Burning Proof (16 page)

BY THE TIME ABBY ARRIVED
back in Long Beach, neither Carney and O’Reilly nor Fred Wright had uncovered any more information about Alonzo Ruiz. They hadn’t discovered where he was staying or, most important, whom he was working for. She planned on meeting with Carney and O’Reilly as soon as they had time for her.

While Abby was glad Woody had been cleared, she was ecstatic that neither he nor Luke Murphy had been injured. But on Sunday, the day after she returned, she was at her friend and mentor’s house for a solemn reason. The older of his two dogs, Ralph, had suffered a stroke and had to be put down.

“I feel like a sissy asking you to come with me,” Woody said as Abby entered his house.

She gave him a hug. “You’re not a sissy. Ralph has been a good dog for a long time. I know you’ll miss him.”

Her heart broke when Woody wiped his eyes. “True that. He’s a great dog.” Tenderly Woody picked the big dog up. Ed, his other Lab, whimpered and looked up at them, tail between his legs.

Gently Abby pushed Ed into the house. “We’ll be back, sweetie. I promise.” The dog whimpered but stayed inside, and Abby closed the door, throat thick as they walked to her car.

She opened the door for Woody to sit with Ralph on his lap. She drove to the vet, sniffling as Woody held the ailing dog and talked to him, telling him what a great dog he was. A vet tech was waiting for them when they arrived and led them to an exam room. There was a blanket and pillows on the floor, and Woody laid Ralph down and sat next to him. Abby took a seat on the other side of the dog.

“The doctor will be in in a minute,” the vet tech said before she left them in the room.

Woody cradled Ralph’s head, gently caressing him. Abby scratched the dog’s ears, noting the gray muzzle and remembering a younger dog following Woody everywhere with love and devotion.

“Do dogs go to heaven?” Woody asked, voice thick.

The question took Abby by surprise. She’d prayed for Woody for years. Once when she’d tried to talk to him about salvation, he’d made the request that she leave the subject alone until he asked. This was the closest he’d come to asking since then.

What do I say, Lord?
Abby prayed quickly before answering.

“I believe they do,” she said, swallowing a lump. “I believe heaven is a place where we’ll be perfectly happy, and I’ve learned, after having Bandit for only a few months, dogs make us happy. I imagine we’ll see them again.”

Woody nodded. After a couple minutes, the vet came in. He offered his condolences and shortly after that, Ralph
peacefully took his last breath. Abby cried many tears at the loss of the dog and the pain in her friend’s eyes.

Abby convinced Woody he needed a condolence lunch. River’s End was crowded, but the day was beautiful. Sunny, seventy degrees, with a gentle ocean breeze tickling the skin. Abby and Woody sat on an outside bench to wait for a table. They had picked up Ed on the way, deciding that he needed to share in the consolation.

“That was as painless as possible, I guess,” Woody said.

“Yes, it was. It’s good he’s not suffering.”

Just then his phone rang. From Woody’s side of the conversation, Abby guessed that the caller was Luke.

The thought of Luke mixed up her emotions like a blender. She wanted to talk to him about the burglary at her house and his own confrontation with Ruiz. As much as they both tried to put the Triple Seven behind them, Abby had a sinking feeling that that would be impossible.

She wondered if Woody would invite him to lunch. As if reading her mind, the next thing Woody said was “Why don’t you join us at River’s End?”

Abby felt her face blush, and she turned toward the ocean, hoping Woody didn’t notice.

“Yeah, we’re here, waiting for an outside table. Come on down.” After signing off, he disconnected.

“Is he coming?” Abby asked.

Woody nodded. “He’s close. Probably be here before we get seated. He’s still working a missing case, was actually in Sunset Beach checking an address.”

A short time later, she looked toward the parking lot as Woody’s name was called. Their table was ready, and there was Luke Murphy striding toward them.

He was amazingly good-looking, had a movie-star quality with his strong jaw and his alert, expressive gold-flecked hazel-brown eyes.

Abby’s breath caught in her throat as she stood, wondering what in the world she was going to do about these feelings that were getting harder and harder to ignore.

“SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT RALPH,”
Luke said to Woody as they were all led to an outdoor table. He leaned down to scratch Ed’s head as he took the seat next to Abby and tried to ignore the fluttering in his stomach. He’d faced down a crazy pimp with less anxiety than sitting next to this pretty cop. And he realized it had to stop. Abby was engaged, off-limits, involved with another man.

“He lived a good, long life,” Woody said as he too gave Ed a pat.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Luke?” Abby asked. “Burglary and shots fired at your house has to mess with your head.”

“I’m fine. Glad my partner is proficient with firearms. And grateful no one else was home at the time.”

“He didn’t take anything but your Triple Seven notes?”

“Nope. He tossed my office, but that was all that he removed.”

“Lots of guys are looking into both crimes,” Woody said. “They’ll shake something loose.”

Sandy came to take their order. She asked where Woody’s other dog was.

“I prefer to believe that he’s in heaven,” Woody said.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” Sandy said as she frowned and gave Woody a hug.

“All dogs go to heaven,” Luke said, winking at Abby and smiling at Woody.

“Hear, hear,” Woody said, raising his water glass. They all toasted Ralph.

“How goes your case, the girl in the high desert?” Abby asked.

“We’ve been sidelined because of the shooting. Hopefully, first thing tomorrow, we’ll be back at it,” Luke said, leaning forward and catching Woody’s eye before turning to Abby. “We’re set to drive to Tehachapi to meet her on Wednesday. We’ll be there a couple of days.” He almost said they’d also be making a trip to Bakersfield to talk to a Lucy Harper but thought better of it. Nothing was certain; nothing was concrete.
I’m not going to give Abby false hope.

“Luke’s got a line on a possible witness.”

“Really?” Abby asked. “For a ten-year-old case?”

“It’s a maybe.” Luke told her about Brenda Harris, the tipster who was certain that the rapist was an old neighbor. “We’re meeting Tuesday. I’m praying it’s a great lead.”

“I’ll join that prayer,” Abby said.

Luke looked into her beautiful green eyes, saw the sparkle, and felt like he could drown there.

Woody brought him back to earth. “Will that blogger, Faye Fallon, meet us in Tehachapi?” he asked.

Luke nodded. “She’s heading up there tomorrow. She’s spending a couple of days with Molly because she’s not entirely
sure Molly will talk to us.” For a moment Luke struggled with the fact that the attraction he felt for Faye made him feel disloyal to Abby. Abby would be happy for him if something came of his relationship with Faye, he was certain.

“You’re going up there without being certain your victim will talk to you?” Abby asked, bringing Luke’s focus back to the victim, where it should be.

“I’m hoping she feels up to speaking with us. We have a lot to do before we meet with her anyway.” Luke shared with Abby the work they’d done so far and where they planned on starting. For a couple of minutes the back-and-forth reminded him of when they were furiously working on the Triple Seven investigation. They clicked, they jibed when they talked about stuff like this, and it made him want more.

Woody interjected here and there, but he seemed distracted, hurting about Ralph, Luke thought.

“Why is the victim so reticent to speak to you two?”

“Faye thinks it’s PTSD. And the victim’s mother doesn’t want us to give her false hope.” Luke knew Abby was not nearly as frail as Molly, but he still couldn’t bring himself to mention the trail leading to Lucy Harper.

“I understand that.” Abby gave a knowing nod. “You should be certain about your facts, and exactly how firm her foundation is, before you sit her down. Don’t string her along with vagaries.”

“I would never do that,” Luke said, holding Abby’s gaze and loving that he saw strength and balance there, so much better than the uncertainty he’d seen right after the shooting. He wanted to reach across the divide and grip her hand.

But their food came, and instead he said a blessing, mentioning comfort for Woody and his loss.

Abby spoke up when he finished. “Sounds like you’ve got the bases covered with your case.” She looked down at her food, and Luke got the distinct impression she had something else to say.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked. “You think we missed something?”

She shook her head. “No, you guys are thorough. Listening to all of this has made me think that I’d like to help. If Dr. Collins can’t get back to me right away, I may have a few days before I go back to work. Would you mind a little company?”

Luke and Woody exchanged glances as Luke’s heart jumped in his throat. She’d read his mind. There was nothing he wanted more.

“We’d love your help. Molly might feel more comfortable talking to a woman, especially one who can totally empathize. When will you know about Collins?”

“I’ll call him again first thing in the morning, then let Woody know. Sound good?”

Both Woody and Luke nodded in agreement.

“I have some other news. I don’t know when
 
—it could be a couple of months or more
 
—but I’ll eventually be making my way to Tehachapi on some family business. My uncle is in CCI up there. I’m waiting to be approved for visiting.”

Luke felt his jaw go slack and saw that the news got Woody’s attention as well. Simon Morgan’s file was where the information on Lucy Harper was. Would he know about her possibly seeing Buck after the fire? Would he tell Abby?

“Simon?” Woody said, putting his sandwich back on the plate. “In the prison at Tehachapi? I thought he was in San Quentin.”

“He was, but he calmed down and stopped being a problem
some time ago, apparently. He was moved to CCI about three years ago.”

Luke was truly nonplussed. “What, uh . . . what made you decide to visit him?”

Abby sighed and Luke thought he saw a hesitation in her eyes.

“I don’t mean to get personal . . .”

Cocking her head, she said, “It’s not that. It’s just that my aunt convinced me that I needed to talk to my uncle. He knew my father. He might have insight about him that could help me put any doubts to sleep.”

“Doubts about whether or not he’s alive?” Woody asked, and Luke shot him a glance. He really hadn’t thought Abby would still struggle with that. The idea that she did gave him pause.

“Maybe a little.” Abby hiked a shoulder, gaze thoughtful. “But I have gotten past it. Going home was good for me. Visiting my uncle is just a way of connecting with a long-lost family member and learning what he remembers about a dad I barely knew.”

“You do sound as if getting away was just what you needed,” Luke said.

“It was. I feel as though I’m on a firmer foundation now.” She smiled and raised her glass. Luke did likewise with his tea, and Woody followed suit. The three toasted one more time.

“To the future,” Abby said. “And catching bad guys and putting them in jail.”

MONDAY MORNING
Luke found his thoughts drifting to his conversation with Abby after she returned home from Oregon. She’d called him after the lunch with Woody, assuring him that she was serious about wanting to help with the Cavanaugh investigation, and that surprised him. He also realized that no matter what was happening in either of their lives, they would always be connected by the Triple Seven.

“I’m sorry I ruined your time away, made you rush home.”

“You didn’t. I was already thinking it was time to come back.”

“You’d only been gone a little over a week.”

“Yeah, but I was running away. Anyway, don’t worry about it. Woody sounds at peace with his shooting. I know how unnerving such a thing can be. How are you doing?”

“Like I said, I’m glad Woody is a good shot.”

The sound of her chuckle, though subdued, was music to his ears.

“But why anyone like Ruiz,”
Luke said,
“or whoever he was working for, would be following me or burglarizing you is still a mystery.”

“Because it involves both of us, you know it has to be connected to the Triple Seven.”

“Why would anyone care about that case anymore? It’s closed, isn’t it?”

“Tight, according to the chief, and I’m okay with that.”

Luke almost shouted hallelujah when Abby made that statement:
“I’m okay with that.”
She’d said it before, but this time he felt she meant it.

She’d also voiced what he’d been thinking, but neither of them could come up with any reason why.

“I highly doubt that Ruiz was working on his own.”

“I agree.”

“Look, Luke, in the past I’ve been accused of obsessing over the Triple Seven, but I’m not. I do trust that no one will escape justice, nothing stays hidden. That being said, I think someone else is still worried about being found out.”

“I agree. Ruiz got orders from someone.”

“I think we need to find out who. Quietly. I don’t even want to say anything to Woody. This involves only us.”

He’d agreed with her, seeing wisdom in keeping any poking around they did quiet. It bugged him. Who would have any reason to be worried enough about what they had in their personal files to hire a burglar? Abby went on to ask if this disturbing new development meant that Kent had lied about his role in the murders and only covered for the real killer. Abby’s calm query surprised Luke because he thought she was still eager to dig and find answers.

Digging for the truth appealed to him more now than it had in a long time. The attack at his house had changed the dynamic for Luke, and when he shared that with Abby, she totally agreed and understood.

“This is just all too personal for us and the people close to us.”

“Hey, Luke, you listening?”

Luke looked up and felt his face redden. “Sorry; what did you say?”

“You rethinking carrying a gun?” Woody asked.

Luke shook his head. “Not right now. I can’t imagine being in another situation like that ever. If I see a tail in the future, I’m dialing 911 and stepping back.”

The quiet while the shooting investigation was going on had left Luke champing at the bit to get out to the high desert and to meet with the tipster, Brenda Harris. He was tempered only slightly by the knowledge that the woman could be another dead end. Her tip went nowhere ten years ago, and it would be the wildest stroke of luck to think that it would go anywhere now. But paying attention to details meant he had to check.

Detective Carney had an opening for Abby on Monday morning. She stopped by the station to look over what he and O’Reilly had on Alonzo Ruiz.

“Was he recording things?” Abby asked after she read the report they’d filed about all of the high-tech equipment in Ruiz’s car. “I’m almost 100 percent certain it was him following me. With all this stuff, he could have been tracking, recording . . .”

“He could have.” Carney nodded. “But we’ve found no indication of any recordings, and the trackers were never activated. Of course, he could have been recording and downloading the stuff straight to someone.”

“To who?” She met Carney’s gaze. “Someone connected with the Triple Seven? That case is closed according to the chief.”

Carney shook his head. “It’s the only investigation that involves you both. And so far you two are the only ones referenced in Ruiz’s sparse notes.”

The notes had creeped Abby out. Ruiz had tracked her for a week after the shooting, noting when she came and went, when Ethan was there, and when Abby was alone.

“We’re trying to figure out who he was working for,” Carney continued. “And if he was working alone, why.”

They were both silent for a moment.

“I’m just glad Jessica, Woody, and Luke are okay,” Abby said.

Carney snickered. “That lady is a tough customer. Were you missing anything?”

“No, it just looks like he riffled through my files. I had my Triple Seven book with me if that’s what he was after.”

“We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”

Abby smiled. “I’m not worried. You guys are the best.”

“Are you coming back to work?”

“Yes, I am. But I’m not sure when Dr. Collins can fit me in. I have to talk to him before my return, and he’s in the middle of a crisis today.”