Page 31 of Crime Lab Cold Case (Pacific Northwest Forensics #2)

Natalie put her eye to the peephole in her hotel-room door and peered at Nicole standing there with a basket in her hands, a hood over her head. She looked like Little Red Riding Hood, delivering goodies to Grandma.

She opened the door. “Hi, Nicole. C’mon in.”

As Nicole stepped through the door, she shook the hood back off her head. “It’s starting to sprinkle outside.”

“I know. I was going to take a walk and get some fresh air. I feel cooped up in here.” Natalie waved her hand behind her at the room. She hadn’t started packing yet. Hadn’t even booked a flight home. Since she was suspended, she might as well take her time.

She sniffed the air. “Whatever you have in that basket smells great.”

“Scones.” Nicole lifted the cloth napkin covering the contents of the basket. “I baked some scones and thought I’d bring some to you. I’m so sorry you discovered Rachelle yesterday. So heartbreaking.”

“It was devasting. I’m glad Michael closed the office today. Not sure anyone would get any work done.” She declined to mention to Nicole that she wouldn’t be returning to the lab…ever.

Nicole placed the basket on the credenza next to the TV. “Do you have any tea in here? We can have ourselves some afternoon tea and scones.”

Natalie snatched up the tin next to the electric pot. “Earl Grey?”

“Perfect.” Nicole held out the basket. “Help yourself.”

Natalie’s stomach rumbled as she smelled the sweet buttery goodness of the scones, remembering she’d refused Michael’s invitation to lunch. She should call him. She spoke out of anger. There’s no way Michael would’ve betrayed her like that.

She picked up a corner of one of the scones with her fingers and bit into the crusty edge, her teeth sinking into the softer center. She brushed the crumbs from her chin. “These are perfect.”

“I told you. I can’t cook, but baking’s my thing.

” Nicole turned her back on Natalie to rip open the tea bags and drop them into the hotel’s paper cups.

“Have you heard anything from Michael about the cause of Rachelle’s death?

I mean, I know she went home sick, but I thought she just had an upset stomach. ”

“Oh, really? That’s what it was?” Natalie broke off another piece of scone and stuffed it in her mouth. “Haven’t heard a word from Michael. He and I…”

“You two had a disagreement?” The kettle beeped, and Nicole lifted it from the base to pour the boiling water over the tea bags. “He does have anger-management issues, but you two seemed so…close.”

Natalie swallowed one bite and went right in for another to avoid talking about Michael with Nicole. Anger management? She could see it. The man was practically seething when she first met him.

Nicole held out a cup. “Cream or sugar with your tea?”

“I think there’s one of those sweeteners in the yellow packets.” Natalie wagged her finger at the credenza.

“Got it.” Nicole handed her the cup and the packet of sweetener. “I’m ready for you to visit the evidence-receiving room whenever you like next week.”

Natalie picked up a blueberry that had fallen out of her scone from the napkin and popped it in her mouth. Should she tell Nicole now that someone else would be handling the audit? If she did, she’d have to explain why. “I’ll let you know.”

“I heard Michael’s dog, Peaches, came back home.” Nicole took a sip of tea, her eyes wide over the rim of the cup. “How crazy is that?”

“So crazy.” Natalie picked up the last chunk of scone on her napkin and finished it off. Then she dabbed the crumbs with her fingertips and sucked them from her fingers. “The sheriff’s department is going to check out the dog, but there won’t be any evidence after this much time.”

“I heard the dog actually came back with Raine’s bracelet on her collar. I’m sure RJ will be happy to get that back.” Nicole took another drink of her tea, holding up her pinkie finger.

Natalie shook her head. How did Nicole know this? “Wait, what? Raine’s boyfriend? What bracelet?”

The room felt hot all of a sudden, and Natalie pressed a hand against her forehead, surprised to feel it dampened with sweat.

“Yeah, RJ. Raine’s boyfriend. He’d given her a diamond tennis bracelet as a gift—probably stolen.

RJ was a criminal, and Raine was no better.

She was a bad person, Natalie. I don’t know why Michael feels so guilty about her death.

” Nicole shrugged. “Anyway, RJ said that bracelet was missing when Raine’s body was found.

Most people thought he was just trying to run some insurance scam, but I guess the dog showed up with the bracelet. ”

“Who told you that?” Natalie winced as a sharp pain lanced her gut. Peaches had Alma’s bracelet on her collar, not a diamond tennis bracelet.

“Michael told me.” Nicole dabbed her lips primly. “Michael tells me everything, Natalie. We’re quite close.”

A wave of nausea passed through Natalie’s body, making her shudder. She grabbed onto the edge of the table, knocking over her tea.

“Are you okay?” Nicole scooted back from the tea dripping off the table onto the floor. “You look sick.”

“I—I feel…” Natalie cried in agony as another cramp twisted her stomach.

“Don’t worry, Natalie. I’m not going to let you die alone like Rachelle.”

“Are you going to call an ambulance? I think I need an ambulance.”

“Ambulance?”

Natalie unfolded her body and met Nicole’s eyes. Dread pounded against her temples. Where had she seen that evil dark glare before?

Nicole stood and grabbed Natalie’s arm. “I’m not going to call an ambulance, but I am going to take you someplace I’m sure you’ve been dreaming of for a long time, Nat.”

* * *

Michael rushed from Shady View to his car, tapping Natalie’s number on his phone.

They had some real evidence, along with Natalie’s information about the pendant.

Rachelle must’ve seen Nicole here and wondered why she’d never told anyone about having a father in town.

As far as he could remember, Nicole never mentioned family and barely mentioned her dead husband.

Natalie’s phone rang and flipped over to voice mail. Was she still angry at him? Did she really believe he’d ratted her out?

He tossed his phone into his cupholder, where it promptly rang. He grabbed it without checking. “Natalie?”

“Sorry to disappoint. It’s your sister. Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for about fifteen minutes.”

“Is Ivy okay?”

“Ivy’s fine. I just wanted to let you know that someone picked up Peaches.”

Michael’s heart went back to normal beats per minute once Molly had verified Ivy was fine. She really needed to learn to start the conversation that way. “Okay, fine. I didn’t realize they’d be taking her. I thought they’d look at her at the house. I mean, what are they going to do to her?”

“Not sure, but I don’t trust them.”

“Why not?” Michael started the car. He had to get to Natalie’s hotel room to tell her about Nicole before she left. An aching gulf opened in Michael’s chest at the thought of Natalie already on her way back to DC.

“Because the lady who took Peaches was weird.”

“Coming from you, I can’t imagine.”

“Well, she brought scones. Who brings baked goods to pick up an animal for forensic examination. Was she afraid we’d say no, or something?”

Michael slammed on his brakes. “She brought scones?”

“That’s what I said, and she really wanted us to try some before she took the dog. I mean, that’s weird, right?”

Michael wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Did you eat any? Did Ivy?”

“You must think I’m an idiot. Of course not.”

“D-did this woman show you a badge?”

“See, there you go again.” Molly huffed out a breath. “She had a badge like yours from the Washington State Patrol. You ever bring anyone scones?”

Michael’s stomach dropped to his knees. “Dark brown, curly hair? Tall?”

“Yeah, you know her? Nicole something. Sorry, I didn’t catch the last name.”

Stabbing two fingers against his temple, Michael asked, “She took Peaches? Is that all? Did she get near Ivy?”

“What do you mean?”

Michael spluttered, “Did that woman get anywhere near my daughter?”

Molly gasped. “No. What’s going on Michael? Should I call the police?”

“For what? Kidnapping a dog? Just lock the doors, Molly, and don’t let Ivy out of your sight. Have you heard from Natalie at all today? Did she come by the house?”

“I don’t like this, Michael. Should I throw away the scones?”

“She left them there? Dump them in a plastic bag and put them out of Ivy’s reach. Don’t throw them away.”

Michael’s mind raced on the way to Natalie’s hotel.

He’d been hoping she hadn’t left for DC yet, but now he was hoping she had.

Why had Nicole come to his place with those scones?

Had she shown up to harm Molly and Ivy? Had she always been planning to take Peaches, or was that plan B when Molly wouldn’t touch the scones?

A half hour later, wheeled into the hotel parking lot and surveyed it for Natalie’s rental car. He didn’t see it, but that didn’t mean she’d left. The hotel had a parking structure, and she may have parked there with this rain coming on…or to load up her suitcases more easily.

He marched into the lobby and hung back as the reception clerk handled a customer. When she was free, Michael approached the counter. “I’m wondering if you can tell me whether a guest checked out today?”

The woman pulled her keyboard toward her. “Name?”

“Natalie Brunetti.”

“Ooh.” The clerk glanced up, her bottom lip between her teeth. “Ms. Brunetti is still a guest, but she wasn’t feeling well.”

Michael swallowed. “She’s had a few…incidents since coming to town. Is she in her room? I have the number. I’ll go up.”

As he started to turn away, the clerk stopped him. “She’s not here. Her friend took her to urgent care.”

Michael felt the blood drain from his face. “Her friend?”

“Yes, so sweet. I just caught them going out the side door. The friend had her arm around Ms. Brunetti and was helping her walk, half carrying her.”