Divine Intervention (14 page)

Ben tapped his data-com. "And she's positive she heard them fighting?"

"Uh-huh. Baker left his room shortly after Lydia had gone. None of the people on my list recall seeing him until close to the time the party ended. A couple of people said they thought they saw him between midnight and two, but nothing definite."

"So the Premier could have had time to slip out of the hotel, murder his father and get back in time to say goodbye to his guests."

She shook her head. "Baker couldn't have vanished into thin air. How could he have left the hotel? The staff never saw him leave―or return."

"Maybe a different pair of eyes caught him leaving."

Activating the huge vid-wall that lined one side of the executive suite, Ben pulled up the photo of the Paloma Springs lobby. Then he zoomed in on the half-hidden devices that monitored the hotel.

"Security cameras," Natassia mumbled ruefully. "Of course. I should have thought of that."

She mentally kicked herself. Hotel security had camera surveillance set up everywhere. If Baker had escaped through a back door then security would have it on disk.

"I'll get a warrant for those disks," Ben told her.

She listened while he connected with Divine and updated him on Baker. Divine assured them that getting a warrant for the security disks would not be a problem.

When Ben ended the transmission, Natassia jumped off the bed and plugged her data-com into the Prestige Inn's secure line.

"So what's Baker's motive," she asked. "Revenge for his father's abandonment?"

Ben examined the doctor's picture. "I think Baker was protecting his candidacy for Prime Minister. He was embarrassed by his father, couldn't stand the negative publicity. People would have looked at Baker twice if his father had been fired from the hospital."

"Baker needed to get him out of the way. Permanently."

Ben nodded. "So he killed him. He certainly fits the profile. His father abandoned him. He had a difficult childhood. Allan Baker is driven to succeed and be recognized, and he won't let anything or anyone stand in his way."

"But why would Baker go after the Foreman woman and Samantha Davis? It doesn't make sense."

She saw Ben shake his head. Then he stretched out on the bed, tired and frustrated.

"A
Gemini
lighter was found at both scenes, Natassia. The evidence doesn't lie. Foreman and Washburn were murdered by the same person."

"I still don't see a connection."

"There
is
a connection," Jasi confirmed, entering the room. "Allan Baker went to live with Charlotte Foreman when he was a boy. He stayed with her for about six weeks."

"Okay," Ben said. "But I still don't understand why Baker would kill Charlotte Foreman and Samantha Davis."

A long, tired groan escaped from Natassia's lips. She couldn't understand Baker's motive in murdering the Foreman woman either. It didn't make any sense. What did Baker have against her? Foreman had been a foster parent for more than twenty years.

"Time to take a trip to Victoria?" she asked Jasi.

Jasi flopped onto the bed beside Ben. "Yup."

Natassia turned to Ben and frowned. "What about the car rentals? We can't use them in Victoria."

"I'll get both cars delivered once you get back."

Passing Jasi a pop, Natassia asked, "Think we'll get much in Victoria?"

"There's not much left of the crime scene but I should pick up something. Too bad there's no body for you, Natassia."

Natassia knew that Charlotte Forman had been buried five days after her death. That had been almost a month ago. The only way Natassia would get a reading from her was if they exhumed the body. And that could take weeks to get authorization.

"I guess I'll live," she said, smiling at her own joke.

"I'll make the arrangements," Jasi told her. "You and I'll check out Victoria while Ben has a little talk with the Premier."

Natassia recalled Ben's profile of the serial arsonist. Baker definitely fit the criteria. Psychologically, he had been damaged by the lack of a father figure when he was a child. Perhaps Charlotte Foreman had the rest of the answers.

Her data-com chirped.

"The autopsy report from Mar―the coroner…is in," she announced, hoping no one had noticed the slip. "There was petechial hemorrhaging in Washburn's eyes and around his lips. And ligature marks around his neck, relating to the IV tubing found at the scene."

"Anything unusual?" Jasi asked her.

"Not really. Except cause of death is listed as asphyxia, not smoke inhalation. He probably struggled and tried to escape. The slip knot that was used would have tightened the noose around his neck when he moved his legs."

Jasi scooted to the edge of the bed. "So he literally strangled himself."

"Or his own son did," Natassia said candidly.

"But in my vision Washburn said he didn't remember his killer. How does that fit with Baker?"

"He could have been speaking figuratively. Maybe Baker was acting in such a rage that his father couldn't see the son he was familiar with."

Jasi glanced at Ben. "What about Beranski?"

Ben shook his head. "We have to cut him loose. One of the kids at the concession stand called in. Jason Beranski ordered popcorn and pop halfway through the movie. The guy might have had motive but he wouldn't have had time to drive to the lake, strangle the doctor and burn down the cabin."

At that moment, Matthew Divine's face appeared on the vid-wall.

"Voice on," Natassia ordered.

"The warrant for the security tapes is a go," Divine informed them. "The hotel manager is waiting for you. We also had enough to get a search warrant for Premier Baker's hotel room
and
his house in Vancouver. Who's taking the security disks, Agent McLellan?"

"Ben is," Jasi answered.

"Benjamin, keep in mind that the search needs to be handled delicately. If the Premier is innocent, we don't want this to come back on us. Keep it private, no press."

"Natassia and I are heading to Victoria tomorrow morning," Jasi said after telling Divine about Baker's connection to Charlotte Foreman.

"Sounds good, Agent McLellan. Just remember what I told you about keeping it quiet."

Natassia was about to end communication when Divine hesitated. "Oh, I almost forgot. We're working closely with Arson Investigations on this. They're sending someone over as a liaison. Take him to Victoria with you. And, for God's sake, don't let him out of your sight. I don't want some idiot from AI getting in the way."

Natassia caught Jasi's indignant, irritated expression. Babysitting some AI suit wasn't on Jasi's list of favorite things to do.

Divine also noticed Jasi's grim expression.

"Just put up with him for a couple of days. He should be at your hotel lobby any minute."

"Fine," Jasi moaned. "Whatever you want, sir. I'll work with the devil himself if it'll solve this case."

Natassia flinched at her partner's words, wondering if Jasi had just tempted Fate.

The devil himself…

12

The devil sat at the end of the gloomy bar.

The hotel manager had told Jasi that her
guest
was enjoying a rum and coke. That pissed her off. Perhaps he'd drink himself under the table and she could leave him behind. Whoever he was, he had his back to her so she couldn't see his sharpened horns.

But she was positive they were there―somewhere.

She hovered behind him, studying the man.

He wore a black leather jacket and tight black jeans. He filled out both just fine―and that irked her too. The man's face was hidden in the shadows yet she thought his voice sounded vaguely familiar when he ordered another drink.

The bartender noticed her but she waved him away.

"Excuse me," she growled, tapping the devil-man on the shoulder.

"Agent Jasi McLellan," the man said before turning to face her. "It's great to see you again."

Brandon Walsh's icy eyes made her blood freeze.

Staring at Walsh in disbelief, a million thoughts coursed through Jasi's mind. Not one of them was good. There was no way on earth that this man was going to be part of
her
team.

Walsh grinned. "What? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Ecstatic," she spat acidly.

"Yeah, I was pretty ecstatic too, to find out I was assigned to be your partner."

"Partner?" she sputtered. "We have jurisdiction over this investigation, Walsh. You're here as a liaison…nothing more. Got it?"

"Sure thing―partner."

"You can shove the
partner
thing up your―"

"Okay, relax," he said, holding up one hand. "I come in peace."

"Chief Walsh―"

"The name is Brandon. We're going to be working closely so I think first names are in order…Jasmine. Or do you prefer Jasi?"

She glared at him, her eyes shooting daggers. "I prefer Agent McLellan. But if you insist on first names, then call me Jasmine. Only my friends call me Jasi."

Brandon Walsh hesitated. It was obvious he wanted to respond to her challenge.

Jasi pasted a false smile on her face.

"Walsh, let's get a few things straight. I don't like working with someone who doubts my abilities, or my gift. And I don't like working with a redneck who spends his time chasing skirts."

The man's eyes sauntered lazily down her body. "You aren't wearing a skirt, Jasi."

She gritted her teeth in frustration. Not only was he undressing her with his hot stare, he was using her nickname. Walsh was striking out―big time. Didn't he take anything seriously? How the hell could she work with him?

Jumping off the barstool, Walsh took a step closer.

"Jasi, regardless of what you think about me, I'm very good," he mocked. "At
everything
I do."

"All I care about is this case," she said coldly. "You let
us
handle it. You're an observer. Got it?"

"We'll see."

Walsh grabbed her arm and steered her toward a table in the far corner of the room. His grip was gentle but persistent.

"Okay, fill me in on what the CFBI has so far." A short pause preceded a soft, "Please."

It took Jasi fifteen minutes to get Brandon up to speed. She told him about Baker's connection to Charlotte Foreman―that the Premier had once been in the foster care system. Then she told him that Allan Baker was their prime suspect.

"AI checked out the diesel used in Washburn's murder," he offered. "The fire in Victoria used regular gasoline. We're not sure why he switched, but Super Clean diesel isn't cheap."

"Can you trace it?"

Brandon shook his head. "There are too many gas stations in the area that carry diesel. Whoever bought it probably paid cash. Credit cards would be too easy to trace."

"Did you run records and do a crosscheck on it anyway?"

He took a sip of his drink. "There were no purchases of diesel on Premier Baker's credit card."

Jasi released a long, tired breath.

There was still no direct link between Baker and the murder of his father. Maybe they should take a closer look at Martin Gibney, she mused. He and Dr. Washburn had worked together before. But why would Gibney go after Norman Washburn?

"Have you had supper yet?" Brandon asked, disturbing her thoughts.

Jasi practically salivated at the mention of food. "No."

"Come on, then. Let's go grab a bite."

He slapped down a twenty and rose from the table.

Noticing her hesitation, he bribed, "A girl's gotta eat. And we can talk corpses and death if you want."

"Fine," she said, exiting the bar with Walsh in tow. "But I need to take a shower first. I'll meet you in the restaurant in thirty minutes."

When Jasi stepped inside the lobby elevator, he winked at her. "See ya in half an hour then, Jasi."

She pursed her lips, biting back a nasty response.

When the doors closed, she heaved a sigh of defeat. Brandon Walsh grated on her nerves. The man was incorrigible. He provoked her like a small child poking a coiled snake with a stick.

But she was drawn to him―no mistaking that.

A minute later the elevator jerked to a halt. She stepped out into the hallway where warm, muggy air greeted her.

Jasi sensed that another storm was on its way.

Hurricane Walsh!

When she reached her room, Natassia and Ben were sitting at the table, sheets of paper spread out before them. Their heads shifted toward her in one fluid motion at hearing the door slam.

"Damn it all to hell!" Jasi moaned.