Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Amanda and Trent stopped for a bite to eat before getting on the highway for Woodbridge. They were about ten minutes from Central when Amanda’s phone rang.
“It’s the hospital,” she told Trent before answering. “Detective Steele.”
“This is Dr. Prescott. Have I reached the lead detective in the shooting involving Joel Blackburn?”
“You have.”
“I’m calling with rather unfortunate news.”
Amanda’s breath stalled, and her stomach sank.
“I’m sorry to inform you that Mr. Blackburn has succumbed to his injuries. He passed within the last hour.”
A part of her expected this possibility from the moment he was shot, but the news still hit hard. Could she have somehow prevented this from happening? “Have you notified Dominique Sharp?”
“I haven’t been able to reach her, but I left a voicemail.”
One would think Dominique would pick up upon seeing the hospital’s name on her caller ID. But she could have been in a meeting or nowhere near her phone. “I’ll let her know. I’m quite sure I know where to find her.”
“If you could do that, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and thank you for letting me know.” When she hung up, Trent was looking over at her.
“Joel Blackburn didn’t make it,” he said.
She shook her head.
“I got that feeling from what I overheard.”
After he spoke, a silence set in. Her thinking twisted, putting the onus on Blackburn himself this time.
If only he had stayed put in his living room, he’d still be alive.
But this wasn’t his fault, or hers and Trent’s.
The only one responsible here was that mystery woman, and Amanda was going to track her down and make her pay.
“We should let Malone know.”
“I’ll take care of it.” She pressed his number and ran through all of it the moment he answered.
“What a mess.”
“Uh-huh.” Amanda was short on words. “I told the doctor that I’d notify Sharp.”
“After you tell her about her friend, I want you to deliver her to a safehouse. I don’t care if she protests like a cat being dunked in a tub of water.”
That doesn’t sound like any fun… “All right, just shoot me the address where we’re to take her.”
“Will do.” With that, Malone ended the call.
She was left considering that things could have been even worse. If she and Trent hadn’t been at Blackburn’s house, they could have found two bodies wrapped in tarps, tied up with rope. Though that did little to soothe her. They had still failed Blackburn. And Dominique wasn’t out of danger yet.
Amanda received a text from Malone with the safehouse address when she and Trent were walking into Sharp & Associates.
Minnie sat up straighter behind the reception desk at the sight of Amanda and Trent as they walked through the doors of the law firm. “Detectives?”
Amanda suspected Minnie wanted to know if her tip had paid off, but they weren’t here to discuss Hernandez. “Minnie, it’s urgent that we see Ms. Sharp.”
“Certainly. One moment.” Minnie lifted the phone, and soon after, she returned the receiver to the cradle. “You can go to her office.”
“Thank you,” Amanda told her.
Dominique waved Amanda and Trent in with an exaggerated sweeping roll of her arm. Amanda sat across from Dominique while Trent closed the door.
The woman’s eyebrows kicked up for a second, as if she wasn’t impressed they were taking over her space. “Have you found the person who is trying to kill me?”
“Unfortunately, that’s not what brings us here,” Amanda told her.
“I don’t understand then.”
Just coming out with it was the merciful and practical thing to do. Dancing around it only prolonged the agony. “We’ve heard from Mr. Blackburn’s doctor, and we’re sorry to inform you that Joel didn’t make it.”
“What do you mean? He made it through surgery just fine. I was told he was going to be fine…”
She seemed more irritated than accepting, which could be shock. “We’re sorry for your loss.”
“Sorry for my—” Dominique snapped her mouth shut and put a hand to her chest. Tears fell, and she rushed to swipe them away.
For the first time since meeting Dominique, she exposed a vulnerable side. This shift might make her more compliant with going to the safehouse. “Dominique, we don’t think this person will stop trying to kill you until they’re caught or they succeed. For your own safety—”
“No. As I’ve already told you many times, I’m not going to hide away somewhere. It’s bad enough the PWCPD has officers breathing down my neck. If you just caught this person, we’d be finished here, right?”
As if it were that simple… Amanda tamped down her frustration, appreciating that this woman was still processing a loss. “As I said, but until then—”
“There’s a chance I will be…” Dominique let her sentence dangle there.
Killed… “Yes, there is, and I assure you the officers watching over you are there for you, to protect your life. Without them, there is nothing standing between you and the person who wants you dead.” It might seem harsh putting added emphasis on that last word, but Amanda suspected it was necessary to breach Dominique’s tough exterior.
“Very well then.” Her voice was gravelly when she spoke. It would seem Joel’s death had shaken her more than she wanted to let on. It must be the lawyer in her that was an expert at governing emotions.
Amanda nodded. “Good. Now our sergeant has instructed us to bring you to a safehouse for—”
“No, I’m not leaving my office right now. I have work to do.”
Amanda saw this attitude as a slight improvement. At least she agreed to go with them, but she was just mistaken about the timing. “Given the threat level, it’s imperative that you come with us now. You can bring your laptop and whatever files you need with you.”
Dominique sat back in her chair, angled her head. “Why does the PWCPD care if I’m killed anyhow?”
Is she for real right now? “We take our vow to the badge and our community to protect and serve seriously.”
“So I’m an obligation?”
Before Amanda landed on the right words, Trent replied.
“Ms. Sharp, if you are killed, that will cost taxpayers of Prince William County a lot of money in resources and manpower.”
Dominique nodded. “Now, that I can understand. It’s a business decision.” She shut the lid on her laptop and tucked it along with some files into a leather case.
Amanda was impressed Trent had put it in a way Dominique could relate to. Even if to most people it would come across as cold and clinical.
The three of them left the office, only stopping for Dominique to tell Casey she was going to be working out of the office for the next while and would be out of reach.
Once they were outside, Dominique turned to Amanda. “She could have people call my cell phone or email me.”
“Here’s the thing. You can’t be on your phone or connected to the internet.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. This person could have a means of tracking you through either. We can’t take any chances with your life. If you would kindly hand your phone over…” Amanda held out her hand.
Dominique shoved the device into Amanda’s palm.
Amanda shut it off and waved for Officer Traci Cochran to come over.
She was still assigned babysitting duties and had been set up in the parking lot.
When Traci came over, Amanda told her, “We’ll be taking Ms. Sharp to a safehouse.
She’ll need her things collected from her hotel room and brought there. ”
“No problem.”
“First though, it would be great if you would accompany us, just as additional backup en route.”
“Absolutely.” Traci returned to her cruiser, and Amanda headed back to Trent and Dominique.
“All right, this is us.” Trent gestured toward the department car.
“You must be joking. I’m not going with you in that,” she spat with disgust.
Amanda opened the rear passenger door. “It’s not any Cadillac, but it will work to get you from A to B. Hop in.”
Dominique did so with a huff.
Amanda shut the door behind her and got in up front.
Amanda was surprised by the silence on the drive to the safehouse. She periodically looked in the side mirror despite not being able to see Dominique in the back given the sun’s reflection on the window. Her grief could be felt though. It was a dense entity and one Amanda was all too familiar with.
It wasn’t long before Trent was parking in the driveway of the safehouse. Officer Cochran pulled in next to them but remained in her car.
Dominique groaned at the sight of the rural property northwest of Woodbridge. “I’d ask about high-speed internet, but it wouldn’t matter.”
Amanda let it go, but couldn’t Dominique see that what might seem like inconveniences were only for her protection?
An officer in his mid-thirties answered the door, and he wasn’t someone Amanda had met before. He introduced himself as Officer McRoy, saying that he was new to the PWCPD. He let them inside.
The humidity from outside seeped through the windows and walls of the house, winning the battle against the rumbling air conditioner blowing through the vents.
Amanda expected more complaints. To the lawyer’s credit, none came.
In fact, once she crossed the threshold, Dominique became subdued, sparking more of Amanda’s empathy.
Officer McRoy gave them a quick tour. A dated living room, kitchen, and bathroom. He stopped outside a cramped space with a double-size bed and gestured inside. “That will be your bedroom.”
Dominique poked her head through the door. Amanda imagined she must be cringing at the cheap pine dresser and nightstand. And the department store comforter on the bed.
The four of them landed back in the living room, where Officer McRoy excused himself.
“I’m going to make a coffee. Anyone else want one?”
Everyone declined, and he headed for the kitchen.
Dominique sat on the dated couch and crossed her legs. Amanda and Trent sat in a couple chairs.
“We’ve spoken to people at your firm and at Gabay, Finch & Earnest,” Amanda began.
“No one is standing out to us as a suspect, but we will keep digging and following evidence.” She felt like a fraud even saying evidence.
As if they had a lot to focus on. A misdirect at best. An omission or white lie at worst.
“Good. Thank you.” Dominique crossed her legs the other direction.
Uncomfortable and self-conscious. Who would ever imagine themselves in a safehouse seeking refuge from a killer?
It would seem not even Dominique for all the enemies she seemed proud to have amassed.
Losing her friend must be impacting her greatly.
Was she blaming herself, as if his death were her fault in a roundabout way?
Amanda would be eaten alive by that guilt in her place.
Even though it wasn’t valid. “Is there anyone who has come to mind since we asked the last time?”
“Since yesterday? No.” And there was the spark of defiance that Amanda had come to expect from Dominique Sharp.
“All right, well, Detective Stenson and I are going to head out. You think of someone, call me. If you need anything, see Officer McRoy.”
“Are you seriously taking my phone with you? I won’t turn it on.”
“Then it doesn’t matter if you have it.” Amanda hadn’t returned it after turning it off and had no plans of doing so at this time. It just showed how Dominique wasn’t her usual self not to ask about it until now.
“You can’t just take my phone. I have rights. And anything on there is private.”
“We will be getting a warrant, Dominique.” Amanda figured it was best to level with the woman.
“Whatever for?”
“You’re being targeted, and there might be something in your communications that can help us track this person down.” At least whoever hired them…
“Well, I don’t like this one bit.”
“If you want, we can get that warrant right now.” Amanda was prepared to do that if that’s what it took.
“It’s fine. Take it and go.”
Amanda turned for the door, wanting to see what was on the device even more after Dominique’s protests.
Before stepping outside, she and Trent let Officer McRoy know they were leaving. Officer Cochran was standing at the door waiting on them.
She kicked off the side of the house. “I feel comfortable in saying no one followed us here. Since you’ve been inside one car drove past, and that was just a few seconds ago.”
“I was keeping an eye on the way here. I didn’t see anyone standing out either. Unless you count this PWCPD cruiser on my tail.” Trent smiled at her.
“Very funny, Stenson.” Cochran rolled her eyes toward Amanda, which made her chuckle.
“Hey, I’m deeply wounded by the insult at my humor,” Trent said, feigning hurt feelings.
“Oh, please.” Amanda shook her head and got into their car, more than ready to leave here and get on with the case. If only it were that easy to leave Dominique out of her thoughts. “Is it just me or is that woman still hiding something?” she asked as Trent loaded in behind the wheel.
“Not just you.” He turned the car on and got them on the road for Central.
“But if she has someone in mind, why isn’t she telling us?” As Amanda voiced the question, she had the answer. “Dominique looks out for Dominique. Maybe she’s holding back on a name because something in all of it reflects poorly on her.”
“So she’s looking out for herself by not naming her potential killer?”
“I realize how it sounds.”
“Bizarre, yes. But it gels with what we know about her character. Still, though, to let her friend die and continue not to speak up, that is cold.”
“Of course all this assumes we’re right with our suspicions. Either way, I’m wanting an electronics warrant that covers her phone and laptop.”
“We should have got her laptop when we were at the safehouse. Want me to turn around?”
“Not necessary. I thought about it when we were there, but didn’t think there was any way in hell she was letting me leave with her laptop. It was surprising she let me take her phone.”
“It was.”
“We’ll get the warrant and have her laptop dropped off at Central. That way we’ll be in front of any argument she’s going to make.”
“I’ll work on the paperwork and have a judge sign off,” Trent offered. “What do you want to do with those threats we have against Dominique?”
Amanda would like to forget that stack of folders existed.
If it wasn’t for her father’s admonition about turning over every rock, she might find justification.
She might anyhow. “We can take an honest look at them. The thing is, though, if she received a threat from someone she’s hiding from us, I doubt it would be in with what we have. ”
“True. But that’s assuming…”
“We’re onto something with that? I know.”
They drove the rest of the way to Central in silence. Amanda was trying to untangle why Dominique wouldn’t want her killer stopped.