Chemical Attraction (15 page)

“They attacked Abe?” he asked.

“Everyone has a different story. One woman said they grew fangs and tried to bite Abe. Another guy said the cows were only irritated and shifted away from the fence. The stories have quite the range.”

“Great,” he replied as he and Bobby moved closer to the cows. “Whose are they?”

“Gerry Storm, and he’s demanding to know who’s going to pay for them. Karl said he’s not because he saved Abe,” Bobby said, scratching the top of his red head.

“That’s not for us to decide,” Matt said, looking around the area. He reached down and found a green marble. With Bobby’s help, they found six multicolored marbles around the carcasses. “Any kids here this morning?” he asked.

“A few, why?”

“I’m betting someone hit the cows with the marbles, causing the uproar.”

“I’ll ask around,” Bobby said, walking toward Brayland and the crowd.

Matt walked to the bleachers and found a slingshot in the dirt next to the metal bars of the pen. He used a glove and bagged it. As he rejoined his officers, he spotted Spike Gibbs trying to hide. Spike denied hitting the cows until Matt asked him to empty his pockets. Spike had four marbles and a spare rubber band that matched the one on the slingshot. When Spike said he did it because he was bored, Matt walked away to let Bobby handle it. This had nothing to do with the emus, pigs, or cats.

He needed answers before the whole town turned on itself.

After leaving a message with Matt, Jack Adams hung up the phone and checked on the noise. In the back room, he found his charts moved and the vials gone. In the reception area, he saw Tricia’s taillights through the window. That confirmed her part, but why? He’d call Matt again in an hour if he didn’t hear from him by then. Taking the charts with him to his office, he planned to use the morning to catch up on paperwork before his long day of outcalls to area farms. Before he could sit down, he heard a ruckus. Opening the back room door, he saw his patients running loose. He thought for sure he had closed their cages.

“Come on, guys,” he said, grabbing the collars of the Labrador and Great Dane.

When both growled, he immediately let go. The dogs snarled. He backed quickly into the reception area and slammed the door. The animals barked and scratched at the door. As he picked up his phone, someone hit him over the head. On the linoleum floor, he felt an explosion shake his building and a man’s voice say, “Right on time.”

After a quick shower, Joe told Sylvia that he and Madeline would be back late tonight, so she wouldn’t worry. From the explosion, her antique wall plates had fallen, breaking into hundreds of pieces. She had spent all afternoon cleaning the mess and swearing like a frustrated Lion’s fan. At five, Joe sat in the circular drive in front of BennTech. Matt and Eva would finally know about his assignment.

Madeline joined him in his car. “Did you hear the blast this morning? It shook our whole building. Our lab had to rerun our ultrasound tests,” she said, buckling her seatbelt.

“Remember that empty house we parked behind on Monday? That’s what blew up. Matt and I found your bulk meth materials. Unfortunately, we may have our proof.”

“Oh my God, did you tell Matt why we’re together?”

He winced. “Not yet, we’re having dinner with him to discuss it.”

“Let’s go by my apartment first so I can shower and change. These heels are killing me.” While she repacked her bag for later that night, he sat on her bed and filled her in about his eventful day. “Is the boy going to be okay?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied, looking down at the rug. “He’s so young.”

Madeline stood between his legs. She placed her hands on the sides of his face and raised his head. “You gave that boy a fighting chance. It’s up to the doctors now.” Leaning down, she kissed his lips lightly. His hands pulled her hips closer. “We should leave now,” she said with a sigh.

With the weather too hot to use the oven, Eva was planning to cook steaks on the grill. Matt said he’d invited Madeline and Joe for dinner. It sounded like the truth would come out tonight. The explosion had shaken Joe and Matt deeply, not only with the injured boys but something else, too. Stopping at Family Fare after work, she had chosen five thick steaks and potato salad. She already had rolls and the makings for a salad at home.

As she unloaded the sack of groceries, her guys walked through the garage door. David went straight to his room while Matt started his ritual of undressing. His heavy utility belt and gun found their home on top of the refrigerator. It had been the storage place for his guns since David was young.

Matt kissed her. “How are those boys doing?”

“They’re washed with full bellies under clean sheets. The nurses are keeping a close eye on them. If their hearing comes back, they’ll call.”

“If?” he asked, unbuttoning the top of his shirt.

“Considering the blast was heard for miles, they’re lucky to be alive.”

“Any word on the younger boy who came in with Joe?”

“No, he was in surgery all afternoon. It took them all morning just to get him stable. It didn’t look good, but Dr. Tabor is an excellent surgeon. His nurse said she’d call as a favor. What about their family?” she asked, folding the paper sack. After putting it in the pantry with the others, she followed her husband into the bedroom.

He sighed. “The two charred bodies were a man and woman. We’re assuming they’re the parents. I have Ethan tracking down other family members.”

She sat on the bed, watching him undress. “Did they find anything at the site?”

“Yeah, something very disturbing, I’m hoping Joe can explain. This whole damn town is freaking out.”

“What do you mean?”

After telling her about the events at Abe’s Auction, Matt walked naked into the bathroom. He showered, then she took hers. In a t-shirt and shorts, she walked barefoot into the kitchen. Matt had already fired up the grill; Joe was standing next to him. Madeline had put an ice cream cake in the freezer.

Smelling the aroma, Eva looked out the slider at Matt and her brother. “How’s Joe doing?”

“He’s worried about that boy and mad as hell at the parents for the neglect,” Madeline replied.

“He can relate.”

David walked into the kitchen. “When’s dinner?”

“Now,” Matt said, pushing open the slider and carrying the tray of steaks.

Eva passed the platters around the table. Quietly, they savored the tender steaks and creamy potato salad. “How was your day, David?” Eva finally asked.

“I’m starting to hate talking on the phone.”

“Even to Kim?” Madeline asked, smiling.

“No.”

“I heard she stopped in with lunch,” Joe said.

“Who’d you hear that from? Dad wasn’t even around,” David said, grabbing his second roll.

Joe smiled. “I also heard you had a picnic behind the station.”

“You saw us?”

Joe continued to smile. He hadn’t actually seen them. Sylvia’s friend, who was Kim’s grandmother, had asked to borrow her picnic basket. He knew the closest table was behind the station. His deducting skills came in handy. He amazed himself on how accurate he could be. Watching all those Columbo episodes on the Sleuth Channel had paid off. He answered him with his own question.

“Do we need to have ‘that’ discussion?”

David turned crimson. “No.” He stood and took his plate into his bedroom.

“Just what did you see?” Eva demanded.

He shrugged. “Nothing.”

“You’re mean,” Madeline said, chuckling with Eva. Smiling, Matt shook his head and finished his salad. After clearing the plates, the group returned to the table and waited for someone to start the discussion.

Joe took a deep breath. “The FBI wanted me to check out a tip they received two weeks ago. Agent Pierce is my contact.”

David stood in the doorway with his empty plate and silverware. “Uncle Joe, you work for the FBI? I thought you worked in an office.”

“David, have a seat. You might as well hear this, too.” Matt sighed. “Your uncle is a field agent. To you, this means keep your mouth shut about his career.” He turned to his wife. “He’s old enough to understand the ramifications. I want him aware of the potential danger.” Eva reluctantly nodded.

“Wow.” David set his plate on the counter and returned to his seat. “Madeline’s a Fed, too?”

“No, she works for Homeland Security,” Joe replied.

“What?” Matt and Eva asked. Joe couldn’t help but smile at that disclosure.

“Wow,” David said again.

Matt sat up straight and eyed them both. “What the hell is a Homeland Security agent doing in my town working in research?”

“I am not an agent. I was deactivated,” she said firmly. With a sigh, she told them her brief agent status leading up to her calling the FBI.

Before Joe could explain the present circumstance, David spoke out with the first question. “Uncle Joe, at the memorial banquet and then at the Village Inn, you and Madeline were pretending to be together?”

Joe and Madeline winced, and Matt came to their rescue. “It makes sense now. The party was your contact site.” Joe nodded but didn’t elaborate.

Eva continued to smile at him. “Then explain what I saw on Monday at BennTech after lunch.”

He cringed at his sister’s line of questioning. Madeline blushed and answered, “As my boyfriend, I gave Joe a tour of the facility where we copied information to prove my theory.”

“What theory?” Matt asked.

“Okay, let’s back up a bit,” Joe said, taking over the discussion. He explained Madeline’s theory and their wrong conclusion that the meth chemicals had stayed at BennTech.

“So you’re saying that those items were shipped out?” Matt asked.

“Well, the explosion sort of proved that. Where else can someone get hydroiodic acid and red phosphorus in large containers like that?” Joe replied.

“Matt, did you come across any meth at the explosion site?” Madeline asked.

“No meth, just large broken glass containers. The biohazard team will identify the chemicals and clean it up before it leaks too far into the soil,” he replied, rubbing his temple. “Tomorrow, I’ll see what my guys found. Maybe the two unbroken containers will identify where they came from.”

Eva put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “Why would BennTech do this? Don’t they make enough legitimate money?”

“Good question,” Madeline said. “We’re not sure yet if they’re involved. It could be only a few people. I’ll have to snoop in the storage cage for the actual items.”

Joe rubbed the back of his head. He knew she’d have to look around, but he hated the idea. He tried to think of a way for him to join her.

“Wow,” David said again, “I know a Homeland Security and an FBI agent. That’s awesome.”

“I am not an agent. I’m only a scientist,” Madeline repeated. The group ignored her protest.

“David,” Joe replied, “for our safety, you don’t know anything. This is dangerous. Your dad let you in on this so you’ll be aware of the situation. We don’t know all the players, and now you have the knowledge. If the wrong people find out, they can use it against all of us. We need to be extremely careful. Do you understand that?” His serious tone made David sit up straight.

“I won’t let you down.”

He continued. “Our assignment has three questions. Is the company ordering large quantities for the making of meth? Where are the items distributed and manufactured? And who’s behind it?”

“Right now, we’re still trying to answer the first question,” Madeline added.

Joe looked at Matt. “Do we have your support? I’m open to suggestions.”

David and Eva nodded while Matt replied, “Nobody’s getting away with this in our town … and I do have a few ideas.”

Over ice cream cake and Cokes, they hashed out a plan. Madeline was glad that Matt and family were in the loop. It took some of the pressure off her. They each had a part to play. Hers was to get into the cage to look for the supplies. Somehow, she and Joe would work together to watch what left the shipping area. Eva and David would talk to the boys at the hospital for any information about their parents or the chemicals. Joe and Matt would look into the State Police Meth reports as well as his officers’ information.

Joe respected Matt’s opinion. He’d be a big help. Not only would the guys stay in touch throughout the day, the five would go over all the information they obtained each night over dinner. By eleven-thirty, they were saying their goodbyes as the phone rang in the living room. Eva answered it while David asked a few more questions.

“Madeline, did you learn to flip people from your training?”

She laughed. “Yes, I learned that six years ago. Apparently it’s ingrained in my psyche and didn’t forget it.”

“Do you have a gun?” David asked as Matt leaned on the counter and crossed his arms.

“Yes, she does, and she’s slack in its care,” Joe replied, pushing in his chair. She frowned. He was right. She couldn’t remember where she kept her ammo.

Smiling, Eva returned from the living room. “That was the hospital. Mindy said the young boy is going to make it.” She hugged her brother. “I’m proud of you, Joey.”