Page 88 of Made of Steele
The exception to that seemed to be Drew.
She paused by the desk and smiled at Gretchen. “You’re here late.”
“Your dad asked me to stay. He and your uncle are expecting a potential new big shot client who could only come tonight, and they didn’t want it to look like the business couldn’t afford a receptionist to greet him.”
“Sounds like Dad and Uncle Gene.” Teagan shifted her laptop case on her shoulder and started for the stairs, but halfway there she stopped. If she worked at the conference table down here, she could spread out the papers as she organized herself.
Plus, she didn’t want to be alone. Gave her more of a chance for her thoughts of Drew to intrude in her solitude. Which is why she hadn’t gone home. Mackenzie would give her the third degree, and Teagan wasn’t ready to admit to anyone—not even herself really—that she was all in on a relationship with Drew when the man was obviously on the fence.
She crossed the room and glanced at Gretchen. “I hope it won’t bug you if I work at the table.”
“Bug me? No way. It’ll be great to have the company.” Gretchen got up and stretched, then ran both hands through hair dyed a blondish gray color that month.
Teagan issued a warning look. “Just so you remember I’m working.”
Gretchen wrinkled her nose. “Point taken. I’ll keep quiet until you ask me something.”
Teagan doubted that would happen, but if she didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts, she needed a distraction. Thoughts like if Drew had found Vito? He hadn’t texted so she figured he was still looking for the guy, but a quick update wouldn’t have hurt. Still, she wouldn’t bug him any more than she would bug another associate in a situation like this.
She opened her computer and sent Nick’s report to the printer. It was only six pages but she was old school in that she liked to take notes on a hard copy. The older detectives she’d worked with had teased her about using their methods when she was so young.
“I’ll bring your printing to you,” Gretchen said. “It’ll give me something to do so I don’t poke my eyes out in boredom.”
“Thanks.” Teagan opened the photos from the crime scene, looking one more time at the sword in the circle in case there was an obscure reference to it in Jabal’s information. Then she took another long look at the picture of the claw marks on Romo’s chest. Not that she really thought Nick’s report would address that. She just wanted to remind herself what a sick guy Jabal was if he was their killer, so she was even more motivated to keep working.
“Ew,” Gretchen’s voice came from behind Teagan. “Looks like that guy was attacked by Wolverine.”
Teagan quickly closed the picture. “You mean the Marvel Comics character, Wolverine?”
She nodded. “One of the guys in my cosplay group bought metal claws online.”
Teagan knew cosplay was short for costume play. Basically, adult dress-up.
Gretchen bent over Teagan. “And that looks like the logo for Blood and Sorcery.”
“That really violent video game? I’ve heard about it but never played it.”
“I did. Once and only once at a guy’s house. Great graphics. Too realistic if you ask me. And the weapon choices are brutal.”
Teagan’s nerves started tingling. “Are there claws like the Wolverine’s?”
“Yeah, why?”
“How about a hatchet? Or even a bow and arrow or rifle?”
“Yeah, I think so. Not a hundred percent, though. Want me to research it for you?”
“Go for it while I read my report.” Teagan reached for her phone to tell Drew about the lead, but she snatched her hand back. She would read this report and let Gretchen confirm the weapons before contacting him. Once she had all the information in hand, she would call him. No point in interrupting him if this lead went nowhere.
Teagan drove through the dark night alone, heading for Smiley’s property. She’d tried calling Drew, but her calls kept going to voicemail. She couldn’t let that stop her. Let the killer get away with murder. If she could prove her theory, they would be one step closer to bringing him in. She also couldn’t risk the evidence being destroyed. She’d have preferred Drew accompany her, but with Rossi and Jabal under surveillance, she was perfectly safe going alone.
She turned on to his road and slowed as she approached. A light flickered out of the window on Smiley’s house. Like a computer or TV screen lighting up the room.
What in the world?
She slammed on her brakes and pulled over, cutting the headlights as she did. She sure didn’t expect to find anyone here. Especially not at this time of night. And the electricity had been cut off in the house, so the light had to be coming from a battery-powered device or someone set up a generator.
She cut the engine and listened. No generator. She picked her way through the brush to the driveway, where a large black truck loomed. Keeping her focus on the house, she inched ahead for a closer look at the vehicle. Crickets chirped in the background and an owl hooted, but no sound came from the house.
