Hindsight, p.26
Hindsight, page 26
Kendra took a closer look at the Gucci loafers. Something coated the soles of both shoes. “Glove.”
Metcalf handed her an evidence glove and she slid it on. She pressed her fingers against the soles. Tacky.
“What is it?” Lynch asked.
“Looks like some kind of oil.”
“Motor oil?”
“Not the kind you put in a car. This is stickier.” She glanced around. “It’s fresh. I don’t know where he would have picked it up. Maybe the motorboat?”
“We’ll have it analyzed,” Metcalf said. “Anything else?”
She stood up and pulled off the glove. “Nothing of any use. Thanks, Metcalf.”
She turned and walked away.
“Where are you going?” Lynch asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll be around.” She gazed up at the administration building. “Maybe talk to some of the staff. They must be so upset and afraid. And they might know something about this.”
Lynch stopped. “Then I think my time will be better spent elsewhere rather than trailing after you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just because the FBI database doesn’t show a relationship between that dead guy and Dietrich doesn’t mean there wasn’t one. I’m going to tap some of my other sources and see what I can find out. Will you be okay here?”
“Of course. It’s probably better if I talk to the staff alone anyway.” She glanced around at the familiar gardens, the buildings where she’d spent so many years. “You know…If they close this place down, I’m afraid they’ll never reopen. It would be a shame. No, it would be a tragedy.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
“This is one time I wish I had your confidence, Lynch.”
“Usually you’d call it arrogance,” he said ruefully.
“I’ll take whatever I can get right now.”
He squeezed her arm. “I’ll let you know what I find out, okay?”
“Yes. Thanks, Lynch.”
He was still hesitating. “I can wait for you. I don’t like the idea of leaving you here alone.”
“Alone?” She looked at him in bewilderment. “It’s broad daylight. Metcalf hasn’t even left the crime scene yet. This area is crawling with the forensic response crew and FBI agents. I’m quite sure there’s not going to be any of Cardona’s pals still hanging around. I’m perfectly safe. Go away, Lynch.”
“And you’re packing a heater,” Lynch growled in a guttural gangster snarl. “How could I forget about that?” He turned away. “Give me a call if you find out anything. I’ll see you later at your condo.” He headed toward his car.
Kendra immediately started up the hill toward the main facility. But when she reached the driveway, she paused before entering the glass doors of the administration building. Allison would be frantically busy dealing with police and parents, and she wasn’t the one Kendra wanted to speak to anyway. She turned left and entered the dormitory area.
A few minutes later, she was knocking on the door of Maddie Turman, the dorm supervisor. It took a few minutes before the woman opened it. She was pale but controlled and stood to one side to permit Kendra to enter. “I was wondering if you’d show up,” she said unsteadily. “We’ve got to stop meeting this way. It’s like a story by Edgar Allan Poe. I couldn’t believe it when I found out about that murdered man they found this morning. This shouldn’t have happened here. When will it stop?”
“I wish I could tell you,” Kendra said gently. “That was my first thought, too. I know it’s terribly upsetting to both the staff and the students.”
“We may not have any students left after today,” Maddie said. “Once the police release the premises, the parents are going to swoop down and whisk their kids to safety. Allison has been going crazy between fending off those parents and trying to make explanations to Maxine Rydell. She says we’ll probably have to close down for a while.” Her lips tightened. “And all we ever wanted to do was to keep them safe and give them a chance for a better life.”
“And you did it. You’re still doing it. This madness will pass and everything will be normal again.”
“Maybe,” Maddie said doubtfully. “But everything’s crazy now. One of the security guards heard a rumor that the victim was some big drug dealer. Is that true?”
“It might be, but you shouldn’t discuss it.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? All we need is to have the parents think we’re allowing drugs into the school. Mr. Kim’s and Elaine’s deaths were bad enough, but this would be a horror.”
“And we don’t know anything definite about the circumstances yet. It could be a lie. We’re going to investigate and try to clear up everything.”
“Then do it soon,” Maddie said. “The place where that drug dealer was discovered isn’t five minutes’ walk from here. The kids and their parents aren’t the only ones who are afraid.” She shivered as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I was wondering what would have happened if I’d gone for a walk last night? Would there have been someone out there watching me? Would I have ended up lying dead on that slope instead of that cocaine dealer?” She shook her head. “I never thought I was a coward before all this began happening.”
“You’re not a coward. You’re just being smart and cautious. That’s exactly what you should be until we catch this killer.” She paused. “And that’s why I’m here. You were very helpful to me when I came to see you before. But I might need more help if you can give it to me. We’ve found a possible connection between Elaine’s dog, Harley, and what was going on here. You seem to have been more familiar with Elaine’s schedule with her dog than anyone else. But you didn’t mention whether she took Harley on walks when she brought him to Oceanside with her.”
“Of course she did,” Maddie said. “That dog was full of energy, and it was the only way she could keep him under control. Not at first, but once he began to heal and behave more normally, she started to take him for a long walk every evening before she went home.”
“Here at Oceanside?”
“Yes, she only had a small yard at home and Harley needed to stretch his legs.” She frowned. “Why are you asking?”
“Everything about what Elaine did in those last days is important, and if she took Harley with her, that’s also important.” She added, “Do you know where Elaine usually walked Harley?”
She thought for a moment. “Elaine always liked to take him along the cliff path. The students weren’t permitted up there, and she didn’t have to worry about Harley barking and scaring them.”
“That makes sense. Anywhere else?”
“Not that I remember. Do you need to know anything else?”
Kendra shook her head. “You’ve been great. If I think of anything else, I’ll call you.” She turned toward the door. “I’ll see you soon, Maddie. Take care of yourself.”
“I intend to do that,” Maddie said grimly. “But it would help if you can persuade the FBI to get on the ball and offer a little protection, too. As I said, I’m a coward these days.”
“They’re trying their best. So am I, Maddie.” Kendra lifted her hand in farewell as she left the room. She stopped as soon as she got outside and drew a deep breath. It had been no more depressing than she’d expected, but she hadn’t anticipated the fear that she’d felt in Maddie. This latest killing had almost paralyzed the woman and probably the entire campus. The deaths were mounting and they were feeling helpless to stop it.
And Kendra was feeling a bit helpless herself. But she wasn’t, she told herself. There was work to be done and she had to do it. She had gotten the information she needed from Maddie, and now she needed to follow up on it.
She turned and gazed toward the cliff path where Elaine had walked Harley. If that photo of Harley had been taken here at Oceanside, it had probably been done on that rocky cliff path that overlooked the sea.
And what had Elaine seen that had gotten her killed because she’d walked her dog on that cliff path? The only thing to do was to go up and walk that path and try to see what Elaine had seen.
She started across the campus toward the tree-lined path that bordered the trail. It took her another ten minutes before she made it through the stand of trees and reached the path. She stood looking out at the sea. No wonder Elaine had chosen to come here. Not only for privacy but also for this wonderful view. There was a stone wall that looked weathered and ancient following the line of the cliff and acting as a barrier against the steep slope. Not much of a barrier, she thought. It was only four feet or so high and sloped even lower in some places. Elaine would have definitely had to keep Harley on a leash. She took a step closer, her fingers touching the warm stone of the wall as she lifted her head to listen to the sound of the sea.
She suddenly stiffened. Because she was hearing more than the sea. She was hearing the dull roar of some kind of vehicle. She took another step closer to the edge of the cliff and looked down.
She inhaled sharply as she realized that from here she could also see the slope where Cardona’s body had been found. The yellow barrier tape was still in place, but the forensics trucks and FBI vans were gone from the area now. And the engine sound she had just heard was the departure of the coroner’s wagon with Cardona’s corpse driving away from the property toward Highway 5.
Hideous death and magnificent beauty, side by side.
Totally unexpected. And what else was she going to find here?
She moved slowly around the curve of the path.
Surprise. Surprise. There was also a view of the shore that led up to the rocky flatlands. Not from the upper path, but only when she went around the lower bend of the trail. So this was where Elaine would have been able to see those shadowy figures she’d emailed Mr. Kim about, leading to his death. Who had been down there? Dietrich? Hayes? Cardona? Elaine had not even been sure that she’d actually seen someone, but the possibility had been enough to make her lose her life.
And what had happened here that made Hayes or Dietrich want to kill Harley? Had Elaine taken the dog down to the shore and run into Dietrich?
Or had there been something else on this cliff path that made them come after her?
Guesswork. Yet every possibility was in play now. She’d have to leave and try to put everything together later. She’d go back to her condo and talk to Lynch and perhaps they’d—
A rustling sound in the trees ahead of her.
She stopped short on the path, her gaze swiftly searching the brush and branches of the trees. No reason to be startled. Birds, small animals—it could be anything. That rustle could have even been the sea.
It was not the sea.
She knew that sound so well from her years of living here.
The wind?
Same answer: She knew every nuance of that sound.
Is someone out there watching me?
Maddie’s words came back to her. A chill was running through Kendra as she gazed at the shadowy bands of trees on either side of the path ahead of her.
Imagination?
Concentrate.
Listen.
Don’t close your eyes.
Too dangerous.
Keep looking at those trees.
Another rustle…
Define it. Take it apart.
Movement. Deliberate movement, not a small animal, larger, and surreptitious…
A stalking animal.
And she could be the prey.
She’d told Lynch that no one would be waiting to pounce on her when Cardona had only just been murdered. It would take a tremendous amount of arrogance and ego to run the risk of another death so close to Cardona’s. Particularly with police and FBI still milling around on the premises. But Dietrich was arrogant, and he had killed Hayes only feet from where she and Lynch had been standing. What if he’d decided that she was a threat and needed to be stopped? This deserted stretch of ground above the sea would be very convenient…
Someone out there is watching me.
Another rustle.
Okay. That was it. Assume she was right and it was Dietrich. Get the hell out of here.
That rustle had come from the far left of the path. She turned and ran to the right, off the path and into the trees bordering the trail leading to the campus. She darted in and out of the brush and trees so that he would lose track and not be able to get a bead on her; and to show him she wouldn’t be an easy target. Her hand closed on the gun in her pocket and she drew it out in full view at her side.
A few more yards and she’d be away from this leafy dimness surrounding her.
The rustle was louder, breaking twigs and brush.
No longer watching.
Hunting.
Then she was out of the trees!
The next moment she was on the campus trail and hurrying down away from the cliff. Her heart was pounding as she looked back over her shoulder. It hadn’t been her imagination, she thought fiercely. She knew it. She could still feel it. Dietrich had been there, mocking, making her feel her own weakness and his power.
Would he have killed her if she hadn’t realized he was there and started to run and evade him? The gun in her hand might have also given him reason to hesitate if his goal was a silent kill.
Stop questioning yourself and do something. He might still be back there in the trees. She took out her phone and called Metcalf. “I’m still at Oceanside, Metcalf,” she said breathlessly. “Could you send security or a few of your people back here to search the area? I thought I saw someone on the cliff path…”
* * *
Michaels might still be within range, Dietrich thought as he leveled down the barrel of his .44. She was moving fast, but she was on the phone now and distracted. That might give him the few seconds he’d need to take her out.
And he desperately wanted to kill the bitch. The white-hot anger was coursing through him. At first, he had only meant to follow her, find out how close she was getting, but that had changed when he’d realized she was on the cliff path where he’d stalked Elaine Wessler. So what if he knew he shouldn’t take her down this soon after Cardona’s death? He was an expert and could make it work. The desire to do it was like a fever inside him. He hadn’t expected her to connect the dots this fast, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t take advantage when he found her this vulnerable. One quick, silent, accurate shot, and then drop her into the sea.
But that weird talent she possessed had screwed him up and now she was probably calling her FBI buddies.
He lowered his gun. She was no longer in range and he’d better get the hell out of here. He whirled and turned back into the trees, cursing beneath his breath. She probably thought she had beaten him—and nobody ever beat him. He was smarter than all of them, and particularly Kendra Michaels, who was so smug and satisfied with herself.
Enjoy it, bitch.
You won’t get away from me again.
Chapter
15
Kendra’s Condo
And why didn’t you call me, instead of Metcalf?” Lynch asked politely. “Isn’t that what partners commonly do? Or am I mistaken?”
He was clearly pissed off, and Kendra was too tired to argue with him. “You were busy. I didn’t want to bother you. I wasn’t sure that Dietrich was in those trees. I had no proof. It seemed better to use the FBI to investigate rather than bother you.”
“You might not have had proof but you had a damn good idea that he was there or you wouldn’t have called Metcalf. Isn’t that right?” He leaned back against the bar and took a drink of his whiskey as he gazed at her across the room. “And Metcalf thought the same thing once he examined the footprints he found up there. Just how close was he to you before you realized he was there?”
“Too close,” she said curtly. “What do you want me to say? Everything I said to you before you left the school was true. This shouldn’t have happened. Dietrich would have to be crazy to still be hanging around Oceanside after he killed Cardona. It doesn’t make sense that he would have stayed around with the FBI on the property. It’s even crazier that he would have actually gone after me when he thought he had the chance.”
“But I told you that according to the CIA, Dietrich is a little wacko. He likes to take chances; the sensation of skimming close to the edge gives him a rush.” He added grimly, “And this time he chose you to provide him with his buzz. Was Metcalf sure about the footprints?”
“He’s double-checking. But the initial info is that the shoes of the man on that cliff path were made in Portugal. Didn’t you say Lisbon was where Dietrich killed that pilot?”
He thought about it, then nodded. “You were probably right that it was Dietrich up there stalking you.”
“Of course it was,” she said impatiently. “Why else would I have called Metcalf if I didn’t believe it was Dietrich? I didn’t only hear him, I could feel him there, Lynch.” She added, “And I did what I thought was best. Now will you please stop interrogating me. You haven’t done anything else since you walked in that door fifteen minutes ago. I’m sick of it.”
“I can see that.” His gaze was narrowed on her face, and he turned to the bar and poured a glass of wine. “You’re also very tired. Metcalf told me you spent another two hours trekking around that path after he brought his team to investigate.” He crossed the room and handed her the glass. “How does your back feel?”
“Okay.” She shrugged. “A little sore. I did a little running through those trees before I reached the campus trail.”
“Running? You didn’t mention that.”
“I didn’t think of it.” She took a sip of wine. “It wasn’t important.”
“It was important.” His lips tightened. “I don’t like the picture it brings to mind of you darting through the trees like a frightened deer with that bastard after you.”
“Then don’t think about it. Think about how we’re going to catch him.” She looked him in the eye. “Because I didn’t like the idea of running away from that son of a bitch, either. It made me feel helpless. I can imagine how Elaine must have felt with him after her.”
