“Good job,” Skye said, then asked, “Anyone at the other schools mentioning that Stan’s two siblings are having any problems?”
“Not so far.” Piper consulted her notes. “His brother is nine and his sister is seven.” Raising her eyes, she said, “That means their father left their mother with a one-, three-, and six-year-old.” Piper’s cheeks reddened. “What a…a creepazoid of the genus Asshat.”
“Don’t worry,” Skye said. “Karma will come back to bite him on the butt. And all we can do is hope that she has rabies when she does it.” Skye rolled the stroller over the threshold, then over her shoulder said, “Call me if you need any advice or suggestions.”
“Will do.” Piper’s voice indicated her zeal, and Skye hoped the intern would be able to retain that enthusiasm throughout her career.
It was nearly four when Skye walked outside pushing the stroller. Behind her, the door slammed shut with a decisive echo. The late-afternoon light was fading and shadows dappled the parking lot. As Skye hurried toward the SUV, a nearby movement caught her eye.
Her heart thudding louder and louder, she glanced over her shoulder and then quickened her pace. The stroller bumped over uneven patches of asphalt and the twins started to fuss.
Except for the crying babies, the only other sound was the distant bark of a dog. Cold sweat trickled down Skye’s sides and she held her breath.
Suddenly, a figure inserted itself between Skye and the Mercedes.
Fear clogged Skye’s throat and a taunting litany in her mind of my fault, my fault, my fault blamed her for the situation. She had put her children at risk. Why hadn’t she gone home after lunch?
A rotund woman dressed in a blue cape with a huge, pink bow at her throat stepped out of the gloom and called out, “Mrs. Boyd!” She advanced toward Skye, and as she fanned her hand in front of her face, she complained, “You are an extremely difficult young woman to get alone.”
“Ms. Rose,” Skye said. Her heart rate might have returned to normal, but she was still considering a swift retreat back into the school building. “Why would you need to get me alone?”
“Miss.” The woman wagged her finger. “As I’ve told you before, I prefer Miss Rose, or better yet, please call me Millicent.”
“What can I do for you, Miss Rose?” Skye kept her body between her babies and the odd, little woman and edged the stroller backward. “My husband’s right behind me. He’s getting the babies’ diaper bag. I forgot it in my office, but he’ll be joining us in a few seconds.”
“Chief Boyd is at the police station dealing with a very annoyed member of the Illinois Gaming Board.” Millicent wagged her finger again.
“He is not.” Skye frowned. How did the woman know that Wally was at the PD? Besides, he was meeting with an attorney, not someone from the gaming board. “He’ll be here any second and won’t be happy to see you.”
“Stop lying to me.” Millicent put her hands on her hips. “I’m trying to help you.”
“Help me with what exactly?” Skye felt around behind her for her cell phone in the caddy attached to the stroller’s handles, wishing her pepper spray wasn’t buried at the bottom of her purse.
“Wickedness continues to lurk around Scumble River.” Millicent’s expression darkened. “Although I was sent here for you, I wasn’t sure at first which mother and baby was the target and I made sure to be there for them all. But now I know it’s you and your children who are in danger.”
“And how do you know that?” Skye fought to keep her tone civil.
Millicent continued as if Skye hadn’t spoken. “This evil is waiting until you and your children are at your most vulnerable and then it will act.”
Intellectually, Skye knew the woman was spouting nonsense, but her chest tightened and she asked, “Why are my babies and I being targeted?”
“It’s not clear.” Millicent rubbed her temples. “I feel like you are a means to an end.”
“You’ve said that you’re trying to help me, but a vague warning doesn’t seem to be much in the way of assistance,” Skye retorted.
“Whatever is planned will happen the day of the babies’ christening.” Millicent inhaled deeply and then, in a voice heavy with importance, declared, “I need to be there to stop it.”
“If this is just another way to get an invitation to the baptism—”
Skye’s next words were cut off by a loud shriek from the twins. She whirled around to check on her babies. No one and nothing was anywhere near them, but their faces were scrunched up and they were sobbing. She tried to soothe them with pacifiers, but they refused and continued to howl their displeasure.
Turning back to Millicent, Skye attempted to move around the woman. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need to get my son and daughter fed.”
Millicent opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly, her complexion turned ashen, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed at Skye’s feet.
Chapter 18
There Goes My Baby
When Wally arrived back at the station, Zeus Hammersmith’s attorney, Ellis Markey, demanded that his client be immediately released. Wally attempted to explain the need for Zeus to answer a few questions first, but Markey was adamant that Zeus remain silent.
After an hour of escalating threats and demands by Markey, Wally had had enough.
Marching over to the break room door, Wally opened it, then paused at the threshold and warned, “If Zeus doesn’t cooperate, he’ll be spending the next seventy-eight hours in jail, the maximum length of time I can hold a suspect before charging him.”
Instantly, Zeus blurted out, “Mr. Markey isn’t really my lawyer.” He glared at the man in question and added, “I’m not sitting in any jail cell for you.”
Wally allowed the door to click shut behind him and rejoined Zeus and Markey. Taking a seat across from the two men, he waited for an explanation.
Ellis Markey adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “Chief, it is of the utmost importance that you keep what I tell you completely confidential. It can’t leave this room.”
Wally took a deep breath, the odor of old coffee and burned microwaved meals catching in his gullet. “I guess that will depend on what you say and who, in my opinion, needs to know.” He glanced at the old-fashioned tape recorder sitting in front of him. “But for now, I won’t turn this on.”
Six months ago, the city attorney had decreed that the police had to make an audio record of all official interviews. And since the break room wasn’t set up with any kind of modern equipment, and there was no money in the budget to correct that issue, the police had to make do with what they could scrounge up.
“We appreciate your cooperation.” Markey fingered his gray mustache.
Wally stared appraisingly at the man’s carefully manicured nails. The shine on them definitely looked like a professional job. Did he get a pedicure while he was at it?
The minute that Zeus revealed that Markey wasn’t an attorney, Wally figured he was either in law enforcement or from some other government agency. The buffed fingernails implied the latter.
Zeus had to be working as an informant or undercover for a guy like Markey to drive all the way down from Chicago to save his butt.
When Wally remained silent, Markey straightened his tie and continued, “As you may have guessed, Mr. Hammersmith is not what he appears.”
“A poor loser who shouldn’t be pissing away his paycheck on slot machines?” Wally asked dryly.
“Hey,” Zeus protested. “You ain’t got no right to say something like that.” He glanced at the older man. “Tell ’em, Mr. Markey.”
“I work for the Illinois Gaming Board.” Markey handed Wally his identification. “We have received numerous complaints regarding several of the video gambling outlets in Stanley County. And Mr. Hammersmith has been helping me with my investigation into those allegations.”
After carefully examining the man’s credentials and returning them, Wally asked, “Are the complaints against the establishment owners?”
His gut tightened. He had known from the very beginning that video gambling would be a problem for Scumble River.
“Although they are being looked at as well, we are most interested in the terminal operators. They are the ones that are authorized by the state to purchase, install, and manage the gaming machines. The establishment owners have little to do with the machines other than collecting their percentage of the profits.”
“And Zeus does what exactly?” Wally asked. He might not be a fan of Bunny’s, but Wally wasn’t happy with any man who thought it was okay to abuse a woman verbally. “Besides becoming obnoxious when he loses and threatening women?”
“That’s a part of the plan,” Zeus protested, fingering a faded scar on his chin that shined pinkly in the harsh fluorescent lights. “I wouldn’t hurt anyone.” He smiled, revealing nicotine-yellow teeth. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
“What is this big plan?” Wally tapped his pen on the tabletop, noticing that Markey hadn’t answered his original question.
“I’m afraid that’s on a need-to-know basis, and there’s no reason to share that information with you.” Markey voice sounded like grinding metal gears and he shot Zeus a shushing glare.
“I have to disagree. If it has anything to do with a building in my town blowing up, I certainly need to know how the accusations are being investigated.” Wally stared at the older man. “Let’s not forget that a woman was killed.”
“I assure you there is no connection.” Markey shook his head. “First of all, the operators have no idea we are investigating them. Second, if you’re suggesting the explosion was a cover-up, destroying the machines in a single establishment would be futile.”
“Has there been any kind of issue with other establishments that use the operator you’re investigating?” Wally asked, unsatisfied with Markey’s glib response. “Machines damaged or stolen?”
“None.” Markey reached down and picked up the briefcase sitting next to him on the floor. “And now if you’ll release Mr. Hammersmith, I really need to get back to the city.”
“Fine.” Wally narrowed his eyes. “But before either of you leave, I need a way to contact you should other questions arise.”
Markey took out a business card and handed it to Wally. “This has my direct line.”
Taking the card, Wally flipped it over and clicked his pen. “Let me get your cell number as well.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You know, just in case of an emergency with our friend Zeus here.”
Grudgingly, Markey recited a string of digits, then stood, gripped Zeus by the elbow, and jerked him to his feet. Markey looked at Wally and said, “I’d like to take Mr. Hammersmith out through the garage so no one sees us.”
“This way.” Wally led the men out of the break room, down a short hallway, and opened the door to the garage. Staring at Zeus, Wally said, “I have my eye on you.”
“Chief.” The man raised his hands, palms facing out. “Don’t worry. I’m cool.”
Wally’s scalp prickled. A guy like Zeus had very little allegiance to anyone besides himself. If a better offer came along, his loyalty to Markey would last about as long as powdered sugar on a hot doughnut.
Once Zeus and his handler were gone, Wally looked at his watch. It was past five. He had just enough time to write up his notes and still get home before the first nanny interview was scheduled.
As he climbed the stairs to his office, he checked his cell and saw that Skye had called. Keying in his passcode, he played her message.
“Hi, sweetie. Call me back as soon as you have a chance. Possible info regarding the bombing. Love you.” A pause. “See you at six.”
After Wally unlocked the door to his office and went inside, he settled behind his desk and listened to the voicemails on his landline. The only interesting communication was from Homestead Insurance’s executive vice president asking if there were any updates on Paige Myler’s death.
After returning the call and assuring the VP that Wally would let him know if they made any progress on the case, he took out the file, pulled a legal pad toward him, and jotted down the facts from his interview with Hammersmith and Markey. As soon as he finished recording his notes, he unclipped his cell from his belt and dialed Skye.
She answered on the first ring, and he said, “Hi, sugar. What’s up?”
His posture became more and more rigid as she related her encounter with Millicent Rose. Wally allowed Skye to finish speaking as he fought back a wave of anger. How dare that woman ambush his wife and children like that? First thing tomorrow morning, he intended to pay the self-styled fairy godmother a visit and warn her to stay away from his family or else he was going to turn Martinez loose on her. He’d let the young officer fully investigate her theory that Millicent Rose was behind the bowling alley bombing.
“Once Miss Rose revived,” Skye’s sweet voice broke into his thoughts, “I managed to get her to elaborate. She admitted that after seeing someone hanging out near the rectory the night we met with Father Burns, she was even more concerned that the babies were surrounded by evil and felt she needed to redouble her efforts to be allowed to attend the baptism.”
“The evening we met with Father Burns was also the night of the bombing,” Wally muttered, clicking his pen. “And the church is only a block and a half away from the bowling alley.”
“Exactly,” Skye said, then added, “Unfortunately, I don’t think Miss Rose’s testimony would go over very well in a court of law.”
“Why is that?” Wally asked, lifting his pen from the legal pad.
“As you know, Miss Rose is a bit eccentric,” Skye said slowly. “And according to her, the person she saw was unusually short and bulky and…”
“And what?” Wally scratched his head, trying to recall if any of the suspects fit the Rose woman’s description of the loiterer.
“Silver.” Skye giggled. “She said the figure was shiny like tinfoil.”
“Son of a—” Wally cut himself off. “So much for our eyewitness.”
“True.” Skye paused, then said, “But I do think she saw someone, so even if she can’t identify the person, it makes me think that Paige Myler was the intended victim and that someone was there ready to set off the explosive device as soon as he or she was sure that Paige was inside the alley playing the machines.”
“Or this Millicent Rose is nuts and having visual hallucinations.” Wally was already fed up with the woman and her magical crap, and this latest incident didn’t help matters.
“Perhaps.” Skye’s tone told Wally she was unhappy with him. “But since I am a psychologist, you’d think I would be able to figure out if someone is merely eccentric or if she’s psychotic.”
“Darlin’…” Wally attempted to alleviate the situation before he ended up sleeping on the sofa alone rather than in bed with his wife curled up at his side. “I just want to make sure we follow all the leads and don’t get distracted by a witness who may or may not have seen anything useful.”
“Right.” If anything, Skye sounded more ticked off. “Because I’m not trained to consider all possibilities before coming to a conclusion.”
“I’m sorry. That came out all wrong.” Wally stared at his phone in concern.
“That’s okay,” Skye said, clearly indicating it was far from fine.
Wally cringed. That’s okay was one of the most terrifying statements a woman could make to a man. It meant that she wanted to think carefully before deciding how and when he’d answer for his offense.
“No. Really. I’m sorry.” Wally tried to fix things before they got out of hand. “I didn’t mean it that way. Of course you consider all the possibilities before making an assessment.”
“Look. I’ll see you later.” Skye�
��s voice was strained. “Just make sure you’re home before the nanny candidates arrive for their interviews.”
“Wait.” Wally didn’t want to end their conversation on a sour note. He was well aware that it paid to keep any words he spoke to his wife soft and sweet in case he had to eat them later. “Let’s talk about why you’re so sure this Rose woman is sincere.”
“I don’t have time for this right now,” Skye muttered. “I’ve got to get this place straightened up. But first, I need to put on a new top since your son peed on me while I was changing his diaper. Then I have to text the contractor with answers to his latest round of unending questions, which includes, but isn’t limited to, selecting the shingles for the roof, the style of gutters and downspouts, and the freaking type of insulation.”
“I can take care of that,” Wally quickly volunteered. “Forward the GC’s text to me, and I’ll let him know what we want.”
“Fine.” Skye sighed and Wally flinched. Fine was one of those words that when said by an upset woman meant the opposite. “Now, since the information from Millicent Rose wasn’t as important as I thought it was, I need to go.”
“It’s not that—” Wally stopped talking when he realized she’d hung up on him.
This wasn’t like Skye. Although they had their disagreements, they rarely resorted to bickering. Something wasn’t right.
Chapter 19
Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me
“I’m fine.” Skye raised her voice as she drew the curtains in the living room area and headed into the kitchen, Bingo twining around her ankles. “Really.”
It was eight o’clock and they’d just finished the second nanny interview. Wally had arrived home seconds before the first applicant arrived and they hadn’t had a chance to talk privately.
As soon as the last candidate was out the door, he had disappeared into the bedroom to change out of his uniform. Now he emerged, wearing a pair of navy sweatpants, a plain white T-shirt, and flip-flops.
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