Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Nell’s pronouncement sucked the air from Emma’s lungs. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around her sister in jubilation. The other part of her had heard these promises more times than she could count, which tethered her optimism solidly to the ground.
Emma looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “How much news from back home have you had access to?”
The question appeared to catch Nell off guard. “None. Why?”
“Are you aware that Eric’s been released?”
“Released from where?”
Emma exhaled before launching into an update of the last couple of days, complete with Eric’s attack and trip to the ER. Despite the crappy yellow glow from the room’s cheap incandescent bulbs, she could see Nell’s skin grow even more pallid.
“Is he all right?” she asked, her voice little more than a squeak.
“He’s fine. He’s back at home, resting.” Although, Emma thought, he would be resting a lot easier after she had a chance to phone him and let him know she’d found Nell. “The judge dropped the charges against him. Even that state trooper seems to have doubts about Eric’s guilt.”
“If only I could get Zeke’s brother to say he saw us at the funeral—”
“It wouldn’t matter. The police already spoke with the front desk at the Pine Gables Inn, where you stayed, and confirmed Eric was there. But Cleveland is close enough for Eric to have driven home, killed Sonny, and returned to the hotel.”
Nell heaved a weepy sigh.
Emma almost told her Eric would be fine. Almost. “The only person who can prove he was in Cleveland the entire time is you, but you need to be clean and sober.”
“I am.” Nell’s gaze slid to the bathroom. “Give me a minute to put my clothes back on so we can get on the road.”
As tired as Emma was, getting back on the road seemed the best option. She needed rest, but the last thing she wanted was to try to sleep in this crappy motel room. She held up a finger and pulled out her phone. “First, let’s call Eric and put his mind to rest. He’s been frantic.”
Nell’s face lit up. “Yes.”
Emma placed the call. Eric answered immediately. “Emma?”
Before he could say more, she told him, “I have someone here who wants to talk to you,” and held the phone out to Nell.
While her sister chatted with their best friend, Emma rose and crossed to the door. She stepped outside and looked toward Cassie and Denene’s sedan. They must’ve been watching for her. Cassie stepped out and held up both hands in a silent question—Well?
“It’s all good,” Emma called out. “Thank you. I’ve got it from here.”
The same curtain that had fluttered when she’d knocked on Nell’s door was jerked to one side, and an angry male face glared through the window.
Emma mouthed sorry to him, then waved at Cassie, who waved back. Emma glanced at the window. The curtain had fallen closed, so she retreated into the room and shut the door.
Nell was also apologizing, but over the phone to Eric. She insisted she was okay. Emma noted she did not give him the same promise about rehab. After another minute of tearful conversation, Nell returned the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Yes, she’s really okay,” Emma told him.
“Good. Maybe I can finally get some sleep.”
Nell dropped the bedspread, revealing she was only wearing her bra and panties, and scurried into the bathroom. Emma realized Nell had left with only the clothes on her back.
To Eric, she asked, “How are you?”
“Sore. But your cop fixed me something to eat before he took off. I swear, Em, if you don’t marry him, I’m going to.”
She snickered. Then his words sank in. “Matthias took off? Where?”
The silence hung a moment too long. “Um. Back to your hotel, of course.”
“Don’t lie to me. You suck at it.”
“He didn’t say except that he had investigating to do.”
“When was that?”
“Two, maybe three hours ago.”
She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was a little after midnight, meaning his investigation was taking place well after business hours. Her next call would be to him. “Nell’s getting dressed, and then we’re heading home.”
“Good.” His relief saturated his voice. “Just one more thing. Whatever you do, don’t let that girl out of your sight.”
* * *
Patrick Winslow was a car thief.
Matthias gnawed on Cassie’s revelation as he drove back to Washington and the hotel.
There had been one conviction when Winslow had been eighteen.
At least, only one on record. There could have been more that weren’t prosecuted.
Or more when he was still a juvie. Those cases were sealed.
None of it mattered. Winslow had the skills to break into a car.
Had he kept up on the technology and tools required to gain access to Eric’s Prius?
For now, Matthias theorized that he had.
Then there was North Star Developing. Jones had changed the business agreement to put Winslow, not Neidermeyer, in charge. But he also planned to change it again.
What Jones giveth, Jones taketh away.
Motive. Means. Opportunity. Winslow had won the trifecta. Matthias wondered if Fergusson knew about the long-ago conviction and had come to the same conclusion. He’d said Winslow was his prime suspect.
Matthias pulled into the hotel parking lot and found a vacant spot just as his phone buzzed. Caller ID showed Emma’s name. Relieved, he swiped the green button. “Where are you?”
“With Nell. Thanks for sending Cassie, by the way.”
“I wanted her to send Roth—”
“I know. She told me. But it was good to see her.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Emma sounded perkier than he’d expected. “Nell’s getting dressed, then we’re heading back home.”
Home. He wondered where exactly that was. The barn? He decided to save that question for later. “It’s the middle of the night. You should get some sleep and wait until morning to get on the road.”
Emma laughed. “Normally I’d agree, but I’m pretty sure this room has bed bugs. And cockroaches. And I don’t know when the sheets were last changed.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. I figure we’ll grab some coffee and start back. If I get tired, we’ll find a hotel that doesn’t have paying by the hour as an option at check-in.”
He cringed at the image flashing through his mind. He’d seen plenty of those dives in his line of work and didn’t want to think about Emma or her sister in one. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“What have you been up to this evening?”
He debated how much to tell her.
“I should warn you, I talked to Eric, who can’t lie to save his life.”
“I didn’t tell Eric what I was doing.”
“So he said, which didn’t sound suspicious at all.”
Matthias rested his head against the back of the seat. “I decided to do a little recon at the Powell farm.” He told her what he’d been looking for and not found. About being busted by the local township police. And the state cops. And about Winslow.
“You think Patrick Winslow killed Sonny?”
“I do.” Another thought struck him. “Winslow probably intended to use the backhoe to bury him at the construction site, but it was vandalized and wouldn’t start.”
“That’s why the grave was so shallow.”
“It was pouring rain. Digging by hand would be hard enough, but the hole would keep filling with water.”
“Makes sense.” Emma’s relieved breath warmed Matthias, even over the phone. “Eric’s in the clear,” she said, “and Nell’s agreed to check back into rehab. Seems like all’s right with the world.”
“Except for one thing,” Matthias said. “You’re there, and I’m here.”
“Nell just came out of the bathroom, so we should be back well before sunrise.” Emma gave a lilting laugh. “And we should make it back to Erie in plenty of time for me to keep my job.”
“Drive safe, okay?”
“You know it. See you soon. Love you.”
He echoed the sentiment back to her and ended the call with a smile.
* * *
Emma glanced over at Nell in the passenger seat, head lolling to one side, eyes closed. Asleep. You’re a lot of help. A conversation with her sister would definitely aid in keeping her awake, but such was not the case.
They’d made one stop before leaving Akron. Emma had bought a large coffee and a can of Mountain Dew. With that much caffeine in her system, she hoped to make the entire trip without needing to find a hotel. A restroom? Yes. Nell had added a large bag of chips and a monster-size soda to the order.
Emma’s unease began as they pulled away from the convenience store.
She noticed a car pull into the lot behind them and didn’t give it much thought, but when they eased onto the road, loaded with their travel supplies, that same car followed them.
Its headlights stayed in her rearview mirror as she maneuvered the streets and as she took the ramp from Goodkirk Street to Route 8.
The dark car blended into the night, except for its ever-present headlights.
Now, miles from Akron, with Nell asleep beside her, Emma still kept an eye on the mirror, convinced the same car was following them.