“Absolutely.” Catelyn followed behind him, approaching the house from the front. Stacy Dillard answered the door and soon she led them through the house, to the sliding-glass doors and out onto the wooden deck. Alonso immediately spotted Joseph, surprise and curiosity drawing him toward his brother.
Joseph waved to the coach, who frowned and walked over. “Something I can help you with?”
“Just need to ask my brother a few questions.”
The man’s brows rose. “Can’t this wait?”
“If it could I wouldn’t be here.”
Coach Dillard shrugged and backed off. “No problem, then.” Joseph pulled Alonso aside and the two talked for a moment. Catelyn decided to take advantage of the time and crossed to catch Coach Dillard before he could get into another conversation. She had a few questions of her own.
Joseph signed, “Sorry to intrude, but I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.”
Irritation darkened the young man’s eyes, but he didn’t protest, just nodded. “What do you want to know?”
Joseph pulled the photo of the hat from his pocket. “I’m seeing these things everywhere. Now, I know where they came from, I just need you to tell me if one of the guys here lost one between last night and today.”
Alonso shrugged. “Not that I know of. I can keep my eyes open, though.”
“It would be a redheaded kid who wears one all the time. The hat is worn and practically falling apart. My guess is, the kid wears it every day. I wanted to ask you because you’re on both campuses.”
Blowing out a breath, Alonso thought for a moment. “Either Ron Camp or Tyler Hathaway. They both go to the deaf school.”
“Do you know where they live?”
“Ron lives across the street from the school in that neighborhood, but I don’t know which house. Tyler lives in Gaffney. He’s a day student and buses in every day.”
“Does he play baseball?”
“No, neither of them is on the team. And I’m glad because I don’t like them much.”
“Why not?”
“I think they’re involved in that gang. The one Tracy was with. From what I hear, they’re always causing problems in school, but haven’t done anything to get themselves kicked out, yet.”
Interest definitely perked, Joseph made a note to visit these two young men as soon as possible. “Thanks, Alonso. You’ve been a big help.”
Alonso left and Joseph turned to find Catelyn heading his way. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
“You disappeared on me. Did you learn anything?”
“Not much. Coach Dillard said he’d keep an eye out for one of his guys who lost a hat, but said some of these kids wear a different hat every day.”
“He’s right about that. All right. I guess that’s it for here. I’ve got two guys we need to track down. Redheaded deaf kids that wear the hat with the school logo on a regular basis.”
“Let’s go then.”
Twenty minutes later they arrived at Ron Camp’s house. Joseph climbed from the car and looked around. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s home.”
“Should have gotten the number and called.”
“No, I don’t want to scare these guys off. I they’re somehow involved, they could pull a major disappearing act.”
“True.”
Joseph walked up the path to the front door and rapped his knuckles on the wood.
No luck.
Catelyn’s cell phone rang and she lifted it to her ear. Joseph watched her listen then her eyes shot to his as she said, “Thanks, Sandy.”
“What does she have?”
“She said she managed to pull off some writing that had almost completely faded from the edge of the hat.”
“What was it?”
“The initials, T.H.”
Joseph gave a little smile. “Well, well. Let’s head to Gaffney and pay Mr. Tyler Hathaway a little visit.”
NINE
Tyler Hathaway proved to be an elusive young man. No one answered the phone at the residence. “That doesn’t mean he’s not there.” But he wasn’t. Joseph sent a text message to Alonso. “Quick question. Where does Tyler Hathaway hang out?”
Alonso’s response came back immediately. “At the arcade on Stead street. Likes the free meals next door. That church on Stead Street. If he’s not at home, you can count on him being there—if he could get a ride in. At least that’s where they were hanging two weeks ago.”
“Thanks.” He looked at Catelyn. “Want to head over there?”
“Absolutely—” she looked at her watch “—but if he’s not there, I’m going to have to leave pretty soon.”
“Got something to do this afternoon?”
“An appointment. It’ll just take me about a couple of hours. Then I can meet back up with you.”
“Okay.” He was quiet for a moment as they climbed into the car and took off. Catelyn thought he might ask her what she needed to do. He didn’t.
She volunteered, “My mother. I need to go see her. I need to take her something she asked for before I walked in on my intruder.”
She felt him grasp her hand and looked over at him. Compassion flared brightly in his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He squeezed her fingers.
Catelyn shrugged. “I deal with it.”
“Will you let me go with you?”
She hadn’t expected that one. “Why?”
“Because I want to. I want to be there for you if you need me.”
“But…” What did she say to that? “Are you sure?” The thought of having someone to lean on, to care about her, to care about the effect visiting her mother had on her emotionally was almost overpowering. Something she desperately wanted.
But did she dare trust him? With her life, yes. Her heart? Not there yet.
Visions of her childhood brought sheer anxiety shooting through her. “I don’t know, Joseph. It’s not exactly the most pleasant thing to do.”
He tugged her hand and she leaned in closer.
“I want to,” he insisted.
What if she let him close again and he decided she wasn’t what he needed, what he wanted—again?
But what about what she wanted? Needed?
He let her go, concentrating on the drive. “It’s a simple thing, Catelyn. Why are you having such a hard time letting me back into your life when you know it’s what we both want?”
Catelyn reeled away from him. “But I don’t, Joseph. I don’t know that that’s what I want.” But it was and yet…“And why are you pushing so hard when you’ve made it clear that I’m not wife material?” His flinch singed her heart, but she had to make him understand. “I just—” She broke off and pointed. “Isn’t that Tyler Hathaway?”
Joseph blinked, pressed the brake and followed her pointing finger. “That’s him.”
“You got the paperwork we need to arrest him?”
“Got it right here on the computer.”
“Excellent. Let’s go get the twerp and see what he has to say for himself.” He gave her a hard look. “But don’t think this conversation’s over. It’s not.”
Catelyn ignored him and kept her eyes on the young man standing outside the arcade next door to the church smoking a cigarette.
Joseph pulled up next to the curb and they got out. Their activity caught the young thug’s attention and he straightened, eyes narrowing.
“He’s going to run.”
No sooner had the words left her lips than Tyler threw his cigarette to the pavement and took off, legs churning as fast as he could push them.
Joseph and Catelyn were right behind him.
Down the sidewalk they went, dodging the occasional pedestrian. Catelyn could feel Joseph right on her heels.
The kid was fast.
Fortunately, she ran three miles almost every morning. She knew she had the endurance to outlast him—as long as she didn’t lose him.
He darted around the corner of the next building and Catelyn felt a surge of satisfaction. She raced
after him with Joseph breathing down her neck.
Around the corner, down the next alleyway, she heard his running steps skid to a stop. The clank of a chain-link fence.
Soon she had him in her sights.
He was clawing his way over the fence.
Without slowing down, Catelyn pounded up to him, grasped the back of his belt with both hands and pulled.
Tyler gave a harsh yell, but didn’t let go.
Two seconds later, Joseph added his strength to the situation and within the blink of an eye, had Tyler on the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.
Catelyn placed her hands on her knees and drew in a deep breath. Joseph was a little winded himself but that didn’t stop him from patting the kid down and pulling out a knife and a pair of brass knuckles. “Nice assortment here,” he grunted as he hauled the kid to his feet.
Catelyn shook her head to dispel the images of a previous arrest where she’d been stabbed. Nausea churned. She covered it up by signing, “If you’ll promise not to fight, Special Agent Santino here will move your cuffs to the front so you can communicate.”
Fury emanated from Tyler. He wasn’t happy being caught. Too bad. She wasn’t too happy with him. Catelyn continued. “Looks like you need a little time to calm down. Your interpreter will meet us at the jail.”
Joseph jerked him to the car while Catelyn signed his rights to him. They’d have the interpreter do it again, just so no one could come back and say anything about her not being certified in sign language.
Tyler understood her. His glare never lessened. She told Joseph, “Better keep those cuffs in the back.”
“I think you’re right. We’ll get him to the station and in the interrogation room and see how tough he is there.”
The teen never once made an attempt to communicate on the way to the jail. Catelyn figured he was doing his best to figure out how to get out of this mess. He also didn’t put up a fight once inside and they were able to remove his cuffs so that he would be able to talk should he choose to do so.
The interpreter was waiting when they arrived.
Once in the room, Catelyn sat across from Tyler, the interpreter next to her. Joseph sat at the end of the table. She stared at Tyler, trying to decide the best way to approach questioning him.
She glanced at Joseph. “You want to start?”
“Sure, you got the video set up?”
“Taping as we speak.”
Catelyn informed him once more of his rights and he signed the paper saying that he understood them. She told him that he was being taped and then Joseph said, “You want to tell me what you were doing in Detective Clark’s house, who was with you and where her stuff is?”
Joseph watched the kid jerk like he’d been punched on the chin. A new emotion crossed his face.
Anxiety.
Good.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tyler signed.
Joseph leaned in, making sure the kid still had the interpreter in his line of sight. “Sure you do. You broke into Detective Clark’s house, trashed it and stole a lot of her electronics. We know you were there. We have a warrant for your DNA and as soon as it comes back, we’ll match it to the hat you left behind.”
Tyler’s eyes rounded slightly.
“Yeah, Tyler,” Catelyn pushed, “you know, the one with the deaf school logo on it that has your initials on the inside edge?”
The teen shifted, his left eye began to twitch and he ran a hand through his greasy red hair. “Where’s my lawyer?”
Joseph gave a mental groan. Up to this point, the kid hadn’t said a word about wanting a lawyer although they’d offered. Catelyn looked at Joseph and sighed. “I’ll let them know he wants legal representation.”
Another long night loomed ahead. Joseph watched Catelyn leave, then turned back to the kid. And just stared at him.
Tyler refused to meet his eyes.
So Joseph just waited.
Finally the boy signed, “What?”
Joseph shrugged.
The interpreter glanced between them but kept quiet. She was a veteran interpreter and professional all the way.
Tyler stood abruptly. The officer standing just outside the glass door watched intently. He placed his hand on his gun. Joseph tensed, but signaled the man that he had the situation in hand. The officer relaxed, however he kept his hand near his weapon.
Joseph caught Tyler’s eye. “Problem?”
“Do I have to wait for my lawyer?”
“I would if I were you.”
Licking his lips, Tyler paced from one end of the room to the other. Joseph let him. He could handle the teen if he decided to turn violent.
The clock ticked. Tyler turned. “Do I get some kind of deal if I help you?”
Excitement leaped within Joseph. Finally, they were getting somewhere. He kept his expression neutral and signed, “Possibly.”
Catelyn chose that moment to return, a portly, balding gentleman with a keen glint to his eye, in tow. She gestured to him and said, “Meet Edward Hale. Defense attorney for Mr. Tyler Hathaway.”
After handshakes all around, they got right to it. Mr. Hale advised his client not to say a word, but the client had other ideas.
“I changed my mind, I don’t want a lawyer. I want a deal.”
Joseph rubbed his hands together and leaned closer, pushing a piece of paper in front of the kid. “Sign here and tell us what you know.”
TEN
Catelyn decided to leave Joseph to the questioning. As soon as he was finished, she knew he’d call her. She had to get to the nursing home. Her mother expected her to be on time.
Actually, her mother seemed to be slipping more and more into her own little world and Catelyn wondered if she’d even notice her daughter was running about thirty minutes late.
Bounding up the steps and through the automatic sliding doors, she waved to the nurse behind the desk. “Hi, Thea.”
“Hi, Catelyn.”
“Sorry I’m late. I’m working a case that doesn’t seem to have stopping points.”
A sympathetic smile flashed across Thea’s face. “I understand. She’s awake and seems to be having a good day today. Much better than yesterday.”
“Great, thanks.” She hurried down the hall to the second room on the left and slowly opened the door. “Mom?”
“Catelyn, is that you?”
A good day. Her mother remembered she was coming, was waiting on her. Catelyn slipped into the room and blinked at the sight of her mother. Always she seemed to age a little more between each visit. In no way did she resemble the vibrant young woman pictured in the wedding photo that Catelyn had thrown across her den. White hair had obliterated the shining blond strands that used hang in carefully groomed waves. Her clear blue eyes had the look of confusion more often than not now.
But not today. Today Marilyn Clark’s gaze landed on Catelyn with a shrewdness Catelyn hadn’t seen in weeks.
“Sorry I’m late,” Catelyn said as she entered the room.
“Big case?” The fact that Catelyn now worked as member of the same force her mother had served on was a huge source of pride for the woman.
“Yes.” She changed the subject. “Here. I brought you something.”
Her mother took the album from Catelyn and studied it. “I haven’t seen this in years.”
“Thea said you asked for it.”
“I did?”
“Must have.”
Her mom opened the book and looked at the first few pictures. Without raising her head, she said, “We had some good times, didn’t we?”
Catelyn sighed. “Some.” She shifted, uneasiness twisting within her. “You look like you’re feeling good today.”
Setting the album to the side, her mom said, “I’d feel better if you’d tell me what you’re working on.”
So Catelyn did, falling into the routine of acting like everything was fine and that the past hadn’t happened, that her parents hadn’t destroyed each othe
r with Catelyn suffering the effects of their selfishness. Instead, she pretended, played the dutiful daughter, didn’t vent, didn’t ask why they hadn’t loved her more than…
Pulling in a deep breath, she finished her account of the case. By this time, two hours had passed and Catelyn itched to leave.
Then her mother did something she hadn’t done since she’d been in the nursing home. She reached over and clasped Catelyn’s hand. Startled, Catelyn looked at her mother. The woman had never been big on affection and hadn’t reached out for a voluntary touch in years. “Mom?”
“I’m sorry.”
Heart thudding, Catelyn started at her mother. “What?”
Tears built in those aging blue eyes, and her mom looked away, giving a small sniff. “I’m sorry.”
Perplexed, Catelyn stepped around to gaze at this woman she’d called mother all her life, but didn’t really know. “For what?” She figured she was treading on thin ice, but had to know what her mother was sorry for.
“For what we did to you,” came the quietest whisper.
Pain shafted through her. Why now? What had incited her to bring this up now?
“It’s—” she couldn’t say it was all right because it wasn’t, but “—it’s in the past, Mom. Just…forget it.”
“I can’t. I know I will soon as a result of this horrid disease, but while I’m thinking clearly…” She pulled Catelyn closer. “I’m sorry. Will you ever find it in your heart to be able to forgive us?”
Lightning zapping her wouldn’t have shocked her more. What did she say?
Say, I forgive you, she told herself.
Say it.
Her throat worked, her lips moved, but she couldn’t vocalize the words. Too much hurt rested within her. Instead, she pushed the words through her tight throat and whispered, “Did you know what Daddy was going to do that night? Did you know he was going to put that gun in his mouth and pull the trigger?”
Her mother flinched, her chin wobbled. “No. I promise, I didn’t know.”
A whimper escaped Catelyn, but she leaned down and placed her forehead against her mother’s. Anger, hurt and resentment battled within her, but the need to feel her mother’s arms around her won out over her need to express her rage at this helpless woman. “I want to forgive you. Hug me,” she pleaded. “Just…love me.”
A Silent Fury Page 11
