Deadly Accusations (20 page)

AS CASEY DROVE TO NOEL'S
house, she tried to ignore her aching shoulders. After last night's drama on the M6, her muscles were still knotted. When Noel called this morning to invite her to lunch as a thank you for helping him and said Marie would be there, she'd accepted. If they both heard what happened last night, maybe Noel could convince Marie to stop badgering her to investigate.

Casey checked the rearview mirror for glimpses of lurking strangers. Despite Barb's and Summer's assurances last night that they were fine, Casey hadn't stopped worrying. It took another call to Summer this morning to keep worry from turning to panic.

Stan had his concerns, too. Before she met with him this morning, she'd heard a shouting match between Stan and David Eisler through Stan's closed door. Eisler was saying that she was bringing too much trouble to Mainland and should be suspended. Stan had stood his ground, thank god. By the time Eisler flung open the door and charged out, he was red-faced and scowling. He'd glared at Casey and started to say something, but took off when Stan stepped out of his office.

“I had to tell David about the shooting,” he'd said. “He thinks you'll be safer if you weren't on any buses right now. I have to agree with him, but it's not a suspension.” Stan could be diplomatic when he wanted to be.

Casey pulled into Noel's driveway. Marie's vehicle wasn't there. She stepped out of her Tercel, walked up to the door, and was about to ring the bell when the door opened.

“Hello,” he said. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” Casey tried not to glance at the biceps bulging under his black T-shirt. Today, his long blond hair was tied back. Sam wagged his tail and nuzzled her hand.

Casey stepped inside. “Something smells wonderful.”

“Baked salmon. Marie said you eat a lot of salmon sandwiches, so I figured this was a safe bet. By the way, one of her kids got sick, so she bailed.”

Uh-oh. “Aren't they staying with your mom?”

“Yeah, Marie's spending the weekend there.”

Leaving her alone with Noel. Damn.

He shut the door. “Can I take your jacket?”

The phone rang in a nearby room.

“Go ahead,” Casey said. “I'll hang it up.”

As he wheeled his chair down the hall, Casey opened the closet door and noticed a bicycle helmet, assorted gloves, and elbow pads on the low shelf. At the far end, a royal blue ball cap partially covering a pair of sunglasses made her freeze. The killer had worn those things.

Still, September twenty-eighth had been a sunny day. Lots of people would have worn sunglasses, and blue ball caps were common. Not many of them would have been wearing a dark jacket, though. Casey spotted a black windbreaker hanging from the rod. Her heart started to pound.

Stay calm. Don't jump to conclusions. If Noel was guilty, wouldn't he have gotten rid of these things? Wouldn't the cops have confiscated them? On the other hand, Marie was the one who'd asked her to investigate. Noel had tried to dissuade her, and he'd neglected to mention the marriage proposal. Oh god, what if he'd hired someone to take a shot at her last night?

She heard Sam's nails click on the hardwood floor. Casey shut the door just as Noel turned the corner.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “You look a bit freaked out.”

“I was thinking about something that happened last night, and was hoping to tell you and Marie at the same time.”

“Let's go in the living room.” He paused. “Don't you want to remove your jacket?”

“Actually, I'm a little cold.”

If she had to make a quick exit, what excuse could she come up with for leaving? Summer was at Barb's, Lou was at work. With any luck, one of them would call; and she was expecting a call from Rhonda. After phoning the prison yesterday, she'd learned that Rhonda was in the infirmary with the flu. She'd left a message asking her to call as soon as possible.

In the large open area that was both living and dining room, Casey spotted the beautifully laid table. Crystal water goblets, wine glasses, and black plates shone below halogen lights. Noel had even uncorked a bottle of wine and put out white linen napkins with black napkin rings. She didn't even own a napkin ring.

“This is beautiful, but you shouldn't have gone to so much trouble.” She removed her cell phone from her purse and checked for messages.

“I wanted to show you my appreciation.” He watched her. “Are you expecting a call?”

“Yes, it's an important family thing.”

“Would you like some wine?” Noel asked.

“No, thanks.”

Casey sat on the edge of the sofa while Noel angled his chair so he could see both Como Lake and her. Grateful for the coffee table between them, she looked for signs of weapons on her host. The pockets in his trousers could hold a knife. The side pockets in his wheelchair could hide several knives and a small handgun. He might even have a weapon tucked between his back and the chair.

“What happened last night?” Noel asked.

“Someone took a shot at me while I was on one of our New Westminster buses.” Casey rubbed clammy hands on her jeans. “A minute later, I got a call telling me that this was my last warning and that I'd better stop investigating Jasmine's death.”

“Holy shit.” Lines creased Noel's brow. “What do you mean by last warning? How many others were there?”

“Just one, but the caller threatened Summer's life.” Casey watched Noel's face grow pale. Could a person fake losing the color from their face? “Only Mainland staff would have access to my schedule and they're not supposed to give it out.”

“Maybe someone staked out buses leaving the yard.” Noel looked at Sam who'd settled next to his chair.

“I picked up the bus in Burnaby.”

“My lawyer said that Wesley Axelson owned the gun that killed Jasmine.” He raised his hands as if to ward off a response. “I'm not saying he's the killer, but Wesley was Jasmine's friend, and the weapon does connect him to this mess.”

Deflecting suspicion wasn't helping things. “Has your lawyer heard anything about the silver car that was seen speeding away?”

“Not that I know of.” He scratched Sam's head. “It's been two and a half weeks since Jasmine died. Leads are going cold.”

The longer Noel looked at her, the more unreadable his expression became. Casey leaned back against the sofa and tried to appear relaxed.

“Why didn't you tell me about the threat to Summer?” he asked.

“I thought Marie would.” She'd blabbed about everything else.

He watched her. “I think you've been avoiding me because of the marriage proposal.”

Casey felt her cheeks grow warm.

“Marie told me you confronted her about it,” he added.

She looked at those gorgeous blue eyes. “Is it true that she didn't know?”

Noel nodded. “I didn't want to tell her until I had an answer. As for you, well, it would have made me look guiltier.” He paused. “Do you think I am?”

What should she say?

“Your opinion matters to me,” he added.

Especially if he was a killer. Casey turned her attention to the window. Heavy clouds hung above the lake. Any moment, the rain would start to fall. “How long had you been in love with Jasmine?”

Noel stroked Sam. “I wasn't, at least not in a starry-eyed crazy way, but I did love her and wanted to take care of her and Jeremy.”

“Was her rejection the real reason you fought that night?”

“Partly.” His expression grew somber. “She said she couldn't cope with a handicapped husband.”

Man, evidence was mounting against this guy. “I thought I was the only one who'd experienced Jasmine's insensitivity.”

His brief smile seemed resigned. “Let's face it, she had bad moments. That's what happens to abused children who don't get therapy. She was angry and starved for love and acceptance.”

Casey shook her head. Too bad that all she'd seen was the angry, hostile part of her.

“You never said if you thought I was guilty,” Noel mumbled.

Her shoulders stiffened. “I don't know.” She studied his crestfallen face. “Maybe I should go.”

“No, wait.” He leaned forward. “Please, we're getting everything out in the open. I don't want to stop now.”

Asking about the jacket and cap in his closet was a risk, but he was practically shoving the opportunity at her. Casey walked toward the trophy display across the room. “Did you win these before or after your paralysis?”

“After.”

Casey glanced at the front door. She could reach it in six or seven quick strides. “Here's the thing.” She crossed her arms. “I just saw a black jacket, royal blue ball cap, and sunglasses in your closet. It's pretty much what Jasmine's killer wore.”

He almost looked relieved. “That's what's bothering you?”

“Uh-huh. Why didn't the police take these things away?”

Noel swept his hand over his head. “They weren't here.” He cringed, as if expecting a sharp response. “Marie was washing the jacket at her place.”

“That sounds bad, Noel.”

“I know, but my van had been stolen and Sam was out of food, so Marie offered to drop some off on her way to work. It was the morning Jasmine was killed.”

“Oh.”

“She saw the jacket and ball cap on the floor by the closet and wanted to know why they smelled like wine. I told her I spilled some. The truth was that Jasmine had thrown a glass at me during the fight. Marie offered to get the stain out of the cap, so she took everything.”

Ursula had said Noel reeked of wine when she and Paval bumped into him that night. “Would anyone from Mainland have seen you in those clothes?”

“Sure, Jasmine, Marie, and I went to the pub with
MPT
staff a few times.”

“Did you ever meet Mainland's
VP
, David Eisler?”

“No, but Marie pointed him out once.” Noel rubbed his chin. “I caught him staring at me in the parking lot last month when I was picking Jasmine up.”

“I heard that he phoned Jasmine the night before she died. Were you there when he called?”

Noel blinked a couple of times. “Now that you mention it, we were arguing when the phone rang. She answered it, so I went to the bathroom. By the time I came back she was off the phone and looking furious. I assumed it was because of me.”

“She never said who she'd been talking to?”

“No, and I didn't ask. Too caught up in the fight.”

Convenient. “People say Eisler was hot for Jasmine and that he doesn't have an alibi. Also, the landlord's wife said she met him at their apartment building a few days before her death. It seems he wanted to see Jasmine.”

“I wouldn't put much stock in what Ursula says. She and Jasmine didn't get along. What I would pay attention to, though, is something I should have mentioned before; something you won't want to hear.”

“Go on.”

Noel hesitated. “While Jasmine and I were fighting, she blurted out that she was in love with Roberto and that he had a key to her apartment.”

Oh, crap. “And you didn't you tell me before because . . .”

“It's not cool to accuse people without proof, and it would make me look bad. Are you sure you wouldn't like some wine?”

“Not yet, thanks.”

“Mind if I start?”

“Not at all.” She watched Noel roll for the table and pour himself a glass of what looked like rosé. “I was thinking about the photos you mentioned, and I wonder if Roberto took them.”

“He said he didn't.” Although he could have lied. “Did the issue with the key tick you off?”

Noel swished the wine in his glass. “I was willing to build a life with Jasmine. He wasn't.”

He made it sound as if he'd been doing her a favor. “Didn't you find it strange that she took your ring while she was in love with Roberto and dating other guys?”

“I didn't realize how deeply she felt about him until she gave the ring back,” he answered. “Anyway, Marie says there's a new suspect; some girlfriend of Birch's.”

“Maybe, but no one knows who she is yet. Did Jasmine ever talk about moving?”

“No, but I wouldn't be surprised if she'd decided to, since she really wanted to get away from Birch.” He sipped the wine. “What if the girlfriend shot Jasmine to give Birch a solid alibi? Birch saw me in the ball cap and jacket a couple of times.”

“With sunglasses and her hair pushed up under a ball cap, a woman could be mistaken for a guy from a distance,” Casey said. “Speaking of female suspects, your sister asked me to check out Gabrielle O'Reilly's alibi, and I have her phone number, but I don't want to call her, so can I give it to you?”

“Sure.” Noel tapped the rim of his glass. “It's more than a little freaky that the killer knows enough about me and Wesley's guns to set us up. The killer has to be someone we've both had contact with a few times, which rules out Gabrielle and Birch's girlfriend, unless the girlfriend works at Mainland.”

“Possibly.” Although she still hadn't completely ruled out Noel. Should she sit back and wait in fear, or help nail the suspect before the freak shot Summer? Was there a way to establish Noel's innocence once and for all?

“Maybe it's time I stopped acting like a doormat and did more to save my ass, like taking a closer look at Gabrielle and
MPT
staff,” he said. “After all, I don't have to work with them.”

“True.” But what would he find?