Stay.
She didn’t realize she’d given the mental command until halfway across the yard. Lee was impressed Cleo actually remained in place. She stopped about twenty feet from the front porch, her hands on her hips and curious gaze fixed on the property entrance. A beat-up brown station wagon came into view. Lee didn’t recognize the vehicle but she did know the driver.
Ranger Brenda Thomas rolled to a stop less than ten feet away. Lee thought it inconsiderate that she drove off the lane and onto the grass. Though this was a rural area and her property not the manicured lawn of her father’s mansion, it still bothered her. The engine sputtered and coughed before it finally died. Thomas had already exited the vehicle before it did. She waved and smiled at Lee over the top of the station wagon before walking around the front of the car.
“Good morning, Ms. Grayson.”
“Ranger. I’m sorry, but Jamison is at work.” Lee offered what she thought should be common knowledge, but allowed that maybe Thomas didn’t know. Dressed in jeans and a pull-over t-shirt, she clearly had a day off.
Brenda shook her head. “Actually, I stopped by to talk with you.”
“Really?” Lee hadn’t expected that. “What about?”
“I just wanted to see how you were feeling after the accident. I heard it was pretty bad.”
At that moment Cleo ran between the women, stopping a few feet from Ranger Thomas. She seemed curious but unafraid. Brenda smiled and squatted down to pet the dog. The wind gusted at that moment and Lee was certain she smelled cigarette smoke.
“Hey pretty boy. You’re a sweetie, aren’t you?”
“Actually she’s a girl. Her name is Cleo.”
Brenda looked up at Lee but kept one hand on the beagle’s back. “I’m glad to see you weren’t seriously injured.”
Her sincere expression made Lee feel guilty. She’d teased Jamison mercilessly about what she called Brenda’s “boss crush”. Seeing how nice she was to Cleo and taking into consideration that she’d driven out to check on Lee put a new spin on things.
“Just a few bumps and bruises,” Lee told her. “Would you like to come in for a glass of iced tea?”
Brenda gave Cleo a final pat and stood. “That’s sweet of you, but I don’t want to take up your time. I was just driving by and thought I’d stop for a minute.”
“Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”
Brenda’s face stilled. Her eyes seemed to go flat and the smile vanished. Her entire body tensed, giving Lee the sensation of a coiled spring. She had the distinct impression that Ranger Thomas was suddenly furious. The shadow in her dark brown eyes sent a shiver down Lee’s spine. “No. Thank you.”
Lee felt confused by the sudden shift in demeanor. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“You didn’t.”
Brenda’s unexpected smile on the heels of her anger was equally bewildering. Lee struggled to keep up. “Um, okay. Well, thanks for stopping by?”
Apparently, that was the right thing to say. Brenda relaxed abruptly. Her shoulders slumped like a puppet master had cut the strings. Her grin stretched wider and Lee felt her own cheeks ache in sympathy. She pivoted on her heel and retreated to the far side of the station wagon. Her eyes darted down toward Cleo and then back up to Lee.
“Watch out for the pooch. I’d hate to run over her backing out.”
There was nothing ominous in the statement. To the casual observer, Brenda merely expressed concern for Cleo’s well-being. Lee wondered why the words sounded like a veiled threat. She squatted down and hefted Cleo into her arms, standing in place while Brenda drove over the grass in a wide circle before heading back down the driveway. Lee waited long after the sound of the engine vanished, somehow expecting Brenda to return. When she didn’t, Lee let out a long sigh and looked down at Cleo. “That was weird.”
Lee glanced at her watch. It was almost five. Jamison should be home soon. She’d definitely have to speak with her about Brenda’s unexpected visit. Lee turned Cleo loose and headed back into the manor.
Chapter Thirteen
JAMISON LOOKED AT her watch. Almost five, she thought. Lee would expect her soon. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen. The reporter was due to arrive in a few minutes and they still weren’t ready. She sat in a hard wooden chair in Samantha Macke’s office surrounded by Hex, Detectives Seaver and Chase, and Sheriff Macke herself. The room wasn’t that big to begin with and having five adults inside made it feel positively claustrophobic.
“Got a date?” Hex asked curiously.
Jamison wanted to roll her eyes. She wasn’t trying to hide the fact that she’d checked the time, but why did Hex see the need to point it out? “No, I was just thinking I should call Lee and let her know I’ll be late.”
“We’ll be finished in a few minutes,” Macke assured her.
Jamison nodded. “Right. Anyway, if we can have the reporter release her story in the morning that should give us time to set up phone banks. I hope you guys are ready because once that story hits the air, we’re going to be slammed with useless tips from well meaning citizens.”
“You’re not wrong about that,” Hex said. “The phones will be ringing off the hook. We’ll need extra operators not to mention as much manpower as we can bring in to chase down leads.”
“I can bring in all off-duty rangers from the park. That’s about fifteen bodies and it’s all I can spare. I need the rest to be working the forest.”
“Isn’t it the off-season?” Macke asked. “How many people do you need?”
“You’re right. It is the off-season, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still campers,” Jamison pointed out. “Plus, there are always people willing to hunt when they think there’s no one around.”
“Poachers,” Hex snorted. “I hate those guys. How many extra deputies can you pull in, Sheriff?”
Jamison noticed that Detective Hex wouldn’t directly meet Sam’s eyes. There was some tension going on there and she wondered what had happened between them. She tried to shift her focus back to the matter at hand. Their relationship had nothing to do with her and she did not want to get involved.
“Not as many as Ranger Kessler. This is a small station for a small town. Adirondack Park has more resources than the sheriff’s department.”
“It’ll have to do,” Jamison said. “Also, I have a suggestion in regard to the reporter. I think we should hold back some information from the public. This way we’ll have something we can use to verify any tips.”
“I take it you already have something in mind?” Sam asked.
“The lipstick. If any Good Samaritans say anything about the lipstick then we’ll know they’re actually involved. We all know that there are a percentage of these killers that like to inject themselves into the investigation.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Hex folded her arms and leaned against the wall. She raised one heel and rested it on the paneled surface behind her.
Detective Hex hadn’t sat once in the last hour, giving Jamison the impression that she would rather be anywhere other than here. Hopefully they’d catch this monster soon and she’d get her wish. Jamison turned her attention to the other two occupants. In a human investigation, lower level officers waited until directly included to volunteer information, but Jamison didn’t work that way. She was accustomed to Panthera traditions and all members of the community were equally included.
“Have we heard anything from the labs yet?”
Seaver glanced at Hex in surprise as though asking permission to speak. Jamison noticed Hex merely awaited her response. That was a point in her favor, Jamison thought. She had nothing but respect for Hex. Macke could certainly do worse. Jamison realized where her internal musings had taken her and how dangerous things could become for the detective should such a thing happen. The Council already suspected Detective Hex could pose a threat to them. If she became involved with the local sheriff, who knew about the shape changers’ existence, things could turn extremely ugly for H
ex.
“Nothing from the local labs,” Seaver answered. “Jack and I heard from the New York lab that they got a partial print off of Ms. Grayson’s Mercedes. It’s pretty smudged but they’re running the print through all databases including the National Crime Index and Interpol.”
“Interpol?” Sheriff Macke scoffed. “Surely you don’t think we have an international serial killer on the loose in a National Forest?”
Hex frowned and Jamison easily sensed her irritation. Hex didn’t like Macke taunting her people. Hex confirmed Jamison’s suspicions a moment later.
“There’s no need to get snarky, Sheriff. I’m sure Detective Seaver was merely pointing out that we might have a lead.”
Jamison’s eyebrows rose. This was getting interesting.
“It’s okay, Sheriff,” Seaver said quickly. “I think we’re all a little tired. I know I can’t wait for this to be over.”
Chase nodded. “Agreed, I don’t want to have to tell anyone else that they’ve lost a sister or daughter. I want this bastard caught and I’m thinking the sooner we get this story out the better.”
“Jack, don’t you have a birthday coming up soon?” Detective Hex asked.
“Not me, my son. He’ll be seven in a couple of weeks.”
“You’re very lucky,” Seaver said. “I don’t have any kids, or a partner for that matter, this job takes too much out of me for that. Still, it would be nice to have some time off. I feel like I’ve been awake for a month.”
Sam looked uncomfortable that the conversation had drifted onto personal topics. She cleared her throat and pushed back slightly from the desk. “When do you expect to hear back from the lab on the prints?”
An uncomfortable silence ensued. Jamison broke it by saying, “Detectives Seaver and Chase, why don’t you two go ahead? Check in with the lab and see if they’ve found anything yet. The reporter will be here in a few minutes anyway.”
The two looked surprised by the abrupt dismissal, but left when Detective Hex agreed. The reporter arrived less than a minute after the officers left. For the next hour Jamison forgot about calling home and immersed herself in the details of the case, what information they could safely release to the public, and concern that there would soon be another victim. Their suspect couldn’t be happy about Lee surviving the car accident and then losing both Lindsay and Mira.
The sun had begun to set before they finished. Jamison stretched and left the reporter, Sherman Gibson, in the sheriff’s capable hands. She still needed to go back to the office before heading home. On some days, Jamison regretted being in charge of the Paul Smith’s Visitor’s Center. She decided to call Lee after she left her office. Working late wasn’t that unusual. Lee would understand.
Jamison drove the Range Rover into the park’s main lot. The first thing she noticed was Brenda’s car. Simultaneously, she saw that Jeanie Kraus had already left for the day. Strange, Brenda wasn’t scheduled to work today. Jamison had given her the day off so she’d be ready to chase down leads after the story about the killer broke. She spotted Brenda sitting at the top of the steps leading into the ranger’s station, but couldn’t see her face. Brenda’s elbows rested on her knees and her head was down. She appeared utterly dejected.
Concerned, Jamison pulled into her space and quickly shut off the engine. Absently, she locked the door and stepped around the back of the vehicle to look at Brenda. It took a moment to realize what was different. Then she saw the blood on Brenda’s shirt.
“Brenda, are you all right?”
Jamison sprinted across the concrete lot and knelt down in front of her. She hesitated before resting a hand on Brenda’s knee. “Look at me. What happened?”
Brenda looked up and Jamison saw tears flood her eyes. Her lower lip was split and swollen. A large bruise had formed on the lower left side of her jaw. “I didn’t mean to upset her, honest.” The words slurred a little, affected by her injury.
“Who did this to you? Who was upset?” Blinking back the tears, Brenda glanced away and chuckled slightly. She grimaced from the pain and said. “I know it wasn’t my place, but I went to see Ms. Grayson. I just wanted to say that I was glad she was okay.”
Jamison recoiled in disbelief. “You’re saying Lee did this? Why?”
Brenda shrugged. “I’m not really sure. I must have said something upsetting to her. To be honest, I can’t really remember what it was. Maybe she thought I was looking for you or that we had something going on. It all happened so fast.”
She realized Brenda had misunderstood. “I wasn’t asking why Lee hit you. I was asking why you would say something like that.”
“Excuse me?”
“Brenda, clearly someone attacked you but I highly doubt it was Lee. She would never do something like this. If someone made you say that, you need to tell me.”
Jamison reeled backward when Brenda stood. Her position on the steps gave her an additional two feet over Jamison.
“You don’t believe me? Even seeing the evidence with your own eyes, you still don’t trust me?”
Brenda’s voice echoed throughout the parking area and Jamison winced at the volume.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t. I know her too well.”
“And you don’t know me, is that it? I’ve worked with you for over a year. How can you say that? Why would I lie? Maybe she’s jealous that we spend so much time together. Have you ever thought of that?”
In point of fact, she hadn’t. Yet now that Brenda mentioned it, Lee had teased her relentlessly for the last few months. Jamison shook off the split-second of suspicion. It was possible that Lee harbored a bit of jealousy about Jamison spending time at work with Ranger Thomas, but she would never physically abuse someone. Jamison trusted her and that would never change. She felt sure that someone made Brenda blame Lee.
“Brenda, please tell me who did this to you. I can protect you.”
“Forget it. I don’t know why I ever thought you’d believe me.” Brenda’s face had turned red and the veins stood out in her forehead, obvious signs of her anger. She pushed past Jamison and started walking across the parking lot.
“Wait, where are you going? You need to get that cut looked at.”
Brenda spun around and spread her arms wide, walking backward. “What do you care? Huh?”
She walked away then, but Jamison was sure she heard her mutter something that disturbed her greatly. She was sure Brenda said she was going to fix things. Fix what things?
Somehow the sun had set without her being aware of the event. The lights had come on around the parking lot and Jamison stood exposed directly beneath one. Her mind whirled in confusion and concern. She couldn’t figure out why Brenda would make such an accusation, but she was adamant that Lee was the guilty party. Jamison thought Brenda might even believe it. Jamison didn’t know what to think, but she was sure of one thing. Any paperwork could wait until later. Right now, she needed to get home.
Jamison pulled up in front of Mafdet Manor. Even in the unsure glow cast by the headlights she saw where tires had flattened the grass. The tracks made a wide half-circle before winding back around to the driveway. Neither Jamison nor Lee typically drove onto the grass. Pondering the implications, Jamison parked next to Lee’s rental car in front of the garage. The insurance company had a while yet to settle the claim for the Mercedes. Jamison still found the car’s absence unsettling. More disturbing yet were Brenda’s claims of violence perpetrated by her partner. The tire tracks lent credence to the ranger’s presence at Mafdet, but Jamison just couldn’t believe Lee would strike the woman out of some misguided sense of jealousy.
She found Lee in the living room, curled up on the sofa with a novel. Cleo lay on the rug warming beside a crackling fire. Both of them embodied the picture of domestic bliss. Moreover, Jamison sensed only quiet contentment from her small family. As much as she trusted Lee, Jamison had to admit to a tiny kernel of doubt about Lee’s innocence. Brenda had been so adamant and Jamison had seen the physical evide
nce of an assault with her own eyes. Yet seeing her now, any suspicions vanished like ether on the wind.
“Are you going to stand there or would you like to sit down?”
The teasing glint in Lee’s baby blue eyes extinguished any lingering tension. Jamison smiled and settled next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders. She kissed Lee’s temple and then her lips. For the first time since encountering Brenda on the steps of the ranger’s station, the situation didn’t seem so dire.
“Anything exciting happen today?” Jamison asked in a deliberately casual tone. She hoped Lee would bring up the topic on her own.
“Exciting? No, not that I can think of.” Lee placed her novel on the sofa arm and snuggled closer. “Now that you mention it though, something strange did happen. I had a visit from Ranger Thomas.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I thought she was looking for you but she said she came by to check on me. I don’t really believe that’s true. I think she wanted to see you and tried to save face when she found out you weren’t here.”
Her tone had assumed a teasing quality, as it usually did when the subject of Brenda Thomas came up. “Lee, surely you know you have nothing to worry about. I love you.”
Lee pulled back to see her face. “Of course I know that. You don’t think I’m jealous do you?” When Jamison didn’t respond, Lee said, “You do!”
“It’s all right if you are.” “Stop. Jami, I’m not jealous. I guess I make light of the situation because I feel bad for her. Joking about her boss crush is just my way of dealing with it.”
“You feel bad for her?”
“Yes. It’s not that confusing. Honey, you’re an amazing woman and I can’t blame her for how she feels about you. I feel bad for her because I know she’ll never have what she wants.”
Jamison cleared the lump in her throat. “Sometimes your capacity for compassion is staggering.”
Under Devil's Snare (Under Series Book 2) Page 15
