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She entered the pin and navigated into his email app. A moment later, she showed me the screen and raised her eyebrows meaningfully. I frowned. The email was exactly as he’d said, but it was the sender’s email address that turned me cold. [email protected].
I caught Mertens’s gaze. “I want Mendel brought in immediately. Get Patton to do it. I need you to track the IP address the email was sent from.”
“Yes, sir.” She left the room, and I followed close behind.
“So you believe me?” Weich called after us.
I nodded once before locking the interview room door. I dialed Weich’s therapist’s phone number and listened to it ring. At this time of evening, he’d probably left work, but hopefully he’d still have his phone on. The call rang out once and I tried again. This time, he answered.
“Dr. Wong speaking.”
“Dr. Wong, this is Police Sergeant Nathan Braddock. I’m calling about a client of yours. Darrel Weich.”
“What’s going on?” His tone had become guarded.
“Mr. Weich is assisting us with a case. We need to know his state of mind with regard to Grace Smith, the author who took a restraining order out against him.”
“Do you have a warrant?” the doctor asked.
“No, but your client suggested we speak with you.”
“I’ll need to hear that from him.”
I exhaled slowly, clinging to the frayed ends of my temper. Of course Dr. Wong would need to hear it from Weich himself. “Just a minute. I’ll put him on.”
Half an hour later, we had Ezra Mendel in the interview room adjoining Darrel Weich’s, and Dr. Wong had confirmed that he thought Weich was likely telling the truth and that he didn’t pose a threat to anyone. Just as I prepared to enter Mendel’s room, this time with Patton in support, Mehrtens raced down the hall toward us.
“Sarge,” she exclaimed. “I thought you’d want to know before you start the interview. The email Darrel Weich received originated from an IP address in Destiny Falls.” She paused, then added, “Somewhere in the block of houses where Grace lives.”
“So it might have come from her own property,” I clarified.
Mehrtens nodded. “Yes.”
“Excellent work.” If the email had originated from Grace’s property, that must mean it had been Ezra behind everything all along. Thank god we already had him in custody, where he couldn’t cause Grace any more distress. Only two questions remained. Why had he done it, and was he working alone?
53
GRACE
When I finally gave up onsleep and went in search of coffee, Nate still hadn’t returned. Kennedy was dozing on the sofa with Daisy and Duke curled around each other on the floor beside her. She must have moved from the spare bed when Liam left for his shift at the fire station. I padded barefoot to the kitchen and made two mugs of coffee, then searched the cupboards and the fridge for ingredients to make scrambled eggs. I whipped up a batch and was plating them when Kennedy joined me, wiping her bleary eyes.
“Sorry if I woke you,” I said. “I couldn’t sleep, and I was going crazy in bed. I needed to get up and do something.”
“Trust me, I get it.” She scanned the counter. “Coffee?”
“Here.” I handed her a mug.
She inhaled the steam. “Mm. I need this.”
“Didn’t sleep very well either?”
She pulled a face. “This situation brings back a lot of memories. I’m just glad they got Ezra locked up before he did any serious damage.”
“Me too.” I was lucky. Kennedy’s stalker hadn’t been captured until after he’d drugged, kidnapped, and shot her. While I was shaken, I’d been relieved when Nate had called to say the email to Darrel Weich looked to have come from Ezra. It was hard to believe the guy I’d thought of as strange but harmless was to blame, but I was grateful to know I’d soon be able to put this whole mess behind me.
“I’m sorry if it’s stirred up too much for you.” I’d been selfish, wanting her near me because she’d understand how I felt. I hadn’t fully considered how it might impact on her.
“Hey, none of that.” She put her mug down and pulled me into a fierce hug. “I’m exactly where and with whom I want to be.”
