Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead

by LENA DIAZ,

  She looked like she was going to argue with him, but then her shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I’m exhausted. But I’m sure you are too. Aren’t you going to come with me?”

  “I’ve got to look for Ginger.”

  Her hand flew to her throat. “I forgot about her. I’m so sorry. I hope you find her, and that she’s okay.”

  He nodded, not at all sure that was the case. He still didn’t know why Hargrove had taken his dog, but the man didn’t strike him as the type to go to that kind of trouble unless he’d intended to use her to some kind of advantage. Matt could only hope that whatever plans Hargrove had had for Ginger, he hadn’t been able to enact them because he’d been killed. With any luck she was tied up somewhere, maybe muzzled so she wouldn’t bark. Matt wasn’t leaving until he’d done everything he could to find her.

  Tessa shoved her bangs back from her face, smearing some coal dust across her cheek. “Thank you, Matt. In spite of what my boss says, I know you’re the reason Tonya is alive and safe. And you’re the reason we all survived down in that mine. I owe you a debt I can never repay.”

  He smiled and reached out to wipe the smear off her cheek, but she took a quick step back, her eyes widening in alarm. She looked at Casey, and the other agents, before looking back at Matt. The message was clear: She didn’t want him to touch her in front of anyone she knew.

  Matt stiffened and dropped his hand to his side. “You don’t owe me anything, Tessa. Not one damn thing.” He turned and headed into the trees.

  TWO DAYS LATER, with the investigation in Stoneyville wrapped up, Casey and his team flew back to Savannah, but not before learning the results of the autopsy on Don Hargrove. He had terminal lung cancer, a diagnosis he’d received while living in Alabama, in the same house Casey had staked out.

  If Hargrove hadn’t died in the mine, he’d have died within a couple of months. Casey figured that was another trigger, why he’d escalated to the point where he’d risked the trip to Savannah and kidnapped Tonya Garrett. He’d wanted to force Tessa’s hand so he could make sure he killed her before he lost his chance. As to why he wanted to kill his daughter, no one was sure, unless he resented her for running away. Who knew what reasons ran through the mind of a sociopath?

  Pictures of Hargrove had been sent to some witnesses in Priceville, who’d positively identified him as Isaac Hoffman. The reason Hoffman had changed his identity to Hargrove and later back to Hoffman was still a mystery, but at least they knew for sure they were one and the same man.

  Matt and Tessa stayed an additional day in Madisonville, giving Tessa’s side and sprained foot more time to heal. And giving Matt more time to find Ginger. He’d called all the dog pounds and humane societies within a hundred miles of Stoneyville, leaving his contact information. And he’d posted dozens of flyers with Ginger’s picture and Matt’s cell-phone number. But so far no one had called. He hated leaving without her, but he had a business to get back to, and Tessa was due to return to the office tomorrow. They couldn’t put their trip off any longer. So they packed their bags and headed to the airport to catch a flight back to Savannah.

  Matt threaded his way through the crowd waiting to board the plane and stopped beside Tessa.

  She gave him a questioning look.

  “They said it’ll be a two-hour delay while they replace a missing part,” he said.

  “We should have left when Casey and the others did.”

  “Your body needed time to heal.”

  She nodded her agreement. “Well, if we have to sit in the airport for two hours, we might as well get a drink. My treat. Sort of a good-bye toast.”

  He gave her a curt nod and walked beside her, carrying his duffel over his shoulder while she pulled her rolling suitcase. He would have pulled it for her, but she’d refused his help. It seemed like for every step forward they’d taken while working on the investigation, Tessa was now taking a giant leap back. The woman he’d made love to was nowhere to be found behind the polite facade she now presented.

  “I’m sure we’ll see each other around now and then,” she said. “Savannah’s a small town. And you’ll continue doing cold-case work for the FBI. I can’t imagine Casey letting you go now that you’ve proven your worth on this case.” Her tone was falsely bright, as if everything was all settled between them. As if they were nothing more than co-workers.

  To hell with that.

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him to an alcove with a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY.

  “What are you doing?” She yanked her arm out of his grasp.

  “You’re pretending nothing has changed.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

  He braced his hand on the tiled wall above her head. “I care about you, damn it. We made love and now you’re acting like we’re complete strangers. We need to talk about us.”

  She glanced around as if she was afraid her boss or a fellow FBI agent might see them.

  Matt gritted his teeth.

  “What do you want me to say?” she hissed. “I just helped solve one of the most important cases of my career. I need to capitalize on that, focus on taking my career to the next level.”

  “Meaning you still don’t want to admit to your peers that you like a guy who’s younger than you. Are you really that shallow? Who cares if they leave a few pacifiers on your desk? The teasing won’t last long before they move on to teasing someone else about something else. They’ll forget all about you and me.”

  Her eyes flashed like green emeralds. “Calling me shallow isn’t the best way to plead your case, Matthew. You never did understand why our ages mattered. It wasn’t just what my peers would think. I was worried you’d be too immature, that we’d have nothing in common other than a physical attraction. And, honestly, I just didn’t like you when I first met you. You were cocky and arrogant.”

  “Wasn’t? Didn’t? Were? Sounds to me like you’re listing problems that are in the past, that don’t matter anymore. Why are you still treating me like a stranger? Why do you keep putting roadblocks up between us when you know we’d be great together?”

  Her brows lowered like a storm cloud. “I already told you. I have to focus on my career, take advantage of this opportunity. And, honestly, this is getting a bit pathetic, don’t you think? You’re practically begging me to have a relationship with you in the middle of an airport. Don’t you have any pride?”

  He stiffened and slowly dropped his hand from the tile.

  “Pathetic? My apologies, Special Agent James. I didn’t realize I was making a fool of myself. But you’ve set me straight. I think I’ll have that drink alone. I wouldn’t want to impose on you again.”

  “Matt, wait. I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant to say. I—”

  He turned and strode away.

  THE TWO-HOUR DELAY felt more like four. Tessa felt awful for the way she’d treated Matt. She certainly hadn’t meant what she’d said about him being pathetic. She’d just wanted him to stop pressing the issue and so she’d lashed out at him.

  She looked up at the monitor hanging over the group of chairs in front of her. The flight to Savannah still showed DELAYED, but the attendant at the desk had assured everyone that the plane would begin boarding in a few minutes. It couldn’t board fast enough for Tessa. She wanted to be in her seat before Matt returned. The flight was fully booked, so they hadn’t been able to get seats near each other. That meant she might not have to face him again, which was a good thing after their last, disastrous conversation.

  Finally the announcement was made that the first-class passengers and those who’d paid extra for the privilege of boarding first could get in line. Tessa didn’t have a first-class ticket and the FBI sure wouldn’t pay for special boarding privileges, but her row would be the next one to be called.

  She tossed her drink in the trash can beside her seat and was about to stand when Matt appeared in front of her.

  “We need to talk.” His expression was like stone, his
voice icy.

  So much for not making a scene.

  “Please don’t do this. I think we’ve said everything we need to say to each other.”

  His lips flattened and a tic appeared at the base of his jaw. “This has nothing to do with you and me. I just spent the last two hours going over my notes on the case. Things aren’t adding up.”

  The attendant announced the next group of rows that could begin boarding.

  “Whatever you think isn’t adding up will have to wait. I’ve got a plane to catch.” She grabbed her purse and stood, but Matt grabbed the handle on her suitcase.

  “No one’s going to take your seat if you don’t board right this second. I need you to set aside our personal differences and think like an FBI agent.”

  She frowned. “You’re serious, aren’t you? Okay, go ahead. What isn’t adding up?”

  “For one thing, Ginger. How did Hargrove know I had a dog, or where I lived? And why would he go to the trouble of taking her in the first place, then never mention her or use her as a weapon against me?”

  “He did use her as a weapon. He tied her outside the mine, to entice you to run into the clearing.”

  “Then why wasn’t she still there when we went back to the mine? And how did he have time to move her? We were running to our car and he intercepted us. There wasn’t time for him to go back and untie and hide her. She should have been right there when we got out of the mine.”

  “I don’t . . . maybe she got herself untied, worked the leash loose. I don’t know.”

  He shook his head, and she had to admit to herself that her explanation sounded weak.

  “What about the fact that Sharon Johnson’s killer went out of his way to make sure her dog was safe but didn’t do the same with the pets of other vics?” he continued. “There are too many unanswered questions. Why did Hargrove choose the victims he chose? You said the names of some of the victims seemed familiar, but not others. Why is that? What made you so obsessed with finding out who was behind those letters? If you don’t find the answers now, you’ll never have closure. You’ll always wonder.”

  The seats around them were nearly empty.

  “We’re going to miss our flight.”

  “Did you know that since the day we spoke to Sheriff Latham no one has seen or heard from him?”

  Her stomach tightened with dread. “No, I didn’t.”

  “I tried calling him a few minutes ago. No one knows where he is. I tried calling Stephens too. Guess what? No answer. And he didn’t show up for work today.”

  The attendant waved for them to board.

  “I’m sure Latham and Stephens are fine and will show up,” Tessa said.

  “You honestly believe that?”

  She glanced at the attendant again. “The plane’s going to leave without us.”

  “Hargrove was a miner, Tessa. He knew those tunnels inside and out. He had everything planned right down to the cell, the Taser, the collapse of the tunnel opening. Then he just happens to fall and hit his head? Game over? Tell me that doesn’t bother you, just a little bit.”

  The attendant rushed over to them. “I’m sorry, but if you’re going to board, you have to do it now.”

  Tessa shot Matt a pleading look. “Don’t you get it? Hargrove is dead. It’s over. It has to be over, at least for me. Everything I know about myself has been turned inside out. I’m sick of this place. I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m going to explode into a million jagged pieces if I don’t get out of here. I need to get out of here. Right now. Casey can tie up any loose ends in the investigation, but I’m done. Please understand. I can’t do this anymore.” Her voice broke and she had to take a deep breath to steady herself. “Do what you need to do, Matt. But I’m going home. I’m sorry.”

  The urgency and anger melted from Matt’s gaze. Instead he looked at her with what could only be called . . . pity. Tessa tensed and straightened her shoulders. Matt reached for her, but she took a step back. She didn’t want his pity.

  He dropped his hand, his jaw tightening.

  She grabbed her suitcase, and this time he didn’t try to stop her. She hurried to the gate and gave her boarding pass to the attendant to scan.

  When she looked back, Matt was gone.

  She craned her neck, searching the crowd. There, he was heading down the ramp back toward the security checkpoint, which reminded her that she still had his gun. She could board carrying a weapon because she had FBI credentials, but Matt couldn’t, so she had both their guns. Knowing he was unarmed had her stomach clenching. Was he right? Was there more to the killings than just Hargrove? Could Matt be walking into danger?

  “Miss, you have to board right now. We’re ready to close the gate.” The attendant gave her a smile that did little to hide her annoyance with the delay.

  Tessa looked down the ramp that led to the plane. Then she looked back, picking out Matt’s tall form in the crowd. He was almost out of sight. He was going back to Stoneyville without her, unarmed, without backup. All this time he’d been there to back her up, and when he needed her, she wasn’t backing him up.

  Damn.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll have to catch a later flight.”

  She grabbed her suitcase and took off running.

  Chapter Sixteen

  * * *

  Game Over

  TESSA SLID INTO the same booth she and Matt had shared the first time they’d gone into Christina Snow’s restaurant. Matt sat across from her. After she’d caught up to him at the airport, they’d declared an uneasy truce. They’d agreed to go back to Stoneyville together to ask a few more questions. If they didn’t get the answers they needed by tomorrow, they’d go home and leave the rest of the investigation to Casey and the other agents.

  They didn’t have long to wait before Christina parked herself in front of their table, her hands on her hips.

  “If you’re not back for my strawberry pie, we’ve got nothing to talk about.”

  “As a matter of fact, I’d love some pie,” Tessa said.

  “Me too.” Matt gave Christina the charming smile Tessa hadn’t seen in far too long. He certainly hadn’t smiled at her that way in a while.

  Christina rolled her eyes, but a threatening smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She half turned. “Joe, two pieces of pie. And coffee.”

  “Comin’ right up.”

  This time the restaurant was empty of other patrons. Tessa hoped it would stay that way for the next few minutes.

  “Christina, I’m sorry we lied the last time we were here. We won’t lie again. We’ll answer any questions you have, but I hope you’ll answer some for us too. You heard about Don Hargrove?”

  “I heard. There isn’t much that goes on around here that I don’t hear about.” Her expression softened. “You found your missing teenager. I’m glad she’s okay.”

  Tessa wasn’t sure okay was accurate. Tonya would probably need years of counseling before she’d feel safe and whole again, if she ever did.

  “Mr. Hargrove hurt a lot of people,” Tessa said. “I know the FBI and police were here for the past few days asking questions, but Matt and I still have more questions. Would you mind sitting down for a few minutes so we can talk?”

  “Order up,” Joe called out from the pass-through window.

  Christina got their order and set the pie and coffee in front of them.

  “Take a bite,” she ordered. “Then we’ll see about your questions.”

  Tessa blocked out the thought of all the calories in the whipped topping-smothered concoction and took a bite. She didn’t have to fake her smile this time. “That’s the best thing I think I’ve ever tasted.”

  Christina gave her a regal nod and scooted into the booth beside her.

  “I like the two of you, and I feel bad about that young girl that got hurt. So I’ll sit and chat for a few minutes if you make it quick, before my dinner rush hits.”

  “What I need to know is anything specific about Don Hargrove that you remember.
How often did he come into town? What kinds of things did he buy? Was he ever with someone else? Did he—”

  Christina held up her hands in surrender. “Stop, stop. Slow down.” She rested her forearms on the table. “Like I already told your FBI friends, the last time I saw Hargrove was years ago.”

  “Was he alone?”

  “Never had any friends or family that I ever knew of.”

  Matt crossed his arms on the table. “Was he always alone? You never once saw him with anyone else? Maybe with some children, two red-headed girls?”

  “I definitely never saw him with any little girls. But he did have a little boy with him a time or two, a long, long time ago. We’re talking ancient history. Couldn’t have been more than five or six, had brown, curly hair and the darkest, saddest eyes you’ve ever seen.”

  Matt shot Tessa a startled look.

  She clenched her fists in her lap. Oh, no. Please.

  His brows drew down as he focused on Christina and grilled her with questions about the little boy.

  The conversation faded around Tessa. A memory, sharp and clear for the first time, slammed into her. The little boy in her dreams, holding a teddy bear, climbing into her bed with her. Sissie . . . no . . . Becca, coming in to sing them good night. Ashes, ashes . . . Her father had hated that song, because Becca wouldn’t sing it for him. Tessa hadn’t understood back then, but now she did. It was Becca’s only way of fighting back, the only piece of her Hargrove couldn’t take. She’d never sung for him, no matter how many times he yelled at her, or did worse, to force her. Becca had saved that one piece of herself.

  For both of her children.

  “Oh, God.” Tessa’s hand flew to her throat. “Christina, I’m sorry. We have to go.”

  Christina frowned but scooted out of the booth.

  Tessa ran outside and clung to the side of the rental car. Matt was suddenly there, his arms circling around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Somehow, in spite of the hurts between them, he knew exactly what she needed and offered it freely. And she was too selfish not to take what he offered.