Ill drive down to Birmingham and check it out for you.
Ill meet you there.
Shouldnt you stay with your daughter?
Jake and Gabe took her and my nephew Mike fishing to keep their minds off whats going on with Cissy. Theyll be out on the lake all morning.
You shouldve gone with them.
His soft laugh was humorless. Id be on the phone the whole time anyway.
Then why dont you ride along with me? Kristen supposed he might be of use to her if the Birmingham Police didnt want to play nice.
Okay, he agreed. Do you know where Cooper Marina is?
Yeah. See you in fifteen minutes.
KRISTEN TANDYS CHEVROLET pulled into the marina parking lot with a minute to spare. Sam didnt wait for her to get out. Wheres Detective Foley? he asked as he slid into the passenger seat.
She cranked the engine. Talking to a neighbor of yours. Might be a lead. She didnt sound convinced.
I talked to my colleague again just before you arrived. Sam buckled in as she headed toward the main highway. Bomb squads still inside. Nobody seems to know anything yet.
Dont imagine its a job youd want to rush.
He slanted a look at her. Her eyes were on the narrow road twisting through the woods from his parents marina to the two-lane highway leading into town, her lips curved in a wry smile. Hed been too preoccupied last night to really process much about her, like the fact that she was strikingly pretty. Hed been right about how young she was, though. No older than her late twenties.
Shed shed her jacket to drive, a well-cut white blouse revealing soft curves her boxy business suit had hidden the night before. In the morning sunlight, her skin was as smooth and pale as fine porcelain and her sleek blond hair shimmered like gold. He was surprised by how attractive he found her, under the circumstances.
He distracted himself with a question. You havent been a detective long, have you?
Her expression grew defensive. Six months.
He nodded. Big case for you, I guess.
Not my usual petty theft or meth lab, she admitted.
How about Foley? How long has he been a detective?
Her gaze cut toward him. Should we send you our résumés?
Would you? he countered, more to see her reaction than any real doubt about their credentials.
She took a swift breath through her nose. He could almost hear her mentally counting to ten, he thought, stifling a grin. Detective Foley has been an investigator for ten years. Five of those were with the Memphis Police Department Homicide Bureau. Ive been an officer with the Gossamer Ridge Police Department since I turned twenty-one.
He couldnt hold back a smile. That long, huh?
She slanted him an exasperated look, her eyes spitting blue fire. Anything new with your niece? Last time I checked, the hospital said there was no change.
Thats because theres not been any change, he said, his smile fading. Better than a downturn, I suppose, but a little good news would be welcome.
Have they diagnosed the problem?
She has a skull fracture and some minor bleeding in her brain. Right now they think shes got a good chance of full recovery, but I think thats based on her age and relative health more than anything theyre seeing in the CAT scans.
Damn. We could really use her statement.
He shot her a look.
Her neck reddened and her lips pressed into a tight line. Sorry. Im still working on my self-edit button.
Youre right, he admitted. We could use her statement.
I checked in with the lab before I left the station. Theyre comparing all the fingerprints to eliminate the ones youd expect to find, so its going to take time to see if there are any unidentified prints. She turned onto the interstate on-ramp, heading south to Birmingham. I know you said last night you didnt think your ex could be a suspect-
She doesnt have a motive, he said bluntly. She ended our marriage as much because she didnt want to be a mother as because she didnt want to be married to me. Maddy was an accident she couldnt deal with. He clamped his mouth shut before more bitter words escaped.
Some women just arent mother material, Kristen murmured.
Some women dont even try, he shot back.
She was silent for a moment, a muscle in her jaw working. After a bit, she said, Maybe when we get to Birmingham, well have the answer to whos behind the attack on your niece.
Maybe. He doubted it, though. It wasnt likely that the guy who broke into his house, nearly killed his niece and tried to kidnap his daughter would send Sam a package that could be traced back to him.
Within thirty minutes they pulled up to the police cordon blocking traffic in front of the Jefferson County District Attorneys office. Sam directed Kristen to park in the deck across from the county courthouse, and they walked down the street to where the police had set up the barriers.
Sam spotted Tim Melton, the colleague hed reached earlier. He crossed to Meltons side. Any news?
I just saw someone from the bomb squad come out and talk to Captain Rayburn, Tim answered. He gave Kristen Tandy a curious look. Tim Melton, he introduced himself.
Detective Tandy, she answered.
Oh. Right. He looked back at Sam. Hows your niece?
No change, he answered tersely. Detective Tandys investigating the case.
I guess that package might be connected?
Maybe. Well see. Kristen stepped closer to the police tape. Any way to get me in there? she asked Sam.
He searched the crowd of policemen and firefighters on the other side of the cordon to see if he could catch the eye of one of the handful of officers he knew by name. A few seconds later, a sandy-haired detective named Cropwell spotted him and crossed to the tape to greet him.
Nothing like fan mail, huh? he said with a bleak grin.
Whats the latest?
Perkins from the Bomb Squad said theyve x-rayed it and dont think its a bomb. They were about to open it last I heard. Cropwell glanced over his shoulder. Rayburnll probably be the first to know.
Kristen Tandy flipped open a slim leather wallet, displaying her badge. Sam had a feeling that Cropwell wouldnt exactly be impressed-Gossamer Ridge was small potatoes as Alabama towns went-but he had to admire her bravado.
Kristen Tandy, Gossamer Ridge Police Department. We believe the package delivered to Mr. Coopers office may be connected to a home invasion case were investigating.
As Sam had expected, Cropwell looked at Kristens badge with a mixture of amusement and disdain. Well let you know if anything in the package is of concern to you, Detective.
Detective Tandy is investigating an attack on my niece, who was caring for my daughter at the time, Sam said firmly. If this is connected, I want her in on it.
Kristen didnt drop her gaze from Cropwells, but Sam saw her expression shift slightly, a slight curve of her pink lips in response to his defense.
Cropwell looked at Sam, instantly apologetic. Yes, sir.
May I enter the scene? Kristen asked, her voice tinted with long-suffering patience that made Cropwell flush.
Yeah, fine. He lifted the cordon and let Kristen come under. But when Sam started to follow, he blocked entrance. Sorry, sir, he said, his eyes glittering with payback, but civilians arent allowed behind the tape. Not even you, sir.
Sam nodded, acknowledging Cropwells small victory.
Kristen would have died rather than let it show, but mingling with the Birmingham police officers busy outside the Jefferson County District Attorneys office was beginning to make her feel like the biggest rube that ever walked a city street. It wasnt that they treated her badly; most of the other policemen on the scene were polite and helpful, answering her questions and helping her get caught up as quickly as possible. But she was clearly the youngest detective there, and she could tell from the wary gazes of some of the Birmingham detectives that shed still be wearing a uniform and driving patrol if she werent on some hayseed rural police force.
She was waiting with the other detectives for word from the bomb squad when her cell phone rang. She excused herself, walked a few feet away and answered. Tandy.
I hear youre in Birmingham. Her bosss familiar voice rumbled over the phone, tinged with the same frustrated affection Carl usually showed when it came to her.
Why do I feel like I just violated curfew? she murmured.
Got anything yet?
Were waiting for word from the bomb squad. All we really know so far is that theres not actually a bomb in the package.
Thats progress, I suppose.
Heard anything from Foley? Did he get anything out of the interview with Coopers neighbor?
A rough description of a blue van she saw circling the neighborhood a few times earlier in the day, but nothing concrete. Foleys taking her some pictures to look at, see if she can pick out a make and model but right now, hes going door to door, talking to other neighbors.
She didnt miss the slight tone of admonishment. And you think I should be there doing that instead of being here waiting for news from the Birmingham bomb squad?
You said it, not me.
You said it without saying it. Movement to her left caught her attention. Bomb squads coming out. Gotta go.
She rang off and returned to the queue of police officers waiting for word. A tall, sandy-haired squad member peeled away from the rest of the group and moved toward the detectives. He carried a clear plastic bag containing what appeared to be the remains of a large manila envelope.
No bomb, no foreign substances. Youre clear to examine it, he told a tall, barrel-chested man standing near the front of the line. Kristen dug in her memory for the detectives name. Raymond-no, Rayburn. Captain Rayburn. She took advantage of her small size to slip through the huddle and reach Rayburns side just as he donned a pair of latex gloves and carefully opened the plastic bag.
He slanted a look toward her, his expression hard to read for a moment. Then his features relaxed and he gave a little half nod, as if beckoning her closer. Reckon youll want to see this, too, Detective.
She scooted closer. The contents were, indeed, the remains of a manila envelope. The bomb squad had apparently used a razor knife to slice it open and examine the contents.