Cold Spite (Cold Justice: Most Wanted #5)

Chapter 54

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

J oseph opened the front door to the same deputy he’d spoken with two days ago at the garage. This time the lawman wasn’t alone. A female deputy stood off to the side of the grand front porch looking wary.

She was right to be cautious. He could kill her before she even drew her weapon, but the same could be said of most people with the amount of training he had.

“Good morning, Deputy Herbert.” He made sure to show his hands were empty as he leaned against the frame. “You working part time as a parole officer now? Checking my whereabouts?”

“No, sir. I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news to share.”

Joseph frowned. “What kind of bad news?”

The deputy cleared his throat. “I believe your daughter is here with you?”

“Yes, sir. She’s in bed. I have permission. Call her mama to check if you want.” He managed to sound outraged and a little scared too. Scared of losing his kid.

He wasn’t giving her back. She was his now.

“No, sir, it ain’t that.” The man cleared his throat again. “Is your daughter around?”

Joseph looked over his shoulder and then back. “Like I said, she’s asleep. It took her a little while to settle down last night on account of it being a new place. Well, she was here as a baby, but she doesn’t remember that.” He stepped out onto the porch and closed the door keeping his voice low. “What’s up? Is it the garage? Was there a break-in?”

“No, sir.” The deputy’s young face was creased with sincerity. “Your ex-wife was involved in a shooting last night.”

Joseph sagged onto the front swing chair. “ Nicole ? Is she all right?”

“I’m afraid not.” Deputy Herbert placed his hands on his heavy equipment belt. “Unfortunately, Mrs. Zimmerman died from her injuries.”

Joseph let his mouth drop open and then covered his face with both hands. “I don’t believe it. I just texted with her yesterday.”

He’d texted her that Melody had arrived safely. She hadn’t texted back.

“Oh, God. Who’s going to tell little Melody? Who’s going to tell my daughter that her mother is gone?”

“Deputy Chatel can help you with that.” The deputy looked uncomfortable but happily passed the responsibility on to his partner even though it was part of the job—imparting bad news.

Joseph held the female deputy’s gaze. “I’d appreciate that greatly because I don’t think I could do it without breaking down. Oh, my Lord. If Melody hadn’t come to stay here, she could have been shot too. Was it a drive by?”

The deputies exchanged a look.

Joseph frowned. “You don’t suspect me, do you?” He blinked as if the thought had just occurred to him. “Me and Virgil went to the airport last evening to pick up Melody. Visited my parole officer in the afternoon like I told you I was gonna. I have witnesses for most of the day.”

He’d made sure of it.

“We already done checked with Jim Jenkins. We know you were here.” Hebert looked uncomfortable now. “Seattle PD requested it. I don’t see how you could be in two places at once. ”

Joseph let his shoulders sag with relief. He knew Seattle cops would be looking to exclude him and make sure he had no involvement in Nicole’s death. As long as his partner in crime didn’t get caught, they’d never prove it. It was all part of the plan. The cops were going to do the work to clear him this time. They were going to be his defense against a DA even bothering to press charges.

“Thing is,” Deputy Herbert cleared his throat, “the stepfather is insisting Melody catch the first flight back home.”

“Home?” Joseph tucked his chin in and rose to his feet, shaking his head. “That’s not going to happen. Firstly,” he raised one finger, “Nicole and I share joint custody of our daughter upon my release. That was the only condition I set on our divorce. I was being polite by giving her a say in what happened because I didn’t want to upset Melody unnecessarily. Secondly, Mr. Zimmerman has no legal authority over my daughter. He never adopted my child. No judge ever granted him any parental rights. He simply married Melody’s mother.”

The deputies exchanged another worried look as if scared he was going to turn violent.

“I can show you all the legal paperwork, although it’ll take a few minutes to find it.” On the top shelf of the safe in the study.

Again, the deputies exchanged a glance, but they finally relaxed a little. As if they believed him not to be a threat.

Letting their guard down.

His burner cell rang, and he checked the screen. What does that sonofabitch want now?

“Come inside. I’ll put on coffee. We have donuts.” Bought specially. “I’ll find the documents, and after you’ve verified the legal information, I’ll wake Melody, and you can tell her about her mother.”

Because he didn’t want that being her first real memory of their life together. Let the boys in blue take the hit. He’d be there to pick up the pieces.