Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
As another squad car pulled up, I made my way inside, hoping to catch my breath, but when I stepped into the vestibule, the deputy was scribbling frantically in her notebook as she questioned Charlie. I was concerned by the defeated expression on his face.
I started toward them, but as I approached, Deputy Jill Wright’s eyes darted from Charlie to me.
Two months ago, she’d shown signs of romantic interest in him, and while I’d been able to learn to trust Charlie enough not to let it bother me, I hadn’t seen her in person since then—and I certainly hadn’t expected her to be interrogating him, which was definitely happening here.
“Dakota arrived after Todd Anderson fell,” Charlie said, angling his body as if I wasn’t welcome in the conversation. He was always protecting me.
I burst in anyway, speaking with feigned confidence. “I was the first to examine the body.”
Deputy Wright frowned at me and then added something to her notebook. Charlie had trained her well.
“Dakota had nothing to do with his death,” Charlie insisted, as if this were up for debate.
“Of course I didn’t,” I said, confused. “But neither did you.”
Jill took a deep breath as her eyes darted over the pages of notes she’d already made. “Charlie was the only one present when the man fell from the balcony, correct?”
“Well, yes, as far as I know, but he was searching the property for an intruder,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “He received a call from the security company—”
“It wasn’t the security company,” Jill said, interrupting me. “I just called and checked in with the system that monitors The Rose. They weren’t the ones who contacted Charlie.”
“Then who did?” And, I wondered, why would Charlie believe them? He was savvy and smart, experienced from his time as a law-enforcer. He wouldn’t leave the rehearsal dinner to wander around The Rose close to nine at night without good reason.
“We don’t know,” Jill answered. “The number is untraceable so far—just ends with a disconnection notice.”
“A prepaid phone.” Charlie shook his head, eyebrows drawn close together. “I was stupid, distracted by the party.”
“Had you been drinking?” Jill asked.
“That shouldn’t matter,” I countered. “He wasn’t on duty.”
Jill stared at me. “If he was drinking, then protocol would dictate that he forward any security issues to the station.”
“I had one glass of wine.” Charlie sighed. “But you’re right. I should’ve done what I was trained to do: ask for credentials and call it into the station, especially since the call was to my personal phone. It was really stupid of me.”
“One glass of wine?” I scoffed. “One drink did not interfere with your judgment.”
All three of us knew that was true, but the lingering question between us was why Charlie hadn’t followed directives. Had it been intentional? I couldn’t believe that, so what else might’ve distracted him?
My eyes darted between Jill and Charlie, her in uniform and him in plain clothes.
“This doesn’t look good,” she told him. “You forced your way into his room, and your fingerprints are all over the crime scene.”
“And he was staring down at me when I found the body,” I added, feeling more and more defeated with every breath.
I tried to regain my logical footing. “Even so, that makes Charlie a witness, not a suspect.” The deputy didn’t seem to agree with me, so I tried another direction.
“There have to be security cameras; they’ll show you that Charlie had nothing to do with any of this. ”
“There are no cameras,” Jill said, more familiar with the ins and outs of this estate’s security than me. “Savilla said that she hasn’t had them installed indoors for privacy reasons, although she may change her mind after this.”
I should’ve already known that. I was sure Savilla had sent it in one of her many updates about the goings-on at our family home, but I’d been so focused on finishing up my last semester and applying for that fellowship.
“You should be using your energy to figure out who called Charlie, not questioning him like he’s some kind of criminal,” I protested, turning to him as if I could show an example of the kind of work the deputy should be doing. “What did the security person sound like? What did they say?”
“It was a light voice. Soft. And they spoke quickly.”
“A woman’s voice?”
“I think so. It was hard to hear in the restaurant, and by the time I made my way outside, they’d hung up.”
Charlie held up his phone for me to see his call log.
The time stamp matched with his account, and the caller was listed as Athena Alarms. I took out my phone and kept my eyes on Charlie’s screen as I searched for the name of the company.
Athena Alarms was indeed real and appeared to serve wealthy homes and profitable businesses “across the greater Richmond area.” But then I noticed the phone number at the bottom under “Contact Us.”
“It’s one number different,” I said. “See, there’s a seven at the end of the actual phone number and a four at the end of the number that called you.
” I clicked on the “About Us” page and scanned the contents as well.
“And it’s Athena Alarums on the real company’s website.
I guess they wanted to sound old-timey.”
“Someone found a real alarm company and pretended to be them… just to get me out to The Rose? But why?”
“Maybe they knew someone was after Todd? And they were hoping you could help?” I suggested before reconsidering. “Or maybe they were the killer and it gave them some kind of thrill to be so close to getting caught?”
“Are we done here, Matlock?” Jill asked, her tone wry.
I glanced at Charlie, and though I couldn’t read his mind, I did have a strong suspicion based on his raised eyebrows that he was thinking along the same lines.
“Look, it gives me no pleasure to do this,” Jill said.
I didn’t believe her.
Charlie dropped into a nearby chair and rubbed his hands over his face.
I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was in his button-down and khakis.
When he’d met me at the rehearsal three hours ago, he’d smelled like citrus and cedar and he’d been so relaxed in that off-duty way of his.
Now, his expression was tense and his hair a mess from nervously combing his fingers through it one too many times.
He caught my eye and he must’ve seen the worry in my face because he took my hand. “It’ll be all right, Dakota. Jill is just doing her job.”
He might have thought it would be all right, but I didn’t have the same confidence. I didn’t just need him to help get me through this weekend. I needed him—not Jill Wright—to help solve this case.
“Once Jill can determine that I didn’t leave the dinner to come here and kill someone—and once the tech guy can confirm the caller—that should help.” Charlie tried for a half-smile. “Besides, they can only keep me in temporary custody for up to forty-eight hours. I know the law.”
“I’ll say it again,” Jill cut in. “I don’t like doing any of this.
” She looked to the ground for a couple beats and pushed her shoulders back as if gathering her courage.
“Will you let me question you without being arrested?” Jill looked hopefully at him, and I could imagine how hard this must be for both of them.
Charlie let out a long breath and nodded. Then, he stood, motioning for Jill to lead the way back outside to the waiting cop car. He knew what had to happen, so no handcuffs were necessary.
“Wait.” I trailed behind them, my mind spinning fruitlessly with ways to keep him here with me.
As we walked outside, the medics were loading the body into the ambulance. I’d overheard them discussing the official time of Todd’s death, so I assumed that the coroner had been notified. It all felt so final that it gave me pause once again.
Reverend Todd had not been a good man, certainly not a priest who should guide anyone’s spiritual life, but he had been a person who didn’t deserve to be murdered.
My thoughts swarmed as I hurried to Charlie.
He was nearing the police car, and the deputy looked to the sky as if she couldn’t quite believe she was about to put her boss and former police partner in the back seat.
In a moment of surprising kindness, Jill took a step back to give us a minute. I didn’t like her better for it, in part because I knew she was listening to us, but I would have taken any opportunity to get close to Charlie right then.
“What do I do?” I whispered as I leaned in, confused and probably still a bit in shock.
“Wait, watch, puzzle it out,” Charlie said, brushing hair off my face. “The truth will come to light—and in forty-eight hours I’ll be back at your side.”
That wasn’t good enough for me, and we both knew it.
He examined me with tenderness. “Please be careful. Don’t do anything that could get you hurt.”
I knew that he didn’t want me involved in something that could be dangerous.
It was too late though. I was involved. I was the maid of honor at a wedding weekend where a man was now dead.
I was the girlfriend of the man who was willingly turning himself in for questioning.
I was the half-heiress to the Rose Palace estate where the death had occurred. I was in it, for better or worse.
“Waiting isn’t my forte. I’ll figure this out.” I planted a quick kiss on Charlie’s lips. As I moved closer, his hand reached out and touched mine. He slid something into my palm before closing my fingers tightly around the object.
“Dakota, be careful who you trust,” he said, before turning to Jill. “I’m ready.”
I swiped at the tear slipping down my cheek, trying to stay strong and trying to distract myself from the thing that was biting into my skin. “We’ll have you out in time for the wedding,” I told Charlie, as if it was still on. “You gotta be my plus-one.”
Charlie attempted a smile as he ducked his head and climbed into the back of the car.
I waved at him and then turned around and counted to thirty as the car drove around the bend in the driveway. Only then did I allow myself to slip my hand into my pocket and feel the object’s edges.
I knew what it was immediately, but I had no idea where it had come from or why Charlie would be entrusting it to me.
My super-ethical, follow-the-rules-no-matter-what sheriff boyfriend had slipped me a key.