Close To Danger (Westen #4)(91)
“Slight limp in the leg, but otherwise, I’m functioning.” Wes pulled off his coat and sank onto the couch and stretched out his legs.
“I still can’t believe Isaac’s little sister tried to kill you,” Bulldog said dropping into the over-sized chair next to him. Both Chole and Wes had filled her sister and Bulldog in on what occurred up in Westen during the blizzard while they’d waited for the roads to clear for the long trek back to Cincinnati.
“She was deranged. Grief, most likely. We’re lucky none of us were seriously injured or killed. She was as good a shot as her brother.”
Bulldog let out a low whistle and the two grew silent for a moment. They’d both respected Isaac and his skills. The fact that Hannah had been trained beside him meant Wes was very lucky he hadn’t died out in the snowy forest.
“Got any news for me?” Wes finally asked.
“Bryerson called last night. Fingerprints came back to Chloe, the doc and me. He also doubts any DNA was left anywhere. Some black fibers were on the bedding, especially around the pillows. Thinks out guy might’ve had on some sort of hat while he slept there.”
“Shit. I wanted this guy caught so she can prosecute him.”
“How about on your end?”
Wes passed his hand over his face. “Managed to trace the phone number leaving the hang-up calls and texts.”
“Let me guess,” the former sergeant said, “A burner phone.”
“Yep. One paid with cash, so no electronic trail. This guy’s determined to hide his identity and not leave any evidence. Makes me think he’s very aware that without evidence, Chloe and the police won’t be able to stop him.”
“Like a cop or…”
“A lawyer,” Wes finished.
“Which brings me to the good news,” Bulldog said.
“There is some?” Wes couldn’t hide his skepticism. At the moment, his failures sat heavily on his shoulders. He hadn’t stopped Hannah from shooting W?den, threatening Chloe and knifing him. Hadn’t kept her from getting killed. And there was still a stalker after Chloe.
“It depends on how you look at it.”
“Tell me.”
Bulldog glanced at the hallway where Dylan had taken Chloe before continuing. “After you talked with Bryerson a few days ago, he went back and looked at traffic cams in the area surrounding this place.”
Wes had managed a late-night call to his detective friend when Chloe was asleep and his brain was too geared up to drift off. They’d discussed the possibility that whoever had trashed her condo might have stuck around to witness the drama when it was discovered. “And?”
“There was a vehicle, a Lincoln Navigator, spotted down the block. Bryerson said it left the scene not too long after the police arrived, which caught his notice. So, he went back to before the blizzard came through. The car arrived the night before.”
“Could’ve been anyone living in the area. Why did he think it might be important?”
“Because of where it was parked.”
Bulldog stood and motioned for Wes to join him at the picture window that overlooked the street. He pulled back the curtain and pointed to the street perpendicular to Chloe’s. On the end of the next block, cattycorner from Chloe’s place was a Mexican fast-food restaurant.
“Pretty sure no one is leaving an expensive card like a Navigator in the parking lot of a fast-food place during a freaking blizzard. Especially when all the places around here have garages and covered parking available.”
“Please tell me Bryerson could get a plate number off the video.”
Bulldog got that shit-eating-grin he always got when they’d gotten their target in their sights. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to Wes. “Your man is very good.”
“His man is good at what?” Chloe asked coming into the room, Dylan right behind her.
“Keeping us informed,” Wes said, slipping the paper into his pocket. “Looks like whoever did this didn’t leave any prints or DNA behind.”
Chloe stared straight at him, the corners of her eyes tightened just slightly and for a moment he thought she’d press the issue. Then she gave a simple nod as if she’d chosen to trust him. “Well, that’s good news and bad, isn’t it?”
Dylan flopped down on the sofa, propping her feet up on the coffee table. “The bad news part I get. No evidence, no way to go after this guy. How’s that in any way good news?”
“Because little sister,” Chloe settled onto the seat next to her sister. “It means other than those words, he left nothing disgusting in my apartment. Disgusting as in semen.”
“Ew, gross,” Dylan hit her sister with a pillow.
While the sisters relaxed, Wes met Bulldog’s gaze and they exchanged a nod. Tonight they’d be paying a visit to the owner of one Lincoln Navigator.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Just after midnight, Wes and Bulldog entered the back door of the two-story Colonial in one of the richest parts of Cincinnati. The very expensive security system had taken them all of three minutes to circumvent so that no alarm would signal their entrance, while continuing to send the all-is-fine signal back to the security company monitoring it twenty-four-seven.
Their target was all alone in the house, his wife having gone to Florida three weeks ago and wasn’t expected back before the weather thawed. Snow and cold temperatures weren’t going to be the only things gone when she arrived home.