Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Colton checked his watch. Again. Had to be the longest Monday on record.
John glanced at him from the driver’s seat of his unmarked car. “Got somewhere you need to be, Blankenship?”
“Just to the Everetts’ with you.”
“Am I driving too slow for you? Afraid we won’t make it there on time?”
Colton chuckled. “No. Sorry. A lot going on today. Hoping I might have time to go by the hospital later.”
John’s expression sobered. “Oh, right. Today’s the day. What time was the procedure?”
“Now, if they’re on time.”
“You talked to her, then. To know what time she was going in.”
He shook his head. “Nowell.”
In all honesty, he’d texted Riley’s new lead man several times since leaving the detail. Some things were harder to let go of than others. Said a lot about Nowell that he hadn’t yet put him in his place but kept him informed of anything new or noteworthy.
He was aware the moment Riley opened another package last Wednesday, when the creep called her on Friday.
About the macabre box of long-stemmed white roses she received Saturday with theatrical blood spilled over them.
Delivered right to the main gate of the estate by the creep himself, disguised yet again.
John had raced out to the house that afternoon to pick up the flowers as evidence, but Colton believed it best to stay behind and continue sifting through the case file. Last thing Riley needed was him there causing more drama for her.
“So, you haven’t spoken at all? Since Thursday’s visit with Everett? When, really, you hardly said two words to each other.”
Colton stared out his window. “No.”
John pulled off the freeway onto an exit in a well-established Houston suburb. “Avery and I saw her last night. Went over there for dinner to celebrate her procedure today. That’s what Riley called it. A celebration.”
“Sounds like Riley.”
“Yeah, but for a celebration, she didn’t say much. Ate even less. Seemed … sad almost. Not like the Riley I’ve come to know. Avery cried all the way home after we left. She’s really worried about her.”
Colton regarded him from the passenger seat. Nowell hadn’t said anything about Riley’s state of mind, only that she was glad they’d been able to expedite her tests so she could donate before the holiday to, hopefully, give the boy’s family renewed hope. “Is she all right? Riley, I mean?”
John shrugged as he drove through an intersection.
“For someone scared out of her mind, I’d say she’s holding up fine.
Still goes to the office, works with her charities.
At this point, she’s only forgoing church, all the Christmas parties she’s been invited to, and shopping.
Apparently, that’s a big thing the girls do together at Christmas, but they’re doing it without her this year. ”
“She’s not getting out except to work?”
“Nope. She gave Frances the last of her Christmas shopping list last night. And you know Riley. Has it all typed out with exactly what gift, where to get it, how to have it monogrammed, if it should be. All that stuff.” He glanced over at Colton again. “You should call her. See how she’s doing.”
“I’m sure she’s fine. I gave her some names of psychologists. I just wish she’d call one.”
“Oh, she did. Met with her last week. Hopefully, it’ll help her deal with things.”
“Hmm.” Clearly, Nowell hadn’t told him everything. “I hope so. The girl needs to sleep.”
“She should get plenty today.”
“Yeah, but it would be nice if she didn’t need anesthesia to do it.”
“Good point. I guess we’ll all have to pray her through this. And pray we’re not chasing a dead end here.”
Colton had been praying. For Riley. For her safety, her state of mind … her heart. If he could fix it, he would. But time travel hadn’t been invented yet, so he’d have to leave it to the Lord to mend what he broke in a moment of weakness.
He swallowed the bitter taste of guilt. “Too bad the Everetts were out of town last Friday. I know Riley wanted to be here.”
“I was surprised she gave us the go-ahead to do this without her.”
“Probably didn’t want to put off finding whatever we could to determine if this is a viable lead. Jealous stepbrother could be nothing more than sour grapes, or it could have festered into a bone-deep hatred. And that’s even if we can get any good intel from the dad and stepmother.”
John parked in front of a well-cared-for, single-level home and killed the engine. “Call her.”
He’d love to do that, to hear her voice if nothing else. But he couldn’t keep her on the hook. Have her hoping there was a chance for them. A clean break was better.
He reached for the handle and pushed open his door. “I’m sure I’m the last person she wants to talk to.”
Even if he were the last man on earth.
“Warren?” Mr. Everett’s brow creased as his eyes moved from John to Colton and back again. “I thought you were here about Shane.”
Colton nodded. “Yes, sir. Just info gathering, at this point.”
John placed his cup of coffee on the saucer. “We’re following a lead on what might be a completely separate matter. It may mean nothing, but we hoped you could tell us about your older son. Shane said he hadn’t had any contact with him in years but that you might be able to answer some questions.”
Mrs. Everett put her arm through her husband’s, seated next to her on the sofa in their tidy living room.
Photos of a happy family of three lined the walls, with pictures of Shane at various ages.
Shane in his Little League uniform. Shane in full football regalia, teenage Shane in a suit, accepting a trophy with MVP engraved across the bottom.
Shane’s graduation with several cords hanging around his neck signifying his leadership and intelligence.
His college graduation photo. Sigma cum laude.
Shane had definitely been the center of his parents’ world. Their golden child.
Who now sat in prison for the most heinous of crimes.
“We’ll do everything we can to help,” she said. “What do you need to know?”
John pulled out his notebook and a pen. “Do you know when Warren was employed at the country club?”
Mr. Everett sighed. “Uh, well, let’s see. Would’ve been three, maybe four years ago.”
“What did he do there?”
“Not entirely sure. I know some landscaping. Maybe the pro shop? I think he mentioned something about working with the golfers. That they were high-maintenance or something along those lines. Warren had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Always felt he deserved more than he was willing to work for. Got that from his mother.”
Golfers. Caitlyn had been an avid golfer. Could they have crossed paths in the pro shop? On the course?
“Dear.” Mrs. Everett gave her husband’s arm a squeeze. “We don’t want to speak ill of the dead.”
Colton peered at Shane’s mom. “Warren’s mother passed away?”
“Little over two years ago. Overdosed on some sleeping pills. Poor thing. She was … fragile.”
“Fragile.” Mr. Everett tsked. “Fragile like an iron poker. And as lethal.”
Interesting. Colton sat up in the armchair he’d taken upon being invited in and clasped his hands between his knees. “Can you elaborate?”
Mr. Everett turned to his wife. “I’m sorry. I know you always try to find the good in everybody, but Marta was not fragile. I still find it difficult to believe she took her own life.”
Colton’s gut coiled. “Suicide?”
“According to the authorities.”
His brain quickly did the math. Warren’s mother had died, allegedly by her own hand, around the same time as Cait’s murder? What had he told John about coincidence?
Mr. Everett took a sip of his coffee and placed the cup on its saucer.
“I met Marta right after college. Whirlwind romance. Got married too quickly. By the time I saw her true colors, she was pregnant. Warren was three when we split. I fought for him, but the court sided with his mother and forced me to pay exorbitant child support.”
“Shane mentioned Warren always seemed angry. Is that your take?”
“Absolutely. Marta had put such poison into his head—that Shane had stolen me away, that I favored Shane over him, that my wife controlled me and didn’t like him.
All nonsense, but he was just a kid. Of course he was angry.
Couldn’t stand Shane. Things finally came to a head when Warren almost killed him.
If I hadn’t walked in—” He dipped his head.
Mrs. Everett put her arm around him, her eyes filled with tears.
“Only ten years old and beaten by his own stepbrother. Can you imagine? We couldn’t have that boy here again.
We just couldn’t. We were aware Warren wasn’t fond of him, but to do something like that?
We were broken over it. It took a long time to heal from that. ”
“We should’ve pressed charges,” Mr. Everett said.
“I know we should’ve. But I felt so guilty.
Like I was somehow the cause of his behavior.
Family counseling—my wife, Shane, and myself—helped us see Warren’s choices weren’t our fault.
I had tried everything to get custody of him when we divorced, but Marta always threatened to disappear with him.
He was my son. I couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing him again.
Turned out that’s pretty much what happened, anyway. ”
Mrs. Everett nodded. “Marta wouldn’t let him visit regularly. Always had an excuse as to why he couldn’t come. Once he was an adult, he only came around if he needed something. But we haven’t had any contact with him in about three years.”
“Did he attend the trial at all?” Colton asked.
Shane’s dad shook his head. “Not that we saw.”
John looked up from his notebook. “Do you know if Warren was fired from the country club or left on his own?”
“No. I only know he was suddenly without a job. Again.”
“Do you know where he worked after that?”
“Some fancy hotel downtown. In the kitchen. Warren was actually a pretty good cook. Had a few kitchen jobs.”
Colton exchanged a glance with John. “The Whitmore, by chance?”
“Yes. I believe that’s right.”
John scribbled in his notebook. “Is there anything else you can tell us about Warren? Any specific hobbies, habits, what he drives, where he spends his time?”
“The theater. He always loved working at the theater. The one thing he kept at for years. And by working, I mean volunteering. A community thing. Over in the Arts District.”
Colton sat up. “The theater? Doing what, do you know? Performing, directing …”
“Behind the scenes stuff. Building sets, graphic design for their posters and programs, costumes. Even makeup. He used to have a social media page where he posted photos of himself dressed up for Halloween in spectacular costumes. Completely unrecognizable. I told him he should find out how to make a living in that, but he never pursued it outside of that little theater.”
Colton’s stomach lurched. Completely unrecognizable.
“Do you have a current address?”
Mrs. Everett clasped her hands in her lap. “The last birthday card we sent him over a year ago came back as not deliverable. We have no idea where he is now.”
John shut his notebook. “You wouldn’t happen to have a photo, would you? From the past few years?”
She scrunched her mouth to one side. “Nothing over the age of thirteen or fourteen, when he was still coming for visits.”
“No problem. Thank you for your time today. If you think of anything else, please give me a call.” He placed a business card on the coffee table and stood.
The couple walked them to the door, where Mr. Everett regarded the detective. “This separate matter you mentioned. It doesn’t have anything to do with Shane’s case?”
“We don’t know enough yet to determine if they’re linked.”
The man’s eyes clouded as he swallowed. “You don’t think … that Warren … How would he have even known Caitlyn?”
“We don’t have any evidence of the kind right now. We’re following up on several leads. The strained relationship between the stepbrothers came up, so we said we’d look into it.”
There were no other leads, nothing of substance, but Colton understood why John would downplay the significance of this visit. No reason to concern the family at this point. Not until there was more to go on.
John tucked his notebook into his jacket pocket. “Unfortunately, that’s all I can tell you at this time. Once we know more, we’ll give you whatever information we can. In the meantime, if Warren should get in touch, please let me know.”
They walked out the door onto the front porch.
“Oh, I guess there is one other thing. I don’t know if it has any significance or not.”
Turning back, they waited for Shane’s dad to continue.
“Warren is his middle name. First name is Jacob. In case that might help you locate him.”
John nodded. “We’ll make a note of it. Thank you again.”
At the car, Colton met his friend’s gaze over the roof of the vehicle. “He’s our guy.”
“Best thing we have going at the moment.”
“Now we just have to prove it.”
And find a man who could make himself unrecognizable.