Blind Witness (6 page)

“If you’re done with me, I think I’m going upstairs,” Britt said, as they ended their discussion on what to do next.

“We’re done. I’ll let you know when I get copies of all the reporters’ photos and stills from the video.” Todd held up the surveillance tape they’d just picked up. “Are you going to stop and see someone on your way upstairs?”

Britt looked to the elevator one more time. “I think I might.”

“Good idea,” the man said.

“Match making, detective?”

“Just a man who’s learned not to let a good thing slip away.”

“Sounds like experience.” Britt looked to the lawman.

“You could say. I met the right woman, but I pulled back. I was worried about dangers of my job, worried about leaving a widow.”

“I have a feeling there’s more to this.”

“Yeah, she was killed when she stopped to get gas and walked into a robbery. The kid was so strung out he didn’t even know he shot her.”

“Man, I’m sorry.”

The detective nodded. “Just be careful what you let slip away.”

Britt entered the elevator with the thought going over again in his mind. Stopping on the fourth floor, he greeted several people as he passed.

“Good morning, Lois.” He stepped in the office, glancing to Rachelle’s empty desk. “Where’s Rachelle.”

“I’m not sure, and I’m worried. She’s never been late before. I’ve called her home but there’s no answer.”

“She was downstairs and got on the elevator a good fifteen minutes ago.”

“But,” Lois stood, “let me try the ladies room.”

Britt followed her out of the room. He stopped at a room with an open door down the hall. “Have you seen Rachelle Harris this morning?”

“She passed here at least fifteen minutes ago.”

“Thank you.” He turned back as Lois came toward him.

“She’s not there.”

“She passed here but didn’t make it,” he paused in the middle of his sentence. There were only two doors between where they stood and her office. Lois moved to the closest to check while Britt stepped across the hall.

He pushed open the door to the supply room but wasn’t ready for the sight of Rachelle lying motionless on the floor. Fear like he had never experienced hit him. “Rachelle.” He dropped beside her, feeling a burst of elation as she stirred slightly. “Rachelle,” he brushed back her hair, stoking a finger over her silky cheek. He heard Lois gasp behind him, and figured the woman would call for help.

Rachelle stirred again, her eyes fluttered open. She blinked as if to focus them, confused. With a groan, she lifted her hand to her forehead.

“Lay still.” He caught her hand. “I’ll get the paramedics.”

“Britt,” she tried to push up.

“Don’t try to move.”

She ignored him, pushing her way into a sitting position. “I’m okay,” she said, but reached for him for balance. Britt slid his arm around her, urging her body against his.

“It’s my head.”

“Let me see.” Placing a hand under her chin, he tilted it up, gently sliding his hand into her hair. When he touched a bump, she flinched.

“You have quite a bump. Lois has someone on the way.” He was certain that was where the woman had disappeared to after he heard her at the door.

“I’m okay, if you’ll just help me up.” She started to rise.

“You should stay still,” he objected, but again it didn’t stop her.

“I’m fine.” She kept a hold of his arm to steady herself. “Where am I?”

“In the supply room just down the hall from your office, you don’t remember where you were?” he asked concerned.

“I wasn’t sure where he dragged me, though it didn’t seem far.”

“He?”
Britt asked, feeling his stomach muscles tightening again.

“He was here.
The caller. I was coming down the hall and bumped into someone, when I moved to pass, he grabbed me. He put his hand over my mouth so I couldn’t scream, and pulled me in here.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I bumped my head when I fell trying to get away from him.”

“Come on. Let’s get you out of here, so I can call security.” He lifted her into his arms, bringing a squeal and her arms around his neck. He went down the hall to her office, settling her into her chair next to the astonished Lois.

“Medics and security are on their way.”

“Thank you.” Britt sat on the corner of Rachelle’s desk.

“Just rest a minute then you can tell me what happened. I’ll get you a drink.” He left the room.

“Rachelle,” Lois started, but her phone cut her off.
“Just a minute.” Lois answered the phone. A few seconds later Rachelle’s phone rang too. She automatically reached for the headphones, sliding them into place.

“
Clairbourne Industries, executive answering. May I help you?”

“You’re all right. I was afraid I hurt you.”

Rachelle flinched at the voice. “You did.”

“I didn’t mean to. I just wanted you to understand that you have to stay away from
Clairbourne.”

“But you were the one that hurt me, and you hurt the gardener too after you said no one would get hurt.”

“He was in the wrong place and I said I was sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“But people are getting hurt. You have to stop this.”

“No! Clairbourne’s got to pay.”

“Why? What does he have to pay for? What did he do to you?” Rachelle pressed then paused when he didn’t answer. “If you want me to stay away from him you have to give me a reason.”

“He took her away.” The voice yelled in the phone.

“Who?
Who did he take away?”

“I loved her but she couldn’t see me because of him.” The voice quieted. “She was so beautiful. You’re beautiful. You have a beautiful voice. She had a beautiful voice too. I used to listen to her sing when she was in the shower. Do you sing?”

“Yes, at my piano. I like to sing. What was her name?” She tried again, desperately searching for words to keep him talking.

“Will you sing for me? I promise not to hurt you again.”

“I don’t want you to hurt anyone. If you promise not to hurt anybody, I’ll sing for you.”

“Do you know the song
Aubrey. That was her song. I memorized it.”

“I know the song. I’ll sing it to you if you promise not to hurt anyone.”

“I have to. Clairbourne’s got to die. Then she can rest and not feel bad. He has to die.”

“No!” Rachelle cried out, but he was already gone.

“It was him.” Britt’s voice sounded behind her.

Rachelle nodded, too choked up to talk.

“You shouldn’t have answered the phone.”

“I didn’t expect it to be him.”

“You should’ve been resting. I’ll take you home.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“You were attacked.”

“I’m trying not to think about that. Do you want me to go home and keep thinking about it over and over all day?”

“No, I don’t want anything happening to you at all.” He took her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles.

“Well, it did, so face it,” she said bluntly, pulling back. The next instant she felt his arms around her and tears slipped free.

“I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to let him beat me.” Still, she pressed her face into Britt’s shoulder, unable to let go. It felt too good to be in his arms.

“Mr.
Clairbourne, the medics would like to check her over now.” Lois’s words reminded Rachelle where she was and she pulled back, embarrassed.

“I’ll make … you a copy of the last conversation.” She turned to the keyboard before he could stop her. It only took seconds to call up the print, and transfer it to his file to get
herself back under control.

The medics then checked her out and pronounce that she should be okay, but she should take it easy. With advice that if she felt any dizziness or nausea to see her doctor they left.

“You sure you wouldn’t like me to take you home?”

“No, I think I’ll just go to the ladies room to freshen up.” She ruined her self-composed image by wobbling a little as she stood.

“I’ll go with her,” Lois volunteered, moving beside her.

Britt tried to focus on the paper he’d just taken from the printer, but his thoughts were on Rachelle. The caller had attacked her, ten feet from her office, in the middle of his building, and no one had seen anything.

“Come on,” he said to his security chief, who had come in a minute earlier. “I want to check with everyone on the floor to see if anyone was hanging around who wasn’t normally supposed to be here.”

Five minutes later they were back in the still empty office. No one had seen anything.

“This guy is like a ghost who comes and goes as he wants,” Britt exclaimed in frustration.

“Or a figment,”
Laslow said.

“What do you mean?”

“No one else has talked to this guy. No one’s heard him and he has attacked only Miss Harris.”

“What are you saying?” Britt got his drift but didn’t like it at all.

“Maybe she’s making it all up.” The security man waved the paper he was holding.

“Why?”

“A number of reasons. Attention. She gained a lot of attention, from you especially.” His voice was full of scorn.

“And I suppose she made the bombs.”

“Maybe they’re a coincidence, or maybe she has someone helping her. She’s pretty enough to lead some poor sap astray. A lot of men would do anything for what she has to offer, and when the lights go out, it doesn’t matter if she can’t see.”

The gasp at the door jerked Britt’s attention that way. He could tell by the expression on Rachelle and Lois’ face that both women had heard everything that was said. And while Lois looked angry enough to take both men apart, Rachelle looker paler, more broken than when he found her on the floor of the supply room.

Britt straightened from where he leaned on the desk as she started talking.

“Why would I do this?” Her words were muted and rough. As if they had to be forced out.

“Rachelle.” Her name was drowned out by Laslow’s answer.

“Revenge, maybe you blame
Clairbourne for your accident. It happened on your way home after you had stayed late working.”

“It had nothing to do with work. It was an accident.
Clairbourne was the only one who’d take a chance to hire me back,” she defended.

“But they wouldn’t cover the operation.”

“It’s not their choice. It’s the insurance company’s.”

“Still,”
Laslow started again.

“Enough,” Britt cut him off. “Leave her alone. I don’t believe Rachelle has anything to do with this, except our guy’s fascination with her.” He sent his security chief a threatening look when it looked like the man would argue further. “Rachelle, why don’t you come in and sit down and tell us what happened when he was here?”

Her head shook. “I think I’ll take you up on the offer to go home. I don’t feel very well after all.”

“Rachelle.”

She stepped back further in the hall. “Nothing happened. I got lost. I fell and bumped my head. What do you expect out of a blind woman?”

Britt wasn’t letting it end. “Stop it.”

“No,” she said defiantly. “Lois will you get me my purse? I don’t know where it is.” She held out her hand while the other secretary moved past the men to get her bag.

“I’ll take you home,” Britt said, figuring it was best to let her cool off with having her own way.

“No, thank you. I think I’ll take his advice and stay away from you.”

He knew she was referring to the attacker but she was so curt about it the words ripped through him. He felt an incredible loss. In fifteen minutes, he had gone from her wanting to help and support him, to not wanting to be around him. It was tearing him up.

The moment the purse touched her hand, Rachelle turned to Lois. “I’ll call you later.” She turned away and walked off, head held high.

The older secretary gave enough time for Rachelle to move down the hall before turning on them. “You have some serious problems,” she said to the security chief in a very disparaging way, then turning to Britt. “And you, for a smart man are incredibly stupid. I don’t care if you fire me. That is the sweetest, kindest woman there ever was. Even before the accident, she would never hurt anyone.” Turning back on
Laslow, she jabbed her finger at his chest. “As to your crude comment, you couldn’t be farther off. Not that it’s your business, Rachelle doesn’t sleep around. She didn’t even sleep with her jerk fiancé.

Britt’s mind dropped everything but fiancé. “She has a fiancé?”

“Had. The jerk couldn’t handle the fact she might be blind. That didn’t fit his image of perfect show piece and hostess. He ended their engagement about her second week out of the hospital, as if she didn’t have enough to handle at the time.”