Written in Blood (Otter Creek Book 3)

by Rebecca Deel

  She shrugged. “He’s the Senator’s right-hand man. Maybe he pressured Sherri to convince Ty to back off on the search.”

  “Where are your facts, Cahill? That’s strictly supposition.”

  “That’s your job, Kelter.”

  A few minutes later, they turned into Mrs. King’s rock-covered driveway. Her old Ford Tempo was parked beside the trailer.

  Meg climbed from the Jeep and again picked her way around the mud puddles. More rain had fallen overnight. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but froze before it connected with the wood. “Rod.”

  He walked up behind her and pulled her aside to examine the smear on the door. “Blood.” He drew his weapon.

  Rod eased the door open with his foot. He stepped into the trailer and the stench of death hit him, twisting his stomach into knots. “Stay outside, Meg.”

  “No. I can help you with first aid.”

  He grasped Meg’s shoulder and pushed her back onto the top stair. “You can’t help her, Meg. I need you to stay out here. Will you do that for me?”

  She pressed her lips and nodded.

  Satisfied she wouldn’t follow, Rod checked each room for intruders, but the home felt empty. Following the odor, Rod ended his search in the back bedroom. Mrs. King lay in bed, a bullet hole in her forehead.

  He holstered his weapon and walked outside, breathing in the fresh, crisp air.

  “Well?” Meg’s face white face drew his gaze.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “How? Heart attack, a fall?”

  He wished he could tell her the cause of death was accidental, but it wasn’t. Someone had murdered Sherri’s mother. “Someone shot her.”

  She dropped onto the bench beside the path.

  He berated himself silently. Meg already had a shock today with the SUV trying to run her down. He should have been more sensitive and at least made her sit before divulging such bad news to her.

  Rod sat beside her and pulled her into the circle of his arms. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why?”

  “I should have tried to break the news in a more sensitive manner.”

  “There is no easy way to deliver that kind of gut-wrenching news. Why would someone kill her? Was it a robbery?”

  He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number he didn’t use often. When a male voice answered, Rod said, “Wes, this is Rod Kelter. I stumbled on a murder scene on your turf. 427 Barnett Lane. Tell your boys I’m in a red Jeep parked in the drive. I don’t want them to shoot me by accident.” He ended the call and slipped the cell phone back in its holder.

  “Why didn’t you call Ethan?”

  “Not our jurisdiction. On county roads, Sheriff’s department gets the call.”

  “Will they keep you informed?”

  “Of course. Professional courtesy.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. Let’s wait in the car. We’re going to be here a while.”

  Within minutes, the first responders barreled down the road and scattered mud and rocks as they skidded to a stop. Before they opened their doors and approached the Jeep, Rod had his window rolled down and his badge visible.

  “You the one who called this in?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What have we got?”

  “Found the homeowner in the back bedroom with a bullet in the forehead.” Megan gasped and Rod covered her hand with his. “This may be tied in to a murder case I’m working. Your vic is the mother of my vic.”

  The cop motioned to the other patrolman. “You can give your statements to Officer Neese and be on your way.” He looked at Megan, speculation in his gaze, before returning his attention to Rod. “You the only one to enter the crime scene?”

  He gazed at the cop through narrowed eyes. Why was the guy looking at Meg like that? “Yeah,” he said, his voice edged with steel. Rod handed him his card. “Call me when you finish processing the scene.”

  The man examined the card, nodded and slipped it into his pocket. “Will do, Detective.” He strode toward the trailer.

  Two hours later, Megan eased past the emergency vehicles parked in the roadway and headed for Otter Creek. “You think they believed us?”

  Rod turned in his seat to face her. “Why wouldn’t they? We had no reason to kill Mrs. King and there’s no evidence to say otherwise.”

  “I had the feeling that first cop didn’t take everything you said at face value.”

  “We’re trained to be suspicious of everybody. Sometimes the perpetrator of the crime is the one who calls it in.”

  “You told the officer Mrs. King’s death might be connected to Sherri’s murder. Do you think that’s true?”

  “It’s a distinct possibility. Cops don’t like coincidences.”

  She nodded. “Neither do journalists. You’re sure Mrs. King didn’t walk in on a robber?”

  Rod didn’t say anything for a minute.

  “Come on, Rod. I have to report this in the paper. You’re not the investigating officer, but you did see the scene. Give me something.”

  “She was in bed. It looks like someone shot her while she slept.”

  “In bed? Not on the bed?”

  “In bed.”

  “So she was killed during the night. Could you tell how long she’d been dead?”

  “That’s the ME’s job.”

  Megan grimaced. Interviewing a cop was akin to interviewing an aardvark. “You don’t think it was a robbery?”

  “It’s not my crime scene, Meg. I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”

  “Off the record, then.”

  He scowled at her.

  She sighed. “All right. Can you tell me if she was as neat a housekeeper as I remember?”

  “Nothing was out of place.”

  Definitely not a robbery, then. Mrs. King kept everything neat in her trailer. She figured a thief wouldn’t care if he left a mess after killing the woman.

  Then another horrible thought stuck deep in her soul. Had she brought death to Mrs. King by going to see her so soon after Sherri’s death? Did the killer think Megan was using Sherri’s mother as a source of information to track him down and expose him?

  She glanced at Rod. “Do you think her death could be my fault?”

  He blinked. “What?”

  “Do you think I caused her death?”

  “How? You didn’t pull the trigger or print her address in the paper. You didn’t quote any inflammatory statements she might have made.”

  Her hands gripped the steering wheel. “But I visited her the day after Sherri died.”

  “What?”

  Meg clenched her teeth. Rod’s voice sounded colder than the freezing temperature outside. “Maybe the killer found out and thought I was pumping her for information.”

  “Did she know anything about Sherri’s killer?”

  “I don’t think so. She didn’t seem to be holding back.”

  “Maybe she knew more than she thought. If the shooter is the same one that killed Sherri, he wanted to plug any potential leaks that might lead back to him.”

  If it was the same killer and he’d learned she talked to Mrs. King, he would come to another inevitable conclusion. If Meg had talked to both Mrs. King and Sherri, then she was a definite liability.

  Great. She was a repository of information that might be important, except that she couldn’t make all the pieces of the puzzle fit yet. As far as she knew, she still had pieces missing. And maybe a screw loose from hitting the stone wall with her head.

  “You’re too quiet. What are you thinking?”

  “I need to stay away from my sisters.” She licked her dry lips. “I think he’s going to try again and I don’t want them caught in his trap by accident.”

  Much as he hated to admit it, Rod feared Megan was correct. If Sherri’s killer had murdered Mrs. King, Meg was his next target and his earlier failures would make him that much more determined to finish the job.

  Darkness had fallen by the time Megan parked the
Jeep next to his SUV. The lot had a few cars left in it, but most of the civilian employees had knocked off for the day. Ethan’s truck still remained in place. Rod figured the police chief was waiting for an update, but he didn’t want Meg driving home without an escort.

  A gust of wind rocked the Jeep. Looked like a storm might be brewing. “You headed home?”

  She shook her head. “Office. I need to write this article while the details are fresh.”

  He glanced at the newspaper office windows. Lights still burned and he noted Zoe working at her desk. “Call me before you leave the office.”

  She frowned, but didn’t argue for which he was grateful.

  Rod slammed the passenger door and watched until Meg entered her office. He ran up the station stairs two at a time.

  “No beautiful woman in your arms this time, Detective?” The desk sergeant grinned at him.

  “Must be losing my touch.” Rod crossed the squad room and knocked on Ethan’s door. “Meg’s back at the office.”

  Ethan pushed aside some of the paperwork on his desk. “Is she all right?”

  “So far. The woman’s got a lot of sheer grit.”

  Lightning lit the sky. Thunder rumbled loud enough to rattle the window in Ethan’s office.

  “Fill me in.”

  Rod recounted what he’d found, adding, “It looked like the same caliber weapon that killed Sherri, Ethan.”

  “Sheriff’s department called?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I’ll call the Sheriff later tonight if you don’t hear from them.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a few more things to wrap up before I leave and I don’t want Meg to go home alone.”

  Rod grinned, way ahead of his boss. “I already planned on making sure she arrived home safe.”

  “Good. Why don’t you knock off for the day. Start fresh tomorrow. Maybe the Sheriff’s people will find something to help on our case.”

  Lights flickered in the station as Rod stood. “Call me if you learn anything.”

  He waved at the desk sergeant and dashed down the stairs to the parking lot. Wind whipped his hair, moisture thick in the air. The first drops of cold rain stung his face.

  If he hurried, he might make it into the Gazette office before the rain started in earnest. He ran to the SUV, cranked the engine and drove around the square to the newspaper office.

  He threw open the car door. A bolt of lightning struck the transformer down the street and the lights winked out around the square. Rod grabbed his flashlight and dashed to the Gazette office.

  Meg froze in the complete darkness. Her heart slammed against her chest wall. In an instant, she found herself gasping for air. She couldn’t get enough air. She had to get out of there. She couldn’t breathe. Why wasn’t there enough air?

  A deafening clap of thunder spurred her into movement. She hurried forward. A sharp jab of pain shot down her leg. What was it? The corner of the desk? She felt her way out of the office. Once she left the doorway, nothing but open space and pitch black greeted her.

  Where was the door? Why weren’t there any lights on the square? She heard something to her left. A step, a breath. Someone was in the office with her.

  Panic set in. Reasoning fled. She plunged forward, ran into a man’s chest and screamed.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Rod grunted at the impact, but reflexively lifted his hands to steady Megan. Even without the lights, he knew it was her.

  “Megan, it’s me.” He shook her a little to get her attention. “It’s Rod.”

  As soon as he said his name, she stopped screaming. The silence almost shocked him. Meg’s body shook, then he heard her gasping for air. “Megan?” He jerked the flashlight from his pocket and aimed the beam at her face.

  Her panic-stricken expression galvanized him into action. Rod laid the flashlight down on Zoe’s desk, beam shining toward them. He cupped her face with his hands. “Slow down your breathing. Breathe with me. In. Out. In. Out.” He kept his voice low, tone steady. “Come on, Cahill. Don’t make me call those EMTs. In. Out.”

  She gripped his wrists, her gaze locked on his face.

  Within minutes, her breathing settled into a more normal rhythm. He drew her into his arms. “It’s okay, Meg. I’m so sorry.” He eased back enough to examine her dimly lit face. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Not your fault.” She concentrated on steadying her breathing for another minute or two. “The darkness,” she whispered.

  Rod rubbed her back gently. “You’re afraid of the dark? Never expected that from a lady who would give Dale, Jr. some stiff competition.”

  A wry smile crossed her face. “Didn’t used to be afraid of the dark.”

  “A panic attack?” He frowned. “Is this a leftover effect from Monday morning?”

  She remained silent a moment. “Maybe.” Meg shivered. “It was so dark on the path I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”

  “Is that how you felt a few minutes ago?”

  She nodded and Rod tightened his arms around her. “The transformer blew down the street. Electricity is out around the square.”

  He should let Meg go, but she was still trembling. And, in truth, she was a perfect fit in his arms and that fascinated him.

  Rod’s hand moved of its own volition into Meg’s hair. Blond silk. Now he understood why Ethan had a thing for Serena’s hair. He wondered if her skin was as soft as it looked. Just one touch to satisfy his curiosity and he’d let her go.

  His hand untangled from her hair and curled around the back of her neck. Satisfaction bloomed in his gut. He’d guessed right. Baby soft skin.

  “Rod?” Her voice came out as a whisper.

  His gaze dropped to her beautiful, lush mouth. “What?”

  “Are you going to kiss me or not?”

  His lips twitched. “Do you want me to?”

  “Would you hurry up already? You’re killing me here.”

  Before he could second guess himself, he settled his lips on hers. Impressions flew at him. Soft, sweet, incredible. This was a stupid move. He knew it as sure as he knew his own name. He wasn’t ready for any kind of relationship. Was he? And, besides, this was his boss’s sister-in-law. But he couldn’t break Meg’s spell and move away from her, not yet.

  Rod deepened the kiss for a moment, reveling in the unique taste of her. Seconds, maybe minutes passed before he made himself lift his mouth from hers. He ran a shaking finger down her cheek. “Meg, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t.” She stepped out of his embrace. “Don’t spoil an amazing kiss by apologizing.”

  He grinned. “Amazing, huh?”

  “Strike that. More like stupendous. But you can’t quote me on that. I’ll deny it.”

  He laughed. “Let’s check outside, see if the guys need help directing traffic. You can stand under the awning. It should keep you dry.”

  “Can I carry the flashlight?”

  “Sure. Want to keep it handy?”

  “I can’t write down the action on a notepad without light. I need enough information to put together an article.”

  He snatched the light from Zoe’s desk and gave it to her. At the door, he paused and looked back at her. “Meg, I know the storm knocked out the power, but don’t wander off, okay? I don’t want to give the killer an opportunity to take a run at you during all the chaos.”

  She straightened and saluted him. “Yes, sir. Orders received, sir.”

  Rod chuckled and opened the door. She was definitely feeling better. Her smart-mouth editor side had surfaced again.

  Minutes later, he dashed to the protected area where Meg stood taking notes. He wiped the rain from his face. “They have it under control now. I’ll follow you home.”

  She nodded and stuffed the notepad into her bag and handed him the flashlight. “Let’s go.”

  Meg sighed, relieved at the sight of her porch light burning and Josh’s SUV in the driveway. She’d rather not have a repeat panic episode and, after the d
ay she’d experienced, would prefer not to be alone overnight. She figured tonight’s nightmares would include black SUVs, old trailers, and impenetrable blackness.

  She ran to her porch with her bag, Rod a step behind her. Josh opened the door for them.

  “About time you got here.” He leaned against the frame. “I was ready to send out a posse.”

  “A transformer blew in the square. There’s a blackout in the center of town.”

  Josh straightened. “Looks like you’re soaked, Rod. Need some coffee or a towel?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Here.” Meg handed her bag to Josh. “Take this inside and make me some hot cocoa. I need a chocolate fix.”

  His eyebrows rose. He studied her face, then Rod’s, but nodded and left them on the porch without saying anything. She knew that wouldn’t last long. Just as long as it took for her to shut the front door.

  She faced Rod and found his gaze locked on her. “Thank you for not ratting on me to Josh. Are you going home or back to the station?”

  “Home. Ethan wants me to start fresh in the morning.”

  “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

  His lips twitched. “Aside from keeping you out of trouble, tracking down the black Navigator, more interviews, the usual.”

  “That’s a hard job, you know.” She inched closer to him.

  “Which part?”

  “Keeping me out of trouble. The Cahill triplets are trouble with a capital T.”

  Rod lifted his hand and cupped the back of her neck. He bent his head to hers. “Believe me, I know.”

  His brief, whisper-soft kiss left her with an ache in her heart as she watched him drive away. She waited until the lights of his car disappeared, then went inside and shut the door on the darkness.

  Meg found Josh in the kitchen, stirring the packet of hot cocoa mix into hot water in a mug. He glanced at her face and froze.

  “Oh, no.” Josh laid down the spoon and glared at her.

  “What?”

  “First Serena, then Madison, and now you. I’m doomed.”

  She plopped down on a bar stool. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re in love with Rod Kelter, aren’t you?”