DOWN COLDER: A Hallie James Mystery (The Hallie James Mysteries Book 3)

by DK Herman

  "And Lexi said that she's down colder," Ben said. "Could it mean she's somewhere underground? That would be chilly, even at this time of year."

  "It's a possibility," Mike Krause said. "We have to keep working the case. Miss Wilson, do you need help getting the money together?"

  "I'll help her," Gail said, still holding her daughter.

  "OK, but if you need anything, let us know." Andy and Mike followed Mitch out the door.

  "Call me... anytime," I told Jane. "Try to get some rest."

  Jane nodded with a weak smile.

  We left and walked down the street to Ben's truck. I opened the pickup's door and realized I left my purse at Jane's.

  "I'll be right back," I said and went back to retrieve it.

  When I returned to get into the truck, Ben was talking to Bob Kubicki, who hung at the driver's side door.

  "How's Janey doing?" He asked me. "It’s my lunch hour, so I thought I'd check on her."

  "She's upset, but she's hanging in there." I opened the passenger side door and climbed inside. I moved Ben's library book over so I wouldn't sit on it.

  "Whatcha got there?" Bob said.

  Ben held up the big red book. "A book about all the old buildings in Herville."

  Bob took it in his hands and flipped through it. "It looks kinda interesting, but I haven't had time to read in years." He handed it back to Ben. "Well, I better get inside to the girls. Thank you for helping to find our Lexi. I miss my munchkin so much."

  "You're welcome," Ben said, and we watched Bob walk away, dabbing at his eyes with a white handkerchief.

  "This case is so sad," Ben said grimacing. "I hope we find her, or they give her back alive.”

  It was getting to me too. "Let's do lunch, then go back to the office and regroup."

  "Sure," Ben said. "Drive thru at Burger Bistro?"

  "Sounds good." This was another thing Ben and I had in common, nothing took away our appetites.

  Ben and I got to the drive thru and ordered double cheeseburgers, onion rings, and chocolate shakes. Then we parked under a tree near the back of the lot and enjoyed our impromptu feast. Afterwards, we were relaxed and ready to go at the case again. We tossed our trash into a nearby can and headed for the office.

  Ben parked near the corner, about two buildings away from the office. We unbuckled our seatbelts, and Ben reached over for the book. A shot rang out, and a bullet came through the truck's windshield, lodging in the headrest an inch from Ben's left ear.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  We both dove as low as possible while drawing our weapons.

  "Where are they?" Ben asked, peeking above the dashboard. "I don't see anybody on the street.

  "Stay down!" I pulled on Ben's arm while trying to retrieve my cell from my purse.

  "I'm as down as I can get," Ben said. "But I didn’t see anybody. Do you think they're gone?"

  "I don't know, but I'm calling Andy. We have to report it anyhow. Don't move until they get here." The bullet came so close to killing Ben that I was shaking.

  Andy and Mike Krause showed up with their sirens blaring. They checked the area, finding no one suspicious or any witnesses. After Chief Woods showed up with some patrolmen, they escorted us inside the agency. We went into my office and closed the drapes over my window.

  "Let's go over your morning," Andy said. "Either you guys got too close, or you really pissed somebody off."

  "I think they were after Ben," I said. "The bullet just missed his head."

  "But I was leaning towards you, or maybe they're a piss poor shot." Ben appeared much calmer than me.

  "OK, start at where you two went after leaving here this morning," Mike Krause said when Chief Woods entered the room.

  I looked at Ben, and he signaled for me to start.

  "Our first stop was to talk to Jane about Noah Kelly." I paused when Jessie knocked on the door.

  "Anybody want something from Brew's?" She asked.

  "No," Chief Woods said. "Everybody stays inside the building until we're finished outside."

  Jessie gave us a frightened look and left the room.

  "What happened there?" "Mike asked.

  "Jane seemed surprised and angry when I told her that Noah was here to pursue custody of Lexi," I replied. "Then she told us that Taylor works at the library all day, so we went there to talk to her."

  "How did that go?" Andy asked.

  "She seemed frightened that we would reveal her secret... about being Jezebel."

  "But, was she angry or hostile?" Mike asked.

  "Her girlfriend was the one who was hostile." Ben grinned at me.

  "Her girlfriend?" Andy said.

  I told them about Joey divulging Taylor's other secret. "Her girlfriend's name is Patty Rogers. She's another librarian. And, she's the auburn-haired woman that reported the fight in the waiting room to the nurse, Barbara Steinman."

  That revelation got raised eyebrows from all three cops.

  "And this Patty Rogers was hostile towards you?" Andy said.

  "Very hostile," Ben said.

  "We'll see what we can find out about her," Andy said, writing down the name.

  "Poppy's already running a check on her." I jumped up from my office couch. The men all stood up to follow me. "I'm just going up the hall, guys."

  "Stay away from any windows," Chief Woods called, but everybody followed me to Poppy's office door.

  "Hey, girls," I said to the young women working diligently at their computers. "How's that search on Patty Rogers?"

  "The hard copy's in my hand," Poppy said. "And I just sent one to your email."

  "Great." I crossed the room and took the report from Poppy. Walking back to my office, I handed the report to Mike Krause.

  We got seated again, and the new Herville cop came into the room.

  "Here's the slug out of the truck's headrest, Chief," Officer Martin said, handing over a small, sealed evidence bag to Chief Woods.

  "Thanks, Bill," The Chief said. "I need you to help Phil canvass for witnesses. It's the middle of the day, somebody had to see something."

  Bill Martin nodded and left.

  "This looks like a .38," Chief Woods said, examining the slug.

  "Chief, are you and your men going to be here for a while?" Mike Krause asked. He pointed out something in the report to Andy, who then passed the folder to Chief Woods.

  "Let's go have a talk with Patty Rogers," Andy said. His jaw was set tightly.

  "Why?" Ben asked.

  "She owns a .38, Smith and Wesson, five shot revolver," Chief Woods said. He looked at Andy and Mike. "Stress to the young lady how much it upsets us to have someone shooting at our friends. Then take her gun to be tested at the lab."

  Mike and Andy left, promising to keep in touch. I got a couple of canned iced teas from the break room fridge and handed them out. Sitting on the couch, I brought up the Patty Rogers file on my phone.

  There was a lot of information for someone so young. Patricia Elizabeth Rogers is twenty-two and was born in nearby Fairton. Like Taylor, she's still working on a degree while working at the Herville library.

  She's lived with an uncle in Herville ever since her mother went to jail for robbing a convenience store and drug possession. The mother had been investigated for child abuse and neglect, several times. Her father is unknown. It was a sad, familiar story.

  Bill Martin came back inside carrying a small box. "Here's some personal items I grabbed out of Mr. Gordon's pickup. The lab guys are finished if he'd like to call someone to repair his windshield."

  "Thanks again, Bill," Chief Woods said. "Any luck finding a witness?"

  "Sorry, Chief," Bill said. "We knocked on all the doors on the street. If anybody saw the shooter, they left, or they aren't talking."

  Chief Woods nodded and handed the box to Ben. I went back to reading the file.

  Patty had a record of her own. She's had assault, and disorderly conduct charges against her twice.

  "I need something from
Brew's," Ben declared. "I need an almond bear claw."

  "Only if I go along," I said.

  Chief Woods looked us both with raised eyebrows

  "We have to go back outside sometime." Ben shrugged. "Plus, if it was Patty, Andy and Mike are with her."

  "Ok," Chief Woods got to his feet. "But I’m going along too, to keep an eye on you. And I love Brew's bear claws." He smiled sheepishly. "But don't tell my wife." He rubbed his paunchy stomach. "She's got me on a diet again. I've been eating nothing but fish and rabbit food."

  After we returned from Brew's and ate our pastry, Andy called. He and Mike Krause had taken Taylor and Patty to the station for questioning. They were both angered by the police visit at work. And Patty made threatening statements towards Ben and me. They needed Chief Woods to search her home and car. They'd already spoken to a judge, and he agreed to sign a warrant.

  "Want to tag along?" Chief Woods asked.

  "Do you want the extra pairs of eyes, or are you still babysitting us?" I asked.

  "A little of both." Chief Woods shrugged. "Come on, you can ride with me."

  I knew from Patty's file that she lived in an apartment over a Main Street flower shop. Chief Woods had Bill Martin cover the rear of the building while we took Phil Stewart with us in the front entrance.

  Patty's uncle, Drew Rogers, a pleasant fiftyish man, answered the door in pajamas.

  "Sorry I'm not dressed," Drew Rogers said. "I just got up. I work third shift at the sewer department."

  "We're sorry to disturb you, sir, but this is very important," Chief Woods said. He handed the man a copy of the search warrant. "Where's Patty's room?"

  Drew Rogers led the way through the apartment. Everything was clean and tidy, but worn. The file said Drew and Patty have lived at this address for fifteen years. The owner of the building hadn't bothered to redecorate in that time. But the old furniture suited the apartment.

  Displayed on top of the ancient console television were several of Patty's school pictures in frames. Even though she was smiling in all of them, anger showed in her eyes.

  "Is my niece in some sort of trouble?" Drew Rogers asked politely.

  "I'm not sure, sir. However, I need you to stay here in the living room with this officer while we have a look in her room."

  Phil Stewart gave the man a reassuring smile.

  "Are there any guns in the apartment?" Chief Woods asked.

  "I think Patty has one somewhere," Drew Rogers said. "It's for protection. In the winter, sometimes it's dark before she gets home from classes and the library."

  Chief Woods and Ben went through Patty's room while I searched the bathroom and kitchen. The apartment is a small, uncluttered two-bedroom place, and the search didn't take long.

  "There's nothing in the living room, Chief," Phil reported when he and Ben came out of Patty's room.

  "We found a box of ammo for a .38," Ben whispered into my ear. "But no gun."

  "Where does Patty park her car?" Chief Woods asked.

  Drew Rogers rubbed his stubbly chin with his thumb and forefinger. "She has a permit to park without feeding the meters, but she probably took her car to work this morning."

  "Thank you, Mr. Rogers." Chief Woods pointed at the door, and we filed out of the apartment.

  Climbing back into two police cars, we headed across town and cruised the streets around the library, looking for Patty's car

  Two blocks from the library, Patty Rogers' 1998, silver Ford Taurus was parked underneath a maple tree. Chief Woods checked the license plate number and gave Phil Stewart the nod to pop a door open with a Slim Jim. Ben and I stayed back, keeping watch on our surroundings, while the police searched the vehicle.

  But they didn't find a gun in the car.

  "Maybe she dumped it somewhere," Phil Stewart suggested.

  "Maybe," Chief Woods agreed. He looked at the sidewalk and grasped the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to drop you two off at your office." He looked at Ben and me with a serious expression. "I want you both to be careful, and stick together until we're sure we have the right person in custody."

  Ben and I nodded and climbed into the police SUV.

  Ben's pickup was gone when Chief Woods dropped us off in front of the office. It had been taken by rollback to a repair shop for a new windshield and headrest. We scooted inside the building so the Chief could get back to the police station. He promised to let us know if Patty confessed or they found her .38. In the meantime, we were advised to watch each other's backs.

  "Hey, you two," Poppy said. "Is everything OK now?"

  "Yeah," Ben said. "But what do you say to everybody going home a little early."

  I looked at my watch. "It's after four and there's no appointments, why not."

  I sent everybody home and broke the news to Ben that he was going home with me.

  "Then you'll have to drive me back," Ben argued.

  "No, I won't," I said. "You're going to spend the night." I could see him start to purse his lips, which meant he wanted to argue. "Chief Woods said to stick together. And... Liv's making pierogies!"

  "Say no more, I'm in." He gave me a brilliant smile. The one that made me feel warm and happy.

  We locked up, and with our guns within in easy reach, we went out the door.

  Moving as a team, Ben and I made our way to my car. We buckled up, and I was about to start the engine when an older, red pickup blared its horn, stopping alongside my Denali.

  Ben reached for his gun.

  I stayed his hand. "It's Hank," I said.

  "So?" Ben pulled out his new Beretta M9 and laid it in his lap.

  Hank leaned over and put his passenger side window down, so I powered mine down too.

  "I heard you got shot at today?" Hank said. "Are you alright?"

  "We're fine, thanks," Ben said impatiently. "But we're kind of a target, sitting here on the street."

  "He's right," I said. "We should go. Thanks for stopping to check on us."

  "I was checking on you," Hank said with a snort. "If you need a place to stay or anything else until the cops catch the guy, you let me know. The Hardy Boy is on his own." He pulled away as quickly as he pulled up.

  "What an ass," Ben said. He visibly relaxed, but he kept the gun in his lap. "You don't think he'd take a shot at me, do you?"

  "Nah," I said. But now the thought was planted in my mind. I watched for his truck all the way home.

  "Who is that?" Ben asked as we pulled into my driveway.

  I pulled my sunglasses down and scowled at the two young boys that were standing near Ursula, arguing with George.

  "Damn that boy!" I jumped out of my car and trotted to George's side.

  "I keep telling you no! I don't want to sell my car!" George made shooing motions at the two teenagers

  "Hey, twerps!" Ben pushed in front of me. He'd heard about George's problem with this kid, but like me, he thought it was over. "The man said that the car isn't for sale. And if it was," Ben took the top of the boy’s head and forced him to look in his eyes, "five hundred ain't even close to the price. Google it. In this condition, a 66 Chevelle would go for fifty to sixty grand at auction. Now, apologize for bothering the man and get outta here."

  The boy looked up at Ben, and I could see his mind working to come up with an argument. Then he looked down at Ben's right hand that was still holding the Beretta. "OK, sure. We're leaving. Sorry, Mister." And they scurried into their car and left.

  "I hope they leave you alone now, George," Ben said.

  "I think they will," George said with a chuckle.

  I tapped Ben on the shoulder and pointed at his gun.

  "Oh, crap," Ben said, shoving the gun into its holster. "I forgot I had it in my hand."

  "Whatever works," George said, clapping Ben on the back. "Come on, Ben. Let's get a beer and start the grill. Susie wants burgers with Liv's pierogies for supper."

  Ben and I went for a swim after supper. Climbing out of the pool before dark, we watched the sun set fro
m my balcony.

  When we got back to my rooms, there was a message on my phone from Andy. Taylor and Patty had been released after Patty claimed her gun had been stolen from her purse the last week. He told us to be careful, and he'd see us in the morning.

  "I don’t care who's shooting at us, we need to find that little girl," Ben said.

  "I know," I agreed. "Her voice on that recording has been on my mind all day."

  "She said she's down colder and wants her blanket," Ben mused. "I think she's being kept underground, in a basement maybe."

  "And she mentioned spiders," I added, wrinkling my nose. I don't like the crawly things either.

  "She sounded sleepy. Do you think they're drugging her?"

  I nodded. "It's an effortless way to manage a captive. They need less guarding, and it keeps them quiet."

  "Bastards," Ben mumbled. "Hey, the library is ancient. I wonder if it has a basement."

  "I'd bet it does." I nodded. "Are you thinking Patty took her with Taylor's help?"

  "Taylor wanted a piece of Jane's money and was told no." Ben sat up straighter in his deck chair. And Patty wasn't at the desk when we first got to the library. Maybe she was in the basement checking on Lexi. They have keys to the building."

  "We need to brainstorm with the dry erase board tomorrow." I stood up. "Let's go raid the fridge. Swimming made me hungry again."

  In the kitchen, we heaped plates with Liv's left-over pierogies, deviled eggs, and burgers. We sat on stools and ate at the counter, fighting over the last deviled egg.

  "It's mine!" I giggled. Snatching up the egg half and putting it halfway into my mouth, I wiggled it at Ben.

  He swooped in and placed his lips on mine, sucking the egg out of my mouth. With our eyes open, our gazes locked for a moment. The feel of his warm lips on mine sent fire racing through me.

  I pulled away, amazed at the throbbing in my nether region. "You wanted that egg pretty bad," I said with a weak smile.

  He grinned. "Yeah, I wanted that egg." He smiled into my eyes. "What's for dessert?"

  "What do you want?" I smiled back.

  "Eating again, you two?" Liv said. She dug in the fridge for a glass of tea and cut herself a piece of chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. "Anybody want some?"