Downstairs in the kitchen, Flint poured himself a cup of coffee. The hour was late. Soon, the early morning light—gray, wet and lost—would begin crawling out of the canyons like a broken soul crying to be heard. “Getting dramatic, are we?” Flint asked himself, leaning against the kitchen sink. Yawning, he spotted Dave walked into the kitchen. “Coffee?”
Dave shook his head. “Matt’s on guard. Tori’s in the bedroom with Haley.”
“What bugs you?” Flint asked, reading Dave's face.
“We lost Haley tonight,” he said, folding his arms. “Matt and I were standing right outside her bedroom door, and we lost her. My brother and I are swinging empty.”
“Don't kick yourself,” Flint said. “You're dealing with a young woman with a heart twisted into so many knots she doesn't know which way to turn. Haley slid out of the house tonight hoping to meet a someone who loved her. Instead, she found out the person she escaped to meet wanted to kill her.”
“Ouch,” Dave replied.
“Dave,” Flint said, “whoever this killer is... he's smart. Now listen to me, I can't locate Haley's uncle or her stepmother. It's possible they're involved in the killings, and then again, it's possible they're not. I'll know when I find them. But in the meantime, we have to keep Haley inside this house. I need you and Dave on this case with me, okay?”
“Why us? You have plenty of cops to go around, don't you?” Dave asked.
“Too many cops might chase the killer off,” Flint explained. “Dave, you and Matt are the best in the business. So what if Haley slipped out on your watch? I can't tell you the number of times I lost a suspect. We're only human. And there's only one man who was ever perfect.”
Dave smiled. “Thanks, Flint.”
“Anytime.”
Dave told Flint he would take a cup of coffee after all. “You don't believe Haley's uncle is behind this, do you?” he asked, reading Flint's face.
“No, I don't,” Flint confessed. “Haley's uncle requested Chief Cunningham send Haley some help. Why would he do that if he was the killer?”
“If Haley's uncle asked for help, he obviously knew something, though,” Dave pointed out.
Flint sipped on his coffee. “I agree,” he said. “Dave, there's a lot of holes to look in, here. First, we have to look at Mandy Garland. She didn't accidentally show up in New York and spot Haley acting in a play. Mandy Garland was called to New York.”
Dave walked to the back door, checked the lock, and turned around. Taking a sip of his coffee he studied on what Flint was aiming at. “Haley's stepmother?”
Flint nodded. Listening to the heavy rain fall outside, he let his eyes roam around the kitchen. The trap sitting in front of the pantry door was still in place. “Dave, I'm having a friend at the station run a list of Mandy Garland's relatives. I want to see if she is related to Glenda Frost in any way.”
“Good idea,” Dave said, feeling like a cop.
Flint grinned. He could tell Dave and Matt both would make excellent cops, but for whatever reason, they chose to remain locked in the private sector. “Dave, at this point, I'm leaning toward the idea that Haley's uncle is not the killer. Haley explained that her father and her uncle fought over her stepmother. It's obvious her uncle loves the woman, which might be the reason he tossed a call at Chief Cunningham. The man could have come across some very disturbing information.”
“I'm following you,” Dave said. “Now, what about the hole in the basement? Flint, that hole was not there when Matt and I checked the basement.”
“The hole leads us back to Mandy Garland,” Flint explained. Sipping his coffee, Flint shook his head. “There's a missing piece of the puzzle that I can almost see, Dave. I have a bad feeling Haley is hiding something that could help solve this case.”
“What could she be hiding?”
Flint began to pace around the kitchen. “The killer is a man. I saw him with my own eyes. I have also the testimony of a scum bag confirming that he saw the killer, too. If Glenda Frost is after Haley to kill her, that means she might have hired the killer. But that doesn't make any sense in my mind.”
“Why not?” Dave asked, watching Flint walk around the kitchen.
Flint put down his coffee. “No,” he told himself more than Dave, “this is a family matter. No outsiders. I'm sure of that.”
“A family matter?”
“Yeah,” Flint said, biting down on his lower lip. He walked to the telephone hanging beside the refrigerator and called Melinda. “Hey, sorry to bother you. Anything yet?”
Melinda, grateful to hear Flint's voice, stuffed the phone on her ear and picked up a brown file. The station room was empty. Only Chief Cunningham was in the room, sitting on the corner of her desk. “I tracked the bank cards, Flint. Glenda Frost is in Los Angeles.”
“What about Haley's uncle?” Flint asked.
“The man is in Key West,” Melinda explained. “We confirmed his location through hotel and restaurant records.”
Chief Cunningham asked Melinda for the phone. “Flint, Cunningham here. I spoke to Ned about twenty minutes ago. Ned finally opened up and told me that Glenda Frost is after Haley. Flint, Ned is upset with Haley for costing him his job, I won't deny that. But Haley is still his niece and he doesn't want to see her dead.”
“That's why he called you.”
“Yeah,” Chief Cunningham replied, picking up a half-smoked cigar from a metal ash tray sitting on Melinda's desk. “Ned told me that he overhead Glenda Frost speaking with Mandy Garland on the phone shortly before Mandy arrived in New York.”
“What did he hear?” Flint asked.
“Ned wouldn't say. All he said was that the conversation worried him.”
“I see,” Flint said. “He's watching his back.”
“Yeah, seems to be that way.” Chief Cunningham paused and took a puff on his cigar. “When Ned left New York after Glenda left, he told me his conscience kept bothering him to the point that he finally called me. Nothing more, nothing less. It's like I said, Flint, Ned is upset with Haley for costing him his job.”
Melinda motioned for the phone back. “Flint, Glenda Frost is only using her bank card at restaurants and gas stations. This woman is staying under the radar.”
“Okay,” Flint said, taking a deep breath, “here's what I need you to do, Melinda. Find out if Mandy Garland and Glenda Frost are related somehow. Run their entire family tree if you have, too. Also, I want Haley's father in the spotlight. This guy knew Glenda Frost way before he and Haley's mother called it quits.”
“Ah,” Melinda said, understanding the direction Flint was going in. “I'll run Glenda Frost through the system and see if she has any children on her own.”
“I owe you dinner,” Flint told Melinda.
“I plan to take you up on the offer.” Melinda smiled.
“Put the Chief back on the phone.”
Melinda handed Chief Cunningham the phone back. “Yeah, Flint?”
“Call Ned back. I need to know how he met Glenda Frost, Chief. I need the works… the when, the where, the how. My gut is telling me that we need to go back in time on this one.”
“I'll try,” Chief Cunningham assured him. “What are you thinking, Flint?”
“I'll know more later, Chief. I have to put some pieces of the puzzle together first,” Flint explained. “Chief, I also need to know more about Mayfield. Tonight at the studio the guard told me Mayfield ordered the studio emptied out. Why? You would think the man would have tons of extra security around.”
“I'll check into him, personally. I'm assuming you think Mr. Mayfield is connected to Glenda Frost?” Chief Cunningham asked.
“Maybe,” Flint said. “Also, Mayfield might be connected to Mandy Garland.”
“Okay, Flint, get some rest. We'll work on our end for a while. I'll give you a call later this evening.”
“We'll be here, Chief.” Flint began to hang up the phone. “Oh, Chief,” he said quickly, “keep the black and white's out of the area, okay
? I'm sure the killer is watching the house right now. I don't want to get him spooked. Let's lull the guy for a while, okay. At least until we can find get a good angel.”
“You sure, Flint?”
“Dave and Matt are with me.” Flint nodded at Dave. “They're experts, Chief. I've got all the help I need.”
“I trust you,” Chief Cunningham said. “Okay, I'll call the patrols off. You're on your own, Flint.”
Flint hung up the phone. “Okay,” he told Dave, “we're flying solo now.”
Dave watched Flint pour himself another cup of coffee. “My mind tried to keep up with what you were talking about. What are you thinking?”
Flint flashed his eyes toward the ceiling. “I have to speak with Haley. Watch the downstairs, okay? And stay alert.”
“You got it,” Dave promised.
Flint left the kitchen, walked upstairs, and stopped at the bedroom door. He handed Matt his cup of coffee. “You might need this.”
“I can use some java,” Matt confessed.
“Go downstairs with Dave and do a security sweep of the house. We're on our own, now, Matt. I called off the patrols.”
“You mean you still want me and my brother on this case?” Matt asked, shocked. “Hey, Flint, we really goofed, man. We lost Haley. You should be kicking our cans out of here.”
“Why? Because you're human and made a mistake? Matt, if I stood here and told you all the mistakes I've made in my career as a detective, we'd be standing here until the next decade.” Flint patted Matt on the shoulder, then opened the bedroom door and walked in.
“Hey Flint,” Tori said through a yawn. Resting in a sitting chair, she watched Flint close the bedroom door and lock it. “What's up?”
“Wake Haley up,” Flint said, stretching his back. “I need to ask her a few questions.”
“Flint, I don't know. Haley's been through quite a lot tonight. Maybe we should wait?” Tori asked.
“I'm awake,” Haley mumbled. Leaning up, she looked at Flint. Her eyes were pale and flat, emotionless. “What is it, Detective Flint?”
The dullness in Haley's eyes concerned Flint. “Haley, did you father ever bring Glenda Frost to this house?”
Haley stared at Flint, debating whether to cooperate or throw empty grenades at his question. “My father brought that woman to Los Angeles. I assume they stayed here,” Haley answered bitterly. “I was never asked to travel with them, though.”
“Haley.” Flint cautiously moved forward. “What I'm about to ask may be very painful, so please don't get upset with me.”
“Ask,” Haley said, staring at him with an emotionless face.
Flint glanced at Tori. Tori stood up.
“Haley,” Flint said, “was your father seeing Glenda Frost while he was married to your mother?”
Tori braced herself. “Honey, if you feel that you can't answer that question right now, we understand.”
“My father and mother had an agreement,” Haley told Tori in a dull voice. “Years before they divorced, my mother began sleeping in a separate bedroom. My mother and father became simple acquaintances instead of husband and wife. My mother began seeing the man she is married to now, and soon after, my father began seeing Glenda. But...”
“But what?” Flint asked.
Haley's hands balled into two tight fists. Anger flashed through her eyes, bringing life back to her face. “Uncle Ned... he wasn't always bad, you know. He was dating Glenda... and you know what, I think Uncle Ned really loves her. But that black widow latched onto my father. My father and Uncle Ned fought over her. Oh, I was so wrong to cost Uncle Ned his job. I hurt him...”
“How did your Uncle Ned and Glenda Frost meet?” Flint asked Haley. He went over to the bedroom window to check the locks.
“Don't worry, I'm not going to escape from this prison again,” Haley said.
“I'm not worried,” Flint said. “If you want to risk your life, that's your business. I'm not going to baby you, Haley. My job is to catch a killer. I know you're upset, confused, angry and bitter, but that's life, young lady. You've got a choice, pull your britches up or crawl into a hole.”
Tori wanted to slap Flint for suddenly throwing a hard ball at Haley, but she understood the reason why. Flint cared for Haley, as she did. He only wanted to help the young woman stand back up on steady legs. “Haley, help us, honey,” she said.
Haley stared at Flint. The man's face was rough, harsh, filled with years of seeing the worst humanity had to offer. But hidden deep within the stone face was a kindness and care that melted Haley's heart. “I'm not really sure how Uncle Ned met Glenda, Detective Flint.” Haley leaned up on the side of the bed. “I remember him bringing her to a party my father was having. I remember seeing him smile... he was so happy.”
“That's a girl.” Flint smiled at Haley. “Fight with me, okay. What else you got?”
“Well,” Haley said, thinking hard, “I don't know when my father began seeing Glenda, but I do remember going to a charity function with him and Glenda was on his arm. Uncle Ned seemed to change around that time, too, now that I think about it. He and my father started to become enemies.”
“Could it be,” Flint asked Haley, sitting down on the bed next to her and folding his arms together, “that Glenda played your Uncle to get to your father in order to get to you?”
Haley turned her head and looked at Flint. “Why me?”
“Haley,” Flint sighed, “your father is about Mandy Garland's age, right?”
“Yes. My father is fifty-eight years old.”
“Your father grew in Los Angeles, didn't he?” Flint asked.
Haley studied Flint's question. “Yes, he did. He relocated to New York in his early thirties, after my grandfather passed away. Or so that's what I was told. Detective Flint, what are you saying?”
“How much did you really know about Mandy Garland?” Flint asked.
Haley stared into Flint's face. “Mandy never talked about her personal life that much to me.”
“Okay, that's enough for now,” Flint said, hoping that Haley would begin pressing him for information instead of him fishing for information.
“Wait,” Haley said, grabbing Flint's arm. “Detective Flint, you believe my father and Mandy... were romantically involved before my father moved away to New York, don't you?”
“Until I find out if Glenda Frost is related to Mandy Frost, I won't really know,” Flint explained. “Haley, I believe your father knows quite a bit and that's why he didn't ask for police involvement. I suspect that your father doesn't want certain skeletons pulled out of his closet. When Mandy Garland showed up in New York, her presence must have punched your father in the gut. Now, lawfully, I can't make the guy talk, and I honestly think he cares more about protecting his secrets than he does about his own daughter, right?”
Sadly, Haley nodded her head. “Yes... my father never really cared about me, no matter how desperately I tried to make him love him, he wouldn't.”
“I tell you what,” Tori said, sitting down next to Haley, “when this is all over, and you're safe, why don't you remain in Los Angeles? You can go to nursing school out here. Me and Flint here, we'll be two people you can always depend on. Right, Flint?”
Flint smiled. “Only if you like Chinese food.”
“I like Chinese food.” Haley smiled. Wiping a tear from her eye, she leaned her head down onto Flint's shoulder. “Detective Flint?” she asked.
“Yeah?”
“If my father was involved with Mandy, they might have had a child, and my father would have deserted that child. If Mandy and Glenda are related, they could have worked up a scheme to get even with my father by killing me. That's what you're thinking, isn't it?”
“Smart girl,” Flint said. “Right now we know Glenda Frost is in Los Angeles. What we don't know is where she is at? I also don't know who the killer is just yet? Mandy Garland's child wouldn't have killed his own mother.”
“But don't you worry,” Tori said to Haley. �
��We're going to protect you and bring the killer to justice.”
“The killer first,” Flint said. “Even if we track Glenda Frost down, we don't have anything to hold her to. That's why I want to lure the killer back inside the house, if possible. I called the patrols off. Right now, guys, it's just us three along with Dave and Matt. We're flying solo.”
“Is that safe?” Tori asked.
“If the killer is watching the house... and I'm sure he is... then I don't want him getting spooked. My guess is he'll watch the house, and when he sees that the patrols are gone, he might try and make a move. Right now, it's a wait and see game,” Flint said. “The last thing I'm going to do is take us out into the open again. Whoever this guy is, he's smart and deadly.”
“So we're trapped in the house?” Haley asked, wiping at her tears.
“For now,” Flint said. “Listen to me, Haley. I've been at this game a long time. I've tracked down the worst of the worst. Years back I brought a deadly serial killer to justice. That termite played a mental game with me that nearly cost me my life. In the end, though, I learned that when it comes to outsmarting a killer, sometimes you just have to sit tight and wait for the killer to make his next move. Tonight at the studio... me... you... Arnold... we could have been carried out in body bags with a poison dart sticking out of our necks. The killer sent a message, and that message was that he was in control.”
“That's not very comforting, Detective Flint,” Haley said.
“Comforting or not,” Flint replied, “it's the truth. Haley, just because I carry a badge doesn't make a genius nor does it make me invincible. Cops are killed across the land every day. The best that a cop can do is stay smart, think fast, and keep his head low. Tonight I went to the studio looking for the killer, and the killer sent me a message.”
“But,” Tori said, patting Haley on her hand, “as cops, we don't back down and we don't give up.”
Haley looked at Tori and then at Flint. She saw two complete strangers who were willing to die for her. “Detective Flint?”
Detective Flint Box Set: A Detective Story Box Set Books 1-3 Page 22
