"I think it was someone she met at work, very recent, though. I doubt she'd seen him more than a couple of times. Nothing serious."
"I see. Would you happen to remember his name?"
"I think Trey or Travis, maybe? I'm sorry I can't be more precise."
Destiny grabbed Caleb's elbow. "Travis. That name was in her calendar, but there wasn't anything special written by it."
"Ok, thank you. If you think of anything else, please give me a call." Caleb held out his business card. "And again, I'm sorry for your loss. From what I've heard, Penny was a lovely person."
Gina nodded. "She really was."
Caleb and Destiny moved further into the room. All the while, Destiny kept a firm grip on his arm. Was she afraid? Sad?
She halted and looked up at him. "That was very kind, Caleb, what you said about Penny. I appreciate it. Oh…here comes Grandpa."
A tall man walked toward them, eyes fervent with purpose. From his erect bearing and agile movements, Caleb took him to be much younger than his graying hair would suggest. The moment he reached Destiny's side, he wrapped her in an embrace.
"You all right, sweetie?"
"I'm fine. Detective Forest guarded the house all night. I finally fell asleep."
A sharp gaze settled on Caleb. "Many thanks, young man. My granddaughter says the case is progressing well."
"Yes, sir. I believe so." Caleb held out his hand. "Caleb Forest."
"Michael Knox. I'm pleased to meet you. Captain Jonas had good things to say about you. I'm glad to see he wasn't wrong. I couldn't have just anyone cruising the streets with my granddaughter."
"I understand, sir. I'll do my best to keep her safe."
"You do that." He grinned. "Sometimes it's harder than one might think. She has a habit of being in the midst of things."
"Grandpa, I'm standing right here."
"Standing by a cop could be the best place for you, Destiny." He clapped Caleb on the back. "Good to meet you, son."
"Seriously?" Destiny shook her head as her grandfather ambled away. "I can't believe he said that."
"After spending the last three days with you, I know exactly why he said it."
She punched his arm. "Watch it, buster. Here comes Laurel and Zack."
As the couple moved toward them, Caleb got the distinct impression that something more personal had passed from one to the other. Had he gotten it wrong all along? Had Zack and Laurel always had an interest in each other, or had the enforced intimacy of the last twenty-four hours initiated something?
Zack dipped his head. "Anything?"
"Nada. Either he's waiting til the last minute, or he's not coming."
Destiny gave Laurel a hug. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I remember several people. They've been extremely open and accepting."
"Why wouldn't they, Laurel? You're a lovely person."
"Who changed her name to avoid them all."
"It is what it is. If people can't see who you are now, forget them. Let's take a seat."
Destiny indicated a row, but Caleb held her back until Zack could enter first then Laurel. He wanted the women surrounded on both sides. He took the position on the end and continued to survey the crowd as people settled in seats.
"You do that all the time." Destiny's soft voice against his ear was a pleasant sensation he'd like to experience more often.
"Do what?"
"Study everything around you, like you never take a break."
"Why should I take a break?"
"So you can relax."
"I have no intention of relaxing today, and I usually don't even notice that I'm watching a room. It's instinctive."
She pointed toward the podium. "That's my pastor, since I was a little girl."
"I bet he could tell me stories."
"I'm not as bad as Grandpa said. I'm just interested in life."
"Uh huh. I've experienced that firsthand."
"Whatever. Be quiet. They're going to start."
"You began this conversation."
"I'm ending it."
For the next thirty minutes, people stood and gave testimony to Penny's life. Apparently, she'd been well-liked. Destiny remained in control of her emotions for the first few minutes, but eventually she sniffed and her hand flew to her face. When Caleb turned to look at her, he found trails of tears down her cheek. He stuffed a handkerchief in her hand. Seconds later, Laurel took her other hand, and they remained that way until the final prayer and dismissal.
As they trailed out to the cemetery, Caleb caught a look from Zack. He jerked his head to the sidewalk running down the length of the building. Jeffrey Seymour stood there, his arms crossed over his chest and dark glasses framing his eyes. If Caleb didn't know better, there was just a shade of mockery in that smile. He'd dearly love to punch the guy's face then throw him in the deepest pit of the jail with a bunch of gangbangers.
He knew the moment Destiny caught sight of Jeffrey. She stiffened at his side and lost a step. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her against him. "It's all right. I'm here."
She didn't say anything, but she never took her eyes off Jeffrey. When they reached the burial mound, she walked to the opposite side from everyone else, but Jeffrey followed.
He sidled up to them. "Destiny, how are you? Lorelei, is that you? I scarcely recognize you."
"That's hard to believe since you've been following me around, Jeffrey." Laurel rested her hand on her hips. "Why did you kill Penny? Ruining our reputations in high school wasn't enough for you? Or could you not take it when she didn't want you…again."
"What are you saying, Lorelei? Are you crazy?"
"I wondered for a long time, but now I know it was you."
Jeffrey's gaze darted around the group then back to Laurel. "You're still as misguided as ever. I have an alibi."
"We'll see about that. I've learned a thing or two since high school…like handwriting analysis. You should have typed all your notes, Jeffrey. I'm going to destroy you."
"Are you listening to her, Destiny? I told you she was unstable. You should watch your back."
Caleb took a step forward. "Is that a threat, Mr. Seymour?"
Jeffrey smiled then walked away.
Immediately, Destiny collapsed against Caleb's chest. "Oh Jesus, oh Jesus. Did he leave? Is he gone?"
Zack twisted to survey the crowd. "Yes. He's walking to his car." He stepped closer to Laurel and tilted his head. "I don't know, Dr. Blake. You might have pushed him a little hard. He might snap."
"Good. We can nail the s…" She broke off and eyed Destiny. "Sorry."
"I understand, Laurel. He makes me want to curse, too. He's kind of…creepy."
Ten minutes later, the final amen had been said, Destiny had communicated her goodbyes, and they stood in the parking lot with Zack and Laurel.
"What now?" asked Zack. "Laurel just issued an extremely personal challenge to Seymour. You think he'll respond?"
"I know he will," said Caleb. "But he's probably got to return to work for now."
"We should have someone tail that guy."
"We can't do that until we have something besides suspicion. The best we can do for now is to go through the phone records from the private detective, check all the cameras for every route between Seymour's job and Penny's house, and see whatever Laurel can come up with on the computer."
"I can probably decrease the number of hours it will take to view the security footage by using a facial recognition program. I can also see how Jeffrey broke through the firewalls to change Destiny's cell phone records. Have we got an answer to our request for a warrant for the cell provider?"
"We're good to go," said Zack.
"What can I do?" asked Destiny.
"We'll think of something, even if it's sitting in the office, making notes for your book." Caleb attempted an encouraging smile, but she scowled.
"I am useful for things besides writing fiction."
Zack smiled and nodded at her dress. "Yes
, you are. You definitely brighten up the station."
"Maybe you should change," said Caleb.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't start that again, Caleb."
"I'll drive Destiny home so she can change," said Laurel. "We'll meet you at the precinct."
Caleb frowned. How safe was it for the two of them to be alone together? They were now Jeffrey's primary targets.
"I have a gun," Laurel added.
That did it. Caleb shook his head. "Zack, follow them everywhere they go. I'll get the warrants served."
"I thought he'd say that." Zack laughed and held out an arm. "This way, ladies."
When Destiny parted with Caleb, she felt his eyes follow her all the way to Laurel's car. Laurel held up her key fob to unlock the door then glanced behind her.
"Is he still watching?" asked Destiny.
"Yep. I don't think Caleb wants to let you out of his sight."
"Only because he wants to tell me how to dress."
"What's up with that?"
"Who knows?" Destiny tossed her purse in the car and climbed in. "He seems to think that all the criminals and the men at the precinct are turned into raving lunatics with one look at my attire."
"Hmm. Maybe Caleb is turned into a raving lunatic when he looks at you." Laurel laughed. "That's funny. I spend weeks dating that guy and never get past the occasional dinner. He takes one look at you and turns into a caveman."
"I don't think there's anything to it. I mean, the case will be over and I'll be gone."
"Not if Caleb has anything to do with it." Laurel pulled into traffic then glanced at Destiny. "Don't get me wrong. I like having you around. And before you ask…I never had the hots for Caleb."
"Let's talk about something else. How did you feel today…once you got past the initial awkward stage?"
"I'm not sure I did. It helped having you at my side. No one's going to say anything with you there. You know, I've been thinking about it a lot lately. God and all. I never stopped praying, Destiny. I just wondered if he stopped listening."
"Why did you keep praying if you felt that way?"
"When you and Penny first took me to church, when I first started talking to God, it was so real...like I'd come home. I needed it even more when I lost everything."
"I'm so sorry, Laurel. I wish I'd known."
"Let's not go there again. We were deceived. It hurt, but I forgive you. You forgive me. Let's focus on catching Jeffrey."
Destiny sighed. "I wish I knew how. It's like Caleb said, you all have something to investigate. I can't do anything but write."
"Maybe, maybe not. I've got an idea."
An hour later, Destiny sat before a computer screen, watching traffic cam footage as varying vehicles rolled past the screen. Laurel may be able to get her program to search for faces, but it wouldn't recognize a license plate. If Jeffrey managed to disguise his face or hide his features, they needed to place his vehicle near the murder scene.
"How many of these cameras are there, Laurel?"
"Thus far, Caleb identified four. One right outside Jeffrey's office, the one you're looking at now, and three others. Hopefully, Jeffrey missed something. If we don't find anything in the traffic footage, we go through any bank cams pointed at the road. If that doesn't pan out, we switch to private citizens and businesses. Someone has a camera that caught something somewhere, and we're going to find it."
"It sounds like looking through a haystack for a needle."
"Do you want this hanging over your head for the rest of your life? I could still lose my job. You could lose your reputation. There will always be people who say we staged the alibis. And the thought of Jeffrey walking the streets after what he did…"
"Is appalling."
"It's downright terrifying."
"Are you praying, now, Laurel?"
"I haven't stopped since I got the first letter."
"I saw him, you know, a couple of weeks ago."
Laurel halted what she was doing and gave Destiny her full attention. "Who? Jeffrey?"
"Yeah. He was at the bank. I ducked in the ladies' room."
"Did he see you?"
"Not that I know of. What if I could have said…something."
"That's ridiculous. He's insane. Really, they should certify him and lock him up. Who knows what he would have done. I'm glad you hid."
At the end of the day, Destiny's eyes felt so dry she wanted to pour water in them. Her right eye had developed a continuous tick, eye strain, Laurel said. A right-handed person has right- eye-dominated vision, which seemed backward to Destiny. She thought her weaker eye should be suffering. She shut down the video feed and closed her eyes.
"Hey, giving up?"
Caleb's voice was just what she wanted to hear, and her stomach jumped as she faced him. He had that dark shadow across his chin again, quite attractive. And looking at the concern in his warm brown eyes…she could definitely share eggs and bacon with him every morning.
"I need a break…eye strain. Did you find anything else?"
"You'd be the first to know. Are you quitting for the day?"
"I need food. Someone promised me lunch then bailed to serve warrants all day."
He groaned. "Sorry. I promise I'd have rather been with you. Some people don't like handing over their security footage."
"There's nothing on the traffic cams yet. Laurel hasn't said anything, but I don't think she's getting anywhere trying to track Jeffrey's hack of my cell provider."
"Something will break. We've got too many eyes on it now. I know he missed something. Where is Laurel?"
"Off with her techie buddies. You need her?"
"No. I don't want either of you leaving alone."
Destiny slid off her stool. "Well then, I was just going to the vending machine. Care to join me?"
"I think a longer break is in order. How about dinner out?"
"Caleb, you say the most enticing things."
Fifteen minutes later, Destiny sat across from Caleb in a booth upholstered in late 70s bright green naugahyde and smelling of decades of grease. From the line of uniformed officers sitting on stools at the bar, she assumed they were in a cop diner.
She set her menu down. "This is a cop hang-out, isn't it?"
"Yep." Caleb continued to peruse the menu without looking up.
"I feel incredibly safe."
"Kinda the point."
"Why do you think Jeffrey will come after me? He wants to send me to jail, not kill me."
Caleb lowered his menu to make eye contact. "By now, he knows you aren't getting arrested. You've thwarted his plans. How do you think that makes him feel? He's been plotting revenge for years. How will he respond?"
"You make that sound so creepy. How do you think that way all the time?"
"It's worse than creepy, it's deadly. I have to stay ahead of the enemy. That's my job."
"That has huge spiritual connotations…putting on the armor of God, praying as the Spirit leads, giving no place to the enemy in your life."
"I'm beginning to see that everything has spiritual ramifications for you."
"It does. What are you having?"
He blinked a couple of times then his eyes narrowed. "You talking about food now?"
"Yeah. I think I want a cheeseburger but no fries."
"The onion rings are killer."
"Wanna share?"
"Sure."
The waitress stepped up to the table and picked up their discarded menus. "What can I get for you?"
"Two cheeseburgers and an order of onion rings."
"Coming right up." She smiled and slipped away from the table.
"Come here often?" asked Destiny.
"Most days. I don't usually have time to make a lunch, and I don't have anyone to make one for me."
"That was a fairly random comment. Who would make one for you?"
Caleb grinned. "A wife."
"Uh huh. You expect your wife to make your lunch every day."
"I'm hopin'."
"What if your wife works, too?"
"I guess I'll be spending more time at this diner than I expected."
Destiny laughed. "I think you're kind of the old-fashioned type, Caleb. You wouldn't be hinting that you want your wife to stay at home, would you? Cause you make peanuts."
"I've always enjoyed peanuts, particularly hot-boiled peanuts."
"I happen to know how to make boiled peanuts."
"A woman after my own heart."
At his deep, suggestive tone, Destiny's heart took a little leap in the unknown. From the smile on Caleb's face and the beguiling laughter in his eyes, she assumed he was flirting with her. Before she could respond, the waitress plopped two plates on the table then added the platter of onion rings between them.
"Here ya go. Enjoy."
Exactly what Destiny intended to do. After a few bites, she nodded at Caleb. "Very good. Might be the best onion rings I ever had."
"Meatloaf's not bad either."
"One of the few things I make really well."
"You're not allowed to judge your own food."
She lifted an onion ring and peeked at him through the hole. "Says who?"
"The man who wants a dinner invitation."
Destiny laughed again. With Caleb, she found a lot of things to laugh about. Something that had been difficult lately.
"You know, you're different than I thought," he said.
"Oh?"
"Were you trying to throw me off the first couple of days?"
"Maybe, but I have to admit, sometimes I can be completely spacey, making random comments, staring into nothing, just…gone."
"Where do you go?"
"Usually into a plotline. My family's pretty used to it."
"I suppose that's an occupational hazard."
"And a lot safer than yours."
"Hmm. You gonna eat that last ring?" He reached out.
"Go for it. I can't eat anything else."
The waitress returned and hovered with her pad in her hand. "Can I get you folks some dessert? The apple pie is hot."
"Not me," said Destiny.
"Just the check." Caleb held out his hand for the ticket then reached for his wallet. "You ready?"
"I guess. My eye isn't twitching any more, so I should probably get back to it."
"Back to what?" At the sound of that voice, both Destiny and Caleb whipped around.
Jeffrey Seymour took a step closer to rest his elbow behind Destiny's head and whisper against her ear. "Are you working on more of that fantasy fiction you write?"
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