Person of Interest (8 page)

“You think he fired the shot?”

“Just locate him, Frank. Make sure he’s where he said he would be. Might be wise to question him again concerning Germany and his relationship with Natalie Frazier.”

“Was there a relationship?”

“Not on her part.”

“You’re saying Mason was interested?”

Everett hesitated, choosing his words. “I’m saying find out his take on the situation. I’ve got a call in to a friend who works in the Vilseck CID office. Let’s find out as much as we can and then compare notes.”

“Roger that.”

“Do me a favor and alert the local sheriff’s office about the shooting. Could have been some hunter whose aim was off, but I doubt it. Just notify the local authorities and see if they come across anything.”

“Will do.”

“What about Denise Lang’s murder? Have the Freemont police provided any new information?”

“Not yet. They’re supposed to call me if anything breaks. Last I heard they were trying to track down the boyfriend.”

“You told them the two deaths could be related.”

“I did. What about Natalie Frazier? Anything new I should know?”

Again, Everett glanced at her in the rear. She was smiling at Sofia, which made his chest tighten. “Nothing new. Just keep your eye on Mason. He needs to remain on post. I don’t want him or anyone else following us to Atlanta, is that understood?”

“Mason scheduled a meeting with the chaplain today to plan his wife’s funeral. I doubt he’ll be leaving post.”

“Is the autopsy report back?”

“Not yet.”

“And the video footage from the track?”

“Evidently the cameras haven’t worked for weeks.”

“So we can’t establish Mason was running in the training area.”

“He says another guy saw him. He was wearing a Second of the Fifth Infantry T-shirt. We’re checking the unit to see if anyone comes forward to verify Mason’s alibi.”

“Sounds like a needle in a haystack.”

“Maybe, but we might get lucky.”

“What about the MPs who went door-to-door in the Yateses’ housing area? Did they learn anything from the neighbors?”

“No one saw anything, except that lieutenant who talked to you last night. He lives across the street.”

“Lieutenant Bobby Slade?”

“That’s him. He noticed a strange car parked behind the Yateses’ quarters in the afternoon just as you mentioned, but he can’t provide details. Of course, he wants answers for everything else like four hours ago. Although I don’t blame the guy. He’s worried about his wife being in danger. Evidently he’s going TDY in the next few days to Fort Drum and doesn’t like leaving her alone with a killer on the loose.”

“Let’s hope we can wrap this investigation up by then.”

“Exactly. The chief returns next week. I’d like everything to have calmed down by the time he comes back to post.”

“We’ll make it happen, Frank.”

Everett disconnected and returned his phone to the console. The first forty-eight hours in an investigation were the most crucial. Right now, the CID and Freemont police both seemed to be striking out.

If only something would break soon.

* * *

Natalie didn’t share Everett’s optimism about the case. From the one-sided conversation she had overheard, he hoped to have everything wrapped up in a short time. Who was he trying to fool? If Mason were allowed to go free, his wife’s death would never be solved.

Supposedly the Freemont police were looking into Denise’s murder, but the last Natalie had heard was that they thought she was involved. If only they could find the elusive boyfriend.

Again, she tried to piece the parts together to end up with some logical explanation about what had happened. Everything pointed to Mason, yet he remained at large.

She looked over her shoulder as Everett made two quick turns. “Where are we going?” she asked, suddenly concerned about the back roads she didn’t recognize.

“Eventually to the highway. I’m taking a circuitous route to the interstate north of here.”

Thick forest spread out on each side of the road and made her anxious. Glancing down at the baby, asleep in the car seat, brought a wave of sadness.

Lord, I haven’t prayed for years, but I’m concerned about this sweet baby. Keep her safe.

Keep me safe, too.

“You okay?” Everett stared at her from the rearview mirror.

She might as well be forthright about her concerns. “I’m trying to decide if you led someone to me.”

He let out a stiff breath and shook his head, as if frustrated by her statement. “No one followed me, Natalie.”

“Then how did he find me?”

“You’re convinced it was Mason?”

She glanced out the window and into the shadowed recesses of the wooded landscape.

“The two deaths could be coincidental,” he added when she failed to respond. “They may not be related.”

“Since when did someone in law enforcement put stock in coincidence? From everything I’ve read, seen on television or heard when working with the CID, there are no coincidences. If things seem random, they’re not. Any patterns need to be recognized as significant.” She stared at the back of Everett’s head. “Isn’t that true?”

“Things can be coincidental, but it’s often a red flag that needs to be investigated.”

She nodded. “A red flag. That’s how I feel about the shooter in the woods. That’s why I think you led him to me. I’m not sure if it was planned or accidental.”

“I’m not the bad guy.” He stared at her in the mirror for a long moment. Then he shrugged and returned his gaze to the road. “Everything will work out. We’ll meet Wanda and reunite Sofia with her mother.”

“And then?”

He glanced back at her. “Then I’ll let you decide where you want to go.”

Not back to Fort Rickman, which she’d already mentioned.

“You heard me mention a CID buddy who transferred to Vilseck some months ago,” Everett continued. “I asked him to reopen Paula Conway’s stairway death case.”

“But I told you the German police handled the investigation.”

“I know. The CID will contact them and ask for any evidence they gathered. The
polizei
may or may not have interviewed neighbors. There could have been witnesses.”

“What about Mason’s neighbors in the housing area at Fort Rickman? You said he might not have been home when his wife died. Does he have an alibi?”

“MPs went door-to-door. One neighbor saw a car parked behind the Yateses’ quarters, but he didn’t know the make or model. Mason claimed to have been running on the track in the training area.”

“Were there video cameras?”

“They weren’t working.”

She huffed. “Well, that’s convenient.”

“Investigations require a lot of tedious checking and rechecking. Some leads pan out. Others don’t.”

“You’re telling me to be patient.”

“I’m trying to explain that Frank is on top of the investigation. He’ll check every clue and won’t leave any shred of evidence uncovered.”

Although she was somewhat relieved that Paula’s death was being reviewed, Natalie wasn’t optimistic about the outcome. Memories clouded with time, and she doubted the CID would uncover anything that would incriminate Mason.

Everett glanced at the rearview mirror, but his gaze wasn’t on her this time. It was on the road behind them.

She turned, seeing headlights. “We’re being followed.”

“Keep your head down.”

They crested a small hill, and on the downward side, Everett made a sharp turn off the roadway, onto a narrow dirt path.

Her heart hammered in her chest. “What are you doing?”

“Taking cover. We’ll hide out in the thick underbrush.”

It’s Mason.
She didn’t give voice to her suspicion. Everett had heard her before and had ignored her. She doubted anything would convince him of the truth.

Braking to a stop behind a thick stand of trees, he killed the engine, opened the driver’s door and held up his hand. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”

“But—”

“I want to see the car as it passes by.”

He disappeared into the woods. Seconds ticked by as she waited and listened. In her mind’s eye, she envisioned him approaching the highway and hunkering down in the underbrush.

Brakes squealed.

She startled. Her heart pounded even faster.

Placing her hand protectively on the baby’s arm, she listened. Silence.

Had she imagined the sound?

The crack of a gun cut through the stillness.

Her pulse raced. A lump of fear filled her throat.

She saw Everett again in her mind, only this time he lay dead on the side of the road. Shaking her head, she tried to dispel the thought. Surely he hadn’t been injured. Then a new realization hit. Mason—or whoever had fired the shot—would be able to find the SUV by following the tire tracks along the path through the forest. She and the baby would be easy marks and totally defenseless.

With trembling hands, she unbuckled the car seat and lifted Sofia into her arms. The baby sighed and snuggled close. Tears burned Natalie’s eyes as she thought of what could happen if Mason found them.

After opening the door, she stepped from the car, not knowing where to go or where to hide. Her ears roared, and her pulse throbbed. An inner voice told her to run, but the undergrowth was too thick. Sharp thorns scratched her arms. She clutched Sofia even closer so the twigs and branches didn’t hurt the little one.

Leaves rustled behind her.

She increased her speed.

Footfalls sounded, too close.

Her toe caught on a root. She started to fall.

Hands grabbed her.

She tried to struggle free.

“I’ve got you. You don’t have to be afraid.”

He was too tall and muscular. Not Mason, but Everett.

She gasped with relief. “What happened? I heard tires screech and a gunshot.”

“A utility van. Pete’s Plumbing, according to the logo on the side panel.”

“Then it...it wasn’t Mason?”

“A deer ran in front of the van. The driver had to put the animal out of its misery.”

“I... I thought—” She trembled even more thinking what could have happened.

“The driver never saw me. I stayed undercover and watched it all play out. He took off after moving the carcass to the side of the road.”

Everett rubbed his hands over her arms and peered at Sofia. “Is the baby all right?”

She nodded.

“Why’d you leave the car?”

Staring into his eyes, she suddenly saw her own mistake. His face was drawn with concern, but there was nothing threatening in his gaze.

“What’s wrong, Natalie? Are you all right?”

His hands on her arms were strong, but his grip wasn’t forceful or menacing; rather, it offered support and understanding.

“I...I thought someone was after us.”

He pulled her close and wrapped both her and Sofia in his embrace. “I told you before, and you’ve got to believe me,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I won’t let anyone hurt you or the baby.”

Tears blurred her eyes. She wanted to believe him more than anything, and for this brief moment, she leaned into him, drawing comfort from his strength.

“I should have stayed in the car, but I was afraid.”

“It’s okay,” he soothed.

She pulled back ever so slightly and stared into his eyes. What she saw made her breath hitch, and for half a heartbeat she wanted to remain in his embrace forever. Too quickly, he slipped his arm over her shoulder and turned her back to the path.

“Let’s head to the car. I want to get on the interstate and drive to Atlanta before traffic picks up. We’ll grab some chow once we get there. You’ve got to be hungry.”

She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. She was trying to make sense of the confusion that swirled within her. Natalie wanted to believe Everett Kohl would help her, and hopefully, he was who he seemed to be. Having someone on her side would be a welcome change.

With his arm around her, they returned to the car. She settled Sofia into her seat and nodded her thanks when Everett closed the passenger door and climbed behind the wheel.

Leaving the underbrush, they gained access to the road again and, fifteen minutes later, entered the highway heading north to Atlanta.

Natalie’s focus was on returning Sofia to her mother. She didn’t know what would happen after that. She had to figure out her next step and whether it would include Everett. Was he working with her or against her?

EIGHT

T
raffic was light as they drove along the interstate, which gave Everett time to review everything that had happened. He kept thinking about holding Natalie in his arms, which didn’t help his focus. He still needed to make sense of the conflicting information. Mason was a CID agent who had done well for himself and risen in the ranks until he was in charge of an entire department in Vilseck. His subordinates had relied on him for sound leadership.

The military was a close-knit community. Surely if he’d done something wrong, the information would have followed him to Fort Rickman. Yet Frank and Everett had heard nothing that gave them pause.

Until Natalie entered the picture.

He glanced at Natalie sitting in the backseat. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested against the back of the seat. The tenseness in her face had eased as she’d fallen asleep.

Attractive as Natalie was, he could too easily be swayed by her blue eyes and engaging smile. Although today her mouth seemed set in a perpetual frown as if she was haunted by what had happened. Trying to elude a killer came with a high price tag, one that didn’t lend itself to self-assuredness.

Seeing the signs for the airport, he switched lanes and turned onto Camp Creek Parkway. Driving past the long-term parking lots, he crossed the outer belt, heading for the shopping mall on the far side of I-285.

The sign for a mom-and-pop diner beckoned a welcome.

“Where are we?” Natalie’s voice was thick with sleep as her eyes blinked open.

“Just past the airport parking. I thought we needed food.”

She stretched her arms and arched her back. Hair cascaded over her shoulders and begged to be touched.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and turned into the diner parking area.