Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) (26 page)

“Three pages.” Ledger was clearly disgusted as he flipped through the notes. “We’ve got a sexual predator roaming the streets, and he gives me three pages. Detective, please join us.”

“Sure, Les.” CC seemed to accept his terms. Val wasn’t so certain. “Any more coffee?”

“I’ll get you a cup,” Mills merrily volunteered.

“Tell me again that Finn didn’t do anything,” Ledger tried to say to Calloway in a quiet tone.

Everyone in the room tensed up. The US Marshals had a zero tolerance for domestic incidents. It was one of the reasons Val chose to serve with them after her departure from the military. If Finn had stepped anywhere near going over the line when he busted up the little party, it would mean losing his silver star. No ifs, ands, or buts.

“No, he did not,” CC said. The tension seemed to lift as Mills placed a fresh cup of coffee down near the still standing detective.

“Why not take a seat?” Val didn’t enjoy the fact that Calloway was towering over her. She wasn’t in the mood for a power struggle. She felt a small twinge of relief when CC shed her coat and took a seat next to Ledger. Val shook her head. Not a big power play, but a strategic move just the same.

“Detective Calloway is on temporary leave from the Boylston PD,” Ledger told everyone. “We all know this case is hitting close to home for her. I’ve invited her here out of courtesy. Detective Calloway has worked with us on many occasions, and I don’t see her as a threat to this investigation.” He turned to CC. “That doesn’t mean you are a part of this investigation. Is that understood?”

“Afraid I’ll go all Dirty Harry on you?”

“Yes. I need to know that you understand that Deputy Brown is in charge. Now, let’s get to work. Brown, tell me what we know and what we don’t know. And do it quickly. Every second this piece of garbage is on our streets is one second too long. Understood?”

Val proceeded to explain the situation. How the tips came in just a little too late. The prepaid cell phones and the near misses they had encountered. She went over every detail and concluded with more questions than answers.

“That’s it. We’re guessing that someone is guiding his hand. The who or why is unknown. For the moment, our main concern is catching him, which is why we need to figure out where his next stop will be. I think he’ll show up somewhere very close to the Calloway residence. As we all know since the Adam Walsh Act, the Marshal Service is responsible for sex offender tracking. Dropping the ball on this one isn’t making the suits in the capital happy. That’s why they’ve agreed to let me stay on.”

“Why do you think, he’ll show up near the Calloway home?” Ledger asked.

“All of his little guest appearances have been quick and almost without a sense of purpose.” Val didn’t miss the way CC winced. “Until now. When he showed up at Dr. Jameson’s work, it was a clear indication that the stakes have been raised. He won’t be stupid enough to show up at Detective Calloway’s job. That leaves his daughter and granddaughter. There’s a long weekend coming up. My plan is to place Emma Quinn, the granddaughter, somewhere safe. His daughter, Stevie Calloway, works from home and doesn’t venture far from there. It makes sense that he’ll show up in the neighborhood. It’s accessible by your wonderful subway system. Easy for him to show up and duck out.”

“How can you be sure he hasn’t been there already? Or he’ll even be spotted if and when he does?” Ledger asked.

“Despite bordering on the city, it’s a quiet neighborhood,” Val explained, “with a good Neighborhood Watch. We’ve been tagged every time we’ve been there. You have some very observant neighbors, Detective. Even your mail carrier made us, which means we need to integrate people,” she added, informing the team she was less than pleased that they hadn’t managed to observe without being spotted. “Right now, Dr. Jameson is working at the hospital. Beaumont’s ex-wife, Maria Gallagher, is home in her apartment in Waltham. Stevie Calloway is at home with her daughter along with her daughter’s father, Brad Quinn. And Detective Calloway is gracing us with her presence. These are the key players. Some of you may have deduced that I like being the one in control. Up until this moment, some unknown factor has been running the show. That stops now.”

“You have a plan?” Mills asked hopefully.

“I do. First we get Emma Quinn out of harm’s way. Then we move at least one operative into the Calloway residence.”

“Excuse me?”

Val could tell by the tone of her voice that CC was less than pleased.

“We want to do this without tipping our hand.” Val fought to keep her voice as professional as possible. “As you astutely pointed out earlier this evening, Detective, every child in the area is in danger as long as Beaumont is on the loose. We’ll need your sister’s permission, of course. I’d like to move her with Emma.”

“She’ll say no.”

“I know. For the moment, our team needs to review our tactics so we can blend in. Starting with a new gardener. I noticed that your wife and sister maintain the yard work. Also, your new home needs work done. I’ll go over the more intricate details later with you and your family.”

“Not warming up to you,” CC said with a snarl.

*   *  *

CC sat back and listened to Deputy Brown’s plan. On paper, it wasn’t half bad. The only problem was if it ended badly her family’s well-being was on the line. She did her best to listen without interrupting, making only a few suggestions before she agreed to be there when Brown talked to Stevie.

After the meeting broke up, CC asked Val to join her for a private chat. It was time for the deputy to learn that she wasn’t the only one with control issues.

Once inside a quiet office, CC held her breath, wondering if what she was about to do was pure genius or incredibly stupid. Val was studying a file with her back to CC. Quietly, CC drew her weapon and placed it against the back of Deputy Brown’s head. Before she could cock her weapon, she was on the floor, her 9mm wrenched from her grasp. She struggled to catch her breath as she found herself kneeling on the floor staring up at Val’s carefully aimed Glock.

“Have you lost your mind?” Val emptied the clip of CC’s gun.

“Not just yet, but I’m getting there.” CC held up her hand to show Val she wasn’t going to try anything stupid. “I just had to be sure before I trusted you with the most precious thing in my life.”

“About?”

CC remained calm, knowing that if she made one twitchy move she’d be dead.

“I had to know the phantom we are chasing isn’t you. Like you said, you’re not supposed to be here. That makes you a wild card. I did some digging into your past and couldn’t find out a lot. Makes me wonder just what it was you did in the navy.”

“You dug into my past?” Val asked with a laugh.

“Stevie tried to dig into your past.”

“I figured as much, since you can’t work your phone. Are you satisfied that your family’s going to be safe in my hands? Or maybe I should kick the shit out of you first. You know, just in case you need a little more convincing.”

“No, I’m satisfied.” CC rose to her feet. “That makes twice you could have hurt me, or worse, and you didn’t. I can trust you with my sister’s life. Not her virtue, but her life. Can I have my gun back?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

“Have it your way. I need to pick up my wife. If you’re the detail that is supposed to be following me, you’d better hurry, because I drive like everyone else in this city.”

*   *  *

Jamie was exhausted. Jack was more than a little displeased that he had administration on his back. Jamie couldn’t fault the powers that be. If word got out that a child molester had been roaming the halls of the hospital, it wouldn’t bode well. She looked at her watch. Tierney was late again. The girl was amazing. She had been warned, cajoled, threatened, and still she arrived later and later for each shift. Jamie went to Jack who was already in a foul mood.

“A moment?” she asked tentatively while taking a shy step into his office.

“You’re not in trouble.”

“I’m sorry your day turned into a train wreck.”

“Jamie, you didn’t invite this guy here, and thanks to you, we were prepared.”

“Thank you.” She accepted the compliment with a grain of salt. A part of her did feel guilty. “I have just one small matter to discuss with you. Dr. Tierney.”

“Late again?”

“Yes. How did this girl get through med school? I like the kid, but she hasn’t exhibited an ounce of professionalism. I think we need to cut her from the program.”

“Done. Want me to be the bad guy?”

“No, I will. It’s what you pay me for. That is, if she bothers to show up. Go home, Jack. I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks again for everything.”

Jamie wasn’t surprised that Jack didn’t seem to be in a hurry to head home. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to go home to an empty one bedroom condo. Just a few years ago, that was the way she lived her life. Now, the concept was inconceivable.

“Ah, Dr. Tierney.” She found her errant resident hanging around the nurse’s station. “Nice of you to join us. And just at the end of the shift.”

“No, see,” Tierney began to say. “You see there weren’t any cabs. Then…”

“Don’t you live a block from Sullivan Station?”

“Yes. I don’t like going down there. Have you seen what the subway is like at night?”

“Yes, because most nights I ride it.” Jamie rubbed her throbbing temple. “I find it interesting that you’re afraid to ride the subway, when just last week I saw you put a junkie in a headlock.”

“Yeah, that was something.” Tierney had the bad manners to gloat. “I’ll just get started.”

“Don’t bother.” Jamie sighed heavily and waved for the younger woman to follow her. “My office, now.”

Tierney didn’t seem concerned; she simply followed Jamie to her office. “I know what you’re going to say,” Tierney said. “I’m buying a new alarm clock. The one I have must be defective.”

“Stop. As entertaining as I find your little sagas, I can’t let this go on. It isn’t fair to the people in the program. We’ve had this little chat before. There are a lot of people out there who would kill to be in your shoes right now. You don’t seem to care.”

“I do.”

“No you don’t. I’m sorry, but you’re done.” Jamie stood firm. She hated it because the girl did make her laugh, but enough was enough. “I’ll need your hospital ID, and you’ll have to clear out your locker.”

“I’m fired? For real?”

“Yes, for real. You can file an appeal with Dr. Temple. I have to warn you that he’s already on board with dismissing you.”

“Okay, so this appeal… when can I do that?”

“I’d try in the morning.” Jamie once again wondered how this woman got through school. “He usually shows up around seven in the morning.” Jamie was stunned when Tierney thanked her then happily sauntered out of her office after handing over her badge. “Seven A.M.” She silently wondered whether Tierney would bother to be on time. “Unbelievable.”

Jamie typed up her report and gathered her things. One last check, and she could wait for CC to come and get her. She hoped the excitement was over for the day. She couldn’t help smiling when she spied a familiar figure lingering by the nurses’ station. The nurses on duty seemed amused, and it only took Jamie a moment to figure out why.

“So, you’re a cop? You guys have been busy here today,” Murphy prattled on while the nurses giggled. “I’m a doctor.” He emphasized his words by tugging on his lab coat.

“Yeah?” CC winked at Jamie, who was standing directly behind the young man.

“I get off duty soon,” he said, completely unaware of how deeply he was stepping in it.

“Murphy!” Jamie barked. “A word of advice. Never hit on your boss’s wife.”

“Huh?”

“Hi, honey.” She gave CC a quick kiss. “Murphy, get back to work.”

“Yes, Dr. Jameson,” he said in a squeaky voice while the nurses laughed hysterically.

“You could have warned him,” Jamie said.

Stella laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“He seemed nice,” CC said with a grin.

“You behave,” Jamie said. “Stella, pull Tierney off the schedule.”

“For tonight?”

“Permanently.”

“You can’t wait until next week?”

“Sorry.”

“Had to fire someone?” CC winced.

“Yeah, the slacker I told you about. You okay?”

“It’s been a long day.” The smile CC had been sporting vanished. “And it’s going to be a long night.”

Chapter 28

Stevie was a nervous wreck by the time CC and Jamie arrived.
Brad’s constant pacing hadn’t helped steady her nerves. Thankfully,
Emma managed to have fun with her father before going to bed.
Stevie’s mood failed to calm when she caught the solemn looks on
Jamie’s and CC’s faces.

Her pulse raced slightly when Val came right in behind them,
huffing.

“You drive like a maniac,” Val shouted.

“I drive like a Bostonian. Get over it,” CC said. “Did you make
your calls?”

“Yes,” Val answered in a quieter tone. “Stevie, we need to
talk.”

“Last time a woman said that to me, she was walking out the
door,” Stevie said grimly. “Tell me that you aren’t leaving us so
soon.”

“No, you’re the one who’s leaving.” Val reached inside her
blazer and pulled out her wallet. “You, Brad, and Emma. It’s all
been arranged. These are some friends of mine.” She showed Stevie
a picture of a younger version of herself along with four friends all
clad in dress navy whites. “Ricky, Callie, Brenda, and Dave. We
went through Annapolis together, and we all retired at the same
time. Dave was with the DEA, Callie is Secret Service, Brenda is
CIA, and Ricky is FBI. We’re all still close.”

“He’s yummy.” Brad was drooling over the picture. “Sorry.”
He gulped when he realized what he had said.

“Glad you like him. He’s your new boyfriend.”