Killing Trail: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Read online

  “Talk that over with Deputy Cobb. The sheriff’s office may want to come get them. I have another question before I let you go. Have the dogs’ feces been normal?”

  “Yes, they seemed to be recovered by the time he brought them to me.”

  “They’ve all been eating and drinking?”

  “Yes, I haven’t had any problems with them.”

  “Have there been any foreign objects in their feces?”

  “Good gracious, no. Why do you ask that?”

  The dogs must have expelled the cocaine on Friday night, just like Belle. “It’s not important. Do they appear to be healthy now?”

  “As far as I can tell.”

  “That’s good. I’m going to call Deputy Cobb right now, so please stay by the phone. I’m sure she’ll want to speak with you immediately.”

  As he was saying good-bye, Angela poked her head through the door, looking much less grumpy than she’d been earlier. The morning’s activity must have been good for her. “Dad, we’re hungry,” she said.

  “Why don’t you guys walk Belle to the house and fix yourselves some sandwiches? I’ve got to make one more call and then I’ll come, too.”

  “Don’t take forever, okay?” She gave him a stern look.

  “I won’t, Angel.”

  After she left, Cole swiped to his contact list and called Mattie. She answered after the first ring.

  “Hello, this is Mattie.”

  “Have I got good news for you,” he said.

  “I could use some about now.”

  “Just got a call from a kennel owner near Denver. She’s got Mike’s dogs.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “I kid you not.” Cole relayed the information he’d just learned, including the woman’s name and phone number. “I told her to stay by the phone.”

  “I’ll call her right now. Stella’s here at the station. We’ll talk to her together.” Sounding in a hurry, she said good-bye but spoke again before he could disconnect. “And Cole?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks. You’ve made my day.”

  “It’s my pleasure. I thought I might.”

  Smiling, he disconnected the call. Tess came into the room to help him finish cleaning up. Instead of her usual pleasant countenance, she wore a look of concern. While squirting disinfectant on his exam table, he decided to preempt a lecture and start the conversation himself. “I heard Sophie tell you about the divorce.”

  She nodded, and he thought she looked relieved that he’d brought it up. He’d been right to suspect that she meant to do it herself if he didn’t beat her to it.

  “I wanted to tell you that if you need help with the kids or anything, just call,” she said. “Tom and I would be glad to step in and take care of the girls if you need us. What’s two more with our crew?”

  Cole felt a wave of relief that took him by surprise. Though things really hadn’t changed, just knowing that someone was willing to help with his burden eased the weight on his shoulders. And knowing that Tess knew something about raising kids and was actually good with his children presented an extra bonus.

  “I may have to take you up on that. This afternoon, I have Angela watching Sophie at the house while I run ambulatory.”

  “I’ll check in about midafternoon and make sure they’re doing all right. And have Angela call me if she has a question or needs help with anything. Sophie’s a little sad today.”

  Cole sighed. “I can’t tell you how much it means just knowing you’re willing to help out.”

  Tess gave him a scolding look. “If you’d told me you needed it, I’d have offered sooner.”

  “You’re a lifesaver.” Feeling somewhat more lighthearted than he’d been in days, he went out to his truck to join his girls for lunch.

  Chapter 24

  Stella called another meeting to summarize new findings for the case. Mattie hoped to finagle a seat behind Brody so she could observe him, but when she and Robo entered the room, she saw that he’d taken a seat toward the back. It would be awkward to sit even farther behind him, so she grabbed a chair and pulled it toward the side of the room where she could look at him now and then without having to turn around in her seat. She directed Robo to lie down near the wall beside her.

  Once Sheriff McCoy had taken his seat near the front, Stella began. “Nice you could all make it,” she said, looking pointedly around the room at Brody and Mattie, as if to indicate how odd it was that they’d chosen to distance themselves. “We have some new developments and additions to the case, so I wanted us all to be on the same page.”

  Picking up her marker, she went to the dry-erase board and wrote the word “Diary” on the grid under “Victim 1: Grace Hartman.” “Now that we’ve found the girl’s car, we can add more information. You all know about the diary. The important items gleaned here are the presence of another vehicle at the crime scene, a ‘gray SUV kinda like’ a Honda CR-V, and I’m using the girl’s words here,” she said, writing it down.

  Instantly, it dawned on Mattie how she could get at least one of her suspicions out in the open. “There’s a gray Ford Escape I saw out at the hot springs yesterday morning. It’s got a similar shape.” She glanced at Brody, as if including him in the conversation, and observed his face had taken on the color of a rich burgundy.

  “There’s about a thousand gray SUVs with that shape around the region. Are we gonna try to track down all of them?” Brody asked in a sarcastic tone.

  Mattie spread her hands and shrugged. “We’ve got the hot springs crowd as people of interest. Maybe a coincidence, maybe not.”

  “You didn’t happen to take down the plate, did you?” McCoy asked.

  “Well, actually, I did. No reason to, really, but I knew we should be on the lookout, and it was the only car where I parked. Ran the plate, too. Belongs to Adrienne Howard, no priors, not even a speeding ticket. Met her while I was there. Pleasant woman. Massage therapist.”

  It wouldn’t take a poker pro to read the anger on Brody’s face now. Interesting.

  Stella added the woman’s name to the list of people to investigate.

  “We can answer the questions regarding Grace Hartman’s involvement with drugs and using her dog as a mule with a no to both, in my opinion.” After an eye sweep around the room to see if there were any objections, Stella turned to write “Missing Cell Phone” under the word “Diary.” “The Hartmans called and said that they’ve realized there’s no cell phone among the belongings we’ve found. They can’t find it at home either, and calling it goes directly to voice mail. I believe the killer took the phone and removed the battery so it couldn’t be located. Maybe disposed of it, maybe kept it.”

  Stella moved her pen to under “Victim 2: Mike Chadron” and wrote “Dogs Found Near Denver.” “As you also know by now, the dogs have been located, and Deputy Johnson is on his way to get them and bring them back in Chadron’s trailer. From hearsay reports, it appears they’ve been used as mules, like Belle. In the interest of being thorough, we should have them examined to make sure they’re clean. Sheriff, can we do that?”

  “Yes, the department can spring for it. Deputy Cobb, will you make the arrangements?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “To update our list of persons of interest,” Stella said, moving her pen, “I can clear Justin McClelland, our local attorney. He was more than delighted to have me visit him at his office and thought it hilarious that he might be a suspect. He has a solid alibi for Friday morning, verified by his secretary and a list of three clients he met with. Also, he seemed happy to tell me how he got the money for his new caddy. He got a settlement from his ex-wife, an independently wealthy heiress whom he sued for psychological damages. Says he represented himself, too.”

  Mattie glanced at Brody, wondering if he’d added the man to the list the day before as a diversion for the detective. His complexion had toned down, but he immediately met her gaze as if aware of hers. Not wanting to stir up his belligerence, Mattie lo
oked away and back at Stella, who had resumed talking.

  “Brody, did you find out anything about the tournament or the people in it?”

  “I was in Phoenix the same weekend the gun went missing, but I was at a different tournament. There were four tournaments there that weekend. I never crossed paths with Brinkman or his buddies. I also reached Brinkman by phone, and he answered my questions the right way. His stolen gun report appears to be legit.”

  Stella stared at Brody for a few moments, seemingly thinking. “You know which one of these tournaments Brinkman was in?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ll follow up from here then. I want to talk with the pro at the golf course he played at, see if I can discover anything there. Moving on, I think you all know my update on Dean Hornsby. I plan to continue to focus on him and now Ms. Adrienne Howard, so we’ll keep an eye on the hot springs. Mattie, do you have anything to add on the O’Malleys?”

  “I talked with the son Tommy and his mother yesterday. He told me he and his dad have new jobs and have been hired to work at the mine in Rigby. I spoke with the payroll manger there this morning, and neither one of them is employed at the mine. Tommy seems to be feeding me a line to divert suspicion over an increase in cash flow to the family.

  “In addition, a social worker visited the family this morning. There are signs of domestic abuse—bruises on Mrs. O’Malley’s face. She denies being hit by her husband. She also denies that her children are at risk and states that they now have money for groceries. The worker plans to revisit tomorrow, but there’s not much she can do if the woman won’t cooperate.

  “I’m not liking either one of the O’Malleys for the homicides at this point, but I do think that at least young Tommy knows something about our drug traffic problem. We might be able to get something out of him that leads to our killer.”

  Stella nodded, her face serious. “It’s time we questioned them together.”

  “I agree,” Mattie said.

  “Will you go over there with me after this meeting, Mattie?”

  “I planned to stop by on patrol this afternoon anyway.”

  “This investigation takes priority,” Sheriff McCoy said, “so manage your patrol duties around it, Deputy.”

  “Yes, sir.” Out of the corner of her eye, Mattie could see Brody cross his arms over his chest, but he remained silent.

  Stella turned back to the board. “Looking at the case here, is there anything that comes to mind? Any additions? Leads? Ideas?”

  “You’re wasting your time looking at Adrienne Howard,” Brody said, his voice a growl. “I know her. She has nothing to do with this.”

  Stella took on a trace of her sweet smile. “Then I’ll find that out when I talk to her. She’s only a person of interest. No harm, no foul.”

  The group sat in silence, staring at the grid. Mattie could feel Brody steaming in the back of the room while she searched the board. There was something there that bothered her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. When she pulled it out, she saw that Cole was calling. She realized Stella was watching her. “This is the vet,” she told Stella as she tapped the screen to take the call. “Hello. Mattie Cobb here.”

  “Mattie. Thank God I reached you.” His voice held an edge she hadn’t heard in it before. “The kids are alone at the house. They heard someone trying to break in. Belle barked and they think he ran, but they don’t know. I’m thirty minutes away, and I need someone there now to make sure they’re safe.”

  Mattie’s chair screeched as she stood abruptly and started toward the door. Robo followed without prompting. “I’m on my way. Hold on a moment.”

  All the others were watching her now. “Intruder at the Walker house,” she said to McCoy.

  “Do you need backup?”

  “They think he ran already. I’ll call in if I do.”

  “Go, Deputy.”

  “I can be at your house in two minutes,” she said to Cole. She hit the station door at a run, Robo on her heels, and headed for the cruiser. Within seconds, he bounded into his compartment. She secured his cage, belted herself into the driver’s seat, and headed toward the highway, talking to Cole at the same time. “Call the kids and stay on the line with them until I get there. All the doors are locked, right?”

  “Yes. I’ll call them now.”

  “And Cole, drive safely. These kids need their dad. I’ll be there in about one more minute.”

  “Okay.” She could hear the fear in his voice.

  She felt terrible. Just last night she’d told him that citizens were safe in their homes. Tightness gripped her throat.

  When she pulled into the Walkers’ yard, she saw the two girls come to the living room window, Angela with a phone to her ear. She’d seen no one fleeing the place as she’d approached. She opened Robo’s cage as she exited the cruiser. “Robo, come.”

  He jumped into the front seat and followed her.

  Angela stepped out on the porch with Sophie beside her like a shadow, fear clearly evident on their faces. Belle trailed behind. “She’s here now, Dad,” Angela was saying as Mattie hurried to join them. “Yeah, yeah, okay. I’ll give her the phone.”

  “If this is the man who killed Grace, you’re all in danger,” Cole said as soon as she picked up the phone. “I want you to load up the kids and leave.”

  “We’re together now, Cole. Let me check something with Angela. Are you sure no one came into the house?” she said to the teen.

  “I don’t think so. We closed all the windows.”

  “The kids and I are going into the house, Cole. Robo, heel.” She made sure Robo knew he was on duty so there would be no playfulness with Belle. She gestured for the kids to follow her, talking to Cole while they went. “We’re all inside the house with doors locked. I’m going to do a walk-through with Robo to make sure the house is clear and secure. Here, I’m giving the phone to Angela so I can make sure.” She handed over the phone before he could protest. “Angela, you guys stay by the front door with Belle.”

  With Mattie opening closet doors, it took only a little over a minute for Robo to sweep the lower level of the home. She felt certain there was no need to check the upper level, but it only took another minute or two for them to do it anyway. She returned to the girls and held out her hand for the phone.

  “I’m giving you back to Mattie now,” Angela told her dad.

  “All clear,” Mattie told him.

  “You’re sure it’s safe to be there?”

  “Yes. I’ll stay with the girls until you get here, and then Robo and I will take a look outside.”

  “I’m about fifteen minutes away now.”

  “Uh-huh. You might want to slow it down a little.”

  “Advice from a cop.”

  “Yeah, buddy.” Mattie ended the call and gave the girls a small smile, the tightness easing from her shoulders somewhat. Though their frightful time alone had passed, the aftermath was still apparent in their faces. “Let’s go into the living room while we wait for your dad.”

  She and Robo followed the girls, and they all settled into seats, the girls together on the sofa. Mattie took a moment to check in at the station, asking Rainbow to give the others news that things were all clear, no backup needed. Then she focused on Angela. “Tell me what happened.”

  “We were watching TV in here, and then Belle got up and started growling. I followed her to the back door and she sort of rushed at it, you know, as much as she could with her limp. That’s when she started barking, and she kind of lunged at the door and hit it with her front paws.”

  “Did you hear or see anything?”

  “Yeah, the door knob was rattling, like someone was trying to get it open, you know. It was locked, so they couldn’t, but they were still trying.”

  Mattie noticed that Sophie sat with big eyes and her arms wrapped around herself. She’d not seen her be so still in past visits. “Are you okay, Sophie?”

&nbs
p; The girl nodded, putting a thumb in her mouth, and leaned into her sister. Angela put an arm around her and went on. “I looked out the window, you know, sort of staying behind the curtain.”

  “What did you see?”

  “A man. I’m sure it was a man, but he had on a black ski mask so I don’t know what he looked like.” Angela’s eyes widened as she spoke.

  “That was scary,” Mattie said.

  “Yeah.” Angela sniffed. “He turned and ran as soon as Belle hit the door.”

  “Good! Hooray for Belle, right Sophie?” Mattie wanted to see if she could animate the child a little bit.

  Sophie smiled slightly around the thumb. “Right.”

  “How could you tell it was a man?” Mattie asked.

  Angela thought. “Well, he was thick, you know, not built like a woman or skinny like a boy. And he was big, not as big as Dad, but not little either.”

  “So not skinny. Average build or heavy?”

  “Average. But he ran like he wasn’t too old—I mean, he didn’t run like an old person.”

  “That’s a good observation. Can you describe his clothing?”

  “Well, I’m not sure. Jeans, a dark-colored sweatshirt, maybe navy blue.”

  “Did anything stand out? Anything unusual you could pick up on?”

  Angela frowned, clearly trying to do her best. “Oh. He wore black gloves, shiny, like leather.”

  The sound of a truck driving up to the yard interrupted further discussion. “Daddy,” Sophie whispered, and both girls hurried to meet him at the front door. Mattie and Robo followed, standing back as she watched Cole embrace his daughters and hold them for a long moment.

  He looked over the top of Angela’s head at Mattie. “Thank you,” he said, his voice hushed.

  She merely nodded. “I’m going outside to look around.”

  He made a movement as if to follow, but she stopped him. “Let me see what Robo can pick up before we all go out there and mix up the scent trail.”