Chapter Three
Carmel Valley, San Diego, California
Sam rubbed at his eyes, grimacing when Siggy licked his face. “Dammit, Siggy.”
Siggy sat on his haunches, grinning a doggy grin.
Sam pushed himself up to sit on the McKittricks’ sofa. It was comfortable and he’d fallen asleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow.
Kit had slept in the room she shared with Akiko when one or both of them stayed over. Which was far more often than Kit stayed in her own place. Sam couldn’t blame her. There was something about this house. He felt more at ease here than anywhere else.
Knowing Kit was just upstairs…he was content. Someday he’d wake up beside her, holding her in his arms. But until that day came, this was enough.
Plus, someone had made coffee. Probably Betsy.
Sam shoved his feet into his shoes and clipped Siggy’s leash to his collar. It was going to be a gorgeous day. He loved it out here on the McKittrick farm. It was peaceful.
He’d taken Leo Sherman to his sister’s house the night before, then driven back with Harlan, stopping to get Siggy on the way. Of course, Harlan had had questions.
How long had Sam known about the woman claiming to know Akiko’s mother? Two weeks.
Why hadn’t Sam told them? It wasn’t my story to tell.
Did Sam think the woman could be Akiko’s mother? Of course it entered my mind, but I was waiting to see.
Why had Kit asked Sam to join them?
That was a harder question to answer, because the real question was: why hadn’t she asked Harlan?
Harlan had quickly retracted that question with an apology.
His daughter, his Kitty-Cat, had allowed someone new into her heart.
Sam was ecstatic. He’d been waiting on Kit to come around for nearly a year. Harlan was happy for them, Sam knew, but it was still an adjustment. He was no longer her only go-to person.
Harlan would get there. Sam had faith in the burly farmer who’d created this amazing place for kids in need.
Sam stiffened when he heard the roar of a car engine. He took out his cell phone, ready to dial 911.
A few seconds later, Harlan joined him in the front yard. “Morning, Sam. Hope you slept well.”
“Like a rock. Who’s coming?” Kit’s father knew, or he would have been armed.
“It’s Baz.”
A moment later, a familiar SUV emerged from the trees.
Basil “Baz” Constantine had been Kit’s partner when Sam met them the spring before. He and Baz hadn’t started out well, as Baz had been convinced that Sam was a killer.
And he’d threatened to shoot Siggy.
But he’d apologized and he and Sam were now…mostly friends. They’d never bowl or play squash together like Sam did with Kit’s new partner, but Sam didn’t want to sock the man in the nose anymore.
Harlan huffed when Baz got out of his vehicle. “She’s fine, Baz. I told you that when you called me yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening and first thing this morning.”
Baz looked slightly abashed. “I know, but…dammit, Harlan. Someone shot our girl.”
Baz wasn’t only Kit’s first partner in the Homicide division. He was the detective who’d investigated Wren’s murder. He’d known Kit since she was a grieving fifteen-year-old and considered her his second daughter.
“I know,” Harlan said grimly.
Baz nodded to Sam. “Sammy. How’s it going?”
It was hard not to like Baz. He was a jovial guy who loved Kit. “Better than yesterday.”
“I have a treat for Siggy.” Baz smirked. “Can I give it to him or do you need to sniff it first?”
Baz was ridiculous. “Just give it to him.” Snickering, Baz held out the treat for Siggy. It looked like one of those fancy dog biscuits that were sold at the bakery on Sam’s street. “Did you go by my place first?”
“I did. You weren’t home so I figured you’d be here.” Baz winked salaciously. “You go, Sammy.”
Harlan frowned. “Leave the boy alone. Also, that’s my daughter you’re talking about. Stop it.”
“Fine, fine. What do we know?”
“No more than we knew last night when you called,” Harlan said, sounding perturbed. “I don’t want to let either of them out of my sight. Kit or Akiko.”
Sam agreed. “He wasn’t shooting at Akiko, but she’s clearly at the center of all of this. As for not letting Kit out of your sight, you know that isn’t gonna happen, right? She’s gonna do what she’s gonna do.”
Harlan sighed. “I know. What do you know, Baz? You’re grafted onto the SDPD grapevine. I know you’ve got news.”
“Just a little.”
“Don’t say anything until I come down!” As one, they turned to the house, where Kit waved from a second-story window. “Be there in a minute.”
Eager to be sure that Kit was feeling better this morning, Sam put his curiosity on pause. “Let’s go get breakfast. Come on, Siggy.” He followed his dog into the house, where the aroma of coffee had been joined by that of sausage.
He expected to see Betsy at the stove but found Akiko there instead. He fed Siggy, making enough noise that Akiko wouldn’t be startled by his presence.
“You okay, Akiko?” he asked quietly.
She turned to face him, her eyes red and swollen. “Not really. But you two will figure this out. You and Kit.”
“And Baz,” Sam added, hoping he didn’t sound too rueful.
Akiko chuckled. “He said he was sorry for threatening Siggy, Sam. You need to let it go.”
He was happy to see her smile. “Siggy loves him, but Siggy is easily bribed with a dog biscuit. I, on the other hand, am easily bribed with people biscuits.”
“I know my mom’s recipe. I’ll make you some.”
Sam washed his hands and began to set the table. “Should I set places for the girls?”
“Nah,” Kit said, coming down the stairs. “It’s Sunday. They’ll be in bed till at least ten. That’s as late as Mom lets us sleep.”
He studied Kit carefully, his heart tripping in his chest like it did every time he saw her. She was so pretty with her blue eyes and her golden hair. “You look like you rested.”
She smiled up at him shyly. “I did.”
She didn’t kiss him. Not in her parents’ home. They were too new for that, and that was okay with Sam. She’d called him her boyfriend yesterday and that was progress enough.
“She slept all night,” Akiko said. “Which I know because she snores like a bear.”
Kit’s mouth dropped open in outrage. “I do not.”
Akiko laughed. “She really doesn’t, Sam, but it’s always fun to tell her she does. Good morning, Pop,” she said when Harlan and Baz came in from outside. “And Baz. So good to see you.”
And that quick, the kitchen was filled with chatter. Betsy joined Akiko at the stove and soon breakfast was on the table. It wasn’t until everyone sat down that Kit pointed a fork at Baz. “Spill. What have you heard?”
“Trouble in paradise,” Baz said. “Mary Sherman’s neighbors said that the good doctor hadn’t been home in three weeks. Turns out he’s got a hotel room right next door to the hospital. One of those suites with a kitchen.”
“Who told you that?” Kit asked.
Sam nudged her plate closer. “Eat. You can listen and eat at the same time. I’ve seen you do it.”
“Aw,” Baz said when Kit took a big bite, “she’s doing it for you. When I used to tell her to eat, she just flipped me the bird. I heard it from Connor, who heard it from Marshall and Ashton.”
Kit sipped at her coffee. “I thought Leo Sherman was hiding something.”
“So did I,” Sam said. “His memory of that night twenty-four years ago was a little too on the nose.”
“I need to tell Ashton and Marshall about his visit,” Kit said. “I meant to do it last night, but I fell asleep.”
“I already did,” Sam said and winced internally, waiting for her to be annoyed.
But she only smiled at him. “Thank you.”
Baz’s eyes widened. “Thank you? He scoops your news and you thank him?”
Kit regarded Baz seriously. “This isn’t about scoops. This is about keeping Akiko safe.”
“And you,” Akiko said. “You were the one who got shot.”
“I know,” Kit said dryly. “And before anyone asks, yes, I took some ibuprofen this morning. It hurts but not as bad as it could be. I checked the wound in the mirror and it looks fine. Sam, did you ask Marshall and Ashton to run a DNA on Mrs. Sherman?”
“I did. I told them that Dr. Sherman had indicated he might not want to know, but they assured me that it didn’t matter. Especially now that he and his wife were sleeping apart.”
“He must feel so guilty,” Akiko murmured. “If he’d been home, she might still be alive.”
“Unless he did it,” Kit said. “I’m glad he came by last night.
We got a lot more information than we gave.
Unless he was lying, but that would be helpful information as well.
” She filled Baz in on the incident with Mary’s old friend, the Japanese man who’d called her Mari.
“I assume Marshall and Ashton have searched the house.”
“They have,” Sam confirmed. “I told them about the Japanese man and they’re going to search Mary’s photo albums to see if they can find a picture of him.
They also said that the security cameras in the Sherman household had been deactivated before the power was cut.
Which happened an hour and ten minutes before we arrived. ”
“But he was still there,” said Kit. “Her shooter, I mean. Why shoot her, then stick around for an hour? He couldn’t have known we’d come by. Or could he?”
Sam shrugged. “If this is about Akiko, and it almost certainly is, maybe he knew Mary was going to meet us. But he still couldn’t have known we’d stop by.
Marshall thinks he was searching the house when we knocked.
The shooter appears on the neighbor’s security system less than a minute after we parked in the driveway. ”
“What does he look like?” Kit asked.
“A guy in a hoodie,” Sam said.
“Dammit.” She scowled. “Always with the hoodies. Cause of death, Baz?”
“Cause of death was the bullet in her brain,” Baz said, “but she did have finger-sized bruises on her wrists, like she’d been restrained.
Also had defensive wounds. She scratched her attacker.
ME got skin cells from under her nails. Full autopsy should be done by end of day.
” Then he grimaced. “I’m sorry, Akiko. I forgot that this woman might have been a relation. ”