Downfall (Matt Foley/Sara Bradford Series Book 3) Read online

  Matt rose, went to the counter, and brought back a cellophane pack of plastic ware. “Now tell me what you found out in Oklahoma.”

  “Basically, we destroyed Bauer’s alibi. He used the truck of one of the casino waiters both times.” Davis rubbed his hands together. “And we have the entire episode on tape.”

  “Okay, let’s pull him in for questioning and get the alibi on record.” Matt chewed his food thoughtfully before he continued. “Then when we get the gun, if it’s the murder weapon, we get an arrest warrant and pick him up.”

  “What about Eden?” Turner asked.

  Matt wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and leaned back in the chair. “Leave her alone for the time being. Once we arrest Bauer, we’ll play them off against each other.”

  “You think Bauer set the fire in his mother’s barn?” Turner asked.

  “I don’t see how it could be anyone else. He’s the only one with a reason to destroy those guns.” Matt wadded up the napkin and stuffed it on the food tray. “Plus, Bauer lost the tail we put on him last night. He didn’t return to the condo until after the fire was reported.”

  “I got the impression Amy knows he’s responsible,” Davis said.

  “She at least suspects, that’s what I gathered from her body language today,” Matt said.

  Turner sent a questioning glance at Matt and Davis. “I don’t understand why he wanted to destroy the weapons. Seems risky, unless I’m missing something.”

  “My guess is they may have been used in other crimes, and maybe he didn’t want to dump a load on his gun dealer all at once. I think he knows the net is tightening, so he’s destroying evidence. My fear is that he’s getting ready to run or to make a stand. And I really don’t like the fact that he moved the explosives, provided they were there to begin with. We only have Dr. Russell’s word they existed.”

  Davis gave a solemn nod. “And we don’t know for certain he kept them in the barn. I would hope he’s not storing dynamite, or whatever else goes boom, in that condo.”

  “Now there’s a scary thought,” Turner said.

  Matt grabbed the tray and headed for the trash receptacle. “Put our best people on stakeout. We can’t afford to lose him again.”

  The Foley Residence

  Twin Falls, Texas

  Sara threw on her sweats, laced up her running shoes, and headed for the deck. Disliking running in extreme cold, she had let her martial arts classes take care of her exercise, but today she needed extreme physical exertion. A heavy profusion of sweat was required to work out her frustrations with Stella.

  After a few limbering stretches, she headed for the path that ran to the lake through the woods. Rowdy at her side, Sara moved along the trail at a steady pace. The day was sunny but cold, especially along the shaded path, and seemed to grow colder as the lake came into view.

  Rather than her usual smooth glide, her feet pounded the hard-packed earth in a steady jog as thoughts of the woman’s disapproving attitude flooded her mind, adding tension she didn’t need or want in her life.

  She picked up her pace and slipped on her headphones. The beautiful sounds of Andrea Bocelli’s “The Lord’s Prayer” seemed to fill the forest with its purity. How could anyone remain uptight listening to that wonderful voice? The tension melted away, and she was reminded how puny her problems were compared to those of so many others. She found her stride and headed back.

  Fifteen minutes later, she rounded the turn for home, her tight muscles relaxed and her mood mellowed. She loved the openness and solitude of the big redwood and glass structure with the wildlife outside the back door, happy she and Matt had decided to make this their permanent home.

  Matt had encouraged her to make whatever changes she wished in the home’s decor, and she’d started to draw up plans to redecorate as soon as the weather improved.

  After a shower, she returned to the game room, and spread material and paint swatches out on the desk, putting together a color scheme.

  The area was a wide-open combination of many things, library, media room, game room, and a computer alcove in the corner. The various sections were divided into individual rooms by seating and area rugs.

  Stella entered, running the vacuum cleaner over the Oriental rugs. She stopped behind Sara and looked over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

  Sara glanced back and smiled. “Selecting colors and fabric for redecorating as soon as the weather turns warmer.”

  Stella huffed. “I don’t see why you would want to change anything. The house is beautiful. Mary had great taste.”

  “That she did,” Sara said and returned to her task.

  “Then why change it?” Stella shut off the machine and stomped from the room.

  Resting her chin in her hand, Sara released a breath, long and slow, to quell the rising flash of anger that rolled over her. The woman was trying to lay a guilt trip on Sara, and she had succeeded.

  In many respects, she understood Stella’s resentment. The housekeeper had loved Mary, and apparently felt Sara had usurped her former employer’s place in Matt’s affection and in his home. What Stella failed to grasp was that Sara had also loved Mary, and would always cherish her friend’s memory.

  But it was Sara and Matt’s life now, and none of Stella’s affair. The woman would have to get over her resentment, or leave.

  Unable to concentrate, Sara pushed away from the desk and went upstairs. So much for a mellow mood.

  She walked into the closet, put on her workout clothes, and headed to the Krav Maga studio.

  Twin Falls Police Station

  Twin Falls, Texas

  Matt strode into his office and stopped short in the doorway. Sara sat on the corner of his desk, her attention directed at the antics of two squirrels playing tag outside the window. She looked lovely in jeans, a lambskin vest, and boots. Her long dark hair flowed around her shoulders. Her jacket hung on the coat tree by the door.

  He cleared his throat and opened his arms.

  Sara slid off the desk and stepped into his embrace.

  “I’m going to have to speak to the desk sergeant about letting beautiful women into my office unannounced.”

  “Don’t blame Chuck. I bribed him.”

  “Before I asked what the payoff was, you do know it’s illegal to corrupt a police officer with payment of any kind?”

  “Mmmm, but a girl has to use all the assets in her arsenal to get some attention around here. We can discuss my punishment later.”

  He chuckled. “Okay, what was the inducement that made Chuck break the rules?”

  She picked up a large brown sack from the desk bearing the logo of a local deli, and laughed. “A Ruben sandwich. The man has no willpower. All I had to do was make the offer and, before I finished the question, he said yes.”

  She held the paper bag in one hand and slipped the other around his neck. “The wonderful smells wafting in your office are from our lunch. If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.”

  “I love a woman who knows what she wants. Come, let’s take this impromptu feast to the break-room. I’ll have to fight off the entire department once they get a whiff of these sandwiches.”

  They found seats in the lunch area, picked up drinks from the bar, and unpacked the food. Instead of tables, the room had booths of hunter-green, and the floor was covered in green and tan mosaic tile. A large picture window overlooked a small garden. “Did you know Mary donated all the fixtures, and designed everything in this room?” Matt asked.

  “Yes,” Sara said. “She told me about it while she was drawing up the plans. She wanted your people to have a restful place to get away from the day-to-day pressures of their profession while they ate. She did a wonderful job. It’s more like an intimate café than a lunch room.”

  Matt nodded and bit into loaded pastrami on an onion roll. “How did you know what I liked?”

  She gave him a cocky grin. “You’re not the only crack investigator in the family
.” She eyed him.

  He eyed her back. “Okay, I give.”

  “It was really quite simple. When I told the deli manager the sandwich was for you, he told me what you usually ordered.”

  “That’s good sleuthing anyway, Mrs. Foley. How’s your day going so far?”

  She wagged her hand in a so-so gesture. “I went to Chaim’s class before I came here. He says I have the fighting heart of Penthesilea. In case you’ve forgotten your Greek mythology, she was an Amazon warrior who participated in the Trojan Wars.” She bent her arms and tried to form a muscle.

  “Amazon warrior, huh? I’m going to have to watch you go through your paces. Maybe even join you on the mat after this case is resolved.”

  The corner of her mouth tilted up. “I’d love that. We could work out together.”

  He leaned back in the seat and grinned. “Not sure about that. I’d never live it down if you beat me, and you would have the advantage. It would be hard to keep my mind on the match.”

  She leaned across the table and kissed him. “I’d go easy on you.”

  Chris Hunter slid into the booth beside Sara. “When are you going to tell this man we’re in love?”

  Sara winked at Matt. “I’ve just been waiting for you to tell your wife first. After all, I don’t want to lose a good thing if you’re not available.”

  Chris dropped his head and shook it from side to side. “I guess we’ll have to call off the affair, because, if I tell my wife, next thing I know, I’ll wake up in the morgue.”

  Matt’s grin spread into a wide smile. “If you don’t stop flirting with my wife, you may find yourself in the morgue sooner than expected.”

  Chris slid out of the booth and saluted, “Roger that, Chief.”

  *****

  Later that afternoon, Turner stuck her head in Matt’s office door. “We’ve got James Bauer in Room One, if you want to listen in.” She slapped her hand over her mouth when she saw he was on the phone.

  Matt lifted the receiver away from his mouth and whispered, “I’ll be right there.”

  When she left, he returned to his conversation with Sheriff Joe Wilson. “Just wanted to know if you would like to meet me in town for dinner; Sara and the kids are going to Maddie’s, since I’m working late.”

  “Where?” he asked.

  “You pick, then text me the time and place.” He disconnected and strode down the hallway to the interview room assigned to Bauer.

  In the viewing area next door, Matt turned on the big-screen monitor and increased the volume. Bauer sat at the table against the wall, with Davis and Turner on the opposite side. Turner was doing the interview.

  Bauer smoothed his tie down over his crisp white shirt, and crossed his legs. “Am I under arrest?”

  Turner placed a thick file on the table and adjusted her chair. They had info on the man, but not that much. She had padded the file with blank sheets of paper. It was a common ploy to intimidate a suspect. “No, we just need to confirm some things. This is being recorded, in case you want an attorney.”

  “I am an attorney,” Bauer replied.

  “Your choice, but you know the saying: A lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client.”

  “Very funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be funny, just giving you the opportunity to change your mind.”

  “Unless I’m under arrest, I’ll represent myself.”

  She placed a yellow legal pad on the desk. “Tell us where you were Sunday, January 11th, between 6:00 and 8:00 AM.”

  Matt sat amazed at the competent attorney persona Bauer presented to the world, totally inconsistent with what Matt knew of the man. No wonder Bauer had flown under the radar for so long.

  Bauer huffed a deep breath. “We’ve been over this, but, for the record, I was at the casino in Durant, Oklahoma.”

  “Were you there alone?”

  “As I told you previously, I was there with a friend, Earl Locke.”

  “Did you leave the casino at any time during your stay until your departure on Monday?”

  “No.”

  Turner ran through the same questions on the weekend the Russells were murdered. Bauer’s answers were the same, except he had been there with Eden Russell. “Do you know anything about the barn fire at your mother’s yesterday?”

  If looks could kill, Turner would have been a dead woman. “No, why would I?”

  “It’s a reasonable question, Mr. Bauer. The fire started in your gun room, and it was arson.” Turner said. “Why would anyone want to destroy your property?”

  The attorney gave her a my-patience-is-wearing-thin glower. “I haven’t the foggiest idea, Detective,” he hissed. “That’s what they pay you to find out.”

  Turner had nailed him. She thanked him for coming in, and he left.

  Matt met the two detectives outside after the interview. “I don’t like being lied to, but we’ve got him. Let’s hope our nefarious gun dealer locates that weapon soon.”

  *****

  Jim Bauer climbed into his SUV and gripped the wheel to keep his hands from shaking. Violent anger surged blood through his veins, filling him with rage. The AK-15 in the back called to him—to storm through the station’s doors and take out everyone in sight. It would be as easy as shooting plastic ducks at the fairgrounds.

  He pounded the dash with his fist until the pain brought him back into the moment. This wasn’t the time. He wanted more. He wanted to go down in the history books of this city, teach these arrogant cops to be careful who they messed with.

  Killing people like Miles Davis and Lucy Turner wouldn’t be easy. They were always armed, and would shoot back. Catching them with their guard down would take time, time he didn’t have. He couldn’t make them go away, but he could make them sit up and take notice. He would leave a legacy greater than the University of Texas tower shooter, Charles Whitman.

  Those who survived would remember the name of James Bauer

  CHAPTER 20

  The Steak Out

  Twin Falls, Texas

  Matt saw Joe’s county SUV in the parking lot of his favorite steak house. Joseph Dawson Wilson had been his best friend since Matt was a skinny kid of nine with a nose too big for his face. Fortunately, he had grown to fit the nose. Joe had been there for Matt through the many trials in his life.

  He was always moved by Joe’s concern for his safety. More times than Matt could count, Joe had taken that young boy under his wing, protecting him from his abusive guardian after his family was murdered by drug dealers who picked the wrong house. Joe had opened his parents’ home, letting Matt spend the night to prevent beatings from his alcoholic uncle. Not for the first time, he realized how blessed he had been to have Joe Wilson in his life.

  Matt found Joe at a table in the rear next to the kitchen, his favorite spot. He inhaled a deep breath. If the sizzling smell of mesquite-grilled steaks didn’t make a man hungry, then his sense of smell was dead. “Sorry I’m a little late. Things are hopping at the station. Have you ordered?”

  Joe gave him a lopsided grin. “Nope. I figured, since you were buying, I’d wait for you, but I did order an appetizer to hold me over until our food arrives.” He picked up a potato skin, put half in his mouth, and pushed the platter towards Matt.

  They placed their orders and Joe shot him a quizzical look. “Any reason you’re treating me to dinner?”

  “Nothing in particular,” Matt said. “Haven’t talked to you since we found Lucy, so I thought we’d catch up.” He grinned and reached for a potato skin. “And, I thought I’d run some of the Davenport case details by you. Get your take.”

  Joe stopped munching. “Okay, what have you got so far?”

  “We have an A-1 suspect. We’ve broken his alibi, but we have no solid proof. Although we haven’t found the murder weapon, we do have a good lead on where it might be. The downside is there’s no solid motive we’ve found. A motive isn’t necessary for a conviction, but it helps convince a jury.”

  “S
ounds like you’re on the right track, and killers usually have a motive, even if it’s a stupid one.”

  “Yeah,” Matt said. “My big concern is that this character is unpredictable, has a well-stocked arsenal, and we’re pretty sure he has a cache of explosives somewhere. If he decides to hole up, people could get killed. ”

  “You think he’s unstable?”

  “No question about it. Turner uncovered some old complaints from his neighbors and people he went to college with. He was involved in altercations with lots of folks. Odd, perhaps even criminal behavior, but nothing they could prove.”

  “Odd how?”

  “Claims to women that he worked in government intelligence. Playing the national hero— keeping the country safe and all that, trying to impress them. When he had a disagreement with someone, their pets went missing. Nothing the victims could prove Bauer was responsible for. He’s a lawyer, so he had all the answers. Everyone we interviewed seemed to think he’s a loose cannon. My take is he’s an IED with his finger on the detonator.”

  “When you decide to make the arrest, give me a call. I’ll provide backup.”

  “I hoped you’d say that.”

  The Foley Residence

  Twin Falls, Texas

  After a pleasant dinner with Maddie and Don Tompkins, Sara drove home and let the children play with Rowdy in the game room. She liked to give them time to relax before getting to their homework.

  When they were settled, she returned to the computer desk to continue working on her decorating plans, still unsure whether to recover the furniture or replace it. It seemed a waste to discard the beautiful pieces. They were still in good condition, and of excellent quality.

  The downside of reupholstering was they would have to do without the furniture while the pieces were at the decorator’s. Of course, they could always rent furniture if it came to that, but she hated the idea.

  The soft glow of the monitor welcomed her back to the computer alcove. When she reached the desk where she’d left her decorating folder, it wasn’t there. She searched the drawers, but the file folder was gone.