“It’s not clear enough,” she whispered searching the face shadowed by the cap and the overhead light. “I’m not sure it’s Fowler.”
“Can you pause the feed?” Reid asked the guard, and he stopped it. “Zoom in closer.”
Expecting the menacing expression to raise the memories of the bank robbery, she held her breath. The face grew larger. She desperately wanted to identify Fowler. To say this man was the same guy who had terrorized her. The same guy from the gas station. From the hallway, but she couldn’t. The picture quality disintegrated as it got larger and the shadowed areas darkened, revealing nothing to help her confirm his identity. She couldn’t be sure. Not at all.
“Is that Fowler?” Wilson asked from behind.
“Could be.” Memories of the bank robbery returned—Fowler standing over her while he spewed terrifying threats. She breathed deeply and studied the video again.
“I can’t be sure.” Shewassure the fear radiating through her own voice scared her.
Reid squeezed her hand. “Let’s review the rest of the tape. Maybe we’ll catch something else that’ll help.”
Wilson narrowed his eyes, but the video started again. Fowler moved offscreen.
“Nothing happens for nearly an hour,” Wilson said. “Go ahead and fast-forward it to the next timestamp we set.”
The security guard advanced the video and started it playing again.
Minutes dragged by with nothing on the screen but a static picture of the rear of her car. With the hood where the bomb had been planted not visible, she didn’t know how this recording was going to help. Finally, the suspect appeared in camera range again and disappeared from view.
“He’s aware of the camera location, and he’s using it to make sure we know he was here.” Reid crouched next to her, staring at the screen. She couldn’t read his expression, but his voice was hard and angry and served to tighten the knot in her stomach.
“Exactly,” Wilson said. “He’s playing with you.”
“Be that as it may.” She spun her chair to face Wilson. “I can’t positively ID him as Norman Fowler.”
Wilson frowned. “Would be good if you could, but it’s not like this video implicates him in the incident.”
“What?” she asked. “What do you mean?”
Reid stood. “He was here, but the video doesn’t actually show him plant the bomb.”
Wilson eyed Reid. “But positive ID added to other evidence we discover could help us make a case against him. And if we had that, I could likely get a protection detail for you.”
She wanted to sigh but controlled herself. “I won’t lie and say it’s him when I don’t know for sure. So what happens now?”
Wilson lifted his chin. “We’re still talking to potential witnesses. If their statements give us a lead or additional evidence is recovered, we’ll pursue it.”
So nothing really. Not yet anyway. “But otherwise you’re done, and Ella and I are on our own?”
“Sorry, Ms. Cash.” Wilson took a step back. “As soon as I have concrete proof that Fowler is behind the incidents threatening you, I’ll apply for a warrant to compel the Creek Water Motel to open their records to us, and then we can check out his room. I have applied for a protective detail, but we’ve yet to have any credible proof that Fowler is stalking you with the intent of harming you.”
Reid drew in a sharp breath but didn’t speak.
“But the bomb,” she said.
“Wasn’t designed to harm you, “ Wilson said quickly. “Or to create physical damage, and we have no evidence that you’re in grave danger. Nor do we have any physical proof Fowler was connected to it. With staffing shortages, it’s possible my request won’t be approved.”
“Unbelievable.” She shook her head. “You hear horror stories in the news about stalkers killing their victims even after the police have been informed, but I never imagined I’d be one of those people.”
Nearing nine p.m. outside Ella’s room, Reid’s phone rang, and he grabbed it before the ringing woke Ella.
“Russ,” he answered as Megan changed her attention to him through the crack in the doorway. “I hope you have good news for me.”
“I do. Chief Gleason is on board with Veritas, and they agreed to help. They’re sending their bomb expert, Trent Ingram. He’ll be here by eight a.m., and Gleason has officers protecting the scene until then.”
“Thatisgood news.” Reid let out a relieved breath.
