She nodded. “He told me, and I’m sick about that, too. I know you must hate it, but I agreed with him that you need police protection and signed off on it.”
I smiled. “I could do without the shadow, but I know you guys are only looking out for me, which I appreciate.”
Straightening in her chair, she said, “As much as I enjoy your company, your time is better spent working on this case instead of coddling me.”
“Not true. But if it makes you feel any better, all that’s left is the second examination of the evidence. And if Beck actually did his job today, he should have most of it done by now. There’s nothing pressing to be done.”
“Well, if nothing else, go home and console Rachel. I know she’s hurting as much as I am.”
I stood. “Okay, I’ll go. But only because you kicked me out.”
A ghost of a smile crossed Jayne’s face. “Ellie, whatever you do, stay safe.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
To say I wasn’t looking forward to some time alone in the lab with Beck Durant was an understatement. When I got to the lab, he was, of all things, working. He had the clothing Amanda and I had processed during the night out on a worktable in front of him.
“Hey, Beck,” I said. “I’m here to finish up on the Walsh murder case. Anything I can do?”
My attempt at civility only got me a sneer, which I’d expected. He replied, “I don’t need your help.”
“Okay, then do you mind telling me what’s left to process just for my own information?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “The boots and the shirt. Happy now?”
Actually, I was elated. I’d processed the boots and the shirt, so that meant I couldn’t do the second examination even if I wanted to. It had to be done by a different person to be legitimate.
“Very, because it means I’m done and out of here.”
I sailed out of the lab and was almost to the front door when I realized two things: I’d forgotten my burly babysitter, and therefore had no way home, and I should probably at least tell Baxter goodbye, since it could be another three months before I saw him again.
I found him at his desk, flipping through an old case file. “Hey, making any headway?”
He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me. “Not as much as I’d like. You?”
I sat down in the chair next to him. “Well, it turns out I’m finished. Someone must have lit a fire under Beck, because he’s processed nearly everything today, which means I have nothing left to do. I’ll complete the finished sketch at school during some down time tomorrow.”
Baxter’s face fell. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”
An uncomfortable silence strained the air between us until I managed to think of something to say. “So the sketch artist you sent over was really great. She was easy to work with and incredibly talented. She captured the image I had in my head exactly. Did you get the local news to broadcast the pictures?”
“Yes. Most of the Indianapolis stations have been breaking in once an hour to run the shots of Parsons and the tip line number.”
“Any luck on the tip line, or is it the usual bunch of nutjobs calling in?”
Baxter frowned. “The usuals so far. We normally start doing a little better after five. After the sane people get home from work and turn on the news.”
“Right.” I chuckled. “Well, um…I guess I should be going and let you get back to it.”
When I got up to leave, he caught my arm. “Ellie, when we’re both not exhausted, and I’m not under the gun…do you think we could get together to talk? I feel like there are still some things we need to work through.”
I nodded. “I agree. I don’t like the way we left things, either.” Smiling, I added, “You know where to find me.”
The corner of his mouth pulled up. “Especially since I have a tail on you. Let me find out who’s got the next shift.” He picked up his phone and made a call. After hanging up, he said, “Deputy Martinez will meet you out front.”
My jaw dropped. “Martinez? Nick, come on. Please do not waste Martinez’s time on babysitting me. He’s one of the best deputies we have.”
“When he heard it was you who needed babysitting, he volunteered. Besides, I don’t think he likes his new partner much, so he’s happy for a break.”
I griped, “This is a monumental waste of department resources. As a taxpaying citizen, I want to lodge a formal complaint.”
Baxter chuckled. “Duly noted. I’ll put it in the circular file along with the tip line information.”
***
Deputy Carlos Martinez was waiting for me in the parking lot in an unmarked car. I’d worked with him many times before. He was one tough cop when he needed to be, but personable and easygoing otherwise. He’d been with the department for a long time and had more commendations than practically anyone. I knew Jayne had offered to let him work his way up the ranks, but he loved being a deputy.
When I got in, he said, “Hey, Matthews. You drew the short straw today, getting stuck with me.” I noticed he was in plain clothes. I hoped he wasn’t offering to watch me on his day off.
I smiled. “Absolutely not. Don’t tell anyone, but you’re my favorite.”
“I thought Sterling was your favorite.” He tried to keep a straight face, but couldn’t help bursting out laughing at his own joke.
“Keep talking, Martinez. I’ll become a hostile prisoner, and then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
He sobered. “I know it sucks to have someone looking over your shoulder, but with what I’ve heard about this killer, we don’t want to take any chances.” He put his vehicle in gear. “Where to? You gonna drag me to get matching mani-pedis or what? You know, my wife did that to me once, and it was a nightmare. I don’t like people touching my feet.”
I chuckled. “I would never make you do that. First I’d like to stop by my stepdad’s house and see my nephew. Then it’ll be straight home to sleep. I’m afraid I’m not going to be very interesting company, considering I haven’t slept in nearly thirty-six hours.”
“Fair enough. I’d say you’ve earned some rest.”
I gave Martinez directions to David’s house, and he sat outside in his vehicle while I went to the door.
When David answered, he took one look at me and pulled me into a hug. “I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through in the past day, Ellie. Come on in. Marjorie’s got supper almost ready.”
“You know you don’t have to feed me—”
“Auntie Ellie!” squealed Nate, rushing over to wrap himself around my legs.
I picked him up and held him tight. “Hi, baby boy. Did you have a good day with Grandpa and Nana?”
“I sure did. We made slime.”
It floored me how Marjorie had had no problem welcoming Rachel and me into her family when she married David. It took a special kind of woman to take two girls she had absolutely no connection to (her husband’s ex-wife’s children, no less) and treat us like her own. She’d done the same thing for Nate when he came along.
I raised my eyebrows at David. “Sounds messy.”
David smiled. “It was fun.”
Nate wiggled out of my arms. “I’ll go get it so I can show you.”
When he raced off, I noticed David staring out the window at Martinez’s car. “You have a police escort?” Turning to me with a worried expression, he said, “Ellie, is there more going on than you’ve told me?”
I sighed. “Yes, and that’s partially why I came over here. I can’t reveal case information, but it’s possible that Jenna’s killer may also be targeting me in order to get to Jayne. I’m under police protection until he’s caught.”
David’s face became ashen. “I don’t know if I can handle much more of you being in danger, Ellie. You don’t know how happy I was when you decided to switch to teaching. And now with you working with the department again…”
I laid a hand on his arm. “I know you worry about me. And I appreciate it.” I pointed toward Martinez. “But that
guy out there is the best deputy in Hamilton County. No one can get to me with him around.”
“What about Rachel?”
“I’m going to have Rachel continue to stay on campus. They’ve got that place locked down like Fort Knox after all that’s gone on. She’s much safer there, plus I think it’ll help her to be with her friends right now.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay. We’ll keep Nate for as long as you need.”
“Thank you. I hate to put you out like this, but—”
Holding a hand up, he said, “It’s no trouble at all. We enjoy having him here. You know that.”
Nate ran back to us, holding a large Ziploc bag full of green goo. “Feel the slime, Auntie Ellie!”
I dutifully opened the bag and squished the gooey mixture between my fingers. “Eww, gross.”
Giggling, Nate snatched the bag from me and ran back to the kitchen with it.
***
I stayed for a while, after Marjorie wouldn’t take no for an answer about eating dinner with them. After that, I had Martinez drive me home. To my dismay, Rachel’s car was in the driveway.
I rushed into the house, Martinez on my heels. “Rachel? Rachel! Are you here?”
“In my room!” she yelled.
I hurried down the hall toward her open door. “Why in the hell did you leave campus?”
She appeared in her doorway just as I got there. “Would you relax? I’m going straight back. I needed some clean clothes, and I didn’t feel like doing laundry at the dorm.” She looked past me to Martinez. “Who’s your friend?”
Rachel and I had a standing “no men in the house” rule, for our own safety as well as Nate’s. Neither one of us had a great track record where dating was concerned, hence the rule.
“This is Deputy Carlos Martinez. He’s going to be…watching out for me tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do you need watching?”
I frowned and flicked my eyes at Martinez. I pushed Rachel into her room and closed the door. “You remember when you came into my office yesterday?”
Her face fell. “Yes.”
“You remember the guy who was in there?”
“Not really. I was kind of freaked out.”
“Well…we believe he’s…Jenna’s killer.”
Her jaw dropped as her eyes filled with tears. “You know who…who…?” She cleared her throat, unable to finish her sentence. “Is he the one whose photo is up all over campus? The guy who’s ‘potentially dangerous’ but no one will come out and say why?”
“Yes.”
“And he was in your office? Holy shit.”
I nodded. “He said he wanted to write an article about me for the Voice. I thought he was a student.”
She dropped down onto her bed, shock written all over her face. “What do you think he wanted with you?”
“One theory is that he wanted to use me to get to Jayne. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but he seems to have some kind of vendetta against county law enforcement. Please don’t repeat that.”
“You know I won’t,” she said quietly.
I sat down next to her and put my arm around her. “I know.” After a moment, I asked tentatively, “Do you need to talk?”
She bowed her head. I knew she wanted to hide the tears that were no doubt flowing. “Probably, but I don’t have time for a breakdown. I’m supposed to be at a study group in thirty minutes.”
“Okay. I still feel bad about ditching you last night. I kind of shirked my big sister responsibilities.”
Sniffling, she said, “It was more important that you did your job. It sounds like you did if you have a suspect already.”
I hated to admit that was more luck than anything, or maybe even the killer purposely letting us see what he looked like, knowing we had no way of finding him.
“Um…right. Now we’re to the point of looking for a needle in a haystack. It goes without saying that if you happen to see him, don’t accost him. Run.”
“Duh.”
I gave her a squeeze. “I’ll let you get back to packing. I want you to call me as soon as you get to study group.”
“Yes, Mother.” As I went to get up, she grabbed my hand. “Did you stop by David’s to see Nate?”
“I did. He’s having a ball there, as usual.”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “Do you think I’m a bad mom because I haven’t stopped by to see him yet?”
“No, you could never be a bad mom.”
Rachel’s face crumpled. “I don’t think I can talk to him without breaking down, and I don’t want him to see me like this. I don’t want him to be scared. He senses when I’m upset, and it upsets him. I can’t turn my feelings on and off like you can and pretend like nothing’s wrong.”
I smiled. That was where she was wrong. She could absolutely do that, just like I could, but she refused to be anything but truthful with her son. That was why, even at the young age of twenty-one, she was the best mom I knew.
“Rach, it’s fine. He’s fine. When you get yourself together, you can go see him. I’ll go with you if you need the moral support.”
She nodded. “Tomorrow. I’m too raw today.”
“Okay. You know I’m here, whatever you need.”
She threw her arms around me. “I know. Thanks, sis.”
We clung to each other for a few moments, but not long enough to let ourselves get weepy. I left her to pack some clothes and met Martinez in my living room.
He cleared his throat. “I know it’s maybe not my place, but I took the liberty of calling a deputy to escort your sister back to campus and get her settled.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Martinez. I know I can always count on you to have my back.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Martinez and I watched the local evening news, and having seen the sketch of Hunter’s haunting eyes one too many times, I’d had enough. After a much-needed nightcap, I put myself to bed at seven PM, leaving Martinez to keep himself entertained in my living room. My dog Trixie had taken a liking to him, and she’d hopped up on the couch next to him and laid her head on his lap.
I was awoken from a deep sleep by my phone ringing from the nightstand next to my bed. Worried that Rachel or Nate was in trouble, I answered on the first ring.
“Hello?” I croaked, my throat dry.
“Sorry to call so late, but I need you.”
“Nick?” I asked.
“Yeah…you sound funny.”
“I was asleep,” I complained, trying to keep the slur out of my voice. Maybe I’d had more like two nightcaps before I’d decided to call it a night.
“A silver Corolla was found ditched in an empty parking lot over in Westfield. It’s got the same plate number as the one from the mall surveillance photos. We need you to come out and process the vehicle.”
Working Jenna’s scene as a favor to Jayne was one thing. But coming in again, after only a little over five hours of sleep, to process this car—which in my opinion was going to yield a big fat nothing—was another.
“Don’t you have two other criminalists on staff? Three people on a vehicle is overkill.”
“Beck is off tonight.”
“Call and wake his ass up, then.”
He sighed. “The Fed asked for you.”
“The Fed can go to hell.”
“I told him you might say that. He said you’re who he wants on the team. You’re back on the task force.”
“He is not the boss of me.”
“I told him you’d say that, too. But he wants continuity on the case, and this is part of the case. He wants you and Amanda on whatever physical evidence we find from here on out. I assume his meeting with Beck went poorly.”
Muttering curses under my breath, I got out of bed, swaying only a little as I stood. “I’m going to need some time to get dressed. I don’t have clothes at the ready like I used to.”
“Fair enough. I’ll have coffee waiting for you when you get here.”
> I hung up with Baxter as Martinez started knocking on my bedroom door. “I know,” I called. “We have to go to Westfield. Give me five minutes.”
“Will do,” Martinez replied.
After brushing my fuzzy teeth a few times and guzzling some mouthwash, I felt sufficiently odor-free. Now to get something in my stomach to speed up the dissipation of the alcohol. Once I was dressed, I ran to the kitchen, pleased to find a remnant of the steak I’d grilled on Sunday night. That, along with some chocolate milk and a blueberry muffin, ought to do it.
Martinez gave my eclectic midnight snack an amused glance, but didn’t say anything as we got in his vehicle and sped west to Westfield, with me chowing down the whole way. We ended up at an empty parking lot right on Main Street. A silver Corolla sat in the front of the parking lot, facing the road and under a streetlight, no less. The killer wanted the vehicle found, that much was clear, which meant there would be no useful evidence inside.
The parking lot was already crawling with law enforcement vehicles and personnel. As we parked and got out of Martinez’s vehicle, I spotted Baxter, Sterling, and Amanda conferring near the Corolla. Agent Manetti was standing in front of a group of deputies, barking orders.
“This should be fun,” I muttered under my breath, popping a couple of Altoids.
Martinez grinned. “I take it you’ve met our new fearless leader.”
“Yeah. Not a fan. I guess this is your lucky night, though. You’re rid of me now. I’m going to be working this scene and then spending the rest of my night in the lab, surrounded by cops.”
He smiled. “I guess that’s true. Sucks for me. Now I’ll have to do some actual work. I was getting awfully comfy on your couch with your fluffy dog. Adult babysitting is a cushy job.”
I gave him a punch on the arm.
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