It was good sweaty, mind numbing, work and exactly what she needed after the events of the last couple of days. There were moments when she really felt like turning round and heading straight back to Providence. She could sell the house; the errant thought popped into her head and as it did heard a door slam shut upstairs. She flinched at the sound.
The house didn’t seem to like that idea, she sighed. She didn’t like the idea much either, being away for so long she’d forgotten how much she loved the house and the lake, even the woods. No, she wouldn’t sell the house no matter what, it was in her blood, it was her home as no other had been in the twenty years she’d been absent. Besides, she thought darkly, it would just give Chief Walcott more reason to suspect her. No, she just needed to bide her time and hope that the real culprit was apprehended soon.
She turned her attention back to the floor, scrubbing in never ending circles. It didn’t take long before she was disturbed by the sound of tyres on gravel. Hauling herself to her feet she dropped the wet rag back into the bucket with a splash and pulled back the curtain. A pickup was towing her car to the front of her house and behind it followed a tidy compact little silver sports car.
Frowning in confusion she headed towards the front door, yanking it open and stepping onto the front porch with her arms folded across her chest defensively. Why the hell couldn’t everyone just leave her alone, not that she wasn’t happy to have her car back, she was but she sure as hell didn’t feel like being sociable after the last couple of days.
She watched slowly as a tall nice looking guy hopped out of the cab of his truck, slamming the door closed behind him before walking around to unhook her car. The car which had nipped in behind him had parked and as the door opened a pair of long slim legs unfolded, followed by a tall willowy body encased in a well fitted no nonsense business suit in deep blue. The woman turned in Olivia’s direction and offered a small wave, before flipping her deep red hair as the early evening breeze caught and tugged at it playfully. She manoeuvred across the gravel on four inch heels and climbed the steps to the porch, holding out her hand in greeting.
‘Miss West,’ Olivia had no option but to clasp her offered hand, ‘my name is Erica Kelly, I’m an attorney. Jake called me and said you might need some assistance.’
‘Miss Kelly,’ Olivia nodded in acknowledgment, ‘why exactly would I need an attorney?’
‘Well to get your car back for one,’ she raised one slender perfectly sculpted brow, ‘do you have a moment to talk.’
‘Jake sent you?’ her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
‘He did,’ Erica smiled easily, ‘I’ll wait if you want to call him’
Before she could answer the guy from the auto shop jogged up the stairs interrupting them.
‘Miss West,’ he held out his hand, ‘the name’s Brody Walker, I own the Auto shop. I’m sorry about the delay getting your car back to you; I hope it hasn’t been too much of an inconvenience.’
He dropped her keys into her outstretched hand.
‘I gave it the quick once over, it seems to be running just fine and there is absolutely no damage to the front end, so I don’t want you to worry about that. I told Chief Walcott straight out, there was no way you hit that guy with your car.’
‘Thank you Mr Walker,’ Olivia’s face softened, he seemed such a sweet genuine guy.
His sneakers were dirty and one of the laces were split in several places giving him several knots, his jeans were slightly torn at the knees and covered in grease and he wore a large warm coloured tan jacket. His dark blonde hair hung to his collar and slight stubble graced his face giving him the appearance of a laid back surfer rather than a mechanic.
‘Brody,’ he grinned, ‘we don’t stand on ceremony here. Anyway if the car gives you any trouble at all give me a call.’
‘I appreciate it Brody,’ she told him genuinely. ‘How much do I owe you?’
‘No charge,’ he shook his head. ‘It’s on the house, welcome back to Mercy, I hope your luck changes soon.’
‘You and me both,’ she found herself smiling back.
‘Erica,’ he nodded acknowledging the woman standing next to her.
‘Brody,’ she smiled, ‘how’s Cassie?’
‘Good, she’s just opened her own Vet’s office on Bleaker Street,’
‘So I hear, well, give her my best won’t you.’
‘Will do,’ he shot them a friendly salute and trotted amiably back to his truck, firing it up and pulling back out of the driveway.
‘Do you have that five minutes then?’ Erica asked.
‘I suppose so,’ Olivia sighed opening the door and allowing Erica to step inside.
‘Would you like a coffee?’
‘Ah you said the magic word,’ Erica breathed in pleasure, ‘I’d love some, it’s been a long afternoon, dealing with the Chief always makes my teeth ache.’
‘Well, he’s definitely not an easy man to deal with,’
‘That’s an understatement,’ Erica murmured as they stepped into the cheery kitchen.
She indicated for Erica to take a seat at the island in the centre of the kitchen whilst she lit the stove and set the kettle on. Pulling down two thick mugs she turned back to the lawyer who was watching her, her green eyes lit with interest.
‘I’m afraid I only have instant coffee, I don’t usually drink a lot of it.’
‘Instant is fine, black with one sugar if you don’t mind.’
‘Miss Kelly,’ Olivia began as she set the two steaming mugs down on the counter.
‘Erica.’
‘Erica,’ she amended, ‘I’m still not sure why you’re here, I haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘Well, like I said, Jake called and I owed him a favour. He seemed to think the Chief was taking an unhealthy interest in you and I have say after talking to Chief Walcott myself I have to agree with Jake. There’s something not quite right going on here.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Olivia frowned.
‘Well for starters he had no grounds to have your car towed to the police impound. After it was clear it had not been involved in an accident it should have been returned to you, but when I arrived they were searching the interior of the car and taking samples. My guess is he’s trying to find some evidence to link you to Adam Miller’s murder.’
‘Yeah,’ Olivia sighed, ‘I figured he might,’
‘You don’t seem too concerned?’
Olivia shrugged.
‘I know I didn’t do anything to Adam, the Chief can search the car as much as he likes, he isn’t going to find anything.’
Erica nodded in approval.
‘Well, I pointed out to the Chief that without probable cause or the correct warrant anything he did find would be inadmissible in court.’
‘I bet he didn’t like that,’ a small smile tugged the corner of her mouth.
‘No, he didn’t but at that point he really didn’t’ have any reason for him not to hand over the car. It should have been relatively straight forward but they’ve had me jumping through hoops all afternoon to try and get the car back.’
‘They were stalling you?’
‘Yes,’ Erica nodded, ‘I hate to admit it but Jake may be right, Chief Walcott is ignoring all other evidence in favour of going after you. I’ve taken a look at some of the evidence and really they’ve got nothing on you. Apart from some very thin circumstantial evidence there is nothing to tie you to the Miller murder at all.’
‘I’ve been trying to tell them that.’
‘The thing is,’ Erica frowned, ‘I’ve known the Chief ever since I took the bar exam and opened my own practice here in town and the man's a pain in the ass there’s no doubt, but he’s a straight down the line, by the book kind of guy, he never cuts corners.’
‘So?’
‘So,’ Erica continued, ‘what is it about you that made him throw the book away? He has mishandled this case, from the moment that body was
discovered. Their case against you has so many loopholes it would get laughed straight out of court. But he is so fixated on you being the murderer, it’s like he has tunnel vision.’
‘Great that’s just what I need while I’m trying to get the people of Mercy to accept me and forget the fact that my father is a murderer, a Chief of Police with some kind of imaginary vendetta on my back.’
‘I think this goes deeper than just the fact that your father was convicted of murder, it almost seems personal.’
‘But I don’t understand why?’ Olivia shrugged, ‘I haven’t set foot in Mercy in twenty years and I hadn’t even met the Chief before the morning Adam’s body was discovered.’
‘I don’t have the answers Olivia, but you need to be careful. Jake will get to the bottom of it I have no doubt.’
‘God I hope so,’ she exhaled sharply, ‘I just want a peaceful life.’
‘Here,’ she reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card, ‘if you need anything call me.’
She finished her coffee and stood.
‘I should be getting back.’
‘Erica,’ Olivia called softly as the other woman prepared to leave, ‘It’s getting late and I haven’t eaten yet, would you like to join me? I mean if you’re going to be my lawyer we might as well get to know each other.’
Erica pursed her lips thoughtfully.
‘I’d like that,’ she replied after a moment.
‘Besides,’ Olivia shrugged, ‘You can fill me in on you and Jake.’
‘I didn’t say there was a ‘me and Jake’, she replied carefully.
‘Honey,’ Olivia laughed, ‘you didn’t have to.’
Brody coasted along the dark road singing loudly to the radio. Dropping off the West car was his last job of the day and he was more than ready to go home to Cassie. His stomach growled loudly, and as he tried to ignore the hunger pangs his headlights illuminated a dark coloured car parked at the side of the road with the hood propped open. Sighing at the thought of being late for dinner he swung in front of the car and hit the brakes. It was cold and dark and he couldn’t in good conscience leave someone stranded on the side of the road.
Hopping down from the cab, he grabbed a flashlight and headed back along the road but as he reached the vehicle he realised it was empty. A frown creased his brow as he shone the flashlight around the car. He still couldn’t see anyone, so looking away from the car he directed the light towards the canopy of trees which lead into the woods, but it was too dense to see anything. He called out a few times but there was no answer. An uneasiness unfurled deep in his gut and he reached into his pocket to grab his phone. Cursing lightly he realised he’d left it in the cab.
Turning he made his way back along the road having every intention of calling his brother at the Police station. After what had happened to Adam, it paid to be cautious but even if nothing untoward had happened and the driver had simply wandered off in search of help. He knew it was easy to get lost in these woods. In the dark and with the temperature rapidly falling, whoever it was could be in real trouble.
He reached out towards the handle of the door, the push when it came was so sudden and with so much force his head smashed against the window of his door leaving a spider web of cracked glass with a large bloodstain in the centre. Dazed Brody fell back against the ground his flashlight tumbling from limp fingers. He fought down a wave of nausea rising in his throat and tried to stand but he felt himself pushed roughly to the ground. His vision wavered and the buzzing sound in his ears roared loudly. He felt his wrists being bound together tightly with cable ties.
The thin plastic bit cruelly into the soft flesh of his wrists. He struggled to see through the blood dripping into his eyes but all he could make out in the poor light was a dark figure standing over him. He watched in slow motion as the figure raised its foot, and as it was brought down towards his face, his last thought was of Cassie before the darkness consumed him.
Chapter 8.
Olivia was yanked out of a very pleasant dream by an insistent pounding on her front door. Glancing at her watch which read barely seven thirty in the morning she grimaced and hauled herself out of bed. Pulling on her thick robe angrily she stomped down the stairs her thick socks absorbing some of the noise. Why the hell couldn’t anyone leave her alone? Glancing through the peephole a flush of irritation surged through her veins heating her face and clenching her fists.
Muttering to herself she swung the door open and with her hands on her hips she glared at the person standing on her doorstep.
‘Do you people actually have any real work to do or is this how you treat all new residents of Mercy?’ she ground between clenched teeth.
‘Ma’am,’ Deputy Helga Hanson nodded, her expression carefully neutral, ‘Chief Walcott asked if you’d be so good as to come down to the station and answer a few questions.’
Olivia’s gaze narrowed coolly as she appraised the tall athletic looking woman in front of her. Despite her distinctly Eastern European appearance her accent was pure New England born and bred.
‘What the Hell does he want this time?’ she frowned running a frustrated hand through her sleep tangled hair. ‘I’ve already answered all his questions regarding Adam Miller and I have explained what happened with the guy who collapsed in front of my car, there really isn’t anything else I can add.’
‘It has nothing to do with those two incidents.’
‘Then what?’
‘I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss that,’
‘And this couldn’t have waited until a civilised hour?’
‘I’m afraid not Ma’am, Chief says to bring you in asap.’
‘Am I under arrest here?’ Olivia asked suspiciously.
‘No Ma’am,’ she shook her head, ‘Chief Walcott just has some questions and they are time sensitive.’
‘Fine,’ Olivia hissed.
She stepped back into the house, grinding to a halt as the deputy made a move to follow her.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘I’m under orders Ma’am, to make sure you don’t run off.’
‘Run off?’ Olivia’s voice went flat, her eyes flashing dangerously, ‘run off? Are you fucking joking?’
‘Ma’am there’s no need for that kind of language.’
‘Get the hell off my doorstep Deputy Hanson.’
‘Now, Ma’am,’ the deputy began.
‘Don’t you Ma’am me,’ Olivia took a step forwards, despite being several inches shorter than the deputy. Hastily the other woman took a step back out onto the porch.
‘I’ve had about all the unfounded accusations and disrespect I’m going to take from the Mercy police dept. I have done nothing wrong, I have bent over backwards to accommodate your investigation despite being victimised and treated like a criminal simply because my father is one. I have done nothing to deserve the appalling treatment I have received from your Chief of Police and your department but make no mistake you will not step one foot inside my home without a warrant or I will sue your God Damn department for harassment. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Crystal,’ Deputy Hanson replied blandly.
‘Good, now I am going to go and get dressed and when I have at least had a cup of fucking coffee I will drive myself to the police station and answer Chief Walcott’s questions, because I know I have done nothing wrong. I have absolutely nothing to hide and despite the alarming level of incompetence of your department I can only hope that you will catch the real perpetrator soon and this witch hunt will stop.’ Olivia marched back into her house, grasping the door, ‘Now get the hell off my property.’
She slammed the door in the deputy’s face and sagged against it, trying to drag some air into her lungs which suddenly seemed too small. Her body was shaking with fury, Serve and protect, my ass, she shook her head, more like harass and belittle. She’d had about as much as she could take from Chief Walcott and his minions and she had t
he very unpleasant suspicion it wasn’t going to end anytime soon. With him so fixated on her, she was sure he was missing vital evidence which would lead to the true murderer. It was time to do something about it.
Picking up the phone, with trembling fingers she dialled the number she had memorised the night before.
‘Hello,’ a sleepy voice mumbled.
‘Erica?’
‘Yes,’
‘It’s Olivia West,’ she breathed heavily, ‘I think I need your help.’
‘What’s happened?’ Erica’s voice became more alert.
‘Nothing yet, but Deputy Hanson turned up on my doorstep ten minutes ago, insisting that she takes me in for questioning.’
‘About what?’ Erica frowned on the other end of the line, ‘Adam Miller? Do you think they found something in your car?’
‘They couldn’t have as there is nothing in my car to find,’ Olivia replied tightly, ‘besides Deputy Hanson said it had nothing to do with either Adam or the incident with my car the other night.’
‘But she wouldn’t tell you what it was about?’
‘No,’ Olivia confirmed, ‘she said I wasn’t under arrest but I get the feeling they’re going to insist that I go in.’
‘Okay, hang on a minute.’
The phone went quiet for a few moments although Olivia could hear mumbled voices in the background.’
‘Olivia?’ Erica’s voice was calm but it held an underlying urgency
‘Yes.’
‘Jake is going to call in to the station and see if he can find out what’s going on,’ Erica replied.
‘Jake’s with you?’
‘Yes,’ she responded easily, ‘now listen, you don’t have to actually go in for questioning if you don’t want to.’
‘I know,’ Olivia sighed tiredly, ‘but whatever they think I did this time, it will only look worse for me if I don’t go. It’ll look like I’m trying to hide something.’
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