you? Do you have any leads
on the murders? Do we need to be locking our doors at night?”
“I hope you lock your doors every night,” Zander murmured.
“We do when we think of it,” Dory announced.
“Don’t interrupt,” Thea ordered. Dory rolled her eyes and dabbed at her nose with her tissue. “I heard the first responder screwed up the scene. Some of those young deputies are as sharp as a mashed potato sandwich,” Thea continued, her blue eyes challenging. “Is that true? People around town are saying it was a drug deal gone bad. Really bad.”
“No,” said Vina. “I heard it was a domestic dispute.”
“I heard it was someone passing through town.” Dory wiped her nose again.
Emily bit her lip. Zander had given each woman his full attention as she spoke, but a hint of desperation lurked in his eyes. Her family was a lot to take at once. He was getting off easy with Madison still at work.
“Aunties! Leave him alone. You know he can’t talk about an active case.”
The three women looked apologetic.
“We don’t know much yet,” Zander told the chastised women. “You’ll hear when we do.”
Dissatisfaction filled their faces.
“I know this may seem awkward to ask, but what might help is if you tell me some more about Emily’s father’s death.”
Emily froze, and a loud buzz filled her ears. Why?
The nightmare images of her hanged father returned and destroyed the walls keeping her emotions at bay.
I can’t be here.
She stood, and her chair’s legs squealed as it shot backward. “You’ll have to excuse me for a moment,” she choked out. She rushed from the room and up the stairs, her vision tunneling.
Who told him?
Guilt swamped Zander.
What was I thinking? He hadn’t discussed Emily’s father’s death with her. The sheriff and Vina had talked with him about it, but Emily had not. He started to rise.
“Sit down,” Thea ordered, her eyes sharp. “Give her a few minutes. She’ll be fine.”
Zander slowly sat, studying the three women. Thea appeared to be the thinnest of the three, but her tone would have stopped a platoon.
“Her father’s death isn’t a comfortable topic,” Dory said. She turned to Vina. “My stomach hasn’t felt right since breakfast this morning. Are you sure those eggs weren’t past their expiration date?” She laid a hand on her stomach, and a frown pulled down her lips.
The Last Sister Page 4