The Truth Seeker (23 page)

“Not in the last five years since I’ve been doing the scheduling.”

“Before that?”

“During the life of the business? Probably. But Egan kept business records as order carbons, and it’s impossible to get the simplest question answered. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask Terri at the office. She can point you to the file cabinets as well as I can.”

“That’s all we need.”

With a terse nod, Walter headed to the Nakomi truck to go after his brother.

Quinn and Marcus walked back to their car.

Quinn started the car, then pulled onto the road. “What do you think? Walter?”

“It’s obvious he could have left the note, but it doesn’t type: too much the older brother, in control, forces life to fit his mold. He’s getting Lisa’s

“So what did we learn?”

“Beyond the fact the brothers hate each other? Not much.”

“Still—tell Lincoln to push a little harder. He’s been wanting a rea-

“Have him look up any Knolls Park records?”

“Yes. Add it to the list for Emily to sort out.”

Traffic had increased as the Sunday afternoon wore on. Quinn

attention the direct way, finding reasons to see her.”

“Christopher.”

Marcus nodded. “He would have to have seen you in Knolls Park, but assume for now that somehow he did—”

Quinn thought about it and shook his head. “Christopher’s not the type to leave a note,” he decided. “He’s too in-your-face. He wouldn’t hide behind paper.”

son to ask some questions about Christopher ever since he learned about the bribe Grant paid him.”

headed toward Kate’s.

Marcus broke the silence. “I don’t think the note was a cruel joke, I think the note really was left by Marla’s killer.”

“So do I,” Quinn replied grimly.

Sixteen

We can rule out Grant having killed Marla.”

At Lisa’s voice Quinn looked up from the phone company log of calls to Lisa’s home. She was tucked into one of the tall wingback chairs in Kate’s apartment with a pink sweater around her shoulders, purple socks on her feet, and a quiet determination to ignore what her family suggested about lying down and trying to get some rest. He was relieved at the reappearance of that stubbornness, for it was a good indication that the shock of the morning was finally wearing off.

“Why?” he asked simply.

“He’s in jail. It’s obvious he couldn’t have left the note or placed the call. So someone else killed Marla. Lincoln’s right, and we’re on the wrong trail.”

“Lisa—” He didn’t want to confuse the situation for her but had no choice. “It’s not quite that simple. The note may simply have been a lucky guess by someone who saw us in the neighborhood.” Even if he didn’t think it likely, he had to make sure they didn’t rule out anything.

His words caught her off guard. “A guess?”

“What was the first thing you noticed about the place where Marla was killed?”

She hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. “The hummingbirds,” she

“Yes.”

“I want the details.”

She had a right to them, needed to know them now. “The day you

whispered. She closed her eyes for a moment, then looked over at him, confused, angry, struggling not to cry from the intense frustration. “You really think this might have been a cruel joke?”

Her emotions were in such turmoil and there wasn’t much he could do to help but promise it was going to go away. “We’re going to figure out who it was; it just may not be a simple answer.”

“What does the report show for the phone call?”

He set aside the printouts. “A cell phone.”

“Nothing useful.”

“What I expected,” he clarified, hearing her disappointment.

Lisa tugged at the sweater, frowning at the thread she pulled by accident. “Why do you think it might have been an ugly joke?”

“Someone has been following me.”

Frustration, annoyance, and fear all crossed her face. “So they go after me?”

“It got my attention,” he replied dryly.

“That’s why you didn’t want me involved initially with the Rita Beck case.”

came home from the hospital I spotted him for the third time. He was tailing me as I drove back to the hotel.” Quinn winced inside, realizing that if it was the guy also responsible for the note, he would have known her address for weeks. “Dave and Marcus almost got him that night. Since then—I haven’t spotted him again, but a problem like that doesn’t just go away. He’s probably been watching me on and off ever since.”

She frowned. “You were tailed long before we ever visited the Danford estate?”

“Yes.”

“Quinn, which is it? Was the note left by the guy who killed Marla,

who may have killed all the victims, or by someone who’s been tailing you, watching where we go?”

“You’re staying here until we can figure out that answer.”

“You promise you’ll take good care of my pets?”

“Guaranteed. I’ll even give Iris her peanuts.”

“I want to keep going to work.”

“I’ll take you, or Kate can. But until this is solved, you won’t be doing any more unescorted windowshopping during your lunch hour.”

She half smiled. “At least I’ll save some money.” The smile faded.

“The note will tell us a lot. Andrew is good at the analysis. He won’t miss anything. Prints, brand of paper, handwriting

”

“He’s already promised to call you with updates as it’s processed.”

“So what are we going to do in the meantime? That’s going to take days.”

“Marcus had a good point. We may not know who this is, or what it is that we’ve done that has gotten his attention, but we’ve clearly succeeded.

We’ve got his attention. So if we keep doing exactly what we have been, he’ll likely come calling again. And this time there will be Lincoln, Marcus, Dave, and Kate around to help spot him.”

“We keep investigating.”

He nodded. “All the questions we were pursuing yesterday before this happened. Did Amy ever come to Chicago? Is Grant Danford innocent or actually guilty of killing not only Rita but others? I keep trying to track down the dark green Plymouth I saw. You keep working to connect the four cases you’ve found.”

“I don’t like the way this is escalating.”

“Which is why we have to push harder and break it open. We are apparently a lot closer to the truth than we realize.”

There was a rustle of sound as the front door was unlocked and opened. “Pizza’s here!” Kate called.

“It’s about time.” Lisa set aside the book she had been paging

“You’re hungry.”

She gave a sheepish smile. “Fear does that.”

Trust her to have the opposite reaction from most people. “I’m There was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” Jack quickly volun-

“We did decide on pizza, yes?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then Kate’s cupboards need help. The jalapeńo peppers are for “Marc—you’re a lifesaver. Hi, Lincoln. Good to see you again.”

“Jack.”

There was the sound of the refrigerator freezer opening and ice

through. “Even if a pizza from Carla’s is worth the wait.”

glad.” He turned toward the hall. “Kate, you need a hand?”

“I’ve got it covered. Jack’s coming, he was just parking his car.” The front door opened again. “He can help.”

“Sure I can. Help with what?” Jack asked.

“Drinks.”

“I want one.”

“Fix six. Marcus and Lincoln are joining us.”

“Oh, okay. Got any fizzy water?”

“No, I don’t have fizzy water. You can have lemonade.”

“With pizza?” Jack asked in disbelief.

Quinn looked over at Lisa, saw her struggling to keep her laughter silent as they listened to Kate and Jack move into the kitchen.

“Jack, you’re my guest. Quit complaining.”

“I’ve got time to run to the corner store.” There was the snap of a towel. “Missed,” Jack said cheerfully. “Does Dave know you’re practicing with that?”

teered.

The door was unlocked and pulled open. “Marcus, buddy! You stopped at the store?” There was the crinkle of paper bags.

Quinn and me. Save me a couple of those sodas.”

being retrieved.

“Marcus—you’re spoiling Jack,” Kate complained.

Marcus burst out laughing. “And you’re not? That pizza’s got Italian sausage on it.”

“Really?” Jack asked.

“It is almost your birthday,” Kate conceded.

“As good an excuse as any,” Jack agreed. “Hey, Lizzy, how are the music lessons coming?” he called down the hall.

She put her head in her hands.

“What else do you need, Kate?” Marcus asked.

“Plates and napkins. I think everything else is ready.”

The group finally appeared in the doorway: Jack in front carrying four glasses, Kate behind him carrying three stacked pizza boxes, Marcus and Lincoln bringing up the rear with plates and towels. Quinn “Hey, kiddo.” Jack sat down on the armrest of Lisa’s chair.

talkJack.”

He dug into his shirt pocket and handed her a small gift-wrapped “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

She tugged at the wrapping paper. It was a small, thin, bright blue accepted drinks for himself and Lisa.

package.

square with a grid at the top and a big red button.

“If you get another note that takes your breath away.”

She pushed the button and a Halloween scream echoed through the apartment. Kate winced and Lisa laughed. “This is great.”

“Jack, you’ve got to grow up someday,” Kate noted, stopping beside him to ruffle his hair.

“Why?”

“Because you’re acting like a fifth grader with your gag gifts?”

“Hey, this one was practically practical.” Lisa giggled at her own pun.

“And her doctor would love me. Laughter’s good medicine.”

Lisa hugged him. “Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Quinn caught Jack’s gaze, prepared to be amused as Kate was but “I think I insulted Carla with your request. She gave me a lecture “She’ll forgive me when I call and rave about how good the pizza “See? She’s just protesting for the sake of it.”

Quinn joined Marcus in starting on the supreme pizza.

“Kate, where’s Dave?” Jack asked.

“He’ll be here shortly. He was having dinner with his sister, then

found himself instead looking at a very serious man behind the humor.

He thoughtfully nodded and made a note not to get fooled again by the surface lightness. The humor was deliberate, a serious purpose behind the laughter.

“Lisa.” Marcus held out a plate.

“Thanks.” She accepted it and looked at the boxes being set out on the coffee table. “Kate, which one is just cheese?”

about the virtues of at least a vegetarian pizza.”

was.”

Kate slid a thick piece from the box. “She put cheese in the crust for you.”

was going to pick up dessert on his way over.”

“Cheesecake?”

“Knowing Dave, probably.”

“Great.”

“You just like to eat.”

“Freely concede the point,” Jack replied, taking his second slice of Italian sausage pizza.

“Lincoln, are you having any luck with dates I gave you?” Lisa asked.

“Where Grant Danford was on the dates the women disappeared?”

Lisa nodded.

“Emily is still working on it. He did some traveling, but proving

where he was on a particular day a decade ago—not an easy proposition.”

“Lisa, forget about work for a while,” Marcus recommended.

“I’ve just got a couple questions.”

Marcus tugged her purple sock. “They’ll keep. Eat.”

“Has anyone heard from Jennifer?” Jack asked.

Lisa perked up. “She was supposed to call after the doctor released her today.”

“I talked to her this morning,” Kate said. “She’s going to call when she gets to the hotel.”

“She should be there by now. Let’s call and see.”

Jack reached over and snagged Kate’s phone. “What’s the hotel number?”

“It’s the Bismark Grand Hotel in Baltimore,” Lisa replied.

Jack called information, was connected to the hotel, and asked for Tom or Jennifer. Nodding, he twisted his wrist to move the phone away to pass on the answer. “They’ve just checked in. He’s ringing Jennifer’s room.”

He moved back the phone, smiling. “Jennifer? It’s Jack. Want to marry me?”

Lisa giggled. Jack’s opening was an old family joke.

“Oh, I don’t know. We were sitting around debating if we should show up for this shindig of yours next weekend.” Jack laughed.

“Really? In that case I’ve got to be there.”

“What?” Lisa whispered.

“She says I get to throw you in the hotel pool after the wedding,”

Jack whispered back, obviously improvising.

Lisa shoved him.

“You want to talk to Lizzy? She’s acting pretty ditzy at the moment.=ou

“Give me the phone.”

“Hold on, here she is.”

Jack passed the phone to Kate instead, who accepted it with a laugh. “Jen, Jack is being his normal jokester self tonight.” Kate reached

“What else?”

She started making a list. “Not a problem. If I don’t have it, Stephen “I’m sure I did.”

for another napkin. “Lisa’s fine—although she had me order cheese pizza from Carla’s again. How are you doing? Ready to fly home tomorrow?”

“Sure. Which ones? The true white or the cream?”

Kate turned to Marcus and mimicked writing a note. He reached behind him to the end table for her notepad. She nodded her thanks as she took it and the pen.

will.” Kate looked over at Lisa. “Do you know if you kept one of Tina’s lace handkerchiefs in your scrapbooks? Jen needs to borrow something old.”

Kate added it to the list. “I’ll bring everything,” she confirmed to Jennifer. “Dave’s flying us down at noon Friday. Have you tried on the dress again?” Kate smiled. “I can’t wait to see it. I’d better hand you over to Lisa now.” Kate passed over the phone.

“Jen? They’re ganging up on me again,” Lisa protested. She listened for a moment, laughed, then settled back in the chair. “Really? I don’t know.” Lisa glanced over, caught Quinn’s gaze. “I suppose I could ask him.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her, wishing he could hear both sides of that conversation. Jen said something and Lisa dropped her eyes, actually blushed, a fact that made Quinn sit up straighter and grin as he watched Lisa.