Almost Dead (Lizzy Gardner #5)(42)

“The guy with the broken nose said he was kicked in the face by a seven-foot-tall Caucasian NFL linebacker.”

Not interested in talking to the detective’s knees, Lizzy pushed herself to her feet. “Not seven feet. In fact, he’s not as tall as you,” she said, “but he’s Caucasian and definitely as big as a linebacker.”

He stifled a yawn as he made notes.

“Didn’t get enough sleep last night?”

“I can’t remember the last time I got enough sleep.”

“Do you need anything else, Detective, or am I free to go?”

“What’s going on, Gardner?”

“What do you mean?”

He gave her a stern look that was meant to intimidate. “Who was this guy? Why were you chasing him?”

“If you didn’t already know, I tend to attract weirdos like honey attracts bees.”

“So you’ve seen him before today?”

She nodded. “He’s been following me around for a while.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She cocked a brow. “Tell you? Why would I tell you?”

“Fine,” he said, “maybe I deserve that, but believe it or not, I care about keeping the citizens of Sacramento safe.”

“Good to know.”

“Has he broken into your home?”

“Not that I’m aware of. So far he seems to be a lurker. Today was the first time I saw him in the middle of the day. Usually it’s after the sun goes down.”

“The delivery man over there said the guy had on dark glasses and a cap.”

She nodded. “White cap. Dirty.”

Awkward silence filled the space between them. It took her a second to get it. Detective Chase thought she knew more than she was telling him. She plunked a hand on her hip. “If I had any idea who this guy was, I’d tell you.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Rumor has it that you’re losing it, maybe even have some sort of death wish.”

“Listen, Detective, I don’t know who your informants are, but nothing has changed. I want to keep the people of Sacramento safe, too. And before you go around accusing people of such things as losing it, you might want to get a couple of hours of sleep. You look like shit.”

Five minutes later, tired and clearly off her game, Lizzy walked back into her office. She lifted the phone to her ear, then set it back in its cradle. Until that moment, she’d forgotten all about the caller, the woman who could very well be responsible for at least five deaths, maybe more.

She leaned over to pick up a piece of paper that had fallen on the floor. That’s when she noticed a few other things out of place. Her pencil holder had been knocked over. The bottom drawer of the filing cabinet was open. Other drawers were open, too. Her purse was still there. Nothing appeared to be missing.

Frustration coursed through her veins. Her heart raced. While she was talking to the detective, her stalker had been in her office going through her things.

The detective had been right about one thing: she was losing it.

“You’re oh for a thousand,” Lizzy told herself. “Keep up the good work.”

It wasn’t until she was getting ready to leave that she found a folded piece of paper inside her coat pocket. Chills swept over her as she read the note:


What wood my life have been like without you in it? I can’t imagine. Love, Jared





CHAPTER 28

Lizzy and Hayley sat in the family room, both on their laptops. Lizzy tried to distract herself from the note she’d found earlier, but it wasn’t easy. Who was this man who was so damned determined to track her every move? What did the note mean? It definitely wasn’t Jared’s handwriting. Besides, Jared could spell. The guy wanted to throw Jared into the mix, it seemed. Just another * trying to screw with her. OK, it’s on. Bring it.

She wasn’t ready to share the note with anyone, so she concentrated on the Ambassador Club list that Melony Reed had given her: Stephen White had died from an explosion after the barbecue blew up—gunpowder and nitroglycerine. According to the reports she’d read, three others had died of possible heart attacks: Debi Murray before her car went off the road, Rachel Elliott before falling on punji sticks, and then Gavin Murdock at a family barbecue. It wasn’t often that a thirty-year-old person, let alone three, dropped dead from heart failure. Lizzy had called the coroner’s office, and as far as they could tell, no autopsy or toxicology reports were ordered for any of them. The families of these victims had accepted the causes of death and that was that. Lizzy intended to talk to family members to see if lab testing had been ordered. Melony had insisted that Rachel was healthier than most. Lizzy made a note to call the family doctor and see if she could learn more about Rachel’s death. Accidents caused by punji sticks and falling on knives in the dishwasher were too far out there. It didn’t add up.

The front door opened and closed. “I’m starved,” Kitally said, “and I’m going crazy. I’ve been sitting in my car every day for weeks. I feel like a caged animal.”

“Did you get more pictures of Mr. Chalkor?” Hayley asked without looking up from her computer. “The insurance company called today. They’re getting antsy.”