Browne turned between two concrete posts and stopped in front of the gates then rolled down his window and spoke into the intercom. “Detective Browne and Dakota Dale to see Amanda Clark.”
The gates opened, and he sped through as they quickly closed behind us. Browne nodded at the news van that had pulled to the side of the road. “They’ll be waiting for us when we come out.”
I wasn’t really listening to him as I studied the tree-lined driveway. My mind was homed in on the job at hand and all the little things that didn’t click. Like the cove at the creek, the scene was beautiful and peaceful, not the sort of place anyone expected to find a body. “They have gates at the front of the property, yet the trail I used coming in doesn’t have any barriers at all. Don’t you find that strange?”
Browne drove slowly, enjoying another cigarette.
“Anyone mention to you that you’re a chain smoker?” I asked, rolling down my window.
“My grandmother.” Browne laughed. “She was always on my case. To answer your question, Amanda plans on fencing the back property, not that that will help much. Easy enough to climb a fence if someone wants to get in.” He tossed the butt out the window. “I warned her about your looks, but don’t be surprised if you get a few stares from the staff.”
“Do you plan on interviewing the staff today?”
“No need. They’ve been with the family for years. I doubt one of them has become a killer overnight.”
He can’t be that incompetent, can he? “I’d like to interview them. Maybe one of them saw or heard something.”
“If Angelina had been taken from the house, I’d agree with you. She and Amanda visited their parents’ graves, and Angelina stayed in town to do some shopping.” He drove around the circular drive and parked. “And before you get all huffy, thinking I don’t know how to do my job, we checked with all the stores and pulled all the video we could find. Nothing showed what happened to her or who she hooked up with.” He opened his door and climbed out. “You coming?”
She could have been your sister. Max’s statement ran through my mind as I studied the petite brunette. I did look more like Angelina Clark than Amanda. Her boyfriend, or suitor, as Browne called him, issued orders for drinks brought to the parlor as he led us to a small room overlooking the back of the estate. The staff had stared before averting their eyes, but it was James Day’s reaction that piqued my interest. He’d paled, and the hand that shook mine was clammy and cold. I didn’t have a lot of faith in Browne’s background checks, and Max would be going to work as soon as I returned.
Amanda recited what Browne had already told me. The sisters had left at nine that morning to place flowers on their parents’ graves, something they did on the last Sunday of each month. So the killer knew their schedule.
“Angie wanted to visit the City Market and River Walk, so she stayed in town, and I came home.” Amanda began to sob, and Day put his arm around her. “I should have stayed with her.”
“Where were you on Sunday night, Mr. Day?” I asked.
He laughed, not the amused laugh of someone enjoying themselves, but the nervous laugh I imagined of the worm getting ready to be placed on the hook. “Surely you’re not serious, Miss Dale.” He glanced at Browne. “Am I a suspect?”
Before Salyer, I would have toyed with him a bit and assured him he wasn’t a suspect. I might have even flirted a little to get what I wanted. But things were different, and I didn’t have time for games. I was positive that James Day had killed Angelina and he knew where to find Christian Salyer. “Where were you on Sunday night, Mr. Day?” I repeated.
“I was home, reading depositions for a case.” The handsome face that earlier had paled turned high-blood-pressure red. “Alone.” Day rose. He retrieved a card from his pocket and threw it on the table. “If you have any further questions, contact our lawyers. My fiancée is on the verge of collapsing. She needs time to rest and grieve.”
I glanced at Amanda’s left hand, which was sporting a brand-new diamond. Day hadn’t wasted any time. “Congratulations.” I rose, not bothering to wait for Browne. “Take care of Amanda. I can find my own way out.”
A delicate scent of jasmine filled the air as I descended the front steps. The flower gardens were well cared for and beautiful. I stopped to admire the fresh beds around the circular porch.
Browne came down the stairs and stopped long enough to light a cigarette. “You always that crude, Dale?”
“Blunt, not crude.” I walked to the car and waited for him to unlock the doors. “Those things are going to kill you.”
“Everybody dies.” He opened the door for me. “I prefer to choose my own method.”
“Day had several million dollars’ worth of reasons to want Angelina out of the way.” I slid into the passenger seat, anger that Browne was ignoring what was right in front of his eyes simmering. “It doesn’t take a genius to know he killed her. Which also means he knows where Christian Salyer is.”
Smoke drifted my way as he took a final puff before closing the door. “You know that, and I know that. Let’s go find the proof to put him away.”
The simmering anger was beginning to boil. “If you knew Day killed her, what was this all about? You brought me out here for some kind of sadistic kick?”
“Knowing and proving are two different things. I wanted your unbiased opinion, which is why I didn’t tell you about him.” He eyed me before pulling away from the house. “Since you feel the same way I do, let’s figure out how to trap him into telling us where Salyer is.”
“Have you subpoenaed his phone records? Personal and law office?”
“Already done. Should be served”—he glanced at his watch—“about right now.”
“So basically, you wasted my entire morning.” I took a deep breath to calm my fury. Stop feeling. You know what happens when you feel.
“You don’t laugh, you don’t get mad, and I’d bet next month’s salary you don’t ever cry, either.” He stopped in front of the gates and waited for them to open. “James Day was my first and only suspect with Angelina’s murder. I needed you to make the connection between him and Salyer.”
“You’re beginning to sound like my psychiatrist. I had enough of that from him.” The deep breathing was helping, and I continued with it. “He’s a lawyer, so it’s going to be hard to pin him down through normal channels. He’ll use that card every time we talk to him. We run a trace on his phone, we’ll find out where he’s been. We thought at one time Salyer had an accomplice. Day may have been helping him all along.” A feeling of desperation was clawing at my insides. I needed to get away from Browne. I’m close. I know I am. If I follow Day, I’ll find Salyer.
Browne nodded at the cameras waiting outside the fence. “Either way, Day isn’t going to talk. I say we stick with our plan. If you’re still game, between the two of us, we can flush him out.” The shadows in his eyes darkened, a sure sign he was hiding something from me.
“You’re hiding something. The nail polish could have been a lucky guess on Day’s part. You seem sure Salyer is still alive.”
“There’s another girl missing. The spitting image of you and Angelina. I was going to tell you after we got back to the office.” He lit another cigarette. “You were missing for over a year, and not one body was found or anyone fitting the pattern missing. Rivers releases you to go to work, and a body that fits his pattern is found, and another girl is missing.” He coughed and tossed the cigarette. “I figured Day killed Angelina to get his hands on the money. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see he’s controlling Amanda.” Browne drove through the gates, which had finally opened. “I also figured Salyer approached him with the idea and used him to get to you.” He opened his door. “Put a smile on that pretty face. Let’s give Salyer something to think about besides his new victim.” He glared at me. “And sit there like a lady until I come and open the door for you.”