by Sherri Hayes
“You sound like you’re out of breath.” Her sister’s voice held a note of concern.
Megan felt a bit of disappointment that it wasn’t Paul. “I just got back from the store.”
“Get anything good?” Rebecca asked.
Setting her bags down on her bed, Megan began removing the items and laying them out on the mattress. She’d need to wash them before she could wear any of them. They’d all been in a large bin for people to sort through. It was hard to tell how many hands had been on them. “Just some new undies.”
Her sister was too quiet.
“What?” Megan asked.
“You went to the store specifically to buy underwear?”
Megan wasn’t getting what the big deal was. “Yeah.”
She heard Rebecca release a heavy sigh.
“Would you just spit it out already?” Her sister didn’t normally beat around the bush like this.
“Your shopping trip wouldn’t have anything to do with that guy you were telling me about, would it?” Rebecca asked.
Why was it that her sister could make her feel as if she were twelve years old again and getting in trouble for eating a cookie before dinner? “Not entirely.”
“Oh, Megan.”
She could hear Rebecca’s disappointment, but Megan refused to act ashamed of her relationship with Paul. Even though her sister had no idea Paul was the guy in question. “Don’t say it like that. You can’t tell me you’ve never bought sexy underwear to wear for Gage.”
“That’s different.”
“How’s it different?” Megan demanded.
“He’s my husband.”
“So you didn’t dress sexy for him until after you married him? Please. You may be a stick in the mud sometimes, Becca, but even I know better than that.” She hated fighting with her sister, but she wasn’t going to back down on this. Rebecca needed to stop treating her like a child.
Her sister didn’t answer immediately, and Megan was beginning to fear that Rebecca had run off in tears again.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
Megan sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. “He won’t hurt me. Not intentionally, anyway. You don’t have to worry.”
“So does that mean you and he are . . .”
“Yes.” Megan smiled thinking back to earlier that morning when Paul told her he loved her.
“I see. So does that mean I get to meet him?” Rebecca asked.
“It’s still new, but yeah. I think maybe we can arrange something soon.” Although she and Paul hadn’t talked about it in detail, they both knew that once Chloe returned home there would be no keeping their relationship secret. Given how their family was already connected, it would probably be better to come clean to everyone sooner rather than later.
“What’s he like? Tell me about him.”
Megan chuckled. “So the interrogation is about to start?”
“No interrogation. I promise. I’m just curious.”
This was going to be tricky. Her sister was a private investigator. Megan knew Paul wanted to keep things quiet to their families for a little while longer, but she also knew that if she didn’t give Rebecca something, her sister had the resources to start digging up info on her own. That wasn’t how she wanted Rebecca or the rest of Paul’s family to find out.
“Well, he’s a lot different from the other guys I’ve dated. He has a job, for one thing.”
Rebecca laughed. “That’s a good start. What does he do?”
“I thought you said this wasn’t an interrogation?”
“What? I can’t even ask a question?” Megan could almost hear her sister rolling her eyes.
“No. You can’t.”
“All right. Fine. Go ahead. I’ll try not to ask you anything,” Rebecca said.
“Thank you.”
Megan waited for several moments to see if her sister was going to keep her end of the deal before she continued. “He’s good to me. And he can be really sweet. Friday night we went to a Japanese restaurant and I got him to try sushi for the first time. I don’t think he liked all of it, but he tried everything because I asked him to.”
“You’re right. He does sound different from the others.” Her sister almost sounded impressed. Or shocked. Either way, it meant that maybe Rebecca would cut her some slack.
“After that, we went dancing. It was a great date.” Megan tried to keep the dreaminess out of her voice.
“You love him.” Rebecca didn’t ask it as a question. It was her sister’s job to read between the lines.
Megan didn’t bother to deny it. “Yeah. I do.”
“And he feels the same way?” The worry was back.
“He does.”
“Okay.”
Megan’s eyes widened with shock. “Okay? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“I’m going to try and trust you, all right? That’s what you want, isn’t it?” Rebecca asked.
“Thank you.” Megan couldn’t express how grateful she was to her sister. Rebecca had always been there for her, no matter how screwed up Megan’s life got.
Figuring it was time to redirect the conversation, Megan brought up the one subject sure to get her sister talking. “So tell me about the nursery. Have you finished decorating yet?”
Sure enough, Rebecca began telling Megan about all the new additions to the nursery they’d made since she left. Even though it had only been a week, her sister described each new item, along with several other ideas she had for the baby’s room. Apparently, Rebecca had found the perfect rocking chair at a flea market but hadn’t been able to fit it in her car, so she’d sent Gage to pick it up in his SUV after practice.
In many ways, Gage and Rebecca were a lot like her and Paul. Not that Megan was anything like her sister, or even that Paul was remotely similar to Gage. It was more that Gage and Rebecca were very much opposites, and the same could be said for her and Paul. On the outside, they didn’t seem to fit. But in reality, they were each other’s perfect balance.
Megan and Rebecca continued to talk about babies and nursery decorations until Gage arrived home around four. Rebecca said goodbye with a reminder that she couldn’t wait to meet Megan’s mystery guy. Megan had no idea how her sister would react when she found out Paul was the guy, but she was hoping it would be a good thing. Paul was a good man. Rebecca knew that. Megan only hoped all that knowledge didn’t go out the window when the truth came out into the open.
After hanging up with her sister, Megan took the time to wash her new acquisitions before going back downstairs to start dinner. She’d just put the chicken in the oven when there was a knock on the front door.
Wrinkling her nose, Megan wiped off her hands, and went to see who it was. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Maybe it was one of the neighbor kids.
She rounded the corner and came face-to-face with the last person she thought she’d see on the other side of her door. Walking the few remaining steps, Megan pulled open the door, and smiled. “Jay. What are you doing here?”
Chapter 25
Paul and Janey spent Monday morning going through the list of students and faculty the college finally sent over to them. Given the information they’d gotten from Scott Parker, they focused on the male library employees and student volunteers. It was a longer list than they would have liked, but by the time they left for the college, they were armed with some basic knowledge about each of their suspects.
It was after one by the time they arrived at the library. The college was currently in between sessions. Paul was hoping that didn’t mean their killer had taken some time off due to the break.
When they walked inside the building, they split up. Janey went to take a look around—get a lay of the land—while Paul strolled over to the main desk. “Hello.”
The young woman behind the desk glanced up from her computer. “May I help you find something?”
He smiled, attempting to put the young woman at ease. If she sensed something was wrong, s
he might attempt to alert the other members of the library staff, and that would only make his job harder. “I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of Mr. Chaney.”
“The library director?”
“Yes. I was told I could find him here?” Again, Paul tried to keep his tone light and conversational.
“Um. He should be up in his office.”
“And where is that exactly?” he asked.
“Oh. Up the stairs and to your right, there’s a hallway. Follow that, and his office is the last door on the left. Did you want me to call up and see if he can come down to meet you?”
Paul shook his head. “No, that’s all right. I’m sure I can find it.”
As he headed toward the staircase, Paul locked eyes with his partner, and nodded toward the second floor. Janey tilted her head in assent and held her position. If the killer was on the premises, they might spook him. Having Janey remain near the entrance was a precaution. If someone suddenly made a beeline for the door, she’d be in a better position to intercept him.
Finding the director’s office wasn’t difficult. The hallway only had a total of six doors—three on each side—all with nameplates. Paul stood in front of Phillip Chaney’s door and knocked.
A few seconds later a man not much older than Paul himself opened the door. “May I help you?”
“Mr. Chaney?” Paul asked.
“Yes?”
Paul showed the man his badge. “May I come in?”
The library director’s eyes widened at the sight of Paul’s badge, and he quickly motioned him inside. Mr. Chaney took a seat behind his desk, and Paul lowered himself into the chair nearest the door.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Chaney. My name is Detective Paul Daniels.”
It was always good to be polite in situations like these. Phillip Chaney, while not completely off their list of suspects, was a good way down the list. He was married with three kids, and he’d been the director at the college library for nearly ten years. There was nothing in his background that screamed “serial killer”. He did, however, have direct contact with all the other library staff, and could be valuable in helping them narrow down their focus. It had already been a month since the last victim was found. If the killer held to his pattern, they had less than a month left before he killed again.
“What can I help you with, Detective?”
“Sir, I’m looking for a person of interest in a case I’m working on, and I believe he either works or volunteers here.”
Shock crossed Mr. Chaney’s features. “Who?”
“Well, Mr. Chaney, that’s where I need your assistance. All I have is a description.”
Mr. Chaney swallowed nervously. “And you want me to tell you who I think it is?”
“Exactly.”
“But . . . but what if I get it wrong? I wouldn’t want to point the finger at someone who’s innocent,” Phillip Chaney said.
“I only wish to ask this person some questions. He may have information on a murder investigation I’ve been working on.”
“Murder?” Chaney’s eyebrows disappeared above his hairline.
Paul kept his tone even and polite. “Yes. So will you help me?”
“Y-yes. Of course.”
After giving Mr. Chaney the description Scott Parker had provided, Paul could tell the library director had a specific person in mind.
“Do you know who this might be, Mr. Chaney?”
“I-I think so.”
Paul leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “Who, Mr. Chaney?”
The library director reached up to straighten his tie, almost as if it were suddenly too tight. “Adam Stalz.”
“And is Mr. Stalz working today?”
Mr. Chaney turned to his computer, and after a few keystrokes, he nodded. “He’s scheduled to work from three to nine.”
Paul looked at his watch. It was almost two. They had an hour to kill before Adam Stalz made his appearance, so Paul decided to use the time wisely. “What can you tell me about Adam?”
By the time he left Mr. Chaney’s office forty-five minutes later, Paul had a much better understanding of his suspect. Adam Stalz was a sophomore at the college. He’d gotten a job at the library roughly ten months ago to help pay for tuition. The timeline fit.
As Paul made his way downstairs to the main floor, he spotted his partner loitering in front of a bookcase not far from the library entrance. She met his gaze.
“I was beginning to think I’d have to send a search party in after you.”
He smirked and shook his head. “Just getting some intel.”
“A productive meeting, then, with the library director?”
“Very.” Paul tilted his head, motioning toward a more isolated corner of the library.
Instead of saying the suspect’s name, Paul found it on the list they’d been provided, and pointed it out to Janey. The chances they would be overheard were minimal, but he wasn’t taking any chances. “Three o’clock.”
Janey glanced down at her watch and nodded.
“I’m going to take up a position in the store, in case he enters from that end. I’ll call if I spot him first. The director was kind enough to offer us his office if we need it,” Paul said.
“Very generous of him.” His partner never took her eyes off the door.
“Yes. Very.”
Once everything was in place, Paul walked over to the other side of the building. It was more crowded than the library, but he supposed that made sense.
At two fifty-six, a young man meeting the description they’d been given entered the bookstore. Paul double-checked the picture they’d found off the Internet, and with the exception of his glasses and a slightly different hair color, it matched. He dialed Janey’s number to let her know as he continued to follow the young man.
Stalz stepped behind the counter and retrieved what looked to be one of the aprons all the library staff wore, and then he crossed the room, walking right past Paul, and disappearing into a side room marked Staff.
Janey appeared from the adjoining building, and they closed in on the door their suspect walked through. No one seemed to be paying them any attention, which was good. The fewer people who knew what was going on, the better.
They were two feet away when Stalz reappeared. He noticed them, and although Paul could tell he was startled, Stalz grinned, and greeted them.
“Is there something I can help you with today?”
“Are you Adam Stalz?” Janey asked.
A look of apprehension crossed Stalz face. “Y-yes. That’s me.”
“We were wondering if we could speak to you in private. Maybe a manager’s office? We wanted to ask you a few questions about a few of your library patrons that we wouldn’t want overheard.” His partner used her most nonthreatening voice. Janey could be menacing when she chose to be. Right now, that wouldn’t get them what they wanted.
Stalz swallowed, and Paul could see the vein at his neck pulsing wildly. The guy was nervous. “Is something wrong?”
This was the tricky part. Not to lie, but not give anything away at the same time. Paul continued to remain silent and allow Janey to do what she did best. “We’re hoping you can help us with something we’re working on. Do you think you could spare a few minutes?”
Stalz looked around, unsure. “I-I guess. I mean I’m supposed to be working now, helping customers.”
“I’m sure it will be fine. Maybe your boss’ office, that way you could clear it with him?”
The suspect still looked torn. “I guess so.”
“Great. Which way?”
“Um. Upstairs . . .”
Not giving Stalz time to change his mind, Janey turned on her heel, and headed back into the library.
The man hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Paul.
“After you,” Paul said.
Once the three of them were in Mr. Chaney’s office, Paul offered Stalz a chair and took up position to the left of the door. Jane
y pulled up another chair that had been against the wall, and positioned it a couple of feet in front of the suspect.
“Adam, my name is Detective Davis, and this is Detective Daniels. Do you have any idea why we wanted to talk to you today?”
Stalz shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
Polite. That was a point in Stalz’s favor. They’d see if it held once they began questioning him in earnest.
Paul opened the folder he had tucked under his arm, and pulled out the pictures of the four victims. “Do you recognize any of these women?”
Adam Stalz looked intently over each picture. “I-I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Come now, Adam. We know you asked at least one of these young women out several times while you were working. Does Mr. Chaney know you’ve been harassing the library’s patrons?”
“No. I haven’t been harassing anyone. No. That’s not true.” Stalz was getting agitated. “Okay, I asked them out, but when they said no, that was it. I would never do that.”
“So you asked all of these women out?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“I’m sure we could find other women you’ve harassed to come forward, Adam. All we have to do is ask around, and—”
“No! I mean, yes, I ask a lot of girls out. But like I said, when they say no, that’s it. I leave them alone. Honest.”
Paul continued to scowl at the suspect while Janey leaned forward. “We’d like to believe you, Adam, but you see, we have a problem. All of these women, they were found dead in their homes after they refused to go out with you.”
It wasn’t a lie.
“Did you follow them home, Adam? Did you stalk them, waiting for the right time, and then kill them?” Paul demanded.
Stalz shook his head violently. “No. No. I wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t kill anyone. I faint at the sight of blood.”
“And why should we believe you?” Paul asked.
“Ask any of my friends. They’ll tell you.” Stalz turned to Janey. “Please. You have to believe me. I didn’t kill anyone.”
Paul took a step forward.
Stalz sat up straighter in his chair, pushing against the back, trying to put distance between him and Paul.
