The Other Daniel - A Camille Grisham Novella by John Hardy Bell

Author:John Hardy Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery detective, novella new release, suspense serial killers, suspense action empowerment women, novella mystery, mystery and crime short stories, mystery and crime series, bargain mysteries, mystery and suspense series

CHAPTER FOUR

CLOSING THE DEAL

The red and white license plate of the Toyota Camry parked in her father’s driveway indicated that the car was a rental. Her first thought when she received the call was that Agent Crawley had made a surprise trip in an effort to expedite her decision. She had dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. Now, as she stared at the rental car, she couldn’t help but wonder.

If Crawley had made the long trip here unannounced, it meant that the situation with the copycat was worse than Camille realized. It also meant that she would have to look him in the eye to tell him no when he asked for her help; something she knew for a fact that she wouldn’t be able to do.

Damn it.

Seeing no need to continue her uphill battle against the inevitable, Camille quickly made her way up the driveway and into her father’s open front door, not giving herself any time to think about what she would say to Crawley or what he would say to her.

“Just go in there, accept your Bureau visitor’s badge, and get it all over with,” she muttered to herself, her quiet tone laced with resignation.

She knocked on the screen door as she walked through it. “I’m here dad,” she announced before she saw anyone. “I would have been here sooner but I had an unfortunate run-in with…” She froze at the sight of the woman sitting on the couch. “Oh, hello.”

The woman’s heavy eyes lit up as she stood. “Hello.”

Camille looked at her father, suddenly confused. “Hey dad.”

“Hi Camille,” Paul Grisham said, rising to his feet. He looked flustered.

“Your phone call sounded urgent. What’s going on?”

Her eyes drifted back to the woman. The tall, slender brunette was dressed in a beige Anne Klein business suit. Camille had the same suit hanging in her closet; a holdover from her Bureau days. But this woman wore it much better. A matching clutch was tucked tightly under her arm, as if she was wary of putting it down. Were it not for the purse, Camille would have immediately tagged her as FBI. But the designer accessory, along with her nervous demeanor, made it clear that she was something else.

Paul approached his daughter while the woman stood frozen. His six-foot-three-inch frame momentarily blocked her from Camille’s view.

He gave her a light hug. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

“Based on your tone I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.” She looked past her father to the woman, who was holding her purse even tighter now.”

“I suppose an introduction is in order,” Paul said as he stepped aside. “Camille, this is Meredith Park. Ms. Park, this is my daughter Camille.”

Despite her obvious nerves, Meredith was quick to extend her hand. “Hello.”

“Hello, Meredith. I understand you’re here to see me.” Camille’s handshake was cautious.

“I am.”

“Ms. Park arrived this morning from New York,” Paul added.

“Do we know each other?” Camille asked with genuine confusion.

“We’ve never met before. But you may have met someone close to me.

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