Читать книгу Person of Interest - Debby Giusti - Страница 11
ОглавлениеNatalie peered through the window and watched first the ambulance and then one of the two patrol cars pull away from the curb and head out of the housing area. Her head throbbed with tension that had escalated since she’d first awakened on the couch. What would she do if Mason remained behind after the crime-scene team left?
As if in response to her concern, he stepped from his quarters and approached the SUV parked in front of the house. Special Agent Everett Kohl walked next to him and opened the passenger door and shut it with a slam once Mason had climbed inside.
Rounding the front of the vehicle, Special Agent Kohl glanced at the duplex. He hesitated for a long moment, and then as she watched, he walked briskly up the sidewalk and climbed the stairs to the Joneses’ front porch. She opened the door before he knocked.
“Do you have more questions?” Natalie asked.
“I wanted to let you know Special Agent Yates will be staying at the Lodge on post for the next few days. The military police will question the other neighbors either later tonight or in the morning. We’ll follow up on each bit of evidence and information until we get to the truth.”
She appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“You have my card. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you remember anything else.” He paused for a long moment and stared at her through pensive eyes. “You shouldn’t have any problems, but if you feel threatened, just call.”
Natalie reached for his business card that she’d placed on the side table by the door and glanced again at his name and the accompanying phone numbers, unwilling to let him see the confusion she felt. She’d been on her own for so long, taking care of herself, that she didn’t know how to respond. His concern for her well-being touched her, but she couldn’t let down her guard, even if Special Agent Kohl seemed sincere.
Shoving his card into the pocket of her jeans, she willed her expression to remain neutral. “I’ll call if there’s a problem.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response, and returned to his SUV.
Climbing behind the wheel, he started the engine and then stared again at the doorway where she still stood. Mason glanced up from the passenger seat. She couldn’t make out his expression, but she sensed hostility in his gaze. Unwilling to let either man destroy her fragile composure, she closed the door before the car drove away.
A military post was a tight-knit community. News of Mrs. Yates’s death would quickly spread. Natalie didn’t want Wanda Jones to hear about the tragedy from someone else.
Reaching for her cell, Natalie found the number in her contact information and hit Call. Wanda sounded groggy with sleep when she answered.
“Sofia’s fine,” Natalie immediately assured her, “but I wanted you to know about your neighbor.” She recounted what had happened and tried to calm Wanda, who became upset once she heard the news.
“I’m flying home tomorrow.” The mother’s voice bordered on hysteria.
“What about your class?”
“Nothing’s as important as my child. I’ll explain the situation. The instructors will have to understand that I need to be with my baby.”
“Call me after you have your flight information.”
“I don’t feel good about you staying there tonight, Natalie. If someone killed Tammy, what’s to stop them from striking again?”
“I’ve locked the doors. One of the special agents investigating the case gave me his number in case I need help.”
“That’s all well and good, but I want Sofia out of harm’s way. We’ve got a small fishing cabin a few miles north of Freemont. There’s a crib and some baby supplies so you and Sofia should be fine there. Plus, Terrance keeps a rifle in the coat closet. A box of ammo is on the top shelf.”
“Wanda, you’re scaring me.”
“You need to take precautions. I’ll fly home tomorrow and meet you there. The key to the cabin is in the top drawer of the buffet in the dining area. You’ll also find a map with directions.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. You and Sofia will be safe at the cabin. I’ll call you when I have my flight information.”
Wanda’s insistence that she take the baby off post darkened Natalie’s mood even more. Fleeing Fort Rickman didn’t sound like a wise decision, especially this late at night.
To clear her mind, Natalie climbed the stairs to the baby’s room, finding comfort in the sweet innocence of the small infant. Standing at the side of the crib, she gazed down at the baby’s face and tiny hands. Knowing Sofia was completely oblivious to the turmoil that surrounded them tonight brought a sense of calm to Natalie’s unrest.
The house phone rang, causing the baby to stir. Natalie hurried into the master bedroom and reached for the receiver.
“The Joneses’ residence.”
Silence.
She pushed the phone closer to her ear. “Hello?”
No response.
Natalie disconnected. She didn’t need prank calls, especially tonight.
Again the phone rang. She snatched it from the cradle and raised it to her ear.
“Natalie?” A garbled voice, as if the caller were masking his voice.
Could it be Mason? Repulsion filled her.
And fear.
Her heart raced and her hands trembled as she disconnected.
Straightening her shoulders, she strained to draw air into her lungs. Wanda was right. She and Sofia needed to leave post and hide out until the killer was apprehended.
Natalie hurried into the guest bedroom, grateful she hadn’t unpacked earlier today. Grabbing her suitcase and small tote, she dropped both in the hallway and returned to the baby’s room. Wanda had filled a large diaper bag for when Natalie took the child on an outing. Unsure how many supplies she’d find at the cabin, she stuffed even more diapers into the bag and filled a second tote with onesies, sleepers and prepared bottles of formula. Receiving blankets were the final items she included before making two trips downstairs with the luggage and totes.
Peering out the front window, she noticed the last of the emergency responders preparing to leave. As much as she wanted to contact Everett Kohl, the CID was a tight organization. Natalie didn’t stand a chance of changing anyone’s mind about Mason. If only they’d look closer into his wife’s death instead of giving their colleague a free pass.
After placing the bags in her car, she checked the car seat Wanda had helped her install, then hurriedly returned to the house. With a determine sigh, she climbed the stairs and lifted the sleeping baby into her arms. She’d never had her own child, but her maternal instincts kicked into high gear. No one would hurt this baby.
Returning to her car, she settled Sofia into the carrier and attached the harness before she opened the garage door and backed onto the driveway. Glancing at the neighboring homes, she wondered how soon people would be aware of what had happened tonight. Once the MPs made their rounds, the news would spread up and down the street, causing unrest and concern.
Poor Tammy Yates. She didn’t deserve to die. Neither had the woman in Germany.
Natalie hated running scared. She’d run before, from her father’s abusive drunkenness and from a scandal that meant the end of her time in the military. A scandal that had involved Mason. And now, she was running from a murderer.
She thought of Everett Kohl’s strong shoulders and the concern she’d seen in his gaze, and for half a heartbeat, she wished she could turn to him, but common sense won out.
She couldn’t trust Everett Kohl.
She couldn’t trust anyone.
* * *
Everett watched the garage open at the Joneses’ quarters. A red sedan backed onto the driveway. Natalie hurried from the car and lowered the garage door before she drove out of the housing area.
After dropping Mason at the Lodge on post, Everett had circled back to the duplex and parked farther down the street to keep an eye on the two homes. Not that he had expected Natalie Frazier to flee. He had been more concerned for her safety. If someone had broken into the B side of the duplex and killed one woman, the killer could easily return to kill again.
Everett had to insure he didn’t leave a stone unturned. He’d learned his lesson the hard way. The guilt still hung heavy on his shoulders.
He followed the small compact car at a distance as it left post through the Fort Rickman main gate and headed into nearby Freemont. On the far side of town, it stopped at an apartment complex.
Holding the baby in her arms, Natalie unlocked the bottom apartment door and disappeared for a few seconds before returning to the car. Everett made note of the address as she drove away.
Surprised when his cell rang, he saw Frank’s name on the screen. “I was ready to call you,” he said in greeting. “I’m following Natalie Frazier. She’s got the baby and is driving north through Freemont. It appears she’s headed to the interstate. I want to apprehend her before she hits the highway.”
“Negative,” Frank insisted. “Tail her but don’t apprehend. I just called Lieutenant Jones to notify her of her neighbor’s death. The lieutenant had spoken with the nanny earlier and had encouraged her to take the baby someplace safe.”
“Did the mother mention a destination?”
“She talked about a fishing cabin north of Freemont but refused to provide more information. Stay on Ms. Frazier’s tail. I want to know the exact location of the cabin and where that baby is at all times. Lieutenant Jones plans to return to Fort Rickman tomorrow. Once baby and mom are reunited, I’ll breathe a sigh of relief.”
“What about the nanny?”
“Lieutenant Jones is convinced she’ll take good care of her daughter. That’s my hope, as well, but it seems more than a coincidence, as you mentioned, to have her show up on post the day Tammy Yates dies.”
“Natalie made a quick stop at her apartment in Freemont. Might be worth checking.” Everett provided the address.
“Will do. Don’t let her out of your sight. If Mrs. Yates’s death is a homicide, we have a killer on the loose. We don’t need anyone else hurt.”
Everett disconnected. So much for his two-week vacation. Right now, he had to keep tabs on the red sedan and find out where Natalie planned to hole up, so he could keep nanny and baby safe.
* * *
Natalie saw the tail just as she turned into the narrow dirt road that led to the fishing cabin. She cut the lights and pulled to a stop at the side of the small wooden structure.
Knowing Sofia would be safer in her car seat, Natalie let the baby sleep while she dashed inside. Everything was as Wanda had mentioned, including the hunting rifle in the closet. Natalie found the ammo and loaded the weapon, then retraced her steps and hid in the underbrush until the car turned onto the dirt path.
Her heart pounded. She hadn’t expected Mason to follow her. As the SUV drew closer, she crawled from the foliage, holding the rifle in her arms. The vehicle skidded to a stop.
“Get out, Mason,” she screamed, aiming the gun at the shadowed outline of the man behind the wheel.
The door opened and long legs stepped to the ground, followed by a muscular chest, square jaw and dark eyes that stared at her with a perturbed frown.
“Lower that weapon before you hurt someone,” he warned.
Not Mason.
Everett Kohl.
Did she need to fear him, as well?
* * *
Everett didn’t like being one-upped, especially by a woman who looked light as a feather and about as threatening. Except for the Winchester .30-30.
A good rifle for hunting deer, and not the type of weapon a criminal would carry. Although it could do serious damage if she decided to pull the trigger.
Even with the rifle, Everett was confident he could overpower her, but he wanted her to trust him. Allowing the nanny to think she was in control would be the best strategy to earn that trust, at least for now. Plus, he was packing a SIG Sauer under his jacket and a J-Frame Smith & Wesson strapped to his ankle. Hopefully, she didn’t realize special agents were always armed.
A baby’s cry cut through the darkness.
Seeing the concern on Natalie’s face, he stepped toward the car and peered at the baby in the rear. “Someone’s not happy.”
“She’s probably wet and hungry.” Natalie motioned to the cabin. “Head for the porch and don’t do anything stupid.”
He pointed to the rifle. “You wouldn’t use that, would you?”
She cocked her hip and tried to look defiant. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Shooting a law enforcement officer carries a stiff penalty that would end your hopes for a career in education, Ms. Frazier.”
“It’s Natalie, and I know what I’m doing.”
“If so, then—”
“Then why am I holding you at gunpoint?”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
“Because you followed me here, and I need to know why.”
“To insure your safety.”
“Wrong answer.”
“But truthful.” He titled his head. “Tell me why you’re frightened of Mason?”
“You won’t believe me.”
“If you have information about Mrs. Yates’s murder, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I made a mistake.” Natalie’s bravado deflated. “I had two prank phone calls on the Joneses’ landline. I think they were from Mason.”
“What?”
“When I saw headlights, I thought he had followed me here.”
Pulling in a deep breath, Everett nodded. “You’ve got my attention. I’ll meet you on the porch. But watch that rifle. I wouldn’t want it to go off accidentally.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Kohl. I’ve got everything under control.”
Everett would have laughed if the situation weren’t so dicey. “It’s Everett.”
Again, Sofia let out a bellow.
As he walked toward the cabin, he glanced over his shoulder. The nanny had placed the rifle on the ground to free her hands. She plucked Sofia from the backseat of her car and struggled to balance the baby and the diaper bag.
Natalie frowned when she looked up and found him staring at her.
He retraced his steps and held out his hands. “You’re exhausted and loaded down. How ’bout I take the diaper bag and baby. You keep the gun.”
Her brow lifted, but she didn’t object as he reached for Sofia and nestled the baby against his shoulder. With his free hand, he grabbed the diaper bag.
“I’ll meet you inside.” He hurriedly climbed the steps and entered the rustic cabin. A stacked-stone fireplace sat to the right. The kitchen and eating area were on the left. A couch and two easy chairs filled the center of the room. An open door revealed a bedroom in the rear, and a second, smaller room with a crib and changer, which was where he headed.
Everett felt a swell of gratitude for his sister, who had let him help when her two little ones were infants and her husband was away on business. He laid Sofia on the changer, and, in short order, the baby was in a dry diaper and back in his arms.
Sofia cooed with contentment. He laughed at the sounds that reminded him of his nieces, then turned to find Natalie standing in the doorway of the nursery wearing a perplexed look.
“Are you married with kids?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“Yet you know how to change diapers?”
“I’ve got two nieces, two years and eight months old. My sister said I was a quick study.”
“She’s right. I’m impressed.”
Sofia jammed her tiny fist in her mouth and made sucking sounds.
“The baby’s hungry.” Everett rummaged in the tote and found a bottle of formula.
“Excuse me.” He walked past Natalie into the main room where he settled into the couch.
“I’ll feed Sofia while we have that talk you wanted.” He glanced at the rifle she still held. “Can you park the weapon by the fireplace? Conversation flows better when I’m not staring at the end of a gun.”
She hesitated.
“You can trust me, Natalie.”
She shook her head and wrinkled her brow. “No, Everett, I can’t. I can’t trust anyone. Not you, not the other special agent who was with you tonight, and certainly not Mason Yates.”
“Maybe we should skip the niceties and get right to what you want to talk about.”
“I want to talk about a woman who fell down the stairs to her death in Germany the way Tammy Yates died tonight.”
Everett tensed. “Do you have a name?”
She nodded. “Paula Conway.”
“And you think Mason Yates killed both women?”
“That’s exactly what I think.”
“Do you have proof?”
Her shoulders drooped. “I don’t have anything except a gut feeling, which won’t get me very far with law enforcement.”
What had this woman been through that caused her to be so distrustful? Had Mason hurt her? If so, Everett would make sure he paid for his indiscretion or abuse.
Two women dying in the same way—if what Natalie said was true—raised more than a red flag. Everett didn’t put much stock in hunches. Every person in law enforcement knew cases were solved with evidence, not subjective reactions or feelings, but something about Natalie Frazier tugged at his heart. She was nervous and afraid and appeared ready to collapse from the stress of what had happened.
“It’s okay, Natalie.” He wanted to reassure her. “I’m here to help you.”
She nodded ever so slightly, then lowered the gun to the floor and settled into a chair across from him.
His cell rang. Natalie tensed as he pulled it from his pocket. “Don’t tell anyone where you are or that I’m with you,” she warned.
He nodded. Seeing Frank’s name, he swiped the call screen to establish a connection and then raised the cell to his ear. “This is Special Agent Kohl.”
“Thanks for the tip about the apartment in Freemont. It’s leased to Denise Lang, the nanny’s roommate.”
“You checked it out?”
Everett tried to appear nonchalant as Frank continued.
“Denise works the evening shift at a local restaurant and didn’t show up tonight. The manager was worried and called the police.”
“Okay.”
“Almost simultaneously, we contacted them with questions about the nanny.”
Everett glanced at Natalie. “And?”
“And once we arrived at the apartment, we realized we’ve got even bigger problems.”
“Oh?”
“The local police found Denise Lang. She was murdered in her apartment.”
Everett groaned. “How?”
“Cause of death was a bullet to the gut.”
Everett listened as Frank told him who they suspected of committing the crime.
Disconnecting, he raised Sofia to his shoulder and leaned forward. “Tell me about Denise Lang.”
“My roommate?”
“When did you last see her?”
“Yesterday before she went to work. She waitresses at a restaurant in Freemont.”
“What about this morning?”
“She sleeps late. Her door was closed, and I didn’t want to wake her. Why?”
“You stopped at your apartment tonight.”
Natalie nodded. “She works nights and doesn’t want anyone to call her while she’s on the job. I left a note to tell her I would be out of touch for at least a day or so.”
“The police checked your apartment to determine if you had anything to do with Tammy Yates’s death.”
Natalie slumped back in the chair. Color drained from her face. “They had no right.”
“They had every right. Your roommate, Denise Lang, was found by the police.”
She grimaced. “What?”
“Denise Lang was found dead. Two women died today, Tammy Yates and your roommate.”
Natalie gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth, and her face twisted with grief.
“The police are searching for the killer.” Everett pursed his lips, hoping she understood the seriousness of what he was about to say.
“The police are searching for you, Natalie. You’re a person of interest.”
Her blue eyes widened. “What’s that mean?”
“It means they think you may have killed both women.”
