Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Amanda and Trent left the house in the hands of a uniformed police officer and called in Crime Scene.
The perp had fired four rounds and didn’t have any time to collect the casings.
This could provide a potential breakthrough, letting the CSIs confirm if the rounds were also fired by a Glock.
Of course, ideally, Amanda would put the shooter’s gun in their hands for comparison.
But short of that… Also if they were extremely lucky, there could be fingerprints or touch DNA that would lead to the shooter.
But Amanda wasn’t holding her breath. Not if their growing hunch was correct and they were looking for a professional hit woman.
In that case, even if forensics existed, that trail wasn’t going to get them anywhere.
Dominique was set up in a corner of the hospital waiting room. All they knew at this time was Joel Blackburn was in critical condition and had been rushed to surgery. They’d be questioning Dominique soon but stepped away to give her a few moments to herself.
Amanda was dealing with her own discomfort from being inside a hospital.
The antiseptic smell triggered a sensory memory imprinted from the aftermath of the accident that claimed her family’s lives.
Also from the time Malone was hospitalized with a brain tumor.
While hospitals provided moments of celebrations, like the birth of a baby, the painful memories outnumbered the good.
She worked to push these thoughts away and focus on the last few hours.
What a shitshow! She turned to Trent, who was standing next to her.
“I tell you the evidence makes a lot more sense when you view it from a professional killer being behind everything.”
“Except for that tarp. That bit is still strange to me,” Trent responded.
“Typical hit men knock out their targets as clean as possible and make a break for it. I’d say she enjoys killing and, as if to announce this to the world, has added her own flair to it.
Her signature. She doesn’t just take life. It’s theater to her.”
“There’s also some compulsion to it all. She had to know that she got the wrong person when she was wrapping up Christine.”
“Yet, she went ahead with it anyhow.”
Amanda nodded. “Why not just walk away and leave her body there?”
“I see what you’re saying. But she took a risk tonight. Breaking into a house when she must have known a few people were inside. That’s brazen. Not to mention the lights were on.”
“As they were at Dominique’s house, but I hear you on the other part. She must have been watching the place. In that case, did she not see the backup officer?”
“Unless she was in the backyard when all of us showed up. Hard to know without asking her.”
“Still, the lights were on. The curtains in the back of the house were open.” This was something that Amanda had noticed.
“She must have seen us inside. I’m sticking with brazen, but I also wonder if there’s more to it.
If we are looking at a hired gun, she’ll only get her money when the job’s complete. And Dominique’s still alive.”
“Which means she’ll keep coming back until she finishes the job. That compulsion of hers may be her undoing.”
“We can hope that will help us. And let’s face it, she can’t keep playing this game and not slip up eventually. Personally, I look forward to putting her behind bars. Well, I’m going to call Malone again, see if he picks up this time.”
“Good luck. That’s for if he answers.” Trent smiled at her before walking over to a vending machine.
Amanda listened to Malone’s line ring and cringed when it stopped partway through the third time.
“This better be good.”
How to respond to that… It all depended on the angle.
“Steele, it’s five thirty in the morning. I prefer to ease myself into the day with some coffee while I watch mindless TV.”
She was blown away it was already five thirty. “Right, well, I wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t important. Trent and I are at the hospital.”
“Wait. Are you okay?” All irritation evaporated from his voice.
“We’re fine, but Joel Blackburn is not.”
“The name isn’t ringing any bells. Let’s pretend I haven’t drunk a cup of coffee yet.”
Amanda laid things out for him, even mentioned that she’d tried reaching him around two AM.
“It’s a good thing I keep my cell phone out of the bedroom at night. But I’m going to need you to run through all of this for me again. Meet me at the station in two hours.”
Before she could respond, the line was dead.
Malone was gone. Not up for debate apparently…
She pocketed her phone and joined Trent and Dominique.
He was giving her a cup of coffee he’d bought from the machine and looked at Amanda.
He nudged his head at her, which had her glancing over her shoulder.
Carter was walking toward her, lips curled down, his electric blue eyes intent, brows arched. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Unfortunately, that investigation I mentioned a couple of days ago took a turn.”
“Did you guys chase someone else into the side of a van?”
She nudged his arm and shook her head. “You’re a brat.” The occasion he referred to was how they met. And in her defense, the resulting injuries weren’t her fault. The suspect who bolted was to blame.
“Well, other than another case bringing you here, how are you?”
“Tired.”
“Not too tired, I hope.” The devil played in his eyes and made her insides warm.
“I’m sure you could find a way to keep me up.”
Carter leaned into her ear, and whispered, “You know I can.” His warm breath spilled onto her neck, sending shivers down her chest.
Hello, headlights! She drew back and crossed her arms on instinct. Even though her light jacket would protect her modesty.
“I’ll call you tonight, see where things are. Sound good?”
“Please.” She was tempted to slap his ass when he turned to walk away but didn’t dare. She was happy she hadn’t when she caught Trent watching. He waved for her to come back over.
“For you.” Trent handed her a cup of coffee when she got there.
“No, I couldn’t.”
“You will. I’m just going to get myself one now.” He nudged his head toward Dominique, implying Amanda keep a close eye on her.
Trent wasn’t gone for long. Amanda had braved a tentative sip of the vending machine brew. It wasn’t half bad, but waged no competition against Hannah’s Diner.
She sat beside Dominique while Trent sat across from them.
“We need to discuss your trip to DC,” Amanda began.
Dominique lowered her cup from her lips. “There’s nothing to say.”
“Just that it was unexpected and last-minute?” It was curious why this woman was being difficult given what had taken place in the last few hours.
“That’s right.”
Amanda would play along. For now. “If it hadn’t come up, would you have been home on Friday night?”
“Yes. Though, I would have stepped out if Christine had arranged a showing.”
That seemed obvious, and it didn’t sway Amanda from her conviction that Dominique was the true target. After all, tonight proved that she was. “You also told us before the trip was for business because you’re acquiring another firm. Tell us more about this deal. Anyone not happy about the venture?”
Dominique shrugged and took another sip of the coffee Trent had bought her. “I’ll have Casey gather all the threats against me together. It shouldn’t take her too long. The office opens at nine. I’ll tell her it’s the priority.”
That wasn’t an answer to Amanda’s question, but she’d revisit it in a minute. “Who is Casey?”
“My assistant.”
“Her last name?” Trent asked.
“Branch.” Dominique followed up by spelling it out, as if it weren’t straightforward.
“Going back to the deal. You never said if someone wasn’t happy with the acquisition,” Amanda said.
“If anyone has a problem with it, they aren’t saying as much to my face.”
Given Dominique’s formidable character that didn’t surprise Amanda. “Was there anyone you suspected of talking badly about you behind your back?”
“I don’t pay attention to things like that. My work is important and demands my focus.”
“Speaking of your work,” Amanda began.
“Oh, no, I know what you’re going to say.”
Amanda proceeded anyhow. “Until we find this person, you’ll need twenty-four-hour protection.”
“I told you before that’s not going to happen.”
“This killer has made it clear they intend to follow through. They will keep trying until they succeed,” Trent stressed.
“I refuse to let this person bully me into hiding away. As I told you, my work is important. Speaking of, if Joel’s surgery doesn’t wrap up soon, I’ll need to leave for the office.”
Was she using work as a distraction? Or was she really that heartless?
Though, there must be some clue in how she referred to Joel as her lover.
It was such a cold and clinical way to quantify a relationship.
Even calling him her friend would be a vast improvement.
“After what’s happened, everyone at your firm would understand if you didn’t go in today. ”
“Their understanding isn’t something I need.” She crossed her legs.
“An attempt was made on your life.” It struck Amanda how often she and Trent needed to point this out to her. Was it denial or pure stubbornness? Or something else altogether? Her ego lying to her, telling her she had everything under control?
Dominique shook her head, waved a hand in dismissal. “They never got close to me.”
But they got to Joel… The thought fired through, but Amanda wasn’t heartless enough to voice it out loud. “It doesn’t get much closer. They were in your home, in your bedroom. Then they tracked you down to Joel’s house. Isn’t this enough to let you know they’re not going to stop?”
“I’m here. I’m okay.”
It had to be shock. Amanda paced her reply. “Fine, if you insist on going to work, I can’t make you stay away.”
“Thank you.” She flailed a hand.
Amanda would overlook the gesture of exasperation.
As if she and Trent were the problem here, and not the person intent on killing her.
“Listen, no matter what you are going to do, you will have police protection. It’s not optional.
” Amanda had rushed out the latter at seeing Dominique’s mouth open.
She snapped it shut and drilled Amanda with a glare.
“Fine,” Dominique pushed out with a not-too-subtle eyeroll.
“And you can’t go home, or back to Joel’s place,” Amanda told her.
“Where am I supposed to go then?”
“We’ll get you into a safehouse,” Amanda said.
“Nope, no way.”
“Then we’ll arrange a hotel room for you, but there will be an officer posted at your door.”
“Fine,” Dominique hissed.
Amanda was far from fine though. There were questions that needed answers.
The glowing ones were related to Dominique’s business.
Based on her own words, work was her priority.
Possibly her entire life. If so, it could make sense that someone connected to the purchase of the DC firm wanted her dead.
“When did you start the process with the acquisition?”
“Six months ago.”
That wasn’t long in the scope of time. “With you taking over, did some people stand to lose their jobs?”
“Yes.”
Yet it didn’t occur to this woman that might cause a problem… “Do you think any of these people are angry with you?”
An amused smirk as she shook her head. “It’s just business. I’d expect professionals to understand that.”
“Is that a no, then?” Amanda didn’t understand why the woman was shirking her.
“That’s a no. It’s not even like I’m letting everyone go. Some aren’t willing to come with me. As if DC isn’t just a forty-minute drive away. It’s not like they’ll even need to uproot their life. Many people do that commute every day.”
“Then you’re shutting down your firm in Woodbridge?” Trent asked.
“You bet I am. It only makes fiscal sense, giving me one focus. Also DC has a larger population.”
Amanda felt some compassion for the woman across from her, regardless of the tough barricade she erected around herself.
But was that all it was? Or was it the woman?
There is a saying that when people tell you who they are, believe them.
Every time Dominique opened her mouth, selfish things came out.
It would seem business trumped everything else.
“What about the employees at the DC firm. Any staff cuts there?”
“Yes. Some will be replaced by my employees transferring over.”
Amanda wasn’t ready to give up on this angle. Her father taught her to look under every rock. He’d worn the phrase out for good reason. The effort often paid off. Same too, for following the money. “We’ll need everything on the purchase offer.”
“I think you’re far too concerned about this deal.”
“Are you willing to stake your life on that?” Amanda countered.
The woman remained unaffected and didn’t rush to respond.
While sitting in a hospital emergency waiting room, no less!
“You don’t get me,” Dominique eventually said. “That’s fine. Not many people do. But I haven’t gotten to where I am by allowing myself to be bullied into compliance.”
Amanda remembered she’d made a similar bold statement before. “No one is saying you have, and that’s not what this is about. It is about staying alive.”
“Fine, you want all the information on the sale? I’ll make sure you get a copy of all the paperwork. For the sake of transparency, I’ll also include the financial reports from my company and Gabay, Finch & Earnest, as well.”
“Is that the company you’re merging with?” Trent asked.
“Acquiring, but, yes, the very one. For the record, I just received their financial reports on Friday afternoon and haven’t had a chance to dig in yet.”
Amanda tensed. Was the timing key or coincidence? “Did you receive them when you were in Washington?”
“Uh-huh.”
Amanda’s mind was whirling. Could it be that someone wanted to prevent her from looking at the books?
It was possible they expected Dominique to return home to Woodbridge that night and sent a killer for her there.
Or was Amanda inching down the wrong path?
All she knew was poor Christine Lane was collateral damage in all this, and Joel Blackburn was caught in the crossfire.
It was too soon to know if he’d come out of this alive.