Page 12 of Hostile Witness
Earl swigged at his can of cherry ginger ale and motioned for Ethan to stop. “We’re six days out from the lieutenant’s murder and have diddly-squat in the way of suspects, unless we count Sergeant Guy Evans from the NYPD. As of a phone call I made five minutes ago, NYPD is questioning the sergeant to find out why his fingerprints are in Lieutenant Plante’s kitchen, powder room, and on the ivories of her piano. Not the black keys, mind you, only on the white ones. He’s been there—and recently.”
Earl closed his eyes and considered out loud. “Who in the hell plays a piano and only touches the ivories? It doesn’t make sense. But of course, Sergeant Guy Evans has the same rights as anyone else: innocent until proven guilty.
“Just a reminder for you newbies from up north. Worcester County is a big area with lots of farmland and little towns. The population this time of year is about twenty-five thousand, but it’ll swell to a whopping quarter of a million in the resort area during the summer. We need to solve this murder by the first of May, before the influx of tourists arrives.” Earl raised an index finger for emphasis. “That’s only a month away.”
He walked to the whiteboard at the front of the room.
“I want you to check out every hotel, motel, and quickie joint starting here.” He made a small circle on the map. “Expand the perimeter as you need to. According to our profiler, we’re looking for a hotel guest, most likely a single male, who’s paying cash. The lack of evidence at the crime scene suggests our perp planned it. Otherwise, we’d have crime-of-passion evidence around the property.”
“You’re looking for out-of-state tags. Someone here to settle an old score, and with any luck, they’ve decided to stay until the funeral to admire their handiwork. Dismissed.”
Ethan got up to leave.
“Not you...” Earl waved him over. “Chief wants you to visit Lieutenant Plante’s K9. Ask the vet if there’s any way the dog can attend the funeral and what we can do to make that happen. The dog is at Bayside Animal Hospital. Between you and me, the chief would love to have someone in the department sign on as the animal’s new guardian, because the closest K9 unit is an hour away.”
Ethan shook his head. “Well, it won’t be me.” Between his police work and Sanctuary missions, it wouldn’t be fair to the dog if he adopted him. “Plante’s dog has been retired for a couple of years.”
Earl nodded. “True, but his sniffer isn’t retired. Chief wasn’t thinking of working him regular, but it sure would be nice to have him around and use his expertise if a child goes missing during the summer.” He shrugged a shoulder. “If he’s able to do it, of course.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll stop by and see him. I don’t know if the animal is even up and moving yet. He was in rough shape when we found him last Friday.”
Earl picked up a yellow sticky note and held it out to Ethan. “Chief gave me this note earlier today. He’s assigned you as an escort to”—he squinted at the handwriting—“a Mrs. BessieStoddard during the funeral. She’s Lieutenant Plante’s great-aunt, the executor of her estate, and the only living relative Margie had. The aunt is in her eighties. Treat her like a dignitary, Son. Whatever it takes.”
13
Ethan cruised to a stop in front of Tia’s Cape Cod. There was garden equipment strewn around the yard, and she’d spray-painted an outline on the grass to expand the flower bed. Ugh, it would take a lot of muscle and sweat to trench and remove the old sod. Tia knelt surrounded by containers of colorful flowers in the mulch in front of the house. He put his window down and turned off the engine.
She looked so content digging in the dirt. Every minute or so, she’d reach back, grab a flower, dig dig dig, and tuck it in. Once in a while, Tia’d toss her garden-gloved hands in the air and sway back and forth. He chuckled. She reminded him of the girl she’d been way back when. There must be music playing in her earbuds, because she didn’t even know he was there.
He reached over and grabbed his sandwich. Might as well settle in and enjoy the show. He glanced at her leafing trees. A seventy-degree day like today would help them along, but there weren’t any security cameras yet that he could see. She was so vulnerable back here on this street all by herself. Out of twenty or so houses, only three had year-round residents. He’d checked. The rest were summer rentals.
Ethan took a swig of his iced tea and smiled as her arms waved in a definite hip-hop beat. He’d bet a beer she knew how to cut loose on a dance floor. He hadn’t gone dancing in forever. Maybe she’d go dancing with him?Nah.She’d made her feelings quite clear.Bug off, buddy.It was probably just as well considering his relationship track record.
This lunchtime view sure did beat his usual convenience-store parking lot. Cramming the last bite of sandwich in his mouth, he crumpled the wrapper, glanced at Tia, and whimpered. She was bumping and grinding on her knees with a flowerpot in each hand. The woman had the sweetest ass, and... he needed to make his presence known. He couldn’t think about bumping and grinding all afternoon, especially when Tia had no intention of doing it with him.
He swung out of the car, grabbed the wrapped coffeepot from the back, and slammed both doors, hoping he’d made enough noise to command her attention, but no—she was still in planting mode. He loped up the front walk, set the box on the stoop, and waved. Nothing. She was completely immersed in her world and oblivious to her surroundings. Which wasn’t good.
He didn’t mean to scare her, but she wheeled around for another flowerpot, screamed, grabbed her garden trowel like a knife, and screamed again. Realizing it was him, she stood and hugged her middle.
“How long have you been there?”
“Only a couple of minutes.”
Heaving a deep breath, she tossed the trowel aside. “Omigod, my heart is still racing.”
Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, sorry about that. I tried to get your attention, but you were really focused.”
Her face darkened. “Are you here on official business?”
“Of course not, unless you’ve perpetrated a crime. Isn’t today a school day?”
“Half day. The weather’s so beautiful I couldn’t stay inside, and I’m already late getting these flowers in the ground. I like gardening. It’s relaxing.”
He fake smiled. “Good for you. I think it’s a pain in the ass.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? I can’t imagine feeling that way.” She yanked the gloves from her hands. “So why are you here?”
He pointed at the porch. “I needed to drop off that box.”