Part 24 (1/2)
”No. Nothing. He's never been in jail. He's never done anything.”
”Well, that seems promising.”
”What I really need is to find another investigator, one who will dig deeper. And I don't want to tell Linda about it.”
”Why not?”
”Because she doesn't want to face the truth about Wolfgang. She won't pursue this. I need to find out what he's up to-and fast. And I want to do some checking on Trevor, not because I think he's a murderer. I need to know if he's cheating on me.”
”Gwyn, this is serious business. You have to go to the police. Kelly is dead. This guy's not fooling around. If he finds out-”
”That's exactly why I can't go to the police, not yet. What if they botch things and decide to interrogate the guys? Either man could retaliate, or at the very least skip town, like Craig did. The cops never found him. It's too big a risk. Right now, I have the advantage. I think I should keep it that way.”
”Yeah, but I still think you should go to the police.”
”And I plan to, as soon as I have something more to give them than this letter. That's why I'm going to hire my own investigator. Do you know anyone that's good?”
”I've never hired a private detective, but I guess I could ask Nate. He should know of a good one.”
”And don't tell him it's for me.”
”Geez, I hate to start out by lying to the guy. But I suppose I could say that somebody at the bar asked about one, and wants to keep it hush, hush. Yeah, I guess I could do that. I'll call him as soon as I get home. I'll get in touch as soon as I know something.”
”Okay, great. Thanks, Care. I really, really appreciate this.”
”You might want to think about hiring yourself a bodyguard too. I'd sure feel better if you did.”
”I think Trevor might notice someone hanging around.”
She shook her head. ”You're scaring me, Gwyn. Big time.”
”I shouldn't have told you.”
”No, you definitely should have, and before this.”
”I was worried for you. I guess I figured the less people that knew, the better.”
”Gwyn-about Kelly's letter. You didn't say it, but you do realize she may have been talking about Josh too. Right?”
”You can't believe that any more than I do.”
”No. But I had to mention it.”
After Caroline left, I got a call from Trevor. He wouldn't be home until after eight, though he'd thought earlier he would be home in time for dinner. Some contracts needed signing. Details of the transactions required clarification, and whereas it was supposed to be done tomorrow morning, it turned out it would have to be settled tonight. He was apologetic-too much so. I didn't mention the puppy, since he sounded so harried already.
I couldn't sit still, so drove into town to the pet store to buy Annabelle some things she needed, a doggy bed, leash, and toys to chew. I brought her with me in the Jeep, first disconnecting the pa.s.senger-side airbag with my key, then snugged her into an old blanket on the front seat. She appeared to laugh at me and just as quickly unsnugged herself and disappeared into the recesses of the Jeep-leaving me to wonder about her safety. I did prepare for her rapid-fire running sprees at the pet store with a makes.h.i.+ft leash I'd fas.h.i.+oned from a rope I'd found out in the garage.
After the purchases, I drove by the old house. Dusk was slowly turning to dark. I pulled the Jeep to the opposite side of the street and turned off the engine, then watched for several minutes as the lights inside the house switched on. I just had a feeling I couldn't shake.
For a half-hour I trained my eyes on the front window, crouched low in my seat, Annabelle watching too, apparently sensing something afoot. Just as I was about to call off my vigil, a human shadow pa.s.sed behind the curtains. I stiffened, hair rising at the back of my neck. I ducked lower as the silhouette stopped, stood for a moment, then backed away. Though the curtains were drawn, they were also thin. The intruder was possibly unaware of how easily he could be seen.
I dialed Caroline, who answered on the first ring.
”It's me,” I whispered. ”Care, someone's in the house.”
”Which house?”
”My old one.”
”Where are you?”
”I'm parked across the street.”
”Don't you dare go near it. I'll call Nate.”
”Should I leave?”
”Yes, leave.”
”Maybe I should stay, just in case they take off. Maybe I'll see whoever it is.”
”Leave and go park at the head of the street. Now let me hang up so I can call Nate.”
”What if it's Linda?”
”Linda?”
”Maybe she's over there and didn't tell me, or maybe she sent Wolfgang over to check on the new locks.”
”Do you see her car?”
”No, but maybe she parked in the garage.”
”Well, call her and find out, but leave.”
I stayed put, though now it was too dark to see should anyone exit by the back door. I dialed Linda's cell phone, but didn't get an answer, only the recorded message. Linda's home number was no better, again the machine. I pulled Annabelle into my lap, and the puppy, perhaps sensing my fear, settled down, watchful.
Another few minutes pa.s.sed. Then out of the darkness a car pulled slowly in behind me, its headlights flooding the Jeep. I froze and fumbled for the key in the ignition-too late. A frightful visage with empty eye-sockets materialized at my window. It almost stopped my heart until I realized it was Caroline, her features grossly distorted by the bright light.
Annabelle jumped up, barking furiously.
”Shush,” I said, pulling her back. I rolled the window down partway.
”You were supposed to meet us at the head of the street,” Caroline said.
”I was just leaving.”