The Right Call (28 page)

Grant

Brill sat back in her chair, her mind racing with the implications. “Well, Sheriff … that’s the
last
thing I expected to hear today.”

Sam’s grin got wider. “We bagged the black paint and metal slivers we found on the victim to see what kind of vehicle was used in the hit and run. Just so happens this Stedman Reeves is driving a black Nissan Frontier. Looks to me like I found your shooter.”

Chapter 33

Brill
breezed into her office. Trent Norris waited for her at the conference table, a cup of Starbucks set at her place.

“Is that for me?” she said. “You’re reading my mind.”

Trent flashed a half-moon smile. “Thought you might need it, Chief. Sorry the holiday got messed up, but if Reeves is our shooter, it’s a small price to pay.”

“Were your sons disappointed you had to cut your fishing adventure short?”

“Well, sure. But they each caught three stripers—big ones at that. Their mother’s taking them to Water World this afternoon. I think they’re over it.”

Brill took a sip of coffee. “Oh, this is so good, Trent.”

“Two sugars, just like you like it.” He sat back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. “So was Sam Parker gloating the whole time?”

“Don’t you know it? If his grin had gotten any wider, it would’ve pulled that gold tooth right out of his mouth.” She smiled. “Okay, fill me in.”

“I’ve got Rousseaux and Marcum working with sheriff’s deputies to locate this Stedman Reeves character. We got an APB out for his arrest and a warrant to search his duplex. Reeves’s grandmother is his landlady and lives in the other half of the duplex. Rousseaux showed her the warrant, and she let him in. The door was open but there was no sign of forced entry. She doesn’t think Stedman came home last night. Said a young man came looking for him this morning, and she told the guy the same thing.”

“Did she get the young man’s name?”

Trent pushed out his bottom lip and shook his head. “She couldn’t remember. Said he had long, sandy hair and the personality of a hedge apple. She wasn’t helpful, but officers and deputies are still over there. Maybe the warrant will uncover something. But get this: Reeves works for Langley Concrete.”

“What a coincidence. That’s where Ethan is working this summer. His uncle owns it.”

“I remember you saying that. I’ve got officers on their way to talk with Ralph Langley, and we have a warrant to search Reeves’s locker at the business location.”

“I think we should talk to Ethan.”

“I agree. He’s at your place today, right?”

Brill shook her head. “Actually, he isn’t. Something came up related to his cousin, and he couldn’t join us. Vanessa should be able to reach him and get him to come down here. On second thought, I’ll get his number and call him myself.”

Ethan sat on the trunk of a fallen tree and looked at the dense forest around him. Surely he had gone a hundred yards by now. Where was the stream? Had he wandered off course, weaving his way around the trees? Or had Audrey Reeves deliberately sent him on a wild goose chase?

A twig snapped a second time, and Ethan’s heart nearly pounded out of his chest. Someone was definitely there. How much more of this could he take?

He got up and stood behind a tree—not that he was any less conspicuous, but he felt less vulnerable. Was it worth all this tension just to tell Stedman about the unconscionable threat to Vanessa and Carter—and that he couldn’t go to Chief Jessup and do what Stedman had asked?

Ethan stepped away from the tree, his hands clenched at his sides. “Who’s out there?” he hollered angrily. “Stop following me like a coward and show yourself!”

Leaves rustled, and then a young buck sprang into the air, leaping over the fallen tree Ethan had just sat on, and ran into the woods, its white tail waggling.

Ethan staggered backward into a tree, his heart hammering, his knees about to give out. At least it wasn’t someone Davison had sent to kill him.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

The verse from Psalm 118 popped into his head. He took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. And then did it again. Was he going to let fear dictate his actions? He came out here to find Stedman. If he turned back, where would he go? Was he prepared to go home early and lie to Uncle Ralph and Aunt Gwen about why he wasn’t with Vanessa? Or sit around at their cookout and make small talk with the guests? Could he go see Vanessa and pretend nothing was wrong? What kind of precedent did that set for an open and honest relationship? Was he capable of facing Brill and pretending he didn’t know who was behind the shootings?

His cell phone vibrated and surprised him. He hadn’t been able to get a cell signal since he left the car. The display screen blinded him for a moment, and then he saw that Chief Jessup was the caller. He decided to let the call go to voice mail.

He waited a minute and then retrieved the message and played it back.

“Ethan, it’s Brill. I know you took the day to deal with something personal concerning Drew, and I’m sorry to intrude on that. I’m going to cut to the chase. A man you work with, Stedman Reeves, is now a suspect in both shootings. It’s imperative that we find him. We also think he’s responsible for the death of a man named Grant Wolski, who was found dead in a hit-and-run accident this morning. We found evidence in Wolski’s vehicle that implicates Stedman as the shooter. He’s considered armed and dangerous, and no matter how well you think you know him, I strongly urge you to stay away from him. If you know how we can find him, I need to know ASAP. Either way, we need you to come down to the station and tell us everything you know about him. Your uncle and the other workers on the crew are cooperating fully. Please call me back on my cell when you get this message.”

Ethan stared at the phone, trying to let her words sink in. Grant Wolski was
dead?
According to Stedman, he was the key player in the entire setup. There was no way that hit-and-run was an accident. But could Stedman have done it? Would Grant’s death have benefited Stedman in any way?

Ethan wiped the perspiration off his forehead. He didn’t see how. Why would Stedman kill the one eyewitness who could verify his story? With Grant out of the picture, it was Stedman’s word against the fabricated evidence to the contrary.

He checked to make sure he still had a signal, then keyed in Stedman’s number. He would leave a hundred messages for Stedman if he had to. Eventually the guy would get tired of Ethan bugging him and would call back. Did Stedman know the police were looking for him?

The phone rang three times, and Ethan waited for the voice-mail greeting to click on.

“Hello, Ethan.”

“Stedman! Why didn’t you return my calls?”

“I was busy disappearing. Some guy got into my duplex this morning and was nosing around. I hid, and he never knew I was home. But he had a knife. He walked through the place and then left. I decided to get out of there.”

“Smart move. I went by your place, hoping we could continue our conversation from last night. You weren’t there, and I started to leave a note at your door when some guy grabbed me from behind and threatened me at knifepoint.”

“Threatened you how?”

“He said that unless I forget all the lies you’ve been telling me, he would—” The words caught in Ethan’s throat. Could he even say them? Did he even want to?

“He would
what?”

“He would deliver Vanessa and Carter to me—piece by piece. And then he’d come after me.” He hated that his voice was shaking.

Stedman sighed into the receiver. “I am so sorry, man. How’d those guys even know we talked? That’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

“Well, we need to continue that conversation someplace private—not on the phone.”

“Where are you now?” Stedman said.

“Lost. It’s a long story.”

Ethan explained how he had gone to Stedman’s grandmother’s door, convinced her that Stedman needed his help, and gotten directions to the one place he might have gone.

“I did what she said and got as far as the woods.” Ethan sighed. “I tried to continue on a hundred yards, but I’m not sure I followed a straight line. I don’t see the stream. I just need to get out of here.”

“
Well, you’re in luck. Grandma knows me pretty well.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m right where she said I’d be. Stay put. I’ll find you. Hang up and let me call you back so I can listen for the ringing in the woods. Don’t answer it. Maybe you’re closer than you think.”

“All right. But hurry. I just now got the signal back.”

Vanessa sat on the glider, Carter asleep in her arms. Her father came out on the screened-in porch and sat next to her.

“You okay?”

“Not really.” Vanessa stroked the baby’s back. “Ethan liked Stedman. He’s going to feel betrayed if it turns out that Stedman killed Drew. I just wish he’d call me. I don’t understand why he’s avoiding me.”

“I wouldn’t be so quick to take it personally,” Kurt said. “The poor guy has to be on overload. And it’s not unusual for a man in his situation to need a little space to think and work out his feelings.”

“But that’s not how it’s been. Ethan shares his feelings with me and has been very open with me—until today.”

“He’s been texting you today, hasn’t he?”

Vanessa nodded.

“Which means he has you on his mind. Maybe he’s chosen to text rather than call because he just doesn’t want to talk about whatever it is he’s doing. Since it has to do with Drew, it’s probably depressing.”

Vanessa glanced at her dad sheepishly. “I’m being selfish, aren’t I?”

“I just think you need to be more realistic, honey. The full weight of losing Drew is bound to hit Ethan between the eyes at some point. I think you have to cut him some slack if he’s private about some of it.”

Vanessa nestled closer to her dad. “You’re right. I keep wanting to push the sadness away and just enjoy being in love.”

“That’s understandable. You two have been through the mill. But you both need time to catch your breath.”

Emily came outside and sat on Kurt’s lap, putting her arms around his neck. “How come you’re whispering?”

“We’re not whispering. We’re just not talking loudly enough for you to eavesdrop.” Kurt tickled her ribs, evoking a shriek that caused Carter to stir.

“Shhh,” Vanessa scolded. “If he doesn’t get his nap, he’ll be grouchy as an old bear.”

Emily put both hands over her mouth. “Sorry.”

“Vanessa and I were talking about grief,” Kurt said. “And how sometimes people prefer to keep their feelings private.”

“Oh.” Emily stroked Carter’s hair and seemed to be processing. “Ethan has grief. I can tell. I remember when Poppy and Grammy died and I felt so sad and didn’t want to move or do anything. It was like I swallowed a giant rock.”

“That’s certainly one way to describe it.” Kurt looked over at Vanessa and winked.

“Did Mom arrest the shooter yet?” Emily asked.

“We aren’t absolutely sure that Stedman Reeves
is
the shooter. He’s innocent until proven guilty.” Kurt tugged her ponytail. “But no. The police are still looking for him.”

“I wonder why Ethan didn’t call Mom back,” Vanessa said. “He of all people would want to cooperate with police so they could arrest Drew’s killer.”

Ethan’s phone rang four times before going to voice mail. He cupped his hands around his mouth.

“Stedman!” he shouted. “Can you hear me?”

Ethan’s voice resounded in the forest. Surely Stedman would hear him if he were anywhere nearby.

Father, I need Your help. I have to make a big decision, and I don’t have much time to think about it.