Part 27 (1/2)
She was in shock. He knew that. A few days ago, he would have been surprised. She must have been at similar scenes. She'd certainly seen thousands of photos.
But this was different This was the latest in a succession of threatening incidents. Attempted murder. Her home trashed. Threatening phone calls. All aimed at her.
”It probably didn't have anything to do with you,” he said.
”Didn't it?” Her voice was a cry for help.
”What is her name?” he asked again.
”Mrs. Starnes. Lulu Starnes. She was a widow. A teacher.” Tears glittered in her eyes.
”Did anyone know you were coming here?”
”I don't see how...” She stopped suddenly. ”I called from my house and my office. Several times.”
”I think we should have someone check your phone and house for bugs,” he said.
Her face paled even more. ”But I have a new alarm system. Wouldn't someone have discovered listening devices?”
”Not if they weren't looking for them,” he said. ”Did you know her? Before coming here today?”
”No,” she whispered and sat down on the edge of the sofa.
The dog tried to get loose from her hold, but she held him tighter.
”Why did you come to see her?”
”My mother. She was one of my mother's friends when they were younger. I wanted her to know--”
She stopped in mid-sentence, leaving something unsaid.
Why?
”Gage?”
He turned around at Wagner's voice. He had almost forgotten the man's presence.
”Glenn, this is Meredith Rawson. Meredith, my new partner, Glenn Wagner.”
”I've heard of you,” Wagner said.
Her blue eyes appeared luminous as they turned toward Wagner. ”Detective Wagner,” she acknowledged. ”I don't think I've met you.”
”I joined the department after you left the prosecutor's office,” he said. ”What happened here?” His voice was gentler than Gage's voice had been.
”I had an appointment with Mrs. Starnes,” she said. ”She seemed pleased about meeting with me, but no one answered the door. I waited a while, then tried the front door. It was unlocked.” She glanced away. ”The dog was pretty frantic,” she continued. ”Running back and forth as if there was a problem, as if he wanted me to follow him. I went inside. He led me to her.”
”You didn't see anyone around the house?” Wagner was asking the questions Gage should have asked. But he was watching her face, the bewilderment and fear in her eyes. He sensed she wasn't saying something. Something important.
She had made it clear the other night that she was busy with her practice and her mother. Why would she take time to visit someone in her mother's past? Why not just call?
And why would anyone target someone from her mother's past?
A pattern was developing.
It was clear she saw it, too, and it terrified her, though she tried hard not to show it.
He longed to reach out to her. But she had signaled the other night that she didn't want mote than a professional relations.h.i.+p, that their encounter had been born of desperation and was not to be repeated. h.e.l.l, this was a murder scene-- and no place for personal feelings.
Wagner's gaze moved from Meredith back to Gage.
Had he been that obvious?
She looked helplessly at the dog. ”He keeps trying to go back to the kitchen. I'm afraid...”
Gage looked around for a dog leash, finally found one, snapped it on, and handed it to her.
”His name is Nicky. Mrs. Starnes mentioned him when we made the appointment,” she said in a small voice. Grief was embedded in it. He heard it He felt it.
He looked around the room. It was neat except for dog toys. Photos of a man and a woman together were scattered around. There were no photos or portraits of children.
The dog was still agitated, standing alert. Gage sat down in a chair near Meredith, leaned over and scratched the dog's short ears. ”It's okay,” he crooned.
”What will happen to him?” she asked.
”There might be family,” he said.
”Now. I mean now.”
”We'll be canva.s.sing the neighbors. Perhaps one of them can take him in.”
”She loved him. I heard it in her voice when she talked about him.” Her voice cracked. She was obviously fighting back tears.
”Meredith,” he said.
She looked at him.
”We have to get details.” He was insistent.
”You know everything I do.”
He didn't. He would bet on it. ”You may not know what you know,” he said.
She nodded. She knew the drill.
”Did you see anyone around the house when you arrived?”
”No.”
”What time did you arrive?”