by Jill S. Behe
Chapter 5
Tuesday….
* * *
The next day, in Levi’s office, he related the story of his visitors. “Carin’s always had that hardheaded need for control, but yesterday it was like she was a different person. It kind of scared me how adamant she was. Even Cade noticed.”
“Least you know to watch for it. She actually took vacation?”
“Apparently. And that was odd, too. Said she asked for it on Thursday, and then looked guilty when I asked her the exact day.”
“Thursday? And she waited until today to come up here?”
“Yup. That was my next observation. I didn’t question her about that part, though.”
Levi’s head was wagging. “Should have.”
“Not sure I want to know the answer, but yeah, probably should’ve.”
“I can understand that.”
“Still, in hindsight, I should’ve caught on quicker.”
“Well, at least she left.”
“Thank God.” He rubbed his face. “And that’s a really sad comment for a parent to make, but she’d have driven me insane after the first hour.”
Levi chuckled. “You sure it would’ve taken that long?”
“Huh. Maybe you’re right.”
“So, what things do you have to do?”
Decker grinned. “Not anything that you’re thinking I meant. And, I’m sure I could have probably let them slide a day or two but, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt me.”
Levi laughed. “Like what?”
“Like that project you tasked me with a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, yeah. Huh. How’s that coming along, anyway?”
“It’s coming along fine. And stop worrying. It’ll get done on time. Trust me.”
“Good. Good. Don’t forget, her favorite color is—”
“Red. I know.”
“Okay. All right.”
Decker shook his head. “Any new info on the victim?”
The chief sighed. “Not a lot. Looks like she was tasered then strangled. And not far from where you found her.”
“Strangled? With what?”
“Forensic guys are working on it.” He looked at his friend. “You still convinced it’s nothing to do with you?”
“How could it?”
“Crime has long fingers, and even longer memories.”
“You’re not telling me anything new. I don’t know that girl, Levi.”
“Didn’t say you did. Just a gut feeling,” he gave his slight paunch a pat, “that hasn’t settled since I got your call.”
“Carin asked, insinuated, the same thing.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s been five years. And the scenes aren’t the same.”
Levi’s chair squeaked as he sat back. “That’s true. Mode of murder’s different, too, but that doesn’t guarantee it wasn’t them.”
Decker nodded. “I know that. If you’re right, why? Why, now?”
“Got me there, friend.”
A knock sounded, and the door opened. Abigail leaned in. “Hey, Deck. Sorry to intrude. Levi, Mrs. Simkowitz just called.”
The man groaned.
“I agree. Says someone ran over her trash cans.”
“She shoulda moved them to the back.”
“She did. Happened about ten minutes ago. Heard a commotion, and Bastard Dog started barking. She opened the door and he took off. Hasn’t come back, yet.”
“All right.” He stood, grabbed his hat. “Tell her I’ll be there shortly.”
Abigail chuckled. “Already did.”
He shook his head. “Deck, I’ll catch up with you later.”
Decker got to his feet. “Roger that.” Bella came to attention, tail wagging. He looked down. “Let’s go see a lady about some books. What do you say?”
Bella barked.
Chapter 6
Teal Hannigan stood at the counter scanning out books for Bessie Armstrong. Bessie was short and thin, and wrinkles were over-taking her face, but her mischievous personality never wavered. Forty years widowed, Bessie still loved romance novels and stocked up every three weeks. Teal glanced up at the deep-throated growl of a big engine, and through the front windows saw a smoke gray Dodge Ram swing into an empty slot. Her belly jumped, she fumbled the last book in the stack and it fell from her hand.
The older woman turned to see what had upset her favorite librarian, and watched as an oh-so-nicely tall, good-looking man strode through the front doors with an armful of books and a smile that would send any woman, any age, floating on a sigh. He was in great shape, that Decker Brogan, and had the build of a football player without the bulk. No fat on that boy, Bessie was sure. His dark, wavy hair was just starting to gray, and those pretty dark gray eyes….
Oh, my. She had to take a breath because he’d pointed them right at her, and aimed his smile her way.
She smiled back. Just couldn’t help it.
“Mrs. Armstrong,” he greeted. “How are you?”
She had to take a breath. “Couldn’t be better, young man. You? And how’s that splendid hound of yours?”
He chuckled. “All good.”
“That’s fine.” Her face went serious. “Heard you had some nastiness out your way the other day.”
Decker nodded. “Chief Kincaid’s got it in hand.”
“He’s a good man,” Bessie acknowledged. That Decker Brogan was too, and one smooth cookie.
Teal, trying to act casual and unperturbed, loaded Bessie’s books into a complementary library bag, and handed it over the counter. “These are due back November fourth.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Bessie took the bag, and wagged a finger at Decker. “You take care.”
“I fully intend to.” He winked. “Say hello to Jasper Franks, if you happen to see him.”
She blushed. Oh yes, a tease, too. She liked him. “I’ll be sure to tell him, if I see him. Good day, Teal.” She smacked Decker’s leg with her cane. “And you, you scallywag.” Her exit was dignified.
Decker laughed, and dumped his armload onto the counter. “I’m pretty sure these are late. How much do I owe?”
Distracted, ruffled, Teal scanned the books back in and tallied the fee. “Total comes to…good gracious! Twenty-two dollars and fifty cents.” She cleared her throat as he fished out his wallet. “You really should remember to bring them back on time, Mr. Brogan. You could have bought them for less at the second hand store.”
Amused, he handed her thirty dollars. “But then I wouldn’t get to talk to you.”
“You can always—” Flustered, she frowned, and counted out his change, trying hard to maintain her dignity. “Mr. Brogan, if you continue to be delinquent, the Crescent Falls County Library will have to revoke— What are you grinning about?”
Her snooty librarian attitude cranked up his system. He’d best behave, though, especially if he wanted a date. She might say no, if she was mad. “My apologies. I’ll try to bring any future books back on time. And since they will be, and I won’t get the chance to speak with you for any significant length of time, would you like to have dinner with me Friday night? And my name’s Decker, you know. You can even call me Deck, if you want.”
Teal’s eyes went wide. “You—” She tried again, after a few seconds. “You’re asking me? On a date?”
“I am. Are you going?”
Feeling breathless. “Why?” She wanted to roll her eyes at her own idiocy. Be a grownup for pity’s sake, girl.
“Why what?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because Mrs. Peabody—who, by the way, is peeking at us from the fiction section—is married, and would certainly turn me down.”
The elderly patron gave a delightful laugh.
Teal was rattled. “What?”
Decker tried to look innocent. “You didn’t know she was married?”
“Of course I— Oh!” Hands went to hips.
A quick grin. “You look like my mother did just before a lecture.”
“Why are you angry?”
“I’m not.” She crossed her arms. “Please answer the question.”
Sobered, and somewhat perplexed. “Thought it was self-explanatory.”
“Apparently not.”
She wasn’t going to give him an inch, it seemed. But, knowing when to quit being a smart ass, he looked her in the eye. “Because I like what I see. Your voice makes my heart stutter. Your eyes are hypnotic. You intrigue the heck out of me. I’d like to get to know more about you, maybe discover if we’ve got more in common than just a love of books.”
Teal, you are in so much trouble. Still, she made it look like she was mulling it over, not wanting to show any reaction to his words, though they had, in point of fact, made her palms go damp, her own heart stutter, and little butterflies go into a spin in her belly.
She watched his face an entire minute. “Okay.” And wasn’t it just about time? She wanted to sigh in relief, but didn’t dare. But, oh my goodness. Thank God for small miracles. “What time, um—? Where should I meet you?”
“Thought I’d pick you up at your place. Say around six thirty, or so?”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Teal, don’t look so scared. You’ll give me a complex. If you don’t want to have a meal with me, just say so. I won’t be offended.”
“No, no. I’d, I’d like that. To have a meal with you.”
“Am I that intimidating?”
Confound her wretched nerves. Teal shook her head. “The invitation is unexpected, and caught me off guard.”
“That I can deal with.” He re-pocketed his billfold. “I’ll see you Friday night. Six-thirty, or thereabouts. Okay?”
She smiled, wide and full, and it nearly melted his socks.
“That would be wonderful. I’m looking forward to it.”
He gave his head, which felt like it contained molten marshmallow, a shake. “Yeah. Me too.” At the door, he turned to wave then went out to his truck.
Teal let out a long breath, and looked at Mrs. Peabody, who now stood at the counter. “I have a date Friday night.”
The woman smiled, and clapped. “Bravo, Teal. Bravo.”
Chapter 7
Decker sat in his truck staring out the windshield for several minutes, hands on the wheel, winded, heart thumping.
Bella whined.
“Don’t I know it, girl. I asked out the pretty red-headed librarian.” He gave Bella’s ears a scratch. “And she said yes. Can you believe it? Now I have to figure out where to take her.” Haven’t been on a date… “Huh. Not since I asked Liz to the prom.” He counted in his head. “Wow. Thirty-seven years ago, Bella Mia.” Shaking his head, he started the truck, put it in gear, and drove out of town.
Inside the library, Teal watched the clock. Why is he just sitting out there? Her brain raced with wild imaginings. Foremost of which, she half expected him to march back in and retract his invitation.
She’d be devastated if he actually did, since she secretly wished he’d make a move every time he came in.
This time he had. Oh my. He had indeed.
Mrs. Peabody placed two Jayne Ann Krentz novels on the counter. “He’s quite the thing, isn’t he?”
“He is.”
“I think it’s lovely that he’s taking a step forward. Elizabeth died suddenly and so very hard. I wasn’t sure he’d get beyond it.”
At once feeling guilty, Teal glanced out the window, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Now don’t go thinking it’s wrong for you to be all flustered around him.” Mrs. Peabody tsked. “He wouldn’t have asked if he wasn’t ready.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
The woman patted Teal’s hand. “Take it from me, dear.”
Teal scanned the two barcodes. “It was just so— If I’d been more prepared.”
Mrs. Peabody laughed. “Oh honey, no one’s ever really prepared for something like that, someone like that. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Teal grinned. “Believe I will, Mrs. P. Thank you for the advice.” She pushed the books across the counter. “Now, here are your selections. They’re due back November fourth.”
“Thank you, dearie. I’ll see you in three weeks. You can tell me all about it.”
“Good night.”
Jacqueline Fontenot descended the stairs from the children’s library area. “Time to close up shop, Teal? Any stragglers today?”
“Yes, it is. And no, Mrs. Peabody just left, and she was the last.”
“Excellent. Go lock that door before someone decides to sneak in.”
Teal laughed, but went to do so.
Jacqueline leaned against the desk. “Are you working tomorrow?”
“Yes. Actually, I’m working all week.”
Jacqueline gave a slight chuckle. “It’s too bad Bea got sick and had to leave early on Saturday. I liked Bea and all, but she’s so straight-laced, by-the-book. It’s much more fun working with you.” She pointed up the staircase. “And I can keep an eye on you from up there.”
“Yes. I hope it’s not too serious.” Teal paused, frowned. “Why would you need to keep an eye on me?”
“Oh, you know. It’s getting dangerous out there. I have a good view from the children’s section. In case, you know, you get in trouble.”
Hmm. That, actually, sounded kind of creepy. “I see. Thanks, I think.”
“I’m glad it’s still light out when we close, too. But the weather’s changing, and we’ll have to change the clocks, again. I hate walking out to my car in the dark. At least we can watch out for each other. Bea’s sister always picked her up out front.”
“Yes, that’s true. I think they’re roommates, and sharing the car.”
“With that girl being found out in the woods, none of us can be too careful.”
“It’s always a good idea to be careful, but you’re right.”
“Are you ready?”
“Just let me get my stuff from the office and set the alarm.”
Chapter 8
Wednesday morning….
* * *
The tea kettle began whistling when the landline rang. Decker turned the burner off, and answered the phone. “Brogan.”
“Deck.”
“Levi.”
“We got another one. Different M. O., different dump site, but still a female.”
“You don’t sound sure it’s the same killer.”
“Not at this point, no. We’ve ID’d both victims, though. Today’s was known in the neighborhood where she was found. There’s speculation that her boyfriend did it, but we haven’t found him, yet.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I was wondering, old friend…”
“Uh oh.”
Levi didn’t hesitate. “Would you be willing to come on board, as a special investigator? Just until the case is solved or closed?”
Decker poured hot water into his mug over an Earl Grey tea bag. “You know how I feel about that.”
“Thought that was because Liz objected.”
“Not entirely.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“I can do that. Sure.”
“Did you go on your run this morning?”
“No. We haven’t gone, yet. Bella’s discombobulated. You disrupted her day.”
“I’m not going to apologize. May I make a suggestion?”
“You can make it. Doesn’t mean I’ll agree.”
“Humor me?”
“Go for it.”
Decker removed the teabag and added a teaspoon of honey.
“Lay off the jogs for a few days? A week? Just until—”
“Until the killer strikes again?”
“Not necessarily, but until we can get a handle on the investigation.”
“I’ll think about that, too.”
“Fair enough.”
Still standing at the sink, Decker took a sip. “You said you ID’d
both victims.”
“We have, yes. Our first victim was a woman from Colorado Springs, up here on a nature hike with friends. They got separated. Name was Rosalinda Bartlett, age thirty-nine. Buzz puts her death between Friday late PM and Saturday early AM.”
“Her family’s been notified?”
“Earlier this morning. God I hate notifications, especially over the phone.”
“I remember them. Up close and in your face was worse. But, a necessity.”
“The husband was devastated. Apparently they’d had a fight about her coming up here. Now he’s feeling justified and grief-stricken at the same time. Rough stuff. He’ll be here this afternoon for an official identification, and to take her body back.”
Decker heard the pain in his friend’s voice. “Part of the job, yes, but still hard to handle. Even with a lot of training, and experience.”
“You know it.”
“The second victim?”
“Found her yesterday, late afternoon. Someone local.” A pause. “Someone we know.”
“Oh?”
“One of the girls on the library staff.”
The cup of tea fell to the floor. Hot liquid and glass shards shot across the kitchen.
Bella scrabbled out of the way.
Decker wasn’t even aware. “Who, Levi? Which one?”
All he could picture was Teal’s face.
“Deck? You okay?”
“Who is it, Levi?”
“Don’t get so bent out of shape, jarhead. It was Bea. Beatrice Eggleston. She was forty-five, lived with her sister.”
Unsteady on weak-knees, Decker pulled out a chair from the table and sat, heavily. Not Teal. Thank God and all His angels in Heaven. “Bea Eggleston? Damn. I just saw her on Saturday.”
A tense pause. “When Saturday? How?”
“I was on my way back from the hardware store. I saw someone weaving all over the sidewalk—”
“She was driving drunk on the sidewalk?”
Decker frowned. “I didn’t say drunk, or that she was driving.”
“Get to the damn point, man.”
“If you’d shut up and let me talk—”