Long After Midnight Read online

  But worrying about Noah Smith’s wild accusations would have to wait. Right now there were people at the house for the wake, and she had her final duty to perform. “I don’t think you know him.” She took Phyliss’s arm. “Come on, let’s get home to Joshua. He needs us.”

  “The kid seems to be holding up pretty well.” Charlie Dodd awkwardly balanced his coffee cup in one hand and a sandwich in the other. “How you doing, Kate?”

  Kate’s gaze followed his to Joshua sitting across the crowded room with Alan’s oldest boy, Mark. He looked so pale and grown-up in his blue suit, she thought with a wrenching pang. For once, his hair was neatly combed and he’d tried to plaster down the cowlick. He hadn’t worn the suit since Christmas, and he’d almost outgrown it. She’d have to buy him a new one soon. “We’re both doing well, Charlie. Thanks for coming.”

  “Hey, I just wish I could do more. Benny’s being buried in Tucson, but did you hear there was going to be a memorial service for her here on Tuesday?”

  She nodded. “I’ll be there.”

  “I heard you were taking a week’s leave. I just wondered if you were planning on going away.”

  “Familiar surroundings are always a comfort. I just need to spend more time with Joshua and Phyliss right now.”

  “Can I do anything? Take over any of your work? Bring anything home for you?”

  “No, I’m pretty caught up. I may stop by the office to pick up a few reports later.” Her gaze returned to Joshua. “Not now.”

  “Well, just let me know.”

  “I will.” She turned and smiled at him. Tall and lanky, Charlie always reminded her of Disney’s rendition of Ichabod Crane, and in his dark suit, he looked even more awkward than Joshua. She could tell this type of situation wasn’t easy for him, and he was really being very thoughtful. Everyone at GeneChem had been very understanding. “But there’s really nothing you can do.”

  He gave a sigh of relief as he set the cup of coffee down. “Then may I go? I know I should stick around and be comforting but I’m really lousy at it.”

  She waved her hand. “Go.”

  “Thanks.” He bolted toward the door.

  Kate set her own empty cup down and glanced at the clock. It was only a little after five. When would they all leave? God, she was tired. Phyliss looked exhausted too. There was such a thing as too much kindness.

  “Should I start the mass exit?” Alan was beside her. “I think you need to be rid of the lot of us.”

  “You’ve been wonderful, Alan.” Her eyes filled with tears. “You and Betty both. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “You’d have managed. No matter how tough things got, you always managed. Michael was always boasting about how smart you were.”

  “He was?” She shook her head. “I don’t think ‘boasting’ is the word you’re looking for.”

  “No, he was proud of you. And he always cared about you. You can still admire what you have trouble living with.” He squeezed her shoulder. “But sometimes we all need a little help. If Betty or I can give a hand, call us. Maybe Joshua would like to spend a few days with us.”

  “I’ll ask him.” Her gaze went to Joshua. “I’m worried about him.”

  “I thought he was acting pretty normal.”

  “Too normal. I haven’t seen him cry since you brought him home.”

  “You know the department has a psychologist who can help if either you or Joshua have trouble with . . .” He stopped. “Witnessing the death of a loved one is pretty traumatic. Particularly when you see . . .”

  “Them blown up before your eyes,” she finished when he broke off again. “I hope that won’t be necessary, but I won’t hesitate if Joshua starts having trouble.” She paused. “Have you found out anything?”

  “The school security guard knows most of the parents and saw no one suspicious arriving before the game. Whoever did this must have arrived after everyone was in the bleachers.”

  “No leads?”

  “We’re exploring the drug connection and we’re rounding up anyone who might have had a grudge against Michael.”

  “Any evidence from the explosion?”

  “Not much.”

  “Did you find the timer?” She hadn’t known she was going to ask the question until it came out.

  He nodded. “Very sophisticated.”

  “Can you trace it?”

  “We’ll trace it. It may take a little time. It’s not a local product. It was made in Czechoslovakia.”

  She felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. It could have been coincidence. It didn’t mean that Noah Smith’s ravings had any basis in fact.

  “We shouldn’t be talking about this. You look like you’re ready to pass out.” He turned away. “I’m going to clear these bozos out so you can get some rest.”

  “Thanks,” she said faintly.

  Czechoslovakia. It didn’t have to mean anything. Michael had died because of his job. It had not been because of her. No one would want to kill her.

  “Tough day.” Kate sat down on the bed beside Joshua and carefully tucked him in. “Thanks for being a trooper.”

  “S’okay.” Joshua’s eyes were closing. “It will be better tomorrow, won’t it, Mom?”

  She nodded. “With each day it’ll get a little better.” Lord, she hoped she was telling the truth. “I’ll miss him. He was one of the very brightest links.”

  “What?”

  “Your grandfather used to say that nothing is ever lost, that nothing really fades away, that it comes back brighter than ever.”

  “You hardly ever talk about Grandpa.”

  “Because it hurts, not because I don’t remember him. He’s always with me.” She brushed her lips across Joshua’s forehead. “Just as your dad will always be with you as long as you remember him.”

  “I’ll remember him.” He turned his head and looked at the wall. “Why do people have to die? It’s not fair.”

  What could she say? “Sometimes bad things happen.” Great, Kate, very profound. That explains everything. That will be a great help to him.

  “But you won’t die, will you?”

  Her arms closed tightly around him. She whispered, “Not for a long, long time.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  Don’t make me a liar, God. He can’t take it right now.

  She felt him relax against her. “Shall I turn out the light?”

  “Can I have it on tonight? I had a dream last night.”

  “Why didn’t you call out? I would have come to you.”

  “You were sad.”

  “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you.” She paused. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No,” he said sharply. “It’s over. Dad and Benny are dead. What’s there to talk about?”

  She felt a ripple of shock at the harshness of his voice. “Sometimes it makes things easier to talk about bad things.”

  “It’s over. I don’t want to think about it anymore. I’m not going to ever think about it again.”

  Denial. She should have known he was being too controlled. No wonder she had not seen him cry since that day it happened. She must have been blind not to have seen the wall he had built around himself.

  “Well, if you do want to talk, and not to me or your grandmother, Alan will take you downtown to see someone at the precinct.”

  “A shrink,” Joshua said with disgust.

  “A doctor, like me and your grandfather,” she corrected. “A doctor who helps you understand yourself and what you’re feeling.”

  “A shrink.”

  “Whatever.” She stood up. “I’ll leave my door cracked open so I’ll hear you if you call out. Good night, Joshua.”

  “G’night, Mom.”

  She paused a moment outside the door before she went back to the living room to join Phyliss. She wished she could just go to bed, cover up her head and go to sleep and forget about Michael and that closed cask
et. She couldn’t really blame Joshua for not wanting to face it.

  Only a little while longer.

  “How is he?” Phyliss asked when Kate joined her in the living room.

  “Hurt. Sad. Scared.” Kate grimaced. “Like us.”

  “It will take time.”

  Kate nodded. “But he’s not making it easy for himself. He’s trying to pretend he’s not feeling anything.”

  “Maybe he’s the smart one,” Phyliss said. “We all have our own way of adjusting to the unacceptable. I wish I could close it out.”

  “This way may come crashing down on him and everyone around him. If he’s too much for you, let me know.”

  “It will be good for me to be busy.” Phyliss stood up and wearily arched her back. “And Joshua’s always a blessing. We’ll help heal each other.”

  Kate watched her as she moved toward the front door. “Where are you going?”

  “Just to turn out the porch light. Time to go to bed.” She opened the door and took a deep breath. “It smells good out here. Spring is coming. The house is so stuffy. All those people . . .”

  “Nice people.”

  “One of those nice people left their car at the curb down the street.”

  “What?”

  “There were so many of Michael’s friends from the precinct. Maybe one of them decided to go somewhere with one of his buddies.”

  “And maybe it belongs to one of the neighbors.”

  Phyliss shook her head. “I know all the neighbors’ cars. No, it’s one of Michael’s friends.”

  Kate slowly moved toward the door.

  The car parked in front of the Brocklemans’ home was a late-model Ford. At least, she thought it was a Ford. The car was parked three houses down from the nearest streetlight and was only a shadowy form.

  And there was another shadow. Someone sitting behind the wheel.

  She hurried to the hall closet and reached up for the safety gun box Michael had given her.

  “What are you doing?” Phyliss asked.

  “There’s someone in that car. It won’t hurt to check it out.” Kate punched in the combination and drew out the Lady Colt. She grabbed a raincoat from the closet and draped it over her arm, hiding the pistol. “You know all those stories Michael used to tell us about thieves targeting homes where there have been bereavements.”

  She moved out of the house and down the steps.

  “Kate.” Phyliss was standing on the doorstep behind her.

  “It’s okay.” She grinned at her over her shoulder. “I’m not going to shoot anyone.”

  “You have no business going out there. It’s foolish.”

  It was foolish, Kate thought, even as she moved down the street toward the car. She should have called Alan. He would have sent someone. The man out there might be perfectly innocent, a friend of the Brocklemans. It was Noah Smith and his crazy insinuations that had prompted this idiocy.

  The car window was rolled down and she could see sleek dark hair pulled back in a long ponytail, concave cheeks, silver gray eyes sunk beneath bushy black brows.

  “Hi,” Kate said after she stopped beside the car. “Nice evening.”

  “Real nice.” The man smiled. “A little cool. You should put that raincoat on if you’re going for a walk, Dr. Denby.”

  She relaxed a little. “You know me?”

  He shook his head. “But I knew Michael. I worked with him a few times. A great guy.”

  “You’re with the force?”

  “Oh, sorry, I should have introduced myself. I thought Alan told you who was going to have first watch.” He nodded. “I’m Todd Campbell.”

  He didn’t look like a Todd. Now that she was closer, he appeared even more exotic than at first glance. Except for the gray eyes, he looked Native American. Dark hair, aquiline nose. He even wore some kind of beaded necklace around his neck. Not that his apparel should mean anything, she told herself. Cops on stakeout had to look like everyone else, and the faded jeans and chambray shirt he wore appeared clean and commonplace. “Alan sent you?”

  “He wanted to make sure you weren’t bothered by reporters or any other scumbags.”

  It made sense. The man was affable and appeared to be genuine. “Then you won’t mind if I check your credentials.”

  “Mind?” He smiled and reached into his pocket. “I wish I could get my wife to be as careful. She lets anyone in the house.”

  She took the badge and ID, scanned them, and handed them back to him. “Thank you.” She turned away and started back to the house. “You won’t care if I call Alan and check?”

  “No way. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. Michael taught you right.” Todd waved cheerfully at Phyliss, who was standing in the vestibule, before bending down and turning on the radio. “You go to sleep and have a good night. I’ll be here to protect you.”

  Phyliss was frowning as Kate reached her. “Everything all right?”

  “Probably.” Of course it was all right. She was just being paranoid. “He says Alan sent him to watch the house.”

  “That was nice of Alan.” She shut the door behind them and took the raincoat from Kate. “Now will you put up that gun? You looked like Sam Spade striding out there.”

  “Who’s Sam Spade?”

  “Forget it. Generation gap.” She took down the safety box and stared pointedly at the gun. “Let’s get that thing out of the way.”

  “In a minute.” She reached for the phone on the hall table, opened her phone directory, and found Alan’s number. “I just want to check with Alan.”

  “At this hour?”

  “I’m sure everything’s all right. I’ll just feel better if I check.” She punched in the number. “It’s only a little after ten.”

  “Hello,” Alan answered.

  He sounded drowsy. Guilt flooded her. “I didn’t want to disturb you, Alan.”

  “No, it’s okay.” He was obviously smothering a yawn. “Do you need to talk?”

  “No, I just wanted to thank you for the man you stationed outside the house.”

  There was a silence. Then, “What the hell are you talking about?” Alan sounded wide awake now.

  Her hand tightened on the receiver. “Todd Campbell. The officer you asked to watch over the house.”

  “I don’t know any Todd Campbell.” He paused. “I don’t like this, Kate.”

  Neither did she. She was suddenly scared to death. She looked at the front door. Jesus, had Phyliss locked it? “Lock the door,” she whispered.

  Phyliss didn’t question. She was at the door, turning the bolt the next instant.

  “He told you he was with the department?” Alan asked.

  “I saw his credentials.”

  “Christ, Kate, you know credentials can be faked. What kind of car did he have?”

  “Late-model Ford.”

  “Did you get his license number?”

  “No.” And she thought she had been so careful. “But I went out and talked to him. He knew you. He knew Michael.”

  “The hell he did. He could have found out a lot of information from the newspapers. That’s usually how they zero in on a victim. I don’t think you’re in danger now that he knows you’re aware he was casing the place. It was probably one of those ghouls who prey on bereaved families.”

  “That’s what I told Phyliss.”

  “I want you to go to the window and see if the car is still there.”

  She took the portable phone with her as she crossed to the window in the living room. Relief poured through her at the sight of the empty street. “He’s gone. The car’s gone.”

  “Good. Now make sure all the doors and windows are locked tight. I’m going to send a black-and-white to watch the house tonight. He’ll be there in a few minutes. You’ll be perfectly safe. Do you want me to come out?”

  “No, go back to sleep, Alan. Thanks for everything. I feel much better now.”

  “Okay, I’ll phone you tomorrow morning. If you get nervous, just give me a ca
ll.”

  “Don’t worry, I will.” She hung up the phone and turned to Phyliss. “He’s sending a black-and-white to watch the house, but he doesn’t believe it’s really necessary. He thinks we were being cased for a robbery.”

  Phyliss shook her head. “How can people be so terrible? To try to invade a house of mourning.”

  “He said to lock up the house, just in case.”

  “It’s already locked up.”

  “Then go to bed. I’ll wait here until I see the black-and-white.” She brushed a kiss against Phyliss’s cheek. “Try to sleep.”

  Phyliss turned away and moved heavily down the hall toward her room. “Terrible . . .”

  Kate’s hands clenched in helpless rage. Phyliss, whom Kate had never associated with age, at this moment looked like an old woman. It wasn’t enough she’d had to face Michael’s funeral today, but that creep had—

  She stiffened. Headlights were spearing the street outside.

  The black-and-white.

  She relaxed as the police car slid to a stop at the curb outside the house. Safe. A young officer got out of the car and waved at her. She waved back and turned away from the window. Everything was all right now. She could go to bed. . . .

  The hell she could. She wasn’t going to be fooled again. She took down the license number of the black-and-white and called the station to verify it.

  It checked out.

  She still didn’t go to bed. She went to Joshua’s room.

  She checked the locks on the window and then stood looking down at him. He was sleeping deeply, thank God. She could feel tears sting her eyes. She had almost lost him. If he’d obeyed her urging to go with Michael and Benny, he’d be dead too.

  To save your life. And maybe your son’s life too.

  She wouldn’t think about Noah Smith’s words. No one had a reason to kill her.

  The timer that set off the bombs at my plant was Czechoslovakian built.

  For all she knew, that could be coincidence.

  And the thief with amazingly authentic credentials who had staked out her house?

  All the more reason for her to stay here safe and sound and not tear across town on a wild-goose chase.