The Night Killer Part 21

Diane linked her arm in his and they walked back into the building.

"I spoke with Reverend Springhaven," said Frank. "He got us an invitation to visit Rendell First Baptist Church this Sunday. You still determined to go?"

"Yes," Diane said. "I particularly want to speak with the Watson family members. Every time I find a motive that makes some sense for the Barre murders, there are also the Watson murders to consider, and it never works with them."

The museum restaurant was a maze of brick archways that looked as if they belonged in a medieval library. The connecting archways created five chamberlike s.p.a.ces, each containing five tables made from rough- hewn wood. The restaurant also had booths in arched brick alcoves lining the walls.

There was the subtle sound of low murmurs of patrons talking with one another in the flicker of candlelight.

Diane and Frank made their way to the back of the restaurant to where David and the others had put a couple of the tables together. In addition to David, Jin was there, as were Neva and Mike. Diane and Frank sat down in front of the iced tea David had already ordered for them.

"Sorry I'm so late," said Diane.

"How's Andie?" asked Neva. "She was so sad when she was with us."

"Still sad. She really fell for Liam," said Diane.

"So, Diane, David just updated us on the latest big event in your life while we were gone," said Mike. "It left us speechless."

The waitress came and they gave their orders. As they waited for their food, Neva, Mike, and Jin asked Diane several questions about the events surrounding the Barre and Watson murders and about Slick and Tammy. It turned out to be a good review for her of what had happened and what she knew, but Diane wasn't sure she had any clearer understanding of it all. She was still stumped. She almost had too much information, but not enough of the right information. Maybe Sunday Maybe Sunday, she thought.

"Have you tested the paint transfer from my SUV?" Diane asked David.

"It's from a 1997 red Chevy Blazer," he said. "I've been in touch with Garnett. They haven't found anything that fits the description. He's in contact with the surrounding counties and said he'd call if they find anything. He has an APB out, but you know how that is. We've gone over your vehicle. Nothing new. I'm sorry I don't have any information for you."

"I didn't really expect anything. It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be stolen," said Diane.

"Where do you want your SUV to go now?" asked David.

"Derk's Garage," said Diane. "I'm going to be paying for it myself. My insurance is already out of sight."

"What happened with your SUV?" asked Neva.

Diane told them about the maniac who had played chicken with her.

"Oh my goodness!" said Neva. "Is it about the murders, you think?"

"I don't know," said Diane. "I don't know much of anything."

Diane was starting to get depressed. She wished Andie had come to dinner with them. She hated thinking of her being alone. But, then again, maybe some alone time was what she needed. Diane turned to David.

"I did get hold of Jonas, and he remembered what was in the cigar box I told you about from the Barres' house."

"The box you believe was taken by the killer," said David.

"Yes. Jonas remembered the contents better than their kids did," Diane said. She described the objects for David. "I think it must have been just a souvenir for the killer," she said. "I can't think of anything in it that would be worth stealing."

"Jonas described one of the marbles as looking like confetti?" said David.

"Yes," said Diane.

"Oh G.o.d. I'll bet you have a marble database, don't you?" said Neva.

"Doesn't he have a database on everything?" said Jin.

"Yes," said David, "I do have a database on marbles. I happen to have collected marbles at one time in my life, and I maintain an interest. And please, I've heard every joke, multiple times."

David turned to Diane. "From the description, it may be a confetti mica marble. If it's what I'm thinking of, it could be about a hundred and fifty years old."

"Wow," said Jin. "How much would it be worth?"

"Somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars," David said.

Chapter 36

"Do you think that's what the killer was after?" asked Mike. His frown showed skepticism. The ice clinked in his gla.s.s as he finished his iced tea and set the gla.s.s down on the table.

"Marbles?" said Neva. "That's awful. Oh please, don't let me ever be murdered for my marbles."

"That would mean that whoever killed them knew what was in the box and the value of it," said Jin. "Maybe the Barres didn't even know they had something valuable."

"And there're the Watsons," said David. "Did they have something valuable in their home that was spotted by the killer? We're still missing something-a lot of somethings."

That was the whole problem, thought Diane. She simply couldn't find a motive that fit all the victims. The only one that made sense for both the Barres and the Watsons was their joint desire for land development, allowing for more progress in the county. That seemed a very weak motive-but people had been murdered for lesser reasons.

The waitress came with their meals and they settled into discussing Neva and Mike's recent trip to Africa. It left Diane anxious to see all the photographs they took. It also left her wanting to drop the entire murder case. She would have, if she thought the authorities in Rendell County were up to the task.

Diane was awakened by Frank shaking her shoulder. She looked at the clock. It was early and he was already dressed.

"You have to go to work already?" she mumbled.

"Ben called," he said.

"I didn't hear the phone." She managed to get to a sitting position.

Frank sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed her hair out of her eyes.

"He called my cell," he said. "They picked up Tammy and Slick just outside Rosewood. The GBI is having Ben and me do the interview here in Rosewood. Want to watch?"

Diane jumped out of bed. "Yes. Definitely." Finally, the promise of some closure.

Diane had never seen Frank interview a suspect. This was going to be interesting on many counts. She stood in the observation room between GBI agent Gil Mathews and Chief Garnett. Gil Mathews was a friend of Frank's. Diane had heard Frank speak of him many times. Gil was a tall, thin man with silver hair and nice clothes. Chief Garnett, a snappy dresser himself, was watching because he was interested in any case that Diane was involved in.

They had Slick in a separate room away from Tammy. Ben said he and Frank liked to keep the weaker witness waiting. He said by the time you got around to interviewing them, they often were more than willing to talk.

In the interview room Tammy Taylor was sitting on a chair at a metal table with her arms folded across her chest.

"You got that skinny b.i.t.c.h watching?" She shot a finger at the two-way mirror.

Agent Mathews and Chief Garnett both looked at Diane and smiled.

"She doesn't like you, does she?" said Mathews.

"Apparently not," said Diane.

Tammy had signed the waiver saying she understood her rights and knew the interview was being recorded. She appeared confident and relaxed.

"Would you like something to drink?" said Ben.

"So I'll fill up my bladder and admit to anything just to get to go pee? No, thank you. I'm just fine. Let's get this over with so I can get out of here. It wouldn't work anyway. I'd just as soon sit in my own p.i.s.s as to let you thugs get by with that kind of abuse," she said.

Frank was sitting in a chair a few feet away from the table with his legs crossed and arms folded. He had a briefcase at his feet. Ben sat closer to the table with both feet flat on the floor, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. Both looked comfortable and amused.

"Miss Taylor," said Ben, "we have no desire to have you uncomfortable. If you need to visit the ladies' room at any time, you only need to let us know and we'll have that nice policewoman escort you."

"Let's just get this over with," she said.

"Do you know why you're here?" asked Ben.

"It has something to do with that stupid b.i.t.c.h who got hysterical over a tree falling on her car," said Tammy.

"Close," said Ben. "It's about what was in the tree that fell on Dr. Fallon's vehicle."

"Our sheriff said it was some real old skeleton of a kid," said Tammy. "We didn't even know it was there. We thought it was our Halloween decorations she saw. You got no reason to drag me in here over that," she said.

"We offered to allow you to call a lawyer," said Ben.

"I don't need to be paying no lawyer. They're as crooked as you. You got nothing to hold me or Slick on," she said.

"Actually, I misspoke," said Ben. "It's not about the skeleton in the tree; it's about Norma Fuller."

Diane saw Tammy's eyes flicker for just a moment. "What about her?" said Tammy.

"You know her?" said Ben.

"Of course I know her. I was taking care of her. Good care too," said Tammy. "I'm a nurse and I take care of people. Miss Norma had a real nice room, and her own bathroom. I had a program all worked out for her to get her health back."

"You're a nurse?" said Ben. "Where did you go to school?"

"Regency Tech," she said. "Near Atlanta."

"I don't believe they have a nursing program," said Ben. "Do they, Frank?"

"No," Frank said.

"They have a medical program for nurses' aides," said Tammy, lifting her chin just a fraction. "I'm just as good as them that went to a full-blown nursing school."

"Tell us about this program you had worked out for Norma Fuller," said Frank.

"It was a good program. It had exercise-nothing hard. Light exercises that she could sit down in a chair and do. Nutritious meals. And lifestyle exercises."

"Lifestyle exercises?" said Frank, raising his eyebrows.

"You know-laughter, being around baby animals, that kind of thing," she said.

"She could have been allergic to animals," said Frank.

"She wasn't. I wouldn't have let her handle the puppies if she was allergic. I'm a nurse," she said.

"So you did make an effort to fas.h.i.+on specific programs for different patients?" said Frank.

"Yes," she snapped. "I told you, I'm as good a nurse as those that went to other schools."

"So, you had other patients," said Frank.

"Yes . . ." She stopped.

"Nice," said Agent Mathews to no one in particular.

"Tell us about the other patients," said Ben.

"They were just people like Miss Norma. I got them on their feet so they could go about their business," she said.

"What were some of their names?" asked Ben.

Tammy squirmed in her seat. "I can't recall their names right now."

Diane noticed Tammy's voice was different. Not as sure, not as feisty. She knew she'd made a mistake. Diane expected her to lawyer up, but she didn't. Probably thought that would make her look guilty.

"Maybe we can help," said Ben. "Frank, can you jog her memory?" Ben smiled at Tammy. "I have a bad memory for names too," he said.

Frank reached in the briefcase and pulled out a file. Tammy stretched her neck toward Frank as if that might help her see what was in the file.