45

Friday, March 17, 2006

5:35 p.m.

They found Joe in his office, preparing to leave for the day. As he shuffled papers, he looked tired. Kitt would swear his hair had gone grayer, just since she had seen him last.

“Hello, Joe,” she said.

He paused midshuffle. “Kitt?” he said, obviously surprised to see her. His gaze moved from her to M.C. “What’s up?”

“This is my partner, Detective Riggio. We need to ask you a few questions about one of your employees.”

“My employees?” he repeated. “Who?”

“Former employee,” M.C. corrected. “Buddy Brown.”

His expression tightened. He waved them into the office. “What do you want to know?”

“How long did he work for you?”

“Three weeks.”

“You knew he was an ex-con?” M.C. asked.

“Yes. He had construction experience. He seemed pretty desperate for a fresh start.”

“Why’d you fire him?” M.C. asked.

“Didn’t show up for work two days in a row. I’m very clear with these guys, you’re here every day, ready to work. Or you’re gone. I need people I can count on.”

“You said ‘these guys.’ You hire ex-cons before?”

“I believe in giving people another chance.” He shifted his gaze back to Kitt. “What’s going on? What’d he do?”

“We have reason to believe he’s the man who’s been calling me, claiming to be the Sleeping Angel Killer.”

His expression went from blank to thunderstruck. “The Sleeping Angel Killer? Do you really think Buddy Brown’s…that he could be the one?”

“We’re fairly certain he’s the one who’s been calling me,” Kitt said. “Whether he’s the SAK or not, we don’t have enough proof, one way or the other.”

M.C. stepped in. “We believe your fianc'ee’s daughter may be in danger.”

“Tami…my God-” Joe looked at Kitt, his expression stricken. “I never called Valerie. I didn’t believe you. I thought you were losing it, like before. I never thought-”

He reached for the phone. She saw that his hand shook. “I’ll call her now.”

Kitt stopped him. “We’d like to speak with her first. It’s important we do it this way.”

He hesitated. She saw his conflict. “Trust me,” she said.

He nodded and jotted her phone number and address on a message, then handed it to her. “She’s a nurse. She should be off her shift now.”

“Thanks, Joe.” Kitt took the address. “If you hear anything from Brown, contact us immediately.”

“I will.” He looked slightly dazed. “Tell Valerie to call me, so I’ll know she’s okay. Tell her I…”

He didn’t finish the last, just let the words trail helplessly off. Kitt wondered what he had been about to ask. For her to pass along that he loved her?

She didn’t know for certain, but was honest enough to admit the thought bothered the hell out of her.