Malevolent (28 page)

Shaye couldn’t argue with her. The best thing Emma could do was leave New Orleans and do everything possible to cover her tracks. Without the benefit of the GPS tracking device that Shaye was fairly certain was on Emma’s car, Ron would have no way to locate her short of searching the medical facilities in every city across the United States.

“Okay,” Shaye said. “I’ll call my friend and ask him to meet us right now. Go get your things.”

“Thank you,” Emma said and hurried out of the room.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Clara asked.

“Not entirely,” Shaye said, “but in this case, yes. I’m pretty sure the stalker put a GPS tracker on Emma’s car. That’s how he’s been able to locate her even when she changed hotels.”

“So she needs a new car, but it’s Sunday.”

“The friend I’m calling owns a used car lot and he owes me.”

The “friend” was actually a former client at her previous job. While investigating him for insurance fraud, she’d discovered that his employees were the ones ripping off the insurance companies. He’d told her that any time she needed a favor involving automobiles, he would take care of it. She planned on holding him to his word.

Clara nodded. “I see what you’re thinking.”

“Yeah, it’s all good except for the part where the police are going to have a stroke when they find out Emma left with me.”

“I’ll handle them. You just get Emma out of New Orleans.”

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Emma clutched the keys to her slightly used SUV and looked at Shaye. “I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary. I’m glad I could help.”

Emma glanced back at the car lot owner, who was staring at the SUV, a rueful look on his face. “I’m not so sure he is.”

“Oh, I’ll bet he’s not losing any money. He’s just not making any. I was thinking I could pick up your stuff at the hotel and meet you somewhere.”

Emma was about to agree when her phone rang. She checked the display and frowned. “It’s Mr. Abshire.”

“Your nosy next-door neighbor?”

“Yeah.” She answered the call and knew right away that something was wrong.

“Are you at home?” he asked, his voice elevated several octaves. “I knocked and knocked but you didn’t answer.”

“No, I’m not. What’s wrong?”

“The street’s full of police cars. They were in Mrs. Pearson’s house, then they came to yours. When you didn’t answer, they came to mine, asking if I knew where you were.”

“They didn’t tell you what’s happening?”

“No. But I think you should come home.”

Emma clutched the phone. It wasn’t her home. Not anymore, but she’d never heard Henry sound so stressed. “Okay. I’m on my way.”

She slipped the phone back into her pocket and told Shaye what Henry had said.

Shaye frowned. “I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either, but if the street’s full of cops, like Henry says, then nothing can happen, right?”

“I guess not, but I’m going with you. I’ll be right behind you.”

Relief coursed through Emma. “Thank God.”

A million thoughts ran through Emma’s mind as she drove to Algiers Point. Why had the police been inside Mrs. Pearson’s house? Had she been robbed? But if that were the case, why wouldn’t they tell Henry? Why fix on her? And why all the secrecy?
 

By the time she pulled down her street, she’d convinced herself that Henry was probably overreacting. He was always fretting about, getting dramatic over the way people parked and how people walked their dogs. This was going to turn out to be nothing.
 

Three police cars and an ambulance parked on the street in front of Emma’s house changed her mind. The upbeat spirit she’d tried so hard to work up disappeared like vapor and her stomach churned. Something was seriously wrong. She pulled up behind one of the police cars and parked, Shaye pulling in behind her. Emma hesitated for a moment, then climbed out of her car and walked up the sidewalk with Shaye, fighting the panic that was starting to set in. Why was the ambulance here? Who was it for?
 

Two cops stood on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. Pearson’s house next to the ambulance. As they approached, Emma looked over at the ambulance and was shocked to see Patty sitting there, an oxygen mask on her face. She rushed over to the Realtor.
 

“What happened?” Emma asked. “Are you all right?”

Patty nodded and held up a finger.

“A little more,” the paramedic said to Patty.

“What happened?” Shaye asked the paramedic.

“I’m not completely sure. When we got here she was on the steps. Her breathing was so labored she was about to pass out, so I got her over here and got the mask on her.”

Emma and Shaye looked over at the house and Shaye tapped Emma’s arm when a young detective walked out. “That’s Jackson, the detective I’ve been talking to.”

Emma nodded. “I remember him. He came the night I…that night. He was kind.”

Jackson’s gaze locked on them and he gave them a brief nod.
 

“His partner must be here,” Shaye said. “He’s got seniority and from what I can tell, pretty much prevents Jackson from actually working.”

“The fat older guy with nose hair and a widow’s peak?” Emma asked.

“That’s probably the one.”

“He wasn’t kind. In fact, he was an asshole.”

“Definitely the one.”

“Emma,” Patty wheezed and Emma and Shaye moved closer to her.

“Don’t try to talk,” Emma said. “You need to get your breathing right first.”

“I’m okay,” Patty insisted. “It was horrible. I’ve never…I didn’t…Jesus, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Emma’s pulse spiked. “What happened?”

“Mrs. Pearson’s nephew called. They’ve been trying to reach her and she wasn’t answering. She leaves a key with me when she goes out of town, in case something happens. She was supposed to pick it up yesterday, but when she never called, I figured she’d stayed longer with her new grandbaby. I didn’t think… Oh my God.” Patty burst into tears and the paramedic handed her a tissue.
 

“Someone killed her!” Patty blurted out. “And took her eyes. What kind of person would do that? I don’t understand. She was such a nice lady, and she didn’t have anything much of value. Why would someone hurt her?”

As soon as Patty said “eyes” Emma froze. No. It couldn’t be. “I don’t know why, Patty,” Emma managed to force out. “I’m so sorry you found her. Is there anything I can do?”

Patty shook her head. “I just need to get my wind back and get home. I tensed so much my muscles are in knots.”

“I can help with that, ma’am,” the paramedic said.

“Shaye!” A man’s voice sounded behind them and they turned around.

Jackson hurried up to them and motioned them to the side.

“Patty said Mrs. Pearson was killed,” Emma said.

Jackson nodded and looked at Emma. “I heard there was trouble at the hospital last night. Detectives were waiting to talk to you this morning. They weren’t happy to find out you’d split.”

Emma felt her back and neck tighten. “I don’t really care that they were unhappy. If the police had listened to me, Mrs. Pearson and that paramedic might still be alive.”

“I know that,” Jackson said. “I’m on your side, believe me, but you’re going to have to talk to them. Your neighbor has probably been dead a couple of days, but with the eye thing…detectives have finally connected the dots and they all point back to you.”

Emma felt tears well up in her eyes. Every time she thought she was going to finally escape, everything got worse. “Why Mrs. Pearson? It doesn’t make any sense. We’re neighbors but we’re not particularly close.”

Jackson nodded. “Nothing in the house was disturbed but I noticed footprints in the dust in the attic.” He pointed at the small window on the front of the house near the roofline. “Right below that window. I think he was watching you from there.”

Emma stared at the window, then looked across the street at her house. Her skin began to itch. “When does it end?”

“Soon,” Jackson said. “Ron’s girlfriend is at the precinct right now filing a complaint. I told the lead detective on the paramedic murder about the domestic abuse complaint and what Shaye found out about David and Ron serving together. They’re looking for him. He’s exposed now. It will be over soon.”

Emma nodded. She could tell by his expression that Jackson was telling her the truth, and she wanted to believe him, but she’d invested too much hope in things that had never materialized, and she simply couldn’t afford to any longer. She’d celebrate when Ron was behind bars. Not a moment before.

“What do you need me to do?” Emma asked.

“Can you come down to the police station now so we can get everything documented?” Jackson asked. “It will take a while and we have uncomfortable chairs and horrible coffee, but you’ll be safe there.”

“You make it sound so enticing,” Emma said. “Once you have my statement can I leave? New Orleans, I mean?”

“Just leave us a way to contact you, and you’re free to go wherever you’d like,” Jackson said. “You’re the victim here, Emma. If anyone tries to make things hard on you, remind them of that.”

“Thank you,” Emma said. “I know you’ve been helping Shaye.”

“I’m afraid I wasn’t much help. Shaye put the entire thing together.”

Emma glanced over at Shaye, who looked slightly uncomfortable with the compliment. “I wouldn’t have made it this far without her,” Emma said.

“You’re stronger than you think,” Shaye said quietly.

“Then let’s get this over with,” Emma said. “Can we go now?”

“Absolutely. I assume you want to drive yourself and meet there?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” Jackson said. “I’ll go let my superior know I’m heading back to the station.”

“Do you need me right now as well?” Shaye asked.

“We’ll definitely need you, especially once we have Ron in custody. The DA will need your testimony to build the case against him, but it doesn’t have to be today. If you need to get back to your mother…”

Shaye nodded agreement, but the expression on her face wasn’t one of concern for her mother. No, Emma had seen that look before—like a dog with a bone. There was something Shaye wanted to get away and do, but Emma would bet anything that it had nothing to do with Corrine.

“Go straight to the station,” Shaye said to Emma, “and call me when you leave.” She looked at Jackson. “Can you send someone to pick up her things at the hotel while she’s being questioned? I don’t want her returning there. In case he’s watching.”

“I’ve got it covered,” Jackson said.

“Thanks.” Shaye gave Emma a quick hug and headed off down the sidewalk.

Jackson stared after her several seconds and Emma felt a tiny quiver in her stomach when she realized his interest in Shaye was deeper than this case. She wondered if Shaye had noticed, but guessed that she hadn’t. A man would probably have to advertise in neon before Shaye paid attention. But still, a tiny sliver of happiness ran through her. Every day was an opportunity for something better. Maybe her horrible situation contained a silver lining after all, for Jackson and Shaye.

It was something she planned to daydream about on her long drive to California.

Only happy thoughts from now on. Even if they were about other people.

###

Shaye jumped in her SUV and took off. As she drove, she pulled out her cell phone. On the way to Emma’s house, she’d received a call from Charlie Evans. She hadn’t answered because she’d been on the phone with Eleonore, but he’d left a message that she’d listened to just as she’d pulled up to the curb at Emma’s house.
 

She pressed Play on the message and Charlie’s voice boomed over her truck speakers.
 

Hey, uh, this is Charlie Evans from Wellman Oil and Gas. You talked to me the other day about David. I thought of something I wanted to tell you. Anyway, I’m at home if you want to call.

She hit the Call button and Charlie answered on the first ring.

“This is Shaye Archer.”

“Oh, yeah. I remembered something…I don’t know that it means anything, but you said to call…”

“You never know what might be important. What did you remember?”

“One night offshore, one of the engineers got real drunk and was acting a fool. We were all laughing at him and David said he was dumber than Dugas.”

“Is Dugas another employee?”

“We ain’t got a Dugas working here. I didn’t think about it at the time because I got a cousin Toby that says the same thing, but then I remembered it and thought you might want to know.”

Shaye frowned. If there was a point to Charlie’s story, either he hadn’t made it yet, or she had missed it entirely. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Shit. I’m not explaining it good at all. Dugas was a half-wit that lived in the place Toby grew up. The people that live there say it, but I don’t see why David would know it, unless he was from there too or had been there at least.”