Hindsight, page 28
“That doesn’t mean it’ll do any good,” she said in frustration. “There are too many things that have to be put together and we don’t know enough. For instance, he said Hayes and Cardona had served their purpose for him and were still doing it. What was that supposed to mean? All I can do is go over what we do know.”
“But that doesn’t mean the wheels will stop,” he said as he got to his feet. “So I’ll leave you to it and go about my business.”
“What business?”
“Locating Dietrich so that you can suitably punish him and keep me from doing it. That appears to be the name of the game. Metcalf is covering the cliff, so I thought I’d go talk to Jessie and see what she’s dug up at the hotel.”
“She’s probably tucked in bed in Olivia’s condo downstairs at this time of night.”
He shook his head. “She’s a night person and so are most of her contacts and clients. I’ll bet she’s still on the job.” He headed toward the door. “So I’ll wander down to that hotel with coffee and doughnuts in hand and we’ll see if I’m right.”
“Lynch.” She’d just had a sudden thought.
He glanced over his shoulder.
“While you’re plying her with doughnuts, ask her if she found out how long Dietrich has been hanging out in that hotel. It might be important.”
“Because?”
“It would be a secure place for him to stay while he was ‘researching’ whatever he was up to at Woodward Academy. He was familiar enough with the grounds to find a way to follow me up to the cliff path without me knowing it.” She was working her way through the thought process. “Though there are a few ways he could have done that. I came over the campus route, but I think the cliff path can also be reached from the chapel garden and the south gates. If he’d been here for a substantial length of time, that might mean he had time to learn everything about the place and the people who inhabited it. It would have been easy for him to stage the killing of Cardona and get away. He even felt comfortable staying on the property when any other killer would have run.” She added, “Providing he had a reason to stay that was still there and couldn’t be easily removed…”
“Go on.” Lynch was smiling. “I’m enjoying this.”
“I’m not,” she said soberly. “Because if he was that confident, then he must have cause. And we need to know what he knows to keep him from doing any more harm. There are still teachers and students at the school, and if he can move that freely, then they aren’t safe.” Her lips twisted bitterly. “Elaine and Mr. Kim weren’t.” She got to her feet and went to get her computer from the sideboard. “So ask that question first, Lynch. I have to know if I’m right.” She sat back down and flipped open the lid of the computer. “And in the meantime, I’ll get to work, too.”
“Doing what?”
“I’ve always thought I knew everything there was to know about Woodward Academy. But I didn’t know any of the details about the cliff path because it was considered too dangerous for the students to go up there. That means there might be other things about the school that Dietrich knows but I don’t. There are several classroom outbuildings, and the chapel, and the greenhouse Mr. Kim used in the winter. Probably a few others that were built after I left. Dietrich probably knows all about all of them in detail.” She pulled up the page on Woodward Academy. “I’ll find out everything I can on the computer and then when the school opens, I’ll go to the library and ask Allison to get me more details.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go. Talk to Jessie.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His lips were quirking as he opened the door. “And it will be the very first question…”
* * *
Lynch called Kendra thirty minutes later. “I’m still in my car, but I phoned Jessie to get your answer. You see how obedient I’m being? Jessie found out quite a bit about him. She thinks that he’s the one who rented the room where Hayes was killed as well as another room for himself in another wing. But no one has seen him since he blew Hayes away, and Jessie thinks the chances are that he’s done with the Pacific Arms. She’ll keep checking, but she’s looking for other leads.”
“You still haven’t told me how long Dietrich has been here.”
“I was getting to it. From what she can gather, Jessie thinks at least eight weeks.” He paused. “And that means a man as sharp and accustomed to research as Dietrich would have had time to practically memorize the entire property.”
Kendra muttered a curse. “And that’s probably what he did. Which means I’ll be on my way to see Allison first thing this morning.”
“Not finding anything on the computer?”
“Not much. I’m going to go to another site after this and keep trying. But the library at the school will have much more, and I vaguely remember seeing some reference books on the shelves in Allison’s office.”
“Then we’ll go to the school.” He added emphatically, “You notice I used the plural. After your lecture on Dietrich’s knowledge of the place, I’m not about to let you go up there alone. I’ll be unobtrusive, but I’ll be there, Kendra.”
“I’m not arguing. I’ve been thinking about the school—it can be like a rabbit warren. It might be comforting to have someone handy to negotiate all the twists and turns with me.”
“Haven’t you heard I’m famous for my ability with twists and turns? I’ll pick you up in the morning and tell you if I find out anything else from Jessie. Try to at least get a nap tonight.”
She ruefully shook her head as he hung up.
She’d had her nap for the night before Dietrich’s call. There wasn’t any way she could relax enough again after he’d tossed abuse and threats at her. Admit it, there had also been an element of fear. She’d felt as if everything was escalating at top speed and she couldn’t stop it.
But all that negative bullshit had also brought a positive result. It had made her think and move and start to put facts together, and that was always a good thing.
She just had to keep on doing it.
She changed to a San Diego historical website and typed: Building and construction of Woodward Academy.
* * *
10:15 A.M.
Woodward Academy
Office Reception Area
“I’m in a hurry, Kendra,” Allison said impatiently. “I don’t have time for this. I shouldn’t even be here talking to you. I not only have to greet and apologize to every parent picking up their child, I have to beg them to return when we can assure them it’s safe.”
“I won’t keep you long. I know it’s inconvenient now that you’re temporarily closing the school.” She met her eyes across the desk. “But I’m glad you’re doing it. Get everyone out of here as fast as you can. Then you go, too.” She smiled with an effort. “I know you’re like the captain staying with a sinking ship until the last minute. But don’t let it be the very last minute, and make sure you have someone with you until you drive out the gates. This man is dangerous, he’s unpredictable, and he knows this academy very well.”
“You mean it.” Allison’s impatience vanished as she stared at Kendra. “Actually, I’m sure every captain prefers to get off his ship in a timely manner, and I will, too. But I appreciate your concern. Now what can I do to get you out of here quickly?”
“Information,” Kendra said. “I’ve been told Dietrich probably knows every detail of the academy school and grounds, and there’s a possibility that he might choose to return here. I need to make sure I’m as familiar with it as he is. I’m going to the library after I leave you to go through all the books on the history and renovations of the school. But I thought I remembered you have books and pamphlets here in your office that the library might not have.”
She nodded slowly. “I have a few books that I’ve owned since I first came here to teach.” She frowned. “You’re setting yourself a huge task. This mansion and property were originally donated by a parent who had a special child and the funds to renovate it. The plans have changed and altered several times over the decades. It’s been a work in progress for the last seventy years.”
“A wonderful work in progress,” Kendra said. “And it makes me angry as hell that a man like Dietrich ever set foot on it.”
“Me too.” Allison got to her feet and strode over to her bookcase, selected four books, and crossed back to Kendra. “So let’s kick the son of a bitch off our property.” She handed her the books and turned back to the reception area. “Now get out of here and let me get back to work.”
“Right.” Kendra grinned and swiftly scooted out the door to the hall where Lynch was waiting. “Got them.” She gestured to the books. “But she made me feel like a kid again bothering the teacher.”
“What about me? I’m the kid you sent out in the hall for bad behavior. Why were those books important?”
“I ran across a few esoteric facts and quotes from them while I was on the computer. I called the county library this morning to ask to borrow the books and I found out that two of the ones I’d seen in Allison’s office couldn’t be found. The librarian put me on wait list for the books, but then I remembered these copies in Allison’s library.”
“Lucky break.”
“We deserve a little luck. Everything about this is a long shot. Do you know what kind of odds those kids have to overcome every day?” She looked out the window at the long line of cars driven by the parents waiting to pick up their children. “And what happened here made every one of those kids’ lives even harder. So don’t tell me about long shots. We’ll just check it out and then go on if it doesn’t get us to Dietrich.”
“Just a comment, Kendra,” he said quietly. “What do you want me to do?”
She grimaced. “Tell me to shut up. I’m a little overemotional right now after seeing all those children being yanked out of school. I know how I would have felt if I’d had to leave here when I was a kid. This place helped open up the entire world for me.” She’d reached the library and turned to face him. “But what I don’t want you to do is hover over me while I’m trying to find out how and why Dietrich is still here when he should be running like hell.”
“We talked about this.”
“No, you talked about it and I agreed. But I was very vulnerable at the time. I’m better now. Look, there’s security all around this place, and they’ll be here until all the teachers and children have left the property. You’re not going to be able to help me go through those references in the library. There are only a few that aren’t in Braille. You’d be of much more use to Metcalf and Griffin checking out the grounds. Metcalf said he was going to bring tracker dogs out here later today to see what they can find. You’re very good with dogs.”
“I’m better at getting rid of vermin.”
“Yes, you are. But go do it somewhere else. I promise I won’t leave this library until you get back.” She opened the door to the library. “And I have my gun even though I’m not about to pull it out with all these kids around.”
He hesitated. “I’ll have Metcalf assign an agent outside in the driveway.”
“What a good optic when Allison is trying to play down the thought of any present threat here.” She waved her hand. “Go ahead. Do it. We’ll take care of optics later.”
She watched him walk down the hall before she went into the library and closed the door. It was empty as he’d thought it would be. School had been declared officially canceled this morning at nine, and there wouldn’t be any children permitted in the library or other outbuildings until classes resumed. She put her handbag and Allison’s books down on a table before going over to the shelves and starting to look for the reference books she needed. There was an entire row of books concerning the purchase and renovations to the school and grounds of Woodward Academy over the years. More than seventy years, Allison had said. A huge task, indeed…
Stop standing here being overwhelmed, she told herself impatiently.
Get to work.
Chapter
16
Library
3:30 P.M.
An uproar!
Kendra lifted her gaze in alarm from the book she was reading.
Then she drew a deep breath and relaxed.
It was a familiar uproar.
The library door opened and Harley burst through it and tore across the room toward her, dragging his leash behind him. He was howling and growling and looking very happy to see her.
“Shh.” She started stroking him as she gazed beyond him to where Olivia was standing in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“At the moment, trying to get Harley away from those kids in the driveway before he makes Allison’s job harder.” Olivia came toward her. “They didn’t understand as Ariel did that all he wanted to do was love them, but then Ariel is fairly unique.”
“What else are you doing here?” Kendra asked. “When I called you this morning, I told you they were closing down the school.”
“You also told me that scum might still be here causing trouble, and you and Lynch were going to try to find him. By the way, I heard the FBI team and the tracking dogs up on the cliff when my Lyft dropped us off. It nearly drove Harley crazy. He wanted to run up there to play with them. His trainer was right, he doesn’t grasp the hunt-and-attack concept.” She reached out for one of the Braille books on the table in front of Kendra and sniffed. “This one smells very old.” Her fingers traced the copyright date. “Only twenty-two years. Was it of value to you?”
“No.” She paused. “Olivia?”
“I’m here to help you,” she said simply. “I’ve let you push me into the background and been very frustrated. Handicap isn’t just a word, it’s a reality, and I had to accept it. But I can use that handicap to help you go through this mountain of books. I’m smart enough that you’ll trust me to catch anything in them that might help us get Dietrich. It will cut your time in half, maybe more.” She smiled. “Because I might even be a little smarter than you. Ask Ariel.”
“I don’t have to ask her. But I don’t want you here, Olivia.”
“Tough. You sound like Lynch. And it annoys me as much as it would you.” She went around the table and settled in a chair. “Now, what you’re looking for is a hiding place for drugs or similar valuables on the property? And you also want to know how Dietrich is playing Houdini and managing to move around the school without anyone noticing him? Also anomalies and things that seem odd or out of place.”
“Piece of cake?”
“No, but not impossible, if we work hard enough. Suppose you feed me those books to read in the order you believe to be most promising.”
Kendra sighed and pushed a book toward her. There would obviously be no budging her. “Well, at least you brought Harley to protect you.”
“No, I brought him because this is where he should be right now. I would have preferred not to bring him. I’d like to keep on protecting him.” She opened the book. “But someone wanted to hurt him, too, and he lost Elaine just as we did. If we have a chance of catching the man who did it, he should have a part of it.” She added, “And I believe that you think we’re getting very close.”
“I could be wrong. There’s nothing solid.”
“Of course you could. But we’ll think positive, won’t we?” She frowned and closed her book. “But speaking of Harley, I’d better take him for his walk before I get settled in. Do you want to come with us?”
“No,” Kendra said as she went back to her book. “But be sure to have the FBI agent out front go with you. I took a peek earlier and it’s that Special Agent Roberts I met at Hayes’s apartment. You won’t find him a bother.”
“Sure, I don’t mind. It’s always amusing to notice those big, tough guys’ reaction to Harley. First, they’re all mushy and then they want to go climb the nearest tree.” She was leashing Harley as she spoke. “I particularly liked Metcalf’s…”
“You definitely have a sadistic streak.” Kendra heard Olivia laugh before she looked back down at the text of the book she’d been reading when Harley and Olivia had burst into the room. She didn’t like the idea of either one of them being back here when everyone else was being shunted away to safety, but it was hard not to feel the warmth and comfort Olivia always brought with her. Just looking up and seeing her working at the library table reminded Kendra of the hours they’d spent here as children. Only then it had been a world of darkness for both of them. But there had also been music and whispers and talking about the magic of the books they had just been reading…
* * *
11:10 P.M.
Kendra carefully closed the library door behind her and moved silently down the hall toward the office reception area. All she needed was to have Harley hear her leaving and start barking.
But Lynch was there at the door, pulling her into the office area and then out into the driveway. “You called, I came. Silent as the proverbial mouse.” He smiled down at her. “But I admit it was amusing to see you creeping down that hall like a teenager on her first date.”
“Well, I would have been much more careful if you’d been that first date. Mom was very selective, and she would have considered you in the bad-boy category.” She breathed in the cool night air and added, “But thanks for taking the trouble to be quiet. Olivia’s sleeping on the couch and Harley’s curled up at her feet. I didn’t want to wake either one of them.”
“Believe me, I didn’t either. I spent entirely too many hours on that cliff path today with Metcalf’s guys and four dogs. I was ready to come down when you called.”
“They’re still up there?” Kendra lifted her gaze to the lights still burning in the trees bordering the cliff path. “I didn’t expect Metcalf to be that long.”
“Neither did I. But he doesn’t want to disappoint you, so he’s making sure that he’s done everything possible.”
“And did you find anything?”
Lynch shook his head. “Zilch. Nothing at all suspicious.” He tilted his head. “You?”
