Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 04 - Dirty Deeds (22 page)

I hurried downstairs and to the library.

Please be here.

To my surprise, someone was in the room. A tall man with broad shoulders and a round stomach paced there, jingling some change in his pockets as he walked. He stopped when he saw me walk in.

“Gabby?”

I nodded and extended my hand. “That’s me.”

“I’m Doug. What’s this meeting about?”

His directness made me pause for a moment. I had to make sure I handled our talk correctly, or my gut told me this no-nonsense lawyer was going to walk away. “I was the one who found Jackie yesterday.”

He nodded. “Okay. What does that have to do with me?”

“I’ve been asked to look into her death.”

“What are your credentials?”

I wanted to say
Is that any of your business
? Instead, I said, “I worked for the medical examiner, but I’m on my own now.”

He stared at me, as if uncertain of my level of trustworthiness. Finally, he nodded slowly. “What can I do for you?”

“Jackie was your colleague, correct?”

He nodded. “That’s correct. We worked together at the D.A.’s office down in Atlanta. As soon as her death is ruled a homicide, I’m sure the feds will get involved. The death of an assistant D.A. is never taken lightly, even if the boyfriend has already been arrested.”

“Had any threats been made against her?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

“How about you then? Did you have any reason to be upset with her?”

He let out a quick burst of air and then did a half-chuckle, half-coughing thing. “Me? What exactly are you implying?”

“I’m not directly implying anything. I’m just saying that I heard the two of you didn’t always see eye to eye.”

“How in tarnation did you hear that?”

I shrugged. “Look, it’s like this. There are only a limited number of people who could have known who she was and that she was here at Allendale this week. You just happened to be here, know that she was going on a hike, and you could possibly even have motive.”

He shook his head, his finger waving across the air. “I don’t know who you’re talking to, but that is just plain ludicrous. Besides, all the evidence points to the boyfriend. He even admitted to writing that ransom note, last I heard.”

“Did Jackie reject you for a construction worker? Is that why you had a problem with her?”

“Jackie? Me?” His voice climbed a few notches. “You’re off your rocker. No, I’m happily married. I was never interested in Jackie.”

“Then what did you have against her?”

He stopped and blew out a breath through his nose. Finally, he looked at me again. “You want to know the truth? Because I have a feeling you’re not going to stop asking questions until you get it, are you?”

“You know me well, especially when considering you don’t really know me at all.”

“It’s like this. Jackie was blowing it. Big time. She wasn’t cut out to be a D.A.”

“How’d she get a job doing it then?”

He pulled back his lips and shook his head. “Easy. Her mom. Her mom has a lot of money. There’s power in money. She has friends in high places and pulled strings for her in order for her daughter to get a job. I don’t know exactly. I just know Jackie wasn’t hired on merit.”

“How exactly was she so bad?”

“She just made stupid choices. She didn’t think things through. We were in the middle of this huge investigation that involved an auto theft ring. Customs and Border Patrol, the FBI, and other agencies were involved and had been gathering evidence for almost two years. She almost blew it for us by letting some information leak that would have ruined everything.”

“That’s what your disagreement was about?”

“Absolutely. I was the one who walked in on her trying to cut a deal with someone who was in no way trustworthy. He would have gone back and told all of his friends the low down. Jackie didn’t take very kindly to my reprimand.”

“Did she ruin everything?”

Doug shook his head. “No, thank goodness I got to her in time. She still hadn’t forgiven me, though. She thought I purposely embarrassed her because I wanted to get her fired.”

“Didn’t you?”

He sighed again. “Not really. I just didn’t think she was competent. I was hoping she might leave on her own. She only ended up making more work for the rest of us. I can’t be sure, but I don’t think she ever really wanted to be a lawyer anyway. I honestly think she would have been happy just as a stay-at-home mom.”

I nodded. I couldn’t say that I thought this man was a killer. He may have been a terrible co-worker and an arrogant attorney, but nothing gave an indication that he had murder in his eyes. “Is there anything else you might be able to add that would help?”

He shifted and crossed his arms. “Why are you convinced that her boyfriend isn’t behind this?”

“Nothing concrete, just a gut feeling.”

He stared at me another moment before bobbing his head up and down. “I wish I could help. I really do. The last thing I wanted to hear was that she was dead. But I don’t know what else to tell you. I’d find it hard to believe that anyone from Georgia would have followed her here and concocted this scheme.”

He had a point.

He nodded toward the door. “I’ve got to grab some breakfast before the conference starts. Sorry I can’t be of more help.”

He wasn’t the only one who was sorry about that, I thought.

***

After Doug left the library, I sank back into the couch. Well, I sank about as much as someone can sink into something that felt like it was made of upholstered concrete. Where did this leave me now?

My thoughts wandered to Riley. Was he eating breakfast now? I glanced at my watch. No, he should be on his way to his conference. My heart pounded harder at the thought. This trip was supposed to bring us closer together, not pull us apart.

I sighed and reached into my pocket. I pulled out the metal plate I’d found last night. Upon closer inspection, it looked like part of it had been broken off. But seventeen numbers remained.

What could they be? It was too long to be a phone number or a social security number. It almost seemed like some type of serial number.

It had probably just fallen off some of the supplies they used during the construction downstairs, I realized. Despite that, I wasn’t ready to give this up. I wanted to think on it a while longer, just in case.

I stood and stretched. I’d grab some breakfast and figure out what to do for the rest of the day.

As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I spotted Carol Harrington. My heart thudded in my chest. What that woman must be going through.

I’d intended on stopping by to check on her last night, but then all the chaos with Riley had broken out.

When she saw me, she stepped forward. I hurried to meet her and gave her a quick hug. She sniffled in my arms.

“I heard you found her.”

I nodded. “I’m so sorry. This wasn’t the outcome I wanted.”

“None of us wanted this. This just goes to prove why you shouldn’t get mixed up with the wrong people. If Jacqueline had never met Clint … ” Mrs. Harrington shook her head. “If only I could turn back time and try to convince her to stay away from that man.”

“It might have only driven her further into his arms. Love sometimes works like that.”

She nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”

Just then, I noticed the suitcase at her feet. “You’re leaving?”

“I’d rather grieve in the comfort of my own home. This place … it’s now shrouded with bad memories.” She shook her head and a little gasp escaped. “My life will never be the same, you know.”

“I’m so sorry.” I wished there was something else I could tell her, but I had nothing.

“Keep searching for answers, Gabby.”

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Really?”

She nodded. “You’re the one who found her body, not the police. You’re the one who’s going to be able to get to the bottom of this. I’ll have no peace until I know Jacqueline has justice. I want evidence that will put the final nail into Clint’s coffin.”

“And if it’s not Clint?”

“Justice, Gabby. I want justice.”

Her shoes clicked against the floor as she went out to her car.

CHAPTER 28

A plate with a steaming ham and cheese omelet, freshly diced hash browns, and a piece of watermelon sat in front of me. Any other day, this breakfast would have my mouth watering. But not today. Today, I had no appetite.

Troubled relationships could do that to a person.

Normally, when a relationship went south, I just let it go. I wasn’t used to fighting for people in my life. I could fight for issues and fight for justice and fight to solve other people’s problems. But there was this part of me that still hung on to the idea that I was damaged goods. There was still a part of me that was convinced that I was destined to mess up every relationship, even my relationship with God, for that matter.

I sighed and lifted my coffee mug. The server had somehow skipped over filling my upturned cup again, so I’d gotten my own, something I was getting quite good at. Of course, I’d always been good at doing things for myself. I’d learned early on not to sit around and wait for things to happen; if I wanted something in my life then I was the one who’d have to make the effort to obtain it.

“May I join you?”

I looked up and saw Ajay standing there, looking like a true dignitary with his sash around his waist and white suit on. I pushed myself up straighter in my chair and nodded. “Please do.”

“I generally eat alone, but I thought it might be nice to have some company after our ordeal yesterday.” He settled across from me, raised his cup, and a server instantly appeared.

I scowled at the attentive waitress as she poured the coffee. You could put a girl in a fancy resort, but that definitely didn’t make the girl fancy. I was okay with that, though. I just wanted to be me, warts and all. Apparently, I had a lot of warts.

“You look downcast this morning.”  Ajay stirred his coffee. “Our discovery yesterday has you shaken?”

I shrugged. “Maybe a little. Truthfully, I got into a fight with my fiancé.”

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks. Me, too. But I wasn’t upfront with him about a couple of things, so it’s my fault. I just don’t know how to make it right.”

“Miss St. Claire, true love always conquers all. If he does not see how wonderful you are, then he is not for you, nor is he your true love.”

Love always forgives, always protects, always trusts, always hopes. Love never fails.
The Bible verse floated through my mind. Was I even capable of finding that kind of love? I had my doubts.

“I appreciate the advice, Ajay. I do.”

“My wife was my one true love. There will never be anyone else like her. I would do anything to have one more day with her.”

My throat tightened with emotion. “What happened?”

“A tragic car accident.” He shook his head. “I was supposed to be here for her. But I just had to work a little more and then I would join her.” His eyes met mine. “If I had been here, she might still be alive.” He pulled out his necklace, the one with the sun on the end. “She gave this to me.

“I’m sorry, Ajay. You said here. Was her accident in the States?”

“Right here at Allendale. I do not know why she did not hire a driver or take the shuttle, in the very least. Both were at her disposal. But she decided to drive at night down that mountain road. A truck ran her car off the mountain.”

“That’s awful. How long has it been?”

He grimaced. “Three years. I kept trying to get over my loss back in my home country, but I could not. I thought maybe if I came here, I could finally get some closure.”

“Is it working?”

His lips pulled back in a line. “I wish I could say yes, but I cannot. Losing a loved one leaves a hole in your heart. I am not sure I want to fill it.”

“I pray that you’ll find peace.”

A hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “I pray the same for you as well.”

I set my coffee cup back down and stabbed one of my potatoes, not wanting to waste this meal that cost more than I wanted to think about. “What’s on your agenda for today?”

The waitress set a plate of fruit in front of him. I didn’t recall him ordering and wondered if he got the same thing every morning.  As she stepped back, I saw a familiar face in the distance. Deanna. She gestured wildly to get my attention. Her face clearly showed she was elated that I was talking with Ajay.

He looked over his shoulder, following my gaze. As soon as he turned, Deanna stopped motioning and leaned against the wall, looking off into the distance. “Everything okay?”

“Just fine. Sorry. I thought I saw someone.” I tried to keep my eyes off of Deanna, but she began gesturing again.  “Let’s see. You asked about my agenda? I was actually thinking about going back to that overlook today. I’m desperate to find my ring.”

“Going out in the woods alone like that is not a good idea. Not to be a joy kill.”

“A kill joy.” I corrected with a smile. “And I know it’s not smart, but I’ve got to find it, and the one person who might go with me apparently isn’t speaking to me at the moment.”

“How would you feel if I joined you?”

I blinked. “Really? You want to go out on an ATV?”

He shrugged. “Having some company would be refreshing, even if I understand that you are taken.”

Relief filled me. Good. He didn’t think this friendship was anything more. Now, if only I could convince Riley of that. What a Catch 22. To prove that I was taking our relationship seriously, I had to find my ring. To find my ring, however, I had to go into the woods with a handsome, single man who wasn’t my fiancé.

I mentally shrugged. If Riley spoke to me again, I’d explain everything to him. No keeping secrets. But until he had his “space” then I had no choice but to explain later.

“That sounds great, Ajay.”

Deanna motioned in the background, jumping up and down now. I put my napkin on the table. “Could you excuse me for a moment?”

“Of course.”

I slipped across the room toward Deanna, promptly giving her a scowl. “What are you doing?”