Ready, Aim, Under Fire (Lexi Graves Mysteries, 10)

by Camilla Chafer

  I circled the block and made my way back to the Pattersons’ road. I pulled up on the corner, with only the hood of my car peeking past the corner fence and watched Debby’s car move off. I shot a message to Garrett, letting him know that Debby had gone. Before I could pull a U-turn and head for Garrett’s house, my phone rang. Naturally, I figured it was Garrett so I grabbed it, answering without checking the screen.

  “I asked Debby and she didn’t know she was adopted,” I said. “Weird or what?”

  “I have no idea,” said Maddox. “Shall I go with weird?”

  “Sorry!” I paused, realizing my mistake. “I thought you were Garrett.”

  “I got your message.”

  “And I got yours.” I paused before we both started speaking again. “—I’m sorry…”

  “—I don’t want to hurt you…”

  We stopped, then I said, “You first.”

  “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  “I’m sorry I got mad at you.”

  “Friends again?”

  “Yes,” I agreed. The worry that I didn’t know I’d been holding in dropped swiftly away from me, and the nagging tension I felt before was instantly eased from my shoulders.

  “Phew. I was afraid I would have to leave the county.”

  I laughed. “Garrett asked after you today. He said you were one of MPD’s best detectives, amongst other things.”

  “Nice of him,” said Maddox, his voice bubbling with warmth.

  “I’d tell you the rest but I don’t want your head to swell.”

  “How’s the case going?” Maddox asked, and I was grateful for the change of topic to something safer, something we couldn’t hurt each other with.

  “Perplexing. Right now, I think I just trapped my target in a lie,” I told him, the adoption weighing on my mind. “But I don’t know why she’s lying. She doesn’t have anything to gain.”

  “Maybe there’s something you haven’t discovered yet.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Do you have all the facts?”

  “Probably not,” I admitted. “The case is almost a decade old and there wasn’t much to go on in the first place.”

  “I might have something for you. You know that name you asked me to run?”

  “Marley McFadden? Yeah, her name came up a couple times. I can’t find her and neither can Garrett.”

  “No one can. Marley McFadden has also been missing almost ten years.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lily’s car was already parked outside when I reached Garrett’s house and I noticed Poppy’s car seat was missing. As I approached the front door, I heard ominous Darth Vader music. I knocked and the door flew open, revealing two small Jedi who were waiting for me with illuminated light-sabers. “Welcome to the cemetery,” said Sam, grinning.

  “Huh?”

  “He means, a lot of Graves are here right now,” explained my sister-in-law Traci and Sam laughed at his own joke. “Come on in.”

  “Where’s your costume?” asked Sam, my adorable nephew and occasionally terrifying prankster. He wore a mini Jedi costume and I could only hope he didn’t ask me whose it was. I could name a few characters but I didn’t have the encyclopedic knowledge Sam seemed to possess.

  “Tatooine,” I told him, figuring a planet in a galaxy far, far away was a good answer. “I had to leave it in a hurry as the Empire closed in.”

  “Figures.” Sam gave a thoughtful nod. “Mom says I’m not allowed to chop your arm off with my light-saber.”

  “Please thank her from me.”

  “She also told Dad she desperately needs a drink. What’s a bodyshot?” he asked.

  “I did not!” said Traci, coming through the door and ushering me inside while giving Sam a light push towards the den. I glanced over and waved to Lily. Her matching Leia buns shook on either side of her head as she waved back. Addressing me, Traci said, “I do need a drink. Several, possibly, but probably not bodyshots. Thank you for babysitting.”

  “Anytime. I got popcorn!” I held up the packets I picked up on the way over.

  “Yay!” squealed my niece, Chloe. “I can use the microwave!” I handed her one packet and she tore off into the kitchen, Sam right behind her, and both of them with their light-sabers aloft. A moment later and they tore past us.

  “Is Garrett here?” I asked Traci, sneaking a look over her shoulder and secretly hoping he had arrived.

  “Not yet. He said he had a couple of things to wrap up before he got home. Do you like my dress?” Traci twirled around and smoothed the elegant material over her hips while I made admiring noises.

  “Very nice. Is it new? Is this a special occasion?” I wondered what I’d missed and if I should have gotten a card. I glanced around, slightly relieved to see there were no cards displayed across the mantel.

  “It’s special because we’re going out.”

  “Garrett will love it,” I assured her. “And you can stay out as late as you want. I will be here, even after Lily flakes out.”

  “I am not going to flake,” said Lily as she walked over and stifled a yawn.

  “These days won’t last,” Traci assured her, her face full of sympathy.

  “I am so relieved to hear that.” Lily walked away, dropping onto the couch and yawning again.

  Traci grimaced. “I meant, baby two makes it worse.”

  “There’s going to be a baby two?” I gasped.

  “No! At least not that I know about!”

  “Way to start a rumor!” I held back a laugh. “Let’s keep the joys of baby two between us.”

  Garrett called “hello” from the kitchen and I braced myself against the stampede of small feet. He appeared in the living room doorway and steadied himself before confronting Chloe and Sam who approached him with light-sabers aloft. They pretended to carve him and he dropped to the floor, clutching his arms and gurgling his last words.

  “Honey, you need to get changed,” chided Traci.

  Garrett gazed up from the floor. “You look glamorous,” he whistled. Fighting the kids off, he got to his feet and quickly turned them both upside down. He propped them down on their hands, leaning their bodies against the wall. “I didn’t forget a gift,” he gulped. “It’s hidden.”

  Traci shook her head and rolled her eyes. “It isn’t a special occasion. It’s just a new dress.”

  “Phew!” said Garrett.

  “I need to talk to you about the case,” I told him.

  “Can’t you two leave work at work? I don’t bring work home with me!” sighed Traci.

  “Sure you do,” said Sam, standing upright. “I’m your work.”

  “No, you’re my kid.”

  “Same difference.” He scooted over to the den and dropped onto the floor next to Poppy, his attention diverted again as he tried to make her giggle and smile.

  “He’s right,” sighed Traci. “He’s a labor of love. Fine, you’ve got five minutes for shop talk then we’re out the door. I don’t want to lose our reservations.”

  Garrett steered me into the kitchen. He loosened his tie and wrapped it around his hand, fiddling with the end. “Something happen?”

  “Debby caught me outside her house as I was taking her photo. She demanded to know who I was working for so I spun her a line about being hired by some people who thought she was their daughter and wanted to give her a bunch of money. She told me she wasn’t adopted.”

  “Maybe she wasn’t interested?”

  “That’s what I thought. Then I wondered why, if she wasn’t Debby, wouldn’t she be interested in a big payday? But that didn’t fit either because she didn’t bite. Then I thought if she was the real Debby, she might still be interested in getting something that was due her, but still nothing. In all, I just thought it was weird that she adamantly insisted she wasn’t adopted. The real Debby knew all about her adoption.”

  “Perhaps she was embarrassed?”

  “I wondered if that were the case but even if it was, why lie about it? Why
not try and get a little information from me if only to see if I were telling the truth?”

  “It’s pretty circumstantial. I don’t know if I can pull her into the station on that alone.”

  “I’ve got something you could use.”

  “Two minutes,” said Traci, ducking her head into the kitchen.

  “Be right with you,” Garrett assured her. “Go on,” he told me.

  “I had Maddox run that name.” I waited for Garrett to make a smart comment about swallowing my pride and when none came, I continued, “There was one last person from Debby’s life we couldn’t locate but Maddox found her. Well, not exactly. Debby’s friend, Marley McFadden, was reported missing almost ten years ago and hasn’t been seen since then. Her name didn’t come up because it wasn’t under Montgomery jurisdiction; and I’m guessing you didn’t search a nationwide database. Mrs. Patterson mentioned that she thought Marley moved out of Montgomery after high school and simply didn’t return after college. Anna Colby said Marley didn’t live in the area too. We never found out she was missing because no one from here ever went looking for her.”

  “Two women missing around the same time? That’s rather suspicious.”

  “I think so too. With the two of them so close, I can’t help thinking that the same thing happened to them both.”

  “You think they’re both dead?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Let’s say someone killed Debby, and Marley found out and they got to her too.”

  “That doesn’t explain who the Debby Patterson we know is.”

  “Yeah.” I thought about it, pushing my mind to reach for something, anything. “What if she’s the killer or has an accomplice who did it? What if she killed both women and only came back to stop anyone from uncovering the truth? Fiona could have known both Debby and Marley, and made a connection somehow, which is why she had to die too.”

  Garrett shook his head, seemingly unconvinced. “I only asked you to look into this because Debby came back. If our Debby killed two women, it would make more sense to stay absent, never coming back or needing to assume another identity. I have another idea. What if they ran away together?”

  “That makes sense, especially if they were both under some kind of pressure and wanted to start a new life. Debby goes first. Then Marley follows her a couple months later. Or Debby sends for her.”

  “They were close friends, and perhaps both were under pressure. Debby had a new job, her parents were disappointed in her, and maybe something about her adoption was getting to her. Maybe this Marley girl had pressures we don’t even know about. They could have decided to take off and start a new life somewhere. Maybe they were even lovers.”

  “Lovers?” I asked.

  “I never saw any reason to believe Debby had a boyfriend or was dating. Perhaps she was in the closet. Okay, say the two of them ran off together. Who came back? Just Debby? Where’s Marley? She can’t be the shooter either, given the DNA evidence.”

  “If the real Debby came back, it supports her parents’ belief that she’s their true daughter. If she’s not Debby, that means Fiona was right, which almost certainly got her killed. I don’t know what happened to Marley. Maybe they got into a fight and Debby ran away again, only this time, coming home,” I said, my words and ideas tumbling out of my mouth. “Maybe something happened to Marley.”

  “What if something happened to both girls during these past ten years?”

  “Are you thinking stolen identity?”

  “I’m thinking both girls ran away, and somewhere along the line, they told the wrong person about Debby’s family having some money. Perhaps this person thinks they can tap them for it in a big con.”

  “That’s nasty.”

  “Very. Maybe both girls are already dead. Or maybe they’re still out there traveling and having a big adventure.”

  “There haven’t been anymore emails from Debby’s account since she got home.”

  “I’ll put in some calls tomorrow. Maybe we have some Jane Does on file that fit their general descriptions. If not, I’ll widen my search to Interpol; but if I have to do that, we may never find them.”

  “Did I just make things worse?” I wondered.

  “No, you contributed a bunch of new pieces into the puzzle. I think I should get Debby Patterson, or whoever the hell she is, into the station tomorrow and ask her a few questions about Marley. Send me the details of anyone who can identify her. I won’t be able to put her in a line-up but we can probably get someone to sit in the corridor when I escort her in.”

  “That could work,” I agreed. “Did you speak with the Pattersons?”

  “I tried but Mrs. P. said she was busy and Dr. P. wasn’t at home. She all but shut the door in my face.”

  “I guess they’re not too happy that we appear to still be butting in.”

  “We are still butting in,” Garrett pointed out.

  “Time,” said Traci, appearing in the doorway again. I didn’t fail to notice she had her coat on, and a pleading expression on her face.

  “Give me two minutes to change,” said Garrett. “Good work, Lexi. I appreciate it. I know it hasn’t been an easy case.”

  “Where’s the fun if it were easy?” I asked and he laughed.

  ~

  “Let’s start the movie,” I said when the door was closed behind Garrett and Traci. “Original, or prequel?”

  “’The Phantom Menace’,” said Sam.

  The doorbell rang. “Prequel it is. Find the DVD and set it up,” I told him as I went to answer the door. My mom and sister were standing in the doorway and Serena was holding her daughter, Victoria.

  “Did you read the binders?” asked my mom, kissing my cheek and hurrying past me to squeeze each of her grandchildren before I could even ask her why she was here.

  “Not yet,” I told her.

  “You need to be more organized,” Serena told me. She handed me Victoria while she took off her coat and hung it on the rack. Victoria squirmed and wriggled so I put her on the floor and she toddled over to see her cousins.

  “Serena has almost finished planning her wedding,” said Mom. “She’s very organized.”

  “She’s had a lot more practice,” I shot back.

  “One has to be diligent about these sorts of things. There’s venues to book and caterers and a band. Plus, a bridal gown can take months to find and have properly fitted. You can’t leave it to the last minute.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Have you even set a date yet?” asked Serena.

  “Um…”

  “I am not telling you my date,” snipped Serena. “You can’t have it.”

  “How can I have it if I don’t know when it is?” I wondered, sticking my tongue out at her as she turned her back.

  “I made you appointments to try on wedding dresses,” said Mom, barely looking at me as she tickled Chloe. “We can go together.”

  I squeaked out a noise that I hoped was both positive and non-committal. Lily held back a laugh as she walked over.

  “Serena’s bridesmaids are wearing pink so you mustn’t choose pinks for yours,” continued Mom. “Have you considered yellow?”

  “Bridesmaid,” corrected Serena.

  “No, I hadn’t,” I told Mom. Addressing Serena, I asked, “Who are your bridesmaids?”

  “Bridesmaid. We’re doing low key so we’re only having Victoria.”

  “What about Chloe and Rachel?” I asked.

  “They can be your bridesmaids,” said Serena. “I think that will be fine.”

  “Thanks for letting me know,” I said but I wasn’t annoyed. It hadn’t occurred to me. Why not have all my nieces as bridesmaids? I was definitely not choosing yellow though.

  “Where is Rachel?” asked Mom, instantly aware of the absence of her other grandchildren. “Where is Ben? Why aren’t they here?”

  “Daniel and Alice have bad colds and Rachel and Ben had small coughs too so they stayed home. Why are you here?” I wondered. Neither Garrett nor T
raci had mentioned either one of them coming over for movie night.

  “Traci told us you and Lily were babysitting and we thought you might need some help.”

  “We can manage fine.”

  “Sam obviously hasn’t pranked you yet.”

  “That’s because I’m staying on full alert,” I told her.

  “It’s a good thing I came because we can discuss your wedding plans. Where are the folders? You should be looking through them. This is serious planning, Lexi, not a tea party.”

  Mom, we want to watch ‘A Phantom Menace,’ not talk about weddings.”

  “But…”

  “It’s for the kids, Mom,” I cut in. “I promise we’ll talk weddings soon. We can have lunch together.”

  “That sounds terrific.” My mom beamed at me then directed her happy face toward Serena while reaching for Lily’s hand. “We’ll all have lunch together. All my girls.”

  “Great. Movie time!” I dimmed the lights and settled in next to Lily with Chloe wedged between us, and Sam and Poppy on the floor as the credits came on.

  My mother and Serena moved into the kitchen to talk, probably about my wedding and my inability to make any steps towards organizing it, but I didn’t mind so long as they were occupied with each other and not me.

  I tried to lose myself in the film, getting warm and cozy, popcorn in one hand, but my mind kept turning to the strange case. I couldn’t shake the thoughts that plagued me so when Sam started to speak, I almost missed paying attention but something prodded at me. Something he’d said was important and I missed it. “Say that again,” I told him.

  “Who is that on screen?” asked Sam, pointing to a woman in an elaborate costume.

  “Natalie Portman?” I asked, certain she was portraying Padme.

  “Nope!”

  “It is.”

  “No, that’s Queen Amidala there,” he said pointing to another character. He shuffled forward to touch the TV screen. “That’s her handmaiden and she’s Queen Amidala’s decoy too. She’s Keira Knightly.”

  I peered at the two women. “Are you sure?” I asked. “She looks like the queen.”

  “Yep. Mom told me that even their mothers couldn’t tell them apart on set when they had their makeup and costumes on. They could play tricks on each other like Amy and Megan in my class do. They’re twins.”