Chapter 20
TWENTY
The hospital was a bustle of activity. Piper shook off her umbrella before entering through the sliding doors. Plastic bags hung from a rack and she grabbed one, handing it to Jackson for his umbrella, before slipping one over her own. The scent of bleach and antiseptic seemed to permeate the air. White-tile floors shone in the florescent lighting. Goosebumps pebbled on Piper’s arms. She wasn’t fond of hospitals.
Jackson fell into step beside her as they navigated passed the busy emergency room to the elevators. Marcus had officially been arrested for attempted murder, and until a judge decided his fate at a bail hearing, was under armed guard in his hospital room.
Piper hit the button for the fifth floor, and the cabin rose. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at Jackson. He’d been quiet on the car ride over, his expression wedged in a permanent scowl. Piper elbowed him. “You’re doing that thing again. ”
“What thing?”
Her mouth quirked. “Brooding.”
“Considering I was told half an hour ago there’s a killer hunting you down, is it really so surprising?” Jackson hooked his thumbs in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “If it was up to me, I’d lock you in the house behind a set of armed Texas Rangers until this whole thing was done. Do you know how many of my colleagues have been in this kind of situation? Almost all of them.”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Most of company A is married or engaged. They met their significant other under dangerous circumstances. Fell in love while protecting a woman in danger.” He turned to face her and cupped her cheek with his warm palm. “And every one of those women nearly died. Do you understand the odds aren’t with us, Piper? Sometime, someone in Company A is going to be on the losing end of this equation.” His gaze searched her face before he leaned forward to touch her forehead with his. “I don’t want it to be me. I don’t want to lose you.”
Her knees weakened at the tenderness in his tone. She wanted to fling herself in his arms and never let go. “I can’t, Jackson. I ran away once, and as a result, more women died. If I’d been here…”
He pulled back. “This isn’t your fault. Just like it’s not Derek’s.”
“Maybe not, but it doesn’t change how I feel. Elena died in my arms. If our theory is right, maybe the killer purposefully picked that day, that location, because he knew I ran in the nature preserve.”
Piper had been mulling that over since the task force meeting. She couldn’t prove it, but the idea felt right. She’d been targeted right from the beginning. The killer was playing a game with her, and she had every intention of finishing it.
“Elena and Gerdie deserve justice. I want to get it for them.” She also needed to prove she was stronger than the killer. Piper couldn’t put it into words, but the assault ten years ago had left a shadow over her life. “I promise to be careful and to use my training. The last thing I want is for someone else—like you—to be caught in the crossfire.”
The idea of Jackson hurt or killed was terrifying. Piper was falling in love with him. Or, if she was being honest, maybe she never stopped loving him. It was an impossible dilemma—their relationship couldn’t last—but her heart wouldn’t listen to reason or logic.
The elevator dinged, and the doors swished open. Jackson stepped off first, holding out a hand to show she should wait. His gaze swept the area and then he waved her forward. “What room is Marcus in?”
“510.” She pointed to a sign. “It’s around the corner.”
A deputy was stationed outside the door. Mike O’Neal. Piper greeted him and introduced Jackson. “We need to question Marcus. How is he?”
“Much better. Today he seems with it.” Mike adjusted his duty belt, and the leather creaked. “He’s got one hand cuffed to the bed, but I would use caution. He was violent with the nurses and the doctors when he was brought in. They had to sedate him initially.”
“Understood. Thanks.” Piper knocked on the door and then entered the room.
Marcus was sitting up in bed watching a sitcom. His hair was pushed away from his face, but he sported a new beard along his chin. The hospital gown swallowed his thin frame and one skinny leg peeked out from under the covers. A heart machine beeped regularly while an IV delivered fluids into his right arm. His eyes widened at the sight of Piper. He jerked upright. The handcuff securing him to the bed frame rattled.
“I’m glad you’re here, Piper. I’m so sorry for what happened. I didn’t know what I was doing.” His expression was beseeching. “You have to believe me. I’ve never fired a gun in my life. It all feels like a dream.”
“Hold on, Marcus, there are some things we have to take care of.” Piper pulled out her cell phone and activated the recording app. She announced herself and everyone in the room before reading the Miranda warning. Since Marcus was under arrest and in custody, he needed to be advised of his rights before any questioning could take place. Once that was done, Piper asked, “Do you agree to wave your rights, Marcus?”
“Yes. I want to help you figure out what happened.”
“According to the doctor, you were high on methamphetamine.”
She kept her distance, standing at the foot of the bed, well out of striking range. Jackson lingered near the door like a silent sentry. Piper appreciated that he hung back and let her take the lead.
Marcus looked down, twisting a bedsheet in-between his fingers. “I don’t remember taking anything.”
“What do you remember?”
“I was hanging out with Wally Hutchinson in his brother’s house. Next thing I know, I woke up here. I don’t even know how I got to the police station or where I got the gun.”
Piper’s heart skipped a beat. Marcus’s confession confirmed at least one of the Hutchinson brothers was involved. “What about Todd? Was he there?”
Marcus shook his head. “No. I remember thinking it was weird that we were hanging out at Todd’s house without him there, but Wally crashes there from time to time.”
“Did Wally give you the meth, Marcus?”
Before he could answer, the hospital room door swung open and Paul Kingston strolled in. His cologne was heavy and matched the dark scowl etched on his face. “What are you doing questioning my client without my permission, detective?”
“You represent Marcus?” Jackson stepped forward, his tone incredulous. “Since when?”
“Since I was appointed this morning by the judge at the bail hearing. My firm often represents clients pro bono as part of our community service. I’ve been Mr. Reed’s attorney before, so the judge thought it made sense to appoint me in this matter as well.” He waved Mike forward. “My client has been released on bail, which has already been posted with a bondsman by his aunt. Please remove these handcuffs immediately. And all questioning will stop.”
Marcus sat up straighter. “But I want to help Piper?—”
Paul placed a hand on his shoulder. “No. First we’ll talk and if there’s something important to pass on to law enforcement, then we’ll discuss the best way to handle it.”
“You don’t have to listen to him, Marcus.” Piper kept her eyes on the older man in the bed. She’d given him food, been kind to him. They had a connection that clearly mattered to Marcus. “You can decide to answer my questions anyway?—”
“Do not speak to my client.” Paul whirled on her. His scathing look sent a shiver down her spine. “This interview is over, Detective Jensen. Get out. Now.” He got between Piper and Marcus, blocking the criminal’s view of her. “Trust me, Mr. Reed. I’ve never steered you wrong before and I won’t now.”
To Piper’s dismay, Marcus nodded and leaned back against the bed. “I’ll do as my attorney says.”
She hit the stop button on her cell to end the recording. “Get well, Marcus, and if you decide you want to speak to me, then call the sheriff’s department.”
“Goodbye, Detective Jensen.” Paul moved toward her, waving her back with his hands. “You too, Ranger Barker. Get out of this room.”
The moment they went into the hall, Paul slammed the hospital door shut.
Piper breathed out. “Well that didn’t go as planned, but we got some useful information out of Marcus. Do you think his statement is enough to convince a judge to give us a search warrant for Todd’s house?”
“I do.” Jackson tossed his keys toward her while simultaneously pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “You drive. I’ll prepare the warrant.”
Fifteen minutes later, Piper pulled up to Todd’s house. The place looked abandoned and sadder in the rain. Wind blew a few of the beer cans against the chain link fence. Todd’s dog was missing. It also hadn’t been seen since the bombing. He’d probably taken the animal with him. Piper prayed the poor thing was okay. The Hutchinsons abused women. She couldn’t imagine what they might do to a helpless animal.
Jackson was on hold with the judge, who was reviewing the warrant. His fingers tapped against the dash in a nervous dance. Piper had already called Derek and informed him of what they’d discovered by questioning Marcus. Several Texas Rangers were en route to help aid with the search once the warrant went through.
Her gaze drifted to Elena’s house. It was a pile of blackened rubble.
Everything started with her murder. Elena’s. Or was Piper’s assault the catalyst? Ten years had gone by. Why did the killer wait all this time to strike again? Had he chosen Elena simply because she was blonde and blue-eyed? Or was she more integral to the puzzle than the killer wanted them to believe?
“Thank you, judge. Have a nice afternoon.” Jackson hung up with a big smile on his face. “Warrant came through. Let’s wait for backup, and then we’ll start the search.”
“There’s backup now.” Piper pointed as several official state vehicles turned the corner.
Rain pelted her cowboy hat as she and Jackson strolled up the main walkway to Todd’s house, followed by several deputies from her department. Bennett and Luke circled around back with their own set of deputies. Everyone had their gun drawn. Todd was considered armed and dangerous.
Jackson pounded on the door. “Police! We have a search warrant for the premises!”
A few more knocks yielded no reply. Jackson stepped back, and one of the deputies used a battering ram to break down the door. It flew inward. Like they’d been working together forever, Piper and Jackson entered the house. She took left; he took right.
It was surprisingly neat and tidy inside. The beam of Piper’s light washed over a couch and a cracked leather recliner. A brand-new widescreen TV and a gaming station rested next to a fireplace. It smelled like stale beer and old trash. The back door crashed open, followed by Bennett and Luke entering the kitchen.
“Sheriff’s Department!” Piper shouted down the hallway leading to the back of the house. “We have a search warrant. If you’re on the premises, make yourself known.”
No response. Jackson led the way to the first closed door. He grabbed the handle and twisted quickly, sweeping low as he entered. Piper followed, sweeping high. Her pulse skipped several beats as the beam of her flashlight washed over a long table along the back wall. It was covered in wires and electronics.
“Clear!” Jackson shouted.
Echoes of the same rang out as every room was checked. Todd wasn’t there.
Piper lowered her handgun and stepped closer to the table. She studied the equipment. “He was building bombs.” She glanced at Jackson, her mind racing. “What if we’re focusing on the wrong brother? Todd went to high school with us, along with Lionel Islip. They likely knew each other. Plus, Todd was at home when the explosion at Elena’s happened.”
“It’s possible. Marcus never told us Wally gave him the gun. He only remembers being here with Wally. Todd could’ve returned while he was high.” Jackson blew out a breath. “Then again, Marcus also said Wally crashes here from time to time. Who’s to say he doesn’t use Todd’s place to build his bombs? A lot easier to do it here than in the pay-by-the-week motel he was staying in.”
She nodded. “True.”
“I never liked Todd though. Especially the way he looked at you.” Jackson stepped toward her and a click echoed through the room.
He froze. Fear tightened his features.
Piper instinctively moved toward him.
“No!” Jackson’s tone was sharp, but he didn’t move a centimeter. Sweat beaded on his brow. “Don’t come any closer. You and the rest of the team need to evacuate the house immediately. And call the bomb squad.”
Her breath hitched as she tried to make sense of what he was telling her. Fear ordered her back, but love demanded she move closer. As a result, she was frozen in place. Her mind wouldn’t accept what her body already knew.
Jackson met her gaze. “Get out, Piper. Now. I’m standing on a pressure plate. If I move, or even so much as breathe wrong, this entire house is going to explode.”