“Where’s Friedman? If he’s not guilty then where the hell is he?” he asked as he motioned both John and Frank to join the others in Donald’s office.
The captain was there as well as the homicide commander.
“We were just going over the evidence we have on your lieutenant. As I was saying, gentleman, Friedman had access to Stew Parker’s home and opportunity to plant the evidence. He was not at the house when we questioned Grace Thompson. However, he knew we were headed there and most definitely had the opportunity to shoot at her,” Agent Lancaster explained.
“Wait one Goddamn minute. There’s no way that Donald planted the evidence or took a shot at our sister,” John interrupted.
“I can’t prove that but I can show that there’s enough evidence to prove investigating him as a suspect is justified. Now his fingerprints were found all over the furniture in Jamie Friedman’s bedroom,” Lancaster told them.
“For Christ’s sake, Lancaster, he’s her damn father-in-law and he helped Tod move the furniture in there a few weeks ago,” Frank told him.
“Where was he during the time of the attack? No one seems to know and he’s not here now like he said he would be. Why else would he not show up?” Lancaster asked.
“What’s his motive, Lancaster?” Frank asked.
“He a psychopath and he’s obsessed with your sister. She looks like Clara who I’m sure he killed as well and he had traveled out of town a lot going to seminars and supposedly visiting his sick mother in Pennsylvania. Might I remind you that the other connected murders took place in New York and Pennsylvania.”
“I’d hate to admit this but it looks like he has some good evidence here, boys. We need to put out an APB on Lieutenant Donald Friedman.” Their captain reached for the phone and the agents scattered from the room to get moving on their suspect.
“This is crazy,” John said as the chaos began.
* * * *
“You have got to be kidding me, Frank,” Sandman said into his cell phone.
“No. I’m afraid I’m not. The federal agents are ready to hang Donald and the media has got wind of something going on. I give this until this afternoon tops before it’s all over the news.”
“Everyone who could possibly be a suspect needs to be investigated. If Lancaster feels that Donald needs to be questioned, just let him.”
“The problem is that Donald is nowhere to be found. John and I have looked everywhere. We even broke into his house,” Frank explained.
“Did it look like anything was out of place? Any drawers opened or closets emptied?” Sandman asked.
“No. Everything was in order. There were no signs that he left in a hurry or that there was a struggle.”
Sandman was asking questions as if Donald made a run for it, but Frank looked around as if Donald might have been taken against his will. Either scenario was possible.
“Let Lancaster do his thing. In the meantime there’s no reason why you can’t conduct your own investigation. No one needs to know. As far as Lancaster’s concerned, just tell him Donald was like family and you’re concerned about his safety. It will work out,” Sandman told him.
“Before this is over I’m going to tell that guy what I really think of him,” Frank said and Sandman laughed.
“Now tell me how my sister is doing? How was she last night?” Frank asked.
“She was pretty upset and still, as of this morning, determined to come home.”
“Well she can’t come home. You can’t let her.”
“Your sister is the most stubborn, bullheaded—”
Frank finished his sentence. “Pain in the ass. I know that but you can’t give in. I …I also know that you two have become pretty close. Or should I say you and your two brothers as well?”
“Yeah, I guess you could say she got under our skin.”
Frank laughed. “Well I’m sure that the three of you want to keep her as safe as possible. So please don’t let her come back. Donald’s not the killer. I just know it.”
“I hope you’re right, Frank, but if Lancaster proves otherwise and Donald is the killer, then my superiors are going to make me bring her back. I’ll have no choice.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” Frank said.