Debby Giusti - The Colonel's Daughter

“Has he been to Mrs. Hughes’s home previously?” Jamison asked.

Mrs. Logan nodded. “Yes, of course. Yolanda entertains often.”

“Mr. Yates lives on post?”

“In Freemont. Greg has a son from a previous marriage, but I believe he’s in college. No telling who else knew about the potluck. Yolanda probably shared the information with some of her neighbors. She scrapbooks with a group of women in her housing area. Those wives might have known.”

“Had she mentioned anyone acting strangely in the neighborhood? Or had she reconnected with anyone from her past recently?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Is she on Facebook or Twitter?”

“Yolanda emailed her husband and kept up with the brigade news on our wives’ loop. She never mentioned being on any social media sites.”

“How about her marriage?” Jamison glanced at both women. “Were there problems?”

Michele forced a sad smile. “They seemed to be the perfect couple. Devoted to each other and to their children.”

“Any other men in her life? An old friend?”

Mrs. Logan held up her hand. “You can stop that line of questioning, Jamison. Yolanda was a devoted wife. She adored her husband. I’ll vouch for their love and their marriage.”

“What about Greg Yates, the major’s husband? Were he and Mrs. Hughes friendly?”

“Friends but that’s all.”

“And his marriage?”

Mrs. Logan dropped her gaze and thought for a moment before she spoke. “Deployments are tough, Jamison. There’s been some talk, but only that.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning Shirley and Greg plan to separate once she returns home with the unit.”

“How’s Mr. Yates handling the situation?”

“In my opinion, he’s in denial.”

“And Major Yates?”

“Stanley’s said she seems withdrawn.”

Jamison made note of the information. “Major Yates asked for the separation?”

“Evidently Shirley told Greg she was leaving him. He suggested they go through a period of separation first.” Mrs. Logan pursed her lips momentarily. “A few wives thought Shirley was interested in someone else.”

“Someone in the brigade?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could she be involved with Major Hughes?”

Mrs. Logan’s eyes widened in protest. “Absolutely not.”

“Is there anything about Major Hughes that seems questionable, ma’am? As far as you know, does he get along with the other officers in the brigade? Is there anyone who might hold a grudge against him?”

“My husband has always given Curtis high praise. He went to Iraq with Stanley, when my husband commanded his battalion some years ago. Stanley was thrilled when Curtis was assigned to the First of the Fifth shortly before the brigade deployed to Afghanistan.”

Jamison turned to Michele. “You’ve known Major and Mrs. Hughes since he worked for your father in the battalion?”

She nodded. “I used to babysit their kids. But if you think either Yolanda or her husband were involved in something that led to her death, you’re wrong.”

“I don’t suspect anything at this point.” Although he wanted to question Greg Yates. A spurned husband might retaliate against the man he perceived had stolen his wife. Even though Mrs. Logan vouched for Major Hughes’s fidelity, things happened, especially during a deployment.

Jamison closed his notebook and tucked it into his sports coat pocket. “What about the children, ma’am? Does Major Hughes have family in the area?”

“No one close by. Yolanda and Curtis are both from Missouri. I’m sure Benjamin and Natalie can stay at Erica Grayson’s house until relatives arrive.”

Dawson entered the kitchen. He handed the phone to Jamison. “Lieutenant Colonel Grayson is on the line.”

Jamison quickly explained the reason he had phoned. Grayson relayed the information to the commander. Colonel Logan knew Jamison from when he and Michele had dated, but there would be nothing personal about tonight’s call.

The commander’s voice was husky with emotion when he came on the line. “Was Roberta hurt? What about Michele?”

“They’re okay, sir.” As much as he hated giving Colonel Logan bad news, Jamison had to be forthright. Being deployed half a world away meant the colonel couldn’t protect his wife and daughter. Jamison could relate. Once upon a time, he had wanted to be the man keeping Michele safe.

“The perpetrator was in the house when Mrs. Logan and Michele arrived on the scene. Both women were shoved to the floor, sir. The medics checked them out. At this point, I don’t believe they’re going to need further medical care.”

“Thank God.”

“My sentiments exactly, sir.”

“How did it happen, Agent Steele? Aren’t the military police patrolling the housing areas? I’ve got a brigade of soldiers over here fighting to ensure that our world remains safe. Their families need to be protected, yet a killer gets on post and attacks my S-3’s wife.”

“Sir, we’ll use every resource available to apprehend the perpetrator and bring him to justice.”

“I want more than that. I want your assurance no one else will be injured.”

“That’s our goal, sir.”

The colonel let out a sigh. “I know you’re not to blame, but it’s hard to believe something like this could have occurred.”

Jamison filled him in on the few remaining details he knew, although he didn’t mention his concern about Greg Yates and his wife’s rumored infidelity. That could wait until the CID had more information.

“How’s Roberta taking it?” the colonel asked.

“As well as can be expected, sir. She wants to speak to you.” Jamison glanced at Michele before handing the phone to Mrs. Logan.

“I’m fine, Stanley,” she said immediately.

Jamison left the kitchen. Major Bret Hansen, the medical examiner, had arrived and was examining the body. The major looked up as Jamison entered the living room.

“Appears the perp used neuromuscular incapacitation to subdue her,” Hansen said.

“A stun gun?”

“More than likely.”

“That explains how he got in. Mrs. Hughes probably thought one of the wives had arrived early when she opened the door. The killer incapacitated her with the stun gun and was able to walk in without confrontation.”

“I’ll do the autopsy in the morning and let you know the results.”

“Sounds good, sir.”

Returning to the kitchen, Jamison caught Mrs. Logan’s eye. She raised her hand as if ready to finish her conversation.

“Erica should be able to keep the children until

Yolanda’s sister arrives. Have Curtis call me when he feels like talking.” Mrs. Logan nodded. “I love you, too, dear.”

Handing the phone to Michele, she said, “Your father wants to speak to you.”

Taking the cell from her mother, Michele walked to the corner of the kitchen to talk privately with her father.

Jamison helped Mrs. Logan to her feet.

“I’m sure Stan’s telling our daughter to take me home and keep me there. The man has enough to do without being concerned about my safety.”

“He loves you, ma’am.”

She nodded. “I’m lucky, Jamison. God gave me a wonderful husband and a good daughter, although she has an independent streak that worries me at times.”

“She knows what she wants.”

Mrs. Logan cocked her head and stared up at Jamison. “I’m not so sure about that.”

Hearing noise outside, Jamison headed to the front of the house. Opening the door, he saw three women standing on the sidewalk, their faces twisted in disbelief.

“Excuse me, Jamison. Those are some of the brigade wives.” Mrs. Logan shoved past him onto the porch. Pulling up the crime scene tape, she hurried toward the women.