Person of Interest (A Celeste Eagan Mystery) (2 page)

It only took twenty minutes for Levi to wrap up things on his job site. He owned a house-flipping business and set his own hours, thankfully. He left with Paige after I got permission from the squad of uniforms up front. I promised to call Levi with details the minute I learned anything, because he had a ton of questions. But so far, nobody had any answers, just wild speculations. I wanted to look for Colin but the police asked the staff to stay in our offices until they had a chance to speak with each one of us separately. After waiting for three hours, there was a heavy knock on the door. Rachel all but jumped out of her chair. “Come in.”

A different uniformed police officer than earlier came in followed by a man dressed in a dark sports coat and khaki slacks. “Ladies, Detective Muldoon would like to speak to you. One at a time, please,” the young officer said.

The detective. My chest tightened.

The dark-haired detective looked us over and turned to Rachel. “You first.” He walked her out into the hall, the door shutting behind them.

I slid my cell phone from my pocket, but I still hadn’t heard from Colin. I was surprised he hadn’t even texted me once, if nothing else to check on Paige. Not to mention something like me finding our dead boss in his office was gossip too juicy to pass up. Even for him. I texted him quickly.
Where are you?
The young officer cleared his throat and shook his head in my direction.

I gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

After a few minutes, Rachel came back in and the detective waved me to follow him into the hallway. As I passed her desk, she snagged my wrist. “He smells scrumptious.”

I chuckled and then bit my lip when the man in question frowned at me.

“This way.” He motioned to a set of chairs smack-dab in the middle of the hall. When I sat, he poised his pen over his notebook. “Your name?” His voice echoed softly in the empty hallway.

It was eerily quiet in the middle of a school day with no students in attendance.

When I didn’t answer right away, the detective cleared his throat.

“Oh, sorry. Celeste. Celeste Eagan.”

His gaze snapped up to mine. A quick frown pulled those heavy eyebrows down once again. But just as quickly, he masked any emotion and wrote down my name. He glanced back up, his icy blue eyes a tad bit unnerving as he stared directly at me. “You’re the one who called it in? They told me you’d left.”

I shook my head. “I came back to my office because my daughter was here.”

“Was? You sent her home?” I nodded and he continued. “Was she with you?”

“When I found...um...went into the principal’s office, yes, but she didn’t see anything. I made sure.” Gaw, the therapy that would have followed that—for me. I had a feeling my little analytical munchkin would probably have found it fascinating, hence therapy for me.

“Can you tell me how things transpired this morning?”

This morning. Hmm. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and thought through my morning. “I woke up at six and—”

He shook his head. “Just from when you got to the school.”

“Oh, sure.” I nodded and described parking, walking into the building and on into Chad’s office all the way up to the point where the paramedics were sticking smelling salts under Kelsey’s nose—all the while I was stuck in the small office with Chad’s body only a few feet from me. I’d tried to look anywhere and everywhere that wasn’t at the man. I practically had my eyes glued to the top of his desk to keep from seeing more than I wanted. I frowned. I don’t know why it didn’t register sooner, but there’d been a notepad atop the blotter. It had Colin’s name hastily scribbled down in Chad’s scratchy penmanship.

The detective cleared his throat. “And you teach?” he asked, breaking into my thoughts.

“Theater.”

“How well did you know Chad Jones?”

“About as well as any other teacher and principal, I suppose. I’ve worked here with him for years.”

“And when was the last time you saw him?”

I shrugged. “Yesterday right after school, I guess.”

“You guess? You’re not sure?”

Very strange questions for suicide. “I honestly don’t remember. I see him several times a day, at one time or another, so I just can’t say for sure when or where it was.”

He jotted down a few more notes in his little notebook. “Do you happen to know a Colin Eagan?”

“Yes, he’s a football coach here. And my ex-husband.” I twisted my hands in my lap. Had the detective seen Colin’s name there? What did it mean? What did
he
think it means? “Is something wrong with him?”

“Why would you ask that?”

Thinking of my father, who was suspicious of everyone, I tried to relax my shoulders and hold the detective’s gaze. I didn’t want to put anything on his radar that wasn’t already there, but my not being able to connect with Colin was making me even more anxious. “No reason. I just don’t understand why you’re asking these questions.”

Detective Muldoon narrowed his eyes. “I wanted to ask Coach Eagan a few questions. And I can’t seem to be able to get a hold of him.” The man shifted in his chair. “Or his girlfriend, Naomi Michaels.”

“Oh, I uh, I haven’t spoken with them this morning.” I tried not to squirm.

“When was the last time you spoke with either of them?”

“Naomi and I don’t really speak. The whole dating my ex makes for an awkward conversation.” I smiled and tried to lighten the mood, but the man and his blank stare didn’t waver. “Colin was over last night. Around eight.”

“Do you often visit with your ex-husband at night?”

My shoulders stiffened. “I beg your pardon, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Or has anything to do with—” I waved my hand in the direction of Chad’s office “—anything.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have a number where I can reach Mr. Eagan, would you?”

I debated telling him I didn’t know the number, but he had to know I do—no point in giving the man a reason to distrust
me
. And all he would have to do was get the school directory. I rattled off Colin’s cell number and his home number.

Detective Muldoon flipped his little notebook shut and stood. “Okay, thank you.”

I stood and hurried back to the office.

“Mrs. Eagan.” Detective Muldoon walked over to me, holding out a card. “If you talk to your ex, please tell him I’d like to speak with him.”

As I leaned forward for the card, I remembered what Rachel said and took in a deep breath. Sure as shooting, the man smelled of musk, cinnamon and coffee—oh so enticing. To a coffee junkie like myself, you could almost taste the heavenly mixture. I fought to keep from closing my eyes and sniffing again and again.

I realized he was staring at me strangely. I needed to back out of my olfactory orgasm and let the man get back to work. “Yes, sir, Officer.” I gave him a quick salute.

“Detective,” he quickly corrected me.

I knew that. But he made me nervous. “Oh. Sorry. Detective.”

I held onto his card and sat back at my desk, a little stunned by the whole finding a dead body and being questioned by a police detective then wantonly smelling him. As soon as he left with Holly, Rachel pulled her chair beside mine. “What did he ask you?”

“What happened when I found Chad.” I didn’t see any reason to tell her about the questions involving Colin.

She shook her head slowly. “You okay?”

I pasted on a weak smile. “Yeah, sure.” No not really, but what was I going to do? Fall apart? I was, however, more concerned with Colin’s absence than Chad’s death. Did that make me a bad person? Worse, did I care?

Rachel settled back against her chair and fluffed up her hair. Her brunette eyebrow arched up. She glanced over at the young officer standing in front of the door. “Officer...” She unfolded her thin five-foot-ten body and stood facing the man.

“Starnes,” the young man squeaked.

“Officer Starnes, I’m a little confused by all the questions. I didn’t realize they sent a detective out to question people when there was a suicide.”

Officer Starnes swallowed heavily. “It’s standard procedure.” He looked over his shoulder at the closed door and lowered his voice. “When the suicide looks questionable.”

Questionable?
“You think it’s not suicide?”

The young officer blushed. “I’m not given all the details.” He returned to his rigid sentry stance.

All of a sudden the questions about Colin scared the ever-loving crap out of me. What had he gotten into? The need to find him grew a little more than urgent. I drummed my fingers on the desktop. “Excuse me, how much longer do you think we’ll be detained here?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. That’s not my call. Detective Muldoon is in charge of the investigation. I can ask him if you’d like—”

“Oh no, no. That’s okay.” Once again I tried texting Colin.
We need to talk. Now!

Chapter Two

An announcement came over the PA. We were to report to the auditorium ASAP. Rachel looked at me and shrugged as we grabbed our bags. It was getting close to the end of the school day—technically. With no kids in attendance it was all up in the air, and we were all still pretty much in the dark as to what was going on. Sure, I didn’t think Chad would have hung himself, but murder...in our school was just too unconceivable. But the way they were questioning people... I shuddered every time I thought about it.

Colin had yet to get in touch. I’d surreptitiously called Levi to see if maybe Colin’d tried to check in with Paige, but no such luck. The man, and his skank, were nowhere to be found and with the questions of one Detective Muldoon, the pit of my stomach rolled worse than when Paige talked me onto a roller coaster at Six Flags.

The teachers and staff trudged down the hall with excited, whispered tones like the kids did on assembly day. If it weren’t for the death of our colleague and the MIA of my ex, I might have laughed at it all. In the auditorium, Holly, Rachel and I took seats in the back. The new gardener, Danny something-or-other, sat one row in front of us and the entire coaching staff sans Colin in front of him. Several uniformed police officers and campus security along with Detective Muldoon watched us all as we situated ourselves.

Phil Bellmore, the head of the athletic department, turned to me. “Where is he?” he mouthed.

I held up my hands in uncertainty and shook my head. It was one thing for Colin not to return my calls. We could go days without talking to one another when we were between Paige visits, but not to talk to Phil, his immediate boss, on a day when he was a no show... Especially when that day held a suspicious death at our school...

Colin would have a lot to answer for when I got a hold of him. It was easier to work on being pissed than to continue to worry at his absence.

I caught Detective Muldoon watching me. Me. No one else. He wasn’t scrutinizing any other Peytonville Prep employees but kept his eyes glued in my direction. I had to tear my gaze from him to keep from getting a full-on case of the squirms.

Vice Principal Mark Hardin stood up on the edge of the stage. “People. People. Quiet down, please.” The low roar of the room calmed. “As you all have probably heard by now, we’ve lost one of our own. Principal Chad Jones is no longer with us.”

“Interesting choice of words.” Rachel nudged my arm and mumbled, “It’s not like the man took a job at another school.”

“I know that you’ve all been questioned. The Peytonville Police Department has promised to expedite their investigation as quickly as possible, but in light of the...” He cleared his throat. “In light of the turn of events since their arrival, the board and I feel it is imperative to shut down the school for a week so they have time to complete a thorough investigation. We will resume classes next Tuesday assuming the police have released the offices to us by then.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Detective Muldoon give a slight nod to the vice principal then return his gaze back to mine. Not unnerving at all. Nope.

A titter of comments floated through the teachers. No one outwardly cheered. A man had died after all. But several smiles broke through the crowd. Per our new contracts, any unscheduled school closures not precipitated by inclement weather or medical outbreak—I was one of the committee members that helped institute the policy—were a paid-in-full leave. It had been touted as a way to boost morale, without the board of trustees actually having to pay out. I mean really, what were the chances of the school closing that had nothing to do with a flu outbreak or Texas’s icy roads?

Vice Principal Hardin fiddled with the podium mic. “Also, I’d like to introduce you to the lead detective, who happens to be a Peytonville Prep alumnus.” The vice principal’s circumspect smile morphed into wide grin. “Detective Shaw Muldoon has a few things he’d like to address.”

Alumnus? Hmm. Did he know Colin? Was that what all the strange looks were about? He could be about the same age. It was so hard to tell with men. A few lines around their eyes gave them character. A few gray hairs added to the sexy allure. But that could put him anywhere between twenty-five and sixty. My own father was completely gray by the time he was thirty, but Levi, at forty-three, could fool most anyone that he was twenty years younger.

I racked my brain trying to remember classmates Colin had spoken of over the years. No one outwardly came to mind. I shook myself from a mental perusal of his yearbook as the detective started to speak.

“The Peytonville Police Department appreciates your patience in our investigation.”

Now that I thought there might be some history in his behavior toward me, I paid closer attention to him as he spoke. He had a calm, almost soothing demeanor. His voice was smooth with a deep timbre. I could see how he might cajole a confession out of a criminal.

“As you know, we have questioned the staff here, but if anyone thinks of anything they’d like to share—” his gaze zeroed in on me again “—please don’t hesitate to call us. Mr. Hardin has also provided my department with the staff directory and if need be we may be in contact.”

It’s not a threat. He’s just doing his job.
Still, I tried not to squirm. I’d done absolutely nothing wrong, but his scrutiny made me want to confess to any and everything just to get his ice-blue gaze to look away.

Danny shifted loudly in his seat and pulled my attention away from the stage. He tugged at his collar. Coach Bellmore adjusted his ball cap and huffed. Rachel pulled out her compact and put on lipstick.

“What are you doing?”

Rachel dabbed her red lips on a tissue. “I want to talk with the hunky detective before I leave.”

“Because?”

She shrugged. “He’s single.”

“And you know this how?”

“I was on the reunion committee. I thought I’d recognized his name, but wasn’t sure until Mark said he was an alumnus.”

I frowned and glanced up at the detective—at least he was looking at someone else for a change. “He wasn’t at the reunion.” Colin’s twentieth class reunion had been this previous summer. I’d somehow got roped into going with him since Naomi was out of town. I’d been to the fifth and tenth as well. Never once do I remember seeing Detective Muldoon there. He wasn’t the kind of man you could miss even in a crowded room.

“He’d declined. But he’d sent in his bio to be included in the program.”

“And out of the two hundred plus students from the 1996 graduating class you remember him.”

“Don’t be silly.” She dropped her lipstick back in her purse and hoisted her boobs skyward. “I memorized
all
the single men.”

I scoffed. So loud in fact, every eye in the room turned to me. Lips pressed together in a tight smile, I gave a little wave and a nod. “Yes, I’m a moron,” I mumbled. “Knock yourself out, hon.”

While Rachel kept the “hunky detective” otherwise occupied, I hurried out of the school. I called Colin’s cell five or six times on the drive to Levi’s house. I could call Colin’s mother to see if or when she’d last spoken to him, but honestly, if I didn’t have to speak to her yet, all the better. Colin and I might have parted on amicable terms, but his momma held a grudge against anyone who divorced her son. Being that I was the only one to hold that esteemed distinction, she had a lot of undivided energy to focus in my direction.

At Levi’s, on the furthermost edge of Peytonville, I let myself into the 1950s ranch-style house. Levi had been flipping homes in Peytonville for close to three years. When he’d bought this home, he’d fallen in love with it immediately and instead of putting it on the market after his remodel, he put his two-bedroom condo in Dallas up for a sizable profit.

He and Paige were sitting at the kitchen table playing Battleship when I walked through the house.

“Hey, kiddo.”

Paige glanced up at me, straightened her glasses on her nose and sank Levi’s carrier. “What did they determine?”

“They?”

“The school board.” She shifted in her seat and settled her hands in her lap. “They’re going to close the school down for a few days. Yes?”

“You scare me, hon.” I dropped my bag and pulled out another chair at the table. Levi handed me a cup of coffee and set a plate of double-fudge brownies on the table. “You’re a life saver.” I took a quick sip of the dark-roasted nirvana, then turned to my daughter. “The school is closed until next week.” Paige stood and moved over to my side. I draped my arm around her waist and gave her a quick squeeze. “Tuesday, probably.”

“I figured as much.” She gave a solemn nod. “I had my project ready for Gateway to Technology.” She sighed. “Uncle Levi, may I go out back?”

Levi ruffled her hair. “You go right ahead.”

When Paige shut the sliding door behind her, Levi folded his hands on top of the table and leaned in. “Spill.”

I hugged my hands around the warmth of the coffee mug. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“The beginning is always my favorite.”

“Funny.” I rolled my eyes at him. After another sip of the coffee, I gave him a rundown of everything that’d happened since I arrived at school that morning. “I’ve been calling Colin all day. He hasn’t returned any of my calls. The detective wants to speak with him. And Naomi.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea. But there was a notepad on the desk with his name on it.”

“You don’t think...”

“That Colin drove him to it? Not likely. The two were butting heads on only one issue that I know of and as far as I can tell, Chad was winning that argument.”

I picked up a brownie and pointed it at him. “We won’t know ’til we get ahold of Colin.” I took a bite and the let the warm chocolate soothe my frayed nerves. A decadent, mooshy brownie was the best stress reliever. Ever. I plopped the rest in my mouth and snagged another. Once I’d washed it down with a little coffee, I asked, “Can you watch Paige a little longer? I want to run over to Colin’s house and see if I can figure out what the hell is going on.”

“Not a problem.” Levi picked at the edges of his own brownie. “It’s weird that he’d be MIA today of all days. You never know, he could have... Are you getting paid during the closure?”

I squinted at Levi. Around a huge bite of brownie I asked, “What?”

He slanted his head toward Paige coming in through the door.

“Um, yes.” I swallowed. “We do get paid. Hey, hon, do you have a key to Daddy’s house with you?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I want to run over there and...” I wasn’t good at lying to my child. The ten-year-old Mensa candidate saw through any attempts to fudge the truth. Still, I didn’t want to alarm Paige with speculation—and up to this point it wasn’t even
my
speculation. More of an inference from a police detective. And maybe Levi. “I just do. Please?”

“Okay.” She dug through her bag next to the table. “But if you get caught snooping—”

“I’m not going to snoop.” Exactly.

“—please tell him you stole the key or something.” She held the key aloft. “Naomi made Colin promise you would never get your hands on his keys again.”

* * *

Just for hospitality’s sake, I knocked and rang the bell—eight or nine times. If he was home and I was interrupting something...good. Not wanting me to get my hands on my ex’s keys indeed. I could still hear Levi’s laughter followed by a hearty, “Bitch says what?”

Did Naomi think I was going to use the keys for a nefarious purpose? Maybe try to seduce Colin and beg him to take me back? Ha! Sorry, but too many years of frustration to count to do all over again. No, thanks.

Try to convince the man to grow up was more like it. Unless it affected Paige, I had little-to-no comment where Colin Eagan was concerned.

I knocked again. When no irate girlfriend came flouncing to the door, I tucked the key into the lock and let myself in. “Hello?” I shut the door behind me. “Anyone home? Colin?”

The living room looked as it always did when I came over to pick up Paige. Nothing out of place as far as I could tell. The kitchen, same story. Even though Colin had moved into the modest two-bedroom townhome right after our divorce, I’d never seen more than the front two rooms—why would I?

“Colin, it’s Celeste. Are you here?” I paused to listen but other than my own breathing, which I have to admit was a little more rapid than normal—it wasn’t every day I walked uninvited through my ex’s home—I heard not one peep throughout the house.

I took one tentative step into the hallway and about leaped off the floor when my hip vibrated. My cell. I tugged it from my pocket. Levi’s home number lit the screen. “‘Lo?”

“Are you in?” His deep voice rumbled in my ear. “Anything?”

“The house was locked up tight.” Despite being alone in the house, I lowered my voice to just above a whisper. “So far, I can see he picks up after himself better here than he did when he lived with me.”

“I told you, you babied him too much. Leave his shit on the floor and it will find its way to the proper places.”

“I am so glad I have friends that don’t say ‘I told you so’ over and over and
over
...” I kept going down the hall. First door on the right, bathroom. Empty. Second door, Paige’s bedroom. The only homage to her youth was her obsession with Justin Bieber. His posters adorned all four walls here and at our home. Anytime I bought a new poster or trinket with his face plastered on it, I had to be sure and buy two, so she had one for each parent’s house. A shirtless visage of him hung from the key in my hand.

“Talk to me, sweets.”

“Bathroom and Paige’s room are clear.” My heart pounded. “Other bedroom.” My hand paused over the knob. For Paige’s sake I could do this. I could.

“And...”

The cold metal tingled my palm. “Turning.” I opened the door and...”Oh my gawd. You have got to be kidding me.”

“What? What is it?”

“Mother fu—” I huffed out a disgruntled sigh. “You know that bedroom set I have been eyeing at Pottery Barn for like a year now? He has it.” I slapped my hand to my thigh and couldn’t take my eyes off the mahogany-stained wood.

“Not the Valencia sleigh bed.”