“I’m flying home tomorrow.” The mother’s voice bordered on hysteria.
“What about your class?”
“Nothing’s as important as my child. I’ll explain the situation. The instructors will have to understand that I need to be with my baby.”
“Call me after you have your flight information.”
“I don’t feel good about you staying there tonight, Natalie. If someone killed Tammy, what’s to stop them from striking again?”
“I’ve locked the doors. One of the special agents investigating the case gave me his number in case I need help.”
“That’s all well and good, but I want Sofia out of harm’s way. We’ve got a small fishing cabin a few miles north of Freemont. There’s a crib and some baby supplies so you and Sofia should be fine there. Plus, Terrance keeps a rifle in the coat closet. A box of ammo is on the top shelf.”
“Wanda, you’re scaring me.”
“You need to take precautions. I’ll fly home tomorrow and meet you there. The key to the cabin is in the top drawer of the buffet in the dining area. You’ll also find a map with directions.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. You and Sofia will be safe at the cabin. I’ll call you when I have my flight information.”
Wanda’s insistence that she take the baby off post darkened Natalie’s mood even more. Fleeing Fort Rickman didn’t sound like a wise decision, especially this late at night.
To clear her mind, Natalie climbed the stairs to the baby’s room, finding comfort in the sweet innocence of the small infant. Standing at the side of the crib, she gazed down at the baby’s face and tiny hands. Knowing Sofia was completely oblivious to the turmoil that surrounded them tonight brought a sense of calm to Natalie’s unrest.
The house phone rang, causing the baby to stir. Natalie hurried into the master bedroom and reached for the receiver.
“The Joneses’ residence.”
Silence.
She pushed the phone closer to her ear. “Hello?”
No response.
Natalie disconnected. She didn’t need prank calls, especially tonight.
Again the phone rang. She snatched it from the cradle and raised it to her ear.
“Natalie?” A garbled voice, as if the caller were masking his voice.
Could it be Mason? Repulsion filled her.
And fear.
Her heart raced and her hands trembled as she disconnected.
Straightening her shoulders, she strained to draw air into her lungs. Wanda was right. She and Sofia needed to leave post and hide out until the killer was apprehended.
Natalie hurried into the guest bedroom, grateful she hadn’t unpacked earlier today. Grabbing her suitcase and small tote, she dropped both in the hallway and returned to the baby’s room. Wanda had filled a large diaper bag for when Natalie took the child on an outing. Unsure how many supplies she’d find at the cabin, she stuffed even more diapers into the bag and filled a second tote with onesies, sleepers and prepared bottles of formula. Receiving blankets were the final items she included before making two trips downstairs with the luggage and totes.
Peering out the front window, she noticed the last of the emergency responders preparing to leave. As much as she wanted to contact Everett Kohl, the CID was a tight organization. Natalie didn’t stand a chance of changing anyone’s mind about Mason. If only they’d look closer into his wife’s death instead of giving their colleague a free pass.
After placing the bags in her car, she checked the car seat Wanda had helped her install, then hurriedly returned to the house. With a determine sigh, she climbed the stairs and lifted the sleeping baby into her arms. She’d never had her own child, but her maternal instincts kicked into high gear. No one would hurt this baby.
Returning to her car, she settled Sofia into the carrier and attached the harness before she opened the garage door and backed onto the driveway. Glancing at the neighboring homes, she wondered how soon people would be aware of what had happened tonight. Once the MPs made their rounds, the news would spread up and down the street, causing unrest and concern.
Poor Tammy Yates. She didn’t deserve to die. Neither had the woman in Germany.
Natalie hated running scared. She’d run before, from her father’s abusive drunkenness and from a scandal that meant the end of her time in the military. A scandal that had involved Mason. And now, she was running from a murderer.
She thought of Everett Kohl’s strong shoulders and the concern she’d seen in his gaze, and for half a heartbeat, she wished she could turn to him, but common sense won out.
She couldn’t trust Everett Kohl.
She couldn’t trust anyone.
* * *
Everett watched the garage open at the Joneses’ quarters. A red sedan backed onto the driveway. Natalie hurried from the car and lowered the garage door before she drove out of the housing area.
After dropping Mason at the Lodge on post, Everett had circled back to the duplex and parked farther down the street to keep an eye on the two homes. Not that he had expected Natalie Frazier to flee. He had been more concerned for her safety. If someone had broken into the B side of the duplex and killed one woman, the killer could easily return to kill again.
Everett had to insure he didn’t leave a stone unturned. He’d learned his lesson the hard way. The guilt still hung heavy on his shoulders.
He followed the small compact car at a distance as it left post through the Fort Rickman main gate and headed into nearby Freemont. On the far side of town, it stopped at an apartment complex.
Holding the baby in her arms, Natalie unlocked the bottom apartment door and disappeared for a few seconds before returning to the car. Everett made note of the address as she drove away.
Surprised when his cell rang, he saw Frank’s name on the screen. “I was ready to call you,” he said in greeting. “I’m following Natalie Frazier. She’s got the baby and is driving north through Freemont. It appears she’s headed to the interstate. I want to apprehend her before she hits the highway.”
“Negative,” Frank insisted. “Tail her but don’t apprehend. I just called Lieutenant Jones to notify her of her neighbor’s death. The lieutenant had spoken with the nanny earlier and had encouraged her to take the baby someplace safe.”
“Did the mother mention a destination?”
“She talked about a fishing cabin north of Freemont but refused to provide more information. Stay on Ms. Frazier’s tail. I want to know the exact location of the cabin and where that baby is at all times. Lieutenant Jones plans to return to Fort Rickman tomorrow. Once baby and mom are reunited, I’ll breathe a sigh of relief.”
“What about the nanny?”
“Lieutenant Jones is convinced she’ll take good care of her daughter. That’s my hope, as well, but it seems more than a coincidence, as you mentioned, to have her show up on post the day Tammy Yates dies.”
“Natalie made a quick stop at her apartment in Freemont. Might be worth checking.” Everett provided the address.
“Will do. Don’t let her out of your sight. If Mrs. Yates’s death is a homicide, we have a killer on the loose. We don’t need anyone else hurt.”
Everett disconnected. So much for his two-week vacation. Right now, he had to keep tabs on the red sedan and find out where Natalie planned to hole up, so he could keep nanny and baby safe.
* * *