Chapter Thirteen
Kate was in shock when it became abundantly clear that the guy arrested for her attempted attack that morning didn’t just randomly wait to attack a woman, he was specifically targeting Kate. He would be high on their list to interview anyway because of his placement on Linda Miles' contact list but after this attempted attack he was moved to the top.
Megan stood there, not sure what was going on while Kate dialed Sean’s number.
Sean answered, “Hello, what’s going on?”
Kate replied, “My attacker from this morning was not just a random attacker, he is also on Linda Miles contact list. It was a planned hit; he was coming after me because I am working the murder case. He wasn’t going to assault me, he was going to kill me.”
Sean said, “Holy crap Kate. If that is true, you may still be in danger. We need to park a black and white in front of your house for a while.”
Kate replied, “I will be fine but I need to put Megan somewhere safe.”
Megan had heard everything that transpired and her attitude shifted. She wasn’t angry anymore, anger had been replaced by fear. She spoke up on her own behalf.
Megan said, “I am not going anywhere, I am staying wherever you are.”
Kate responded to Megan’s outburst, “This is not up for debate. We are not operating as a democracy at this point. I am a dictator and I set the rules and make the decisions. I am going to put you somewhere safe. Go pack a bag.”
Sean asked, “Where are you going to take her?”
Kate replied, “I am not sure, I need to make some phone calls. I do know we need to have a chat with Walter tomorrow.”
Kate picked up the phone and called Addison’s father Tom. When Tom answered, Kate said, “Mr. O’Brien, this is Kate, Kate Murphy.”
Tom replied, “Oh yes, I just saw you on television.”
Kate responded, “You can’t believe what you hear on TV. But that incident looks to be related to a murder case I am working on right now. I need Megan to stay somewhere safe while we iron out the problems we have with this case.”
Tom replied, “She is welcome to stay here as long as needed.”
Kate went to tell Megan again she needed to pack for a few days. That of course met with some resistance.
Megan said, “I am staying with you, whatever is going on, I can help.”
Kate replied, “Your friend needs your help right now more than I do, I don’t have time to argue. You can pack or wear what I pack for you but you are going to your friend’s house.”
Kate made the quick trip to Addison’s house and Kate waited for Megan to get completely inside the house. She hadn’t stopped thinking about the possibility her attack was planned and possibly even paid for. They had a lot of questions to ask Walter Sims. Kate wouldn’t talk to him tonight but she would talk to him first thing in the morning.
Kate called Sean as soon as Megan was safe. She said, “Megan is safe now. Do you want to meet for a drink? I am not going to be able to sleep tonight.”
Sean asked, “Do you want to go to the “Pig”?
Kate replied, “That sounds pretty good. I could probably eat something too.”
Sean said, “I will meet you in five.”
Kate asked, “This isn’t going to cause any trouble for you with what’s her name?”
Sean replied, “You mean Haley?”
Kate said, “Yeah, Haley, I know her name. I am just a little nervous tonight since I learned there may be a plan to kill me.”
Kate was already out on the street and arrived first. Sean had to put some shoes on first before leaving. She waited in the parking lot for Sean and they walked into the Squealing Pig together. Kate could tell by the glances she got that people here had seen the news story about her almost attack.
Kate and Sean ordered nachos and a Jameson on the rocks each. When their order arrived at the table, the waitress wouldn’t take their money. She said, “My boss said your order is on the house.”
Sean asked, “Do you really think your foiled attack was a setup and not just a coincidence?”
Kate replied, “I don’t know anything for sure. I have been jogging that park for years and nothing even close has happened, not even a dog attack. Right after I start investigating a murder case I get a foiled attack from a person in the victim’s contact list. That is a lot of coincidence.”
While Kate and Sean were talking about possibilities, Kate noticed people whispering in corners, obviously talking about her. She also witnessed new people coming into the restaurant and joining the group at that table.
She told Sean, “I think I am being talked about in the back corner.”
Sean replied, “I am not surprised, a lot of people saw your interview on the news.”
While they were talking one of the ladies from the group approached Kate and asked, “I am sorry to bother you but aren’t you the detective who had an attack attempted this morning?”
Kate at least acted humble and replied, “Yes I am the one, I was never in any real danger. I saw him before I ever got to the spot where he was hiding. I called for the car that showed up and kept me from splattering his brains all over the park trail. It was a good thing, it would have cost the taxpayers to have that trail cleaned.”
When Kate was telling her story she gestured to her shoulder holster and the Glock it contained. The woman was momentarily speechless. She had nothing left to say. She turned and walked back to the corner table but the mood at that table seemed to have changed and there were no longer any whispers or sounds of any kind coming from the area.
Kate and Sean went back to their conversation.
Kate asked, “How did you get away? I am sure Haley wasn’t all that pleased when you came out to meet me.”
Sean replied, “She saw the news report about your attack and when you called about the name on the list and she heard me saying it was a planned attack, she showed some real signs of sympathy. I told her you were taking your daughter to a safe place and I was going to help you.”
Kate said, “That worked? We have a dead body at night and she bitches for a week but you helping me take my daughter to a safe place gets nothing?”
Sean answered, “That is her logic. I don’t always understand it and it keeps me guessing.”
Kate said, “Look! I just needed to let off some steam after I found my attacker on our victim’s contact list. I am okay now, you can go back to Haley and I will go home and get some sleep.”
Sean said, “I can do that and we can talk to Walter in the morning. I can arrange for a black and white to park out in front of your house.”
Kate replied, “That isn’t necessary. I have an alarm system, I am a light sleeper and I keep company with a Glock nineteen every night.”
Sean replied, “Oh you keep company with a Glock do you, isn’t that lonely?”
Kate said, “Well he is pretty quiet, but he knows how to make a point when needed.”
Sean stood and reached for his wallet but Kate grabbed it first.
She said, “They said our order was on the house, but I should leave a tip. I am the senior member of this team and I am the reason we met here. I will get the check if there is one and leave the cash.”
Kate left cash on the table and handed a debit card to the waitress who waited on them. The waitress handed it back to her and said, “This has been taken care of.” Sean said goodbye and walked back out to his car. The waitress pushed a newspaper in front of Kate with the story about her attack.
She asked, “Would you sign this for me?”
Kate didn’t make a fuss, she just signed above the story and walked out to her car. She was a lot more cautious now than ever before and she was normally cautious anyway. She scrutinized every shadow she thought she saw move. She kept telling herself that she needed to rest and she would be fine. She kept an eye on everything. If someone followed her for a long time she was suspicious. She made it home. She locked the doors and set the alarm. Her Glock was on the nightstand right by her bed.