Deadly Connection Page 3

  “Let’s get back to the name you mentioned,” Belle said, trying to stay focused. But her heart went out to Emmett. He must be all alone now. “Randall, you said?”

  Rubbing the back of his neck, Emmett stared at his drink, “Honestly, I haven’t seen him in years. He tends to shy away from the law and since my dad was with the NYPD, Randall sure didn’t want to hang out with him.” After a long pause, he looked over at Belle. “Randall had a hard life, from what my mom told me. His daddy was a mean man who drank himself to death. Randall’s mother left when he was a little boy. I don’t think he ever got over that. Dad told me once that Randall was always searching for his mom. Breaks my heart, since I had a set of solid, loving parents.”

  Belle saw the veil of sadness coloring his eyes. “I’m sorry about your parents and I’m sorry your father’s cousin had to suffer that way.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” He stood and took her water glass. “I stay busy these days, but my folks are never far from my thoughts. They both had such a strong faith. I wish I could feel the same but doubt seems to follow me around these days.”

  Belle thought of her own family and was thankful that her parents were still alive and that she had siblings close by, too. They all lived near each other in one of her father’s inherited properties in Fort Greene. They fought and argued but they also stuck together, no matter what. Their faith was a big part of their lives. She’d expect no less from Emmett, but if his cousin turned out to be the person of interest in the case, she hoped Emmett would do the right thing.

  “That’s tough,” she said, wanting to know more about Emmett. “It’s nice that you wanted to finish things for your mom, though. So you don’t keep in touch with Randall?”

  “Not much,” Emmett refilled her water glass and then came back with the tomato soup he’d made and handed her the mug along with the fresh water. “He moves around a lot. I know he’s been in trouble with the law. My dad tried to watch out for him through the years, but Randall’s as stubborn as they come. Likes to do things his way.”

  “Well, since we can’t identify who in your family might be connected, he obviously didn’t offer your mother much help. We found the match through a DNA sequencing firm after getting a warrant to do a search. We used a sleuthing geneticist to help us fill in the gaps. But we hit a wall.”

  “Which means you want me to lead you to Randall, right?”

  “Right. We could really use your help in finding him. We need to ask him some questions.”

  “Sure you do. So, what could be my cousin’s DNA was found on this old watchband tagged at the murder scene. That’s pretty amazing, but a match is a match.”

  “It’s a fresh lead,” she replied, wondering if he’d hedge or try to stall them. Or he could alert his cousin so they’d never be able to question the man. “I can show you the watchband. You might recognize it.”

  “I could try but remember Randall would have been forty-one years old then. I wasn’t exactly into hanging out with him even when we were kids since he’s older than me. Barely saw the man except when he’d come by to ask my dad for help or money. The few times I was around him, my father was always present. I don’t think he trusted Randall a whole lot.”

  “He’s not in the system, obviously, or we wouldn’t be coming to you for answers. Now that I have his name, I’ll do a thorough search. Maybe juvie has something.”

  “That’s a possibility. I can search through my dad’s old personal records, too. He would have tried to protect Randall, but he would have also followed the law.”

  Belle thought about that. “If Randall is involved, he did a good job of hiding all the evidence. The watchband is broken so someone must have lost it at the scene.”

  “So you think he was at the scene of the original murders and that he might have something to do with this latest double homicide?”

  She nodded. “But there’s no record of him being a suspect because there were no definitive prints found at the scene. The DNA on the watchband is relevant only to the first murders but if we find a connection, he could be questioned regarding the Emerys, too.”

  “If he killed the McGregors and the Emerys, that would mean he’s back in the area. Or was,” Emmett said. She could see the wheels turning. After all, he was a US marshal. He knew the drill. “I wonder if my dad knew of the cold case. He had to have heard about it but if Randall was never indicated as a suspect, it could have been off Dad’s radar.”

  Or his well-meaning father could have hidden some evidence? She didn’t want to believe that, but it did happen at times. Maybe his father had been at the scene as a police officer? She’d have to check into that.

  “So Randall lived in Brooklyn twenty years ago?” she asked to verify before taking a sip of the creamy lukewarm tomato soup. Her throat burned with a hot-pepper fire.

  Emmett’s eyes went wide while he stood as if debating. “Yes, he did.” Giving her a direct stare, he added, “He lived in an apartment above a deli in Bay Ridge.”

  Belle dropped her pen. “Where the first murders took place.”

  Emmett sank back against the plaid couch and stared across at her. “This is beginning to sound bad for Randall.”

  “Do you have any photos of him?” she asked, trying to keep her head while her heart seemed to open a crack or two for this man. He looked so devastated. Emmett might not be close to Randall, but he cared about the family connection. That much was obvious.

  “I might. I have my mom’s favorite old photo album around here somewhere along with her genealogy files.” He got up and went to what must be his bedroom and came back with a thick battered floral album. “My mom kept all kinds of family photos, and I know I saw one in here. One of the few things I saved when I sold my parents’ house.”

  After searching through it, he tugged an old snapshot out of its protective plastic shield. “Here. This was Randall about six years ago at one of our last family get-togethers before both of our fathers passed away.”

  Belle took the photo and studied the tall wiry man. Randall Gage looked nothing like the man sitting here with her. Where Emmett was all muscle and broad-chested, Randall was skinny but fairly muscular, his face shadowed in a world-weary darkness and his thick hair full of gray streaks.

  “Thanks,” she said. “We can do a facial recognition on this, I hope.”

  “Sure. You can scan it on my printer if you want and send it in from here.”

  Deciding she’d have to trust Emmett, she said, “I need to call this in to Sergeant Sutherland, too.”

  Emmett nodded and got up to stare out the window.

  Could she trust him? He’d mentioned his father keeping notes. Would a good officer have tried to hide evidence to protect a relative?

  Belle moved to the kitchen and made the call. But she had to wonder if Emmett would immediately get in touch with his cousin the minute she left.

  Stop that, she told herself. Just because she’d had a bad breakup with a security guard who wanted to be a super cop and had told her how to do her job, didn’t mean she couldn’t trust any other man ever.

  Besides, this tall drink of water was off-limits. She’d found Emmett Gage to question him about a murder, not go all gaga over him.

  But...

  “Belle, are you there?”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied to Gavin’s pointed question. Then she told him what she’d found out. “I’ll scan the photo and send it to you and the lab right away. Maybe we’ll get a hit on his last known address. Maybe the deputy marshal can help with that, too.”

  “If he’s willing to cooperate, use him. The man is good at his job.” Then Gavin added, “When you come by to check on Justice, which I know you will, bring Marshal Gage with you. Now that you’ve made contact and found a possible lead, I’d like to talk to him.”

  “Yes, sir.” Belle ended the call and went back across the room. “I
could use that scanner. Sarge wants to get on this right away and...he wants to speak to you again, too.”

  Emmett agreed to that. Then he said, “Hey, you mentioned stuffed animals. I found another picture of Randall here. He’s very young in this one, but my mom wrote his name and the date on the back of the picture.”

  Belle stared down at the grainy black-and-white photo. Randall Gage held on tightly to a stuffed animal—a fluffy dog about the size of the two animals found with both of the children in these cases.

  “Interesting,” she said. But when she saw how crushed Emmett looked when he turned away, she added, “But it doesn’t mean anything. We all have stuffed animals and favorite toys as children.”

  “Randall collected toys and such.” Emmett turned around, concern shadowing his face. “I sure hope he’ll be cleared. He’s got some issues, but murdering someone? A couple with their child close by? I don’t know. I can’t see it.”

  “Sometimes, we don’t want to see what’s right in front of our eyes.”

  “Spoken like the voice of experience.”

  Belle followed him into a small office filled with all sorts of electronic equipment. “I’m a pretty positive person and I like to believe the best about people. But I’m also realistic because I’ve seen the worst in people.”

  Emmett quickly scanned the photo. “So, you’ve been disappointed?”

  After giving him her phone number so he could message it to her, she said, “Yes. I guess it brings out the bitterness in me.”

  He put his hand on the black office chair. “Here. You can send it once you receive it.”

  After emailing the scan to her unit and the lab, she stood and gave Emmett a bold stare. “What’s your story, anyway?”

  He chuckled, his discomfort evident in the way he rubbed the back of his neck and moved back into the larger room. “I don’t have much of a story. Always wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. Got hooked on being a US marshal after watching The Fugitive over and over. Worked hard to get a degree and found a place to land.”

  “And you landed here in New York? Or are you native like me?”

  “I grew up right here in Brooklyn,” he said. “This is home. But I travel a lot. Work—that’s what I do. I work.”

  “I should go and check on Justice,” she said, thinking they didn’t have much left to discuss. He’d been more than willing to cooperate, but he had to be as tired as she was. Emmett Gage seemed like the loner he’d been reputed to be. A self-confirmed bachelor?

  “I’m going, too, remember. I mean—I’ve been summoned. Could wait till morning but your sergeant strikes me as the kind who doesn’t like waiting.”

  Surprised, Belle felt little sensations of awareness dancing up her spine. Little foreign sensations that made a beeline right to her heart. Don’t go there, she warned.

  “I can make it to headquarters by myself but, yes, you might as well talk to him while this is fresh on your mind.”

  “And I plan on getting you where you need to be in one piece,” he told her in a firm tone. “You were injured just a few hours ago and the man who did it got away. I’m escorting you back to the precinct and then home safely, Officer Montera. Got it?”

  “Are you always this bossy?”

  “When I need to be.”

  “You do realize that I can be bossy, too.”

  “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Her cell buzzed, saving her from setting him straight. “It’s Dr. Mazelli.” After reading the text, she turned back to Emmett. “Justice is awake. I need to go and see him.”

  “I’ll give you a ride,” Emmett said. “My truck is down in the parking garage.”

  “I’d rather take the subway,” Belle said. “I’m staying with Justice tonight so no point in you bringing your truck out. I said I’d be okay.”

  “I can get you there in about half an hour.”

  Belle mulled that over. She didn’t want to depend on him, but she did want to get to her partner. “Okay. This time we don’t have much choice.”

  Emmett gave her a tight smile. “I have a feeling there’ll be more than just this time, Officer Montera.”

  There they went again. Those warm and fuzzy sensations dancing up and down her spine reminded her that this was such a bad idea, but...Emmett made her feel safe in a way that being confident had never covered. Belle bristled. She was confident but this attack had shaken her. Or maybe it was just the pain pills and soup making her all warm and fuzzy.

  Which only aggravated her even more because up until tonight she’d always been capable out on her own with Justice.

  How could she be a good K-9 officer if she didn’t feel confident anymore?

  Rubbing her sore neck, Belle knew she’d have to work double time to get her groove back.

  And this big, tall, fascinating man could not get in the way of that. She appreciated Emmett’s help and his honesty, and while he’d been cleared of being a suspect in this case, she still wondered how far he’d go to protect Randall Gage.

  THREE

  After Emmett parked across the street from the Brooklyn K-9 Unit building in the only available slot, he followed Belle and took in the precinct building. The limestone building near Owl’s Head Park was three stories and had a unique arched facade that made it stand out. The vet’s office was right next door in the K-9 training center. Belle had told him he could wait in Sergeant Sutherland’s office in the main building. She’d quickly shown him the way to the office and then left in a fast trot to check on her furry partner.

  Too antsy to sit, Emmett stood and looked at several pictures of Sergeant Sutherland and his team. Then he noticed a picture of Gavin in a suit with a woman wearing a wedding gown. Obviously, his wife now. The happy couple smiled and held each other while two K-9s stood with what looked like happy grins on their faces.

  “That’s Stella and Tommy with Officer Brianna Hayes—now Sutherland—and me at our wedding last year,” Gavin said from the doorway. “Those two are inseparable unless they’re working. Stella’s a yellow Lab and she’s my wife’s partner in bomb detection. They work back in my old precinct in Queens. And Tommy’s right here with me—a springer spaniel and also trained in bomb detection.”

  Emmett turned to face Gavin, noting the man’s no-nonsense demeanor had softened when he mentioned his wife and his K-9 partner. Emmett had a feeling this man was inseparable from his wife unless they were working, too. He’d heard how they’d taken down a bomber last July.

  “Sounds like a great life.”

  “I can’t complain.”

  Gavin shook Emmett’s hand and offered him a seat. The sergeant’s partner, Tommy, gave Emmett a curious look, but Emmett knew not to interact with the dog. Gavin ordered Tommy to stay and the dog settled down beside the big desk.

  “So,” Gavin began, shuffling files as he went, “Justice is going to be okay. Just groggy. He’s off duty for the next couple of days.”

  “Officer Montera sure is close to her partner,” Emmett pointed out. “She wanted to stay here tonight.”

  Gavin put down the files. “I saw Belle and assured her that she needs to go home tonight.” Then he chuckled. “No, I had to make that an order. But yes, we’re all close to our partners. They put their lives on the line every day and do it so they can have playtime.”

  “I need to try that formula for playtime on myself,” Emmett admitted. “I understand you have questions for me?”

  Gavin nodded. “Belle filled me in. So Randall Gage is your dad’s cousin.”

  “Yes.” Emmett repeated the information he’d given Belle earlier. “Since he seems the only likely suspect, I’d like to be involved in tracking him down, if you don’t mind.”

  “Why?” Gavin asked. “You’re not planning to tip him off, are you?”

  That question riled Emmett, but he knew it had to be a
sked. “I’m planning on doing my job. If Randall’s your man, I want to be there when you take him in. I don’t want him to do anything stupid and get himself killed.”

  “Fair enough,” Gavin replied, his dark eyes as blank as an empty pistol. “You might keep an eye on Officer Montera, too.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Someone tried to kill one of my officers tonight. You were there. You want in on this investigation, then you watch my officer’s back, got it? Because Belle will be front and center on this case.”

  Emmett lifted his head. “Got it. Watch and stay out of the way unless needed. I can observe and offer my assistance but not overstep, right?”

  Gavin gave him an appreciative stare. “Exactly.”

  They talked a bit more, Emmett giving Gavin as much information on his cousin as he could remember. “If he’s back in the area, I’ll find him and bring him in myself,” he assured Gavin.

  A knock at the open door caused both of them to glance around. “Nate?” Gavin motioned the muscular blond-haired man in. “Marshal Emmett Gage, meet K-9 Officer Nate Slater. He’s a detective and his partner, Murphy, is cross-trained to deal with anything.”

  Emmett stood and shook the officer’s hand, prepared to leave. “I’m cross-trained myself. Give Murphy my best.”

  Nate’s blue eyes widened. “I’ll do that. Actually, I need to ask you a question, Marshal Gage.”

  “Sure,” Emmett said, his gut telling him this had to be about the McGregor case.

  “Does your cousin Randall happen to have a deep baritone voice?”

  Emmett thought about the last time he’d talked to Randall. He had to tell the truth. “He does but it’s grainy now from years of smoking. But yes, I’d say his voice is deep.”

  “Thanks,” Nate said, his expression turning grim. “That may be of help with the most recent case.”