Page 75 of Knot Innocent

Arms crossed, Jackson works through his own mental suspect list but shakes his head again. “It can’t be that simple. I assume the police looked into all the clinic staff. I mean, how would anyone outside the clinic know about the schedule change?”

“I don’t know about the cops, but Cle Maxwell cleared the staff.”

“Shit. Can’t get any clearer than that.”

Jackson releases his arms to prop his elbows on the table, still deep in thought. “The only way Hiller could have set things up so cleanly would have been to know about the new doctor and set up the car crash himself.”

I look up slowly from the wood surface, meeting Jackson’s eyes. “Shit.”

Jumping up, I knock over my chair, going for my phone. The instant the call connects, I yell into the speaker. “Look into the car accident. Who hit the doc?”

“Give me a minute.”

Thankfully, Detective Cooper is up early and at his desk. He clicks a keyboard several times and then silence before, “Holy fuck.”

“Spit it out, dammit!”

“A delivery van failed to stop at a red light, pushing the doctor’s Mercedes into oncoming traffic. The van was registered to a local florist, Stem and Petal.”

Bastien

We had it all wrong. I had it wrong. I stomp my feet into my boots and sling on my belt on my way out.

“What is it?” Jackson yells as he chases after me.

“You were right. The wreck was a setup. I know who has Birdie.”

“I know your ass isn’t trying to leave without me!” Jackson jumps in my truck, and we speed off toward the flower shop in downtown Norfolk.

The street is clogged with cop cars, still too early for any of the businesses to be open. I park haphazardly beside two of them, yelling out when I spot Detective Cooper at the shop’s entrance.

He waits behind two officers with a battering ram, ready to break through the old door. “Go!” he orders right before gesturing me forward.

The door gives on the first shot, and a half dozen cops spill through the opening. An older couple comes rushing up with two officers just as the men inside yell that the place is clear. “What is the meaning of this?” the older man demands.

“Mr. Savile, someone associated with your shop is suspected of stalking, kidnapping, and attempted murder. I need a list of all your employees and for you to explain how you know Stephen Hiller.”

The pair share a worried look before Mr. Savile explains, “But it’s only the two of us, and I told you yesterday. I don’t know any Stephen Hiller.”

“Detective!” an officer yells as he jogs toward the shop.

The young cop hands a note to Cooper, and I lean over to read the message. Stephen Hiller’s car found. Hiller inside. Dead by apparent suicide. Destroyed clothes matching the description of the missing female’s last-worn found in trunk. Pictures of missing woman scattered around car. Syringes and bottle of ketamine found in glove box.

Cooper looks up, fury darkening his face. “Cuff these two and put them in a car.”

Two officers rush to obey the order and march the married couple to separate cars. My mind is reeling. The shop, the wreck, and now Hiller were handed to us on a silver platter. That gnawing feeling is back, and I can’t ignore it this time. “This is too easy,” I tell the group.

“I agree, but we have a problem,” Cooper says. “These guys have to be telling the truth about Hiller. Even if they knew him, he wasn’t driving when the eye doctor was hit. The accident report lists the old man’s name, Dolion Savile. Even if my cops had fucked up the ID in the crash report, there’s no way that old man attacked Birdie.”

“So where does that leave us?” Jackson asks.

“Savile has an accomplice or is covering for someone,” I answer.

Cooper agrees and turns to another officer. “Tear this place apart. I want employment records to check against their stories. See if you can get a driver list from their insurance company.”

The officers split off to do the detective’s bidding, and I follow when Cooper storms off toward the car holding Mr. Dolion Savile. Cooper opens the door and announces, “Dolion Savile, you’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Dr. Horace Tipton and suspected kidnapping.”

Mr. Savile’s mouth hangs open as Cooper Mirandizes him and begins hurling questions into the open door. “Where is Birdie Crenshaw?”

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