Hindsight, p.6
Hindsight, page 6
“Or dog,” Olivia said through set teeth. “I realize that the Seeing Eye program is a valuable service and it’s fine for those who need it. I don’t need it. I refuse to let myself need it. I’ve gotten along just great on my own all these years. Now take this animal out of here.”
“I’ll do that after I’ve told you everything Maddie told me about Harley. Just listen to me,” she pleaded. “Elaine deserves that you at least know what you’re refusing.” She quickly recounted all that Maddie had told her about Harley; she ended urgently, “He reminds me a little of us when we were kids. We were both a little broken and having to make the best of everything we were to survive. That’s what Harley is doing, but he doesn’t know how. But maybe he could learn. Because besides being brave enough to risk his life trying to save that little boy, he’s very smart.” No response from Olivia. Kendra desperately tried something else. “And he likes you. I can tell. He seemed to know exactly where he was going when I brought him here. And you saw how happy he was when you let him come in.”
“Stop trying to con me. I’m not buying it.”
“It’s not a con. I know my chances are zilch of getting you to let him stay. Though you’d be perfect. He needs people, and you work here from your home. Every single thing I said, I believe.” Okay, tell her the entire truth. “Besides, he’d be a security asset. You live alone and everyone knows that a home with a dog is much less likely to be robbed or vandalized. It’s a statistic.” Then she burst out, “It wasn’t even a month ago that you were almost killed by that psycho who attacked you right here in this condo. And it was my fault, dammit. Because you’re my friend, that serial killer I was hunting decided to go after you to hurt me. You should have all the protection I can give you.”
“I was wondering when you’d get around to that.” Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. “Nice point. I can’t deny that being your friend has its hazards. But it’s my choice if I want to accept those hazards. Are you finished?”
“No, not quite. Elaine wanted this dog to be healthy and happy. She thought he was worth the trouble. If she’d lived, she’d have tried to make sure of it.” She added wearily, “I think that it’s not too much trouble for us to find a way to give her what she wanted.”
Olivia was silent. “Oh, that struck deep. But not deep enough. You have all the answers except how to make me accept a dog I don’t want or need.” She paused. “But you used a lot of we and I in your little presentation. That might get you somewhere.” She held up her hand. “But not where you want to go. I’m not going to let this dog with his sad story and all his problems rule my life. Forget it.” She moved toward the kitchenette. “But I’m willing to spend a little time searching for a home for him that even Elaine would approve of. As long as you remain involved and we do it together.” She sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of coffee. “But share is the key word. Understood?”
Kendra drew a deep breath of relief as she dropped down opposite her. “Understood. Share.”
“I’m glad that you—Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Her teeth clenched as she faced Kendra across the table. “Am I to assume that’s your Harley’s head on my lap? You didn’t leave out any details about him, I hope. He doesn’t drool as well as roar like a lion?”
“Not to my knowledge. But he’s never put his head on my lap.” She poured herself a cup of coffee. “I told you he liked you.”
“Bullshit.” But one of her hands was exploring Harley’s big head beneath the table, learning him, as she did every new element in her life. “Coarse, rough hair, he obviously needs the services of a barber. Huge ears…What color are his eyes?”
“Brown.” She took a sip of coffee. “And blue.”
“Of course,” Olivia said. “Why not? Nothing conventional that would please an ordinary family looking for a dog. He probably resembles a creature from outer space. But don’t think that will keep me from finding a home for him. It will just take perseverance and determination. I’ll only regard it as a greater challenge.”
“I know you will.” Kendra smiled. “And that’s what I told Maddie was needed. Someone who could meet the challenge. I’ve seen you conquer every one that came your way.”
“Damn straight.” She lifted her chin and turned toward Kendra. “And I’ll conquer this one, too. But it will be my way, and you might end up owning this lion-dog yourself. So I’d better have your complete cooperation about finding him a good home.” She put her cup down in the saucer. “Now, who takes Harley for the rest of the night? Do we flip on it?”
“It’s almost five in the morning. I should go down to the FBI regional office first thing this morning.”
“Don’t quibble. My work is just as important to me.” She frowned. “Though yours may be more urgent at this particular time. I might let you trade my keeping Harley during the day if you take him at night. I’ll think about it. But that’s not tonight. Do we flip for it?”
Kendra sighed. “We flip for it.”
Chapter
4
8:35 A.M.
Hell, Harley was barking again.
Kendra groaned and buried her head beneath her pillow to smother the hideous snarl.
“Get up.” Olivia jerked the pillow from Kendra’s head. “Jump in the shower while I make coffee.” She turned and faced the barking dog. She pointed her finger sternly at him. “And you be quiet. You’ve caused me enough trouble this morning.”
Harley broke off in mid-roar and sat down gazing expectantly at her.
“He’s actually quiet.” Kendra gazed at him, stunned. “Causing you trouble? He’s been howling and barking off and on since I brought him up here from your condo.”
“Serves you right,” Olivia said as she left her bedroom. “Did I mention that the super woke me up because he couldn’t rouse you?” she called back over her shoulder. “He wasn’t pleased with you, either. We’ve got to solve this problem. And a few others that I realized are on the agenda. Now get moving.”
“I’m on my way.” Kendra was staggering toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right there. Ten minutes.”
But it was twenty minutes before she could force herself to leave the warm flow of the shower after her sleepless night.
“Sorry. I decided to wash my hair,” she said as she came into the kitchen. “And I had to make sure I didn’t smell like a dog. I had to do a lot of petting and close contact to keep Harley quiet.”
“And you still weren’t very successful.” Olivia put a plate with French toast and bacon in front of her. “Eat.” She poured her a cup of coffee. Then she sat down opposite her with her own cup. She faced Harley, who was standing practically on her feet, and said sternly, “Sit. You’ve caused enough trouble.”
He sat down and put his head on his paws.
“Any other orders?” Kendra murmured. “You appear to be the one in charge around here.”
“Someone has to be.” Olivia leaned back and cradled her coffee cup in her two hands. “One more order. I was so blown away when you told me about Elaine and then sprang Harley on me that I let you get away with avoiding my questions about Afghanistan. Now you’re going to stop sidling away from the subject and talk to me.” Her lips tightened. “And tell me if it had anything to do with Elaine’s and Ronald Kim’s murders.”
“No!” Kendra said, shocked. She had never thought that Olivia would draw that conclusion. “Well, not really. Not the murders themselves. Just the opposite. I only became involved because Lynch wanted me out of Afghanistan. The bastard pulled strings with Griffin, and Metcalf came up with—” She drew a deep breath and said, “Okay, I can see how you might think that, but you don’t have to worry about those scumbag contractors in Afghanistan having anything to do with Oceanside. What a nightmare it would be if I thought I’d brought that ugliness down on Elaine and Mr. Kim. I don’t have any idea yet why they were killed, but I guarantee it had nothing to do with those sons of bitches who were trying to screw our soldiers over there. The timing of my arrival here was pure coincidence. One had nothing to do with the other.”
“Then tell me,” Olivia demanded. “Start at the beginning.”
“Lynch,” Kendra said bitterly. “Doesn’t it always start with Adam Lynch?”
* * *
“I can see why you were angry,” Olivia said after Kendra had finished. “Lynch was totally outrageous and arrogant.” She lifted her cup and took a sip of coffee. “You were perfectly right to be furious with him. I would have felt the same way.”
“Yes, you would,” Kendra said. “I knew you’d understand how I was feeling when I stood on that runway in Afghanistan.”
“Of course,” Olivia said solemnly. “I can definitely identify.” Then she started to chuckle. “But it doesn’t help me get the picture out of my head of you confronting that pompous general and ready to take on half our troops in Afghanistan to go after Lynch.” She leaned back in her chair and started to laugh helplessly. “Lord, that’s funny. I needed something to lift my spirits after the night we had, and you gave it to me. I can almost forgive you for bringing this lion-dog to torment me.”
“I’m glad it amused you,” Kendra said coolly. “Particularly since you said you would have felt the same way about Lynch.”
“Oh, I would.” Her face was still convulsed with laughter. “And I would have been deep in planning how to punish the son of a bitch for daring to interfere with my independence and lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean I can’t stand back and enjoy the show he put on when it doesn’t concern me.” She finally managed to stop laughing and shook her head. “Come on, we both know you’ll find a way to get your own back eventually. But you should have been more cautious when you were dealing with Lynch. You knew he was afraid for you. From the beginning he told you that he didn’t want you to go there. He was probably only waiting for his chance.”
“You mean ‘excuse,’” Kendra said. “I didn’t do anything wrong, dammit.”
“He thought there was jeopardy. And we both know he’s an expert. But that doesn’t matter, he didn’t want you to run the risk.” Her smile faded. “And neither did I. You get into enough danger here without wandering into a war zone. I hated the idea that you were over there in Kabul. I worried about you every day.”
“You didn’t have to worry long,” she said sourly. “It was only three weeks before Lynch arranged to get me kicked out. And the devious bastard had a complete plan in place to keep me here before I got off that C-130.”
“Maybe he had the outline sketched in, but there was no way he’d know about Elaine and Ronald Kim. You can hardly blame him for that, Kendra.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Of course I don’t. But I never know where I am with him. After we got to Kabul, I thought he might be willing to accept that I was there and could do my part to help Jessie and him capture that scum. He acted just like he always did when we were working a case together.” That was what had hurt her most when she realized that he’d betrayed her. She had thought that he accepted her as part of the team. Yes, she had known he was afraid for her, but she was also afraid for him and Jessie. She hadn’t tried to get them tossed out of the country, had she? By staying together, they could protect each other. And in the beginning, she thought she’d managed to persuade him to her way of thinking. Those first weeks he had been amusing, knowledgeable, listening to her and Jessie with equal attentiveness. Being Lynch at his most fascinating. It was painful to think it might have just been lies and manipulation to get his own way. “He didn’t get uptight until that last night.”
“You mean when he thought the Taliban might decide to pay you a visit? That would do it, considering how he feels about you. You’re lucky his patience lasted for three weeks.”
“Patience?” The word irritated her. “I was contributing. As for what he feels for me, it evidently doesn’t include respect or understanding.”
“I believe it’s in the mix somewhere.” Olivia shrugged. “But he’s a complicated man and what he feels for you is complicated, too. If you didn’t like complications, you wouldn’t have stayed and worked with Lynch during these last years. You would have found someone like Metcalf. You’re not simple, either. You probably put Lynch through hell every now and then.”
“No more than he deserved. I generally treated him as a trusted partner and colleague.” She ignored Olivia’s gentle snort. “And he had no right to do that to me. I’m going to find a way to go back and finish the job.”
“I’m sure you will,” Olivia said quietly. “But not until you finish solving the job you’re on now. I believe everything can wait until we get justice for Elaine and Ronald. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the most important thing on the agenda.” Her lips tightened. “And at the moment, I don’t care how pissed off you are with Lynch. He’s smart, he has contacts, and he’s innovative as hell. If he were here, I’d have you go to him and ask him for his help.”
“And I’d do it,” Kendra said quietly. “I’m not about to put anything ahead of Elaine. I know my priorities.” She threw her napkin on the table. “But Lynch isn’t here and not likely to be. He said he was staying to wrap up the investigation in Kabul, though I wouldn’t be surprised if that means he’s going after those bastards by himself. But I am here and I’ll do everything I have to.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “Now I’ve got to get dressed and get out of here.” She started for the door and looked back at Harley, still at Olivia’s feet. “He looks very contented. He’s been like that ever since you came this morning. Does that tell you anything?”
“It tells me that you’re still ruthlessly trying to pawn him off on me.”
“Maybe.” She tilted her head, still gazing at him. “I think he’s falling asleep. Neither of us got much last night.”
“Well, he’ll have to wake up. I have to go back to my condo and work.” Olivia nudged him with her foot. “Come on, lion-dog. I have to get you some dog food and then I suppose I’ll have to take you for a walk.”
Harley instantly jumped to his feet and ran out of the kitchen in the direction of the front door.
“You speak, he obeys,” Kendra said. “Dog food is beside the table in the foyer. I brought it from Maddie’s along with a couple of Elaine’s notebooks about Harley that she’d found with the dog kennel. Training manuals and personal history.” She was heading for her bedroom. “Please be merciful and keep him awake as much as you can today…”
* * *
Kendra leaned back in the triangular-backed chair at the FBI regional office’s fifth-floor conference room. She’d just viewed Metcalf’s PowerPoint presentation on the wall-mounted monitor at the room’s far end, and as promised, it provided a concise overview of the case, the victims, and the crime scenes. She turned toward Metcalf, who was alone with her at the long conference table.
“Well done, Metcalf.”
“Thanks.”
“But the musical number was a little much, don’t you think?”
“Very funny. You know, there is a guy here who’s fond of lens flares. You’re lucky I didn’t do that to you.”
“I guess I owe you one.” She thought about what she’d just seen. She was glad she’d visited the crime scenes first, since it helped frame everything more correctly in her mind. She was still exhausted from the long plane flight and the restless night worrying about Harley, but seeing those corpses in the presentation had jolted her wide-awake. “Anything on that fence post yet?”
“They’re working on it now. That is human blood at the bottom and the top, and it should be more than enough to extract DNA. So far, your theory of the victim using it as a weapon is holding up.”
“Good. Now we just need to get a DNA match.” She looked at the last PowerPoint slide, still displayed on the screen. It showed the Woodward Academy at night, much as she’d seen it the evening before. “I only wish we knew why Ronald Kim was spying on the access road.”
“Me too. We’ve talked to some friends of his, and no one had any idea that anything unusual was going on in his life.”
“Where did he live?”
“The Convoy District, in Kearny Mesa.”
“Near the medical examiner’s office?”
Metcalf nodded. “You could practically walk to his house from there. It’s become a trendy neighborhood for the Asian community. Some good bars and restaurants have popped up there in the past couple of years.”
“Mr. Kim never struck me as a trendy guy.”
“He wasn’t. After his wife died, he pretty much kept to himself. He ate most of his meals at a small diner connected to a Korean grocer. He was friendly with some of the other customers there, but that’s about it.”
A wave of sadness suddenly hit Kendra. In all the years she’d known Mr. Kim, she’d rarely given any thought to his life away from the school, to his hopes and dreams. As with anyone she met, she’d made observations about him. But overall, she’d always looked at him through the eyes of the little girl she’d been when they first met. Most of the time he’d treated her with an almost-old-world formality and called her Ms. Kendra. In return, he had always been Mr. Kim to her, even when she had grown older. His whole life seemed to be at the school, tending to the flowers and bushes. She remembered his voice, sometimes kind as when he’d put one of the blooming irises in her hand so that she could feel the textures, sometimes stern if she’d accidentally stomped on his precious white pampas grass. But wasn’t that how most children viewed adults? A series of small impressions and memories mainly concerned with how their presence impacted their own lives? Still, memories of the velvet touch of flowers, fresh, fragrant scents, and a voice teaching her bad from good was surely a way most people would like to be remembered.
“Kendra?” Metcalf said gently.
She snapped out of it. “Yeah. Did Mr. Kim have a cell phone on him?”
“No. And we still haven’t found it. He used an old Samsung flip phone, and it wasn’t in his car or his home.”
“Too bad. How about Elaine? Did she have a phone?”
