Person of Interest (A Celeste Eagan Mystery) (16 page)

Levi frowned. “Aren’t you worried you’re playing both ends of the field here?”

I was reaching for my glass and paused. “What?”

“You’ve got the detective checking out information for you and you have that reporter looking into it. You’ve got them both doing your bidding.”

“My bidding? I’m not some Victorian damsel. And they have jobs to do.” I eyed Levi over the top of my glass as I took a long sip. “I gave them some info neither seemed to find on their own. Is it too much to ask what they’ve found in return?”

“Too much from you, no. But as they do have jobs to do, returning the favor may not even be in their realm of ability whether they want to or not.” He shrugged.

“Since when did you get all waxing professional?” I tore apart the little paper ring that had held together the napkin and flatware. “I guess the wording I should use is I
hope
they will be forthcoming. But...in the event they’re not, I need to find some more useful info that maybe I can barter with them.” I needed to have ammo for a little tit for tat, as Kellen called it.

“You, my friend, are a scary woman.” Levi finished his lunch and pushed the empty dish to the side. He leaned his elbows on the table. “Devious and a little too wired to be turned loose on an unsuspecting community.”

I ignored Levi and kept going with my ideas. “I was thinking we need more Google searches. There’s something we’re missing. I can feel it.”

“Even the World Wide Web should fear you. Nonetheless, my workload is slowing down with Thanksgiving coming up next week. I’d be happy to assist.” Levi scrunched his eyes and tapped his finger to his lips. “Let’s go over to my place first.”

“For?” I dropped the tattered paper. I was a little afraid of what was coming next.

“You need some wheels.”

I sat up straighter. I’d expected his offer much sooner. How could I delicately say thanks, but no thanks? “Um, no thanks. I’d rather wait out the insurance company.”

“Don’t be silly. You need a vehicle. And I happen to have an extra.”

I wouldn’t call Harriet—yes, he named everything from his hairbrush to his vehicles—an “extra.” Harriet was in a class all her own. One of the original consumer Hummers, the vehicle in question was massive. I could see all my energy-conscious, Prius-driving neighbors shaking their heads as I thundered down the streets.

“It will keep you safe and get you from point A to point B, which is more than you currently have. No arguments. Let’s go get her, then we’ll work on what’s next.”

* * *

If I had my druthers, I’d have taken the Lexus, but Levi said something about a date he had later and wanted to impress... I let it go. I wouldn’t win that argument no matter what.

I could admit—to myself, I’d never tell Levi—that I did feel a little safer in the luxury tank. Especially when the rain came pouring down. Little cars were getting stuck in the deeper puddles and I zipped through. I think I even scared a person or two when they saw me coming up behind them in Harriet. She had her advantages.

They ended at home, however. Harriet didn’t even come close to fitting in my garage—had I had the opener with me, which had gone to heaven with my car. With the massive vehicle taking up almost my entire driveway, I jumped down, made a mad dash for the front door and beat Levi by only a minute or so.

“Okay, what’s next?” he asked as he settled in at the kitchen table. Lightning lit up the windows. A minute or two later a clap of thunder shook the house.

I tried to shake the creepy tingle that ran up my spine as I took a seat next to him. My laptop sat between us and we each had paper and pen. “I’m going to get some info on the two other men involved.”

“Isn’t one dead? Why look him up? You know he couldn’t have committed any of these crimes.”

“Yes, but every little link helps.” I fired up the computer and then made some coffee. “The info I got on him was from links off of Chad’s search. You never know what we can turn up if we search him outright.”

Levi shook his head. “Does any of that—the scandal, I mean—sound like something your boss would do?”

“If you’d asked me a week ago, I’d say no way. But in light of everything that’s come out...” I shrugged. “I guess you never really know someone.” I poised my hands over the laptop then pulled them back and turned toward Levi.

“What?” He leaned away from me.

“Would you do me a huge favor while I’m on the internet?” I batted my eyelashes at him. Levi only smiled and waited for me to hit him with my request. “Would you pretty please program my new phone?”

Levi let out a sigh. “Is that all? I thought you were going to ask for a kidney or something.” He winked and held out his hand.

“All the stuff is up in the cloud.” I handed him my brand spanking new cell phone. “My password is—”

“I know what it is.” He was tapping away on the phone in an instant.

The coffee finished brewing and I poured us both cups. I doctored mine up with enough sugar to send a diabetic into a coma. I’d picked up some chocolate, chocolate chip biscotti earlier—I’d had way too much time to kill at the shopping center—and set them out on the table and took my seat.

“Okay, let’s see.” I typed in the deceased coconspirator’s name, Joseph Carpenter. It was amazing how many people shared names. But with a little extra info like the year he died and the college he attended, I was on the right man’s path in no time.

Another streak of lightning zipped across the sky. I jumped when the thunder clapped through the house. It distracted me from the laptop momentarily and I lost my place on the page. I used my index finger to speed-read through the text. I was finding a whole lot of nothing, and started to wonder if the internet was going to be a dead end.

I clicked through several links as Levi refilled the coffee cups. Nothing was of any help whatsoever, though I did find a mention of Carpenter’s wife. I jotted down her info and picked up a biscotti. I’d just bitten down on it when the link I clicked on popped up and the loudest, longest clap of thunder rattled the widows. “Oh my
gawd
.” The little treat fell from my mouth and hit the table with a thud.

“Still afraid of storms?”

I shook my head and pointed to the laptop.

“What did you find?”

I shifted my gaze from the computer to Levi as I turned the computer where he could read it better.

Levi read the article aloud.
“Mr. Joseph Carpenter was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner eventually ruled the hanging a suicide
—
”
His breath caught and his gaze darted to mine, then he continued
“—despite the man’s wife insisting he would never have taken his own life.”

“Oh, no no no no no. This can’t be a coincidence.” I held onto my coffee mug with both hands, let the warmth seep into my suddenly chilled hands. “Chad is found hanging, to look like suicide but is actually murder. This man’s death is ruled a suicide.”

“By hanging.”

I nodded. “You have a professor both men had in college—whom they videotaped having sex with. Who hung herself, and it first looked like murder but turned out to be suicide.” Even the warm coffee mug did little to ward off the chills.

“I don’t know what’s going on.” Levi toyed with his snack. “But do you think you should call Beau Henderson?”

The third man in the scandal had an office in Dallas. “And what? Warn him he could be in danger? From whom? We don’t know who could be doing this.”

Levi straightened in his seat. “I know, but still.”

“How would you take this phone conversation? ‘Hi, Mr. Henderson, you don’t know me but I promise I’m telling you the truth.’” I sent three copies of the article to the printer—one for me, Muldoon and Kellen. “The man would hang up before I could tell him what’s going on.”

“Do it in person then? Make an appointment. Take him all the evidence you’ve racked up to this point.” Levi waved at the growing stack of articles and news blurbs. “If you tell him and he doesn’t heed your warning, there’s not a whole lot else you can do. But at least you tried, right?”

“You’re right, but you have to come with me.”

Chapter Fifteen

“Excuse me, but you’re doing what?” Kellen all but yelled through the phone.

I rolled my eyes even though no one could see me. “I made an appointment to meet with the man day after tomorrow.”

“You have some pretty compelling information, but nothing more than a lot of coincidence.”

“Just coincidence? Give me a break. When was the last time you saw a case that had so many similar deaths?” He started to interrupt me so I hurried on. “But even if it is a major coincidence doesn’t mean it’s not all related. All you have to do is find the thread that holds it together then—”

“Celeste, listen to yourself.”

“Kellen, listen to
yourself
. Aren’t your reporter senses tingling up a storm? The chances of it not being related have to be astronomical. I can’t just sit on this info. I have to give it to Henderson.”

“And make the man paranoid.” He scoffed through the phone.

“Hey, better paranoid and wary than oblivious and the next statistic on the crime blotter.”

Kellen laughed. “You’re a scary woman.”

“I’ve been told that.” I twisted around in my desk chair and checked the clock on the far wall. I had about half an hour before I was due at the police station to sign the official report for the shooting. The thunder and lightning had long since stopped, but the rain kept on. Several of the streets would be impassable—with or without Harriet—by the time I needed to get to the police station.

Muldoon had called an hour after Levi had left for his date. I’d debated not answering when I saw the number on the caller ID, worried what the police wanted from me now. But temptation and curiosity won out. He’d asked me to come up to sign off on the incident from the night before. While I was there, I could pass along the new information. If he wanted it. “Who knows, maybe Henderson has an idea of who’s doing all this.”

“Did you ever stop to think he could be the one doing it?”

My foot slipped off the edge of the desk as I tried to push myself around. “No, not really.”

“Why not? You have to consider all the possibilities. I mean, why couldn’t he? He was involved in the original crime, even if only on the periphery. He stands as good of a chance as anyone to be the culprit.”

I could only come up with one argument. “He’s a businessman.”

“And Chad Jones was a principal, who blackmailed staff for sexual favors.”

I shuddered. “You have a point. I’ll give you that. But why then would he agree to see me?”

“To find out what you know? To see if you’re a threat to him? Hell, Celeste, someone has been doing their best to get you out of the picture. You could be walking right up to the killer and saying, ‘hey, have at me.’”

“The car bomb was not part of this case.” I was making excuses that in the grand scheme were still pretty scary.

“So far the shooting and your house being broken into haven’t been tied to Jerry Pullman so unless there’s someone else out there floating around...”

“Okay, that’s enough.” If he kept throwing up reasons why I shouldn’t go, he might just talk me out of my plans. I was pretty sure everything would be fine. And it wasn’t like I was going to meet the man in a dark alley. “It’s just an appointment. At his place of business. In the middle of the day. And besides, I’m not going alone. I’ll have Levi to protect me.”

The phone beeped in my ear. “Kellen, I tell you what, when I get back you will be the first person I call. I’ll even go on the record. How’s that sound?”

“Like you’re going to do what you want whether it’s a good idea or not. As I said before, if you need help...”

“And you’re offering out of the kindness of your heart?” I didn’t mean to sound skeptical. But he was a reporter, whom I didn’t know well.

“Take it for what it’s worth. And yes I’ll be keeping notes.”

The phone beeped again. “Gotta go.” I clicked the button to take the other call. Coz started talking before I could even say hello.

“Why didn’t you call me as soon as the school terminated you?”

“Coz. Ugh. I totally forgot.” I’d been so busy searching for clues into Chad’s death I’d neglected taking care of myself. “I guess you spoke with Colin?” I pushed myself around in the chair again. “I’m not terminated. Just on leave. When it happened this morning I didn’t have your number on me. My phone got incinerated, remember? Kablooey.”

“Celeste, this is no joke. We’re talking about your livelihood. What if they decide to fire you outright?”

“I’m already not getting paid, so—”

“What?” He harrumphed. “They did what exactly?”

“They gave me leave without pay.” I leaned my head back against the chair but with the spinning it was making me nauseous. I sat up straighter. “Said my presence was a danger to the student body.”

“You sound a little blasé about it all.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m upset. But at the time, I was too stunned to think. By the time I got home, I got a little sidetracked.” I didn’t think it was prudent to tell Coz about all the internet findings. Really, as my lawyer, he’d be better not knowing
beforehand
if I was going to get into any more trouble. There were things I did need to talk to him about. “Since you’re representing me, if I tell you something in confidence you can’t tell, right?”

“Right.”

“I’ve actually had a job offer. That I’m taking, have taken.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “I hadn’t told the school yet. Colin either for that matter. You remember the playhouse I’ve been involved in for years.” He grumbled a yes and I went on. “The owner of the playhouse offered me a full-time position with the understanding that I would start when the school year’s over.”

“Congratulations.” Warmth fill his voice and eased a little of the tension from my chest. “Okay. Well at least you have something. Not to mention that takes away motive. Still, the school can’t suspend you without pay. They’re in violation of your contract.”

“Really?”

“I read over Colin’s most recent contract when they changed a few items. Assuming yours is the same, then no, they can’t just suspend you without pay. And if they fire you they have to offer severance. Granted it depends on the circumstances, but as you haven’t been charged with anything... Get me a copy of your contract and I will look it over and we’ll start by sending out a letter to the school.” He was silent for a moment. “Let me ask you a couple of questions.”

“Okay.” I grabbed a pen and tapped it on the desktop.

“Can you start sooner at the theater?”

“I suppose. Annabelle’s only waiting because of my contract with the school.”

“If I could get you a severance package and you’re done with Peytonville Prep, as of today, are you okay with that?”

Was I? When I’d left with my things, I didn’t think I’d be back—on the school’s terms. I could ask for Coz to fight so I could finish out the year. Even though I didn’t know how long that fight could take. And there was still the matter of me being a danger. As much as I’d love to finish out the year with my kids, I would be devastated if anything followed me to Peytonville Prep. Their year was already tainted with two unexpected deaths.

“I think that would be okay.” I wasn’t lying down and letting the school railroad me. Even if I didn’t get a severance package at all I’d be standing up for myself. “Yeah, if you don’t mind, go ahead and do that.”

I was about to hang up after he asked a few more questions but remembered my appointment at the police station. “So you’ve looked over the statement they want me to sign, right?”

“Yes, they faxed it to me.” He cleared his throat. “With any luck you’ll be done with them once you sign it.”

* * *

“Sign here and here.” The young officer pointed to the bottom of the page on the counter.

I did as instructed and set the pen down. “Is that all?”

The officer read through some papers on a clipboard. “Um, yes. Thank you, Mrs. Eagan.” She turned and walked away. I’d been dismissed.

I wondered why Muldoon hadn’t come out and spoken with me. He’d called the meeting after all. And I knew he was there. At least, a car was in the lot in his assigned space, but no one came out from the back.

“Time to move along.” I shouldered my bag and made my way down the short hall to the glass double doors at the front of the building. The rain hadn’t lessened one iota since it’d rolled in. I looked where I’d left my umbrella in the corner, not wanting to dribble water all over the floor. But it was gone. “Stolen. In a police station of all places.”

“Looking for this?”

My rain boots squeaked as I pivoted around. The pink-and-blue polka-dotted umbrella looked comical in Muldoon’s large hand. “Yes, thank you.” I reached for it but he tucked it behind him. I tapped the toe of my boot. “Do you have a social life? I’ve never seen you when you’re not on duty. Hell, do you even go off duty? Maybe have a girlfriend or a wife waiting at home to occupy your time when you’re not harassing people on your cases?” I’d waited as long as I could before I’d asked what I was dying to know. Unfortunately, it came out snippy and mean instead of inquisitive.

It was also the wrong time/place for it. The little crooked smile on the corner of his mouth fell and he shoved the umbrella at me.

“What did I say?” I said with mock innocence. I sighed and shook my head. I was tired of this game he was playing, though I couldn’t decide if it was a personal or professional pastime. As he tried to pass me I snagged a hold of his sleeve. “Look, Detective.” I lowered my voice. “I don’t get what’s going on with you. And me. The two of us. I feel like there’s a spark of...something. You sometimes act like there’s a spark—and I don’t think I am imagining that. Am I?”

He sucked in a slow, deep breath and pulled his arm away from my grasp.

“One minute you’re basically telling me to get lost. And then the very next you’re teasing again.” I stepped closer to him, could smell the warm musky scent that just oozed from him. “I’m confused. There’s so much going on I can barely keep my head above water and you—” I waved my hand at him “—you confuse the hell outta me.”

Muldoon held my gaze. Just stood there giving me a serious case of “why’d I have to go and open my big fat mouth” as my brain tried to whip up a quick apology. Not that I owed him one. Still, I hated the hinky sensation that tweaked my conscience. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I couldn’t get a handle on my own when he was there all dark, sexy and silent.

Not that I had a chance anyway. He left me standing there.

“Do I know how to clear a room or what?” I pushed through the glass doors and popped open the umbrella. The wind was whipping it all around as I trudged through the parking lot puddles to the Hummer. I was just about to open the door when I heard my name called.

I turned to see Muldoon running across the lot toward me with a jacket held over his head. When he reached me he stooped under the umbrella, his nose a breath away from mine. He had little navy flecks in his ice-blue irises that matched the dark band around the edge. His sooty eyelashes made them so bright and vibrant, even on an overcast, gloomy day. Up close the color was amazingly breathtaking.

“Your car?”

His question shook me from being mesmerized by his eyes. “Levi’s. It’s a loaner. The insurance company is still hesitating to act on a potentially self-planted bomb.”

The line of his lips thinned. “Hmm.”

“You didn’t dash out here in the rain to inquire about my wheels, did you?” I don’t know why I couldn’t keep the snippy out of my voice. “Checking to see if I’ve planted more explosives?”

Muldoon blinked slowly. “We know who tampered with your car.”

“Yet you never shared any of that info despite how many times I’ve seen you lately. I learned it from Kellen.”

His gaze never wavered from mine. “I should have informed you myself. I’ll have questions.”

“Questions.” So cold and impersonal. If he was going to keep his icy demeanor, why didn’t he just stay in the damn building? “Do you need something? Right now.”

“For you to understand.”

I leaned against the Hummer’s door, to put as much distance from the man as the confines of the umbrella would allow. “Understand what?”

Muldoon reached up and touched my cheek. “I am just as confused as you are.”

I think my chin hit the collar of my raincoat. I can’t be sure as my brain slowed at that precise moment.

“My gut tells me you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the evidence puts you in it up to your ass.” One black eyebrow shot up to the fall of hair on his forehead. “Which means I have no choice but to back off until this case is solved. And I have to let go of the urge to kiss you every time you come within arm’s reach, but God I want to so bad it hurts.”

I swallowed hard. I was at a loss for what to say—which almost never happened to me.

“If I’m not careful, I could lose my job or, worse, jeopardize the case.”

Typical Muldoon—funny I knew what was typical of the man having known him barely a week. I didn’t point out the “worse” was not about him at all. How many men would worry about protecting their case over themselves?

“I’m not trying to be an ass to you. But the more I try to do right by all...” He shrugged. It drew him up closer. “The end result is I feel like shit and I make you feel like shit. And I’m sorry.”

“O-okay.” What else could I say to that?

He held my gaze. Even over the rain pelting the umbrella I could hear his cell phone on his hip.

“You should get that.”

Muldoon nodded, pulled the phone from his pocket and answered it as he dashed back to the police station. He stopped just outside the door and called back to me. “Will you be home tonight?”

“Yes.”

* * *

I paced the living room. That seemed to be my new pastime—pacing and waiting for Muldoon to show up, invited or not. Not that he’d
actually
said he was coming over. For all I knew, he was checking to see where to start a new tail on me.

I’d turned off the television. Either a bunch of singing and dancing high school kids were performing at a naval shipyard or even my regular short attention span had run its course. I put on the Michael Bublé CD and tried to let his dulcet tones relax me.