4. Protect Your Own #3
“Brownish red? Can I see that?” he asks. “This isn’t mud. These look like drops of blood. Did you guys say that you haven’t seen Poonani since you left the house to go to practice and to the art center inauguration?”
“Yeah. I gave her an early dinner before I left.” Keene confirms. “Why?”
Ares voices the thought that has immediately come to my mind.
“If that’s the case, Poonani was here during the home invasion. I think it’s possible that she tried to protect her territory and attacked the intruders.”
The corners of Keene’s lips curl up in a proud smile. “That sounds like my girl. She’s extremely protective of her own turf. She’s better than a guard dog.”
“Can I have a ziplock bag, please?” Ares asks. “I wish we had realized what this was before we all touched it, but beggars can’t be choosers. Whether the intruders put the shirt on before or after Poonani attacked, I think this is their blood. Which means that we have their DNA.”
Keene’s smile widens. “Fuck, yeah. Would you like me to give you a sample? You can still check my timeline, but that should help clear my name once and for all, right?”
He shoots a sideways look in my direction, and my stomach twists with guilt.
“That would be helpful,” Ares says. “At this point, I’m pretty sure neither you nor Connor can be Bex’s stalker. But it wouldn’t hurt to rule you both out for good. I think I have a pretty good idea of what happened last night.”
I’m still holding the fishbowl in my hands, and I clutch it closer to my chest when I think that we’re lucky the intruders didn’t hurt Poonani or Lady M. “What do you think happened?” I ask.
“I think whoever attacked you must have been watching the house for a few days at least. They probably knew where you would all be last night and that the house was gonna be empty. If my hunch is correct, I think they broke into the house before the attack to steal the clothes and the hockey mask. Then they waited until you were alone in the art center to attack you.”
I shudder at Ares’s theory. “Somehow the idea that someone has been spying on me is even scarier than the attack itself.”
The deputy sheriff agrees with me. “Yes, I agree. Once they got the gear they wanted, they must have waited in the shadows for the right opportunity to strike. They were either hiding somewhere in the art center, or they were mixed in with the guests. Was last night’s event by invitation only?”
I shake my head. “Not really. I mean, some people were definitely invited, but it was a little like an art gallery exhibition. Anyone could have come in. We really want students and faculty to make use of the art center, and the plan is to have some classes and workshops open to the public, too. Candace feared that the open bar would attract a crowd, but we didn’t really advertise it.
Besides, the catering company had been instructed to implement a strict ID policy.
So that kept attendance at manageable levels. ”
“It’s a shame. If it had been by invitation only, we could have had an easier time accounting for everyone who attended in case the stalker was mixed in with the partygoers. The fact that it wasn’t widens the scope of our search.”
He’s right.
“So it’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Attendance was excellent.” I muse, disappointed. “And it’s not like whoever was stalking me came to the party with a mask on.”
Ares agrees with me. “That’s true, but police work sometimes takes patience and some trial and error. I have a plan to start our investigation, though.”
We’re all listening to him with bated breath.
“Once we have a DNA profile, the first thing to do will be to check the results against the police database. We’ll start with the county, state and if we have no match, we’ll ask the FBI to run it against the federal database.
It might take a little while; our labs are busy.
But in the meantime, I can try to get a head start by going to Bridgeport tomorrow night.
The Bridgeport Tigers are playing their season opener, and I can see how your ex is looking.
The stalker’s actions are eerily similar to the attack against you on the night before your wedding. So Priestly is my prime suspect.”
I hate to burst his bubble, but I doubt Kurt will cooperate. “He isn’t going to give you a DNA sample without a warrant.”
Ares nods. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.
But whoever attacked you must have one hell of a scratch on their arm, thanks to Poonani.
If necessary, I’ll follow the team back to campus and crash whatever party they’ll be at after the game.
I’ll find a way to take a look at his arm.
If he has a scratch, I’ll be back there with a warrant for a DNA sample. ”
Anxiety causes a knot in the pit of my stomach. “So this is an official investigation?” That means that Dad will know exactly where I am.
“If I use the police labs, I have to tell my boss,” Ares explains.
“I could go to a private lab, but it would complicate things in case of an arrest. The sheriff is a friend of my family. I’ll explain the situation, and we’ll keep the entire thing as discreet as humanly possible.
Sheriff Pullin, however, might want to speak to you at some point. Is that ok?”
I nod. “I guess it’ll have to be. Thank you for what you’re doing, Ares.”
His tone is full of sympathy. “Don’t mention it. It’s what I signed up for when I became a cop. Besides, your brother is my little brother’s team captain, so I owe him for putting up with that little punk. Keene, Connor, do you want to come to the station to provide that sample?”
Keene and Connor leave with Ares after making sure Poonani is fed and comfortable in her room.
“With all this mayhem, we skipped breakfast.” Luke pats his flat stomach. “How about we go out for lunch? We could invite Shane, too.”
“I could eat.” I agree. “Jamie, are you coming?”
My boyfriend wraps one arm around my shoulders. “Sure. There’s also someone who’s in need of some serious carbs and who would like to speak to you, if you don’t mind.”
“Who?” I ask.
Jamie winks at me, with an amused glint in his blue eyes. “You’ll find out when we get there. They’re paying for lunch, too. So let’s go off campus. I think some sushi would be good, and maybe some steak. They recently opened a great hibachi place by the marina.”
“I’m sold.” My stomach rumbles eagerly.
I wonder who is buying us lunch.