Flames Of Deceit (6 page)

“Maybe,” Jake motioned to the pile of rubble. “Someone left her body here to make it look like she died in the fire.”

“Who would do this? Was it a man? Could you tell?”

“Best guess? I’d say it had to be a man to get the body up those stairs.” Jake’s gaze bored into her. “Since I found you in the building,” he paused, “that leaves you and your brother as the prime suspects.”

“But…you just said you searched this room right before you found me.”

“Yeah,” his eyes bored into her as if trying to read her mind.

Mia felt as if he touched her very core, where the pain of his words centered, deep in her heart. Hadn’t he learned a thing about her since they met? How could he think she could do this terrible thing?  “But—”

“That leaves your brother—”

“Hey, Jake,” a man called, “are you up there? The fire inspector is here. He called a meeting on the front steps.”

“I’m coming, Tim.” Jake stared at Mia for long seconds as noise of the firefighter’s steps disappeared. “Considering the circumstances, I can’t believe what I’m about to do.” Eyes dark with emotion, he studied her. “For the second time in twenty-four hours I’m helping you slip out of this courthouse undetected.”

A sigh quivered past Mia’s lips. “You believe me?”

Jake’s jaw clenched. “I’m reserving judgment.”

Mia shoved her fists in her jean pockets to keep from pounding that superior look off Jake’s face. Her fingers touched metal. Her car keys. “I don’t need your help this time. Give me the disc and I’ll leave. Then you won’t have to feel guilty about helping me.”

Jake held up the disc. “Is this all you care about?”

Mia nodded, but his gaze sliced her conscience. “No, but I’ll take care of other things after I’ve cleared my brother.”

“Judge Stone? Are you coming?” Tim’s voice bounced off the walls, mingling with the sounds of early morning traffic.

“Coming.” Jake took a step toward Mia. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Shaking her head, Mia held her hand out. “The disc is all the evidence I need.”

Jake nodded toward the mound of debris in the corner. “What about the body?”

Eyes squeezed shut, Mia sighed. “I’m sorry Leigh Anne is dead, but I didn’t have anything to do with her death. I need to get to a computer and open that disc.”

“You’re forgetting a few facts.” Jake dangled the disc in his fingers. “You have motive, means and opportunity.”

“I didn’t even know she was in the building.” Mia kept her voice low, forcing words past gritted teeth to keep her lips from quivering. Voices carried in empty buildings. “I couldn’t kill anyone, even Leigh Anne. All I wanted was the evidence.”

Brow arched, he reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “You’re defending your family’s honor. That’s a strong motive for murder.”

“What are you doing?” Mia gasped as he punched numbers on the phone. “I didn’t—”

“Sh—” Jake held up a finger. “Chief, this is Jake Stone. Yeah, how are you Bob? Yeah, me too. Listen, Chief, I’m over at the courthouse. Yes, I know the fire marshals called a meeting. They’re here now, but I need your help on the second floor of the courthouse--”

Wincing, Jake held the phone away from his ear.

“Yeah. I know. I know, but this is my courthouse. I wanted to see the damage. Listen, I called because while I was looking around, I stumbled over a body. No. I didn’t move anything. Get over here quick. I caught a glimpse of someone sneaking away from the building. I’m going to follow him. I’ll call you if I see him, again.”

Jake shoved the phone in his pocket and stared at Mia. “We’ve got about five minutes to get out of here.”

“You don’t have to do this,” Mia found herself offering as she stepped closer. “Helping me means breaking every oath of your office. Give me the disc and go meet with the inspectors.”

“Don’t you get it?” Jake edged toward the door. “Both of us were in this building. We could be the intended victims. It might be our fault that woman is dead.” He snapped his lips shut and headed toward the stairs, “We both have a connection to the victim.”

Mia eased down the stairs behind him. “You didn’t even know Leigh Anne.”

“She appeared in my courtroom and made a mockery of the justice system I’ve sworn to uphold.”

“Oh, come on, Judge. That motivation is so slim it’s almost invisible,” Mia whispered, following close on his heels as he led the way toward the back exit. “Listen to me, Jake. You don’t have to risk your career to help me. Give me the disc. I’ll send you copies of anything I find.”

Jake grabbed her elbow and urged her toward the door. “Show me how you escaped last night without anyone seeing you.”

“Are you sure? I can take my car and be gone in—”

“Go. We don’t have time to argue.” Jake glanced around the lawn surrounding the courthouse and urged her out.

Bending down, Mia took the lead, darting from one shrub to the next. When they reached the corner of the building, she nodded to the street opposite. “I crossed here.”

Crouching low, Jake followed her across the street. Once they reached the sidewalk, he turned in the opposite direction. “I left the car over here—”

He stopped mid-step, his words still hanging in the damp morning air.

Mia plowed into him from behind. “What—”

After following his glance, she didn’t need an explanation. Even in the early morning light, she could see the tires of their borrowed car had been slashed. Chills raced through her body. Teeth chattering, she asked, “W-who—”

“This answers one question.” Jake searched the street in both directions. “Obviously, we were the killer’s targets.” He grabbed her elbow as his gaze swept the area. Evidently seeing nothing, he turned in the opposite direction, keeping Mia at his side. “Let’s get going. We’ll take your car.”

So we don’t end up like Leigh Anne Saddler.

He didn’t say the words aloud, but Mia heard them in the tone of his voice and moved closer to his side. “I don’t remember where I parked.”

Jake clamped her arm against his body and headed toward the corner where she remembered talking to the waitress yesterday. “I can guess. We can’t stay here.”

Mia skipped to keep up with his long stride as he crossed the street. Thankful no cars were passing, and they didn’t have to stand exposed on the corner, she darted a look over her shoulder as they left the shelter of the buildings along the sidewalk.

“This means the killer followed us, doesn’t it? He knows we were searching the building. Do you think he knows what we were looking for?”

Jake urged her past the street she’d searched yesterday before he’d caught up with her and headed on around the traffic circle to the next street. “If he didn’t, once he spotted Leigh Anne Saddler, he worked it out.”

“But why kill her?” Mia glanced over her shoulder, again.

“Don’t do that.” Jake pulled her against his side. “Checking behind you makes you look guilty. Just walk normal and no one will pay any attention.”

“Are you kidding?” Mia gave a snort of disbelief and sent him a sideways glance. Any woman with breath left in her body would notice Jake Stone from a mile away. “We don’t look like early morning joggers.”

“You’d be surprised.”

Those words were barely out of his mouth, when a woman in her mid-fifties stepped off her lawn onto the sidewalk to pick up her newspaper. “Out early aren’t you, Judge?”

“Late night,” Jake replied without slowing his step.

“It’s such a shame about the courthouse, but walking is smart. Get that smoke out of your lungs and you’ll feel better.” The woman kept talking as they passed.

“See,” Jake cut a glance at Mia. “She didn’t notice a thing. Now, where is your car?”

Mia spotted her Honda Accord parked along the street, three cars up. Pulling the keys out of her pocket, she said, “There it is. I’ll driv—”

“Do you have control issues, Ms. Clark, or is this a reflection on my driving?”

Mia gave a snort and jerked the door open. “Where are we going? The slasher attacked your truck, so he must know you.”

“Good point,” Jake settled in the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt, “but if he’s smart enough to work out what we were looking for, he’s figured out who you are by now. Take the next right.” He drummed his fingers on the dash as she headed toward Hwy 64. “That means we can’t go to your place or mine.”

Mia groaned. “I need a shower. I’m filthy.”

“You’re alive,” Jake stared across the small space separating them. “Now tell me. What’s really going on, Ms. Clark?”

“I told you, Leigh Anne—”

“Is dead. If you don’t want to end up the same way, tell me what’s going on.”

Mia trembled as his words hammered the truth into her head. Dead. The vibrant ex-model she had wanted to hate when she saw her in court three days ago was dead. And the person who killed her could have been the same person who...

“Do you think the killer is the person who locked me in that closet?”

“If it is, I’d say you are lucky. Tell me the truth—”

“I have.” Mia pushed down the gas pedal. “You know everything I know. The missing information must be on that disc.”

“I don’t think so. Do you know where you’re going?”

“No.” That one word blared repeatedly in her head. The things she didn’t know could get them both killed.

***

Jake’s cell phone rang.

“Keep heading east,” he said, lifting the phone to his ear. “Stone, here.”

Mia gripped the wheel and tried to keep her eyes on the road. It wasn’t easy. Her gaze darted to the rear-review mirror every two seconds. What was she expecting to see? Some car flying a flag that said, I’m following you.

Jake’s caution about avoiding their homes added to her worry. So did the tension she’d heard in his voice.

“Chief, I can’t come right now. I’m following the person I saw leave the building. Did you find the body? Was there any identification?” Staring straight ahead, Jake sighed. “Yeah, I remember the name from the newspapers. Leigh Anne Saddler appeared in court last Friday.”

Shivers chased down Mia’s spine. She had known the body must be the ex-model, but having the identity confirmed made things worse.

A person connected to Phil had been murdered. What had her brother gotten into? Was he in danger? Worse, did Phil have anything to do with this murder? The sound of Jake’s voice close at her side added to her panic. He would suspect Phil, first and ask questions later.

“I know, Chief. I just wanted to check the damage in my courtroom. I heard a noise across the hall. With the building supposedly empty—”

Wincing, Jake hunched his shoulders. “Yeah, I know that meant me, too, but that courtroom is my life. I was careful—”

He held the phone away from his ear and exchanged glances with Mia. “I can’t come to the station right now. I think the person who killed that model was after me.”

Mia heard a loud screech from the phone.

“Why? Eight reasons, that’s why. Someone slashed the tires on my truck last night. I borrowed a car to get back to the courthouse this morning. When I ran out to follow the guy I saw, the tires of my borrowed car had been slashed.”

Mia watched muscles bulge along Jake’s jaw. He was stalling, but what if he was wrong? Shivers raced over her. What if she was the target, not Jake?

He hadn’t mentioned her name to the chief. She appreciated that, but what if this whole thing had something to do with her investigation for Phil. Police would be on the wrong track.

Jake had left the scene of a crime to help her. That meant he was risking his career to keep her safe. She couldn’t let him take that chance. Making a split second decision, she whipped the steering wheel and turned off on the approaching exit.

Brows arched, Jake held her gaze. “I realize that, Chief, but I can take care of myself. If you don’t have to assign men to protect me, you can put more men in the search for the killer.”

Mia tensed, preparing to face his objections as she turned into the parking lot of a large gas station. She wanted a bath and food. And sleep. Then maybe her brain could make sense of what was going on.

Jake snapped the phone shut. “I thought we were going to Raleigh.”

Mia turned the engine off and twisted in the seat to face him. “Why? The problem is here.”

“We’re going to Raleigh because there is a killer on our trail.”

“We don’t know who it is. We don’t even know if it’s a man or a woman. We’re covered in soot. And starved.” Mia tilted her chin. “I need a shower and clean clothes.”

And a chance to see what’s on that disc.

Frowning, Jake glanced around the parking lot. “You’re right.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “I am?”

“We need funds.”

“I locked my handbag in the trunk. I’ll get my credit card.” She reached for the door, but turned back when Jake put his hand on her arm.

“We need cash. Once the local police report the murder to the SBI, they might start looking for us and trace our credit cards.” Jake stared down at the cell phone and frowned. “And our phones.”

“Now you’re scaring me. This isn’t a crime show on TV.” She shivered, trying to block out images of Leigh Anne Saddler’s bloody throat and soot streaked hair, but it was too late. Flashes of the model’s marble white face filled her head. Wrapping her arms around her waist to stop the shivers, she looked at Jake. “We need a plan.”

“Fill the car with gas. I’ll get a map.” Jake paused, his hand on the door handle. “On second thought, maybe you should go inside alone. We’re still in Courtney County. Someone might recognize me.”

Mia fought the urge to glance over her shoulder every two seconds as she filled the Honda with gas. Stepping inside the station, she gave the room a quick search before heading for the cashier. At the last second, with hunger twisting her insides, she added two ice-cold Pepsi bottles and some snacks to her bill.

Returning to the car with her arms full, she paused at the driver’s door  when she spotted Jake behind the wheel. “Hey.”

“Hey, back.” Jake nodded toward the passenger seat. “Hop in.”

Mia thrust a cold Pepsi in his waiting hand and stomped around the front of the car. Flinging her body in the passenger seat, she slammed the door. “What’s going on?”

“I thought I’d drive. I know the area better than you do.”

Mia opened her mouth to argue, then noticed him glance in the rear-view mirror and changed her mind. She knew he could drive fast if he needed to. “I’m ready.”