Chasing Shadows

by Terri Reed

“Detective Burke, what can I do for you? You did get the fax I sent, didn’t you?”

  “No.” He made a mental note to check the station’s central fax machine. “But I’ll take a copy today.”

  Her eyebrows puckered. “Fine. If you’ll excuse me I’ll go pull that now.”

  “Later. We had a report that a resident went missing last night,” he replied, watching closely for her reaction.

  Her lips pursed tight for a moment. “You were wrongly informed. All of our residents are accounted for.”

  Relief should have poured in, but Gabe couldn’t shake the message written on Kris’s door. Stop asking questions or else. Obviously, someone had something to hide.

  “Then you won’t mind if we take a look around,” Angie declared, her voice making it clear the statement wasn’t a request.

  The director’s gaze shifted from him to Angie. “Do you have a warrant?”

  “Do we need one?” Angie interjected.

  “Of course not.” Annoyance and a flash of—was that panic?—entered her gaze. “I suppose you may ‘look around’ as long as you don’t upset the residents. Especially after last night’s episode.” She glared at Gabe.

  “We’ll be discreet,” Gabe assured her. “I’d like to speak with your medical director.”

  Ms. Faust turned toward the pretty brunette woman at the desk. “Sharon, would you show these officers to Dr. Crowley’s office, please?”

  Sharon glanced up, her dark mocha eyes regarding Ms. Faust a bit warily. “Uh, Dr. Crowley’s out today. Dr. Sheffield is filling in.”

  “Just take them to the doctor,” Ms. Faust barked.

  Sharon scrambled out of her seat, catching the heel of her shoe on the edge of the desk. She righted herself, smoothing a hand down the front of her red skirt. She was taller than she appeared while sitting behind the desk. “This way.”

  He could feel Angie’s questioning gaze as they followed Sharon down the hall.

  “Last night?” Angie finally asked.

  “Kristina visited her grandmother,” he stated.

  “And?”

  “It was after visiting hours.”

  “I see.”

  He doubted that, but he didn’t want to explain. Because if he did, then he’d have to examine why he’d come running when Kris called in the middle of the night.

  “Gabe!”

  Kristina waved at him from the doorway of an apartment.

  His footsteps faltered. He hesitated, torn between his duty and the need to go to Kris.

  Angie laid a hand on his arm. Her gaze flickered to Kris and back. He could read the speculation in her warm brown eyes. “Do you want me to interview the doc?”

  “That would be great.” He gave her a grateful smile. “Ask about the two people we know are missing and see if anyone has recently expired. And,” he added as he lowered his voice, “ask about Sadie Arnold’s mental health.”

  “You know he can’t tell me anything,” she countered with a frown.

  “True. But I trust you to get his assessment off the record.”

  Again her focus flickered to Kris and back. She searched his face before heaving a sigh. “Will do.”

  Angie walked away, her dark ponytail swaying with each step. He hated disappointing her, but nothing was going to happen between them. Especially not with Kris in the picture. Even though he had no idea where that relationship was headed. He hurried to where Kris stood waiting.

  “I’m so glad you came. Grams is all agitated,” she said in a rush, clearly agitated as well. “The director told her that Denise Jamesen went to visit her relatives in Rhode Island for the holiday. But Grams insists that Denise wouldn’t do that. She’s certain the body last night was Denise’s.”

  If not for the threatening note on Kris’s door, Gabe would have argued that only Sadie had seen a body, which didn’t mean there had been one. But now…Something was going on. Still he wasn’t sure it had to do with dead bodies. That was a little far-fetched.

  He took Kris’s hand. “I’ll talk to Ms. Faust and find out more about Ms. Jamesen’s whereabouts.”

  Sadie appeared next to Kris. Her wrinkled face lit up with pleasure. “Detective. So good of you to come see us.”

  “Ma’am,” he replied. Did she remember why he was here?

  “I was just telling Gabe about your friend Denise,” Kris said.

  Sadie’s brow furrowed with concern. “She wouldn’t have gone to see her nephew and his family. They didn’t get along. She’d cut them out of her will years ago.”

  “Do you know where this nephew lives?” Gabe asked.

  Sadie’s pale lips puckered in thought. “Well, I can’t recall.”

  Gabe smiled. “No worries. I’ll ask Ms. Faust.”

  Sadie’s eyes darkened. “That one’s up to no good, I tell you.”

  Gabe exchanged a glance with Kris. Was Sadie right? Was the director up to no good? Or were they following the ramblings of a slipping mind?

  The words written across Kris’s door wouldn’t release their tight grip in his consciousness. Somehow the warning and Sadie’s suspicions had to merge. But how?

  Kris could see the questions and doubts flittering through Gabe’s green eyes. On the one hand Sadie’s claims could appear to be the ravings of a failing mind, but that awful threat last night on her door had been all too real.

  She was just so glad he’d come to the retirement center even with his doubts. “Let us know what you find out, okay?”

  Gabe touched her hand, the contact sending little tingles marching up her arm to settle near her heart. “Of course I will.”

  A movement in Kris’s peripheral vision gave her a start, and she clutched at Gabe’s sleeve.

  An elegant, elderly woman appeared in the doorway of Sadie’s studio apartment. “Hello, would anyone like a spot of tea?”

  Okay, she was way too jumpy. She forced a smile. “Hello, Mrs. Tipple.”

  Evelyn Tipple’s face creased into an answering smile. She had her silver hair swept back into a classic chignon. She looked coolly chic in khaki slacks with a sweater set complete with a string of pearls around her slender neck. An English rose personified. Her lively hazel eyes danced as her gaze roamed over Gabe. “Who’s this handsome bloke?”

  Kris suppressed a grin at the red creeping up Gabe’s neck. “This is Detective Burke from the Boston P.D.”

  Mrs. Tipple winked at Gabe. “Oh, has someone done something wicked?”

  If they only knew for sure. “We’re—”

  “I’m just visiting,” Gabe interjected, darting a meaningful glance at Kris.

  She sobered. These wonderful ladies very well might be in danger.

  “I’d love some soothing tea, Evelyn, thank you,” Sadie said. To Kris, she whispered, “Let me know what you find out.”

  With a kiss to Sadie’s check, Kris answered, “Of course.”

  As Sadie passed Gabe, she touched his arm. His soft smile and nod made Kris’s heart constrict. She loved that he was so good to her grandmother.

  “I’ll go talk to Ms. Faust again,” he commented.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  They found her conversing with Frank, the janitor, in a small alcove at the end of the hall. Frank’s eyes widened as they approached. “I ain’t done nothing.”

  Kris wasn’t surprised that Frank would think Gabe was here for him. The man made her nervous. There was something about him that was off.

  “We’re not here to see you,” Gabe declared in a calm tone.

  With a quick look at Ms. Faust, Frank scurried away, pushing his cleaning cart.

  “Ms. Faust, can you tell me exactly where Denise Jamesen’s relative lives?” Gabe asked, taking a notebook out of his pocket.

  “Are you conducting an official investigation?” Ms. Faust inquired.

  Gabe hesitated a moment before answering. “Yes.”

  Ms. Faust’s mouth pressed into a thin disapproving line. “Then come back when you have a warrant. I’m sure
if Mrs. Jamesen wished for Sadie to know where she was, she’d have left her the address herself,” Ms. Faust argued with a glare directed at Kris.

  “Sadie is upset and worried about her,” Kris replied, trying to appeal to the woman’s emotions.

  Ms. Faust raised an eyebrow. “You should be more worried about your grandmother.”

  “Is that a threat?” Gabe asked, taking a menacing step closer.

  Ms. Faust flushed. “Of course not. I only meant that Sadie has shown increasing signs of dementia. It’s natural at her age.” She turned her piercing gaze back on Kris. “And since you’ve been coming to visit her more regularly these past few months, her blood pressure has risen significantly.”

  The admonishment in Ms. Faust’s tone strummed a chord of guilt in Kris. Were her visits too much for Sadie? Causing her too much excitement, raising her blood pressure and creating paranoia? Sadie had been more agitated the past few days. “Can you bring her blood pressure down?”

  Ms. Faust gave her a patient look. “The doctors are doing what they can.”

  Implying that Kris was the source of Sadie’s agitation. Kris glanced at Gabe. The tender concern and compassion filling his green eyes both pleased and irritated her. The man she’d known so many years ago wouldn’t have shown such understanding, but dealing with the atrocities of police work had obviously given him an empathetic side.

  And now he empathized with her.

  He’d tried to tell her that maybe Sadie wasn’t as healthy as she’d thought. So, okay, Sadie was eighty and Kris had probably been too enthusiastic in taking Grams out for ice cream, the theatre and dinner at Sadie’s favorite restaurants. But Sadie’s blood pressure didn’t explain the warning slashed across Kris’s apartment door.

  As if reading her mind, Gabe spoke, his voice crisp and authoritative. “I’d still like the address and phone number of Denise Jamesen’s relatives. And I really would suggest you cooperate rather than demanding I come back with a warrant. Makes me wonder what you’re hiding.”

  Ms. Faust heaved a beleaguered sigh. “Follow me.”

  Kris slipped her arm through Gabe’s. Gratefulness spread through her like a blanket against the chill of doubts Ms. Faust tried to instill. Gabe had enough of his own, Kris didn’t need the other woman adding fuel to this particular fire.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He covered her hand, warmth seeping in and curling up her arm.

  His voice dropped in volume. “Let’s concede the fact that Sadie’s imagination may be running rampant.”

  Indignation roared like a hungry bear through Kris. She didn’t want to concede anything. Acknowledging Sadie’s deteriorating health would be too upsetting. She tried to withdraw her hand. He wouldn’t release her.

  “And,” he continued, his voice low, his gaze intense, “someone feels threatened enough by her ramblings to send you a warning to back off. So in one way or another, she’s hit a nerve. We just have to find out with who and why.”

  Though her indignation lessened, Kris eyed Gabe with suspicion. “How do we find out?”

  “Follow the leads we have for now.”

  They stopped at Ms. Faust’s office door. She gave no invitation to enter so they stood in the doorway while she rummaged through papers and files on her desk. She settled on a manila file with a green tab. Flipping the cover back, she quickly wrote out the requested info on a hot-pink sticky note and offered the slip of paper to Gabe. “I hope this will put an end to this nonsense.”

  “And I’ll take the itinerary,” Gabe said.

  With her mouth clamped tight in obvious irritation, she picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to him.

  A quick scan of the itinerary revealed nothing Ms. Faust hadn’t already stated. “This doesn’t mention the name of the cruise ship or the return date for Carl.”

  She shrugged. “That’s all I have.”

  Which was of no help.

  Gabe inclined his head. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

  “Yes,” Kris added. “Thank you.”

  The woman harrumphed before indicating she’d like to shut the door.

  Kris read over Gabe’s shoulder as he took out his cell phone and dialed the number on the paper. He clicked his phone shut. “Busy.”

  Kris frowned. “Who doesn’t have call waiting nowadays?”

  He shrugged. “Apparently these people.” He looked at the square sheet in his hand. “Tim and Edna Jamesen.”

  “Try again,” Kris said, anxious to find out one way or another if Denise Jamesen had gone to visit her relatives for the holiday.

  A second attempt yielded the same result.

  “I’ll call the local law enforcement and see if they can stop by the Jamesen house.”

  “But that could take hours or days.” Sadie would be upset until she knew for sure. “It’s, what, an hour and a half drive to Rhode Island?” She checked her watch. “I think I’ll go check on Denise myself. I could be there by one and back by five.”

  “No. I’m not going to let you go off by yourself on some road trip.”

  Kris smiled sweetly. “Then you’re volunteering to come with me. How wonderful. My car or yours?”

  Gabe blinked. He shook his head as if trying to make sense of what just happened. “I didn’t say I was going with you.”

  “But you just said you wouldn’t let me go alone.”

  His jawline hardened. “You’re not going, period.”

  Drawing closer, she stared up into his handsome face. “Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t take orders from you. I’m going to Rhode Island with or without you. Your choice.”

  Dark clouds gathered in his expression. Kris almost backed down. Almost. But she liked thunderstorms and he didn’t scare her.

  Finally, he blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. I need to touch base with my partner. We’ll take your car.”

  Elated with his decision, Kris put her hand on his chest, over his heart. She could feel the thud against her palm through his dress shirt and suit jacket. “Thank you.”

  His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “You’ll be the death of me, Kristina Worthington.”

  Her eyes widened in horror. “Let’s hope not.”

  He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “No worries.” He released her hand. “I’ll go find Angie, you say goodbye to your grandmother. Meet me in the parking lot.”

  Kris stared after him as he headed down the hall. The spot on her hand tingled where his lips had caressed the skin.

  With a smile, she went in search of Sadie. Then it hit her. He’d given her an order.

  And she was gladly obeying.

  Maybe he had more power over her than she was comfortable with. What a disturbing thought.

  Kris found her grandmother in the common room, an airy space with comfortable-looking sofas, a television, a coffee bar and several tables strategically placed. Near the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the courtyard, two elderly men sat playing a game of chess. Several residents watched the news, which had the local weatherman predicting more snow in the greater Boston area.

  Near the lovely stone fireplace, a large Christmas tree twinkled with red and gold decorations. From a table set off to the side, yet in a place to receive the warmth of the fire, sat Sadie, Mrs. Tipple and two other women. A silver tea service dominated the white linen tablecloth. The women sipped from delicate, floral-patterned tea cups.

  Kris approached the table, glad to see her grandmother’s smile as the women chatted. She didn’t look stressed or jittery. Kris put her hand on her grandmother’s shoulder to draw her attention. “Grams.”

  Sadie blinked up at Kris. “Krissy, dear, what a nice surprise. I didn’t know you were coming today. Let me introduce you to my friends.”

  Kris’s heart thudded and her stomach dropped. Her grandmother hadn’t remembered she was here. Not good, not good at all. She forced a smile of greeting. “Ladies, do you mind if I steal my grandmother away for a moment?”
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  “By all means,” Vivian Kirk, the woman sitting across from Sadie, said. She didn’t look nearly as old as the other ladies. She was a plump motherly type with cool gray eyes, apple cheeks and short, blond hair. A colorful afghan was draped over her wide shoulders.

  Kris helped Sadie to her feet and led her to a quiet corner in the room. “Uh, Grams, we were just in your apartment a little bit ago. Don’t you remember?”

  Confusion entered Sadie’s eyes. “Well, now that you mention it.”

  “You called me about Denise Jamesen,” Kris prompted, hating the distressing idea that Sadie’s mind was in fact fading.

  The blank look on Sadie’s face nearly brought tears to Kris’s eyes. Grams didn’t remember.

  Then Sadie’s expression cleared and her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, my. Denise is missing. Just like…just like…” She frowned, her face a study in concentration.

  “Carl and Lena?”

  “Yes!” Sadie grabbed Kris’s hand. “What’ll we do? We have to find them. Something bad has happened.”

  Relief made Kris’s head throb. Just a momentary lapse of memory, nothing more. “We’ll find them. Gabe and I are going to drive to Rhode Island to see Denise.”

  “You are? Wonderful. May I come?”

  The eagerness in her expression plucked at Kris. “It’s a bit of a drive.”

  “You don’t want me to come?” Hurt filled her voice.

  “That’s not it at all,” Kris quickly assured her. “I don’t want to tire you out.”

  “Nonsense, let me just get my coat.” Sadie shuffled away toward her studio apartment.

  “Is everything all right, my dear?” Mrs. Tipple asked as she came to stand on Kris’s right.

  “Did I hear Sadie say she was getting her coat? Are you taking her away?” Vivian’s concerned voice shook slightly as she moved to stand on Kris’s left.

  Kris gave each woman a reassuring smile. “We’re just going out for a drive. We’ll be back this afternoon.”

  Mrs. Tipple laid her hand on Kris’s arm. “It’s just beautiful the way you dote on your grandmother.”

  “Thank you.” Maybe these women would know something useful. “Do either of you remember Denise Jamesen mentioning she was going to visit her relatives for the holiday?”