Susan got up and rinsed out her mug in the sink before putting it up on the rack. “How did they fake a shot? And why did no one hear the real shot if that was what had happened?”
Lisa looked down at her empty mug and considered the wisdom of a third cup of coffee. “Whoever it was would’ve used a silencer. Or improvised one. And I don’t know how they might’ve faked the shot, but I bet there are dozens of possible ways.”
Susan sat back down and shook her head. “I’m not sure I understand what we’d be looking for.”
“That’s the problem. We’d have to scour every inch of that place, hoping we’d know a clue when we saw it.”
“And it’s that or double checking the facts concerning every time someone went in or out for most of yesterday?”
“We’ve already talked to the four guards who’d been in the building and all the other guards to find out what they knew about those four.”
“We had to go all the way over to David’s house and wake him up to get his story.”
Lisa smiled. “We also had to go over to the student dorms to talk to the other two cafeteria workers.” The last people to see Crystal, aside from the murderer. “We do what we have to do.”
Susan sighed. “Including talking to anyone we could find who had known Crystal, and discovering nothing new about her.”
Lisa nodded. “We end up wasting most of our time. Speaking of which, it’s my decision what we do next. And what I want is to return to the scene.” She got up and rinsed her mug and placed it next to Susan’s. “And we might as well go now.”
Susan nodded. “Is there any particular reason you want to go back there?”
Lisa shooed her partner out of the break room and down the hall. “Because I don’t know which of those two basic scenarios is the right one. Scouring the building is looking for evidence of either.”
They went back out the side door and got into the cart. Susan waited for Lisa to get settled in her seat before backing up and trundling down the path toward the front of the compound.
Lisa felt the moist breeze blowing on her face as they went. “The wind seems to have picked up a bit while we were taking our break.”
Susan nodded. “Indeed. A storm’s definitely on the way.”
After a moment’s silence, Lisa decided to return to the discussion of the case. “I suppose it will end up being the ballistics that solve it. After all, someone’s gun killed Crystal and once we find out which gun, it shouldn’t be hard to tag the murderer.”
“Then why are we doing all this work now? Why not wait for the test results? It seems inefficient.”
Lisa squinted at her partner. “It’s our job, and if the ballistics don’t solve it, what then?”
Susan sighed. “They took a lot of guns to test.”
“Don’t remind me. But the chief is casting the net awfully wide. Every gun that can’t definitely be accounted for during the murder window. Does he really think my gun might be the murder weapon?”
“Someone could’ve lent their gun to the killer.”
Lisa snorted. “Not on a whim. It would have to be as part of a conspiracy. Now do you really think my gun was used as part of the plot?”
Susan shook her head. “So who’s most likely?”
Lisa nodded. “That’s more like it. Well, there are those four men who were in the building, and all of them had their sidearms. The rest of the guards are apparently out of it, except for Chief Cameron.”
“He’s even less likely than you as a suspect.”
She squinted at her partner, trying to decide if that was a joke. “Lt. Miles and Sgt. MacTierney are outside the compound, and have been since before the murder. But that’s confidential, so don’t go telling anyone.”
“Right. Is that all?”
Lisa sighed. “No. Unfortunately both Paul and Sara were out on their own and unable to establish where they were at the time. And they’re both relatively new. So maybe there’s more to them than we know about.”
Susan scrunched her face up as she drove along. “But that’s it?”
Lisa shook her head. “That’s it for people who might’ve used their own weapon, but it’s still possible a guard or security officer managed to pass their weapon to a third party. I suppose that’s why Chief Nelson is having every gun without an alibi tested, including mine. And then there’s always the chance of a gun we don’t know about, in the hands of someone other than a guard or security officer. But that’s a slim chance.”
“It’s a disturbing one.”
“Right. You know you’re a big improvement on my last partner.”
“David?”
“No. Chief Nelson. After ‘partnering’ with him yesterday and working this case under him, I’m not in the least romantically attracted to him. Not anymore, or I’d no longer be if I ever had been.”
Susan goggled at her.
Chapter 13
Storm Chasing
6:15 p.m. Monday, March 3rd
KAT sat on the grass fiddling with her FURCS pad to make sure her message to Tony said exactly what it needed to say. Then she checked to make sure it would be sent automatically when a connection was available—she knew she would not have the opportunity to do it herself. As long as he gets the message, that’s all that matters.
A warm, moist wind was blowing—so humid it almost felt like misting rain. Everyone except MacTierney was stretching and enjoying the fresh air for as long as they could before having to cram back inside the two vehicles. Her sergeant was busy packing all their stuff back in.
They’d used up a lot of their supplies—now they had less to put away and more room to put it. And Kat had instructed MacTierney to see that the bulk of their own baggage was transferred to Fiona’s vehicle, hopefully without the others noticing.
Kat stood and considered what she was going to say. This morning while she’d waited for the others to return from the stream, she’d sat and turned the situation over in her mind until she understood it—and knew in her heart what she had to do. Then she had gotten plenty of sleep.
Waking up refreshed, she’d thought through all the details she needed to take care of and then told MacTierney what she wanted him to do. She’d told him all she dared of her intentions. Now it was time to tell the rest.
There must’ve been something in the air aside from the coming storm—as soon as she stood, all of the others lined up in front of her, expectant. Not everyone looked eager to hear what she had to say, though. MacTierney’s expression was grim, and he only knew the half of it—Fiona looked ready for an argument. Kat didn’t have time for one.
She made sure to look each of them in the eye. “We traveled a good distance last night.” Due to the trouble we encountered. “We’re close enough now to reach the FURC by dawn, even going slow. We’d have to try hard not to make it there.”
Only Grace and Patience twitched their lips to show they appreciated that. Kat continued her prepared remarks. “While my mission is to bring all of you back safe, I also have a duty to protect the community. We could drive like maniacs and probably get back inside the compound before encountering those white supremacist thugs again.” Though she wouldn’t take that risk regardless. “But there’s the chance we could give them an opening to crash the gates into the compound. I have to do what I can to keep them from getting that chance, as well as stop them preventing you from getting safely inside. So my idea—”
MacTierney interrupted here, just the way she’d asked. “Do we really have to worry about them? It seems like we left them far behind last night.”
Kat shook her head. “There are far too many of them. And not only have they had all day to search for us, they also know where we’re headed. At least we have to suppose they do, because of Bart. They could easily have gotten ahead of us and be setting up an ambush along the way. If so, it would have to be close to the compound. Since they clearly don’t know where we are or what roads we’ll take.”
Her sergeant opened his mouth
, but he couldn’t get his next part out. Fiona asked the question anyway. “So what are we going to do, then? It sounds like you’ve got some bright plan.”
Kat ignored the woman’s sarcastic tone. “Well, I’ve got a plan. And I think it’s the best shot we’ve got.” Her eyes darted to the western horizon. In the dimming light of the setting sun, dark clouds gathered—and she wanted to get going while some light remained. “I’ll head out alone in the first vehicle to make sure the path is cleared. Any Aryans I run into along the route we’ve planned should end up following me. Regardless, I’ll drive to the FURC as fast as possible, and if there is an ambush waiting I’ll draw them away and give the rest of you a chance to enter the compound without interference.”
Fiona snorted. “It’s good tactics, I agree. But I won’t let you do it alone. I’ll grab my rifle and ride shotgun—and make it less cramped for the others.”
Kat smiled. “Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it, really I do. But Chief Cameron would kill me if I let anything happen to you.”
“Then tell me the route you intend to take so I can drive the other jeep and you can take your sergeant along for help. You will need help.”
I know I will. But Kat shook her head. “Those gate guards know MacTierney. His presence is the only way I can be sure there won’t be a delay at the gate, getting all of you inside. He can’t come with me.”
Fiona looked at her three daughters in turn and then at Lacey, shaking her head. “In that case I am coming with you. Whether you like it or not. These are my jeeps we’re driving. So I insist.” She stepped forward with a clenched jaw, aiming to get right up in Kat’s face.
What started as a slap became Kat’s fist crashing down through the side of Fiona’s jaw. The woman dropped like a rock, crumpling to the ground in a heap. MacTierney and Lacey were both gaping.
Kat looked at Fiona’s daughters. They all wore blank expressions, but she thought she could see a twinkle in the eyes of Grace and Patience. “If you’ll recall, I warned your mother that might happen.”
She squatted next to Fiona’s unconscious form, reaching under one arm as she glanced at MacTierney. “Help me get her up and into the carrier.”
Her sergeant wiped the expression of astonishment off his face and leaped to obey, taking Fiona’s other arm. Together they lifted her dead weight off the ground—and as they did so, Kat surreptitiously slipped her FURCS pad into one of the inside pockets of Fiona’s jacket. If only I dared to use MacTierney’s pad, I could keep mine with me. But she had no regrets.
With her sergeant’s help, she carried Fiona over to the second APC and stretched her out behind the seat on top of the bags piled in the back of the cab. It didn’t look very comfortable, but then Fiona was unlikely to notice. The woman would be really sore when she woke though, so a few extra bruises didn’t matter much. And if Fiona had the chance later to take the matter up with Kat, so be it.
Grace stepped forward, giving Kat a level gaze. “Let me come with you. Please.”
Kat shook her head. “Sorry. Same reason. But you can help my sergeant do what he needs to do—including find a way to squeeze all five of you onto that front seat. And don’t worry about me. All I’m going to do is distract the enemy.” Right.
Grace frowned but bowed her head, accepting the decision. At least Kat wouldn’t have to hit her.
Having done all she needed to do here, the time had come for Kat to get a move on. She nodded to MacTierney and hurried over to the other vehicle, the one with the tracking device under the bumper. She hopped up into the driver’s seat and turned to look back and give them a smile. “Drive safe.”
Grace smiled back. “Godspeed.”
Kat nodded and turned to buckle up, letting her smile fade. Speed was indeed what she needed, and she would take all the help God was giving. Starting the engine, she then circled around to the other side of the copse of trees and accelerated across the field toward the road. While it was still light she wanted to drive as fast and as far as she could. If they were tracking her vehicle, she wanted to create as much distance from the others as possible.
Since that was her goal, and to get to the FURC as soon as she could, Kat took the quickest route to the interstate. She could travel a lot faster that way, and she no longer cared if she did attract the attention of some state troopers—in fact, she rather appreciated the idea. Invite everyone to the party.
Despite what she had told MacTierney and the others, she didn’t think just driving around would provide enough of a distraction. She’d have to give those Aryans a real fight to keep them occupied and give her sergeant a clear field to get everyone safely into the compound. And adding some law enforcement to the mix would give Kat more opportunities to win that fight. Or at least get out alive.
As she sailed down 75 in the waning light however, there wasn’t even a hint of the highway patrol. Or any other traffic. So while she drove she let her mind roam over the land to the north of the FURC. She doubted anyone would try to lay an ambush out in the wide swath just outside the security fence. It used to be home to apiaries and experimental fields and a few small herds of livestock, but what they’d not been able to bring in before winter had gone to the scavengers. Both animal and human. And now it stood ravaged and desolate.
Any ambush would have to be fairly close to the FURC though—since the enemy would have to wait until she was fairly close to the compound to know what gate she was heading for, much less her exact approach. Only they’d think they were tracking the whole group when it would just be her. Hopefully it would be too late when they realized the truth.
Without knowing where exactly an ambush was waiting, only that she was being tracked, Kat chose the straight approach—down 75 until she’d reached the FURC exit and then straight for the north gate. And at the speed she was traveling, she thought she might spring their trap before they were quite ready for her.
Though with the long-standing curfews in place the interstate wasn’t lit up at night. Soon she’d have to don her night vision goggles. And it would slow her down.
She could go faster with her headlights on, but she wasn’t trying to commit suicide. Even if she was charging right into an ambush. She still intended to see them before they saw her and drive through the trap and out the other side. That’s the idea, anyway. Like beating a hornets’ nest, then hoping they come after you. What could go wrong with that?
Slipping her goggles over her face, Kat scanned the road and tried to keep her speed up as much as she dared. Getting in an accident and wrecking this tank wouldn’t help anyone. She assumed they’d be monitoring her progress and start setting up whatever ambush they intended once they thought they knew how she was coming. And she was convinced it would be an ambush—otherwise they would have attacked the group during the day, at the camp.
There was only one reason Kat could think of to explain why they’d not pressed their pursuit. Their real target was the FURC compound itself—not Kat and her charges. Which was why she had hope that her plan might actually work.
Then she began to hear ominous rumbles in the distance and the wind picked up—to the point that despite the low-profile and solidly built character of this thing she was driving, she could feel that wind pushing against it. Not that she worried, but when she came to the circular off-ramp that would lead to the FURC, she did slow enough to keep from rolling over. That would be a poor end to my plan.
All that way down the only interstate the highway patrol actually patrolled these days and she still had not gotten a single nibble. Perhaps it had been too much to hope for.
Even though it didn’t matter much where they were hiding, Kat did want to get as close as possible to where the enemy was gathered. That way, hopefully most or all of them would take up the chase—because the more that were following her, the better chance MacTierney and the others would have.
After some more thought, she decided the Expo Center was her best bet—the brand new, never used and never completed Agricultur
al Expo Center. The place had been meant to tie-in to the research they were doing at the FURC, but it never got finished. It was hardly fit for human habitation, but she didn’t think the Aryans would care.
So, instead of taking the county road that went straight to the compound’s back gate, Kat took a detour—the circular bypass that went over to the Expo Center and all the way around it and returned to the FURC road. At least she’d find out if the white supremacists were there, while hopefully avoiding any direct encounter.
When she neared the grounds and the buildings scattered across them, she scanned for signs of her enemies—and she found them. She was looking off to the right, trying to catch glimpses into the center area through the passing gaps in between the structures closest to the road when she spotted the fires burning. They flared in her night vision. Far away toward the middle of the grounds. Camp fires most likely. And they might’ve been lit by anybody seeking warmth in the night.
Kat knew who it was, though. Now the question was how long before they realized she’d driven into their back yard—not long if they had someone monitoring their tracking equipment. If she got the opportunity, she’d have to remember to ask them who was supplying them with everything.
That question and the others waiting inside her head would have to wait. She’d driven about a third of the way around the grounds when she saw lights, the headlights of a vehicle on the same road she was traveling but circling toward her from the opposite direction.
Whether they knew where she was or not, they were about to find out for sure. Driving without her lights on, she didn’t think she’d been seen yet—and she didn’t want to give them time to realize they’d only found one of the vehicles they’d been seeking. So her foot pushed the gas pedal to the floor.
Kat kept one hand on the wheel while the other lifted to her night vision goggles. She tried to make an imprint of the path ahead of her in her mind and waited until the headlights of the oncoming vehicle were swinging around the curve in front of her. To get the timing just right.
Starting the Slowpocalypse (Books 1-3 Omnibus) Page 36
