Page 59 of I'm Watching You

‘And the note that was attached to the flower box?’ Zack said. ‘What do you know about that?’

Sara glanced at her notes.Lindsay, you are not alone anymore, The Guardian.‘I’ve sent it to a handwriting expert. At first glance, he says the Guardian likes control, as exhibited by the note’s neat block lettering and the deep indention of the letters. He’s going to look at it more and see what he comes up with.’

‘And the paper?’ Zack said.

‘The paper is extremely common and can be found in dozens of card stores.’

Zack kept his voice neutral, trying not to hint at the fear he felt for Lindsay. ‘Lindsay’s never heard of the Guardian and doesn’t know why he’s fixated on her.’

‘What’s her connection to Turner?’ Ayden said.

Zack recapped the facts as Lindsay had told him.

C.C. looked skeptical. ‘I saw Lindsay once in court. It was the trial of a woman accused of shooting her husband. Lindsay testified for the defense about battered victim syndrome. She said that a perfectly sane woman who has been badly battered can snap. On cross the Commonwealth attorney tried to get Lindsay to waver but she didn’t. Lindsay is one intense woman.’

‘Lindsayisintense.’ Zack hesitated, dreading what he needed to say next.

‘There’s something we all should know about Lindsay,isn’t there,’ Warwick said. ‘You hinted in the car yesterday that there was domestic abuse in her home when she was growing up.’

Warwick was right. Everyone did need to know about Lindsay’s past.

Zack folded his fingers together. ‘Lindsay had a complicated childhood.’ All gazes zeroed in on him. He felt disloyal even though the Department of Social Services had done a background check on her and knew her history. ‘She’s from Ashland, about twenty miles north.’

‘I thought she came from California,’ C.C. said. ‘I remember talking to her aboutUSCat some department Christmas party. She led me to believe she was from California.’

Zack nodded. ‘She did go to school out there but she’s from here.’

‘So why lead everyone to believe she’s from the West?’ Ayden said.

He drew in a deep breath. ‘Her mother was abused by her father for years, but it’s worse than that. Her mother was murdered by her father. It was twelve years ago. Lindsay was seventeen. And her last name was Hines then.’ A hush fell over the room.

C.C. and Vega glanced at each other and Warwick sat back in his chair, his shock evident.

Ayden leaned forward. ‘Shit. I remember that case. The Hanover sheriff was a friend of mine. We talked about it a lot, because the murder scene was so bloody. It really shook him up.’

‘Lindsay’s father beat her mother to death with a hammer,’ Zack said. ‘Lindsay found her mother.’

No one spoke for several seconds.

‘When did Lindsay change her name?’ Warwick finally asked.

‘When she turned eighteen,’ Zack said. ‘O’Neil is her mother’s maiden name.’

‘For those of us who didn’t live here then, what else can you tell us about the case?’ Vega said.

Zack longed for a cigarette. ‘I don’t know much more than that. I only know what Lindsay told me. I’d like to send a teletype to the Hanover sheriff’s office and request the murder file. I don’t know if the details are relevant but they could be.’

Ayden nodded. ‘Do it.’

‘What happened to her after her parents died?’ Warwick asked.

‘She told me she moved to California. For a while she lived in shelters and in her car. Eventually, a social worker got involved with her and encouraged her to get her high school diploma. This woman also helped her earn a scholarship to the University of California.’

Vega frowned. ‘No disrespect, Zack, but the more I hear about this the more I worry about how impartial you can be. Lindsay is your wife. Are you the guy who should be looking into this murder?’

Ayden tented his fingers. ‘Vega, we’ve already taken care of that. Warwick is taking the lead and Kier is backing him up. But I want everyone working this case.’

Zack hid his satisfaction.

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