Person of Interest (13 page)

“And I pulled you away from helping him.”

“It wasn’t you. It was Tammy Yates’s death and the investigation. But there’s still time to help. Plus, you’ll cheer him up. He always was a softy for a pretty face.”

She tilted her head, surprised by his comment. No one had ever called her pretty. “My mother said I looked like my father. He was a stern man who never smiled unless he was nursing a bottle.”

“Was she jealous of you?”

“What?” Taken by surprise, she adjusted herself in the seat. Her mother wasn’t unattractive, but she did nothing to enhance her looks. Perhaps it was living with a drunk. She’d given up on life long before Natalie was old enough to understand what a dysfunctional family meant.

“Why would my mother be jealous?”

“She had to know how beautiful you were. Mothers usually take joy in their children. Maybe your mother carried her own hurt and couldn’t see beyond her pain.”

“So she stayed in a broken marriage because she didn’t have anyplace else to go?”

“Did she take that out on you?” Everett asked.

The question hit home. “I never seemed to do anything right. I...I always thought I was the one at fault.”

Thinking back to her youth, she mulled over what Everett had said. Maybe her mother had been the one with the problem instead of Natalie.

“You must have grown up with a lot of love,” she said, thinking of the comparison between their lives.

“Love and acceptance. For years, I thought everyone had the same type of childhood. Once I got to the military, I learned the truth. Many folks struggle with issues from their past. They’re looking for love but in the wrong places.”

“Like the song.”

He nodded.

“Evidently from what Annabelle said, Mason can’t take rejection due to that long-ago hurt of his mother leaving him.” She thought for a moment. “Is that a motive to kill his wife?”

“Maybe, if she planned to leave him.”

“Then what about Vernon Ingalls? I thought you believed the suicide note he left.”

“The police didn’t find a printer in his house.”

“That doesn’t mean he didn’t have access to one. Surely there were printers at his law office.”

Everett nodded. “But would he have typed the note earlier in the day and then come home and fixed a glass of iced tea before he took his life?”

Natalie shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t, either. But sometimes when everything looks too perfect at a crime scene, I start to question the reasons why. Death is usually not nice and neat.”

“Vernon didn’t appear to have struggled.”

“Which doesn’t rule out foul play. The medical examiner will do a toxicology screen on both the victim and the tea.”

“Then you think he was drugged?” she asked.

“Perhaps. A visitor, someone he knew, could have slipped something into his glass to knock him out.”

“Like Mason?”

“I don’t know.” Everett tugged on his jaw. “I’m just thinking about what could have happened.”

“Okay, then let’s what-if,” Natalie suggested.

Everett nodded. “All right. Here’s one possibility. If Mason killed his wife, he could have made a phone call to his own cell from his wife’s phone after killing her. He leaves his house and drives to the track in the training area. No one sees him, if he’s lucky...and he is lucky. Then he drives home and plans to notify authorities himself when he finds her at the foot of the stairs.”

“Only I heard everything and called the MPs,” Natalie added. “He’s smart, thinks on his feet and changes the scenario to make it seem that an assailant has broken in and killed his wife.”

“But there’s no breaking and entering,” Everett added. “Which means if Mason didn’t kill his wife, then Tammy opened the door and invited the killer inside.”

“So she knew him.” Natalie thought for a moment. “But that’s if someone else committed the crime. Mason is the most likely suspect in my opinion.”

Everett shrugged. “You could be right—”

“But you don’t think I am?”

He stared at her again for longer than she would have liked. “I don’t know who’s guilty.”

Natalie’s heart sank. In spite of his comment about her being pretty, Everett still thought of her as a person of interest. The compliment was to throw her off course.

She turned toward the window. Resting her head on the back of the seat, she closed her eyes, too tired to play games of what-if. Three recent deaths. Three murderers, perhaps, or one man who had a reason to kill at least two of the victims. Denise Lang was still an unknown. If only the cases could be solved. Natalie was tired of being on the run. She wanted everything wrapped up so she could move on with her life.

What about Everett?

He’d move on with his, as well.

Where would that leave her?

Alone again.

TWELVE

T
he tension Everett had been feeling eased the farther they got from Atlanta. Heading north into the mountains was a good decision. He and Natalie would have an opportunity to relax for at least a short time without worrying about a killer on the loose.

Thinking she must be asleep, he reached for his phone.

She lifted her head and stared at him. “Need to make a call?”

He nodded. “I wanted Uncle Harry to know he could expect us.”

“Make sure you mention the woman you picked up along the way.”

Everett chuckled as he clicked the prompt for his uncle’s landline. He glanced at his watch. Knowing Harry, he’d still be awake.

He answered on the third ring. “Everett, tell me you’re coming to see your favorite uncle.”

“That’s exactly right, sir. How are you?”

“Can’t complain. I was afraid you wouldn’t get away from that new investigation.”

“Actually I’m bringing some of my work with me.”

“Oh?”

“A woman who was involved in the case. She was the victim’s neighbor. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”

Uncle Harry chuckled. “Is this woman also a person of interest in another way?”

Everett smiled. “Meaning?”

“Meaning, you’re not getting any younger. I was eighteen when I proposed to your Aunt Rose. She was the prettiest girl in high school, and I wanted to lay claim to her before one of the other guys moved in.”

“How could she have eyes for anyone other than you, Uncle Harry?”

“That’s right. ’Course it took her two more years before she said yes, but I was first in line. Best thing I ever did was to claim her for my wife.”

“I don’t think today’s woman likes to be claimed, sir.”

“Nonsense. Every woman wants a strong man who will take care of her. Even that woman you’re involved with now.”

Everett steeled his jaw. “We’re not involved.”

“Then
interested
. Is that a better description of your relationship?”

Everett wouldn’t even call it a relationship. Interested? He stole a quick glance at Natalie. She was staring out the window as if she couldn’t hear his end of the conversation, which of course she could. Hopefully, she hadn’t heard what his uncle had said.

“We’ll arrive in a couple hours. Don’t stay up. I know where you keep the spare key.”

“I’ll be up, but maybe dozing in my chair. Pound on the door, and I’ll hear you. A friend brought over some casseroles so there’s plenty to eat.”

“Was that Bessie Beyer?” Everett had met the lady who often brought his uncle food.

“You remember Bessie, I’m sure. She’s a lovely lady. Also a good cook. She baked oatmeal raisin cookies, which are my favorite. There’s ice cream in the fridge, so help yourself. I doubt you had time to eat.”

“You know me too well.”

“That’s because you’re just like your father. He invited me to visit, and I may take him up on the invitation. Anything to delay moving into that senior-citizen complex.”

“You’ll enjoy having neighbors nearby. Plus, there will be plenty of activities to keep you busy.”

“I’ve got enough to do here in my house. No reason to create jobs just so I stay busy.”

“We’ll talk in the morning. Now get some rest.”

Everett disconnected and placed his cell on the console.

“I’ve got a hunch that Harry wants to remain put and not move to Atlanta,” Natalie said.

“I don’t blame him, but he’s getting older and he’s fairly isolated.”

“No sweet older ladies who could check in on him? You mentioned Bessie. Is she his age?”

Everett smiled. “A few years younger, and very active. She made a casserole that we can enjoy when we get there.”

“Maybe that’s the main reason he doesn’t want to leave. I take it his wife passed away?”

“Five years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I. Aunt Rose was a wonderful lady.”

“You mentioned that they never had children.”

“Uncle Harry said the good Lord gave them many things but not children to call their own. Rose was a teacher. She said the students were her babies.”

Natalie nodded. “That’s one of the reasons I want to get my teaching certificate.”

“You’re not planning on having your own family some day?”

She picked at her shirt. Her hesitation made him wonder if he had said the wrong thing.

“I haven’t wiped out the idea of getting married and starting a family, but I know things don’t always happen the way we want them to.”

“So you’re taking matters into your own hands, if the right man doesn’t show up?”

“More or less.” She smiled. “Seeing the way my parents argued, I never had hopes of a happily ever after for my life. Besides, I was too interested in escaping the dysfunction and trying to make a life for myself that didn’t include abuse.”

“Your dad hurt your mom?”

“The other way around. My mother nagged him to death. Almost literally. I’m sure one of the reasons he turned to the bottle was to ignore her rants.”

“And you were caught in the middle.”

“That’s it exactly.” Natalie stared at the road ahead. “If you don’t grow up in a happy home, it’s hard to trust your instincts about love and forgiveness.”

“I know about the lack of trust.”

She stared at him as if waiting for him to explain more, but he wasn’t ready to tell her or anyone about the mistake he’d made. Seven years, yet it seemed like yesterday.

“You recognized your mother’s faults, Natalie, and you want that loving home you didn’t have growing up. That means you’ll try harder than others who have good things handed to them. You’ll make your marriage work, and you’ll provide a loving, stable home for your family.”

“Time will tell.” She smiled ruefully. “That’s an expression my mother used, although usually she paired it with how I would fail at life.”

“Was your father your advocate?”

“My father lived in his own world. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough energy or money to allow me into that world. I’m sure he wanted to do more for me, but he refused to stand up to my mother.”

“Is that why you became so determined to be what your father wasn’t?”

“Do you think I’m determined?”

He nodded. “Determined to prove your innocence. Determined to keep Sofia safe. Determined to make a better life for yourself. That’s all good.”

“I never thought of it as being a good thing. I just thought it was what I needed to do.”

Everett glanced at the rearview mirror. Seeing flashing blue lights in the distance, he pulled to the side of the road.

“What’s wrong?” Natalie glanced over her shoulder and gasped. “It’s the police.”

“They’re probably after someone.”

She turned to him. “Did you tell Frank how to find me?”

“Relax, Natalie, they’re not after you.”

The squad car sped past them. When the outside lane was clear, Everett pulled back onto the highway.

Glancing down, he saw Natalie’s hand gripping the console. She was trembling.

He took her hand in his. “You don’t need to worry. The cop probably got a call about a speeder farther north.”

She nodded and let out a stiff breath.

Everett squeezed her hand. “I told you, I’ll keep you safe.”

She eased back into the seat and pulled her hand away from his.

Everett’s heart sank. Natalie still didn’t trust him. Her actions proved as much. He thought back to the female soldier so long ago. She’d told him how her sergeant major boyfriend had threatened her. She believed Everett would keep her safe.

Only the evidence didn’t corroborate her story about the sergeant major, and Everett had been ordered to close the investigation. A heaviness settled over his shoulders.

If he hadn’t obeyed his superior, the woman would still be alive today. Everett had already made one mistake. He wouldn’t make another, whether Natalie believed him or not.

THIRTEEN

“D
ahlonega isn’t far,” Everett said, seeing the mileage marker on the side of the road. “We’ll stop there and then head farther north to my uncle’s house.”

Natalie glanced at the clock on the console. “It’s late. I doubt Janet will agree to talk to us.”

“Three women have died. If Mason is the killer, she could be in danger. That might make her more interested in sharing information.”

Natalie’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “So you’re beginning to believe me?”

“I never stopped believing you. But as I told you, I work with facts, Natalie, not supposition. The more we uncover, the more apt I am to believe he’s involved. I’m not sure if he killed his wife or if he had anything to do with Denise Lang’s death, but two women in the US and another woman in Germany are dead. Two of them have leads to Mason. Denise may be just a terrible coincidence.”

“Except you said there are no coincidences in law enforcement.”

He stared into the night. “That’s it exactly. So we need to find how Denise fits into the picture. Hopefully, the Freemont police and the CID will find that missing segment of this story.”

“Everything makes sense if Mason was Denise’s boyfriend.”

Everett nodded. “But you didn’t think she’d be interested in him?”

Natalie raked her hand through her hair. “As I’ve said before, too often, I don’t know what to think.”

“So let’s play around with what-if. Did Mason come on to her so he could get to you?”