Shadows from the Grave (21 page)

“Dunno, Chase,” Jason replied, his voice casual. “What do you think they’re discussing?”

“Well, I don’t know, Jason,” Chase answered with exaggerated patience. “That’s why I asked.”

“You know, you’re awfully grumpy for someone who had a hot date yesterday,” Ethan chimed in. “Didn’t things go well? Annie didn’t seem upset when she got here.”

Chase’s scowl grew darker. “Things went fine, thank you very much.”

Jason raised his eyebrows. “You sure, brother? Begging your pardon, but you don’t act like a man who spent a pleasurable evening with his lady love.”

Chase dropped his hammer, this time hitting his knee. He cursed, a flush stealing over his cheeks. “Damn it, Jason, you’re pushing it,” he warned. When Ethan started laughing like a loon, he turned to his friend, stunned.

“What the hell is so funny?” he demanded.

“You are, Chase,” Ethan replied. A wide smile, a rare expression for Ethan, spread across his face as he raised his shirt to wipe his face. “We’ve waited a long time to be able to tease you like this.”

Ethan’s honest response diffused Chase’s temper, and he threw up his hands, exasperated. He looked at Jason, who was frowning and staring at Ethan’s back.

Jason gave a low whistle. “What happened to your back, Ethan?” When Ethan frowned, puzzled, Jason gestured to Ethan’s back. Ethan glanced down at the skin he’d exposed when he had lifted his shirt. When he saw the long, red scratches that ran across his sides, he jerked the shirt down.

“Not a damned thing,” he said, and Chase laughed. At Ethan’s glare, he turned the laugh into a cough.

“If you say so, brother.”

“I do say so,” Ethan told him firmly.

Jason said drolly, “Considering that he’s married to our sister, and considering where those scratches likely came from, I’m going to take Ethan at his word. I’d advise you to do the same,” he told Chase, who agreed with a grimace.

“Anything new from Gordon?” Jason asked, changing the subject.

Chase retrieved the dropped hammer. “Yeah, unfortunately. I talked to him Wednesday evening. He seems to think the investigation’s being steered in my direction.” He laid a shingle flat and pounded the nails to hold it in place. He didn’t have to look up to know what the expressions would be on Ethan and Jason’s faces. “I’ve talked to John about it, and he’s looking into things to see where we stand, just in case,” he added.

Ethan spoke first. “Holy hell, Chase. How serious does Gordon think this is?”

Chase shrugged and wiped at his forehead with his arm. “You know Gordon by now. He doesn’t panic unnecessarily. I’d say there’s a good chance he’s right.”

“But they have witnesses,” Jason protested. “You have a solid alibi.”

“Not as solid as we thought.” Chase relayed what Gordon had told him. “It’s been ten years, Jason. You know how much can happen in a case in that length of time.”

“So what’s the plan?” Jason asked. Chase could tell he didn’t like what he was hearing. “I’ll be damned if I stand by and watch you go to jail because of Kiely’s vindictive bitch of a sister.”

Chase clapped him on the shoulder. “Jason, I don’t want to go to jail, but unless something changes, it might be a reality we have to face. Believe me, I know what I stand to lose, little brother. I’ll do whatever it takes to clear my name.” He turned to look down at the women. “I’m not about to just lie down and let this bastard win.”

By the time Gordon and Detective Hart reached Leroy Sunday morning, it was nearly ten o’clock. Though they had driven up separately, they arrived within minutes of one another. Gordon was a little surprised when he pulled up outside the Olman County Courthouse and saw the detective still in his car. Hart got out when he spotted Gordon and, without exchanging a single word, they walked to the entrance of the sheriff’s department. Inside, they went up to the bulletproof window, where the deputy behind the desk recognized Gordon.

“Hey, Agent Gordon,” he said. “You two here to see the sheriff?”

“We are. Is he here?” Gordon asked as he signed in on the sheet the deputy provided.

“He is. I’ll let him know you are.” The deputy picked up the phone and told the person on the other end about Gordon and Detective Hart’s arrival. He hung up and buzzed them in. “Gentlemen, if you’ll step on back here, I’ll get your visitor badges. The sheriff is waiting for you in his office. You remember where that is, Agent Gordon?”

“Sure do, Deputy.” Gordon and Hart clipped on their badges, and Gordon led the way upstairs to the sheriff’s office. Wyatt Dixon was waiting, seated behind his desk. Stacy Kirchner was also there and, when Gordon saw the stony look on her face, he felt a pang of regret. Wyatt had warned him that not everyone would see his involvement in this process as helpful and, apparently, he had been right. The sheriff stood and beckoned them inside.

“Sheriff, this is Detective Greg Hart from Lexington,” Gordon introduced as they shook hands. He stepped back to let Greg shake and, as he did, he greeted Stacy. “Detective.” He wasn’t surprised when she barely nodded to acknowledge him, and he had no doubt that if the situation had been a more social setting, she would have turned her back on him.

Wyatt introduced Stacy to Detective Hart and indicated that everyone should sit. He sat back down in his own chair and leaned back, studying the detective for a minute. “So you want to bring Chase Hudson in for questioning,” he drawled. “Tell me, Detective, why should I let you do that?”

Detective Hart opened a portfolio and drew out a paper, which he passed to the sheriff. “As we discussed on the phone last night, Sheriff, aside from recent events with mysterious packages, Mr. Hudson’s alibi has come into question. Upon exhumation of the victim, we discovered that note.” He gestured to the paper. “In light of those developments, we really didn’t feel like we had a choice in the matter.”

Wyatt picked up his reading glasses and read over the copy of the note. A slight scowl was his only reaction. When he finished, he passed the note to Stacy. “Just who is this
we
you keep referring to, Detective?”

“That would be my supervisors and myself, Sheriff,” Hart answered.

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “But Agent Gordon, isn’t the FBI is leading the investigation?”

“We are, sir, but my supervisor has instructed me to let Detective Hart take the lead today.” Gordon gave Wyatt a subtle nod, letting him know the plan they had discussed the night before was still in play.

His chair creaking, Wyatt leaned forward. “Answer me this, Detective. When all this came about ten years ago, didn’t someone in your department think to get a DNA sample from Chase?”

The younger man flushed. “We did, Sheriff. However, at some point in the past few years, that evidence was lost.”

Wyatt was quiet for a minute. “Well, that’s very interesting,” he said. “Any other evidence your department has
lost
you want to share with us?” Hart shook his head. Wyatt took off his glasses and laid them back down on his blotter. “Detective Hart, I can appreciate your position. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. You’re aware that Chase Hudson is related to two of my best people, correct?”

“I am.”

Wyatt continued, “I’ve known Chase since he was a child. He isn’t your murderer. I’d be willing to stake my badge on that.”

“Sheriff, you aren’t the only person who’s told me that. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough,” Hart responded.

“I know,” Wyatt said as he stood. “It’s still a lousy, piss-poor thing to have to do on a Sunday, or any day for that matter.” As they followed the sheriff out of his office, Wyatt told Stacy to set up the interrogation room. “I want you in the room while Detective Hart questions Chase, but it’s probably better that you don’t go to bring him in.” She nodded and headed off to take care of the preparations, not giving the men a backward glance. Wyatt turned in time to catch Gordon watching her walk away, and he raised an eyebrow at the younger man.

“You do like a challenge, son,” he commented. “Let’s do this. Gordon, you’re driving.”

“How are we going to find Hudson?” Detective Hart asked as they piled in the black, government-issued SUV. “Try his house first?”

Wyatt shook his head. “Nah, we don’t have to. I know where he’s supposed to be.” He looked at Gordon. “This is your last chance to back out. I wouldn’t hold it against you if you did.”

Gordon’s answering smile was grim. “You might not, but I would. No, I’m in this for the long haul, Sheriff. For better or worse, if you will. Are we heading to Ethan’s?”

“We are,” Wyatt affirmed. “You know the way, right?” Gordon nodded and pulled out of the parking lot.

“How bad do you think this is going to be?” Gordon asked quietly. He was surprised when Wyatt clapped him on the shoulder briefly.

“It’s going to be bad enough, Agent Gordon,” he predicted. “It’s going to be bad enough.”

When Annie saw the SUV turn into the driveway, a chill rushed over her from head to toe. She knew it wouldn’t be good news.

“What’s Gordon doing here?” Beth asked, as she stood and waved. “Wyatt’s with him—something’s wrong.” She hurried over to wait for Gordon to park.

Annie felt a sliver of dread break off and pierce her heart. It would have to be Gordon, of all people. She shook her head. “No, oh, no. No, no, no,” she whispered. She tore her gaze from the vehicle, and looked over at Chase, who was watching, grim-faced, as Gordon parked. Chase turned toward her, and she could see the apprehension on his face.

As the men started down from the roof, Chase pulled out his cell phone. Annie couldn’t hear his words from where she stood, but she guessed he was calling John. They had discussed Gordon’s warning at length the night before, and Annie had hoped it was a phone call Chase would never have to make.

When Ethan and Jason reached the ground, they walked over to greet the sheriff and Gordon. Annie quickly made her way to Chase’s side and slipped her hand in his. Whatever happened, she had to make sure he knew she was behind him. He gripped her hand tightly and squeezed.

“Here goes nothing,” he told her under his breath, and they stepped forward.

~ * * * ~

Gordon had known bringing Chase in for questioning wouldn’t be easy, but when he pulled into the Moore’s driveway, his gut clenched with dread at a level he hadn’t felt in a number of years. Detective Hart leaned forward in the backseat. Seeing the men on the roof, he asked which one was Chase.

“Blue shirt,” Wyatt responded. “The blonde is his brother, and the other dark-haired man is his brother-in-law. They both work in my department.”

“And the women?” the detective asked as they got out of the SUV.

“Blonde heading our way is Beth Hudson Moore, Chase and Jason’s sister. This is her house.” Before Wyatt could tell Hart who Annie and Hannah were, Beth had reached them and was giving Gordon a hug. She did the same to Wyatt as everyone else walked up.

“What’s going on, fellas?” she asked.

“Beth, Ethan, these gentlemen need a word with your brother,” Wyatt said. When Ethan and Jason placed themselves in front of Chase, the sheriff raised a brow. Gordon wasn’t sure whether the move was deliberate or not. Before the sheriff could say anything to his deputies, though, Chase walked around to stand beside Ethan.