by Victoria Sue
“Just getting in the shower,” Maverick answered and waited to be grilled. Richards switched on the coffee maker.
“I’ll be going, then,” he said hesitantly.
Jamie’s smile was wide, and her eyes softened. “I’ll talk to you when you finish work.” He brightened a little, shook hands with Maverick, and left.
“You’re home?”
Jamie nodded. “I was giving him the impression it would be permanent, and while he’s a sweet guy, I’m not ready for that. Why? Am I in the way?” Jamie asked innocently.
Mav sighed, suddenly feeling about ten years old. “No,” he replied honestly. He’d never had any secrets around his big sister. “To be honest, I could do with some advice.”
Her eyes softened. “With the case or with your love life?”
He shot her an exasperated look.
“Well, you didn’t sleep downstairs last night because I checked.” She eyed him. “If Deacon is responsible for your current look, I like him already.”
“You’re gonna love him.” And she would. He relaxed a little.
“Why don’t you tell me what you’ve got so far, and we’ll put our heads together?”
Maverick got up and got his own coffee. He heard the shower turn off and knew Deacon would be down soon, so he poured a second one and grabbed the vanilla creamers.
He glanced up to see Jamie watching him with interest. “It’s not… I’m not—”
“It’s new, I get it,” she interrupted, and Maverick launched into an explanation of what had happened so far. He just got to them getting home to find the reporters when Deacon walked in and smiled shyly at Jamie and put out his hand.
She grinned and shook it. “Glad to see you’re keeping my brother out of trouble.” Deacon shot a surprised look at Maverick, but Mav simply pulled out the chair next to him.
“I’ve been bringing Jamie up to speed,” he told him, and he finished describing the calls he had gotten and his decision to try and track down some colleagues. He’d left a few messages last night, but Gazza and Pip were both deployed. He’d left a message with Troy—who, coincidentally, had been Charlie’s first lieutenant at one point—and he was waiting to hear back.
“I left messages with my friends, but Charlie offered if we need him.”
Jamie looked taken aback. “There’s no way Charlie’s sergeant will give the green light on that. Way too much a conflict of interest.”
Maverick shrugged. “Then maybe Troy will call back soon. He probably knows another couple of guys.”
“So do I,” Jamie said thoughtfully. “I spoke to Keith this morning, and while I would never put him in a difficult position by asking him to reveal anything that would cause him problems, he said the trouble was there was no evidence and no leads. There’s nothing forensically to link anyone. The accelerant was basic, but the fire pretty much destroyed everything.”
“Detective Phan did say that one of the similarities was the lack of a connection,” Deacon agreed.
“And he has a point. A crazy way to link the murders, but yes.”
“And me,” Deacon said in a small voice, and Mav reached out and clasped his hand. Deacon’s hands were on his knee, but Jamie still wouldn’t have missed it.
“Jones was also dead when the fire started, but Jeffries wasn’t.” Jamie shot Deacon an apologetic look.
“How is that significant?” Maverick asked.
Jamie put down her coffee. “A number of reasons. It’s quite possible this was the guy’s first murder. Panic, inexperience, any of that could have made him either rush accidently or rush on purpose. By victim number two, he has a little more confidence.”
“He’s not making any attempt to hide the victims, though,” Maverick pointed out. “Both in their homes, and Sara Jeffries would have been missed quickly even if he didn’t torch the place.”
“So it’s someone who either has such a good disguise—” Deacon said.
“Or someone that’s invisible,” Jamie finished.
Maverick frowned. “What, small you mean?”
Jamie chuckled. “No. I mean, for example, witnesses often notice the job not the person. If someone walked past a man or a woman in a white coat, their mind would think doctor but not be able to describe features.”
“Or construction workers in yellow vests,” Deacon added.
“Yes. There are dozens of jobs where the uniform is so recognizable, but witnesses never see what’s underneath it.”
Maverick thought of Army fatigues and knew she was right.
Jamie glanced at them both. “So which one of you is going to make breakfast? I’m starving.”
Deacon jumped up. “I will.” Jamie beamed at them both.
“Eggs? Bacon? Harvey’s mother insisted on muesli and rabbit food. I’m sure my body’s going into shock from lack of fat and carbs.”
Maverick snorted. “So that’s really why you wanted to come home, huh?”
Jamie fixed him with her best innocent expression.
“How about pancakes with syrup and bacon on the side?” Deacon asked.
Jamie put a hand on her heart. “My arteries are dancing as we speak.”
AN HOUR later, Jamie groaned and pushed her plate away. “You’re going to have to keep him, you know.” She waved her finger at Maverick, and Mav was thankful Deacon had gone to put some laundry to wash while he cleared up but felt his heart jump at her possibly innocent words.
“I doubt he’s going to want to stay when he gets his life back. I think I might make him feel safe, and he was out of options.” He doubted it very much.
“That’s not what Shirley told me.”
“The reporters, you mean?”
“Not just. Did you know about the custody ruling?”
“I know he got granted Thursday visitation, and I know his mother is a frigid cow who doesn’t deserve Molly. I also don’t know how he turned out to be such a decent human being with his examples.”
Jamie smiled. “Yes, but did you know the mom’s new husband tried to buy Molly first?”
“What?”
She nodded. “Straight after the court case when the band got sued and Deacon lost everything. He was offered half a million dollars to voluntarily give up parental rights.” Jamie watched him, letting the words sink in. “And he said no, so they took him to court, which was why things were dragged out.”
And Maverick had thought Deacon wasn’t that upset at first. He’d been so wrong.
Deacon came back into the kitchen and smiled at Jamie. “I hope this was okay, but I stripped your bed as well. I thought you’d like fresh sheets, and it was easy to wash them together.”
“Thank you, Deacon.”
There was a knock at the door, and Maverick held up his hand when Deacon took a step. “No answering doors. Leave it to me.”
Maverick walked into the hallway and immediately saw the flashing police lights through the glass, and his heart sank. “Now what?” he muttered, opening the door and stopping in surprise. He didn’t recognize the cop standing on the step, but he definitely recognized the tear-streaked face of the little girl clutching the hand of the woman standing next to them both. “Deacon,” he shouted over his shoulder and stepped back to let them through. There didn’t seem to be any reporters there at the moment, thank fuck, and he breathed a sigh out when the lights on the cop car stopped.
“Sorry,” the cop said, glancing back. “It was the only way I could get her in the car.”
“Molly?” Deacon’s astonished cry was loud behind him, and Molly looked up and promptly burst into tears. He held out his arms, and the woman let her go, and Molly ran and jumped. Deacon caught her. Jamie hobbled out of the kitchen, balancing on her crutches.
“Loretta?” Jamie said in surprise, and the lady smiled.
“I was hoping you were going to be here.”
“Come in.” Jamie pointed to the living room, and the cop looked at the woman and followed them all in. “My sergeant has also asked me to c
heck the reporters are leaving Mr. Daniels alone.”
Deacon carried Molly into the living room and took a seat on the couch, where she buried her face in his chest and clung on. Jamie took an armchair, and the woman took another. Maverick sat down next to Deacon. Deacon talked quietly to Molly while she cried herself out for another minute, then yawned. The woman pulled out a teddy from her bag and passed it to Deacon. Molly’s eyes were drooping then, and she sighed, putting her thumb in her mouth. In what seemed no more than another few seconds, she was asleep.
“Melanie was like that,” Jamie said conversationally. “She always fell sleep after she’d cried.”
Deacon dropped a kiss on Molly’s head and glanced at the woman expectantly. Maverick had to give him props. He would have been demanding answers the second they appeared, but Deacon had made sure Molly was okay first.
“Mr. Daniels?” The woman drew some ID out of her purse. “My name is Loretta Marsh, and I’m with the Division of Children and Family Services.” She hesitated and glanced at the cop.
“Officer O’Roarke, sirs, ma’am,” the cop replied politely.
“There’s been an incident at the home of Mrs. Fellhouse this morning,” she carried on. “Detective Phan will come and explain things to you as soon as he can, but it was necessary to remove Molly from her grandmother’s house this morning—”
Deacon gasped. “Are they all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “The detective will be here soon, and I’m sorry I can’t say any more. I know Jamie,” Loretta continued. “And as I understand you are living here, I thought it would be less stressful for Molly to be here.” She grimaced slightly. “I’m probably going to have to jump through some red tape on Monday, but following the guidelines in the strictest sense, I am encouraged to grant kinship to an adult family member in these circumstances.”
Deacon looked dumbfounded but tightened his hold on Molly reflexively.
“If I had been in any doubt, her reaction when she saw you would have been very telling.” She glanced at a sleeping Molly and then at Jamie. “Unless of course you tell me that she can’t stay.”
“No,” Jamie and Maverick both said together.
The cop smiled. “She was all packed for a trip, but we weren’t allowed to bring anything from the house. She wouldn’t leave without the bear.”
Deacon swallowed. “I bought it for her birthday.”
Loretta brought two cards out of her purse and handed them over to Maverick. “You should also know that Detective Phan was also of the opinion she was to be brought here.”
Mav watched as Deacon hugged the little girl close. He didn’t seem able to speak.
“This is temporary,” Loretta cautioned. “We will need to see what your long-term plans are regarding living arrangements. Check everything out, but there is no immediate rush while you are here.” Loretta stood up. Maverick rose to show them out and walked to the door with the cop.
“Is it bad?”
Her eyes told him it was. “Two patrol cars are going to wait outside. Please wait here until Detective Phan gets here.”
Maverick followed them and locked the door as soon as they left.
“Mav?” Jamie said as soon as he walked back. “I have friends that can easily drop some clothes off for her, and she can have Melanie’s room.”
Mav picked up the small blanket Loretta had left and draped it over the sofa. “Why don’t we lay her here?” he asked gently. “And we can go in the kitchen when he gets here. We don’t want Phan having to explain anything where there’s a chance she can hear.”
Deacon let Maverick carefully take her out of his arms and lay her on the blanket. It was large enough to drape back over her as well. She was soon cocooned warmly and safely.
“And I will stay in here,” Jamie volunteered just as there was a knock on the door.
Deacon bent down to brush a kiss on Molly’s cheek and stood to follow Maverick out. Maverick had a really bad feeling about this, and Deacon had barely said two words since Molly arrived.
The detective nodded to them as Maverick opened the door. “Your niece is here I understand?”
“She’s asleep,” Deacon confirmed and gestured to the living room.
“My sister is staying with her while we talk,” Maverick added.
Phan breathed out a sigh and followed them to the kitchen. Maverick closed the door behind them.
“Mr. Daniels, when was the last time you spoke to Mr. or Mrs. Fellhouse?”
“Yesterday morning.”
“I was with Deacon when he took the phone call,” Mav confirmed.
“Can you tell me what was said?”
Deacon took a breath. “The reporters had been bugging them after Sara Jeffries had been found. Percy called me asking if Molly had a passport. They informed me that they were taking Molly to their house in Italy for a month, maybe longer.”
“And you said what?”
“Mr. Fellhouse informed us both that if we objected in any way, their lawyers would have no problem in altering the custody agreement to exclude Deacon completely,” Maverick said.
Phan grimaced. “Look, I’m no lawyer, but I’m not sure that’s right.”
“What’s happened?” Deacon burst out.
Phan held his hand up. “Just another couple of questions.” He glanced at Maverick. “Can you provide an alibi for Mr. Daniels between 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 this morning?”
“Absolutely. I can provide an alibi since the last time you were here.” A small smile graced Phan’s lips as the implication sank in. “And my sister was here at nine if not before.”
“Did you know a Miss Rachel Mackenzie?”
Deacon frowned. “That’s Molly’s nanny. We last saw her on Saturday when we went to visit Molly.”
Phan sighed. “Sometime this morning, while Mr. and Mrs. Fellhouse were out getting Molly’s passport, someone murdered Ms. Mackenzie. They found her dead when they returned.”
Deacon’s hand flew to his mouth in horror. Maverick shook his head. “A fire?”
“No,” Phan said, “but there is a chance he or she was disturbed by the housekeeper returning. It was her day off, but the housekeeper said Mr. Fellhouse had called her from the car, asking if she could go to the house and pack for them. It was a hurried decision.”
“Okay.” Maverick was confused. “So the housekeeper found her?”
“Yes,” Phan confirmed. “She arrived home moments before the Fellhouses.”
“And they are all okay?”
Phan hesitated. “They aren’t physically hurt. The killer was gone.”
“Then much as I know Molly and Deacon are thrilled, why is she here?”
“Because Mrs. Fellhouse became hysterical, and her husband had to physically restrain her. She was admitted into temporary psychiatric care, and Mr. Fellhouse made it clear he doesn’t consider Molly his responsibility. Apparently he did everything for his wife, but when she wasn’t in a condition to care for her, he called Children and Family Services, and the duty social worker knows Jamie, and apparently her old partner was also the sergeant on duty.”
“I’m so sorry Rachel was killed. I know Molly seemed to like her.” Deacon paused.
“But you’re wondering how this has got anything to do with you?”
Deacon nodded.
“Does the phrase ‘Only a Joker’ mean anything to you?”
Maverick watched as every bit of color drained from Deacon’s face. “It’s the name of their single,” Maverick answered for Deacon.
“Those exact words were written near the body.”
“Written?” Maverick queried, and then he saw the answer in Phan’s gray eyes and wished he hadn’t asked.
Phan looked at Deacon. “We will have officers here outside the house. Please stay here for the time being. If you need to go out for any reason, I want to know about it first, and the APD officers will accompany you. This puts everything in a different light. I will be in touch later if I have anything else.
”
Maverick stood up, and Deacon shook hands with Phan and let himself back in the living room. Mav walked Phan toward the door. “Are you any further forward in finding this lunatic?”
Phan rested his steady gaze on Mav. “We are concentrating on Deacon and why someone would have it in for him, even if the nanny was a very tenuous connection.”
“And you think it still might be connected to the death of Shelley Young?”
Phan nodded. “The first two certainly.”
“And Rachel?”
Phan hesitated. “What if someone wants to turn the knife? There were no signs of a break-in. The housekeeper thinks Rachel had a boyfriend, but we can’t find anyone who has seen them together, although it’s very early days. The thing is, if this was a boyfriend, that means there is a chance he has had access to Molly, and I need someone with better skills than I to ask her. If that’s the case, though, what better way to torture Deacon? The thought that someone would have had access to his niece and could have killed her at any time?”
Maverick swallowed. He hoped it hadn’t occurred to Deacon yet, because it would kill him when it did.
Chapter Fourteen
JAMIE JOINED Maverick in the kitchen while he pulled out snacks. “They’re okay?”
She nodded. “I texted Keith.” The change in his sister’s voice made Maverick look up from the fridge.
“What is it?”
“You can’t tell Deacon.”
Maverick shook his head.
“The nanny was ripped to shreds. She had a needle mark, but they haven’t done the PM yet. ‘Only a Joker’?”
“The song title?”
Jamie swallowed. “It was carved in her skin, and with the way she bled, while she was still alive, and if you tell anyone that, Keith will get fired.”
Maverick sat down heavily. “There’s no way I want Deacon to find this out.” It would be something else to make him feel guilty about.
“I made those phone calls you asked me to yesterday.” Jamie changed the subject.
Maverick frowned, and then he understood. “The custody?”
“Apparently the grandparents had Thompkins and Russell.”
