Deadly Setup
“And there’s some strong evidence against Trey.” Seth sighed, already growing annoyed by the conversation. “People have been doing their job.”
“Really?” She let out a heavy sigh. “Then whose job is it to find evidence in support of my brother? Nobody seems to be doing that.”
Seth took a deep breath, frustration battling with empathy. It wasn’t like he hadn’t given her brother the benefit of the doubt. Trey had been a friend. A fellow SEAL. But from the get-go, things hadn’t looked good. When Seth and other officers arrived at Madison’s home, they’d found Trey, his hands covered in blood. More blood on his clothes.
Forensics later confirmed Madison had been stabbed multiple times and her throat slit by a government-issue US Navy Ka-Bar, the combat knife presented to SEALs upon graduation. Evidence of Trey’s fingerprints on the weapon and DNA at the scene hammered the final nail in his case.
Still, part of Seth got what Paige was doing. Trey was the only family she had left. Family was important. She wanted no stone left unturned. But, up to now, every stone they touched produced more evidence against her brother.
Seth spread his hands. “Paige, you know if new evidence turns up against anyone else, we’d reopen your brother’s investigation. But right now, every shred of evidence we’ve come up with points to Trey.”
A tousled, silky lock of hair tumbled in front of her face as Paige looked up, her eyes weary and pained, void of the tenacious glint that belonged to the woman he’d once loved. Grief stabbed him in the chest at her pain. And the worst part—there was nothing he could do to help.
“Come on, Seth.” She gave a hard sigh, tucking the strand behind her ear. “It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Trey’s fingerprints and DNA were at the scene. He found Madison. And, as far as the knife goes, well, we both know evidence can be planted.”
Seth nodded, absently drumming his fingers against his jeans-clad thigh. She wasn’t saying anything he hadn’t heard before. But it was hard to give much weight to Paige’s deduction that Trey, who had been highly intoxicated the night of the murder, had been framed by the real killer. A theory that she hadn’t budged from since her brother’s arrest. And one that was a bit much for him to swallow.
“The truth is, Seth, Trey got caught in the crosshairs of your investigation and you never looked further.” Paige continued, her eyes wide before she looked away in disgust, “You never even took into account that he tried to revive Madison and called the police.”
A murder suspect calling police wasn’t that unusual, Seth thought with a mental groan. Especially an intoxicated one. Alcohol, anger and impulsiveness were a lethal combination. He knew that from experience, growing up with an alcoholic father—a calm, sensible man until he was drinking. His family never knew what to expect. Seth had almost breathed relief at fourteen when his father stomped out of the house, suitcase in hand, screaming at the top of his lungs that he’d never be back.
That was the last time he’d seen his father and the last time he’d prayed. He’d learned how futile it was to pray for someone to change.
Seth put his hands on his hips. “Paige, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. I know this ordeal has been difficult for you.”
“Sorry?” Paige whipped her gaze back to him, her eyes sizzling. “The only thing you should be sorry about is that my brother is facing a life sentence in prison while a brutal killer is still running free.”
“Paige—” When Seth tried to interject, she cut him off.
“Don’t try to dispute it, Seth.” She crossed her arms. “Trey would never hurt anyone, much less murder his wife. Even if he and Madison never worked out their issues, he still loved her.”
Crimes of passion were impulsive acts. Add in alcohol or any mind-altering substance, and judgment could become impaired. And when someone was under the influence, it was even easier to lose self-control in the heat of the moment. “Gut feelings aren’t enough, Paige.”
“Then what about what happened tonight?” Her eyes probed his face as she jutted her thumb back at herself. “Someone tried to kill me.”
Seth folded his arms, frustration reigning supreme. “Paige, tonight’s accident will be thoroughly investigated, however it’s too early to assume anything.”
“I know I’m only speculating,” Paige said, her gown rustling as she straightened. “However, if tonight’s accident was intentional, the only person I can think of with a motive to hurt me would be Madison’s killer.”
Seth started to shake his head, but Paige stopped him again with a staying hand. “Seth, it makes perfect sense. If my brother is convicted, the real killer gets off scot-free. The last thing the creep would want is for me to come back to town and start asking questions.”
Good hypothesis—that was, if Seth thought Madison’s killer was still out there. But, as the investigator on Paige’s case, he’d hear her out. He tightened his arms over his chest. “Okay, Paige. Who knew you’d be in town today?” He asked the question, even though it struck at his heart that she hadn’t even bothered to contact him.
“It was a last-minute trip. I only contacted my friend Tessa Riley.” Even as she kept her expression placid, red crept into her cheeks. She’d caught his vibe. And he knew an excuse when he heard one. “I called Tessa yesterday after my boss at the rehab center gave me the time off to come. We’re short staffed, but she knows about Trey’s situation and how difficult it’s been on me. However...” She sat up straighter. “After I arrived and dropped my bags off at Tessa’s, I went out to do some errands and ran into several old friends and acquaintances.”
Seth scratched his cheek. “Did anyone act suspicious?”
She thought a moment, then shook her head. “Everyone kept their distance. No one wanted to talk about Madison or discuss her murder. Although that’s probably not unusual. However—” Paige emphasized the word “—the way news travels around here, half of Boone probably knows I’m in town by now.”
True, but... Seth drew in a deep breath. It still sounded like a TV crime drama to him. Not to mention the theory was difficult to substantiate, given the information they had. “Paige, we’ve exhausted every lead we received on Madison’s case. As much as I’d like to find something that would exonerate your brother, that just hasn’t happened.”
Paige grabbed the side rail, pulling herself up straighter in the bed. “That, Detective, is what I’m here to do.”
Like rubbing salt in a wound. “Do what, Paige? Try to convince yourself that Trey just might be guilty?” Seth’s tone was meant to be frank, but his frustration rang clearly.
One of Paige’s brows soared upward, but she didn’t respond. Just stared back at him, a steady, indignant look in her deep emerald eyes.
Instant regret knifed through him, not only for his blunt choice of words, but for everything that had gone wrong in their relationship. He’d made a vow early in his career to keep his personal life and detective work separate, but he should have worked harder to support Paige. Maybe then their relationship could have weathered this storm.
The heavy rock in his gut swelled to a boulder, telling him probably not.
He’d learned years ago that when someone was ready to bolt, there was no holding on to them. And after Trey’s trial was moved to Durham County because of all the negative pretrial publicity, there was no holding Paige back. She had nothing left in Boone.
Including him.
Seth shifted his stance, ignoring the sting of heartache in his chest. “Paige, there’s a lot of pent-up anger around this town. Coming back now and asking questions, especially on the brink of Trey’s trial, isn’t going to be easy on you.”
Paige’s mouth flattened to a thin line. “Sitting in a six-by-eight jail cell hasn’t been easy on my brother, either.”
Tension hung in the air, heavy and mounting. They were getting nowhere.
Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Seth mentally tamped down his feelings, frustrated by the sudden whiplash of emotions and memories. Emotion that had no place on the job.
Job. The reason he was there. He forced his focus back to the problem at hand—Paige’s accident. He took a deep breath and zipped up his jacket. Time to get out of there. He had everything he needed. “Paige, will you be staying with Tessa while you’re in town?”
Paige hesitated, her scowl remaining. “I’ll be staying at her condo. She’s out of town on a cruise for the next week.”
Seth made a mental note and stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. “Get some rest. I’ll touch base with you sometime tomorrow,” he said, then turned and headed out the door, focusing his thoughts on his investigation and stowing all sentimental nonsense that had nothing to do with this case.
TWO
The next morning, Seth slumped into the swivel desk chair in his office at the Watauga County Sheriff’s Department and picked up the police report detailing Paige’s accident. He flipped through it, stopping at the picture of her mangled car.
Broken glass, deployed air bags, twisted metal.
How could anyone survive something like that? He dropped the report on his desk, rocked back in his chair and scrubbed his face. The thick foliage and spruce trees had cushioned the impact, but still.
He shook his head.
If he were a man of faith, he would definitely say someone up there had been looking out for her. For Paige to walk away from a crash like that with only a few bumps and bruises was hard to comprehend.
One thing he did comprehend, though, was that somebody had run her off the road. And that person hadn’t bothered to stop. Or even call for help. Purposeful or not, that tidbit hit him deep in the gut. And his only clue so far was that somebody was driving a long-bed extended-cab pickup. Which narrowed the suspect list to about two-thirds of Boone’s population.
Meaning—he had nothing.
Frustration banged around in his chest. He rocked forward in his chair and stood. He needed coffee.
In the break room, Seth grabbed the glass pot and poured himself a cup. Strong and black. Something to jump-start his brain. Right now every synapse in his head was seriously misfiring.
Seth took a sip of the steamy brew as he thought about how many hit-and-run accidents were never solved. A fact he hated to accept.
“Seth, what are you doing here?” Detective Colton Walsh said, walking into the room. “I thought you were still out of town.”
In some respects he wished he still was. Seth leaned against the cabinet, sipping his coffee. “I got back yesterday. I had the rest of the week off and had plans to get some things done around my place, but I got pulled into a case last night.”
“Last night?” Colton picked up the coffeepot, tilting it over an empty mug.
“The accident on Eagle’s Ridge. I saw the flashing lights at the scene as I was heading home, and I just couldn’t help myself,” he admitted with a tight grin.
Pausing the pot midway, Colton glanced up, creasing his forehead. “I thought Brett Ralston was on that case. I think he just left to talk to the victim.”
“What?” Seth snorted, almost choking on the sip he just took. “Ralston?”
Colton nodded. “The chief assigned him to the case this morning.”
This day just kept getting worse. Seth pitched his cup and slammed out of the room. He headed down the long corridor to the office at the far end—the office of the Watauga County chief of detectives.
Seth’s old friend Detective Kevin Mullins looked up as he stalked into the room. “Kevin, could you please explain why you assigned Ralston to my case?”
Dropping his ink pen, the chief leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together, as if sizing up Seth’s vehemence. “You’re officially on vacation, Seth. I wasn’t even sure if you’d be in today.”
“I was up half the night writing up the accident report and the victim’s statement, and it didn’t cross your mind to pick up the phone and call me before you handed my case to someone else?”
The chief hesitated a moment and then swerved his chair around, getting to his feet. “Seth, I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but Paige requested another detective be put on her case.”
Seth looked Mullins in the eye. “You’re kidding.”
“No,” Mullins said with a casual hitch of his shoulders. “It’s not an unreasonable request. You’re the detective responsible for her brother’s arrest and she is your ex-girlfriend.”
Irrelevant from Seth’s perspective. His jaw clenched in exasperation. It was his case, and no one would do a better job investigating Paige’s accident than him. Especially not Brett Ralston. He’d been a friend of Trey’s, but like the rest of local law enforcement, he’d seen the evidence and believed Trey was guilty. Like that wasn’t a conflict of interest for her, too.
“Seth, I’m sorry.”
Seth didn’t comment. Didn’t protest. If Paige didn’t want him on her case, fine.
Mullins studied him, eyes narrowed. “Are you going to be okay with this?”
Like he had a choice. Seth lifted a shoulder. “Sure. Absolutely.”
“Good to hear.” Mullins’s face brightened. “Because we’ve been drowning around here since you’ve been gone. Now that you’re back, I have some things I’d like for you to get started—”
“Hold on, Chief.” Seth waved a staying hand. “You were right when you said I’m still on vacation. And for the next week I plan to stay away from the office and out of sheriff’s department business.” He never should have stopped last night.
“But—”
“See you later, Chief.” Seth lifted his hand in a saucy salute and turned to walk out of the office. Now more than ever he needed time off. To unwind, get some work done and hopefully forget about Paige.
* * *
Paige walked down the sidewalk toward Boone Auto Body and Wrecker, trying to keep pace with Deputy Detective Brett Ralston of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Department. After a restful night, she was feeling the effects from her accident. Her limbs were stiff, body achy. But she wasn’t complaining. At least she was out of the hospital. A couple ibuprofen and she’d be fine.
Instinctively, she reached for her shoulder bag, then realized it wasn’t there. Her heart sank, reality settling in. Her purse and other personal things had been left inside her car. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled. Hopefully, her items had been recovered by the wrecker service.
Boone Auto Body and Wrecker was an older establishment that had been in business for decades. She entered the ancient brick building through a set of dingy glass doors and into a small waiting area. Everything around her was well worn, from the weathered wood reception desk to the cracked orange-vinyl chairs. The smell of grease and oil seasoned the air.
She blinked as tears bit her eyes. This was the final resting place for her spunky little Jeep, her first purchase after she graduated from college.
No big deal, she told herself. It was only a car. Still, she couldn’t hold in a weary sigh.
“Are you okay?” Brett raised his bushy brows beneath his combed-back blond hair.
Okay was a relative term. She bit her lower lip. Leaning against one of the weathered wood pillars, she managed a nod.
A short, pudgy woman came around the corner carrying a cardboard box. “Miss Becker, here are the things recovered from your car.”
Paige riffled through the menagerie of items. She hadn’t realized how much stuff she’d crammed into her handbag, which had obviously erupted like a volcano on impact. Besides her wallet, most items in her purse were trivial—receipts, candy, pens, markers, even a few stray tubes of lip gloss. Several other items from her car were in the box as well—an umbrella, her Bible and a small satchel of paperwork, even her ring of keys. But where was her—
“Is that everything, Paige?”
Paige snapped her head up at Brett’s question. “My phone. It’s missing.”
They both turned to look at the young woman behind the front desk, her name tag reading Lisa.
“Everything was removed from the car,” Lisa said. “The wrecker brought it in early this morning and everything left of it has been stripped. The seats, carpet, even the dash is gone.”
“Gone?”
“Anything that can be salvaged is taken out. Then everything else goes to scrap. You’re fortunate we found what we did.”
Paige’s heart sank. The one thing she needed was gone.
“It shouldn’t be too hard to get a replacement phone,” Brett said.
Except her notes and the numbers for friends and family of Madison’s that she wanted to contact were on that phone.
“Please sign this form, acknowledging receipt of your belongings,” Lisa said, handing her a clipboard.
Paige scribbled her name on the line marked with an X, then started gathering her things, stuffing them back in her bag. Memories flashed in her head, errant bits and pieces of the night before—the storm, the truck, her Jeep tumbling down into the ravine. Just as quickly her thoughts switched to her brother, locked behind bars for a crime he’d never commit. Her mind fixed on that reality.
She wasn’t going to let the loss of her vehicle or a cell phone stop her from uncovering the truth. Lord willing.
Later that day, sometime after three, she walked out of the phone store, her new cell phone tucked in her purse. She stepped through the arched portals of the Blue Ridge Marketplace, an outdoor shopping area of home-style restaurants and retail shops.
The anxiety-ridden adrenaline of the last twenty-four hours finally started to subside. Paige drew in a deep breath and let it out as she worked on getting her thoughts in order.
Ever since she could remember, her brother had been her protector. Their single mom took off when they were young, and although they were left in their grandmother’s care, it was Trey who watched over her. Growing up, he made sure she had what she needed and never wanted her to worry about anything.
Even now with his freedom hanging in the balance, he wanted to protect her, which was why he’d tried to distance her from his case.
Paige, I don’t want you to put your life and career on hold for me. Trey’s oft repeated words rang in her head. She was twenty-eight, not a little girl anymore, and a counselor. Caring for others was her job. And who better to care for her brother?
Despite her brother’s attempt to shield her from his troubles, she refused to sit by any longer. After months of constant badgering, Trey finally broke during her last visit with him and answered questions about Madison, her friends and family.
Although Trey and Madison had been married nearly a year, Paige never really knew her sister-in-law well. Madison stayed somewhat elusive when it came to Trey’s family and friends. In fact she quickly pulled Trey into her world. A world built around her mother, brother and the family business.
Paige couldn’t stop the surge in her heartbeat when she thought about how distant her brother had become after he got involved with Madison. If it hadn’t been for Seth’s love and support—
Whoa! Enough. Paige stomped down those thoughts and hurried along the sidewalk. She had a job to do and no time to waste wallowing in the past. Tomorrow would be here before she knew it, and she had more important things to think about than Seth—like figuring out who’d killed Madison.
She entered the parking deck and traversed the enclosed flight of switchback stairs that led to the fifth floor, where her rental car was parked. Two years earlier, city officials granted approval for this midtown shopping complex to be built. After months of delays, construction finally began just about the time she was leaving.
So much had changed in the ten months she’d been gone. Her picturesque little mountain town was moving up in the world.
Without her.
A wave of sadness swelled inside her. Paige shook it away and continued up the narrow stairs. As she approached the third-floor landing, her feet faltered, stopped cold by a thunderous metallic clank, which reverberated from several floors below her.
Paige grabbed the handrail.
A moment later, heavy footfalls sounded, reining in her panic. She heaved a silent sigh of relief. A door slamming. It was just someone heading to their car.
Stop being so edgy, she ordered herself.
Yesterday’s storm and all the chaos that followed still had her on edge. She took a deep breath and willed herself to relax. She started back up the steps but didn’t get far before a faint, muffled voice echoed up the stairwell.
Heart tripping, Paige strained her ear to listen.
A long second ticked by. Then she heard it again, a voice reverberating off the concrete walls and up through the stairwell. It sounded like her name.
Fear slashed through Paige. Once again, her mind flashed to the accident the night before. Would someone be so brazen as to come after her in broad daylight? In a busy shopping area?
At the thought, her pulse ratcheted higher. She didn’t plan to wait around and see. She hurtled up the stairs to the next landing but halted as another thought sprang to life. What if it wasn’t her name she’d heard but a cry for help?
Before she let fear seep back in, Paige spun around and grabbed hold of the railing. “Hello? Is everything okay?” she called out, pitching her voice to carry through the stairwell.
In the silence that followed her ear picked up a deep raspy breath. A longer pause and then thump, thump, thump. Pounding footsteps, emulating the deep thrum of her own heartbeat.
Fresh panic spiraled through her as Seth’s words raced through her head: Don’t wait until something goes wrong. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, get out of there.
When would she learn? Yesterday, she’d wasted too much time analyzing the situation and she’d ended up in a ravine.
Lord, help me. Paige zigged and zagged up two more flights as footsteps pounded from behind her. Her shoulder bag banged into her side, spurring her on. Out of breath, she hit the fifth-floor landing and flung open the door.
Whack! The sound echoed as the metal door met resistance, followed by, “Hey! Watch it.”
A surge of surprise jumbled with relief swept over Paige at the sound of the deep, rich baritone voice. But when the man stepped around the door, her knees weakened at the sight of him. Seth Garrison.
* * *
More and more Seth wished he’d just stayed out of town. Even better, he wished Paige had stayed in Durham. They hadn’t seen each other in over ten months, and now he couldn’t stay out of her way. Literally.
“Hello, Paige,” Seth said, taking a step forward and holding his hand under his nose to keep the deluge of crimson from pouring out.
“Seth... I’m so sorry.” Paige stared at him, color rising in her cheeks. “Oh, my. You’re bleeding.” She dug a handful of Art’s Bistro napkins out of her purse, shoving them at him. “I hope you’re okay.”
He’d live. He sniffed and took the napkins, wiping his nose. Although he had to admit being on the receiving end of Paige’s concern helped dull the pain some. He smiled briefly to ease her mind. “Nothing’s broken. However, I hope throwing doors open like that isn’t part of your new routine.”
“No—no. Of course not.” Paige swallowed and shot a nervous glance at him. “I was just in hurry.”
“So I gathered.” Seth stilled, gazing at her. Something flickered in her eyes; it wasn’t just anxiety but fear, putting Seth’s nerves on edge. A protective feeling welled up inside him, liquefying his resolve to keep his distance and stay out of her business.
He started to ask her a question, then stopped as a coldness seeped through him as common sense reasserted itself.
Protecting or even consoling Paige wasn’t his responsibility. She’d just had him thrown off her case. She didn’t want his help or concern.
And he didn’t need the frustration. Let her new detective, Brett Ralston, take care of that.
Seth weighed that rationale for a split second before concern for Paige won out. No matter that the relationship between them had grown cold, he still cared about her. “So what’s going on that’s made you in such a hurry?”