Person of Interest (9 page)

“What about meeting Wanda?” Natalie asked.

He glanced at his watch. “We’re ahead of schedule, with plenty of time to grab some chow.”

The smell of eggs and bacon greeted them as they entered the diner. A waitress ushered them toward a booth. Everett took the baby carrier from Natalie and settled it into the booster chair before scooting it close to the table.

Sofia opened her eyes and cooed. Everett’s heart soared. With her dancing eyes and cherub smile, the baby made him forget the danger for a moment.

He laughed as her legs churned the air, and her tiny hands reached for him.

“Your daughter’s adorable.”

He looked up to find the waitress waving at Sofia. Her name tag read Rachel.

She glanced at Natalie and smiled. “You’re a lucky couple to have such a precious daughter.”

Natalie never missed a beat. “The baby stole our hearts the first time we laid eyes on her.”

Glancing at Everett, she added, “Isn’t that right, hon?”

He nodded. “That’s right, dear.”

“Can I bring you folks some coffee?”

Everett checked the menu on the whiteboard. “Along with two egg-and-bacon platters. Add biscuits and grits.”

He turned to Natalie. “Sound good?”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll place the order and be back with your coffee.” Rachel hurried to the kitchen, and, true to her word, she returned with two piping-hot mugs, followed by their breakfast order.

Sofia slept while they ate and then sucked hungrily at her bottle when Natalie fed her after the meal.

Once the three of them had their fill, Everett signaled for the check.

“More coffee?” Rachel returned to the table and raised the carafe over his mug.

He held up his hand. “Just the check.”

“It’s been covered.” The waitress glanced over her shoulder. “That nice man sitting by the door—”

Everett followed her gaze to the empty booth.

“Why, he must have left.” Rachel seemed confused when she turned back to them. “He...he said you looked like such a nice family that he wanted to pay for your breakfast.”

“Did you get his name when he signed the credit card receipt?”

She shook her head. “He paid with cash.”

Everett glanced out the window at the parking lot. A dark sedan drove from the lot and merged into the traffic. The kindly patron, perhaps? Nice of the man to buy their breakfast, but the generosity had a strange feel to it.

He turned back to Natalie. “Let’s get going.”

The look on her face made him realize he wasn’t the only one questioning the stranger’s outreach.

“Did you notice anyone sitting near the door?” Natalie asked once they were back in the car.

“The only people I saw were two older ladies by the window and a couple of teens at the counter.”

“I’ve got a funny feeling about what happened.”

He wouldn’t express his own concern but, like Natalie, he wondered about the benevolent stranger.

Everett kept thinking of the dark sedan as he pulled away from the diner and headed toward the long-term parking lots located just off Camp Creek Parkway.

“Your mother is going to be so excited to see you,” Natalie cooed to the baby.

Everett checked the traffic, looking for anything or anyone suspect. He circled a couple of blocks and, once satisfied they weren’t being followed, he headed back to the main road. Turning into the lot, he took the ticket from the automatic teller and drove to the numbered space in the rear where Wanda said she had left her car.

He glanced at his watch. Twelve-thirty. They had at least fifteen minutes to spare. He backed into a parking space so the front of the SUV was facing the entrance of the lot.

Turning off the ignition, he thought back to last night. Was Natalie right in suspecting that the killer—or killers—had followed him? If so, Everett was losing his edge.

He studied the other cars parked around them. Danger could be lurking anywhere. He had to be cautious. He knew too well what could happen when a cop lowered his guard or shrugged off information as being happenstance.

God, help me never make another mistake,
he silently prayed.
Keep me vigilant and focused so nothing happens to Natalie or the baby.

* * *

Time passed too slowly. Natalie glanced at the clock on the console and inwardly worried. Wanda was almost an hour behind schedule. Sofia had fallen asleep, and Everett had stared nonstop at the entrance access to the lot until she wondered if his eyes were ready to pop. Occasionally, he glanced at her in the rearview mirror, which caused her neck to tingle. She averted her gaze and said nothing, feeling the tension mount as the minutes ticked by.

At frequent intervals, he studied the forested area behind the lot and stared at the cars on either side of them. Did he think someone was lying in wait?

Again, she glanced at the clock, willing the minutes to change on the digital. Finally, she could remain silent no longer.

“I’ll call Wanda. Something must have delayed her flight.” The call failed to go through. “Her phone must be off. I can call the airlines to check on the plane’s arrival time.”

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “You’ve got the flight number?”

She nodded. “And the direct line to flight information. At least we’d know if the aircraft has landed.”

“Go ahead. See what you can find out.”

She retrieved the number in her contacts and hit Call. An automated operator walked her through a series of prompts that required saying the city of origin, destination and flight number.

“The plane landed on time,” Natalie said as she disconnected. “An hour and a half ago.”

A muscle on the side of Everett’s neck twitched.

“Maybe she had trouble locating her luggage.” Natalie gave voice to a possible reason for Wanda’s delay. Anything could have happened, especially with a killer on the loose.

As worried as Natalie had been about the baby’s safety, now she turned her concern to the baby’s mother. What if Wanda had been the target instead of Tammy? The killer could have entered the wrong side of the duplex and killed the wrong woman. Realizing his mistake, he could be at the airport waiting for an opportunity to finish what he had originally planned to do.

Natalie dropped her head in her hands and sighed.

“You’re thinking too much,” Everett cautioned.

“Then you must be, too. What if the killer entered the wrong side of the duplex?”

“You could play what-if all day, Natalie. Let’s trust she’s late because of her luggage. Or maybe the parking shuttle was delayed.”

“And maybe someone convinced her to get in their car. As worried as Wanda has been about Sofia, she might not have realized that she could be in danger, as well.”

Everett shook his head. “You’re jumping to the wrong conclusions.”

“Are you sure?”

He hesitated and then reached for his phone. “I’ll call Frank.”

“He’s at Fort Rickman. How can he help?”

“He’ll contact the local police.”

“Who will question why we’re sitting in long-term parking.”

Everett lowered his phone. “Let’s wait ten more minutes.”

Time seemed to stand still, which added to Natalie’s concern. Frustrated and worried, she finally scooted forward in her seat and tapped Everett’s shoulder. “Call Frank.”

Before Everett could grab his cell, the airport shuttle turned into the lot. They watched the van drive along the entrance road and stop a few cars away.

Natalie let out a deep sigh when Wanda stepped to the pavement. The driver placed her luggage beside her car and nodded his thanks as he accepted a tip. As soon as he drove off, Natalie opened the car door and waved.

Relief washed over Wanda’s face. “The plane circled the airport until we got clearance to land, then we sat on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open.” She hurried to the SUV. “Where’s my baby?”

Bending down, she peered into the backseat and touched Sofia’s cheek. “I have been so worried about you, little one.”

Everett got out of the car, introduced himself and extended his hand as he approached Wanda. “I’m sorry you had to cancel your training class, ma’am.”

“I needed to see my child.”

“That’s understandable.” He smiled at Natalie. “But Sofia was in good hands.”

“I know she was.” Wanda squeezed Natalie’s arm. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Everett glanced around the lot. “I suggest you and Sofia hole up in a hotel in the city until the CID and local police have some idea of who harmed Mrs. Yates.”

Wanda nodded. “I can stay at the cabin.”

“Negative.” Everett hesitated. “Someone shot a bullet through the picture window this morning.”

“Oh, no!” Wanda’s hand flew to her mouth.

“We left immediately, and, as best I can tell, no one followed us.” He stared at the mother before asking. “Is anyone out to do you harm, ma’am?”

Wanda glanced from one to the other. “You think someone wanted to kill me and killed Tammy instead?” She shook her head. “That’s preposterous.”

“Your husband is deployed. Does he have any enemies?”

“Terrance? Not that I know of. My husband is a good man, liked by all.”

“Perhaps someone from his past?”

“We’ve known each other since high school. As I said, he’s a good man.”

“You’re sure no one is carrying a grudge? Perhaps something that happened in Afghanistan?”

“I’ll confirm that with him, but I’d be surprised if that were the case.”

“What about Mason and Tammy Yates? How well do you know them?”

“They moved in about three weeks ago and seemed like nice neighbors. She was a bit more outgoing. He’s cordial but somewhat reserved.”

“Did you ever hear them fighting?”

Wanda shook her head. “Never.”

“Did they have visitors? Family ever stop by?”

“Tammy mentioned staying with her sister-in-law in Decatur until their quarters were ready.”

“Did you get the sister-in-law’s name?”

“Annabelle. She’s single, no children. I would presume her last name is Yates.”

“Did Mason and Tammy appear to be happy?”

“I really couldn’t tell. They both were nice enough, and on the surface, their marriage seemed good. But then—” She glanced at Natalie and back to Everett. “Some things are hard to see on the surface.”

Everett appreciated Wanda’s candor. “The CID might be able to provide a safe house for you and the baby, if you need a place to stay.”

“I’ve got family near Macon. We’ll stay with them.”

“Contact me once you’re settled,” Everett said. “We may have more questions.”

He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “Call me if you think of anything or anyone that might be suspect. I have your cell phone number and will keep you apprised of our investigation.”

Natalie hugged Wanda, overcome with relief that mother and child had been reunited. “I’m so glad you could come back to Georgia, Wanda. I know you were worried about Sofia. I was worried about you, too, especially when you were delayed so long, and we didn’t know what had happened.”

Wanda looked confused. “I thought someone notified you.”

Natalie shook her head. “Who would have done that?”

“The man from Fort Rickman who called me.”

Everett stepped closer. “Did you get his name?”

“I’m afraid not. He was very cordial. He wanted to know that I was all right. I told him I would be when I had my baby back in my arms.”

“You told him we were meeting you?” Natalie asked.

“Was that a mistake? He said he was from the CID.”

“Did you mention the location of the long-term parking lot?”

Wanda nodded.

Everett glanced over his shoulder.

“Let’s get the baby into your car, ma’am. You and Sofia need to be on your way.”

Wanda cuddled the little one while Everett moved the baby seat to her car. Natalie placed Sofia’s diaper bag and totes in the rear. Again, she hugged Wanda and watched as she shook Everett’s hand. A heaviness hung over her as Wanda and Sofia drove away.

Everett hurried Natalie back to his SUV.

“Who called Wanda?” Natalie asked once she buckled her seat belt.

“I’m hoping it was Frank, but—”

“But it could have been Mason,” Natalie said.

“It’s unlikely, yet we don’t want to take any chances.”

“You said we weren’t followed,” Natalie reminded him.

“We weren’t, but Wanda told someone how to find us.”

He started the engine and after paying for their brief stay, he pulled onto the Parkway. “We’ll take 285 south.”

“Which heads to Interstate 75 and eventually to Fort Rickman.”

Everett sighed. “Then we’ll take the outer belt north and pick up I-20 East into the city.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “I keep thinking we’re being followed.”

“At least Sofia is with her mother.”

The baby was safe, but Natalie couldn’t shake the sadness of having to say goodbye. In such a short time, she’d grown attached to the sweet little one. Hopefully, after the investigation was over, she’d be able to see her again.

“She’s a cute baby,” Everett said.

Natalie turned to face him. “They’ll be okay, won’t they?”

“I’m sure of it.”

Driving north on the outer belt, she again glanced back, searching for anyone who might be following them. Was someone out there waiting and watching? If so, they’d know soon enough.

Where to now?

Anywhere safe, except Fort Rickman.

* * *

Everett’s brow furrowed and his gaze flicked from the road ahead to the rearview mirror.

“Do you see something?” Natalie turned, glancing at the traffic behind them.

He shook his head. “Not really.”

“Not really, yet you look worried.”

“A feeling, that’s all.”

“A feeling we’re being followed?”

Everett let out a stiff breath. “Maybe. There’s a car about five vehicles back. The driver reminds me of someone.”

Again she turned. “Is it Mason?”

“Probably not, but I want to make sure. He’s been behind us since we got on 285.” Everett glanced at a road sign. “I’ll take the next exit. We’ll see what happens.”

The exit appeared on the right. Everett waited until the last second and then swerved onto the ramp that curved up to a four-lane road. The stoplight at the top of the off-ramp flashed yellow. Without hesitating, Everett turned left and accelerated.