Fatal Flaw Read online

“You don’t know that.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I know you think you’re looking out for me and all that, but let it go, okay? I’m doing what I want to do, and that’s the end of it.”

  “I still say you need to talk to your mother.”

  “And I will. When I’m good and ready, and not one second before.”

  “It’s not fair for you to make her worry.”

  “I sent her a text this morning to let her know I’m busy, and I’ll call her when I can.”

  That was something, anyway. “Good.”

  “Now, can we drop it?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  They passed the rest of the ride in unusual and uncomfortable silence. As they’d requested, Jed Trainer was waiting for them outside the house. He was leaning against his silver sedan staring at the house when they pulled up. Crime scene detectives had finished their work, but the yard was still roped off with yellow police tape.

  As Sam and Freddie approached him, Trainer stood up straight. He looked like he hadn’t slept a wink, and yesterday’s polished exterior had been replaced by an old T-shirt and jeans. His face was unshaven and his hair stood on end. Judging by his appearance he was taking the death of his wife hard.

  “Thank you for meeting us,” Sam said.

  “Anything it takes to find out who did this to Crystal.”

  “How are the kids doing?” Freddie asked. The question was one she expected from old Freddie, so it was a relief to hear him ask it.

  “Horrible. They were up crying all night. It’s a nightmare.”

  “We’re sorry for your loss,” Sam said. She always felt awkward speaking to the family members of murder victims. Nothing she could say would ever be enough. “Do you have tools in the house?”

  He seemed surprised by the question. “The usual stuff.”

  “Can you show us?”

  “Sure,” he said, seeming confused. “Right this way.”

  He led them to a basement work area with a pegboard boasting a variety of screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. A hammer was held up by two hooks, one on either side of the handle.

  Sam nodded to Freddie, who pulled on latex gloves and put the hammer into an evidence bag. “Take the sledgehammer too,” she said.

  “I don’t understand,” Jed said. “Why are you taking them?”

  “The medical examiner has determined that your wife died of a single hit to the back of the head, administered by a flat-surfaced instrument, such as a hammer. We’ll be asking the lab to determine whether either of these hammers were used in the attack.”

  He slumped against the bench. “Someone smacked her in the back of the head with a hammer. Why?”

  “That’s what we’d like to know. While we’re here, could you take another look to make sure none of the valuables are missing? Cash, jewelry, silver if you have it. That kind of stuff.”

  “I did that yesterday with the crime scene detectives, but I’ll look again.”

  “We’d appreciate that.”

  They accompanied him through the house as he investigated Mrs. Trainer’s jewelry box where he pointed to her wedding rings. “Would it be possible,” he said, his voice catching, “to have her buried with her wedding ring? I’d like to save her engagement ring for my son to give his wife someday.”

  “Go ahead and take it,” Sam said, touched by his overwhelming grief. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have screwed up a marriage so royally and be on the road to fixing the damage only to lose a spouse to murder. As a newlywed, the idea of such a staggering loss sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Are you all right?” Freddie asked her as they followed Jed to the office downstairs.

  “I’m fine.”

  When Jed had confirmed that nothing of any value had been taken, they let him go back to his kids, whom he’d left with his parents. They asked him to stay local and to keep them apprised of the funeral plans.

  “I feel so bad for them,” Freddie said, sounding more like the Freddie Sam knew so well.

  “I do too.”

  “Those poor kids will never be the same.”

  “No kidding.”

  Their next stop was Alice Deal Middle School where the grief-stricken principal, Mrs. Nesbitt, confirmed that Crystal Trainer had been a tireless volunteer and a well-loved member of the school community.

  “Did she have issues with anyone that you know of?” Sam asked.

  “She was very well liked by the other parents and the faculty. We all appreciated how much she did to raise extra money for the school. It was her idea that each classroom sponsor a theme basket to raffle off during our winter festival. That fund-raiser brought in more revenue than anything we’ve ever done. I can’t imagine what we’ll do without her.”

  “Is it possible,” Freddie said, “that another parent was put out by Mrs. Trainer’s success as a volunteer?”

  Mrs. Nesbitt thought about that for a moment. “I can’t think of anyone who’d be jealous. We’re all working toward the same goal of making sure the kids have what they need, especially in the last few years during the economic downturn. A lot of our families were adversely affected, and volunteers like Mrs. Trainer were indispensable to us.”

  Sam left her card with Mrs. Nesbitt in case she thought of anyone who might’ve had a problem with the oh-so-perfect Crystal Trainer.

  “Do you know anyone,” Sam asked Freddie on the way back to the car, “who’s as universally well liked as this woman was?”

  “Other than yourself, of course.” He smirked and drew a laugh from Sam. “I’d have to say only my mother would qualify. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t adore her.”

  “Except for you at the moment.”

  That made him smile, as she’d hoped it would. “What’s next?”

  “I want to talk to Donna Kasperian,” Sam said. “Jed listed her as Crystal’s best friend.”

  They drove to the address that was several blocks from the Trainers’ home. A number of cars were parked in the Kasperians’ driveway. An older woman was approaching the door carrying a covered plate when Sam and Freddie pulled up to the curb.

  “Ugh,” Sam said. “Grief central. I hate this.”

  “I do too. Let’s get it over with.”

  When a man answered the door, they flashed their badges.

  “Mr. Kasperian?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Lieutenant Holland. This is my partner, Detective Cruz. We’d like to have a word with Mrs. Kasperian.”

  “She’s not well at the moment. Would it be possible to do this another time?”

  “I’m sorry,” Sam said, “but this is a murder investigation. We really need to speak to her.”

  “Come in.” He stepped aside to admit them and showed them into a nicely furnished living room. “I’ll get her.”

  A low murmur of voices from another room was the only sound in the otherwise quiet house. The man who’d admitted them returned with his arm around a woman who was clearly relying on him to hold her up. She had short blond hair and green eyes that were red from crying.

  “Mrs. Kasperian,” Sam said, “I’m Lieutenant Holland—”

  “I know who you are. Crystal and I watched the coverage of your wedding together.”

  “Oh, I, um, thank you. This is my partner, Detective Cruz. We’re sorry to intrude during this difficult time.”

  “Who could’ve done this?” Donna asked, her eyes swimming with tears.

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out. Could we sit for a moment?”

  “Yes, of course.” She and her husband took one sofa while Sam and Freddie perched on the other.

  “When was the last time you spoke with Mrs. Trainer?”

  “Yesterday morning. It was her day ‘off’ with no outside commitments. She had a hair appointment and then she was going to yoga. We’d talked about taking a walk after dinner, but…”

  “And you’d been friends for some time?”

  “Sinc
e the girls were in kindergarten. Our Melanie is in Nicole’s class. We volunteered together. Our families became friends. It’s just so hard to believe.”

  “Can you think of anyone who might’ve wished to harm her?”

  “No! She didn’t have an enemy in the world!”

  “Did she ever mention problems with people from before you knew her?”

  Donna shook her head. “Never.”

  “Would she have told you? If something had happened in the past?”

  “In more than ten years of friendship, there was no subject we didn’t cover.” She tried but failed to stifle a sob, and her husband patted her knee with his free hand. “She was the best friend everyone wished they had.”

  “You were aware then of the problems in her marriage?”

  Donna seemed to sag a bit, and her husband scowled. “We were so shocked when we heard about Jed’s affair,” she said. “Even all this time later, we still can’t believe it. They had a marriage others envied. You know the type—still affectionate with each other even after a decade of marriage. It was a total shock to everyone who knew them.”

  “They were working to reconcile?”

  “They’d been going to counseling for quite some time.”

  “How was that going?”

  “Depends on what day it was. On one day she’d say they were getting back together and then on the next she would wonder how she could ever trust him again. It was a roller-coaster ride.”

  “Did he seem genuinely committed to putting the marriage back on track?”

  “Yes,” Donna said softly. “He was extremely contrite and willing to do whatever she asked of him. In fact, just the other day, I told her it might be time to give him a break or cut him loose. It was sucking the life out of her.”

  “He knew he’d screwed up,” Mr. Kasperian interjected. “He was determined to do whatever it took to fix it.”

  “Was there any chance she’d told him their marriage was over?”

  The couple exchanged glances. “If she did,” Donna said, “she didn’t tell me she planned to do that, and she would have. We would’ve talked about it first.”

  Sam stood, and Freddie followed her lead. “Thank you for your time. We really appreciate you speaking with us.”

  “Find the person who did this to her. Please.”

  “We’re doing our best.” When they were outside, Sam turned to Freddie. “We need to talk to their marriage counselor.”

  “You read my mind, Lieutenant.”

  The offices of Dr. Taylor Kingsley were located in a brick building on Connecticut Avenue. After asking Jed Trainer to call ahead and give consent for her to speak with them, Sam and Freddie caught her between patients.

  Tall with shoulder-length brown hair and hazel eyes, the doctor stood to greet them with handshakes.

  “You spoke to Mr. Trainer?” Sam asked.

  She nodded. “I’m still in shock over this whole thing. Ever since I saw the news on TV last night, I’ve been reeling. She was such a lovely person.”

  “So we’ve heard. What can you tell us about their sessions with you?”

  “Since I have his permission, I can tell you they were working very hard to put the pieces of their marriage back together. She’d been terribly hurt and disappointed by his infidelity, and he was ashamed, contrite. They were making real progress.”

  “One of her friends called it a roller-coaster ride.”

  The doctor thought about that for a second. “That’s an apt description. She went back and forth with the trust issues. That was the major sticking point for her—whether she’d be able to trust him to be faithful in the future if she allowed him back into her life. They still had a long way to go, but as I said, they were definitely getting there.” She paused before she added, “He’s not a suspect, is he?”

  “Not at this time, but we haven’t completely ruled out anyone.”

  “Judging from what I saw in here, he was very devoted to her. Other than one short-lived affair, he’d been faithful.”

  “Or so he said.” Sam was unable to keep a hint of sarcasm from infecting her tone.

  “Or so he said,” the doctor acknowledged.

  “Did she ever talk about anyone from her past who she might’ve had a problem with?”

  “After I heard the news last night, I reread all my notes in their file because I figured you’d want to speak to me eventually. I found no references to problems with anyone other than her husband.”

  Sam handed her a business card. “Please call if you think of anything else that might aid in our investigation.”

  On the way back to the car, Sam called Celia to check in. “Any change?”

  “His fever has broken,” Celia said, sounding euphoric.

  Sam had to stop walking for a second as relief flooded through her. “That’s great news.”

  “He’s not out of the woods yet. Not by a long stretch, but it’s a good sign.”

  “Yes,” Sam said. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “No problem, honey. You’re where he’d want you to be.”

  “Good news?” Freddie asked when she ended the call with her stepmother.

  “His fever has broken.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  “I’ll meet you at the car in a minute, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  After he walked away, Sam called Nick’s cell.

  “Hey, babe, what’s up?” When she didn’t answer, he said, “Sam?”

  “I’m here.”

  “What is it, honey?”

  “My dad’s fever broke.”

  Nick let out a low whistle. “That’s terrific news. What a relief.”

  “He’s got a long way to go, but it’s a good sign.”

  “Yes, it is. Are you okay?”

  “I’m just… I’m afraid to get my hopes up, you know?”

  “I can understand that, but this is a good sign. It’s probably okay to feel a little optimistic now.”

  “I suppose.”

  “How’s the case going?”

  “It’s going nowhere fast, just like the Carl’s case. I’ve yet to hear anyone utter a bad word about any of our victims.”

  “Did you figure out how you know her?”

  “Nope. It’s hovering on the periphery.”

  “I hate when that happens.”

  Sam laughed. “Sure, like it ever happens to you who never forgets a face or a name.”

  “Now that is just not true.”

  “Sure, Senator. Whatever you say.”

  “Speaking of the Senate, I’ve got to go vote on the new energy bill. Will you be okay?”

  “I’m much better now that I’ve talked to you.”

  “Good. I’ll see you tonight when I get home from Richmond with Scotty.”

  “Can’t wait to see him—and you.”

  “Be careful out there today.”

  “Always am. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Chapter 17

  Jeannie and Will found Caleb Fitzgerald at work at a small accounting firm on Massachusetts Avenue.

  “I don’t have much time,” he said when he joined them in the conference room. “Tax season.”

  He looked much as Jeannie suspected his slain brother would’ve looked had he lived to adulthood. Tall with a muscular build, short brown hair and warm brown eyes, Caleb studied them with a wary edge, as if he was afraid of what they were there to tell him.

  “I heard you talked to my parents yesterday. What’s with the renewed interest in my brother’s case? We haven’t heard a word from the MPD in years, and now suddenly, twice in two days?”

  “Our lieutenant asked us to take a fresh look at the case,” Jeannie said.

  “Look, we appreciate the interest and the attention, but I can’t deal with watching my parents get their hopes up again only to see them dashed when nothing comes of it.”

  “Could we ask you about your brother Cameron?” she said.

/>   Caleb went rigidly still. “What about him?”

  “When was the last time you spoke to him?”

  “I don’t know. A month ago maybe.”

  “So you’re not close?”

  “Not particularly. He has his life. I have mine.”

  “You were both with Tyler the night he was abducted?”

  Caleb’s face tightened with tension and a muscle ticked in his cheek. He gave a short nod in reply to the question.

  “What do you remember from that night?”

  “I don’t like to think about it. I try not to remember anything.”

  “If you could just tell us the sequence of events, from the time the three of you left your home until the moment you realized Tyler was missing—”

  “I’ve given that statement a hundred times since it happened. I don’t see the need to do it again.”

  “We’re taking a fresh look,” Will said. “We might hear something the others missed.”

  “Mr. Fitzgerald,” Jeannie said, inflicting her tone with compassion. “I know it’s a terribly difficult thing to talk about—”

  “How would you know?” His eyes flashed with anger and despair. “Every time I think I’ve managed to move past it, something happens to rip open the wound again. It just goes on and on. It doesn’t end. We never get any peace.”

  “I’m so sorry to be reopening that wound,” Jeannie said. “It’s not my intention to cause you more pain. If we could finally close this case, maybe then your family can find some peace.”

  Caleb seemed to be considering that. He dropped into a chair and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Propping his head on his hands, he was quiet for so long Jeannie wondered if he was going to give them what they’d come for.

  “My parents wanted me and Cam to take Tyler to the playground,” he finally said.

  Jeannie glanced at Will.

  He nodded, seeming encouraged, and gestured for her to take the lead.

  “He’d been stuck inside all day because it’d been raining. I didn’t mind taking him, but Cam was pissed.”

  “How come?” Jeannie asked. It was all coming back to her—the rhythm of the interview, the flow of the questions. She had to admit it felt good to be back in the groove.

  “He had a girlfriend, and he was supposed to meet her, but my parents said he couldn’t go out until he spent some time with Tyler.”