Page 22 of Condor’s Vow

Chapter 9

After a crazy few days, Clay was finally getting to speak to Stephanie Clark. There had been complications with her surgery, which had resulted in her staying in intensive care for three days, and only now was she fit enough to interview.

The crime scene techs had found nothing at her home to suggest she was the killer, but her words that they deserved it still rang in his ears. He knew that meant nothing. Admitting her hate for someone or that she was happy they were dead didn’t mean she had killed them, and after seeing her, Clay didn’t like her for the murders.

He and Cruz had spoken at length and agreed that a profile by the behavioral science division would be appropriate. They were sending Rose Sears, a respected and brilliant agent, to help out.

He and Hattie had seen each other every day since the night of her father’s accident, and it had been a turning point for them. Not one he’d have chosen, with someone she loved being hurt, but one he’d take anyway. He knew they’d jumped from dating to boyfriend and girlfriend quickly but he had no regrets, and being with her every day just made the fact that he’d been right about her more certain.

Her dad had come through the surgery like a champ, but he was still incredibly vulnerable to infection and complications. At least now she was getting the support from her brothers that she needed. They were good men but had held back, not wanting to face the changes happening to their father and had allowed Hattie to shoulder all the burden. That shit wouldn’t happen with him around, and he was glad to see they had stepped up.

Parking in what was becoming his usual spot at the hospital, he shot a text to Hattie to see if she could meet for lunch in an hour and then headed for the fifth floor where Stephanie Clark was in custody in a private room. Taking the stairs two at a time, he met Cruz, who was going to conduct the interview with him, and they shook hands.

“How’s Hattie?”

Clay had told Cruz he and Hattie were dating. His friend had been pleased for him, stating meeting Mickie was the single best thing that had happened to him, despite the circumstances and her sister’s death at the hands of her MC boyfriend.

“She’s good, taking some time off work to get everything sorted for when her father leaves the hospital and spending some time with him.” Of course, it didn’t help she’d acquired a new pet in the shape of two-year-old Mr. Chester, a Pitbull Rottweiler cross. Clay had initially been apprehensive but seeing the way the dog followed Hattie everywhere like she held the keys to the universe, made him happy. She was taking him to the Westlands Veterinary Clinic to get chipped now that she’d proved her father had actually bought and paid for him in one of his more lucid moments.

“That’s a lot to sort out, but she has you now right, and Mickie will help out when she can. I know she and Mack are dying to get together with Hattie so they can grill her about you.”

Clay chuckled. “I swear those two could handle any interrogation of a suspect.”

“Oh, yes, they could, but I don’t think there’s anything any of the women in our group couldn’t handle. Between them, they have every major trauma down and still came out fighting.”

“Yeah, they did.”

“Speaking of, shall we get this done?”

Cruz held out his hand for Clay to take the lead and Clay dipped his head to the officer on the door and showed his badge before going into the room.

Stephanie Clark barely looked at him as he came in and although she looked physically better, mentally, she looked wiped out.

“Stephanie, do you remember me? I’m agent East, and this is agent Livingston.”

“I remember you. I’m sorry I shot you.” Her voice was small, and she sounded lost as he shot a look at Cruz.

“How are you feeling?”

Stephanie shrugged, and tears hit her eyes. “Like I wish I had died with my babies.”

Clay didn’t comment on that but made a mental note to make sure the Psych team had evaluated her mental capacity.

“Can you tell me where you were on October thirteenth between nine-thirty and eleven-thirty in the evening?”

Stephanie scrunched up her nose, seeming to think. “Shopping at the Wal-Mart five blocks from me. I don’t sleep well and needed some ladies’ products. I stopped off at the all-night coffee shop on third. I don’t like to be at home at night, it’s too quiet.”

She sniffed, and Clay handed her a tissue from the box by her bed. She took it and blew her nose. “I didn’t kill those people. I know you think I did, but I could never put another mother through what I’m going through.”

“Why did you run and start shooting at agent East and his partner?” Cruz drew her attention, and she started tearing at the tissue.

“I thought that if I shot at you, then you would kill me.”

Clay stepped forward. “You wanted to die?”

Stephanie nodded quickly as a sob escaped. “I was too weak to save my babies, and now I can’t even kill myself because I’m pathetic.”

Clay nodded at Cruz that he’d heard enough for now. The last thing he wanted to do was to add to this woman’s pain if she was, in fact, innocent, which he believed more and more.