The Officer's Secret

by Giusti, Debby

  Nate disconnected and flicked a glance over his shoulder to the chaplain. “Sorry to take up your time, sir.”

  “You think the husband was involved in Major Bennett’s death?”

  “He killed her,” Maggie said with conviction. “Dani fought with him earlier and kicked him out. Easy enough for Graham to return later.”

  “We need evidence, Maggie, to prove a crime has been committed at all,” Nate explained.

  “Check his alibi with the woman he’s supposed to be seeing. Threaten to involve her if she doesn’t tell the truth.” Nate almost smiled at Maggie’s attempt to tell him how to handle the investigation.

  “Search his car and the apartment where he’s staying,” she added. “You’ll uncover something.”

  “And if we don’t find any evidence that points to his guilt?”

  “Then—”

  The amateur sleuth seemed to have run out of options.

  “Then throw him in jail until he talks,” she finally said.

  “You know we can’t do that. But we will find him and determine where he was tonight.”

  “Focus on determining why he killed my sister.” With another huff, Maggie turned toward the passenger window and stared into the night.

  Nate glanced at the rearview mirror, catching the chaplain’s eye. “At this point, sir, we don’t know much. Hopefully the autopsy and toxicology results will shed more light on the situation.”

  “The 2nd Transportation Battalion has had a rough few days,” the chaplain commented. “I’m sure you heard about the IED explosion that took two men in Afghanistan.”

  “Yes, sir. Were you involved in the notification?”

  “The driver was unmarried. His parents live in New Jersey. An officer from Fort Dix visited them. But the company commander lived on post and left a wife and kids.”

  Nate heard struggle in Chaplain Grant’s voice. Most days, Nate didn’t think about God or the difficulty a man of faith might have in comforting the grieving. As a CID agent, his job was to ensure the family was notified, if a crime had been committed. He left the spiritual consolation to the chaplains. Still, he found himself searching for a way to reach out to Maggie, to ease the pain and frustration she was feeling and bring her comfort.

  Nate glanced at Maggie again. If the tables were turned, he’d be lashing out, as well. Fact was, when his brother died, Nate had been filled with pain and anger. Some of which he still hadn’t resolved.

  “Might seem strange,” the chaplain said from the rear, his voice melancholy. “But the commander’s wife ended up comforting me. The woman has great faith in the Almighty. She’s grieving, but she knows God didn’t cause the IED explosion that took her husband’s life.”

  Once upon a time, Nate had believed God protected the faithful. Now, the memory of what had happened to Michael was never far from his mind. Truth be told, he blamed God as well as himself.

  Glancing at Maggie, Nate said, “Seems impossible to trust a so-called loving God when your world falls apart.”

  She nodded slowly but kept her eyes trained on the passing darkness. Raindrops splattered against the windshield, adding to the oppressive gloom that had settled over all of them.

  The chaplain sighed. “I don’t have the answer, but I know we can’t turn our backs on the Creator. He made us because He loves us, and His love is unconditional. I keep coming back to that. God knows all. How can I, as a finite creature, hope to understand why things happen? Maybe someday I’ll see more clearly. Right now, I’m looking with human eyes that don’t see the entire picture. I have to trust in Him. That’s not always easy.”

  Trust in God wasn’t high on Nate’s priority list. Would he ever be able to soften his heart and turn to the Lord again?

  What about Maggie? Would her sister’s death have a long-term impact on her life, too? Maybe they’d talk about it sometime if he got to know her better.

  Warmth spread through him again and his neck tingled. As much as Nate hated to admit it, even to himself, the woman’s pain affected him deeply. Usually, he could trust his feelings. Tonight he wasn’t sure of anything, especially when it involved Maggie Bennett.

  She was alone and grieving. Nate thought of the other cases he had investigated. One death often led to another.

  If he were a praying man, he’d ask that no one else—especially Maggie—would be hurt in any way by what had happened tonight.

  THREE

  Maggie scheduled an appointment to plan her sister’s funeral with the chaplain for the following day before Nate dropped him off at his car. Once back on the main road, the CID agent turned warm eyes her way.

  “Cold?” The light from the dash played over his lips that parted into an encouraging smile.

  She shook her head. “I’m okay.”

  “The weatherman has predicted rain for another week. Hard to believe after the years of drought we’ve had in the Southeast. Now the rivers are threatening to overflow their banks, streams are swollen and…”

  He was making small talk, probably to keep her mind off the tragedy. She looked back at the road, unable to think of anything except what had happened.

  “I’m sorry about your sister,” he finally offered.

  “She didn’t take her own life.” Maggie might be driving home a point he didn’t want to hear, but she had to convince this man with the genuine smile that suicide wasn’t an option.

  “Let me assure you, every effort will be made to learn the truth.”

  She sighed at the pat answer that didn’t satisfy her. “It’s ironic that my sister survived a war zone only to be killed once she got home.”

  Glancing out the passenger window, Maggie stared into the darkness before asking, “Were you ever stationed in Afghanistan?”

  “Twice.”

  “And you made it back okay?” She turned to face him.

  His eyes narrowed, and he gazed at the road ahead as if seeing something more than pavement. A muscle in his neck twitched. “Yeah, but my brother didn’t.”

  “I’m… I’m sorry.” She picked at the sleeve of her sweater. “So then you understand?”

  “What you’re going through?” He nodded. “A death in the family is always hard, but especially so when it’s unexpected.”

  He pulled in a lungful of air and glanced at her. “The shock makes everything hurt even more.”

  She saw his own struggle reflected back at her from crystal-blue eyes visible in the half light from the dash. The counselor in her wanted him to go deeper, but the set of his jaw told her that, as far as Nate was concerned, the subject was closed.

  He pointed to a cluster of apartments that appeared in the distance. “Kelly lives in the first set of BOQs.”

  Maggie unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her purse once he parked the car. Nate carried her suitcase and escorted her to the second apartment on the right where Kelly opened the door and motioned her inside.

  “I know it’s been a hard night,” the female agent said to Maggie in greeting as she took the bag from Nate’s hand.

  Hot tears burned her eyes. Suddenly, she wanted to get away from Nate Patterson and his sympathetic friend. To his credit, he didn’t come in, but said goodbye at the door.

  Kelly led the way to the guest room where a pink gingham comforter, trimmed with eyelet, covered a twin bed with a white wicker headboard. A matching nightstand and rocker sat nearby. Kelly placed Maggie’s suitcase on a blanket chest at the foot of the bed.

  “You’ll find towels in the bathroom just across the hall. May I get you a cup of tea? Maybe something to eat?”

  “I just need some sleep.”

  “Of course you do. If you get up before I do, the coffeepot will be ready to turn on. There’s cream in the fridge. Sugar’s on the counter. Help yourself to cereal or eggs, whatever you want for breakfast.”

  “Thank you, Kelly.”

  “Not a problem. See you in the morning.”

  Once the other woman left the bedroom and closed the door b
ehind her, Maggie collapsed onto the bed and put her head in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  She tried to bring stability and peace to the families she counseled, but right now, she needed help herself. The harsh reality was she felt totally alone.

  Maggie woke with a start, hearing the phone ring in the living room of Kelly’s quarters. Visions of Dani had circled through her dreams for the few hours she’d been asleep and now returned to haunt her when her eyes were wide open.

  Still wearing her jeans and orange sweater, Maggie pulled herself from the bed and glanced at the items she had packed in her suitcase. Something seemed out of place, giving her an uneasy feeling. She shrugged it off, realizing that it was probably because she had been in such a hurry last night.

  She grabbed a fresh outfit and stepped into the bathroom across the hall to change, surprised by the woman staring back at her from the mirror. She hadn’t expected to see dark circles under her eyes.

  Death takes a heavy toll on those left behind. Her mother’s words flowed from the past.

  Returning to the hallway, Maggie followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen where Kelly stood at the counter, holding half of a bagel slathered with cream cheese and jelly. “Morning. Did the phone wake you?”

  “No, I was up.” Not quite the truth, but Maggie didn’t want to discuss her restless night.

  Kelly pointed to a clean mug, sitting next to the coffeepot. “Help yourself.”

  “Thanks.” Maggie poured a cup and drank it black.

  “The phone call was from Chief Agent-in-Charge Wilson. He’s the head of our CID unit at Rickman. There’s a problem involving a soldier in North Georgia that I have to check into, which might take a couple of days. The guy was part of the 2nd Transportation Battalion.”

  “My sister’s unit.”

  Kelly nodded. “This guy came home early because he needed surgery and had been on convalescent leave ever since.”

  She didn’t provide any additional information. Probably more bad news. “I’ll get my things if you can suggest a motel in town,” Maggie said.

  “Nonsense. No reason you can’t stay here while I’m gone. Nate lives in an apartment across the open stairwell if you need anything.”

  Maggie thought of the warmth of his gaze in the car last night. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “I insist. Speaking of Nate, he’s been working all night, but he’s headed over here now. He wants to talk to you.”

  Hopefully, he had located Graham.

  “Help yourself to anything in the refrigerator.” Opening a cabinet drawer, Kelly pulled out a small phone directory. “We’ve got delivery pizza and Chinese carry-out on post. The numbers are highlighted in the book. Better yet, have Nate grill a couple steaks. Tell him Kelly said to make his special garlic mashed potatoes and Caesar salad.”

  “I’m sure I won’t go hungry.” Maggie was surprised to learn Nate cooked. Her father had never lifted his hand in the kitchen. For some reason, she’d thought all military guys would be the same.

  A car door slammed outside. “Bet that’s him now.” Kelly crammed the last bite of bagel into her mouth. Chewing, she washed her hands and looked out the window before she headed for the door.

  “How about some breakfast?” Kelly motioned Nate inside.

  “Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check.”

  Maggie raked her fingers though her hair and fluffed the bangs off her forehead. Not that she cared about the way she looked, but last night Nate had been—

  “Morning, Maggie.” He stepped into the kitchen, bringing a hint of the wet outdoors with him. Despite his all-night work marathon, he was clean-shaven and alert. Even his white shirt had maintained its starch.

  “Coffee?” Kelly opened a cabinet and reached for a mug.

  “I don’t have time.” He pulled a black-and-white photo printout from a folder and dropped it onto the table. “Maggie, one of our men pulled this off your sister’s laptop. Does it mean anything to you?”

  She stared at the picture of a potbellied earthenware figurine.

  “The original is housed in the Kabul Museum,” Nate continued. “Probably from the third or fourth century when the silk routes wove through what is Afghanistan today.” He glanced down at the photo, then back at her. “Growing up, did your sister have an interest in ancient artifacts?”

  “Not that I recall. Maybe she visited the museum while she was in Afghanistan?”

  He shook his head. “It’s doubtful. Her unit wasn’t in that area. She downloaded the photos the day before she redeployed home. When you met with her, did she mention anything about researching artifacts?”

  Not artifacts, necessarily, but over lunch, Dani had mentioned mailing an item stateside that would provide evidence she could take to the provost marshal on post, though she hadn’t shared only details with Maggie.

  Nate was staring at her. “Did you think of something?”

  “No.” She shook her head a little too quickly. The way he continued to stare, she wondered if he could read her mind.

  Finally, she said, “Dani liked to immerse herself in the culture of the countries she visited. My hunch would be she had heard about the figurine and wanted to learn more.”

  Kelly glanced at the photo still lying on the table. “Sure is a strange-looking little man.”

  “Did you find anything else on her computer?” Maggie asked.

  “Not on her hard drive.” Nate pulled another paper from the folder. “But your sister had a list of names and addresses tucked inside a book on her nightstand.” He looked at Maggie. “Do any of these people sound familiar?”

  Nate read from the list. “Reginald Samuel. Lance Davis. Kendra Adams.”

  “Kendra Adams?”

  “You know her?”

  “I…” Maggie hesitated. “A girl by that name attended Freemont High School when we lived here. She and Dani were friends.”

  “Did your sister keep in touch with her after you left Fort Rickman?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, but I told you, Dani and I hadn’t seen each other in a number of years.”

  Nate appeared to accept her answer, then read the remainder of the list aloud before he raised his brow. “Do you recognize anyone else?”

  Maggie shook her head. “Only Kendra. What address do you have for her?”

  “A post office box in Mansell, Georgia, about fifteen miles east of here.”

  “She used to live in downtown Freemont,” Maggie said. “What are the other addresses?”

  Nate held the paper out so she could read the listings. “They’re all post office boxes in neighboring towns.”

  Kelly arched her brows. “Strange, huh?”

  Nate tried to brush it off with a shrug, but Maggie knew the names and addresses were important or he wouldn’t have mentioned them. “Has anything else come to light?”

  He shook his head. “The autopsy won’t be done until this afternoon. We might have more answers then.”

  “Did you talk to Graham?”

  Nate hesitated for a long moment. “We haven’t been able to locate him.”

  Maggie let out a sigh of frustration. “As I mentioned last night, he probably hightailed it to Atlanta and booked a flight out of the country. Aren’t the first forty-eight hours the most critical in a murder investigation?”

  “Is it a murder case?” Kelly glanced from Maggie to Nate.

  “As I said, we’ll have more information after the autopsy.” Nate’s voice was firm. “There were no signs of struggle. The door was locked when you entered the house.”

  “Graham could have easily locked the door behind him. And what about the footsteps I heard?”

  “The wind was strong last night. Old houses settle. The creaks can be deceptive.”

  Thinking back, she wasn’t sure what she had heard. Maybe Nate was right about the footsteps, but he was wrong if he still thought Dani’s death was suicide. He needed to find Graham and haul him in for questioning.


  “Did you know your sister was taking antianxiety medication?” Nate asked.

  The question caught her off guard. “Are you sure?”

  “We found a half-empty bottle of Xanax in her kitchen cabinet prescribed by an off-post physician and filled at a civilian pharmacy.”

  “Which doesn’t prove she killed herself.”

  “I never said it did.”

  Anger bubbled up within her. “But that was the direction you were headed, wasn’t it? Mentally unbalanced major takes her own life. I can see the headlines in the local paper.”

  Before Nate could respond, his cell rang. He pulled it to his ear, checking caller ID en route. “Hey, Jamison.”

  Nate looked down at the table. “Roger that. I’ll head there now.”

  Returning the phone to his pocket, he turned to Kelly. “I’ve got to go to headquarters.”

  “Something turn up?”

  “They located Graham.”

  Nate shoved the papers back into his folder then glanced at Maggie. “I’ll talk to your brother-in-law about the arrangements for internment and drive you to the funeral home this afternoon, say about 1300 hours. One o’clock.”

  The CID agent with the deep-set eyes was building a case against Dani. Maggie’s first impression of Nate had been good, and in a strange way, she felt attracted to him, but if he believed her sister had taken her own life then—

  A door slammed as Nate left.

  Maggie walked to the window and watched him drive away. A mixture of sadness and resolve rolled over her. If Nate believed Dani had taken her own life, Maggie would do just about anything to prove him wrong.

  Even confront Graham.

  Initially, she had thought he had killed her sister because of the divorce, but if Graham was involved in the illegal activity Dani had uncovered, he would have had even more motive to take her life.

  Another thought came to mind that sent a chill down Maggie’s spine. If Graham hadn’t killed her, some other conspirator could have realized Dani was getting too close and decided she needed to be silenced. The person who killed her sister had struck once. What would stop him from killing again?