I find it hard to imagine two sisters not talking to each for such a long period of time.
He couldnt go more than a day or two without talking to his older brother. Sure, thered been years growing up where theyd fought like two caged animals.
But, family was family. Joe and his wife, Ruth, and their two girls lived on the other side of the Potomac. Close enough to visit often.
Adam enjoyed living near to them and would miss the Sunday night dinners and babysitting the girls so Joe and Ruth could have a date night ifwhenhis transfer to the Colorado Springs K-9 unit went through as Adam had requested. It would be hard leaving the elite K-9 team. They worked well together and he respected every member of the unit. And leaving Ace behind would tear his heart apart but his parents were getting on in years now and Adam felt the need to return home. To put down roots of his own.
Its not that strange. Families become estranged from one another all the time. Just because we shared the same blood didnt make us friends.
True enough. Though, personally, he wouldnt let anything come between him and his brother. But it wasnt his place to judge. Do you know Erin Eagleton?
Weve spoken on the phone regarding the Eagleton Foundation. They give generous donations to the museum. And we talked about the Golden Arrow. She was as excited by the artifact as I was, but Ive never met her in person. Her eyebrows dipped together. Has she been found? Id heard she was missing.
He shook his head. Erin Eagleton was a senators daughter and the girlfriend of the victim. She disappeared the night Michael was murdered.
And a necklace with a starfish charm engraved on the back with the initials EE, along with a childs blue mitten, had been found at the crime scene. They hadnt released that tidbit of information yet. Did the presence of the necklacedetermined to be Erin Eagletonsat Michaels murder scene make Erin the murderer or another victim? At least they knew the child whod dropped the mitteneven if they still didnt know which childwas at a safe house with the rest of the foster kids from the All Our Kids home. None of the children would admit to having been near the congressmans homeout of fear. But one of them likely had seen who had killed Michael Jeffries and shot his father, Congressman Harland Jeffries. Had Erin Eagleton been a witness? The perpetrator? A victim? Where was she?
Those questions plagued the Capitol K-9 Unit as they searched for Erin, grasping at any and all clues that might lead them to her and to Michael Jeffriess murderer.
When was the last time you spoke with Erin? he asked, hoping this woman would have some useable clue to Erins whereabouts.
Lana frowned and appeared to be searching her memory. Over a month ago.
What did you talk to Erin about?
Art. She and her family are patrons of the arts. Lanas voice took on an impatient edge. The Eagletons have donated large sums of money to the museum. Erin Eagleton was the contact person for the Eagleton Foundation.
Do you always talk to donors?
Her chin lifted. Personal contact is important.
Were you aware that Erin Eagleton was Michael Jeffriess girlfriend?
Id heard that. Puzzlement clouded her eyes. What does any of this have to do with me? Or the attack at the museum?
Do you know where Erin is now?
Lana let out an exasperated sigh. We werent friends, Officer Donovan. Her hand went to her throat. You dont think I had anything to do with her disappearance, do you?
Adam didnt like all the unknown variables. First Rosa Gomezs suspicious death, then Congressman Jeffriess son murdered by an unknown assassin and the congressman shot and left for dead. Michaels girlfriend, Erin Eagleton, now missing. Lana and Rosa were sisters. Lana and Erin knew each other.
Now Lana had been attacked?
Another piece in the ever-expanding puzzle? Or coincidence?
Adam didnt believe in coincidence. Yes, there were times life seemed random and out of control, but his faith in God gave him perspective. God was in control, but He allowed humans the free will to make choices.
Choices that affected others, like murder and theft.
Though Adam couldnt see the big picture, God could and would reveal what needed to be known when the time was right. Until then Adam would work with the bits and pieces he had that collectively didnt make sense. Yet.
Reserving judgment on Lanas role in this mystery, he said, You might know something that could help us find her.
I wish I did. Concern shone in her eyes. Genuine? Or fake? Erin seems like a nice person, but we only talked art. Shes very knowledgeable.
Whether Erin was nice or not remained to be seen. If she had murdered her boyfriend and shot his father, then no, Adam wouldnt categorize Erin as nice. But if she witnessed the murder and had been kidnapped by the unidentified assassin, then Erin could be in grave danger.
If not dead already.
He shifted his focus back to Lana. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt you?
Her lips pursed. Other than my ex-husband? No.
The file Adam had on her said there had been domestic violence issues. He couldnt abide men who abused women.
Could the attacker have been your ex-husband?
Her gaze jerked back to him. Her nose wrinkled up as she contemplated his question. I dont think so. This man was bulky, like a bodybuilder. Mark isnt a bodybuilder. He prefers alcohol over exercise.
Adam made a mental note to check on Marks whereabouts at the time of the break-in.
The door to the hospital room swung open and the doctor walked in. There was no mistaking the disapproval in the older mans eyes behind his black-framed glasses. No doubt the good doctor still had his feathers ruffled from earlier when Adam had wanted to question Lana the moment shed first awakened in the wee hours of the morning.
The doc had put the kibosh on Adam talking to her, telling Adam in no uncertain terms that his questions would have to wait until they knew Miss Gomezs head injury hadnt caused any permanent damage.
The doctor turned his attention to his patient. How are you this morning?
Im feeling better. Not even much of a headache, Lana replied.
The smile she gave the doctor was warm, lighting up her whole face, and it belied the wincing Adam had witnessed a moment ago. His gaze narrowed. She apparently was accomplished at putting on a good front.
Can I be discharged now? Lana asked, in a hopeful voice.
The doctor moved so that he blocked Adams view of Lana. Let me do my examination and then we can decide. Throwing a glance over his shoulder, the doctor sent Adam a pointed look. Do you mind?
Ill be right outside, Adam said for both the doctor and Lanas sake. If what Adam suspected was truethat whoever killed Rosa Gomez was now targeting Lanathen he needed to know why. Lana may have useful information, even if she didnt realize she did.
* * *
Lana breathed a sigh of relief when Adam disappeared out the door. There was something about the man that scraped at her nerves and set her senses on alert.
As the doctor did his exam, asking her all sorts of questions and taking her vitals, her mind grappled to come to grips with the officers suspicion that whoever killed her sister could now want her dead, as well.
As the doctor did his exam, asking her all sorts of questions and taking her vitals, her mind grappled to come to grips with the officers suspicion that whoever killed her sister could now want her dead, as well.
It didnt make sense. She and her sister had nothing in common. They barely knew each other. Rosa had cut Lana out of her life three years ago.
No. Adam was wrong. Whatever the intruder had been after last night had nothing to do with her or her sister. She still couldnt believe the arrow hadnt been stolen. Why go to the trouble of sneaking into the museum, breaking the glass display case, taking the arrow from its bed only to leave it behind?
She was glad he had left the artifact whatever his reason and the relief was so overwhelming she almost wept. She prayed the damage done wasnt too extensive.
Okay, young lady, I think youre safe to go home, but I want you to take it easy. Lots of rest and plenty of water. You came in here with not only a nasty bonk on the head but you were dehydrated, as well.
She grimaced. Now that she thought about it, she remembered she hadnt eaten or drunk anything yesterday, except a cup of coffee. She tended to skip meals when she was working. Yeah, Ill try to do better.
No try. Do.
She laughed, the motion sending a ball of pain ricocheting through her skull but she held her smile in place. Okay, Doctor.
He smiled. Ill have Cindy retrieve your clothes and initiate the discharge papers. Do you have someone to drive you home?
Considering she didnt own a car, she would have to call a friend to pick her up and take her to the home. Or she could take public transit, her normal mode of transportation. Ill figure it out. Thank you, Doctor Evans.
With a nod, he left the room. Almost immediately Adam and his partner were striding back through the door. Dog and man moved as one unit with synchronized lethal grace. A daunting pair.
Her smile faded. You have more questions?
Im sure I will.
She blew out a breath of frustration as Adam halted at the foot of her bed. Ace, however, came to her bedside and laid his nose next to her so she could pet him. She found the rhythmic motion soothing. Was that why the dog had come to her? To soothe her?
Adam frowned at the dog but didnt reprimand him. The doctor says youll be discharged within the hour. Ace and I will take you home.
Hearing his name, Ace sat at attention, looking at his master.
Ace, she murmured. Thats a fitting name.
Something she couldnt identify flickered in Adams eyes. I thought so, too.
Holding his gaze, she said, I have a friend I can call to take me home.
Actually, if youre up to it, Id like to take you to the museum, then home, he said. Id like you to verify there is nothing missing.
Her heart gave a nervous thump. Gladly.
Despite her relief that nothing had been stolen, she couldnt stop the shiver of anxiety from slithering down her spine. Because if the intruders intent had been to kill her...then he might come back to finish the job.
* * *
Adam drove through the midmorning DC traffic with Lana secured in the passenger seat. They were on their way to the museum. She hadnt said much other than a polite thank-you when he opened the passenger door for her.
He slid a glance her way, liking her profile. Shed tied her long dark hair back in a low ponytail, which gave him a clear view of her straight nose, high cheekbones and the proud jut of her chin.
From this vantage, he couldnt see the bandage but the bloodstains on the collar of her white blouse reminded him of the trauma shed suffered.
He parked at an angle next to a patrol cruiser outside the entrance to the museum. After releasing Ace from the back, he escorted Lana inside. Ace walked between them.
A dozen or so uniformed patrol officers nodded in acknowledgement of a fellow law enforcement officer and gave Lana curious stares as she, Adam and Ace walked into the main lobby.
Adam had never visited this particular museum. He was immediately struck with the interesting way the wall art and the display cases were arranged, allowing a flowing progression through history. Solid white marble walls and matching floor provided a nondescript backdrop, which emphasized the colors of the artwork.
Nice, he said.
Lana caught his gaze. The beaming smile on her face full of pride made his heart jerk like the muscle had taken a direct hit from the business end of a Taser.
Weve worked really hard to make this a premier museum to rival the others in the city. She touched his arm, the contact setting off a firestorm shooting up his arm beneath the thick cotton material of his uniform. She jerked her hand away as if she, too, had felt the current of electricity. Must be the static in the air from the spring storm.
She laced her fingers together in front of her. If it were not for the Carroll family, this museum wouldnt be here.
Carroll family? he murmured more to keep her talking than from real interest. In his experience when people got on a verbal roll they tended to divulge aspects of themselves they wouldnt normally share.
Really? Her eyes lit up. Daniel Carroll was one of three commissioners appointed by General George Washington to survey and define the District of Columbia. The Carrolls owned land in Maryland, and Daniel strongly advocated locating the nations capital on the banks of the Potomac.
Her face glowed with animation as she went on to tell him about the Carrolls descendants buying the building and forming a nonprofit foundation to start the museum. The joy in her voice squeezed Adams lungs, wringing out all the air as though hed run a twenty-block foot chase.
Maybe getting her to open up on a subject she was so passionate about wasnt the best idea since he got too easily wrapped up in her voice and could forget his purpose.
Out of the corner of his eye Adam spotted Detective David Delvecchio of the DC Police Department coming toward them.
Lanas monologue tapered off for a moment before she breathed out, Its gone.
Adam followed her gaze to an empty display case where a bed of red velvet sparkled with splinters of glass. Little plastic yellow markers were set in a circle around the case. As he led Lana closer, Adam noted bright red blood sprinkled on the floor amongst shards of glass. Lanas blood.
What do you have? Adam asked as the detective halted in front of them.
Davids mouth lifted at one corner. Former Special Agent Adam Donovan. Didnt realize wed invited the K-9 unit to the party.
Adam flinched at the reminder of his past. He could feel Lanas curious gaze on his face like an itch, but he refused to scratch. This break-in may be related to an active investigation of ours.
After giving Lana an interested once-over, David bounced his gaze back to Adam, a question in his eyes.
Wheres the arrow? Lana asked, drawing Davids attention back to her.
Knowing he had to tread lightly to ensure cooperation, Adam said, This is Lana Gomez.
Davids eyes widened then narrowed. I see. The artifact is with the crime scene technicians. He turned his sharp-eyed gaze on Adam. You poaching the case, Donovan?
More like hoping we can work together. Adam kept his voice neutral. As I said, part of an open investigation.