Читать книгу Plain Danger - Debby Giusti - Страница 12

THREE

The first light of dawn glowed on the horizon as the Freemont police climbed into their squad cars. Phillips stood next to Tyler, watching their departure.

“Our crime scene folks will expand their search over the entire field,” Phillips said. “So far they haven’t found anything that seems to have bearing. I’m hoping Forensics might provide more information. I’ll let you know what we uncover.”

“Earlier you mentioned that the sergeant major’s body was discovered in the woods,” Tyler said. “Do you know who found him?”

“Inman handled the call, but if my memory is correct, an Amish teenager took a shortcut through the property and stumbled across the remains.”

“Was there anything suspect about Harris’s death?”

Phillips shook his head. “Nothing that seemed questionable at the time.”

“Might be worth reviewing the report,” Tyler suggested.

“I’ll do that. And I’ll talk to Inman.”

Tyler glanced at the lights glowing in the downstairs windows of the stately home. “Are any of your people still inside the house?”

“One of our rookies.”

“I’ll tell him you’re wrapping up.” Tyler hustled up the porch steps and rapped lightly on the door. The young cop he’d seen earlier answered his knock. Tyler stepped inside and repeated the message from Phillips. The officer hurriedly left the house and climbed into one of the squad cars.

Footsteps sounded from the kitchen.

“Ms. York?” Tyler called from the foyer.

She stepped into the hallway. Her eyes widened ever so slightly. “Agent Zimmerman, I didn’t expect to see you again. Do you have more questions?”

“No, ma’am, but I wanted to apologize for my comments.”

“Which comments are you referring to?” She squared her shoulders in a defensive gesture he had half expected after his earlier outburst.

“My comments about Senator Kingsley.” Not that they weren’t true. Still, he hated hearing the cool aloofness in her voice.

She stepped closer. “Evidently I said something wrong, something that upset you. Let me assure you that I’m not the senator.”

He pointed a finger back at himself. “I in no way thought you were.”

“Nor do I put words in his mouth.”

“Actually...” Tyler hesitated. “If you write his speeches, that’s exactly what you do.”

She frowned.

He wasn’t making points.

“Senator Kingsley is quite explicit on what he wants covered in each speech,” she said with an icy stare. “His policies are exactly that—his policies. They reflect his opinions and what he believes to be true and do not reflect the way I think or feel.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I admire all who defend our nation, Agent Zimmerman. They sacrifice greatly. Many give their lives for our security. I am indebted to their service, as the entire nation should be.”

“Then we see eye-to-eye on that point, but I still hope you’ll accept my apology.”

“Of course.”

He handed her his business card. “Some of the crime scene personnel will remain on-site for a while. I’m heading to post. My phone will be on if you think of anything else.”

“I’ve told you everything.”

“Yes, ma’am, but I’m sure you’re anxious and concerned. Keep your doors and windows locked. Be alert to any danger.”

Her stiffness crumbled. She drew her hand to her neck. “Y-you’re worrying me.”

Which he hadn’t intended to do. “I just want to ensure that you use caution.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

When he’d entered the house the first time, his focus was on the murdered soldier and on finding information. Now that the immediate urgency was over, he paused to glance at the expansive living area with two brick fireplaces, tall ceilings and hand-hewn hardwood floors.

“Your home is beautiful.”

“My father’s home,” she corrected. “I still feel like an outsider.”

“In time, that should change.”

Her face softened for a moment, exposing a vulnerability he hadn’t expected. Then she pulled in a quick breath and returned to her former polite, but somewhat perturbed, self.

“I hope the investigation is wrapped up quickly, Agent Zimmerman.”

“It will be.” Tyler sounded more optimistic than he felt. “My cell’s always on. You can call me if you hear anything worrisome. I’m home most nights by seven.”

“Bailey’s a good watchdog.”

“I’m sure he is.”

Tyler started for the door.

A phone rang. Carrie reached for her cell and checked the caller identification. “If you’ll excuse me, it’s the senator’s office.”

“You notified Washington?”

She quirked her brow. “Did you want me to keep the soldier’s death secret?”

“Of course not.” He opened the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

He hurried off the porch and started across the front lawn on his way home. Phillips waved from his sedan as he and Inman pulled onto Amish Road and headed back to town.

Tyler needed coffee and a shower before he drove to post, but he couldn’t get past the churning in his gut, knowing Carrie York was on the phone to DC.

This case came with baggage. Not what he needed or wanted. He had to focus on the investigation instead of getting into a war of words with the senator’s speechwriter whose arrival in Freemont felt suspect.

Was Carrie York an innocent bystander? Or was she somehow involved in the soldier’s death?

* * *

After the congestion and traffic in DC, driving along the gentle, rolling hills and fertile farmland was a refreshing change of pace for Carrie. Some of the anxiety she’d felt through the night had ebbed by the time she arrived downtown.

She parked her car behind the lawyer’s office and hurried inside. George Gates had been nice enough yesterday when he gave her the keys to her father’s house as well as the information about Bailey and the kennel where the dog had been boarded. Everything had seemed like a dream, especially when she realized the huge white home with Greek columns had belonged to her father.

Thankfully the dog’s frisky playfulness and demand for attention had filled the expansive house with activity that added warmth and welcome to what could have been a difficult homecoming. She and Bailey had quickly become fast friends, and she was grateful for his attention. The pup had stayed close by her side, until he’d whined to go out shortly after midnight.

All too soon, the initial charm of the historic home had been marred by the discovery of Corporal Fellows’s body. She hoped the lawyer would provide some clue to the soldier’s death, which was the first question she asked George Gates once they’d exchanged pleasantries and she’d taken a seat in the chair across from his desk.

The lawyer was midforties, with whitened teeth, bushy eyebrows and a ruddy complexion that made her wonder if he frequented a tanning salon.

“I heard something had happened along Amish Road,” he said, his voice somber. “Although I wasn’t sure if the information I received was accurate. So you’re saying a soldier was killed behind Jeff’s house?”

“In the open field but close to the woods. As you can imagine, I’m upset and confused. Is there something you failed to tell me about my father?”

Surprise registered on his puffy face. “Surely you’re not implying your father was involved in anything that would lead to a soldier’s death.”

“You tell me.”

“Jeff was a good man, Carrie. He did a lot for Freemont and was well respected. The Harris family has been a part of this town’s history since the early 1800s. Your father inherited the house and property from his maiden aunt some years back. He worked hard to restore the home to its former beauty, and since then, he’s been a pillar of the town.”

“Pillars can crumble.”

He laughed off the comment. “I told you someone has expressed an interest in buying the property. It’s something to consider. You’re probably eager to return to Washington. I can handle the paperwork and expedite the sale.”

She held up her hand. “It’s too soon, George. I’m not ready to sell.”

“You’re upset, no doubt, about what happened last night. Take a few days to think it over. I’m sure the offer will please you.”

“I came here today to find out more about my father’s estate and especially his property. You didn’t mention the trailer he rented.”

“My mistake. You were tired yesterday. I hesitated taking up more of your time.”

He taped a manila envelope on his desk. “A plat of the property is inside. Your father owned a hundred and twenty acres and the house. He rented out a trailer, usually to one of the soldiers from post. Almost half of his land is prime farmland. The rest is wooded.”

“And you have an interested buyer for both the land and the house?”

“That’s correct.”

“Can you assure me the property won’t be cut up for development?”

“I’m not sure what the buyer’s plan would be, but it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with at this point.”

She leaned closer. “But it is my concern, George. I don’t want to disrupt the beauty of the Amish community.”

“Yes, of course. I understand.”

Did he? Carrie wasn’t sure about George Gates or his too-accommodating responses.

By the time she shook his hand in farewell, she had even more questions about her father, his past and her future.

Leaving the office, she hurried to her car and clicked the remote opener. Before she reached for the door handle, someone called her name. Turning, she spied Tyler Zimmerman climbing from a car parked on the opposite side of the lot.

In the light of day, he looked even taller and more muscular. Maybe it was the navy slacks and tweed sports coat he wore. For a moment she wondered why he wasn’t in military uniform before recalling that CID agents wore civilian attire when working on a case. She’d stumbled upon the information while researching a speech for Senator Kingsley. Something about not wanting rank to interfere with their investigation.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said in greeting.

He smiled as he neared. “I wanted to talk to Mr. Gates.”

“You need a lawyer?”

His eyes twinkled, making him appear even more handsome.

“I want to talk to Mr. Gates about your father’s rental property,” he explained. “And see if he can provide information about your dad’s relationship with Corporal Fellows.”

When she didn’t respond, he added, “I’m just gathering information, Ms. York.”

“Carrie, please.”

He smiled again.

Her heart skittered in her chest, making her feel like an adolescent schoolgirl. Too young and too foolish. Needing to shield herself from his charm, she clutched the manila envelope close as if it could offer protection.

He cocked his head. “What are you up to today?”

She tried to sound nonchalant. “In search of a grocery store.”

“There’s one on the way out of town. Turn left at Harvest Road. The supermarket’s two blocks down on the left.”

“Thanks.” She opened her car door and slipped behind the wheel. “Good seeing you, Tyler.”

Leaving the lot, she glanced back as the special agent opened the door to Gates Law Firm and stepped inside. Rounding the corner, she passed an Amish teenager who watched her turn right. Seeing the special agent had put her on edge. The pensive stare of the Amish boy added to her unease.

After a quick stop at the grocery store, she drove out of town, heading back to her father’s house. Even the pretty countryside couldn’t lessen her anxiety. In the distance, dark clouds filled the sky. Her heart felt as heavy as the thick cloud cover.

If only she could go back to the stories her mother had told her about the handsome army man who had swept her mother off her feet. They’d been young and in love and...well, things happened, including babies, or so she had explained when Carrie was old enough to learn the truth.

Only part of it had been a lie.

Her father hadn’t died in a covert black ops mission as her mother had led her to believe. He wasn’t part of the military’s elite Delta Force, and the army hadn’t covered up his death and withheld information from the grieving girlfriend who was pregnant with his child.

Now Carrie knew the truth, but counter to what scripture said, it hadn’t set her free. Instead she felt tied in knots and suddenly connected to a man and a past she didn’t understand, which only confirmed her upset with God. Why would He turn His back on a woman who always longed for a father’s love? Evidently she and her problems didn’t carry weight.

The special agent only confused her more. He’d been civil enough today, and his smile had seemed sincere, yet she had to be careful and cautious, especially after his antagonistic comments last night.

Carrie glanced again at the sky and turned on the windshield wipers as the first drops of rain began to fall. A road sign warned of a sharp curve ahead. She lifted her foot from the accelerator and placed both hands on the wheel as the car entered the turn.

A bolt of lightning cut through the dark clouds, followed by a clash of thunder that made her flinch. The tires lost traction for a heartbeat on the slick roadway. She turned the wheel to the right and tapped the brake, relieved when the car responded.

Coming around the curve, she glanced ahead and gasped. A semi-trailer was bearing down on her, going much too fast. Heart in her throat, she intensified her hold on the steering wheel, feeling the pull as the truck flew past with less than an inch to spare.

Too close.

Clunk-clunk-clunk.

Startled by the sound, she gripped the wheel even more tightly. The car shimmied, then jolted as the rear left side dropped. She glanced back, seeing a tire roll across the roadway.

A grating sound. Metal dragging against pavement. Her heart raced. The car veered left, crossed the center line and crashed into the ditch that edged the roadway.

Rain pelted the windshield. She struggled to free herself and clawed at the door, unable to push it open.

“Help!” she cried, knowing no one would hear her.

“Carrie!”

She turned, seeing Tyler.

He grabbed the door handle and ripped it open. Reaching around her, he unbuckled her seat belt. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. He pulled her free.

Rain pummeled her face as she looked into eyes filled with concern.

“Where are you hurt?” He touched her arms, the back of her neck and head as if searching for an injury. “Talk to me.”

She swallowed down the fear and nodded. “I...I’m okay. How—”

“I was driving home and saw your car enter the turn. A semi passed. Then I saw you in the ditch. Did you get sideswiped?”

She shook her head. “The tire came off.”

“What?”

He turned to study her car, then glanced back to where the wheel lay on the edge of the roadway. Retrieving the tire, he pried off the hubcap. “Three of your lug nuts are missing. Have you gone to a mechanic recently?”

“I had my oil changed before I made the trip to Georgia.”

“This just happened. Since you last drove the car.”

“I...I don’t understand.”

“In town. While you were talking to Gates. Someone removed three of your lug nuts.”

Her ears roared, and she shivered in the chilly rain.

“Someone tampered with your wheel, Carrie,” he repeated, his voice deathly calm. “They wanted the tire to fall off.”

“But why?”

“Two reasons come to mind. Either to scare you—”

Her heart quickened.

“Or to do you harm.”