Lethal Legacy (16 page)

Sheriff Boyce growled and unclasped the bag. Inside were a lipstick, a mascara, a comb,
and several dimes. “Shit!” He flung the bag on the backseat, stormed around the car,
jerked open the passenger door and punched in the button on the glove box. It contained
a sodden Washington State map and an owner's guide. He slammed the car door harder than
necessary, folded his arms, and surveyed them with beetled brows.

“Are your men going to tow the car to impound?” B.J. asked.

“I sure as hell can't leave it here."

“Fine,” B.J. said. “We'll meet them there and go over the interior."

He grabbed hold of his end of the gurney. “Lead off, Homer."

Sheriff Boyce wheeled on Amy. “
He
did this, didn't he? That's how come you and
your old man know what's happening in Wheeler sooner than anybody else does."

Amy bristled. “Who are you referring to?”

He narrowed his eyes and moved forward a step. “Your gook friend. That's who."

Anger heated her cheeks.
"Dr. Nguyen
is,"

“Doctor, hell. He's a killer, that's what he is.” His spittle sprayed her face. “Where is
he?"

Amy clenched her fist until her nails bit into her palm. “He's where he should be,” she
said in as even a tone as she could manage. “He's taking care of his father-in-law's
landscape business."

“
His
business, you mean. That's one more reason he had to kill his wife.” He
stomped off toward his car. “He's going back to jail, Prescott, and no hotshot lawyer's
gonna get him out."

Amy glared at his stiff-necked figure, picked up as much of the equipment as she could
carry, and followed the men along the graveled logging road. She'd gone only a short way
when she spotted Jed MacManus hurrying toward her.

“What the hell's going on?” he yelled before he had even reached her.

Amy set down her burden. “Did you find Cam?"

“Missed him, goddammit. He was out at the greenhouses last night.” Jed shook his head.
“This morning he got a phone call and took off.” He gestured toward B.J. and Dr. Epps.
“Who's in the bag?” he said.

“An Asian woman. They found her car in the river this morning."

“Is she the one we're looking for?"

She shrugged. “No I.D. of any kind. Registration and license plates were gone."

“Anybody recognize her?"

“That wouldn't be easy. The car's been in the river for a week or more."

A worried look spread over Jed's face. “What's the sheriff so burned up about?"

“He thinks Cam's responsible."

Jed shoved his hands into the pockets of his blue down jacket. “God, Amy, he wouldn't
skip town, would he?"

Amy felt a stab of fear. “He's an emotional wreck, Jed. He's angry and impatient and he
may have a gun.” Her sense of foreboding increased with each word she spoke. “He's
capable of anything."

Despite the nagging pain in her back, Amy persevered. She and B.J.
removed the Honda's rear seat. A large stain had soaked into the upholstery. They
planned to dry it slowly at the lab before running any tests.

After drying all surfaces inside the car with hair driers, they rolled up the windows,
and used cyanoacrylate as a fuming agent. When the air cleared, they inspected every
portion of the interior. As B.J. squatted on his haunches in the back, he sighed.
“Dam-it, this guy was too blasted careful. Everything's clean."

“Keep looking. Even the cleverest killers make mistake.” Amy eased herself onto me floor
of the front seat until she lay on her side. She shone her flashlight this way and that,
straining her neck to see into nooks and crannies. All of a sudden, she let out a yell.
“Found one on the seat adjustment lever.” She rolled over onto her back and peered
upward. “There are a couple others on the underside of the steering wheel."

“Good. While you're finishing here, I'm going to start packing up. I want to get done and
go home. I'm pooped."

Half an hour later, as they prepared to leave when Sheriff Boyce's car splashed down the
flood-eroded street leading to the fenced impound lot and came to a mud spurting
stop.

He got out of the car and marched over to them. “I've turned this whole goddamned town
upside down.” He glared at Amy. “That slant-eyed sonofabitch has disappeared."

Amy glared back. “Watch your mouth. Sheriff. I've had all I can take of your bigoted
slurs."

B.J. placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Why are you looking for Dr. Nguyen?"

The sheriff's face turned red and blotchy with anger. “He's given me all the grief he's
going to. That's why. I'm putting out a warrant for his arrest."

“Don't you think that's a bit premature? We haven't found a shred of evidence to indicate
Cam had anything to do with this woman's death."

“He knew her, didn't he?"

“We have to prove who she is before we'll know that."

The sheriff snorted. “Don't pull that crap on me, Prescott. You two probably been hiding
stuff just to protect the sneaky bastard.” He turned on his heel, got into his car and
sped away.

Dusk had fallen by the time B.J. and Amy got their evidence pouches
sorted, recorded, and stowed away in their lab. B.J. patted Amy on the shoulder. “Go get
some rest, kitten. You look beat."

She took the elevator upstairs to her apartment, called Hue, then flopped onto the couch
and propped her swollen feet on a stack of pillows.

In spite of her weariness, questions battered her brain. Where was Cam? Why had he run
off? Was the dead woman Chea Le? If so, who had killed her and why?

The phone she'd placed on the coffee table rang, interrupting her thoughts. She lifted
the receiver and answered.

“God, Amy,” Jed said. “You sound like I feel."

“Four deaths, Jed. And we still don't have any answers. It's getting me down."

“Me too. Have you eaten dinner?"

“I haven't had the energy."

“Let's go somewhere. Maybe we'll think better on a full stomach."

She sighed. “Sounds nice, but I don't feel up to it."

“Then I'll bring it to you. Do you like Chinese?"

Tears sprang into her eyes, almost taking her by surprise. “Yes, but Jed,"

“You live on Endicott don't you?"

“I'm not fit company for,"

“Anyone but me,” he finished for her. “I'll be there in an hour. Okay?"

“I suppose so. Ring the bell and I'll let you in."

With an effort, she dragged herself into the bathroom, washed her face, combed her hair,
and dabbed on lipstick, but she still felt miserable.
Why are you doing this? she
asked herself. Jed can't take Nathan's place.
The tears came again. She squeezed
her eyes shut.
How long? How long before the hurt and despair turned to
bitterness?

Trudging through the apartment in her stocking feet, she switched on lights and put the
rooms in order. When the buzzer sounded, she pushed a button and spoke into the
intercom, “What's the password?"

Jed chuckled. “A closed mouth gathers no feet"

Amy laughed and was amazed at how much better it made her feel. She triggered the
downstairs lock and a few minutes later heard the clang of the elevator's brass grilled
gate as Jed got out on the second floor. She hurried to open me door.

Jed carried two large brown paper sacks that exuded an aroma of chow mein. “Where do you
want this?"

“Let's eat in the kitchen.” She led him into a room where farm scene wallpaper
complemented oak floors and cabinetry.

“This is nice,” Jed said, setting the bags on the counter. “I like early American.” He
grinned. “Makes me feel like I'm at my grandmother's house."

“Me too,” she said, making a face at him. “I patterned it after my father's kitchen on
Lomitas Island. The house belonged to my great, great, great grandparents."

Jed opened the cardboard containers of food while she set two place settings on the round
oak table's yellow linen cloth. “How did you know where I lived?"

“Cam told me once. Why?"

“We don't give out our address. You never know when someone you've helped convict might
come looking for you."

He nodded grimly. “That's the excuse my ex-wife gave for not having children."

Amy looked across the table at him. “She had a point. I've been worrying about it ever
since I got pregnant"

“But you still would have gotten pregnant. Right?"

Her nerves tightened. “Under different circumstances, I might have timed it better. But
yes, I wanted a child.” She bit her lip. Not just
a
child, Nathan's child.

Moving to the sink, she filled a copper kettle, set it on the stove, and turned on the
burner. “Do you want tea?"

“No, thanks.” He pulled a bottle of wine from one of the sacks. “I need something to make
me forget what a lousy day this has been. Got a cork puller?"

In a drawer, she found a corkscrew she'd purchased at a wine tasting party at the Chateau
St. Michelle vineyard. The sight of the stainless steel object brought back unpleasant
memories of the final days of her marriage. Mitch had gotten high at the party and made
passes at every woman in the room.

Pushing aside thoughts of the quarrel that had ensued, she took a goblet and a cup from
the cupboard and set them on the table.

“Would you like a glass, Amy?"

“Alcohol is off limits."

“Oh, of course.” Jed continued to work the gadget's metal prongs down each side of the
cork. “So, do you have any idea where Cam might have gone?"

“I have a list of his acquaintances. You might give them a call."

He popped the cork, filled his glass, and took a long sip. “His jumping bail sure as hell
won't help his court case."

“Neither will anything else that's happened lately.” Amy put a spoon in each cardboard
container, set them on the table, and sat down. “It's time we got a break of some
kind."

“You said you were going to check the clothing Cam wore the night of the murder. Find
anything?"

“Nothing that matched the upholstery in the apartment he claims he was in."

Jed blew out his breath, helped himself to a portion of beef with Chinese mushrooms and
bamboo shoots, and passed the box to Amy. “Did you learn anything more about the dead
woman?"

“No. The person responsible made sure of that. I did find three good fingerprints. Maybe
they'll tell us something."

“How long has she been dead?"

Amy regarded him with a half smile. “Are you sure you want to discuss this while you're
eating?"

Jed laughed and spooned Kung Pao shrimp onto his plate. “Maybe not."

When the kettle on the stove began to whistle, he jumped up, filled the teapot, and set
it on a wrought iron trivet beside her. When he'd stood silently at her side for some
moments, she glanced up to find him gazing down at her with a soft expression. “God, you
smell good."

Damn, she didn't need this.
“Is that a friend-to-friend remark or ... what?"

He brushed this knuckle along her cheek. “What if it was a let's-get-friendlier
remark?"

“I'd say you'd better sit down and eat your dinner,"

“I was afraid of that” He walked back around the table and sat down. “Okay, what about
those Asians who work at the athletic club?"

“My friend Hue says that one of them, Victor Samphan, likes to gamble."

“Hmm.” Jed sipped his wine. “I wonder if he owes some of our suspects money?"

“Interesting thought.” Amy dunked boneless chicken into black bean sauce. “I think he may
be the one who was following me."

Jed set down the wine bottle he'd lifted to refill his glass and regarded her with
concern. “You didn't tell me someone was following you."

She shrugged and served herself some Chinese greens. “I was also attacked in the athletic
club basement."

“For Christ's sake, Amy,” Jed exclaimed, his eyes blazing. “Do you think you have to take
all these risks?"

“Things happen, Jed."

He raised his glass. “Yeah, to you they do.
All the time."

She raised an eyebrow. “Lighten up, Jed. He's not likely to try it again."

“Why the hell not?"

“Cause he found out I'm not easy prey.” She lay her hand over his. “But thank you for
caring."

He clasped her hand in both of his. “I think about you.” His brows knotted and he scowled
down at the table. “I don't want to, but I do.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “I
can't help wondering what it would be like to,"

“Hold it, Jed.” She pulled her hand free. “You said you needed a friend."

“I know, but,"

“No buts. That's all I'll ever be."

“Because you're going to be true to the bastard who got you pregnant and married another
woman? Is that it?"

Heat flared in her cheeks. “He doesn't know."

His eyes widened. “Doesn't know? What are you going to say when he finds out?"

She leaned forward, her eyes boring into his. “He isn't
going
to find out.” She
narrowed her eyes. “Not ever. Is that clear, Jed?"

“Amy.” He ran his hand over his face. “A woman in your condition shouldn't be alone,
doesn't need to be alone. Yet you've chosen to isolate yourself. What made you decide to
have the babies in the first place?"

Amy's throat tightened and her voice was low when she spoke. “Because it's better to have
a flesh and blood reminder than nothing at all."

“You loved him that much?"

She lifted her chin. “Love him,” she corrected.

“Then he's a lucky bastard, even if he doesn't know it."

She started to reply, but her lip began to tremble.

Jed got up and walked around the table. “Come here.” He raised her to her feet and put
his arms around her. “If you ever need a hug, I'm here for you."