Eying Katie suspiciously and noticing the dirt smeared across her jacket, he asked, “You okay?”
“Yeah, just my pride is suffering right now.” She laughed softly, brushing the dust off her jeans and jacket.
“You think that was the guy that has been following you and leaving messages?”
“Yeah.”
“Think he’s the killer?”
“No.”
“You seem sure about that,” McGaven said.
“He had several opportunities to kill me and he didn’t. He seemed curious as to what I’m doing more than trying to figure out how to kill me.”
They walked back to the cars with Cisco trotting behind them.
“You know what I think?” she finally said. “I think we’re right where we need to be. We know that all the women have some things in common—we have the forensic evidence. Everything circles back to the locations—all the locations—the hospital, the crime scene, and the abandoned house. It’s where we’re going to find the missing puzzle pieces.”
Fifty-Three
Monday 0945 hours
“This is that part of being a detective that they refer to as ninety percent desk work as opposed to the ten percent getting your butt out of the chair work,” sighed McGaven.
“So they say. Need some help?” she asked as she read through the reports for Emily Day’s death. There was no need to visit the medical examiner in person—no use seeing the remains of the poor woman if everything was in the report.
“No. I’m still running backgrounds on the suspects. It’s been slow, the system is not cooperating again.”
Both detectives remained quiet, lost in their own mountain of paperwork.
Katie quickly outlined the investigation’s progress report for the previous week that would be forwarded to the sheriff—she had been keeping thorough notes. She was surprised that her uncle hadn’t been hovering about complaining that she was taking too many chances or not getting enough sleep. Though he should know better than anyone that a detective on an active homicide rarely got enough sleep.
The internal office phone rang.
Katie picked it up. “Detective Scott.”
“Hey, Katie, I’m surprised I caught you in your office,” said Denise.
“We’re both here doing paperwork.”
“Yuck.”
“My sentiments exactly. What’s up?”
“I have an active address for James Haines. The person he’s staying with is Nadine McMillian. She’s the one on the apartment rental paperwork. According to various sources and the rental management company, they have been seen together on a regular basis.”
Katie was excited that something had broken in her investigations into the whereabouts of Nick’s brother and she hoped that the brothers could reconnect their bond. “You are nothing less than amazing—lunch on me next week. Thank you so much.”
“Maybe a double date for dinner? I want to meet that handsome firefighter of yours.”
“Uh, of course,” Katie said, realizing that she hadn’t returned Chad’s calls again after the uncomfortable dinner with Nick.
“I’ll text the address to you. Be safe,” she said and hung up.
Katie slowly hung up the phone.
“What did she find?” McGaven asked with some excitement to his voice.
“An address for me,” she slowly said. “It’s for a friend, some personal business.” She got up from her chair, searching for her keys. “I’m going to have to run out for about an hour and half. You okay?”
“Of course. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“McGaven, you’re a funny guy. Call or text me if anything comes in from forensics or you find something that hits from your background checks… I mean anything. Got it?”
He made a silly salute gesture. “You got it, Detective.”
“I’m going to have to teach you how to salute properly, the army way,” she said as she dashed from the office and hurried out of the sheriff’s department building.
After Katie got into the car, she punched in the address coordinates on the GPS for James Haines. She drove as fast as she dared to try to catch him at home. She thought about calling first but decided that might work against her if he didn’t want anything to do with his brother.
As she drove, she reflected on the fact that she didn’t know what it was like to have a sibling, a brother or sister, someone as close as that where you share DNA. She often felt lonely, especially with her parents gone. Her Uncle Wayne was her rock and just as close as her parents had been to her, but she couldn’t help but experience a twinge of jealousy from people who had a sibling to confide in through the tough as well as the wonderful times.
Ever since she had come home from her two-tour in the army, Katie thought that she would be odd person out and that everyone would think she was different. Basically, she thought that she was destined to be alone. To her surprise, she had managed to engage with a work team of wonderful, supportive, and intelligent people. It was more than she thought she would ever be involved in—police patrol work can be extremely solitary even though you are part of an overall team—it was the nature of a subculture. But now with investigations, it was a whole new world to her.
Katie knew her personal life could really use some help, but she also knew that she was the only one responsible for keeping Chad at arm’s length. He was someone she had known her entire life—she couldn’t think of a time growing up that he wasn’t in it. The problem was that she was holding too tight to the reins of her army time, the belief that she somehow was different and didn’t deserve a happy, healthy and intimate civilian life. That was the crack in her mindset where her anxiety and depression seeped in.
She gritted her teeth, avoiding the truth about her psyche and how she needed to deal with these past issues head on. It was true that she needed someone objective to talk to—a therapist maybe. She didn’t know if she had the guts to pursue that avenue yet.
Her GPS alerted her that the street designated as the location for her destination was near. She snapped back to the present, unsure of the correct approach to take with Nick’s brother.
Katie saw the apartments consisting of six units, which were run-down and in desperate need of maintenance and repair. The tan paint peeled from around the windows and doors, highlighting the filthy glass. No front door mats or welcome signs inviting you to show up at the front door—just a few pieces of garbage that blew out of a nearby trash can across the weeds.
She slowly drove by and saw #4 that belonged to Nadine McMillian. It was difficult to ascertain if anyone was home or they were inside not wanting to be disturbed. There were frilly white curtains covering the front windows, which appeared to be the living room and kitchen areas. Katie deduced that the bedroom was most likely in the back away from the road.
Two vehicles were parked in two of the six parking places—one older model pickup truck and a small SUV. Katie drove ahead about a block before she decided to park. Even though it was a personal visit as a favor to Nick, she wasn’t going into a situation without being prepared. Not wanting to draw attention, she made sure her weapon and badge were out of sight underneath her jacket. She took another quick look at the photograph Nick had supplied of his brother, making sure that she was meeting up with the correct person. She also had a photocopied picture of Nadine who had long dark hair, and a serious expression, with dark brown eyes, and was age twenty-nine but she looked older.
With the images ingrained in her memory, Katie got out of her car and walked to the apartment complex. No cars had passed by and no voices filtered throughout the area. It was a ghost town.
She walked assertively toward apartment #4 and couldn’t shake the sense that there were eyes watching her. It was obvious that she wasn’t just an average person. She knew that she acted and looked like a cop—so she didn’t try to hide it.
Standing at the door, she knocked three times then took a step back so that she wasn’t right up in someone’s
personal space. There was no doorbell, so after waiting a while she rapped on the door once again. This time she heard movement and what sounded like hurried whispers.
Finally, a woman’s voice announced, “Who is it?”
“Katie Scott,” she said and hoped that would be enough for the woman to open the door.
“I don’t know you,” was the woman’s reply.
“Nadine?” Katie wanted to see if she indeed had the right location.
There was a pause and she heard a couple of locks disengage. Another brief moment before the door opened about two inches. Katie saw a pretty woman without makeup and resembling the photograph peer out. “What do you want?” She eyed Katie suspiciously, looking her up and down.
“Nadine?” she said again.
“Yes,” the woman replied hesitantly.
“My name is Katie Scott and I’m a close friend of Nick Haines. I’m looking for James Haines—his brother. This was the last known address for him.” She tried to sound casual and not come across like a cop or in some other official capacity.
“I… I don’t know any James Haines…” She was about to close the door.
Katie used her boot to stop the door from closing. “Please. I’m here to talk to him—just to talk to him about his brother.”
“I know nothing about brothers.” Her face clouded and she became angry. “Go away. Just go away!”
Katie heard a door slam from around back and she didn’t waste any more time talking to Nadine, she took off running and managed to make her way around the building dodging large trash items, overgrown weeds, and what was left of a retaining wall.
She saw a dark-haired man trying to put on a shirt running from the apartment.
“Hey! James. Stop!”
Katie scaled the crumbling wall of concrete blocks and various-sized smooth rocks. Slinging her leg over the last obstacle, she ran to meet up with him.
“Please stop!” she yelled again.
To her shock, the man turned around to face her and grabbed hold of her, practically lifting her off her feet. He performed a smooth move that Katie wasn’t prepared for as he turned her torso, causing her to fall back and land on her backside.
She knew the man was James Haines by his appearance, facial structure, and the fact that he looked just like Nick.
Recovering from the attack, Katie kicked his legs from under him. As he fell toward her, he grabbed her right arm, pinning it underneath her stomach. Somewhat out of breath, she worked her body to gain a better position. She felt like she was in self-defense class, so she went full throttle and used a wrestling move, garnering the upper hand by pinning him facedown holding his wrist up behind his back, her knee in his kidney.
“Sheriff’s department,” she said breathlessly. “I would suggest you stop moving if you’re smart. I’m here about your brother.”
“What?” he said, surprised, and tried to spin around to attack again.
“Can I trust you?” she asked, still holding his arm up behind him. She cinched it higher.
James yelled out, “Okay, okay.”
“Relax,” she insisted.
“Okay, okay,” he said, quieter.
Katie slowly released the grip and stood up, still not convinced that he wasn’t going to bolt or attack again.
He rolled over and sat up staring at her. “Where did you learn that?”
“Army.”
“Should have known.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“My big brother.”
Katie offered a hand to help him up. “That’s why I’m here.”
He got to his feet and said, “Has something happened to Nick?”
“Are you James Haines; your brother is Nick Haines?” She wanted to make sure, but the more she talked with James it was obvious, at least to her, that he was Nick’s brother. His voice inflection, slight southern accent, and even some of his mannerisms mimicked his brother.
“Yes.” He paused. “Are you going to arrest me?”
“For what?”
He looked down and didn’t respond.
“Look, I was asked by Nick to locate you—as a favor. Whatever you’ve done or whatever you think you’re in trouble for—it’s not my call or concern at this moment. Understand?”
“Then what do you want?”
Katie softened her tone. “It’s not what I want. Your brother has been honorably discharged from the army and he wants to reconnect—with family. From what I understand, it’s just the two of you.” She watched his response and sensed that he had some issues that had hurt him, perhaps deeply, but if there was love and hope for the two of them to reconnect—they each needed to reach out.
“I thought for sure he was a lifer. The army is his family, his life.” He looked away, not wanting to meet Katie’s gaze.
“You know, there are all kinds of families. And I swear as I’m standing here, Nick is more like family to me. Like a brother I never had. We went through a lot together over there and I don’t think I would’ve done two tours if it wasn’t for him. Believe me, he’s family. But you’re blood, and there’s nothing closer than that.” Katie was surprised at herself for being so open and forthright with someone she had never met before. Maybe it was because they shared someone or maybe it was because both of them were hurting—still hurting from the past.
James studied her for a moment. “So you’re a cop now?”
“Detective,” she said.
“Nick really asked you to find me?” he said with some disbelief.
“Look, I don’t know what caused your rift and why you two haven’t talked. But I do know Nick, and I think you owe it to him, and yourself, to meet and talk.” Katie took her business card from her pocket and handed it to James. “Think about it and give me a call. I know you’ll make the right choice. Okay?”
Taking the card, he said, “Thank you, Detective.”
“I know that Nick has had a hole in his life for not talking with you.”
He nodded and seemed to be lost in memories.
“Whatever you’re running from right now is not as bad as you think it is. There’s always a way to work it out. And it’s a lot easier with family on your side,” Katie said.
He nodded.
Nadine came out of the back door with a worried expression. She wore a loose dress but it was easy to see that she was pregnant.
“Everything is okay,” he said to her.
Katie watched the couple interact. It was clear that they were more than just a casual thing. “James, don’t forget what I said. From what I see, you have a family. Don’t let time or bad feelings let it slip away.”
The couple watched her walk away.
Katie reached her car just as her cell phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she was relieved that it hadn’t been crushed during the altercation.
“Detective Scott.”
“There’s a match,” McGaven stated with excitement to his voice.
“To what?” Katie felt goose bumps rise on her arms.
“There was a fingerprint match from IAFIS from your car to a First Memorial Hospital employee named Robert (Bobby) Sykes. And the best part, he’s a maintenance worker that cleans the surgery rooms and comes in contact on a regular basis with the chemicals found on all three victims. And… he was on our suspect list.”
“Do you know where he is now?”
“According to HR—he is on shift right now.”
“Pick him up. I’m on my way back now,” she said.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Fifty-Four
Monday 1205 hours
Katie drove at warp speed back to the sheriff’s department, a million questions running through her mind. Was this the person who was following her and writing notes? Was it the killer? Was this going to be the break in the case they were waiting for? She felt a surge of excitement.
After finding a parking place and turning the car off, before she exited Katie gathered her thoughts of ho
w she was going to proceed with the interview—it was her quiet time away from the department. She didn’t want to scare off Mr. Sykes, but she would press him as hard as she needed to get some answers. With some luck, he might just confess.
Someone tapped on her window, causing her to jump. She looked out her driver’s window to see Chad standing there.
He smiled and beckoned with his index finger for her to get out of the vehicle. Dressed in his work clothes for the fire department, he looked extremely handsome. She noticed that he had cut his hair shorter since the other night.
Opening the car door, Katie said, “Hi, how’d you know where to find me?”
“McGaven.”
“It’s good to see you. I’m sorry for not getting a hold of you.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re working that homicide. I wanted to stop by so you wouldn’t forget what I looked like.”
“That would be highly unlikely. But…”
“I know,” he said softly, squeezing her hand. “Maybe a drink later?”
“I have to interview a suspect right now. I don’t know how long that will be, and then I’m going home.”
“Okay.”
Katie moved toward the building. “It will be late. Can I call you on my way home?”
“Sure,” he said, and smiled, but it was clear he was a little disappointed.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” Katie said, then hesitated. There was so much she wanted to share with him and there was so much she wanted to say. The Haines brothers made her think about family and those people who were close to her—how precious life was, and the people who were in her life. She didn’t want to ruin the chance with Chad, because she knew that he wasn’t going to wait for her forever.
Fifty-Five
Monday 1300 hours
Katie and McGaven walked into the interrogation room not saying a word. Katie carried an electronic device, yellow steno notepad, and a pen. She had requested this particular room because it was the smallest and the lack of airflow made it smell like an old basement. Most detectives opted not to use it, but for some situations, it helped to push the person of interest into a confession.
Her Last Whisper: An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller (Detective Katie Scott Book 2) Page 22
