Friday

  Back on the road

  "He knows a lot more than he's saying," James grumbles from the passenger seat.

  "Yeah, I got that feeling too!" Dave agrees, concentrating hard on the road and tucking in his bottom lip. "I'm curious though. What makes you say that, Mack?"

  "He was a little too forthcoming with his information. I got the distinct impression Stefan was afraid of someone. There was something about his manner...His fidgeting. Especially, when he spoke about Claudia and the girl Jeremiah assaulted in high school. There's more going on there. I know it."

  "Hmmm," Dave says under his breath. "You mean it wasn't the lack of pictures in the home that clued you in?"

  "Oh, I noticed that too. Real weird. Also, he has a tan line on his finger but no ring. Also weird. I never saw any mention of a spouse in his records. The Claybornes are indeed a very strange family."

  "He's not a Clayborne, James. He's adopted. He made that very clear. We should've dug deeper into this Stefan fella from the start. Seen what other kinds of skeletons we could've dug up."

  "There's still time, Dave. The Aquarius case is reopened. As far as I'm concerned, Stefan Clayborne is now a person of interest. If it stinks...It's probably unwashed. Something definitely stinks about what we just witnessed in that house."

  "Okay, but...James, I'm just not feeling that Stefan is the killer. He can't be...Not with his scheduled runs out of state matching the dates of some of these murders. It's like you said in Lich...'No man can be in two places at once.'"

  "Never said he was the killer, Dave. But he's hiding something. Maybe even someone. And that warrants some careful study."

  "That it does," Dave agrees.

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  Merrville County

  Dave's Residence

  Hazel enters the laundry room laden down with a heaping wicker basket full of sheets and blankets. She smiles inwardly and sets the overflowing laundry basket on the lid of the dryer. A soft sigh escapes Hazel's lips as she opens the washer and throws in two tide pods.

  The softest of breezes stirs Hazel's hair and she glances up in surprise. The window, did she open it? Or did Dave leave it open? She'll have to talk with him about that. A spanking may be in order.

  Hazel laughs wholeheartedly and carefully loads the linens into the washer. She is just completing her task when the doorbell rings. Huh? Too early for the mail.

  Hazel rushes out of the laundry room, forgetting the open window. She reaches the front door and peeks to see who is outside. Her eyes widen and she hurries to unlock the door.

  "Detective Bennett?!" Hazel exclaims. "Hi. This is a nice surprise. We missed you last night at dinner. Did you change your mind about those leftovers?"

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  "No. Uh, actually...I need to talk with Deputy Newsome. Is he here?"

  Hazel's face grows pale and she shakes her head from side to side. Shifting her gaze around Detective Bennett, to avoid making eye contact, Hazel briefly looks down the driveway at the blue car sitting there.

  "No, he isn't."

  "Oh. Okay. Well, I stopped by the police department and they said Detective Mackey and Deputy Newsome were probably at the Sheriff's Office. I went by there and no one has seen Dave since early this morning. I figured if they were together...They might be out here. But, I was wrong. Sorry."

  "Um, I'm sorry I couldn't be more help," Hazel says regretfully.

  "No problem," Detective Bennett says. "I've got an Uber waiting for me...So I'd better hurry. I'll catch you later on the leftovers. Nice seeing you again, Hazel."

  "You too, Detective."

  Detective Bennett nods appreciatively and heads for the idling car at the end of the drive. He looks over his left shoulder once and waves. Hazel returns the gesture, a forced grin on her nervous face. However, as soon as Detective Bennett climbs into the waiting Uber, Hazel rushes inside the house and shuts the door.

  Was it a lie to avoid telling the detective about Dave and James' secret plans? Not really. After all, she doesn't even know where they went. All she does know is that they have no authorization to be there. Wherever there is.

  Hazel tosses her long hair over one shoulder and makes her way back to the laundry room. She stops by the bedroom to pick up Dave's uniform from the previous night, as well as her underwear and nightgown. Entering the laundry room a second time, Hazel remembers the open window she abandoned earlier. Starting the heavy-duty load of laundry, Hazel takes a step toward the window. A shocked expression contorts her beautiful face when she realizes the window is now closed. What the hell?

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  Merrville Sheriff's Department

  Dave is seated at his desk, flipping through several pages of reports when Detective Patterson enters the room. Deputy Chastain is once again at the water dispenser. He looks the detective up and down as she passes, eyes lingering on her back half.

  Dave is oblivious to the woman detective's approach. So intent is he on finding what he is looking for. Detective Patterson places a hand on top of the report Dave is studying in order to gain the deputy's attention. Dave glances up in surprise, making eye contact with Octavia. The detective keeps her voice low as she bends closer.

  "Deputy Newsome...May I have a word with you," Octavia says, strain in her voice.

  "I told you before, Octavia...It's just Dave. Sure. Have a seat."

  "In private," Detective Patterson responds almost two enthusiastically. "Please."

  Dave senses something is not quite right with the detective. He nods and rearranges the pile of papers in front of him.

  "Sure. We can go out to my truck," Dave answers.

  They are not quite at the deputy's truck when Detective Patterson turns to Dave with a worried expression. Dave's brow creases with concern. What could possibly have the detective this hot and bothered? He hasn't seen Octavia since yesterday. And they were on decent terms when they parted.

  "Dave? Do the numbers three six three mean anything to you?" Octavia inquires of the towering deputy in a shaky voice.

  "Um...I. Octavia, what's this all about?"

  "Just answer the question, Dave!" Octavia says impatiently, her tone rising. "Please, Dave."

  "Yes. It does. I didn't want to say anything once I figured out exactly where I remembered you from. I didn't think you'd want me bringing that sort of thing up."

  "So you do remember? You saw what he did to me during...." Octavia begins to say, her throat tightening around the words.

  Dave nods solemnly. He observes the flustered detective with weary eyes. He feels himself returning to his previous way of thinking. Maybe it is a bad idea for Detective Patterson to be involved in a case as vile as the Aquarius Murders? The strain of her own experience may shade the manner in which she carries out the investigation. Or, maybe she's the perfect detective for the case in Fell's Springs. One who knows. Either way, this is her investigation now too.

  "I would never tell anyone what I saw, Octavia. Not unless you wanted me to. I'd never do that. That's not how I operate. And besides, what would be the point? If I could've stopped him...I would have. I was told to stand down. I couldn't risk blowing the team's cover. Or, the assignment. Catching Maldavo was too important. I know that's no consolation. But, I'm sorry. I truly am, Octavia."

  Detective Patterson studies Dave's face for a brief moment before turning and heading for her Buick. Dave watches Octavia get into her very showy muscle car and pull out of the parking lot. He presses his index finger and thumb against his chin in a severe thinking pose.