“You’re not going to say it, are you? Fine. I will. If there’s a dirty cop in the station. If he’s covering something up, you can bet I’ll uncover it.”
“You’ll dig your own grave.”
“There’s an innocent man in prison right now.”
Stuart’s eyes narrowed. “Have you talked with him?”
“Of course, I have. I’m a journalist. I investigate the clues. He’s a Special Forces decorated hero, not a murderer.”
Stuart expression tightened. “His girlfriend was the last victim.”
“Ex-girlfriend.”
“Convenient and a motive for murder since she dumped him.”
When he gently touched her hip, she swatted his hand away. “What does that mean, or do I need to guess? Is Montgomery going to be calling my boss and accuse me of fucking Mr. LaPierre, too? Another pathetic attempt to ruin my reputation like his last phone call?”
“What? When?”
“I was accused of screwing you in exchange for information.”
“Shit.”
“Next time you do that asshole’s bidding, remember that by challenging me, he’s going to have a fight on his hands.” She curled her fist, wanting to hit someone. Preferably the big bastard in charge of the task force. Stuart did something she didn’t expect, he chuckled. “Not funny. None of this is funny.”
“Mattie, I’m going to talk to the sergeant. He won’t bother you anymore. I’m sure you’re angry because Montgomery called your boss and you’d love to pin something on him. He’s a hardliner, I agree, but he’s not a murderer if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
Just about to use her elbow to thrust past him, she paused, staring into Stuart’s eyes. “Someone is a murderer. Someone changed the autopsy report. The report goes from the coroner directly into the hands of the sergeant in charge of the task force. So explain to me, how this happened.”
The sedate smile perched on his mouth waned. “I don’t have the answer to that.”
“I have a knack for reading people, Stuart. Something’s off with Sergeant Montgomery. He’s hiding something.”
“When this is all over, I’ll explain.” He stepped toward the door. “You better get going.”
“You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met.”
He winked. “I’ll keep in touch when I can.”
She gave him a small smile. “So we’re still friends? I thought you told me not to trust you.”
“If I wasn’t up to my ass in finding a killer, I’d book off the afternoon and do my damnedest to convince you that I should paddle yours. So, I’d say close friends.”
He disappeared inside, leaving her stunned into silence once again.
* * * *
Kayla closed her suitcase then trotted toward the kitchen when she heard the Skype call ping with an incoming request. She ran around the corner, checked on Adam and Sloane as she accepted the call. “Greg!”
“Hey, Angel Face.” He gave her a wan smile.
“Please, don’t look like that. Thane got on a plane thirty minutes ago. He’s coming.”
Greg nodded. “Not sure why he’s doing this, but I guess it’s only because of you.”
Kayla folded her hands and pressed them against her chin. “I guess the short answer is yes.”
“If you had to fall in love with someone other than me, he’s the best I could hope for.”
She smiled and placed a hand on the screen. Greg raised his and mirrored it. Adam toddled over, and she pulled him onto her lap.
“Going to say hi to Uncle Greg?” she asked, cuddling him.
He waved at the monitor, and Greg’s eyes lit with a smile. “Hey, buddy.”
“He wants his uncle out of prison, or he would if he understood. Thane will find some way to get you out of there.”
“It’s not so bad. Been in worse places as you know.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Kayla.” He paused and bowed his head. “If I don’t get out of here... If I’m charged and convicted….”
“Greg, stop. Please. That’s not going to happen.”
“It’s happened before.”
“I know, but we both know these men who lust for blood don’t just walk away. He’ll kill again, and you’ll be free. Thane will find the missing key. Tell him everything.”
“How much can I really trust him, Kayla? He knows our past. He knows I still love you, even if that love has changed over the years.”
“Thane has a lot of respect for you.”
“He wouldn’t if he knew what keeps me from going insane in here.”
“What’s that?” she asked, putting Adam down when he fussed to get free.
“Those special times when you gave us a chance to be real with each other. The times when you let me love you.”
She cleared her throat. “Thane knows that all happened before I met him.” She paused. “You liked Diana a lot. I know you did.”
He smiled and cast a green-eyed glint at her. “Yeah, I suppose I did, but the truth is, not enough to marry her.”
“Why do you do that? Women fall at your feet. Offer their hearts, but you don’t give them yours.”
“Guess I’m just unlucky in love.”
“I know your heart, Greg LaPierre. I know how big and endless it is. You might play the aloof mysterious card to keep women from getting too close, but someone will see it. Just like I did. And once she does, it won’t matter where you go or how long you’re gone. She’ll wait for you.”
He chuckled and shook his head, the first smile she’d seen in a while spread across his lips. “Everyone sees you wrong, too. You’re a hopeless romantic.”
She sighed. “Thane saw it.”
“And you drive him crazy sometimes, just like you drove me nuts, but to be honest I like your idea. Before I got tossed in here, I was getting ready to throw in my paperwork.”
“To leave the Forces?”
“Yeah, I’ve got twenty-three years and a pension coming. Friend of mine has a few job opportunities. He works internationally.”
“Greg, no! You’re not going into contract work overseas.”
“No. Done with the Spec Ops. He owns a marine manufacturing company. Said he could find me something. He’s retired Navy, too.”
“Then that’s what you should do. That’s what you will do.”
“Then maybe I can see my pseudo niece and nephew more.” Greg sighed and scanned his surroundings. “How’s Nina and Marg?”
“I’m just packing now. I’m going back to San Diego to see them. Marg is still grieving, but she’s slowly getting on with her life. It doesn’t hurt that she has some wealthy Hollywood type from her past who’s popped up and wants to marry her.”
“Think she will?”
Kayla shook her head. “Not a chance.”
“Guess Austen won’t show it. Cobbs was his best friend. I know what losing someone close feels like.”
“He won’t talk about him. Not yet anyway. Whenever he’s in San Diego, he visits Marg. Now it’s my turn.”
“Maybe you’ll come to Victoria when this is all over.”
“You know I will.”
He raised his brow. “Alone?”
She laughed at him. “Will you stop!”
Greg grinned and shrugged. “You spoiled me, Angel Face. What can I say?”
“I say if you want to find someone who loves you, you have to truly love her back and stop hoping something bad is going to happen to my husband.”
Through a chuckle, accompanied with a handsome raise of his brow, he said, “You’re a killjoy, Mrs. Austen.”
“How is your mom taking this?”
“Mom’s worried. Bad enough one of her sons is in prison. She keeps blaming herself.”
“She was a victim too. It’s not her fault.”
“She misses you, ya know. Even with everything that happened. Once her anger dissolved, she missed having a daughter-in-law.”
“She’ll have one son back soon.”
He nodded in agreement. “Maybe. Got a visit a couple days ago from a reporter. She works for the New Times Colonist.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Don’t know. She seemed to want to find out who killed Diana and the other women. Got the feeling she doesn’t think it’s me.”
“She, huh?” He nodded and darted his gaze away. “And…did you charm her into believing this, or did she walk in thinking this?”
“You really have a lofty perception of my abilities with the softer population.”
“If she’s on your side, I don’t care what she thinks.” Kayla knew Greg too well. She’d only seen him get edgy with one other girl who had come close to stealing his heart. It had been so long ago. Kayla remembered it was around the time her husband Daniel nearly killed her. Greg had abandoned everything to be with her through the recovery, and the girl walked away. “What’s her name?”
“Forget it. You’re not calling her.”
“I promise, I won’t,” she said, crossing her fingers at the same time.
He glared at her through the monitor. “Mattie Bidault. She’s coming back tomorrow for another visit. Says she has more questions.”
“Okay. Well, let her do the footwork. Thane will be there tomorrow, too. Can he get into your place tonight?”
“Sure. He can stay there. You know where the key is.”
“Good. Don’t worry, Greg.”
“If this reporter tells the police she saw me the other night. I’d be out now.”
“What do you mean?”
“She was there at the Irish Times when I was. The same night Diana was murdered. She knows I left after two-thirty.”
“What the hell.”
“Kayla,” he growled. “Don’t go there. Let her decide for herself.”
“She’s a witness to your innocence. What is she waiting for?” She gritted her teeth, wanting to tear into this reporter.
“She’ll do the right thing, if she believes I’m innocent.”
“I know you’re innocent.”
“But she doesn’t, so don’t interfere.”
“You make me crazy.”
“Ditto. I guess my time’s up. I better get going. I love you.”
She shook her head. “You know you make Thane nuts when you say that in front of him.”
“Yup,” he said and sported a smile.
“Don’t do it anymore.”
“He worried?”
“No, he’s just like you. Possessive and pigheaded. He’s well aware you do it to poke his temper.”
“Just a friendly reminder that he needs to be good to you.” He paused and stared at her, the silence lingering between them. “You’re the only woman I ever said that to.”
She sighed. “Greg.”
He jerked his head and offered a pained smile. “I should have told Diana. She needed to hear it…I may not have been ready for marriage, but I did love her.”
Kayla’s heart twisted with his confession. “I know you did. I wish I could be there to hug you.”
“I wish you could, too.” His brow creased tight. “If I’d tried harder, maybe she’d…”
“You were honest with her. Don’t second guess yourself. Let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll be in San Diego, but I’ll keep my laptop going in case you can call me.”
“J’taime, Angel Face.”
“I love you, too.”
Kayla let out a deep breath as Greg’s connection blinked off. Adam had crawled up onto the couch and was talking to his sister. Even at this age, he saw himself as her protector. Everyone needed someone who loved them unconditionally and would do anything for them, and it didn’t always have to be a blood relation.
She quickly Googled the New Times Colonist. Then dialed the number.
When reception answered, she said, “Yes, good afternoon. I’d like to speak with a Mattie Bidault. I have a lead on a story she’s working on.”
Chapter Nine
“One moment while I connect you,” the woman at the New Times Colonist answered with a pleasant business tone.
Kayla did a double check on the kids. “Thank you.”
Greg could be mad at her if he wanted, but she would hunt this Mattie Bidault down in person if she gave her the brushoff.
“Hello, Mattie Bidault, New Times Colonist.”
“Yes, Mattie, my name is Kayla Austen. I’m calling you in regards to Greg LaPierre.”
There was silence on the phone for a second longer than there should have been. “And you’re?”
“Concerned,” she said sharply. A cold anger churned because this woman was protecting her career instead of coming forward to say she’d seen Greg in the pub. “Greg is innocent. You know this.”
“How do you know Greg? Are you family?”
“I am, through marriage.”
Another long pause. “Were…you by chance married to his brother?”
Kayla blinked. How the hell did she know that? “Yes, I was. But what’s important here is that you saw Greg the night of Diana’s murder. I’m sure your concerns are about your job and if he isn’t innocent you’ve got a lot to lose, but I’m telling you, Greg did not kill her. Go to the police. Tell them what you know.”
“You sound pretty certain of his innocence.”
“Of course, I am. I know him. You don’t.”
“You’re the woman he turned his brother in to protect.”
She liked looping back to that. “Listen, Mattie. Our past doesn’t have any bearing on the fact that a serial killer is running loose while Greg is behind bars. Do the right thing.”
Mattie cleared her throat and from the sound of it, tapped a pencil on her desk. “Your ex-husband was prone to violence. Who says Greg isn’t seething over Diana leaving him? And if that isn’t enough, his Ka-Bar knife was found by her slaughtered body.”
“It may have been by her body, but it wasn’t used by Greg. He loved Diana. He would not hurt her, even if she left him.”
“He described his relationship with Diana as fondness. Not love. He understands being left for another man, doesn’t he?”
Kayla’s eyes popped open. “Ms. Bidault, Greg thinks you believe he’s innocent. If you want a story, he might even help you, but he can’t do it from prison.”
“I have to be sure.”
“All you have to do is tell the truth. Tell the police what time he left. It will exonerate him from the accusations.”
“It’s not that simple,” she said, her words falling to a hushed volume.
“It doesn’t get any simpler.”
“One second,” she said.
She could hear Mattie walking, and then sounds of street traffic as if she’d gone outside. “Are you there?”
“I’m here, Kayla. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but there’s inconsistencies with the case. Things I’ve recently found out.”
“Not about Greg.”
“No, not about him. About the police report.”
Kayla sat back in her chair, fear icing her blood. “Are you suggesting this was a setup? Too many murders and the cops are feeling the pressure. It won’t work. This murderer will kill again. The police will be forced to release Greg.”
“I don’t know that for sure.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Kayla, it’s not one killer, it’s two. The police have to have known this, but it’s not on the coroner’s report.”
There was only one thing worse than a serial killer, and that was two of them working together. “Then they’ll both be caught.”
“Don’t you think if the police know it’s two killers, they would have questioned Greg about that? Tried to find out who his partner is? They didn’t ask him a single question about it.”
Kayla’s mind began to extrapolate options. She might not be active duty anymore, but she could still solve a puzzle. “Somebody fell down on the job during the forensic report.”
“I don’t think so. Believe me, I’ve been giving this a lot of tho
ught. This is a big story and I’ve followed every lead. I’ve even found one the police haven’t. At least, I hope it’s a lead.”
“Are you saying you think someone in the police department is part of this?”
“I’m not saying that. But maybe they’re protecting someone. I don’t know. I come from a family of law enforcement. It’s not easy for me to accept the dirty cop theory. I have to be careful, too.”
She was right, and Mattie could be in serious danger if there was some kind of police cover-up. But no matter what, Greg was not going to be tagged with this.
“Kayla, could I ask you some questions about Greg?”
“There’s nothing I can tell you that will help his current situation.”
“No, but you’ve known him for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Yes, since we were teenagers.”
“Has he ever been violent?”
“No. Never. He’s an officer in JTF2, which you already know. Or should know. He’s been Navy all his life. All three of us were.”
“His brother I knew about, but you are as well?”
“Not anymore. I retired.”
“And remarried?”
“Yes.” The pause before Mattie’s next question told Kayla she warred with asking it.
“Has he…ever really been able to love anyone else but you?”
Kayla sputtered. This woman would make a good analyst. With a few details, she’d tripped upon a truth. “Why do you ask?”
“Your response tells me the answer is ‘no’.”
“It’s complicated, Mattie, and really has nothing to do with Greg’s innocence. Keep your mind on that. Please. For him.”
Sloane started to cry and Kayla’s time was up. “I have to go.”
“You have children?”
“Two, a boy and a girl.”
“And their father?”
Kayla stuck her tongue in her cheek. No doubt Mattie would be seeing him soon. Thane wouldn’t leave any stone unturned, and that meant talking some sense into this woman, even if the police were doing something to cover up the truth.
“He’s an admiral in the United States Navy. And a very persuasive man. I have to go,” she said, lifting Sloane into her arms to calm her down.
“She’s sad,” Adam said, looking as if he wanted to cry himself. She curled her son under her arm and crooked the phone between her ear and cheek.
Code Name_Redemption Page 10
