Person of Interest by Debby Giusti Read Free Book Online Page A

can find out who Denise was seeing. Could be a married man who wants to keep his transgressions quiet.”
    “I’ll pass that on to the Freemont police.”
    “Although it’s a long shot, we need to be certain Mason isn’t involved.”
    Frank’s sharp inhale sounded over the phone. “Did Natalie think he was seeing her roommate?”
    “It’s purely speculation, although wouldn’t that be an interesting twist?”
    “One I don’t like.”
    “I don’t, either, but that doesn’t mean we don’t follow every lead. Plus, Natalie had two prank phone calls on the Joneses’ landline earlier tonight. Check Mason’s cell, just in case.”
    Frank sniffed. “You’re treading on thin ice, Rett. Mason’s record is squeaky clean. The unknown in this situation is the nanny. Easy enough for her to concoct a story in order to shift blame to someone else. Someone who could end up being Chief of Fort Rickman CID, if Wilson transfers.”
    “I’m the one suggesting the connection, Frank. You can blame me.”
    He and Frank both knew they were walking on a slippery slope that could have them tumbling downward in a heartbeat, especially if Mason stepped into Wilson’s shoes.
    “I’ll check Mason’s cell and make inquiries about the roommate’s boyfriend,” Frank said before he disconnected. “Call me in the morning.”
    Everett pocketed his phone with a sigh. Natalie had opened up tonight. Surely she would reveal more information in the morning. Once Everett heard back from Tyler, he’d know a bit more about what had happened in Germany.
    After stepping back into the cabin, he locked the door behind him and stood in the dark room. For a long moment, he stared through the picture window at the lake in the distance. In spite of the placid water and serenity of the night, Everett couldn’t calm his unrest. Too many questions needed to be answered.
    Glancing at his watch, he sighed. Morning would come soon enough. Settling onto the couch, he rested his head on the cushions and closed his eyes.
    Frank wanted Natalie hauled back to CID Headquarters, but Everett had made a vow long ago never to leave any question unanswered in future investigations. He’d keep Natalie under surveillance and close at hand until he had a clear picture of what had happened at the Yateses’ duplex on post and Denise Lang’s apartment in Freemont. Two women. Two murders. Both needed to be solved.
    * * *
    Tired as Natalie was, the memory of Tammy Yates’s body lying at the bottom of the stairs circled through her dreams. She’d tossed and turned for a period of time, and after finally falling into a deep sleep, she startled awake just before dawn. Everett had encouraged her to use the master bedroom, but she’d assured him the single bed in the baby’s room was more than comfortable. Plus, she wanted to hear Sofia if the little one stirred in the night.
    The infant wasn’t the one thrashing around in the dark. Sounds from the main living area filtered through the closed door to the nursery. Natalie wondered if the special agent was struggling with his own bad dreams.
    Tiptoeing from her bed, she cracked open the door and stared into the darkness, hearing a rhythmic vibration. Unable to discern the origin of the noise, she padded softly across the hardwood floor to the couch.
    Everett lay sprawled along the rather narrow cushions with his head cocked at what appeared to be an uncomfortable angle. His long legs hung over the edge of the couch. That the man could even sleep was a testament to his fatigue.
    The vibration sounded again, drawing Natalie’s attention to the mobile cell on the coffee table. Bending down, she read Frank Gallagher’s name on the lit screen.
    Earlier, Natalie hadn’t wanted Everett to phone his buddy in the CID, but she couldn’t let a call go unanswered that might provide encouraging news about the investigation.
    She touched Everett’s arm.
    He jerked awake. His brow wrinkled, and his eyes widened. With one swift