Night Watch

by Susan Sleeman

  Erik shot his brother a look. “Where did you find it?”

  “In the lining of Wanda’s purse,” Clay said. “It was lodged up against the cardboard bottom, and it freed up when I shook the purse upside down.”

  Erik’s jaw clenched. “I should’ve done that.”

  Kennedy was totally lost. “What is it?”

  “A tracker,” Erik said. “They’re often put on keychains and other items that might get lost. But an unscrupulous person could put one in a purse or bag and track another person without them knowing about it.”

  “Couldn’t she just have bought one to keep track of her purse?” Aiden asked.

  “As I said before, she wasn’t into technology,” Kennedy said. “And if she put it in there, why hide it in the lining of her own purse?”

  “Someone was tracking her,” Clay stated.

  “Can you trace trackers like this back to the owner?” Aiden asked.

  “Perhaps,” Erik said. “With access to Tile’s records, we could figure out who’s following it. The thing is, without a warrant, we would have no luck in accessing those records. Plus, I’d guess a bogus email account was set up for this item, and even with Tile’s records, we won’t find who put it there.”

  “But you’ll try?” Kennedy asked.

  “Of course. And because this was in your mother’s purse, it’s possible there’s one in yours. We should check.”

  “Mine?” Her heart dropped. “But when could he have put something in my stuff?”

  She could almost see the thoughts pinging through Erik’s head, and he grimaced. “While you were sleeping. Working in the lab concentrating so fiercely you didn’t see him enter the waiting area. Anywhere in public that he could brush up against you or access your purse. Maybe even at your mom’s funeral.”

  Her stomach clenched. “And that’s how he knew where we were.”

  Erik nodded. “Probably. And if he was nearby, he would’ve had plenty of time to set up for the shooting.”

  “I doubt it would be in my purse. I brought it to my mom’s place, and the tracker would have placed me there. If he’d known I was there, he wouldn’t have broken in.”

  “If the person who’s using the tracker is the same person behind the break-in,” Drake pointed out.

  “For the moment, let’s assume it is,” Erik said.

  “Then let’s check my backpack. I usually shove my purse in it and carry both with me, but I left my pack in the lab the night the intruder broke in.” Heart thumping, Kennedy jumped up and hurried across the room to grab her backpack. She dumped the contents onto the table and combed through the items. “Nothing here.”

  “What about the zipper pockets?” Erik asked.

  She slid them open one by one, taking far longer to do so than normal, as she had to use her left hand. Her pulse raced, and she fumbled even more. Erik looked like he wanted to take the pack from her, but if someone was tracking her, she wanted to see it for herself.

  In the smallest of pockets, one she never used, she felt an object about the right size. No.

  She looked up at the brothers, who were all watching. Waiting. She pulled her hand free then unfurled it to display the tracker on her palm.

  Erik’s sharp intake of air said it all.

  Someone had been tracking her movements, and she had no idea who or for how long.

  The office door opened, grabbing Kennedy’s attention from the worried brothers’ faces and from the deathly silence in the room.

  Sierra walked in, shoving her hands into the pockets of her lab coat and running her gaze over the group. “What’s with all the tension?”

  “We took fire from a machine gun near Nora’s house.” Erik’s words were flat, as if his life hadn’t been on the line. “And we just learned someone was tracking Wanda and Kennedy.”

  Her gaze swung from face to face. “Everyone okay?”

  “We’re fine but you should see the SUV.” Aiden tsked.

  “Thanks to your planning ahead, we are fine.” Erik peered at his brother. “Thanks for saving our lives, bro. I can never repay you.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Kennedy added.

  Aiden’s eyes narrowed, but he gave a firm nod. “Going forward, we need to assume this attack wasn’t only meant for Kennedy.”

  “How so?” Sierra perched on a chair.

  “I figure if the guy was looking for something at Wanda’s place and thought Kennedy wouldn’t be there because her tracker was displaying at the lab, that he didn’t intend to harm Kennedy. He could be thinking Kennedy saw him. Erik did too. So he must think you can ID him.”

  “Which means you’re now a protectee as well,” Clay said.

  “What?” Erik snapped his chair forward. “What? No. You aren’t going to lock me up here. I have an investigation to work.”

  “We can handle it,” Drake said calmly, but his hands were tightly clasped on the arms of the chair.

  “No.” Erik shook his head. “No. No way.”

  “All I’m suggesting,” Clay said, “is that we do a risk assessment before you leave the building, just like we’d do for Kennedy. Then take proper precautions.”

  “It’s going to be more of a challenge since we’re now down to one SUV,” Drake added. “Or at least I assume we are.”

  “I’ll put up a picture of the damage for you.” Erik tapped his phone, and an image of the bullet-riddled SUV filled the TV mounted on the wall.

  Sierra gasped.

  “Whoa.” Brendan leaned forward. “Amazing that it held.”

  “It would still probably be useable, if we could see out the windows.” Erik changed the picture to another view, this one of the windshield.

  Sierra lurched to her feet and hugged Aiden. “I thought you were mad for spending so much money on those SUVs. You were very wise.”

  “As usual.” He grinned over her shoulder.

  She eased free and swatted at him, then turned to hug Erik. “I’m glad you’re fine.”

  “Don’t worry so much,” Erik said, but his voice cracked.

  “I can’t help it when you guys all decide to work in professions where guns are needed.” She moved on to Kennedy and leaned down to envelope her in strong arms.

  The hug was warm and sincere, but instead of relishing it, Kennedy felt like a fraud in this tight-knit family. She wanted to be part of the group again, but she had no right. Would never have the right.

  She pushed free and smiled up at Sierra. “Thank you.”

  “Of course. You’re one of us again.” She gave Erik a pointed look before addressing the group. “I just dropped by to tell you about the evidence before I turn it over to Johnson.”

  “Won’t that get you into trouble?” Kennedy asked.

  “I haven’t gotten his signed contract yet, so I’m walking a fine line.” Sierra wrinkled her nose. “All but one set of the prints I processed matched Kennedy, Finley, or the prints I believe are Wanda’s, due to the quantity and locations.”

  Erik eyed his sister. “Only one set?”

  “Yes, which is kind of odd, unless Wanda didn’t have visitors.”

  “She only lived there for about a year and wasn’t a social person,” Kennedy said.

  “Still, I would expect a print or two from the former occupant,” Sierra said. “Unless your mother fastidiously cleaned the house before moving in.”

  “She was a neat freak, so it wouldn’t surprise me.” Kennedy couldn’t stem the smile at the images arriving in her brain. “Not only did I see it growing up, but I worked with her in the lab long enough to know the lengths she took it to.”

  Erik nodded at the evidence bag. “I want that back after you print it.”

  “Won’t take long.” Sierra took a small plastic evidence bag from her pocket and scooped the tile tracker into it.

  “You know most sisters carry tissues or lipstick in their pockets, but not ours,” Drake said.

  “Have evidence bag, will travel. That’s my motto.” Sierra reached into
the other pocket to pull out a small container. “And maybe a pacifier for good measure.”

  They all laughed, and Kennedy didn’t know how they managed it, but it had to be a defense mechanism so they didn’t burn out.

  “The hair you recovered at Wanda’s place is a good lead, though, right?” Brendan asked.

  “It definitely isn’t a match to any of the people we’d expect to be at the house,” Sierra said. “But again, it’s odd that there weren’t more unidentified prints.”

  “Are you thinking the home was wiped down to eliminate prints?”

  “Yeah. Maybe. Sure.” She shoved the evidence bag into her pocket. “I lifted a large number of them, but not for the size of the space. So if Wanda was murdered by someone she knew, maybe the killer visited her house in the past. Then went back to wipe down things he or she touched. But keep in mind that they’d have to know what they were doing or I could still have found remnants of the prints.”

  “Or he wore gloves,” Drake said.

  “He didn’t the night I saw him,” Kennedy said. “So seems like he wouldn’t have when he visited her.”

  “We might never know what happened.” Sierra planted her hands on her waist. “There were two different prints on the phone I found upstairs. One is Wanda’s and the other one doesn’t match the one I found by the drawer. So now we have two unknown prints.”

  “That’s my mom’s phone,” Kennedy said. “So the one print matching hers makes sense.”

  “We need to get Nora’s prints,” Erik stated. “See if it matches the unknown one.”

  “Get her in here, and I’ll handle it,” Sierra said.

  “She already said she wouldn’t come in unless the police requested it,” Kennedy said.

  “If that changes, I’ll be here for you,” Sierra said. “That’s it for me, except I should tell you I’m also going to examine the hair by microscopy, but that will take some time to produce helpful information.”

  “And what will that tell us?” Erik asked.

  “It can help establish whether the hair is diseased, was forcibly removed, or was treated with hair dye or another artificial substance. When we have the suspect in custody, I can compare a hair sample from the suspect and this one next to determine if they share similar characteristics and came from the same person.”

  “I am so thankful for your advanced skills,” Kennedy said.

  “Glad someone in the room appreciates it.” Sierra grinned at her brothers. “That’s all I have for now. I assume you’ll suggest that they let Grady evaluate the bullet and casings used in the assault.”

  “Grady?” Kennedy asked.

  “He’s our ballistic expert,” Sierra replied. “No way PPB has the abilities to do the same work. They’d have to send the bullets and casings recovered at the scene to the state police. Grady will get the information faster.”

  “What about the apartment where the shooter took his stand?” Drake looked at Erik. “Think we can have a look at it or get Sierra in there to process it?”

  “Doubtful,” Aiden said. “I called it in and was already warned to stand clear. I’m expecting a call back from the detective who caught the case. A Brynn Frost. Though I think they’ll likely decide it’s all related to the lab scare, and the task force will take over.”

  “Not if we get there before they do.” Erik stood. “We’ll head over there and persuade Frost to give us access to the scene. She’s fair and impartial, so I think we have a shot.”

  “As the family mediator and resident smooth-talker, you’re the guy to do it.” Aiden grinned.

  Erik was quite the charmer. Kennedy had fallen for him the first time they’d met. He was smooth but not slick and insincere. If any of the brothers could do this, he could, but that didn’t mean he should go back to the crime scene. “Won’t it be dangerous? The shooter could be there.”

  “I doubt he’s anywhere in the area, considering the police presence such a shooting will bring.” Erik held her gaze. “Of course, I can’t let you come along.”

  “Don’t worry,” Kennedy said, the memory of the shooting flashing in vivid colors in her brain. “I wasn’t even going to ask.”

  15

  Despite Erik’s assurances to Kennedy, the brothers were still vigilant as they arrived at the drugstore where the shooting had occurred. Yellow tape fluttering in the soft evening breeze circled the property and closed off the usually busy thoroughfare in both directions. Bullets littered the pavement, shocking Erik at the number that had been fired.

  He scanned the onlookers. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he got out of the SUV to join Aiden, Grady, and Sierra. She’d insisted on coming along after she fed Asher.

  Brynn Frost stood near the perimeter of the large scene with other bullet-ridden vehicles parked where the drivers had stopped. She spun to look at the team as they approached.

  Erik tried not to look formidable, but his days as a patrol cop left him with a certain swagger that he’d never lost. He’d worked with Frost before, and at one point, she’d thanked him for being one of the few single patrol officers who didn’t hit on her. Little did she know he’d thought about it. She was an attractive woman, but with his trust issues, he didn’t think there was any point.

  “Detective Frost,” he called out and waved. “Erik Byrd. One of the intended victims in this incident.”

  Her big eyes widened, and recognition flashed on her face. She wore black slacks with a white blouse open at the collar that fit her trim figure well. She crossed the pavement and stuck out her hand to Erik.

  “Good to you see you again, Officer… er, Mr. Byrd.”

  He shook her hand, not surprised at all by her firm grip. “Just Erik.”

  “I was surprised to learn you’d left the force, but then I heard it was for your brother’s health. Admirable.”

  “I’m the brother in question.” Aiden offered his hand. “Aiden Byrd.”

  As she shook hands with Aiden, Erik introduced the others.

  She gave them a tight smile. “Not sure why you brought your forensics team along.”

  “We wanted to offer our services for no charge,” Sierra said.

  Frost tilted her head, her bluntly cut hair swishing over her shoulder. “Why would you want to do that?”

  Sierra stepped forward, her shoulders back, her expression like their mother’s when she was determined, and Erik almost felt sorry for Frost. “Because I’m also a Byrd, and someone tried to kill my brothers. I need to do everything I can to make sure the shooter is found.”

  “And because we have better facilities to process the evidence than your local lab.” Grady held up a hand. “And before you think I’m insulting your criminalists, I’m not. I’m just stating a fact.”

  Frost eyed him. He’d seen the look before as she examined crime scenes. “So you really did leave, didn’t you?”

  “Is that a problem? I know some officers don’t like dealing with those of us who go out on our own.”

  “Not for me. Not at all. And I’d be glad for the expertise you’re offering, but I can’t authorize the Veritas Center’s services even if they are free.”

  “But your LT can, right?” Erik knew her lieutenant would be the one to make the call. “Would you ask? Then my brother and I can give our statements from the shootings while these guys get to work.”

  She ran her gaze over all of them again, and Erik was sure she was going to say no.

  He couldn’t let that happen. “I’m not at liberty to say why, but this investigation is going to become top priority for your department.” He was thankful that he was told not to mention the potential anthrax to anyone else. If he did, she would immediately call the task force, and he’d have no hope of getting a look at the scene, much less processing it. “A proactive response that could get you noticed for all the right reasons. Could be a career maker.”

  “And you can’t say why?”

  “Sorry. No.”

  She watched him for a long time. His form
er officer days told him she was running all the information she possessed through her filter before acting. Officers did that most every minute of their shifts, though their decisions could often be life-threatening, whereas on a case that was bound to be high-profile, hers could simply be career suicide.

  “Fine.” She rested her hands on her waist. “Wait here. I’ll give him a call.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t repay me by trying to force your way onto the scene.”

  “I wouldn’t do that,” Erik said.

  “Yes, you would. We all would.” She walked across the road, digging out her phone. She stopped just down the street from the drugstore that was an old-fashioned pharmacy with a soda fountain.

  The two-story building was a drab beige stucco. Big picture windows held old-fashioned advertising signs, and the customers and staff were staring out the windows. But what Erik really cared about was the open window above where their shooter had taken a stand and fired off more bullets than Erik could count.

  Grady stared up there too. “If you guys didn’t have the bulletproofing, you’d all be toast.”

  Sierra jabbed him. “Do you always have to be so blunt?”

  “Sorry, but it’s true. From that range, he would’ve taken everyone out.”

  Erik spun to face him. “Don’t let me catch you mentioning that to Kennedy. She doesn’t need to hear that.”

  “No worries. I can be discreet.”

  Sierra snorted. “At least you can try.”

  “So if we assume the shooter hunkered down behind the open window, while we wait, we could take a walk to find the apartment entrance.”

  “What part of ‘wait here’ don’t you get?” Erik asked.

  “She meant the crime scene,” Aiden said. “We’re free to roam anywhere we want outside of it.”

  “I agree,” Grady said.

  Erik looked at the pair. “We don’t want to risk making her mad or she could change her mind.”

  Grady shook his head. “When did you become so obedient?”