Free Dark Whispers by Debra Webb Page B

would get the BMW out of his way as quickly as possible before heading into the office to join Natalie and the detectives. He wasn’t looking forward to explaining the details to her. It was difficult enough when a person could accurately assess the threat around them, but for Natalie, there was no way to be certain. There were too many holes in her memory and too many questions she couldn’t answer. She had no idea who would want to harm her or for what reason. There was no way at this point to get a fix on the threat.
    Harper and Detective Chad Cook had already introduced themselves to Natalie by the time Clint left Vernon to his next task. Harper and Cook were the only two remaining original members of the department’s Major Crimes Special Problems Unit. Harper was in command for now. He’d made lieutenant last year. Clint respected both men, called them friends. For him, that was high praise. Clint didn’t play well with others.
    Harper gave Clint a nod. “Vernon says we got foul play here.”
    Clint glanced at Natalie who looked even more worried than when they had arrived. “No question.”
    “I confirmed that the mechanic who repaired the brake line is still employed at the Irondale dealership,” Cook explained. “His name’s Beckett. His rap sheet is clean other than a DUI back in high school. Harper and I are heading there now to interview him.”
    Natalie’s worry turned to confusion. “I don’t understand. What’s going on with the brakes?”
    “I’ll explain the full report to you,” Clint promised. To Harper he said, “I’d like to talk to the mechanic first. I don’t think we should tip our hand just yet as to police involvement. I’d prefer for whoever is behind this to feel safe for now.”
    Harper didn’t look convinced. “I can give you twenty-four hours, but we can’t risk this guy posing a threat to anyone else. You know as well as I do that if he’d do it for a dollar once he’ll do it for a dollar again.”
    Clint couldn’t argue his reasoning. “Twenty-four hours is all I need.”
    “How is this possible?” Natalie turned to Clint. “I haven’t taken my car in for service recently. How could he have gained access to it? The only people...”
    Her voice drifted off as realization struck her hard. There were very few people with access to her home and unfortunately she was extremely close to those few.
    Clint could think of at least four people who were close enough, but which one was motivated enough to commit murder?
    * * *
    I T WAS TOO MUCH .
    Natalie couldn’t reconcile what the lab’s analysis meant. The only people who had access to the house were Suzanna and Leonard, and April, of course. David had a key but he rarely came to the house unless Leonard called him.
    Except, how could she be certain?
    Before her fall she had worked long hours at the firm. Afterward she’d been in the hospital and then in rehab for months. In the past two months she had spent several hours a day at the office. How could she say for sure who had come and gone? Had Suzanna or Leonard given a key to anyone else? The pest-control service? A plumber or electrician? What about the painters? The house had been given a fresh coat throughout while she was in rehab. The rugs had been cleaned and the floors polished. April had thought it would make Natalie feel better to come home to a fresh start.
    Any one of those people coming in and out of the house may have picked up a key.
    Or perhaps it was easier to believe a stranger was the culprit rather than someone close to her.
    “Harper will check the security cameras at the parking garage next to your office.”
    Clint’s voice startled her back to the present. “I appreciate the department’s efforts.”
    What was the likelihood that someone had come into the garage where she parked while at work and tampered with her car?
    None of this made sense.
    “You’re in a difficult position.”
    His voice was gentler this time, as if he understood