Free The Patrick Bowers Files - 05 - The Queen by Steven James Page B

unregistered number from someone in Egypt, one that had never called, or been called from, this phone before.
    Although the country of origin appeared on the phone company’s records, no actual number did, which meant someone knew what he was doing when he covered his tracks.
    I took a moment to go tell Natasha to dust for prints on Ardis’s phone, then I returned to the study for some privacy.
    If the killer didn’t talk for four minutes on the phone, who did?
    Was more than one offender present? After all, there were two sets of boot impressions in the snow outside the laundry room door.
    Truth often hides in the crevices of the evident. Be always open to the unlikely.
    Considering both the location of the phone in the master bedroom and the timing of this call, it seemed at least possible that it had rung shortly after the murders, and that the shooter had gone upstairs to answer it.
    If so, he or she would’ve had to have been expecting the call. Why else answer the phone at the home of a person you just killed? Why else have a four-minute conversation?
    Unless it was Donnie after all.
    When you’re working a case, you arrange the pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, and I had the feeling I was looking at a straight-edged piece that might help frame in part of the perimeter. But how it related to the other facts of the case was still a mystery.
    It’s getting late, Pat. Call Lien-hua, tell her about Amber.
    I hadn’t really taken the time to collect my thoughts like I’d hoped, and I still wasn’t sure exactly how to tackle this, but I knew I’d better call her now, tonight, get it off my mind.
    I speed-dialed her number.

14
    When Lien-hua picked up, she promptly told me she was busy going over case files with one of the local detectives. At first I thought it seemed a little late in the day for a business meeting like that, but then remembered I was the one calling her from a crime scene.
    With the ambient noise in the background it sounded like she might be at a restaurant.
    â€œI’m sorry to cut this short,” she said, “but I really have to go, Pat. Ashton’s got some notes we need to go over.”
    â€œAshton.”
    â€œAshton Rivera. The detective I’m consulting with.”
    â€œOf course.”
    I was quiet, searching for what to say, for a way to gracefully bring up Amber. “I had to drive up here to Woodborough. Margaret handed me another case.”
    â€œI heard.”
    I gave Lien-hua the rundown, and when she spoke again her tone had softened. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sending a surprise up there for you. It should arrive tomorrow.”
    Lien-hua’s surprises were always intimate and always memorable. “Hmm. I suppose it won’t do any good to ask what it is?”
    â€œIf I told you what it was, it wouldn’t be—”
    â€œSure, I know—a surprise—but I won’t hold full disclosure against you this time. I promise.”
    â€œNope. You’re going to have to wait. But I have a feeling you’re really going to like it.”
    Okay, now my curiosity was getting piqued.
    â€œReally, Pat”—urgency in her voice again—“I need to go. Ashton and I need to finish some things up. I’m glad you called, though.”
    â€œYeah.” I wanted to mention Amber, tell Lien-hua the story of what had happened five years ago, explain that Amber wasn’t a threat, but all that came out was, “I’ll look forward to that surprise, then.”
    â€œGood. Call me tomorrow.”
    â€œI love you,” I said.
    â€œYou too.”
    After we hung up I was still thinking of Amber, of the incidents from my past that I hadn’t shared with Lien-hua. The phone felt heavy and awkward in my hand, and I nearly missed slipping it into my pocket.
    â€œPat?” Jake’s voice. He was standing in the doorway. I wondered how long he’d been