Cold Silence, page 17
It made him both regret walking away from her earlier and give himself a big pat on the back. As much as he wished he was currently mapping her naked body with his tongue, he sensed that much of her wariness of him, of others in general, stemmed from a core lack of faith in her fellow humans. And getting her into the sack for a sweaty round of sex wouldn’t build half as much trust as him backing away—as he was doing now, before heading downstairs to stretch out on her couch.
He placed his SIG on the floor beside him and dragged a blanket off the back of the sofa. Now he hoped Evi1Geni-us made a move on this place. He’d take the fucker down without blinking.
Yael Brooks had proven herself more than capable when it came to computers. Shane was convinced she was the key to tracking down this jackass. He could protect her back in the meantime.
And maybe he was lying to himself a little bit about why he wanted to stay close to her. He could admit to himself now, after reassuring himself she was on their side and then sharing another kiss that had seared the very edges of his being, that his interest might not be strictly one hundred percent professional. And, as long as it didn’t get in the way of him tracking down this killer, what did it matter? They were both consenting adults. It was their business.
He lay there staring at the play of moonlight over the ceiling. He hoped he hadn’t completely blown his chances with her because getting to know Yael Brooks better was becoming an increasingly enticing prospect.
The image of Grace’s weeping face filtered into his mind. This wasn’t that. And he thought about how Scotty would have liked Yael. Liked the fact she was generally unimpressed by all things macho. Slowly Shane drifted off, thinking about his best friend and some of the good times they’d shared.
Yael’s cell started buzzing and she woke to the smell of fresh coffee.
She groggily raised her head. That didn’t make any sense. Was Laura here? She knew the code. Or maybe her boss? Although she couldn’t imagine Alex Parker letting himself in to brew coffee even if he held a spare key.
She fumbled for the cell before it vibrated itself off the nightstand.
“Okay. Now don’t freak out,” Shane Livingstone’s voice came through the phone and the floor.
“What the hell?”
“I’m in your house.”
She scrubbed her hand over her weary face.
“And I’m about to bring you breakfast in bed so make yourself decent.” He rang off and then she heard footsteps on the stairs. She struggled into a sitting position on the bed.
“What are you doing here?” She glanced at the time. Five thirty a.m. She groaned. “In the middle of the night?”
He came through the door wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing when he left last night. He also wore a warm smile. “Sorry, I’m an early riser which is useful in my job but not so great for everyone else.” He placed the tray on her lap and leaned over to grab another pillow which he propped behind her shoulders.
She caught the scent of him. Warm skin and that stupid pine deodorant that must contain some sort of narcotic because she was drawn to it like a honeybee to nectar.
“I’m not even going to bother asking how you broke in here this morning.”
A smile curled his mouth. “That’s good because I didn’t actually break in this morning.” He took one of the two coffee mugs off of the tray and planted himself beside her feet. She felt the mattress give and concentrated on the breakfast he’d prepared to avoid the intimacy of the moment. Buttered toast with a side of scrambled eggs and a small jar of marmalade on the side that Laura had left behind when she’d stayed here last week.
Yael picked up a piece of toast and took a bite of the salty goodness. She met his gaze. “This is good. Thanks.”
Funny, but last night she’d hoped never to see him again because she’d felt embarrassed. Less than eight hours later she was grinning at him like an idiot.
She took a sip of coffee. It was black with sugar. She wondered how he’d figured out how she took it and decided not to ask. He was very observant and crazy smart. She started on the scrambled eggs while they were warm and almost moaned when they melted on her tongue. She didn’t know the last time she’d been treated to breakfast in bed. Probably not since she’d been a kid.
His green eyes met hers as he blew on his coffee to cool it down. “I spent the night on the couch.”
She almost choked on a piece of toast. “You what?”
“After I left here, I got to thinking about you know who and the thought of him breaking in here and finding you alone and unarmed…”
He sounded genuinely worried and a shudder ran through her bones.
“I have security.”
He gave her a look.
“Which you somehow bypassed.”
He grimaced. The light from the hallway revealed a hint of red in his hair and a slight bump on the bridge of his nose. “I may have borrowed a key and garage door opener after I showered last night—which was wrong of me, but…” He shrugged, looking unrepentant and took another sip of coffee. “Anyway, I texted with Alex Parker when I came back here. Your security system didn’t let you down, but I did circumvent it.”
She put her fork down. Wrapped her hands around the stoneware mug which was one of her favorites. “You were concerned enough to sleep on my couch.”
His hand tightened around his own mug but he didn’t answer. His actions told her everything. He had a perfectly nice apartment to sleep in and he hadn’t tried to talk his way into her bed. The idea he was genuinely worried raised her own fears. She nibbled on the toast. Wiped the crumbs from her lips.
“You know I have a spare room, right?”
It was an unspoken signal that she forgave him for letting himself in, for kissing her and then leaving.
His smile was self-deprecating. “Yeah, well, I didn’t want to totally overstep the boundaries. By the time I turned around last night, I figured you were probably fast asleep. I did send you a text to alert you to what was going on but when you didn’t answer I made an executive decision to use the couch.”
His expression turned serious. “Plus, I didn’t want to scare you or for you to lose sleep worrying about an imminent attack or that I’m some asshole trying to get into your pjs.”
“Seriously?” She blew at the steam on her coffee. “You already turned me down.”
He blinked in surprise and then something flashed in his gaze that had her blushing. She’d basically confessed she would have slept with him last night if he hadn’t put the brakes on. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t change her mind now.
Her cell chimed at the same time as Shane’s and they both checked their screens. Sloan wanted them in early. Then Yael’s cell rang again, only this time it was her boss.
“Alex?”
“I need you as soon as you can get here at the Sunset Motel in Ruckersville.”
“Why?”
“I’ll fill you in when you get here. Bring Livingstone.” Alex hung up.
Shane was looking at her expectantly.
“Looks like we’re going on another field trip.”
16
The Sunset Motel looked exactly as Shane expected it to look. Straggly weeds growing through cracks in the pavement. Two rows of small units facing one another each with a narrow wooden walkway out front. The traffic on the highway was close enough to rattle the dusty windows in their frames and the overhead sign flickered with eternal vacancies.
To save time, Shane had driven his truck again so they didn’t have to head back to the FBI Academy grounds to pick up Yael’s SUV. Alex Parker had cleared the way with Sloan and Shane had even checked in with Novak. Covering the bases and his ass and reminding everyone he knew how to be a team player.
HRT did not like lone wolves.
Yael once again had her laptop open to do research on the way over. She’d been quiet but not in a resentful way. She obviously wasn’t a morning person.
“Figure out what we’re doing here?”
Yael frowned. “No. I don’t see anything online. If it’s a crime, they kept it off the police scanners.”
Shane pulled up outside the main office next to a black Audi sports car. Alex Parker stepped out of the reception and they exchanged a look he recognized.
Trouble.
Shane killed the engine and climbed out. Yael didn’t wait for him to open her door. She got out, wrapping her leather jacket tighter around herself to help fight off the razor edge of the relentless January wind.
Shane came around to the front of the truck. “What’s up?”
“I think I figured out where EG spent the night before last, before he killed Zenko.” Alex led them inside the cramped reception area. A woman of South Asian descent stood behind the counter with a worried expression on her face. A small fake Christmas tree sat on the counter in a belated reminder of the festive season. A door that led to a living area was open and a young girl sat mesmerized by cartoons, her small hand digging into a plastic bowl of dry cheerios which crunched noisily between her teeth.
“This is Sunita Cadre. Sunita, these are the experts I told you about. Don’t worry. Go ahead and charge the credit card I gave you for all your rooms tonight. This person,” he indicated Yael, “will be looking at your computer system and making copies of your reservation list and any security footage for the last few days.”
Sunita bit her lip. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“You won’t have any,” Alex promised.
Shane flashed his gold FBI shield and Sunita’s eyes went huge but then she seemed to relax. The woman nodded, processed Alex’s payment, then leaned over and turned off the vacancy sign.
“Did you happen to note any men staying here Tuesday night?” Shane asked.
Sunita frowned. “I’m not sure. We have a man booked into unit eleven for a week. He checked in on Tuesday evening but I haven’t seen him yet. My shift normally ends at six p.m.,” she explained. “I don’t generally run the desk at night but our nightwatchman called in sick yesterday morning and couldn’t work last night, so I had to take over.”
“You spoke to him?”
She shook her head. “He texted me.”
Shane got one of those feelings in his gut, one that told him things weren’t looking good for the nightwatchman.
“Can I get his name and contact info?” Shane asked. “I’d like to talk to him. And any information you have on all your guests from Tuesday would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.”
She pulled the contact information for the nightwatchman from her cell and wrote it on a yellow post-it.
Shane took it and read the name. Wayne Stockwell. “Thank you. We may need to interview you further so if you could remain available?”
Her mouth turned down at the corners and she backed away a step. She must know it wasn’t good when the FBI turned up on your doorstep.
“I need to check on my kids.” As soon as she’d moved into the next room, she closed the door.
Alex lowered his voice. “Cops found a white van this morning that matched the description you gave from yesterday, burned out on a rural road about two miles from here. They called the Bureau immediately. FBI has an Evidence Response Team retrieving the vehicle and taking it back to Quantico for forensic examination.”
Shane knew there was more.
“I got a hit on a cell phone number that bounced off a tower near where the van was dumped and then off another tower here in town about an hour later. The phone went dead shortly after that.”
“He walked into town from where he dumped the van.” Shane slid his cast into his sling because the sooner his arm healed, the sooner he could strangle the EG with his bare hands.
Alex nodded. “Then presumably removed the sim card and battery and tossed the phone.”
“You think he might still be here at the motel?” Shane rested his right hand on his SIG as his eyes shot to the window.
Alex cocked his head. “Only if he’s a fool, which would please me greatly. But probably not. The thing is, the cell phone belonged to one Wayne Stockwell.”
The missing night manager.
Hence the reason they were here.
The shriek of a child laughing came through the door.
A crinkle formed between Yael’s brows as she pulled up a photo of this Stockwell character. “He doesn’t have the same physique as EG,” she stated.
Shane’s brows rose as he stole a glance. EG was lanky whereas this guy was probably three hundred pounds.
“You think EG stayed here Tuesday night on his way to take care of Zenko.” Shane exchanged a look with Alex and knew they were thinking the same thing. Either Stockwell was an accomplice or he was another potential victim.
“I don’t understand why Zenko wasn't more wary of EG? Why meet at his cabin?” Yael whispered fiercely. “Zenko must have known he was being hired to kill someone. After the explosion he knew how EG made his money.”
Details about the gruesome murders had been splashed all over the news. Ironically, it was driving up interest and Shane bet the motherfucker ended up raising his prices for the next auction.
There wasn’t going to be another auction if he could help it.
“Zenko didn’t necessarily tell EG where he was. The texts from Zenko’s phone indicated they were supposed to meet in Ruckersville today,” Alex said.
“Maybe that’s why Zenko was at the cabin rather than his apartment,” Shane added. “But EG tracked him down the same way Yael did.”
“EG caught Zenko drunk and unawares and shot him.” Alex nodded.
“The guy was paranoid enough to set tripwires around his own house.” Yael shuddered.
“Not connected to explosives. I spoke to a bomb tech and they found C-4 hidden in the guy’s bedroom but the tripwires went to a simple mechanical bell system to alert him someone was creeping around in the woods.”
Relief filled Yael’s features and softened her expression. “I guess that’s something.”
The tripwires had freaked her out. Amongst other things.
“I think Lloyd Zenko seriously underestimated EG and overestimated his own capabilities,” Alex added. “He thought his little improvised warning system was enough to protect himself and then he let down his guard and had a few beers. I don’t think the two men were friends. Why else would EG park his vehicle a few doors down?”
Shane glanced out the window again. “How can you be so sure EG isn’t here now?”
“He’s been ahead of us at every turn and, although we are getting closer, I doubt we’re that lucky.” Alex’s expression was bland. “But I did call you for backup—just in case.”
Shane frowned. He was the backup. “What about Yael’s safety?”
“I have no intention of placing Yael in danger.” Alex sent him a long look that suggested he hadn’t completely forgiven him for yesterday. Then he nodded to the doorway where the manager had disappeared. “While I was waiting for you to get here, I made sure there weren’t any bugging devices on the premises and also checked EG wasn’t able to somehow jump onto the motel’s surveillance system.”
Shane glanced at the camera above the desk facing the door.
Yael gave another visible shudder.
“I have people monitoring communications coming to and from this property and also flying a drone overhead that will warn us if anyone tries to escape out the back. But the family who runs this motel has been doing so for seventeen years. They’re hardworking people with no obvious computer skills. Even the Wi-Fi is dubious at best.”
Yael sat down in the chair behind the desk. “You want me to run the images through the facial recognition software at the same time as copying it?”
“Please.” Alex nodded.
Yael didn’t waste any more time. Her fingers began flying over the keyboard and she connected some sort of external drive to the motel’s PC and then opened another window on the monitor and downloaded some piece of software from a USB drive.
Watching her work was a turn on.
Shane stopped watching. “You checked the reservations for Tuesday night?”
Alex nodded. “One of them was made with a credit card number stolen with the same batch as the card EG used to buy the off-the-shelf VPN in Houston. Jason Jones. Unit eleven. It’s the farthest unit along on the far side.”
Shane checked his weapon. “How many of the other rooms are occupied?”
“Four. There’s no one in the adjoining unit.”
“You don’t want to evacuate the others before we knock on the door of unit eleven?”
“I don’t think it’s necessary.” Alex glanced at the parking lot through the window. “But I brought a handheld radar system with me so we can take a look inside the rooms before we go in.”
Shane nodded. “Good idea.”
“You and I can check all the units. See if anyone is hunkered down somewhere they aren’t supposed to be.”
Yael had her head bent over her keyboard completely absorbed in her task.
He headed outside and Alex dug the sophisticated handheld radar out of the bag in the trunk of his Audi. They stood hidden by the truck as they surreptitiously examined each unit in turn and compared it to the register. “All looks exactly the way it should.” Shane confirmed. “Unit eleven appears to be empty.”
“Let’s check it out. I have paper booties and gloves in my car so we don’t contaminate the scene should it belong to EG,” said Alex.
The hairs on Shane’s nape rose. Not a good sign.
Alex headed into the office. He came back with a key on a large clear Perspex keychain.
“Shouldn’t we check that for DNA?” asked Shane.
“It’s Sunita’s master key. She said it never leaves her side.”
Alex popped his trunk.
Shane pulled ballistics vests out of his backseat and tossed one to Alex. “Put it on.”
Alex’s brow rose in amusement as Shane helped himself to gloves and boot covers which he stuffed into his back pocket.
“No trouble at Yael’s house last night?”
Shane glanced at the man. “No indication anyone came near the place but the security guards in the gatehouse need to up their game.”
