Chapter 6 #2
She tucked the photo back into the bag.
Though he’d come to her rescue when she’d given the nurse his name and number, it didn’t mean they were getting back together. She’d been glad to see him. He’d been like a lifeline when she’d been swimming in a fog of forgotten memories.
She handed him his hat.
He pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and set them on the bridge of his nose. Then he shot a grin in her direction. “I’m feeling a little Holmes and Watson.”
Her heart lightened. The man had a way of brightening her day when she was surrounded by the worst humanity had to offer.
Grant pulled into the parking lot of TJ’s Bar and Grill.
“Her Jeep is still here,” Avery noted.
With a nod, Grant found a parking space at the far end of the lot.
The sun had sunk below the horizon, the last rays of gold and magenta fading with each passing minute.
With their ball caps pulled low over their foreheads, they got out of the car and entered the bar.
Avery spotted Melissa Bradley seated at a table to the right. The imposter sat across the table from her with her back to Avery. They leaned across the table, talking quietly, their expressions intense.
Avery wondered what lies the imposter was feeding Agent Bradley.
Sadly, Avery hadn’t been at the San Antonio Field Office long enough to establish herself with her FBI colleagues.
The woman pretending to be her was so close in height and facial features, she’d easily slide in as the real Agent Hart. No questions asked.
Anger burned low in Avery’s gut. But now wasn’t the time to act on that anger. The woman had a reason for being there. If it was to spy for the killer, Avery and Grant would follow her until she led them to the man responsible for the deaths of the three women.
Avery and Grant found a booth on the opposite side of the bar and grill from where Melissa Bradley and the fake Agent Hart were seated.
A waitress stopped at their table.
Grant ordered coffee and a club sandwich.
Avery wasn’t all that hungry, but she needed to eat to keep up her strength. She ordered tea and a garden salad with slices of chicken breast. While they waited for their food and drinks, they watched the other two woman talking over their meals.
“I don’t know how long I can play this charade,” Avery admitted.
“We can end it now, if you like,” Grant said.
“I was sent to Shadow Valley to help solve this murder case. I’m not solving it by standing on the periphery, waiting for something to happen.”
“Swede is gathering data. Hopefully, he’ll find something we can sink our teeth into,” Grant said. “Speaking of sinking our teeth into something, that looks like our order.”
The waitress delivered their order, topped off their drinks and left them to their meal.
For the next few minutes, they ate in silence. Avery appreciated the quiet camaraderie she shared with Grant. She ate more of her salad than she thought she would and sighed when she laid down her fork.
Grant stared across the table at her. “You need sleep.”
“I’ll be okay,” she said and yawned.
“The doctor said you needed sleep to help with your recovery.”
“I slept three days solid. You’d think that would be enough.”
“Apparently not.” Grant laid down his napkin and pushed his plate aside. “Maybe this stakeout isn’t the way to go. If we confront the imposter now and put her in jail, we might be able to call it a night and get some sleep.”
“As tempting as that sounds, I want to follow through with the fake Agent Hart on the off chance she’s working with the killer. If we follow and nothing comes of it, we can expose her and get that sleep you are intent on acquiring.” She smiled.
A movement out of the corner of her eye made her glance toward Melissa and the woman who sat across the table with her. They slid out of the booth and straightened.
When they headed toward the table where Grant and Avery sat, Avery dipped her head low to hide her face. She’d taken off the sunglasses shortly after entering because the bar and grill had such dim lighting.
The two women walked past and exited the restaurant.
A man Avery recognized as the one from earlier that day who’d brought a tray of coffee to the sheriff’s office left his seat at the bar and followed the women out.
Avery frowned. “What was that man’s name?”
“Dave? Dan?” Grant shook his head. “He was the one who brought coffee to the sheriff’s office.”
A creepy feeling slid over Avery’s skin. “Ready?” She laid down her napkin and scooted out of the booth seat.
Grant tossed two twenties on the table and rose. “Let’s find out where Fake Avery goes at night.”
Darkness had wrapped itself around the small town of Shadow Valley, with streetlights forming little light havens.
Grant stepped out of the bar and grill first and held the door for Avery. She tugged the hat down low and eased out the door, only to be pulled into the shadows and into Grant’s arms.
“We needed an excuse to just stand outside, and I don’t smoke,” Grant said, his voice low and resonant, the sound wrapping warmly around Avery. “Just go with it.”
Oh, she wanted to go with it, all right. She’d like it even better if he kissed her. Her hands, resting on his chest, moved up to wrap around the back of his neck. She leaned up on her toes, her mouth so close to his. All he had to do was lower his head an inch and...
Grant brushed his lips against hers and then leaned back. “The two women are standing next to Melissa’s car, still talking.”
Her heart beating so fast she couldn’t catch her breath, Avery turned her head just enough toward the two women to observe them with her peripheral vision. It took her several seconds to regain focus after Grant’s casual kiss. A kiss that had been anything but casual to Avery.
The only light shining in the bar and grill parking area was from the streetlight at the corner.
Melissa Bradley stood talking to the imposter for another moment, then climbed into a sedan and drove away.
Fake Avery stared after Melissa’s car as she eased out onto the road.
Avery was on the verge of asking Grant what he meant by that kiss when the imposter slipped into her car and drove out of the parking lot.
“As much as I want to hold you in my arms,” Grant whispered, “we need to go.”
Avery didn’t voice her opinion out loud, but she was one hundred percent in agreement with the desire to remain locked in their fake lover’s embrace.
Knowing they had to move quickly or lose her, Avery stepped free of Grant’s arms, immediately missing the feel of his hard muscles and the heat he generated.
They hurried to the rental car.
Before they reached it, another car left the parking lot, heading in the same direction as the imposter.
Avery yanked open the passenger door while Grant sprinted to the driver’s side. Once in the car, Grant started the engine and drove the same direction the fake agent had gone, toward the Good Night Motel.
The car between them turned down a narrow alley a block before the hotel, giving Avery a clear view of the Jeep pulling into the motel parking lot.
Grant drove past the motel, turned off the headlights and backed into an alley between two businesses. From where they were positioned, Avery could see the Jeep, Room 21 and the doppelganger getting out of the vehicle and walking toward the motel.
As the woman raised her hand with her key, she hesitated, her body stiffening.
Avery could sense her caution and a flash of fear. “Something’s wrong.” She pushed open her door and was out before Grant could say or do anything.
Blood thundering through her veins pumped adrenaline throughout her body, sending her flying forward.
Grant called out, “Wait!”
Avery barely heard his voice through the pulse pounding in her ears.
The woman in front of Room 21 eased away from the door, her knees bent, her body poised for fight or flight.
A large man dressed completely in black from head to toe erupted from the room and grabbed the woman.
She fought hard, her elbow jabbing into the man’s midsection, her foot slamming down hard on his.
A man ran from the end of the building straight for the two.
Avery and Grant couldn’t get there fast enough.
The incoming man plowed into the pair fighting for dominance. All three went down in a jumble of arms and legs.
By the time Grant and Avery made it across the street, the man dressed entirely in black pushed to his feet and ran, limping slightly.
“Go!” Avery yelled. “Get him. I’ll help her.”
Grant hesitated.
The woman on the ground, trapped by the man who’d come from the end of the building, struggled to free herself. “Go after him!” she yelled, waving her free hand toward the disappearing figure in black.
Grant pulled his gun out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Avery. “Either one of them moves, shoot them.”
She took the gun and aimed it at the two on the ground. “Got it. Now go before he gets away.”
Grant ran after the assailant, who had disappeared around the far end of the building.
Avery pointed the gun at the woman and the man, disentangling their limbs.
“Dan?” the imposter frowned at the man rolling over to a sitting position.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’m sorry. I saw you were in trouble and had to stop him any way I could.” He shrugged. “I played football a million years ago in high school. It’s all I could think to do that would help.
The imposter shook her head. “You don’t live around here, do you?”
He ducked his head. “No, ma’am.”
“Then why the hell were you here at the motel tonight?” Avery demanded.
The older man stared up at Avery and frowned, his gaze going from Avery to the other lady and back.
“I heard the murder victims looked like Agent Hart. I was worried she would be the next target. She’s been looking out for our community, but she doesn’t have anyone looking out for her.
” He frowned up at Avery. “Who are you? And why are you holding us at gunpoint? Agent Hart is with the FBI. She’s not the murderer. ”
“Is she Agent Hart? Is she with the FBI?” Avery asked, her gaze pinning the imposter’s. “Who are you?”
The woman pushed to her feet and brushed her hands across her jeans.
“Her name is Bree Lansing,” Grant’s voice sounded from behind Avery. “She’s from Omaha, Nebraska, and a detective on the police force.”
“A detective?” Avery shook her head. “That’s hard to believe.”
Bree met and held her gaze. “Not when we look so much alike. Don’t you see it?”
Avery frowned. “Yes, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that you impersonated me.”