Merry Wrath Mysteries Boxed Set Volume III (Books 7-9)

by Leslie Langtry

  I appreciated the Iowa metaphor. "What's your role at the station?"

  He looked sheepish. "I'm kind of taking the lead, what with Detective Ferguson gone, with approval from the sheriff. I hope that's okay."

  I thought about the small police station. There were just three uniforms: this guy, Kevin, and Rex. Most of them just wanted to do their jobs and go home. We often got forensics backup from Des Moines or the Iowa State Police.

  "It's totally okay," I reassured him. "Besides, you've got access to all kinds of resources that I can't use otherwise."

  The young man brightened. "I'll help any way I can. I like it here, but someday I'd like to be in the FBI." He ran off to give orders to Kevin.

  Riley joined me, and we watched as orderlies from the hospital bagged the body and lifted it onto a cart. Something fluttered as they lifted him. I snagged a pair of gloves out of one of the orderly's pockets (he didn't notice) and picked it up.

  "Another crossword puzzle?" Riley said over my shoulder.

  Linda and Kelly raced over. He was right. That was exactly what it was. Just like the other one, some of the blank boxes were highlighted.

  "Where's the poem?" Linda frowned. "There should be a poem about Something Borrowed."

  We poked around to see if we could find anything else. Panic flared in my chest as I got down on my knees to peer under the couch. What if we didn't have the whole clue? A part of the wedding poem came with each puzzle—except for this time. Did that mean we wouldn't be able to solve it and move forward?

  "Maybe it's in the crossword this time?" Kelly suggested. "Before we freak out, we should see if that's the case."

  "Do you have a copier?" I asked.

  Riley nodded, and I followed him to a sumptuous home office.

  "Wow." I stared at the bookshelves loaded with books. "You're a reader?"

  He ignored me as he lifted the lid, and I dropped the sheet onto the machine. Seconds later, we had a copy, and I found Ted Weir and turned the original over to him.

  "Thanks," he said as he put it in a plastic bag. "I haven't heard back from the lab on the first one yet. Probably because of the holiday. I'll send this over right away. Sheriff Carnack and I are meeting tomorrow morning for a briefing. He seems to have faith in me."

  If the sheriff trusted him, it was time I did. I stopped him. "Sorry I made a copy of the first one and didn't tell you."

  His frustration melted into a weak smile. "Hey, you figured it out, which saved us time. I'm sure you made a copy of this one too, right?" He didn't wait for me to answer. "Just promise me you'll let me know before you run off to the next clue."

  I agreed.

  A forensics team showed up a few moments later and began to dust the furniture where the body had been. Riley invited us into a dining room with upholstered chairs and a large teak table.

  "How can you afford all this?" I asked.

  CIA and FBI agents didn't make a lot of money. And unless he had a rich relative who died recently and left him a huge inheritance, his expensive digs looked suspicious.

  "I had an uncle who died recently and left me a huge inheritance." He shrugged.

  We all sat down, and Riley disappeared into what I assumed was the kitchen. He returned with bottles of sparkling water and a platter filled with fruit and cheese. Kevin stuck his head in—probably sensing food. But Ted shouted, and he vanished.

  Linda pulled a pencil from her purse and started working on the puzzle.

  "I like your house," Kelly said.

  Riley thanked her and sat down at the head of the table. "I fell in love with it the minute I saw it."

  "There's an anagram in the clues. Tiny tick marks beside certain letters. I think there are two clues here," Linda announced, and we crowded around her.

  Kelly sighed. "That's a lot of letters. This will take a while."

  Linda smiled. "Not necessarily. We already know three words that have been in both of the other clues…Let's, something, and borrowed." She cast a sympathetic eye in my direction. "I'm sure it's part of this puzzle. The kidnapper is just changing things up. So we plug in those words and…"

  "You just have to eliminate those letters…" I finished.

  "…and use the ones you have left!" Riley finished. "Linda, you should've been a spy."

  She smiled at him. "What I did was much more difficult, but thank you anyway."

  I suppressed a chuckle. She was right. She had Kevin Dooley as a student, and I'm sure there were many more over the years. Linda would've made a great spy with that kind of experience.

  She got to work, so Riley gave Kelly and me a tour. For a small cottage, this was larger than it looked. And so well decorated, it looked like something out of a magazine. How did he do it? My house, the very first place I owned, had a couch, TV, bed, and Dora the Explorer sheets for drapes. For over a year.

  "It really is lovely, Riley," Kelly said.

  "Thanks." He had the good grace to blush. "I did it myself."

  We were interrupted by one of the forensics guys, who said they were leaving and that we could clean up. It wasn't too bad. Just dust everywhere. Kelly ran for supplies as I asked a few questions.

  "Did you find any fingerprints?"

  The man nodded. "Three. I'll send the report to Officer Weir. Good night."

  I turned to Riley. "Where was Bobby Ray from?"

  "West Virginia, I think. A tiny town. His parents were farmers."

  "Wealthy farmers?"

  He shook his head. "Not at all. He said he came from the wrong side of the tracks."

  "So why the bespoke three-piece suit and expensive shoes?" I asked. "With that background and the crappy government salary, he couldn't afford that."

  "It fit him perfectly too," Kelly called out as she wiped down the back of the sofa. "It was made for him."

  Riley and I looked at each other. "Double agent?" we said simultaneously.

  That wasn't too hard to imagine. As much as the CIA tried to filter out people who might turn when presented with stacks of money, one or two always slipped through the cracks.

  "How well did you know him?" I asked.

  Riley scowled. "Pretty well. I'd been his first handler. He did alright. Eventually they gave him to someone else. Everything I'd heard indicated he was on the up-and-up. I didn't get a good look at his clothes. Can you describe them?"

  Kelly went into a detailed description that told me she took my orders to study everything to heart.

  Riley's mouth dropped open, and he ran from the room, returning thirty seconds later, looking pale. "I'm kind of freaked out. Why bring the body here?"

  I started to pace. "Someone knew that you were connected to him and me. They knew where you lived and how to get in without breaking in. Who could do that?"

  "Oh!" Riley held up one finger and ran out of the room. He returned in an instant with a notepad. "I almost forgot. I talked to all three hotels, and it looks like a woman checked into the Sunnyside Inn the day before Rex went missing. A blonde. She gave the name Mo Knee."

  "Mony?" I thought aloud. "Or Money? Either way, it's a fake name."

  The Sunnyside Inn was a rather ambitious name for a tiny motel on the outskirts of town. It was a bit rundown and very cheap, and you could always count on some sort of illegal activity there, according to Rex. I'd be willing to bet there were no security cameras either.

  "Did they give you a description?" I asked.

  Riley shook his head. "The kid at the desk said she wore a heavy coat, hat, and huge sunglasses. Could have been a wig too. Or even a man."

  "Did she have an accent?"

  "No. Spoke perfect Midwestern English."

  "We need to find her." Kelly joined us.

  "The thing that bothers me, is that she was only here just before the wedding." I stared off into space. "That's not enough time to learn all she needed to know about Rex, me, and Riley's house." Unless it was Lana…

  "She could've stayed somewhere else up until then," Kelly suggested.
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  "Or she's staying in another town," Riley added.

  I slumped onto the couch. "At least we know this is about me. Not Rex."

  Kelly joined me. "Vy Todd is a blonde. It could've been her."

  I shook my head. "There's too much that's connected to me. I mean, they even killed my replacement at Langley and put the body in Riley's house. As far as I know, Harvey Oak, Prescott Winters, and Vy Todd don't even know who I am."

  "Yes," Kelly mused. "But Vy Todd is related to Riley and might have found out where he lived."

  Linda appeared in the doorway. "This is going to take a while, and it's getting pretty late…"

  Kelly looked at her watch and jumped to her feet. "Ugh! I was supposed to be home hours ago!"

  I turned to Riley. "I guess I'd better take them home. Are you going to be alright here?"

  He nodded. "What about you? You shouldn't stay in your house."

  I waved him off. "I'm going to find a pet sitter and move the animals to Rex's house. But I'm staying at mine so if anything happens, people know where I am."

  He didn't seem to like that idea. "Which means the killers know where you are."

  "Probably." I put on my coat. "Call me if you need me!"

  We were on the road seconds later. I asked Kelly, "Do you know anyone who could pet sit at Rex's house for me?"

  She gave me a strange look that I found suspicious. "I think I know someone. I'll call them when I get home, and then I'll send you the info."

  I was too tired to ask who it was. At this point, my autopilot was on autopilot. I dropped both women off and went home.

  Philby was furious. I'd been gone all day. Who was going to give her albacore tuna? She paced in front of me for ten minutes, yowling all sorts of insults that luckily I didn't understand. Martini seemed to take her side. It was hard to tell. She fell asleep halfway through my chewing out. Leonard went outside like a rocket. Poor guy. I'd kept him cooped up all day with two cats who terrorized him.

  My cats hadn't been exactly welcoming to the Scottish deerhound when Rex adopted him in October. Philby liked to hide his toys, pee on his dog bed (with him still in it), and once got into his treats and while sitting out of his reach, ate each and every one in front of him. Slowly. I only found out because I checked my security cameras in the kitchen when I discovered that a brand-new bag of dog snacks was suddenly empty. Leonard got his revenge in the end. Philby was sick for two days after.

  "Come on," I said as I gathered up their things. Rex already had food dishes and a cat litter box. There wasn't much else. "Let's go to Rex's."

  Philby climbed over the other two as she sprinted for the door. A while back, Rex had a mouse problem, and she took every opportunity to escape to his house. She was becoming a regular escape artist, and more than once I'd found her plastered up against the outside of Rex's picture window, legs splayed as if she'd been thrown at it and stuck.

  Soon, we were across the street. I collapsed on the couch, too tired to move. Maybe I'd just spend the night here. Tomorrow I could hire whoever Kelly had in mind. As I crashed, I couldn't get the image of Bobby Ray out of my head.

  I mean, seriously? That was my replacement? A guy so stupid he was lured to Iowa from Langley for no reason? The ligature marks looked fresh enough. He wasn't killed in Virginia and brought here.

  I rubbed my eyes and realized I was out of my depth here, along with Ted Weir, Kelly, and certainly Kevin. The bright spot had been the super-smart Linda Willard. But to be completely honest, I needed Rex. We all did. Of course, we needed him to solve these two murders and his own kidnapping.

  Where was he?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The doorbell woke me up, and I jumped into a defensive position. I'd been fighting ninjas in my sleep, and when that happened, I usually woke up that way. I'd fallen asleep, fully clothed, on Rex's couch. I popped a mint from the candy dish into my mouth and answered the door.

  A surly-looking young man stood on the steps. He was a bit on the short side and a little pudgy. I guessed he was fifteen, maybe. And he looked familiar.

  The boy sighed heavily when I opened the door. "You need a pet sitter, Mrs. Wrath?"

  Automatically I corrected, "It's Ms. Come in. Did Kelly Albers send you?"

  The kid nodded and followed me into the house. "Nice digs."

  "Thanks. This is my fiancé's house. He's a police detective."

  "I know," the boy answered.

  Either Kelly had told him that, or he'd been in the hot seat in Rex's office before. Not an encouraging thought.

  I opened with an interview question, "Have you done this before?"

  He sat on the couch, and the animals surrounded him. Leonard loved him immediately, and Martini climbed up on him and passed out—a good sign. Philby eyed him with the suspicion she usually reserved for squirrels in the yard.

  The kid yawned. "Yeah. I do it all the time."

  I looked at him expectantly. "For who?"

  He frowned. "Most of the teachers at the high school and the principal. It's kind of a thing."

  That sounded good. Apparently he didn't get in trouble in school. "What's your rate?"

  "Thirty dollars a night. But I'll give you a discount since you know my sister." He rolled his eyes as if saying that hurt.

  So, I knew him? "Your sister?"

  The boy looked offended that I didn't know who he was. "Yeah. My sister. Betty."

  I had to admit, I was torn. I loved all of my girls. And the teachers trusted him. And I really needed someone to watch the animals. On the other hand, Betty has been the evil genius behind many pranks that included dying my bangs pink as I slept and creating huge bonfires in places where bonfires shouldn't be.

  "I'm so sorry," I went with. "My mind has left me for a moment. What's your name?"

  "Bart."

  Ah. I knew this kid. He'd faked a heart attack at a parade, which impressed Kelly, the never-impressed emergency room nurse. I needed a kid who could think on his feet like that.

  "When can you start?"

  He shrugged. "Immediately?"

  That was when I noticed the suitcase behind him and the giant grocery bag full of junk food. How did he know I'd need him overnight? My hope was that Rex would turn up on the doorstep any minute now, happy and fine, and whisk me away to the Caribbean for a quick marriage on the beach and nothing but fruity cocktails and sun for a week.

  Yes, I understand that this wasn't going to happen. Whoever had Rex wasn't going to let him go, especially with two more clues to find and solve. Over the last couple of days, my fury had been waning into frustration and fear. As a fairly impatient person, this gnawed at me, wearing me down into someone I didn't really recognize anymore.

  "So." Bart cleared his throat. "What do you want me to do?"

  We did a quick tour of the house, complete with the animals' feeding schedules. To his credit, the sullen teen paid attention. How much like his sister was he? It didn't matter. He was going to take care of Rex's house and the pets. That was all I needed to know. Once I got him settled in (and hid all of the weapons and matches, cuz…Betty), I went across the street and took a shower. Rex was really gone. And I had no idea where to find him.

  And Betty's brother was house sitting for him.

  I started to cry. It wasn't a loud, gasping-for-air cry. But tears did roll down my cheeks, and my throat ached. The reasonable side of me said this wasn't going to help anything. The flaky side of me told me to go ahead and let it out, because what else was I going to do? I sobbed through the washing of my hair until I toweled off. That was my cutoff. I had to pull it together for Rex.

  In the kitchen, I threw together a quick breakfast and sat, munching on toast and eggs, as I scanned my cell for messages. Nothing from Rex. What did I expect? Merry, it's Rex! I'm being held by Juliette in her basement. Bring an Uzi! Love you!

  Mom had sent a text two minutes ago, saying she'd driven by and there was a strange boy in Rex's backyard playing with Leonard. It was nice to
know he wasn't surly all the time. I texted back telling her who it was.

  Kelly asked if I'd heard from Linda yet. Officer Ted left a text asking me to call him, and Riley wondered if I'd gotten any sleep.

  That was a good question, considering that I was still tired. I used to be able to sleep on anything, from army cots to the stone floor in a barn. But three years of living in an actual house with an actual bed had made me a bit soft.

  Not really, I texted back.

  I texted Kelly and asked her to get ahold of Linda. Then I called Ted Weir.

  He picked up on the first ring. "Ms. Wrath! I just got a hit on the fingerprints. Can you come down to the station?"

  I was there in minutes. Three minutes meant I cut through some alleys doing fifty miles an hour.

  Kevin was eating SpaghettiOs out of the can with a flat-tipped screwdriver while sitting at the front desk. I didn't ask. He pointed over his shoulder. To my surprise, Ted was using Rex's office.

  "I'm sorry. I should've warned you," he apologized as I stood, gaping in the doorway.

  I closed my mouth. "No, no, that's fine. It's not like there are a lot of offices here." I walked in and sat down in a chair I'd always thought of as an interrogation device when Rex was in here.

  "Des Moines was able to run the prints overnight. Since this involves the kidnapping of a police officer, they were in a hurry. Which helps us."

  "Who was it?" I asked. "Who is the person I'm going to kill?"

  He froze. "Before I tell you, you should know that you can't do anything about this. We've already picked up Vy Todd and are bringing her in."

  "Vy Todd? She killed Bobby Ray Pratt?" Even though I'd thought of this, I couldn't have been more surprised if you'd told me Vladimir Putin was a classically trained ballet dancer.

  Ted frowned. "I know, right? It kind of makes things more complicated."

  More complicated? That was the understatement of the year. I'd been convinced for the last twenty-four hours that Lana or Leiko was behind this. Now I find out it's Vy Todd? She had no connection to me.

  "It doesn't make any sense," I said. "Everything so far points to an ex-spy. Everything points to me. But this…" My mind was spinning. "It just doesn't make sense for Vy Todd to know who my replacement was at Langley. And I'm sure the CIA has nothing on Vy. So what does it mean?"