Controlling Interest (21 page)

“Where are you?” he demanded when she called him back. “Did you leave without me?”

“Of course not. I got a little — ” she slammed the lid of the trunk — “sidetracked.”

“Well, now we're going to have to hurry. Would you get over here?”

It was precisely sixteen minutes and twenty-one seconds later when she pulled up in front of the clock shop. Matt stood on the sidewalk, arms folded. He jerked open the passenger door and dropped into the open seat, whacking his head on the hard top.

“You could've put the top down.” He sent her an irritated look, rubbing the rising knot on his temple.

She pulled out onto Beale Street. “I didn't want my hair to get blown around.”

“We wouldn't want that to happen.” He yanked the seatbelt across his middle and snapped the latch. “What have you been doing?”

Cleaning out my closet
didn't sound like a very good answer. “Picking Daddy's brain about the Patel and Haq families. You said there's something odd about them. Daddy's been dealing with Abid for a couple of years now. I thought he might have some insight for us.”

He was silent for a moment. “Just when you're having one of your blonde moments, you manage to surprise me.” A grudging smile curled his mouth. “What did he say?”

She also wasn't going to bring up the “precautions” conversation. “In his opinion, Yasmine has no reason to run from the Haq marriage. They're wealthy and politically powerful, and Jarrar is considered a good catch. He's even what a lot of women would call good-looking.”

Matt gave her a sideways look. “Do you think he's good-looking?”

“Not really.” She mentally pictured the hooded dark eyes and thick black hair. “He's a little too macho-macho for me.”

He laughed. “What does that mean?”

“I don't know.” She shrugged. “Thick eyebrows, hairy chest, hairy arms . . .”

“How do you know — ”

“You can see it sticking up from the front of his shirt.” How many embarrassing topics was she required to cover in one day? “Can we talk about something else?”

He just grinned and unbuttoned his top button. “Look, Mom, no hair.”

“Would you please leave me alone? You're creeping me out.”

“You're so much fun to needle.” He relaxed against the seat. “Would you like to know what I found out about Rafiqah Akbar?”

“Oh yeah! The email. What's the deal? Has she seen Yasmine?”

“I doubt it. She finished her program in December and took a job in Washington State.”

“How do you know?”

“Googled her name and came up with a list of new employees at a hospital there. It's definitely her.”

“Wow. If we'd found her sooner, we might could've tracked Yasmine down by now. Now I guess it doesn't matter.”

Matt shook his head. “It matters that Yasmine tried to get to a friend from school instead of her new fiancé. Why she would do that is at the root of what's going on.”

“I guess you're right. When we catch up to her in Helena, we can ask her.”

“I knew we should've turned left at Albuquerque.” Matt grinned as Natalie's brows twitched together. “Well, it worked for Bugs Bunny. Are you sure you know where you're going?”

“I've driven this highway a bazillion times.” She glanced at the GPS. “We'll be in Tunica in just a few minutes. Want to stop for some Fiddle Faddle and a root beer?”

“We don't have time. It's nearly eight o'clock, and there's still another sixty miles or so to — look out, that light's turning yellow.”

“Didn't you ever watch
Star Man
? ‘Green means go. Red means stop. Yellow means go very, very fast.' ” Natalie stomped on the gas.

Matt held onto the dash and tried not to yelp.

Blue lights flared behind them.

“Natalie!”

“Oh, fudgesicles. It was yellow all the way.” She hit the brakes.

But it was too late. The flashing lights drew closer.

Matt turned around to look. “I hope you practiced your eyelash-batting this morning.”

“I'm a former police officer. I do not play that game.” Natalie pulled over into a gravel drive and grabbed her purse out from under her seat. “We'll just have to make up time on the other side.”

“Now there's a fine idea,” Matt muttered.

The brown sedan pulled to a stop behind them. Tunica County Sheriff's Office. Terrific. Natalie's former employer.

As the officer approached with the rolling swagger of law enforcement officials everywhere, Natalie rolled down the window and poked her head out. “Good evening, officer, I have no idea why you — Bradley! What are you doing here?”

Matt had a very bad feeling about this.

The deputy leaned down, planting his hands on thick thighs. Under the shadow of the stiff hat, all Matt could see was a square chin. “I'm working,” a bassoon-like voice rumbled out. “I recognized your car, not to mention your driving habits. What are
you
doing here?”

Natalie glanced at Matt. “Just passing through. But I can't stay and talk. We're kind of in a hurry.”

Matt could've predicted the guy's response.

Felschow peered through the window, past Natalie. “That your new boyfriend?”

“None of your business. If you didn't stop us for a legitimate reason, let us get back on the road.”

So much for batting eyelashes.

Felschow stood up, towering over them. He pulled a flashlight off a clip on his belt and turned it on. “Your left taillight's out, Natalie. Maybe you should let me see your license and registration. Oh, and your insurance card.”

Even in the dim light Matt could see the bright red spots on Natalie's cheekbones. “Come on, Bradley, you're not going to give me a ticket for a burned-out taillight.”

“Oh really?” The deep voice remained polite. “Give me your license, Natalie.”

“Don't be ridiculous. You're just mad because I've got another guy — ”

“Natalie,” Matt said quietly, “give him your license.” He leaned forward to speak to the officer. “We've had a very tense day, you'll have to excuse her.”

“What did she do — break a fingernail?” The deputy grinned a little. “When you've arrested two drunk drivers, confiscated a kilo of meth, and kept a husband from shooting his wife and himself, then you can talk about a tense day.” The flashlight beam speared Natalie's face. “This is Mississippi, and we have inspection laws. You're not gonna talk your way out of a ticket.”

Natalie started to object, but Matt had had enough. “Look, we're detectives working on a case. We haven't done anything wrong, so get that light out of her face, or I'll report you to the D.A.”

“You break the law, you pay a fine.” Felschow sent the light Matt's way. “Maybe you'd better step out of the car too. Let me see your ID.” When Matt just stared at him in disbelief, Felschow's mouth curled. “I'm taking you both in. ”

“For what?” Natalie demanded. “Bradley, this isn't funny!”

“Failure to comply with an officer's orders.”

Natalie unzipped her purse. “Alright! I'll play along. For goodness' sake, here's my license.” She threw it out the window. It hit Felschow's belt buckle with a little
clink
, then dropped to the ground. “Give me the ticket, then you can go tell your buddies at Krispy Kreme how you humiliated Natalie Tubberville. I hope it makes you feel better!”

Felschow leaned down to pick up the license. The smirk had disappeared, and Matt realized Natalie had injured the guy's pride. He was not playing around.

“Okay, now.” Matt pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. “Here's my detective license. Let's just power this whole thing down a notch.” He glanced at Natalie. “Come on, let's go along with the officer.”

She gave him an uncertain look, but reached for the door latch.

Relieved, Matt jumped out and came around to hold Natalie's door while she climbed out.

The deputy, who had glanced at Matt's badge with little interest, pointed the flashlight at Natalie's feet, then took the beam up her shapely jeans-clad legs, and lingered on her T-shirt logo. “I'm in my own little world,” he read it out loud. “You haven't changed a bit, Natalie.”

Matt wanted to slug him.

“Oh yeah?” Natalie folded her arms. “I've quit letting people tell me what to think.”

“Is that right?” Felschow flicked the flashlight toward the car. “Open the trunk.”

Natalie huffed, but pushed the button on her key ring.

Felschow leaned into the Miata's tiny open trunk. He glanced over his shoulder. “Y'all stand right there and don't move.”

“Talk about redundancy,” Natalie muttered. “What did I ever see in him?”

“I was wondering the same thing,” said Matt.

Bradley flashed the light around the trunk. “What is all this crap, Natalie? You could've at least put your clothes in a suitcase. Y'all going to Tunica to play the casinos? Which hotel you staying in?”

“See, that's your problem, Bradley. You never listened to a word I said to you, which means you don't have a clue who I really am. I don't gamble. I don't drink. I don't sleep around. I try to live my life to please God.” Matt could feel Natalie vibrating. “I'm taking those clothes to a homeless shelter as soon as we get back to Memphis — which will be tonight. We're not staying at any hotel.”

“If I didn't listen to a word you said, it's because you talk so dad-gum much it all starts to run together.” Felschow slammed the lid of the trunk. “Give me your keys and get in the squad car. I'm taking you in for questioning.”

Matt suddenly got fed up with this clown. “This is harassment. The girl dumped you. Get over it.” He moved to get back in the car.

“Stop right there, Romeo,” Felschow growled.

Matt looked at Natalie. “Has he always been such a drama queen?” He opened the car door. “Listen, Felschow, how about if I get in the car with you, and you let Natalie follow us to the station. I don't want to leave her car here on the side of the road.”

Felschow hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Guess that's not a bad idea. But you go first, Natalie, and I'll follow. Don't try anything funny.”

What was this,
Miami Vice
? Torn between aggravation and amusement, Matt touched Natalie gently between the shoulder blades. “I'll be right behind you.”

“Okay.” She looked up at him, biting her lip. “I'm sorry, Matt.”

“It's not your fault.” Well, except for her former unfortunate taste in boyfriends.

Felschow opened the back door of the squad car. “Get in.”

Matt smiled at Natalie as he got into the car. “Be careful, Trouble. See you in a few.”

She lifted her hand in response, then backed toward the Miata.

Felschow slammed the door in Matt's face, blocking his view of Natalie. The inside of the car reeked of cigarettes, vomit, and cleaning chemicals. No telling what kind of freaks and geeks had sat on this seat before him. Good thing Natalie hadn't been forced to join him. He hoped she wasn't too upset to drive. Until she'd run that yellow light, she'd proven to be a competent driver. Fast but careful. Given her mercurial temperament, he would've thought she'd be distractible or impatient.

The driver's door opened and Felschow flung himself behind the wheel. He waited until Natalie pulled out onto the highway, then followed.

The sliding Plexiglas window between the seats was cracked open. Felschow glanced at Matt in the rearview mirror. “If y'all ain't doing the casinos, where you going? Nothing else to do down this way.”

“I told you — we're on a case.” Matt saw no need to divulge anything beyond the basics to the guy. Not without a lawyer in the room.

“What kind of case? Natalie don't know how to do anything but answer the phone.” Felschow snickered.

“At least she can speak English.”

Felschow frowned. “Don't get smart with me.”

“You asked for it.”

“Look, bud, let's get one thing straight. Natalie's my girl, and I'm looking out for her.”

Matt snorted. “Arresting a woman's a great way to warm her heart.”

“I didn't arrest her — although I sure could've. She should be glad I was in a good mood.”

“I think the shoe's on the other foot. Sexual harassment will get you in a lot of trouble these days.”

“Sexual harassment? What's that little tease been saying about me?”

Matt knew he'd gone too far but suddenly didn't care. He leaned forward to put his face into the window opening. “She said you pressured her for sex and acted like a jerk when she said no. In my book, that's sexual harassment.”

“Well, in my book, a guy being taken in for resisting arrest had better watch his mouth.” Felschow reached back and slammed the window shut, nearly cutting off Matt's nose.