Marked for Murder

“Adam,” Margo said, “I would never insult or disrespect your father. You must have misunderstood.”

“I didn’t misunderstand anything. You should’ve told that woman flat out that my dad didn’t need to call in the state police. He knew who killed those girls. He just couldn’t put him away. You made him look clueless.”

Cole watched Margo move closer, her tone gentle and sincere. “Adam, your dad was a great cop. I would never say or do anything to denigrate his memory. If it sounded that way, I’m deeply sorry.” She signaled Sarah. “Let me get you some coffee or a soft drink, then we can go back to the interrogation room, sit down and talk this through. Okay?”

He shook his head no. Then tears welled in his eyes and he blinked and looked away. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s been a lousy week.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“I’m alone now.”

Sarah’s pudgy face lined in sympathy, then following Charlie’s lead, she went back to work. Cole walked to Charlie’s desk, a desk he’d used frequently, giving Adam and Margo some space to talk quietly.

Banks was a heavyset, grandfatherly man with rimless bifocals, a gray walrus mustache and a heart of gold, but the trademark gruffness in his voice always made him sound as if he was half ticked off. He stood to shake Cole’s hand.

“Hey, Charlie,” Cole said. “You’re looking well.”

Charlie gripped his hand hard and long. “You too, Cole. Good to see you. Sarah said you came in yesterday.”

“Yeah. I heard one of the initial reports and got interested.”

“I’m not surprised. You doin’ okay in Pittsburgh?”

“Fair to middling, as they say. How’s your family?”

“Good. Doris and I got another grandbaby on the way. Real quick now—just a matter of days. Sad thing is, it’s our Ginny’s first, and her husband’s over there in Afghanistan.” He nodded a few times. “But we’re here for her. We’ll help her get this baby born.”

“You’re good parents,” Cole said. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. We try.” Charlie’s gaze shifted to the conversation going on near Margo’s desk. “That’s a bad situation over there,” he said quietly. “Young kid, both parents gone, no sisters or brothers. John’s sister and her husband want the boy to move in with them, but Adam’s of age now, and he wants to stay at the house.”

“It’s his home,” Cole said, a shrug in his voice. “I don’t know about you, but I’d feel the same way. His life’s already been turned upside down.” He watched Margo dump the pencils and pens out of that Hail to the Chief mug and hand it to Adam. Watched the kid hug her for a long time. Then, surprising Cole at the brevity of their conversation, Margo walked him through the gate and out the door.

When she came back inside a minute later, she ex haled, spoke to Sarah, then crossed to Cole where he stood with Charlie. “I’ll see you outside. I need to talk to Charlie before I leave.”

Presently, with Charlie and Sarah apprised of her plans, Margo descended the steps, and crossed the sidewalk to Cole where he waited beside his parked truck. High above them, the midday sun shone down, baking the concrete beneath their feet. The August air was stone still, heavy with humidity.

Cole pushed away from the side of his truck. “Are you all right? Your talk with Adam got a little intense.”

“I’m fine. I just wish he was.” She brushed a few wispy strands back from her face. “I just hope he’ll go back to school. He said there’s a special girl there, and friends. He needs them now.”

“He’s decided against it for certain?”

“No, but he’s leaning toward skipping this semester and enrolling for the spring term.”

He nodded. “You were good with him in there.”

“Thanks, I tried.” She drew a breath and changed the subject. “Now, what did you want to tell me?”

“Just that Burgess and Tate Amusements is back in the area. They’re only forty-five miles away at—”

“—the Laurel Banks carnival grounds,” Margo finished. “I know. I just got off the phone with the Laurel Banks P.D.”

Cole’s brow lined. “Trouble?”

“Not so far, but they generally check out licenses and pay a few courtesy calls when carnivals and other amusements come to town. Guess what? The men we questioned two years ago are still working for them.” Margo slipped on her sunglasses. “And of course, they’re both still pillars of the community. One just served time for aggravated assault and the other’s behind in his child support payments. How did you find out they were nearby?”

“By accident,” he said wryly. “You know, the way all good investigative work is done. When I was driving back from Pittsburgh, I stopped for coffee at a convenience store and saw a carnival poster. It wasn’t the Burgess and Tate company, but it made me think that a higher power wanted me to see that sign. I looked up B and T’s home-base phone number on the Internet and got their summer route and hours.”

She had to grin. “The man’s a detective.”

He grinned back. “Duly licensed and everything.” Their gazes held for a few seconds, fond memories seeming to float between them. Then Cole glanced away and went on. “Anyway, even though we didn’t like them for the first two murders, it’s a pretty big coincidence when the ride jockeys show up again just as another young woman is killed.”

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