Silent Witness (12 page)

“Good night, Adam. Thanks for the dinner.” She felt his eyes on her back as she walked away.

EIGHT

L
iz sat at the head of the dining room table. “Thank you, gentlemen, for meeting with me here. I realize this isn’t easy for any of you.”

“Where’s the boy?” Tom Miller looked over his shoulder. “I don’t want him to come in and see me dressed in my uniform and freak out. I’m not coming to your barbecue. I’m on duty today and didn’t want to have to drive all the way home to change.”

Liz smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Dr. Morgan and Charlie are working with him in the backyard. You’ll be gone long before he’s scheduled to come back inside.”

“He has a schedule for when he can come in and out of the house?” Sergeant Davenport shifted his weight in his chair. “Does it work? My wife and I could barely keep our kids out of juvenile hall let alone worry about how often they came in and out of the house.”

“I still think the best thing for everyone, including the kid, would have been to put him in the witness protection program and ship him off somewhere.” Sal folded his arms over his chest and waited for her to argue with him.

Liz smiled, chose to ignore his remark and answered Davenport. “Autistic children thrive best with behavior modification and a daily structured schedule. Jeremy responds well to structure. This is his exercise time. He won’t be coming in for at least an hour. So, let’s get started, shall we?”

Sergeant Davenport spoke first. “We’ve exhausted any leads we had regarding the Hendersons’ life before they moved here. They lived a squeaky-clean middle-class existence. Worked hard. Seemed to have a solid family life. Didn’t draw any unnecessary attention to themselves. Certainly not enough to have someone follow them here and execute them.”

“How about you, Tom? Anything?”

“Which investigation you asking about, Sheriff? The drug dealer found behind Smitty’s bar? The Henderson homicides? The car explosion?”

Liz shook her head and chuckled. “Okay, Tom, I hear you. Overworked and underpaid. I get it. If you have any information for the team on anything, we’d like to hear it.”

“Yeah, well, I suffered through a couple of afternoon teas with the local gossips and it wasn’t easy, I’m telling you.”

Snickers were heard from the other men at the table, but no one interrupted.

“Heard that there was some bad blood between Henderson and the Third National Bank manager.”

Liz twirled her pen in her fingers and chewed her bottom lip. This was definitely news to her. “What kind of bad blood?”

“Don’t know for sure. That’s the trouble with gossip. Gossip ain’t accurate. But it seems that one of the tellers went around town telling tales of a loud argument Henderson had with the bank manager a few days before he was killed. The teller seems to think the bank manager and one of the other tellers was having an affair.”

“Okay. Even if that were true, what would it have to do with Dave?”

Tom shrugged. “Everybody knows that the bank manager, Joe Grimes, is married. Rumor has it that the wife was a good friend of Henderson’s wife. The word on the street is that Henderson told Grimes to end the affair or he’d spill the beans to Grimes’s wife. According to the teller, Grimes was pretty burned up about it. Walked around the bank grumbling under his breath like a bear with a sore paw.”

Sal spoke up. “Dirty thing, cheating on your spouse. Looks like Grimes is living up to his name.” Chuckles and grimaces at the bad pun circled the table. “I get it. To a man of Henderson’s religious beliefs, cheating on your wife is a no-no. But even if Henderson spilled the beans to the wife, in this day and age, I don’t see that as a strong enough motive for Grimes to kill him.”

“Maybe it isn’t about the affair at all.” Paul leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Dave Henderson worked on computers, right? He worked on our computers the week before he died. Maybe he worked on the bank’s computers, too. Maybe he saw somebody messing with the books or something.”

“Wow, it’s looking like this Joe Grimes might really be a suspect.” Darlene made eye contact with Liz. “He was either cooking the books or cheating on his wife or maybe both, but either way he had big secrets he didn’t want anyone to find out. But was it worth killing for?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Tom shrugged. “Grimes married into money. Huge money. Anybody ever hear about something called a prenup? Mrs. Grimes set up an ironclad one of those doohickeys. If Mr. Grimes was found fooling around, Mrs. Grimes wouldn’t just kick him to the curb— She’d make sure he didn’t have a penny in his pocket when she did.”

Sal whistled. “That changes things. It gives Grimes at least twenty million reasons to want to keep Dave Henderson quiet, doesn’t it?”

“Good work, Tom. Invite Mr. Grimes and his infamous teller to the station for a conversation. Sal, why don’t you take a shot at both interviews?” Liz looked around the table. “Anyone have anything else?”

Sal spoke up. “I found out the names of two disgruntled employees that Henderson fired for one reason or another. That’s worth looking into.”

Liz nodded in agreement. “That it?” When no one commented, she stood.

“Okay, guys, that’s it for today. Thanks again for driving out here. And thanks for not wearing uniforms. Unless something new develops, tomorrow we’ll do a phone conference but for now I hear there’s a pretty good barbecue starting in the backyard.”

“I baked three dozen cupcakes. Be sure to try them.” Paul beamed.

“Wuss.”

Although it was an under-his-breath mutter, Liz still heard Tom. She stopped behind his chair and leaned down so only he could hear her speak. “I won’t tolerate bullying in my department, Tom. Have I made myself clear?”

“I’m not bullying nobody. But a deputy baking cupcakes for a picnic? Your father would turn over in his grave.”

“The majority of the great chefs and bakers in this world are men, Tom. How about if you get back to work and leave that lousy attitude at home.”

Tom pushed away from the table and stormed out.

Liz followed the men to the back door but stopped Sal before he could go outside.

“Sal, something doesn’t feel right to me. Those drugs we found under the mattress. Were they Dave’s? Possible, yes. Probable, not really. I just don’t buy it.”

“Not all Christians are the good people they’re supposed to be, boss.”

“I realize that. People remain human even after they’re saved and they can slip back into old ways and make mistakes.”

Sal waited for her to make her point.

“But Sergeant Davenport didn’t turn up even a sniff of illegal activity or drug use in the years before Henderson moved to Country Corners. Have you been able to tie Dave to any of the suspected drug dealers in town? Have you gone over his phone records with a fine-tooth comb? Any video surveillance outside the bars or anywhere else downtown that might have shown Dave meeting someone he shouldn’t?”

“Darlene and Paul are going over the camera footage. But there’s not much of it, boss. After all, this is Country Corners, not New York or even St. Louis. Not too many surveillance cameras to pull from.”

“I understand.” She continued to chew on her lower lip. “You know, Paul made a valid point. Dave had access to several high-profile computer systems in town—the bank, our office. I’m sure he’s even done work at the church and for Trust Insurance. Maybe he did see something he shouldn’t have. We need to check out that angle.”

“Will do, boss.”

“How about the first murder investigation? Any leads on that one?”

“Just a suspicion, boss, nothing concrete.”

She arched an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you when I have something solid.”

Liz smiled. “Okay, Sal. Go work your magic. I really need a miracle here.”

“I didn’t think miracles were in my job description, boss. But a little bird told me you have frequent conversations with the one that does handle those things. Maybe it’s time for a little chat with that guy.” Sal grinned, gave her a mock salute and went outside to join the party.

The afternoon was a welcome respite from the weeks of high-level stress. The men relaxed and unwound. Frisbees were tossed and frequently stolen by Rerun. Adam grilled his promised kebabs, along with burgers and hot dogs. Charlie made a tub of water balloons for tossing after dinner with Jeremy squirting the hose more on Charlie than in the balloons. Liz stretched out on a chaise longue and watched the fun. This was the best Labor Day she could remember. Maybe because it felt like family—and she was just starting to realize how much she missed belonging to one.

As the party wound down and people started to leave, Liz crossed the lawn to join Charlie, who was watching Jeremy on the swing set. Rerun was stretched out on the grass beside her, also paying attention to the youngster.

“Hi.” Charlie shaded her eyes from the afternoon sun. “That went well. I think everyone had a good time.”

Liz plopped down beside her. “I think so, too.” She looked around. “I thought Adam was out here with you.”

“He was. He slipped inside to take a phone call from the hospital in Poplar Bluff.”

“The investigation is moving along. More slowly than I’d hoped for but at least we still have some leads to follow up on. And taking a few hours of R & R today I think reenergized the team.”

“I agree. And don’t worry about it moving slow as long as it’s moving forward. Remember the fable about the tortoise and the hare? We both know who won that race. Don’t worry. It will all work out.”

Liz shook her head and chuckled. “What’s your secret? Do you have a secret recipe for eternal optimism that you take with your morning smoothie?”

Charlie laughed. “I get down every now and then.”

“Really? I’d like to see that just once.”

“Hey, now, that’s not nice.” Charlie poked her and laughed again. “Just because you walk around like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders doesn’t mean you have to come to the party and pop my balloon.”

Liz waved her hand in a halting motion. “I know. You’re right. But you’re always smiling or humming or laughing. I envy you. It must be nice to be so up and optimistic all the time.”

“I wasn’t always this content.”

“No? What changed?”

“Adam came into my life.”

Liz’s heart clenched. So, her suspicions were right. There was more than a professional relationship between Charlie and Adam. What a fool she’d been to ever entertain the idea that Adam was on the up-and-up and that he still had feelings for her.

“Mind my asking how long the two of you have been an item?” Liz tried to make her voice sound like the question was mild curiosity and not pain-numbing need to know.

Charlie laughed harder. “We’re not an item. He’s my boss…and a really good friend. He’s best friends with my brother Bob. They went to college together. That’s how I met Adam. Bob brought him home to the ranch for the summer of their freshman year. Adam’s been in and out of our lives ever since. Mainly in. My two brothers and I train dogs for a variety of services. Guide dogs as companions for the blind, deaf, and now other disabilities.” She nodded in Jeremy’s direction. “Like autism.

“We also train dogs for the police, for search and rescue, and my brother Hank just started a pilot program working with the local prison system. Some of the prisoners help train the puppies. Adam and Bob are the masterminds behind the whole thing. We used to be just an ordinary Montana ranch back in the good old days.”

“I don’t understand. You said Adam…”

Charlie reached out and rubbed the scruff of Rerun’s neck. “Adam and I have had hundreds of conversations over the years. He’s helped me put things in perspective, start looking at what good I can find even in the midst of bad situations. He was instrumental in helping us start the dog-training program. It’s impossible to stay a grump when you’re surrounded by puppies offering you nothing but love.”

Charlie’s tone quieted and her eyes sobered. “And I will be forever grateful to Adam for introducing me to the One who loves us unconditionally. My life has never been the same. So, yes, I suppose I do have a secret recipe that I take with my morning smoothie. I start my day with private time with the Lord.”

Adam? He hadn’t been a Christian when she’d known him. What had happened to him when he left Country Corners? There were so many things she saw in this man that she hadn’t seen in the boy he’d been. Compassion. Thoughtfulness. Kindness. As much as she’d thought she’d loved Adam back then when he was a typical high school jock and the world revolved around him, she didn’t want to admit that she was starting to like this new and improved version of Adam Morgan—a lot.

Almost as though he sensed she was thinking about him, she felt his presence behind her just moments before she noticed his shadow stretch out in front of her on the grass.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Liz looked up at him and smiled. “Sneaky way to collect money, Dr. Morgan, charging people for their thoughts.”

“Only certain people. Only the ones whose thoughts I want to hear.”

“Okay, that’s my cue to make myself scarce.” Charlie chuckled, stood up and brushed fresh-cut grass off her jeans.

Liz bounced up. “You don’t have to leave. I’m going inside. I have tons of work waiting for me.”

“It’s time to take Jeremy inside, anyway.” Charlie signaled Rerun to rise.

Liz glanced at her watch to keep herself from having to look at Adam. She knew just one glance into those beautiful golden-brown eyes of his and she’d follow him as obediently as Rerun. “I have reports waiting for me. It was a great day today, Adam. Thank you so much for what you did for my team.” Without a backward glance she hurried across the lawn to the house.

She was sitting at her desk reviewing the latest reports when she heard a bloodcurdling scream that chilled her to the bone. It was quickly followed by the earsplitting sound of the security alarm going off. She knocked over her chair and raced through the doorway of the study and into the foyer.

Jeremy screamed again at the top of his lungs. He ran in circles at jet-propelled speed around the middle of the foyer. Adam and Charlie, caught off guard by the child’s sudden outburst and the ear-piercing security alarm, hesitated for a moment, and then they both joined the chaos. Charlie grabbed the boy as he raced past and subdued him. Adam ran toward the alarm box to punch in the code.