by Jill S. Behe
“Oh?”
“I want to be with you. I want you close, so I can protect you, yes, but just to be near you. And that makes me sound like a Neanderthal. Secondly, and bumping up close against that first reason, I want you safe. I don’t want anything happening to you.”
Bella barked, once.
“Me, too. And Bella agrees.”
“As she should.”
“Okay. I’ll get you a blanket and pillow. A mat for Bella. But, I do have a second bedroom, and a spare toothbrush.”
“I did notice the extra room on my walk-through, but I didn’t want to presume too much.”
She laid a hand on his cheek. “It’ll be interesting to see you with whiskers.”
“Hmm.”
“I might like you with whiskers.”
“Huh. I get pretty bristled.”
“Can’t wait.”
He laughed.
Chapter 22
After leaving Teal’s Sunday morning, where he’d spent a semi-sleepless night in her spare room, Decker stopped for a few groceries at the market, then drove home.
He pulled into the drive, admiring the view (a postcard worthy vista) of his “cabin” in the woods against the backdrop of the Rockies. Liz’s vision of what she wanted, and had taken great pains to make sure came into fruition, had paid off. He got that prideful love feeling in his chest every time he came home.
After letting Bella out, she made for the front yard where she watered a spot, and fertilized another.
“Good girl.”
Inside, he gave Bella a treat, and as he began to put away the things he’d bought, saw more haphazard housekeeping. He hadn’t realized, not fully, how neglected the house had become. It always needed attention more often than he gave it. With his kids’ visit and having Teal here, he’d begun noticing the dust, the clumps of dog hair in the carpet, the stains from spills on the counter. The not-quite-tidy look of the place.
Time to fix that.
Housework never appealed, but Liz had always insisted he give her a hand. It had been…fun, almost, sharing the vacuuming, dusting, laundry, etc., with her. Now that he had to do it alone, he was more lax about when and if. Now that Teal was going to be a part of his life (he believed she would be), he’d have to make a more concerted effort at keeping the place a bit more polished.
He selected a CD from his eclectic homemade collection. A variety pack of Rock ‘n’ Roll and head-banger, from 3 Dog Night to Apocalyptica, and who could forget one of his all-time favorites: In A Gadda Da Vida. There was even a Shania Twain, or two, thrown into the mix.
Having classic rock blasting from the speakers so he could hear it above the vacuum cleaner, lured him into a more domestic mood, and the time spent on chores went by quicker. It also drowned out any ringing phones. His pet hid in the laundry room, paws over her ears, during these sporadic episodes. He couldn’t blame her. Made himself half deaf every time. His ears rang for hours after he’d turned down the volume. But, that made it all the more appealing. It was drudgery, otherwise.
As he danced with the upright to the guitar riffs and unique voice of ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man, he sang along. He had a good voice, if he did say so. Some might argue, but hey, he could carry a tune. Liz had always enjoyed hearing him sing, or so she said. Hmm.
He maneuvered around the gun cabinet and noticed out of the corner of his eye an open space that shouldn’t have been open. One of his long guns was missing.
Unable to believe what he was seeing, he squinted closer as Dire Straits began to croon Sultans of Swing.
Shit. Damn. His pride and joy, a Barrett 98B, issued to him by Bracken Security (and later gifted to him when he’d retired), hot off the assembly line in 2009, was no longer where it was supposed to be. The Remington 700, one of his favorite hunting rifles—not that he hunted anymore—was still there, as were the half dozen others he’d collected over the years, and an old Remington 870 (bought brand new in 1951) his grandfather had left him.
But the sniper rifle, his sniper rifle, was missing.
The shooting yesterday afternoon came rushing back.
God bless it.
Shutting off the vacuum, he moved to the cabinet. It wasn’t even locked. In point of fact, the key—that was supposed to be in a dresser drawer in his bedroom—was still in the lock.
Pausing the music, he grabbed his cell and speed dialed Levi. Then swore again when he couldn’t get a signal. Stomping into the kitchen, he dialed the familiar number, again, on the landline phone.
“Kincaid.”
“My Barrett’s missing.”
“Who? What? Decker?”
“Yeah. I was…doing some chores, and noticed it. Key’s still in the lock. So whoever took it knows me, intimately. Knows where I keep the key.”
“There aren’t many people who are aware that you have a gun cabinet, or a key to get into it, let alone a sniper rifle.” Levi caught on quick. “Doesn’t leave too many suspects to question, Deck.”
On a huge breath, the man answered. “I know.”
“I was going to call you, anyway. Put a rush on what we collected out front yesterday. Which is why I’m working again today. We didn’t get a hit on the prints yet, but the slug definitely came out of one of those casings. Deck.” He made sure his friend was paying attention. “They’re .338 Lapua’s.”
“I knew I’d seen them before. I used them exclusively— Where the hell was my brain?” Decker closed his eyes. “Double damn.”
Levi was silent.
Decker shook his head. “I can’t go there, Levi. It’s just not in me to think about who is/are the most likely suspects, or even speculate on which one. Although, if I had to— But why?”
“You know my gut’s been giving me fits since you found the first victim.”
He didn’t correct his friend. And that was another conversation he needed to have. “Yeah, well, my meter’s been off for a while. I haven’t been paying attention, and it’s coming back to bite me. Should never have let my guard down.”
“Hell, Deck.” Decker heard the man’s chair squawk. “Any other guns missing?”
“From what I can see through the glass, no. That’s the only one.”
“How much ammo is gone?”
“I didn’t check. Didn’t want to compromise the scene. You need to come out and dust for prints. I haven’t touched the cabinet, not since I dusted it…two weeks ago, or so.”
“I’ll be there within the hour.”
Decker hung up. Bella stood in front of him, head tilted.
“Somebody’s messing with me, Bella Mia. Why? Why, why, why?” He looked down. “What?”
She danced around him.
His eyes rolled. “Need to go out?”
She barked.
Nothing like a droll, but necessary, routine to bring one back into balance.
“All right. Let’s go. Levi’ll be here shortly.”
Chapter 23
“Can’t believe you haven’t dusted this place for two weeks.”
“Shut up, Levi. Bet you’ve never dusted your place.”
Levi scratched his head. “Only when Bethany went to visit her grandmother a couple years ago.”
“Ha. Bet, again, you paid Sierra to do it.” Levi’s teenaged daughter would do almost anything for extra spending money.
The man laughed, gave his friend a slap on the back. “Damn straight, pal.”
They discovered that the ammo drawer was still locked, and when opened, found nothing missing. Another puzzle. Who steals a gun, and doesn’t take any ammo?
Unless they have their own.
Wait a minute. “Hang on, Levi.” Grabbing a pair of latex gloves hanging from his buddy’s back pocket, he pulled them on as he ran up to his room and began rummaging in the nightstand. Damn. They were gone. “You might want to send somebody up here to dust this stand,” he yelled down.
Levi stood at the bottom of the staircase. “Why?”
“I had five loose rounds in the ni
ghtstand drawer. Fast loads, just in case I couldn’t get to the ammo box.”
“Shit, Deck.”
He started down the steps. “Yeah.”
Arms crossed, hip shot, Decker watched the forensic techs making a bigger mess of his cabinet, and didn’t even want to think about the one that would be upstairs. “I don’t understand this, Levi. What’s going on? My kids are going to get an earful, as soon as you guys take off.”
The man turned, studied his former comrade-in-arms. “You’ve been on this end of things before—maybe not this personally—just a word of advice?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t alienate them with accusations. You were known for your tact during interrogations, when you got in on them. Use that tact to question your kids. And remember that you’re their father, not a Marine, not a special agent.”
Decker nodded. “They can’t be involved, but—”
“Yeah, there’s the rub. But. Who else would know? And if it wasn’t one of them, you’d have been aware of a break-in.”
“I would have a few years ago. Maybe not so much these days. I’ve gotten sloppy, pal.”
The cop eyed him. “You’re still more observant than the average layman. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Frustrated, Decker walked into the kitchen, thinking, then opened the back door and paced the patio.
Through the open door, he could hear Levi and his crew talking and walking around.
Then, “Chief? We’re done here.”
“Right. I’ll be along. Let me know as soon as you get anything.”
“Will do.”
Levi came through the door Decker’d left open, and onto the back deck. “One more piece of advice, before I go.”
“What?”
He stepped close. “I need your full attention, Decker. Pull in those thoughts and concentrate.”
Decker blinked, and focused on his friend. “I’m here. What is it?”
“Someone has their sights on you—”
“I already figured that one out for myself.”
“Yes, but they’re also gunning for your new lady. I know I don’t have to tell you to stay safe, even though I still tell you. But, you need to keep her close, as close as you can manage without her telling you to get lost. And, keep that smart mutt of yours close, too.”
“I hear you, Levi.” Decker ran his hands through his hair. “I will do my best to keep all three of us in one piece.”
Levi punched the man’s shoulder hard enough that Decker had to take a step back and rub the arm that had gone numb. “Ow. What was that for?”
“Don’t be a hero. You need help, any kind of help, you call me.” He poked himself in the chest. “ASAP.”
Decker nodded. “You’ll be my first call.”
“All right. Now, I’ll get out of your hair.” Another smack to Decker’s arm. “Stay safe. You mean a lot to me.”
The two of them had never shown a lot of sentiment, always secure in the fact that though they’d been in some tight spots over the course of their lives, they’d had each other’s backs. For Levi to voice that sentiment meant he was more than worried.
“A solid copy on that, man. Feeling’s mutual.”
A nod, and Levi went down the back steps and around the side of the house to his car. Decker stayed where he was for another few minutes before going back inside to the phone.
Better to get it done and over with.
“You’ve reached Cade Brogan. I can’t take your call right now. Please leave a message, and I’ll call you back. If I don’t know you, leave a number. Later.”
The proverbial beep.
“Cade, it’s your dad. Give me a call when you get this. It’s pretty important. Thanks. Out. I mean, bye.” He hung up. “I hate leaving messages.”
He’d wait to call Carin after he talked to Cade.
“Coward.”
Goosebumps ran up his arms at the whisper of his wife’s voice in his head.
“Damn right I am. I shouldn’t even have to think about this. Our kids aren’t thieves.”
“No.”
“But no one else knows where I kept that key, except you.”
“Yes.”
Bella barked.
Decker paused. There was some significance to that, both those things. But for the life of him, he couldn’t put it together. Not yet. His brain would chew on it until the solution arrived.
Always had before.
Chapter 24
Two hours later, Cade called back. “Dad. What’s wrong?”
“I have a few questions. I need you to think before your answer, but when you do, it has to be complete truth.”
“Okay.” A pause. “It’s always been about truth.”
“Yes, it has. I could preface this, but I won’t. Have you been in this house at any time when I wasn’t?”
“A couple times, but only when you knew I would be. Like when you and mom went to New Mexico, and you asked me to check your mail and make sure the house was okay.”
Decker nodded. “I remember those times. Okay. Did you ever open my gun cabinet?”
Again a pause. “Yeah. Once.”
“How did you get in it?”
“I just turned the knob/bracket/latch thingy. It wasn’t locked. While you and mom were moving in.”
“Was I in the house at the time?”
“Maybe. Or not. You could have been, just not in the same room.”
Curious. “Why?”
“Why did I open it?”
“Yeah. Why would you open my gun cabinet?”
“Fascination. Curiosity. Envy. You’ve got an impressive collection. I liked—still do—looking at them. The handguns, too.”
“Okay.”
“What’s this about, dad?”
“My Barrett is missing.”
“That cool-looking mega-expensive one? It’s missing? Stolen?”
“It’s not in the cabinet. Whoever took it used my key to unlock it. The key that I had hidden.”
“Holy crap. Somebody broke in and took it?”
“There’s no sign of a break-in. The gun is just gone.”
“Get out.”
Huh. “Cade, I appreciate your answering my questions. I was hesitant to call. Didn’t want you to think I was accusing you of anything.”
“No worries. Come to think of it, though. You should ask Carin.”
“Oh?”
“She mentioned, a month or so ago, she was having some trouble with someone. Not sure whether he’s someone in her apartment complex or not. For that matter, it could be a she, for all I know. Carin wondered if you’d loan her one of your guns. That maybe she’d feel safer.”
“She never mentioned anything about it to me. The two of you were here not that long ago, and she didn’t say anything then, either.”
“Yeah, well, all I know is what she said to me. But, you know Carin.”
“I do. Thanks, kid. I’ll give her a call. Take care of yourself, Cade.”
“You’re welcome, and you take care of yourself, too. Night.”
Surprised, Decker looked at his watch. Wow, it was later than he realized. “Yeah. Good night.”
On a chuckle, Cade hung up.
His father was slower to replace the receiver. “No wonder I’m hungry.” Making his way to the kitchen, turning on lights as he went, he grabbed the wall phone on his way past, and called Teal, on impulse.
“Hello. You’ve reached the Hannigan’s. Please leave a message at the beep.”
Shit. “Hey Teal, Decker here. Just wanted to hear your voice. Talk to you later. I miss you.”
Five seconds later the phone rang. “Brogan.”
He heard Teal’s laugh.
“That’s so sexy, but still catches me off guard.”
“Habit. Sexy, huh?”
“I like it. What did you want? I didn’t listen to your message.”
Decker grinned, shaking his head. “Of course you didn’t.”
“Well, I have ca
ller ID. I saw you’d called while I was running the mixer, and I’d rather hear your voice for real than a recording.”
He laughed. “God, I am in so much trouble.”
“What? Trouble?”
“With you. Feelings for you. I’m in deep, lady.”
“That’s not why you called.”
“You’re smiling, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“First, what are you making?”
“Excuse me?”
“You didn’t hear the phone because the mixer was running?”
“Oh, that. Banana bread.”
“With walnuts?”
“You have to ask?”
“The lady bakes. The gods have favored me. Save me a piece?”
“If there’s any left.”
“That is immensely unfair.”
“Such a dork.”
“Dork?”
“I’m making a loaf just for you.”
“I’ll be your sex slave for the next hundred years.”
She was laughing so hard she could barely speak. “Only a hundred?”
He was grinning. “How about to eternity. Sorry, banana bread is one of my favorites. Actually, I can’t say I’ve met a baked dessert I didn’t like. Unfortunately, Liz, bless her heart, didn’t have a baker’s bone in her body.”
“Aw. Well, maybe that’s why we met. I must have gotten ALL the baker’s bones.”
“Lucky me.”
“So, why did you call?”
“I just wanted to hear your voice. My day’s been pretty shitty since I left you. I figured hearing that sweet velvety voice would smooth out some of the rough edges.”
“Ah. That’s so sweet, Decker.”
“I lost track of time, too. I hope it’s not too late to call. I know you have work tomorrow.”
“If it was late, I wouldn’t still be baking.”
“Ah. Good point.”
“What happened?” That sweet velvety voice was now all steely business.
“When I got home today, I found one of my rifles missing. Actually, since we’ve had our full disclosure moment…my sniper rifle is missing. I called Levi to report it. We both had the same thought almost at the same time once he told me the shells and slug matched.”