Hard Proof Read online

  Velma spoke even before the other deputies greeted her. Sarah Ironheart, Guy Redwing, Beau Beauregard. Friendly, familiar faces now.

  But Velma had a message. “Gage wants you to meet him in the interrogation room.”

  Candy felt a moment of tension. Maybe she wasn’t ready for this yet? It didn’t matter. She needed to do this.

  It had initially surprised her how much the corridors and offices wended through the large building in which they were housed. Apparently the office had snagged a whole bunch of space in the interior, behind the storefronts that ringed the block. From the street you’d never guess just how much resided inside.

  Gage was waiting in the interrogation room, behind a steel table that supported shackle attachment rings on the other side from him. Two chairs sat on each side of the table.

  “Ben Wittes should be here soon,” he remarked as he motioned her to the chair beside him. “You don’t have to question him unless something occurs to you. Just watch his reactions. It’s always good to have a second pair of eyes.”

  “It sure is,” she agreed as she took her seat.

  “You had any coffee this morning?”

  “Only a cup of what I made at home.”

  He flashed a grin. “I’ll get someone else to risk Velma’s wrath. Yeah, I’m a chicken when it comes to her. If you haven’t noticed, she can breathe fire. You know. Like a dragon.”

  She laughed. “I’ve begun to discover that.”

  “So what’ll it be? Black? Strong?”

  “Latte, if you don’t mind. Maude makes a darn good one.”

  Gage nodded. “When it comes to cooking, Maude never settles for second best.”

  He rose and went to open the door. “Hey, Guy? Two coffees. One a tall and black, the other a tall latte.”

  “Got it, boss.” Redwing’s voice floated from the front.

  “Now,” Gage said as he returned to his seat, “if Velma has a problem with that, she can squawk at Guy.”

  Another bubble of amusement rose in Candy. “What’s with this coffee thing? I keep getting the feeling there’s some kind of tradition?”

  “There is. Velma makes a huge urn full of coffee every time she comes to work. It’s famously bad. Only desperation on a busy shift causes anyone to drink it. You must have noticed all the bottles of antacids sitting out near the mugs. That’s why.”

  “But she doesn’t notice?”

  “If she has, she probably thinks it isn’t related to the coffee. It’s one of her ways of taking care of us. She has a lot of those, you’ll find with time. The department’s mom. Who the hell is going to tell her that her coffee sucks?”

  Candy understood perfectly. It was just another one of those things that was causing her to like this town.

  Guy delivered the coffee just before Ben Wittes walked in, a deputy accompanying him. He looked a little surprised to be there, but not at all worried about it.

  Candy studied the rather seedy-looking man. Nothing about him appeared to want to draw attention.

  Gage greeted him pleasantly and invited him to sit. Ben did, then looked around before shrugging. “I never expected to be here.”

  “I’m sure you never did,” Gage answered. “Nothing to worry about. We just need to ask a couple of questions.”

  Ben nodded. “What can I do?”

  Gage gestured and the other deputy left the room. Candy never doubted that the cameras in the four high corners were recording this interview.

  “I was wondering,” Gage said, “if you’d heard anything about the murders of two teens on the mountain. You hear a lot.”

  Not even an Oscar-winning performance could have drained that guy’s face so instantly white. He was shocked.

  It took Ben a full minute to reply, and by then he had started shaking. “No,” he answered unsteadily. “Oh, God, no. I tried to warn that Hawks guy. My spirits said it was going to happen. I never thought...” He trailed off, still visibly shaken. “Oh, my God.”

  “Your spirits told you?”

  Ben nodded. “They never shut up, but lately one voice is getting stronger. My guide, I think. But I never imagined his warning was late.”

  “So why’d you tell Hawks?”

  There was a cup of water on the table, and Ben reached for it, looking at Gage. Receiving a nod, he gulped it all down.

  Another few seconds before Ben replied. “I don’t always trust my voices. Because nobody believes me when I tell them what I hear. Because Hawks hunts ghosts. I thought he might listen.”

  For the first time Ben’s color changed, growing faintly red. “Because I’m trying to get on his show.”

  “Ah,” Gage replied.

  “Is that so awful?”

  “Of course not,” Candy said soothingly. “A lot of people want to do that.” But by now she was convinced this man had no part in the murders. That initial shock could not have been feigned.

  Gage spoke. “I guess maybe we should listen to what you have to say more often. Did the spirit tell you anything else?”

  “Only that it was beginning again. Like back when Bride owned the house. A long, long time ago.”

  “Will there be more?”

  “I don’t know.” Ben was beginning to sound almost desperate. “He hasn’t said. But if he does, should I tell you?”

  “Please,” Gage said. “I’ll listen. Promise.”

  Ben left a minute later, clearly immensely relieved. Gage looked at Candy.

  “What do you think?”

  Candy never hesitated. “Have you ever seen a man turn that white when he heard what had happened? I don’t think he did it.”

  “I’m inclined to agree. That’s a color I only see on family members when I bring the bad news. Interesting about his spirit, though.”

  Candy shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not a believer.”

  “I haven’t been, but maybe I should at least listen.”

  “Steve was right, though. In and of itself, it didn’t matter. And given that neither of them knew about the murders at the time, it makes even more sense not to take it seriously.”

  “I certainly wouldn’t make too much of it. Well, get back to the task I’m sure you love.” He winked. “Someone has to be on the bottom rung.”

  A good way of putting it, Candy thought as she exited the office with most of her latte. Dang that coffee was a perk and it was still hot enough.

  She decided, however, in the pursuit of her duties, to follow Steve to the library. It’d be interesting to learn if Miss Emma had come up with anything. Right now, from his perspective, other than the little girl’s complaints, the house must seem sterile.

  She still wasn’t ready to deal with the Ben Wittes thing, however. Gage was right to be willing to listen to him, but the whole idea that this guy was hearing voices in his head and that they might be right gave her the creeps.

  Another thing to stash in her hurt locker unless it became important.

  She dumped her cup in the bin out front of the library, which clearly stated that no drinks or food were allowed inside.

  Steve was inside Emma’s office with the door open. Emma spied her and waved her inside.

  “We were just talking about the only Bride I can find,” Emma said as Candy sat. “Very little in the library about him. A death notice, heart attack. No one at his funeral. His wife had left him twenty years before. In all, sad but unexceptional at this point. I can keep digging, though. You’d be surprised how many things get cross-referenced in the strangest ways.”

  Outside, Candy and Steve stood on the steps while October’s gentle winds chilled them more.

  Steve spoke into the biting air. “I said I’d come to the Castelles’ house at about two. That leaves some time for Maude’s.”

  She thought about it. Lunch was going to sound good before long and
she’d have to take him over to see Nathan Tate this evening. “Let’s do it,” she answered. “But I pay for my own.”

  He grinned. “Lunch at Maude’s as bribery? It doesn’t cost that much.”

  “Around here, most folks would consider it bribery. I left my patrol car at the station, so I’ll meet you there.”

  “You can ride with me, you know. It’s part of your job.”

  She decided he was right. And rarely was there a time when Maude’s didn’t sound good.

  When they walked inside, some of the breakfast crowd were still lingering over their bottomless coffee, but some of the local lunch crowd had begun to arrive. The place was beginning to buzz, and faces were a little friendlier. Steve had crossed the first frontier: he was now known.

  Candy felt in luck. Maude had added potato and leek soup to her menu and had apparently gotten into the mood to fry a bunch of chicken. She and Steve ordered both.

  “Was Miss Emma a lot of help?” Candy asked.

  “She was, considering how long ago this was and how few public records seem to exist.”

  “We weren’t far away from the Wild West then, from what I understand. Records may have been sketchy.”

  “Miss Emma thinks so. Man, this soup is wonderful.”

  Candy returned to business. Safer ground than getting personal again with Steve. “Still, there must be something in court records. That property must have sold after Bride died. He must have had some kind of will. Or maybe probate took care of it.”

  “I’m also waiting for info from a title company. I don’t know how far back they have to search but it’s gotta be long enough to please a bank.”

  She nodded, grooving on the hot soup. It was so rich and creamy, she had a feeling most of her chicken would come home with her.

  “What are you going to the Castelle place for?” she asked.

  “I want to explore the basement, see if noises could be rising from there up Vivian’s wall. Then, tomorrow, the attic. Your help would be great.”

  “How so?”

  “Somebody to listen in Viv’s room.”

  Candy shook her head a little. “What about the parents?”

  “I want someone totally objective in there. Not someone who’s seen the dog react or heard some sounds herself.”

  Made sense. “You could solve this entire problem before your crew arrives.”

  “I hope. It’d be better for the family.”

  Again her approval of him rose another notch. Family before show. He wasn’t kidding. “What happens if you can’t do this program?”

  He shrugged a shoulder and reached for his plate of chicken. “We’ll do another. We’re filming well in advance of air dates, so there’s always something to plug in.”

  That made sense. “Do you always do these investigations by yourself, beforehand?”

  “Mostly, except for a researcher off-site. I don’t mind. I trust myself. If we find useful material, I can run through it as if it’s the first time and it can be edited into a good story. Research always comes first. Period.”

  He’d told her that, but now she was beginning to believe him. A triumph for him, she supposed. Hostile deputy comes around.

  * * *

  STEVE WAS ACTUALLY looking forward to this part of his job. He had meters to take into the basement with him and find out if there were any anomalous readings down there. A high EMF could cause hallucinations in some people. Sometimes recorders picked up voices without an obvious source. Motion detectors could tell if something moved. Oh, yeah, lots of tech that he always worked in somehow, to reassure clients, to keep viewers watching.

  The thing he was proudest of, though, was the lack of scam in what he did. Unless his producers called in a psychic. Those were the times he questioned what they were up to.

  The Castelles greeted them warmly and Viv was excited to play a game of cards. He glanced at the parents and Candy.

  * * *

  “GO AHEAD,” ALL OF them said, then the Castelles took Candy to their kitchen and offered her a drink.

  “Water will be fine for me,” Candy answered. She pulled her jacket off and slung it over the back of a chair. Annabelle gave her a tall glass of water.

  “See?” said Todd, pointing to Candy’s jacket hanging on the chair. “She’s warm enough.”

  “Everyone’s different,” Annabelle replied. She was wearing a heavy fleece sweatshirt and pants, and another sweater was hanging over her shoulders. “Steve said he wants to check out the basement today and the attic tomorrow.”

  Todd sounded slightly irritated. “I already did that.”

  Annabelle frowned. “Yeah, but he’s the expert, as you keep reminding me.” She turned her attention to Candy. “Are you going to help?”

  “Apparently. I get to stand in Vivian’s room and listen to the sounds he makes.”

  “I did that,” said Annabelle. “But it wasn’t good enough. I only heard the sound that one time and Vivian wouldn’t come in to listen.”

  Candy considered that problem. “Well, Viv’s hearing voices, right? Maybe I’ll hear something like that. Plus, he has all kinds of instruments he said he’ll use.”

  Both parents relaxed a bit upon hearing that. More instruments meant more security, she guessed.

  “I hope Viv can tell him some more,” Todd said. “She’s the only real witness.”

  Annabelle looked down, and for the first time Candy saw her shed a few tears. “We’ve got to help her.”

  “If this doesn’t work, we’re moving out,” Todd announced firmly.

  “But how? We sank everything into this house. Where would we go?”

  “Anywhere else. I’ll figure out something, I swear.”

  From the determination on his face, Candy believed he would. Good dad. Throw away everything they’d worked for so their daughter could have a better life and a dog. Just toss it on the trash heap to try again against all odds.

  Steve returned with a grinning Vivian. “She beat me again. The odds favor her. We’re going to have to try something a little harder soon. What do you think, Viv?”

  “Oh, yes,” said the little girl, sliding onto one of the chairs. “Can I have some chocolate?”

  “Hot variety I hope?” Annabelle answered.

  “Mmm. That’s best.”

  “It certainly is for the amount of milk it gets into you.”

  Viv wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like milk.”

  “Clearly,” her mother answered drily.

  Candy leaned toward her. “I don’t like milk either,” she confided. “Especially warm milk. So I drink a lot of cocoa.”

  “Me, too.” Viv grinned. “And cheese. I love cheese.”

  “Now that’s good,” Candy agreed. “My favorites are Swiss cheese and white cheddar.”

  Viv pondered that. “I like lots of cheeses. Except American.”

  Annabelle laughed. “Too sweet for my taste.”

  Viv screwed up her face. “Some kids like it a lot. Just not me.” Then she looked at Steve. “You’re going to make the bad man go away?”

  “I sure plan to try.”

  “That’s good.” She turned to her parents. “Can I take Buddy out to play?”

  “Just bundle up,” her mother answered. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to that cute nose.”

  Viv turned to look at Candy and Steve. “Can my nose really fall off?”

  Steve laughed. “Only if it gets too cold. So listen to your mother.”

  Viv seemed okay with that, and Buddy was already getting excited, as if he understood what was coming. Even better, neither of the Castelles appeared troubled by Viv turning to someone else, in effect questioning them.

  “Smart dog,” Candy remarked.

  “Almost as smart as Viv,” Steve replied. “Ready to get started as soon a
s Viv’s outside?”

  “Absolutely.” Although she had no idea of what she might hear, or how she had become involved in his experiment. Oh, well. After last night, she owed him this at least.

  But it was interesting to watch him attack this problem alone. None of the showiness she would have expected. As if he wanted to solve all this as fast as he could for Viv’s sake.

  Oh, hell, she’d never wanted to like him. This wasn’t going according to plan. But whatever did? She’d certainly learned in the Army that plans were great, but never worked as well as they sounded. Never. Too many unpredictable things in the mix.

  After Viv and Buddy disappeared out the back door, Steve stationed Candy near the wall where Buddy had alerted. Seemed like a good starting place, even to Candy. Then he handed her a radio.

  “Another one?” she joked.

  “Just for you and me. Tell me anything you hear. I’m not going to let you know what I’m doing.”

  She nodded and watched him leave the room. Maybe this was the wrong time of day to do this. She’d ask him later since Viv seemed to be hearing the voices at night.

  She waited patiently as she heard him speak from the kitchen. Probably getting information about the basement.

  Nope, not what she’d been expecting to do at all.

  Then she thought of Viv. That little girl shouldn’t have to live with terror. No way.

  * * *

  DOWN BELOW, Steve wended his way among boxes and furniture that looked at if it might have been in the house when they bought it. Maybe they thought they could use some of it. The odor down there was musty, exactly like most basements.

  When he reached the back of the basement, near Viv’s room, he immediately noticed that in order to be right under the child’s room, the basement needed to extend farther. He’d ask about that when he was done.

  In the meantime, he had other things to take care of. He imagined this was the area Todd had checked out. There didn’t seem to be any other place to go.