QR Code Killer

by Shanna Hatfield

  Sucking in a sigh, she turned to Lena. “Help me figure this out, Aunt Lena. Please?”

  Lena smiled and looked around the room. Stepping over a pile of discarded clothes, she pulled up a simple black dress. Sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice, Lena held it out to Maddie.

  “Put this on,” Lena commanded. While Maddie was changing, Lena dug around in her own jewelry box and returned with a sparkly black onyx necklace. Fastening it around Maddie’s neck, she pushed her down onto a chair in front of her dresser and combed her hair back into an upswept style, securing Maddie’s short waves with bobby pins until it was all contained.

  Maddie sat admiring her aunt’s handiwork in the mirror. “It looks great, Aunt Lena. What would I do without you?”

  “Greet that poor boy looking like a fashion train wreck, that’s what,” Lena said, digging in the closet for shoes. She pulled out a pair of black heels. “Put these on and you are ready to go.”

  Maddie stepped into the shoes that added four inches to her petite height and smoothed down her dress. Spritzing on her favorite perfume, she gave her cheeks a light dusting of blush and picked up a black evening bag.

  “I guess I’m as ready as I can be,” Maddie said, noticing the clock said it was six. Taking one more glance in the mirror, Maddie made sure her scar wasn’t visible around the edges of the dress. Pleased that it was covered, she released a relieved sigh and walked out the bedroom door.

  Lena went downstairs ahead of Maddie and had just set her foot on the landing when the front doorbell rang.

  Looking back up the stairs at Maddie, Lena smiled. “Your prince has arrived.”

  “Lena, behave,” Maddie warned her aunt, carefully descending the stairs. She rarely wore heels, unless she was undercover, and found it challenging to walk in them. It was going to take a lot of concentration to stay upright and not trip. “I hope I don’t turn into a pumpkin before he gets me back home.”

  Lena laughed and opened the door. “Come right on in, Erik. Maddie’s ready to go.”

  Erik stepped into the foyer and watched Maddie walk down the stairs, looking movie-star glamorous. He hoped she wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen with him in his pressed blue jeans, white button down shirt and light gray sports jacket with gray cowboy boots. This farmer was used to T-shirts, work boots and comfortable jeans, so his current attire was about as dressed up as he planned to get. He had forgotten he even had the sports jacket with him when he franticly searched through his limited wardrobe earlier in the day.

  Maddie nearly stumbled on the last step when she spied Erik waiting by the door. He looked so handsome in his jeans, crisp shirt and jacket. She reached out and accepted the hand he held to her, tingling from the warmth of his fingers wrapped around hers.

  Erik leaned down and kissed her cheek, inhaling her sweet scent. “You look gorgeous, Madelyn.”

  She smiled at him, thrilled at the way her name sounded on his lips – feminine and lovely.

  “Shall we go?” she asked, walking to the door. Calling to Lena, she said, “We won’t be late, see you later.”

  “Take your time, kiddo, and have fun.”

  Erik had washed his pickup and pulled it up to the end of the sidewalk. He held open the passenger side door and helped Maddie climb in before closing the door and running around to the driver’s side.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I made a reservation for us in town,” Erik said, casting Maddie a sideways glance, barely able to focus on anything except how beautiful she looked. With her golden hair, big blue eyes, rosy cheeks and that amazing dress, Erik wasn’t sure how he would be able to keep his eyes on the road. Why she agreed to go out with him was beyond his ability to comprehend.

  She was definitely way out of his league - even if he had a clue as to what exactly his league was these days. It had been a while since he had asked anyone on a date. More than a dozen years, in fact. Once he married Sheila he thought all the nervous drama and sweaty palms of dating would be behind him. Now, here he was, a man in his thirties starting all over again.

  The fact that he was ready to start over was not lost on him. It had been way too long since he’d even cared.

  Maddie looked at him with a soft light in her eyes and smiled. “So where are you taking me for dinner, Farmer Man? A burger joint? Maybe to get a sandwich?”

  “Nope?”

  “Don’t tell me. You’re taking me to one of the taco wagons.”

  Erik laughed. “Wrong again.”

  “Well, are you going to keep me in suspense or tell me?” Maddie said, tugging at the hem of her skirt. She was uncomfortable and uncertain in the outfit. Jeans and shirts that allowed her to have a wide range of motion were more here style. You couldn’t chase anybody down in four-inch heels and she wasn’t sure she liked being encased in the little black dress her aunt had chosen.

  “I’m going to let you keep guessing.” Erik sent a smile her direction that made her stomach flutter.

  Maddie looked out the window and realized they were getting close to town. Erik took the Second Avenue exit and pulled into the parking lot at the famed Marcus Whitman Hotel.

  Known by locals as the place to go for a nice dinner, Maddie was surprised Erik chose The Marc Restaurant for their first date.

  “Wow, Erik, this is impressive,” Maddie said as he opened her door and helped her out of the pickup. “Have you been in here before?”

  “No, I haven’t. But I’ve heard it is something to see and the food is supposed to be good, too,” Erik said, waiting as Maddie tugged at her dress before taking her hand in his. “Zach mentioned they have a new chef that is really talented. Do you mind eating here?”

  “No, not at all. I’ve never eaten here before, so this should be fun.”

  They walked down the sidewalk glancing at the patio lamps and outdoor seating before going in the door to the hotel’s grand lobby.

  “This is amazing,” Erik said, studying the building’s 1920s architecture. Gleaming wood, polished floors and rich décor created a warm and inviting atmosphere.

  Maddie and Erik admired the lobby as they walked toward the door to the restaurant. Greeted by a smiling hostess, Erik gave her his name and reservation time. They were shown to a booth and Erik waited for Maddie to be seated before sitting down across from her.

  “I had no idea there was a place like this in town,” Erik said. He loved anything old including buildings, farm equipment, photographs, and antiques. It was something he missed from his farm where his own family’s history surrounded him.

  “It is quite lovely, isn’t it?” Maddie said, looking through the menu.

  The waitress brought them water, gave them the verbal list of specials and left them alone to decide on what to order.

  Maddie finally selected a pasta entrée while Erik went right for the beef.

  “I bet you always order steak or something that at one time mooed,” Maddie teased.

  “Maybe. I bet you always order something that I couldn’t pronounce and most likely wouldn’t want to eat.”

  “Not always,” Maddie said, taking a sip of her water and looking around. The décor of the restaurant echoed the rest of the hotel with rich wine country colors, gleaming wood and soft lighting. It definitely provided a romantic atmosphere. She liked that the booths made their seating area seem private and cozy.

  A gentleman approached their table and introduced himself as the restaurant manager. He offered to bring them a wine list, which they declined. Although she and Erik weren’t interested in the wine, the manager did visit with them briefly and wished them a pleasant evening.

  “Very personable, aren’t they?” Erik appreciated the attentive service. He usually ate at places where the waitress flung the food on the table and called him “hon,” which he hated.

  He and Maddie talked about the crops, Walla Walla, the weather and most of the general, safe topics couples grasped for on their first date.

  Once their food arrived, they mana
ged to stay focused on the excellent meal. When the chef stopped by their table to see if they were enjoying their dinner, they let him know how exceptional both the food and service had been. He encouraged them to finish off their evening with something from the dessert menu and Maddie was in the mood to accept his recommendation.

  Savoring every bite of her cheesecake, Maddie was glad to see Erik enjoy his chocolate dessert. Feeling stuffed, they decided to sit and talk for a few minutes, letting their dinner settle before leaving.

  A few minutes soon turned to more than an hour. Over coffee, they sat and visited, teased and laughed until Erik stood up and gave Maddie his hand. As they stepped out the door, they both thanked the hostess.

  “You feel up to a walk?” Maddie asked, as they came back out onto Second Avenue.

  “Sure? What have you got in mind?” Erik asked, holding her hand firmly in his, appreciating a peaceful summer evening with a beautiful girl on his arm.

  “Just a stroll down Main Street. It’s kind of fun to browse along the store windows.”

  “Let’s go,” Erik said, as they crossed the street and walked down the block. They wandered, discussing window displays, books they enjoyed, even a few childhood memories. Realizing it was getting late, they sauntered back to the hotel parking lot and Erik’s pickup.

  On the drive home they were both quiet, lost in their thoughts. Erik stopped the pickup at the end of the sidewalk. Unsure as to who would be watching, he gave Maddie a quick kiss on her cheek before going around and opening her door.

  Walking her up the steps, he stopped outside the front door on the broad porch. Looking at his boots, he felt like he was 15 again, walking home his first date. Married for more than ten years, Erik thought he was well past the point of being nervous around women. But for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why his palms were sweaty or why his heart was pounding so loudly in his chest. He was sure Maddie could hear the traitorous thumping. It was ridiculous for a man his age to be mooning after Maddie like a love-struck teen.

  Mustering up his courage, he raised his head and got lost in her warm blue eyes. “Thanks for a great evening, Maddie. I’m glad we had a chance to talk.”

  “Thank you for a lovely dinner, Erik. It was one of the best I’ve ever had. I appreciate the opportunity to spend some time together, to get to know you a little better.”

  “Me, too. I can’t tell you when I’ve enjoyed an evening more.”

  “I’m very glad,” Maddie whispered, then put her hands around Erik’s neck, pulling him down so she could give him a quick kiss. When their lips touched, though, the kiss was anything but quick and left them both breathless in the porch light, stunned by the sparks snapping between them.

  “I think this is where I say goodnight,” Erik said, trying to remember how to breathe and speak as he squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Maddie. Sweet dreams.”

  “You, too.”

  Maddie watched him walk back to his pickup. Before he opened the door she called to him. “For a Farmer Man, you aren’t too bad.”

  Erik laughed and drove on to the bunkhouse.

  <><><>

  Maddie was walking back to the house with the mail when a small, plain brown envelope addressed to her made her catch her breath. Unwilling to react where she could be seen, she continued her stroll back to the house although her heart was pounding so hard, she thought it might explode.

  Stepping into the kitchen, she could hear Lena putting another load of clothes in the washer in the laundry room. Sinking down at the table, she dropped the rest of the mail and slowly opened the envelope. The police analyzed the first half-dozen envelopes for any sign of something that would lead them to Zeus. Maddie knew this envelope, like the others, would offer up no clues.

  With her name machine printed on a label in block letters, there wasn’t any handwriting to examine. Zeus used a pre-moistened sealer on the envelopes. Forensics had tracked down the exact brand which turned out to be a common one sold at most office supply stores.

  Pulling out the small card with the QR code, Maddie scanned it with her phone and waited to see what devastation to her life Zeus was about to unleash.

  Still shots, placed into a movie format, scrolled across her screen. Maddie couldn’t breathe. The photos were of her and Erik. There was a photo of his arms around her while they were shooting, of them kissing in the hayfield, and several photos from them eating dinner and walking along Main Street the other evening.

  Maddie sat in stunned silence. The message at the end did nothing to alleviate her fears.

  Hope you enjoyed your dinner at the lovely Marcus Whitman the other night. Your backwater town produces some very tasty wine. Too bad you didn’t have a glass, but you looked quite ravishing. Did the hick appreciate your efforts at being a woman instead of a cop? How nice to see you’ve so quickly replaced your former love, Pretty Boy Policeman. Just so you know, he died with your name on his lips. Maddie, dear, when will it be my turn to savor your affections? Maybe I need to make sure you don’t have any distractions. Maybe the hick needs to say goodbye…

  Erik needed to leave, now, for his own safety. Maddie would make him leave. She’d put him in protective custody. She couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to him. Her heart wouldn’t survive if Zeus made good on his threat.

  Tears pouring down her cheeks, she laid her head on her arms and cried for the first time in a very long while.

  “Maddie? Kiddo, what’s wrong?” Lena asked, placing a warm hand on her back as she sat beside her. Seeing the envelope and QR code on the table, Lena didn’t need to ask any more questions. Maddie had told her and Ethan everything. They were both being much more careful and cautious, but Lena had hoped Zeus would tire of the toying with them and move on. Evidently, he hadn’t tired of the game at all.

  “Maddie, what is it now? What did it say?”

  “It’s Erik,” Maddie whispered, handing her phone to her aunt, so she could watch the video. “He’s got to leave. Now. While he still can.”

  “Do you think he’s any safer somewhere else than he is right here? If Zeus wants him dead, will it matter where he goes?”

  “No,” Maddie said, anger starting to chase away her fear. “I don’t know that it would make a bit of difference to Zeus. I’ve got to call and let the team know about this, Aunt Lena. Then I’ve got to figure out how to keep Erik safe. I can’t be responsible for someone else I love dying.”

  Lena grabbed Maddie’s arms and gave her a squeeze. “You’re not responsible, Maddie. Zeus is responsible. You are just doing your job and we all know that he’ll stop at nothing to get to you. You can’t, even for a minute, think any of this is your fault, Madelyn Weber, because it isn’t.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Lena,” Maddie said, giving her aunt a hug.

  Going up to her room, she called Tom and sent him the video. “What do you think we should do, Tom? Should I send Erik away or ask him to stay? I don’t know which will put him in greater jeopardy?”

  “If he is agreeable, I think he should stay. Don’t show your fear. Keep on doing the everyday things required of the farm. It will make Zeus think he isn’t getting to you.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, Tom. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Erik. I should have kept my focus solely on this case. I…”

  “Maddie, enough! You haven’t had a life in years, not since you started chasing Zeus. You’re supposed to be on medical leave recuperating from the wound he inflicted and I, for one, am glad to see you find someone who knows what you do, yet still wants to stick around. This Erik sounds like a pretty great guy. Not everyone would continue to stay on the farm knowing a psychopath could blow them away at any given moment.”

  Maddie sighed. “I know, Tom, but…”

  “No buts about it, Mad Dog. You don’t let that farmer get away without a fight.” Maddie could hear the humor in her boss’s voice. “In the meantime, since I know you won’t stop working on the case, why don’t you see if anyone at the
restaurant remembers Zeus? He’s got to be staying somewhere in town. Maybe you can find something on him. I’ll send you the sketch we did of him based on the info you gave us from the night he stabbed you. Show it around town and see what you can find.”

  “Will do.”

  “And Maddie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Quit beating yourself up over this. None of it is your fault. Why he has chosen to target you, no one knows, but don’t let it get to you. I’ll get the sketch to you before the day is over. Be careful.”

  “Thanks, Tom.”

  Maddie disconnected her call from Tom and sat watching the video again and again. To get the photos Zeus had taken in the restaurant, he had to be sitting in a booth directly across from them. She decided she’d go to the hotel tomorrow and see if she could question anyone who was working that evening.

  Calling the sheriff, she updated him on the case and let him know what she was planning. He agreed it was a good idea and offered to go with her if she wanted, which she declined. When she finished up her call with him, the sketch had arrived from Tom. Going downstairs, she hooked her phone up to the office computer and printed out the image.

  Just looking at the sketch brought back every horrid moment of the night Zeus stabbed her. Lena found her sitting there, studying it, rubbing her hand across her shoulder.

  “Is that him?” Lena asked, looking over Maddie’s shoulder.

  “Yes. Or as close as I can remember to what he looked like.”

  “He’d almost be handsome if his eyes didn’t look so cold and dead,” Lena said, absently. “The blackness of his soul seems to come out in his face, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “Everything will be fine, kiddo. You always get what you go after. This time it’s just taking a little longer,” Lena said, rubbing her hand comfortingly along Maddie’s back.

  “But how many more people are going to have to die before we catch him? Why has he chosen to target me? None of it makes any sense? I can’t think of one reason for him to have this personal vendetta against me.”