Death Vetoes The Chairman (Lizzie Crenshaw Mysteries Book 7) (26 page)

“More like complete dossiers on them. Identification, Social Security numbers, birth certificates, bank accounts, you name it.”

“Some of Ethan’s victims?” I said. “Maybe she was using the information to blackmail him.”

“No idea,” he said as his phone rang. “It’s Hopkins. I better take this.”

I took a closer look at the files while he was on the phone. Something about the identification pictures struck me as odd. I laid them side by side and stared at them as T.J. came back in the room.

“McConnell raised holy hell with Hopkins about me muscling in on his case. Said that he wasn’t going to allow some youngster to tell him how to run an investigation.”

“I’m sure he used more colorful words than that.”

“According to Hopkins, very colorful. So Hopkins handed the phone to his supervisor, who told McConnell to get bent.”

“Oh boy.”

“Hopkins thought it was funny. He’s had problems with McConnell before. He loves sticking to the old fart. McConnell plans to go to the police chief to get the case back, but from what Hopkins told me, the chief doesn’t like McConnell too much, either.”

“What a shame.”

“What are you looking at?” T.J. said.

“These pictures,” I replied. “Take a look. Notice anything?”

T.J. leaned over and examined them for a couple of minutes. “Not really. I mean, different colored hair, eyes, no real distinguishing features, except for the dimples.”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?” T.J. said, looking confused.

“Every woman has dimples. And look here: they each tilt their heads slightly to the left. Height is the same, too. All of them are five foot six.”

“So? Maybe Ethan prefers women who are five foot six.”

“Get serious,” I said. “I’m only five foot four, and I don’t have dimples. Kass is five foot eight, at least, and Sage is shorter than I am.”

“What’s your point, Lizzie?”

“Don’t you get it?” I said, feeling totally exasperated. “These aren’t a bunch of different women! It’s all ONE woman! Barbara Stephenson, aka, Marie Barbara Stevens. Jessica Mangrove’s half-sister.”

McConnell sat at his desk and looked around before dialing. “We have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“I’ve lost the case.”

“What do you mean you lost it?”

“Some idiot agent and a woman showed up, claiming that their case had a connection to mine, and therefore, it was a federal investigation. He did everything but kick me out the door.”

“What were their names?”

“T.J. Roosevelt and…”

“Elizabeth Crenshaw.”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“Don’t ask.”

“So what are we going to do?”

“I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, you keep an eye on them.”

“I’ve got better things to do with my time than follow people.”

“If you want to get your money, you’ll do what I tell you to do.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you won’t make it to your retirement party next month.”

Edward Winthrop disconnected and dialed another number. “I need you to gas up the jet and get me a pilot ASAP.”

“Of course, sir. Where are you going?”

“Dallas. I have some unfinished business to take care of there.”

“Oh come on, you’ve got to be kidding!” Kass said. “Regina, don’t put that in your mouth!”

“No, I’m not. I need you here, tomorrow if possible.”

“And what am I supposed to do with Regina?”

“I’m sure your loving husband can take care of her.”

“He’s out of the country for the next two weeks.”

“Well, then ask Sage. She won’t notice if there’s one more kid in her house.”

“I have a life, you know. I can’t just leave at the drop of a hat because you snap your fingers.”

“We have a situation. I need you here, in Dallas, tomorrow. I’ll make sure there’s a ticket waiting for you at the gate. Be there by noon.”

“Better be a bloody first class ticket.”

“It will be.”

“What’s the rush, anyway?”

“I heard from a very reliable source that Edward is flying in tomorrow. That’s why the rush.”

“Why didn’t you say so in the first place? I’ll be there with bells on! Do you have a plan?”

“Don’t I always?”

Chapter 35

The rest of our search produced more files, a makeup kit, and a box of wigs. “This seems to support your theory,” T.J. said as we loaded everything into the car.

“The question is why did she go to all this trouble? And where did she get the money? Reinventing yourself and moving isn’t cheap. I got the impression that Barbara depended on Ethan to pay her bills.”

“I’ll ask Hopkins to run these pictures through some facial recognition software. Let’s see if these are really are all the same person. And while he’s doing that, we’ll take a look at the flash drive.”

I got in the car and didn’t answer. In fact, I didn’t say anything all the way home. There were too many pieces to this puzzle, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was running around in circles, chasing my tail. “We need to sit down, and go over what we know about this whole case,” I finally said when T.J. parked in front of the newspaper.

“Probably a good idea,” he agreed. “What made you think of that now?”

“Because nothing makes sense. Too many balls in the air, and I’m getting dizzy trying to keep them there.”

“A circus analogy?”

“This whole thing is making me feel like a clown.”

He turned off the engine. “That’s a silly thing to say.”

“Is it?” I looked at him. “Did you know, all this time, that Ethan was still alive?”

“No, I didn’t know. Do you really think I’d keep that sort of information from you if I did know?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve kept secrets from me, would it?” I replied, getting out of the car.

T.J. caught up to me by my car. “I had my reasons for not telling you who I was, and you know that. I thought we put all this behind us.”

Sighing, I turned around and leaned against the car. “We have, and I’m sorry. I’m just…I don’t know.” I massaged my temples. “This whole thing is just more than I can take right now.”

T.J. pulled me into his arms, and I put my head on his chest. “I know it’s been a rough couple of months, but it will get better.”

“When?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “but you’ll know. Have you given any more thought about a support group?”

“Not really.”

“I really think you should. I’ve been to a couple of group sessions myself.”

I looked up at him. “Why?”

“Do you think it’s easy for me to sit back and watch you going through this? I don’t know how to help you, and that’s frustrating for me. So, I figured if I went to a support group, it would help me learn how.”

“Wow, I had no idea.”

“The victims aren’t the only ones who are hurt by their assaults. Family and friends are affected, too. They walk around on eggshells because saying the wrong thing can set their loved one off, and no one wants to do that. Sometimes, they blame themselves for not being there, for not being able to protect them…”

“But you were there for me, T.J.”

“Not before he hurt you, Lizzie, physically and emotionally.”

“It’s still not your fault.”

“And it’s not your fault, either.”

“Half of me knows that, and the other half keeps kicking myself for letting it happen.” I took a step back. “Could we talk about something else? This really isn’t a conversation I want to have in the middle of the street.”

“As long as you agree to talk about it later.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Fair enough,” T.J. agreed. He pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call Hopkins and have him come over.”

“Why don’t you have him meet us at my house?” I suggested. “If we’re going to look at the flash drive, we should probably do it away from prying eyes. I know Ellen would just love the chance to get a look at whatever is on here for a story.”

“Good point.” He checked the time. “It’s almost two. Why don’t you go to the café, grab some food, and we’ll meet you at the house?”

“Should I get anything for Hopkins?”

“Nah, he probably ate. Just get him some pie or something. Cheeseburger and fries for me is fine.”

I gave him a kiss. “I’ll see you in a little while.” I started to walk over to the café.

“Oh, and Lizzie?”

“What?”

“Try not to spill anything on Gladys this time, huh?”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Very funny.”

Thirty minutes later, I parked in my driveway, grabbed the food and got out. Somehow, I managed to turn off the alarm, unlock the door, and get inside without dropping anything.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Crenshaw.”

I screamed and dropped everything on the floor. Turning around, I saw Garth standing in the kitchen doorway. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I was waiting on you to come home.”

“So you thought it would be a good idea to scare the bejeezus out of me, after everything I’ve been through in the last two months? You’re lucky I didn’t have a gun or some mace in my hand!”

“My sincerest apologies, Ms. Crenshaw. I wasn’t thinking,” he said, coming over to help me pick up my things and the food.

“What are you doing here, anyway? Is something wrong with Jake?” I asked him as I followed him into the kitchen.

“I’ve been in the area a couple of days, and no, there’s nothing wrong with Jake. Mrs. Mathias won’t be happy when she finds out I helped him leave the hospital, although all of the nurses are very relieved.”

“Why are you at my house, Garth? And how did you even know where I live? Wait,” I said, holding up my right hand, “don’t answer that.”

“Jake asked me to come here and keep an eye on things for him. He’s concerned that Edward might try to go after you again.”

“Not the first time I’ve had that thought.”

“Yes, well…I got a call from Micha a little while ago. Edward received a call from a very agitated male, who was complaining that two people had shown up at his crime scene and threw him out.”

“McConnell.”

“Is that his name?” I nodded. “Well, Edward told him to keep an eye on the two of you, and that he would take care of the rest.”

“Sounds ominous. But that doesn’t mean that Edward is coming here.”

“After he hung up with McConnell, he called the airport and told them to gas up the jet.”

“Ah.”

“I’ve called a couple of my people in off other assignments. They’ll be here tonight.”

There was a knock on the front door, and Garth immediately started to shove me to the floor. “Relax, it’s just T.J.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m expecting him, that’s why,” I said, walking to the door.

“Why don’t you have a peephole?”

“Because they don’t make doors with peepholes for short people, and it’s really awkward to have to drag a stool over just to look out.”  I opened the door and let T.J. and Hopkins in. “Guess who was waiting for me
inside
my house when I got home?”

“Garth, good to see you,” T.J. said, going over and shaking hands with him. “Garth, this is FBI Special Agent Richard Hopkins.”

“Nice to meet you,” Hopkins said, shaking his hand.

“What brings you to Texas?”

“It seems McConnell called Edward and complained,” I said.

“So McConnell is in Edward’s pocket?” Hopkins said.

“Why am I not surprised?” T.J. replied.

“Do you think McConnell had something to do with Barbara’s disappearance?” I mused.

“It would explain why he was so mad about us asking him to leave,” T.J. replied.

“Do you still have those pictures?”

“I have them,” Hopkins said. “T.J. said you wanted me to run this through our facial recognition software.”

“Could I see them for a minute?”

“They’re in the car. I’ll be right back.”

While Hopkins went to the car, T.J. told Garth about our search of Barbara’s apartment and what we found. “Why didn’t you go over to Cynthia Davis’ apartment?” Garth asked.

“Hopkins said he sent two men over there yesterday. Unlike Barbara’s apartment, which had been partially ransacked, Cynthia’s apartment looked fine. The only things missing were her purse and keys.”

“How do they know for sure she’s missing?” Garth said.

“She hasn’t shown up for work the last two days,” T.J. replied, “and she didn’t call in sick, either. Her supervisor and co-workers said it’s not like her to miss two days in a row without calling in.”

Hopkins came back in and handed me the file. I laid them out, side by side, on the countertop. “Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think,” I told them.

Garth and Hopkins took turns looking them over. “Do you have a magnifying glass?” Garth asked me after a couple of minutes.

I went to my office, and brought one back. He spent several more minutes going over each picture, before handing the magnifier to Hopkins, who carefully went over them as well. I looked at T.J., who shrugged. “Well?”

Hopkins looked at Garth, who nodded. “T.J. told me that you thought all these women are actually the same woman, correct?”

“It was just a guess, really,” I admitted. “I’m not trained for this sort of thing. Call it woman’s intuition.”

“Well, we believe you’re right,” Garth said.

“What makes you think they’re the same woman, Lizzie?” Hopkins said.

“The dimples, for starters. Apple dumpling cheeks, and I’m sure you noticed, she tilts her head the same way in every picture. Now what are the odds that Ethan would date women that would have the exact same characteristics?”

“Men have been known to date a certain type,” T.J. pointed out.

“Yes, I’m well aware of that,” I replied.

“Relax,” Hopkins said, “we agree with you, remember?”

“We need to get a look at that flash drive.”

“What flash drive?” Garth said.

“We found it when we were at Barbara’s apartment,” T.J. said. “You should tell them where it was.”

“Tampon box,” I laughed as I went back to my office for my laptop.

“You’re kidding,” Garth said. “You actually searched through the tampon boxes?”

“I didn’t,” T.J. replied, “Lizzie did.”

“Ingeneous,” Hopkins laughed.

“Why don’t you guys come out here?” I said as I put the laptop on the coffee table. “And could someone grab the food and a Dr Pepper for me?”

“How come there isn’t enough for all of us?” Hopkins complained.

“Because you two weren’t invited. You’re party crashers.”

“And I know for a fact you’ve already eaten,” T.J. said. “Unless those pizza boxes arrived at the station empty.”

I turned on the laptop while the three of them continued to argue about food and plugged in the flash drive.

T.J. put a plate next to me. “Here you go. I managed to save your burger and fries, but I’m afraid your piece of pecan pie made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Ah well. Maddie will make a whole pie for me if I ask her to.”

“I think she spoils you too much.”

“Who am I to complain?” I laughed.

“I need to get her to make me Dutch apple pie more,” T.J. said as I opened a file.

“Good luck with that. I think she’s still upset with you about the whole undercover/keeping me in the dark thing.” I stared at the screen for a minute. “There’s a file labeled ‘Ethan – London’. Good grief, what did she do, hire a private detective to follow him around?”

“From these notes,” T.J. replied, “it looks like she followed him around herself.”

I looked at the names on some of the other files. “Every city Ethan’s been to is listed here.”

“Sounds like she’s been planning something for quite a while,” Garth said. We looked up to see the two of them standing in front of us.

“Do you think someone found out what she’s been up to and decided to get even?” Hopkins asked.

“By someone, do you mean Edward Winthrop?” I said.

“Certainly the first person I thought of,” T.J. said.

I noticed another file that said “BC”, and clicked on it. When it opened, I gasped in surprise. “What’s the matter, Lizzie?” T.J. said.

“Look for yourself.”

T.J. quickly read the file. “Did you know about this?”

I shook my head. “She never said a word when we talk to her.”

“What’s up?” Hopkins asked, leaving over and trying to read the screen upside down.

“It’s a birth certificate,” I told them, “for a baby girl born thirteen years ago, to Kassandra Hollingsworth…and Ethan Winthrop.”