AN: Next chapter is here, finally! Sorry it took so long. I've got to start working on my resume to try and find a new job because the one I have sucks, and it takes almost all my time away from everything else, including writing. Ugh.
Anyway, please enjoy, and tell me what you think!
Chapter 12
In the Boatshed, Sam and Beth sat watching the big screen as Callen walked into the interrogation room and sat down at the table. Seated across from him, wearing a silver blouse that matched her hair and set off her blue eyes, was Sandie Henderson. She was a little nervous; Callen could see it in the way her burgundy polished nails tapped on the table's scratched surface. Giving her a reassuring smile, he asked, "Would you like something to drink? Water? Coffee?"
She returned the smile and her hand stopped tapping, palm resting flat on the table. "No, thank you."
"I'm a little surprised you came to us. From our last meeting it sounded pretty unlikely."
She tipped her head to the side and shrugged. "That's Tony. He's always been a private person," she explained. "When our dog ran away once, he refused to put up flyers. Said he didn't want people knowing our phone number and nosing 'round the house."
Callen nodded. "How long've you two been married?"
"Thirty years. Michael was our ring-bearer." Her eyes grew misty, and she paused a moment before adding, "He was always so helpful."
"Mrs. Henderson..." Callen began, but she chuckled and reached over to pat his hand.
"Sandie, please." She squeezed his hand once before letting go. "You've always been polite almost to a fault."
Startled, he frowned and asked, "I...you know me?"
Out in the main room, Sam and Beth traded looks of surprise.
Sandie nodded. "Michael's dad took you in for a little while when you were about nine."
He wracked his memory for any shred that could connect him to the woman seated across from him, but nothing came and he had to suppress the urge to pound his fist on the table in frustration.
"I don't remember," he said glumly. "I'm sorry..."
Sandie waved her hand dismissively. "That's okay. You were having a pretty rough time back then. Between Stephen tormenting you and Michael, and being passed around like a worthless object instead of a scared little kid who just needed to feel safe, it's a wonder you made it there as long as you did."
"How long?" He asked, and she looked up at the ceiling as she thought.
"Probably three months. I remember they took you right before Thanksgiving, and I cried because I was cooking the dinner and wanted you to finally celebrate a holiday with a family instead of at some group home." She looked at him wistfully, almost as if she could still see him as he was back then, his blue eyes perpetually frightened and closed off, his arms crossed protectively across his chest. "I'm so glad you grew up. You seem like a good man."
Sam huffed. "If she only knew."
Beth chuckled and playfully slapped his huge bicep. "Be nice. That's your partner."
"Uh huh. One who tries my patience every single day."
She nodded in understanding. "But you wouldn't have it any other way."
He looked at her, completely serious. "Damn straight."
Callen shifted in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest, and Sandie grinned at that. "You said Stephen tormented us. Who's Stephen?"
Her expression darkened as she replied, "Michael's brother."
"So he had a sister and a brother?"
Sandie nodded. "And God knows how Michael managed to grow up fairly normal with those two around. I know it's not right to have favorites in families, that I should love Stephen just as much as Michael, but he always makes it so damn hard!"
"You think he was the one behind this?" Callen asked, but she shook her head.
"I wish. That would be so much easier..." She clapped her hand over her mouth and her cheeks reddened. "I didn't mean...Oh!"
Callen's lips twitched in a smile. "It's okay. I know what you meant."
"Anyway, it wasn't Stephen. He was a devil to you and Michael, but he would never actually want to hurt you. Besides, right now he's in prison in Colorado."
"What for?"
"Drugs. He was selling prescription pills out of his car." She shook her head. "Idiot."
"What about their father?" He asked. "We haven't been able to track him down..."
"He passed away a long time ago. A few months after they...after you left. Tony misses him often; they were always very close."
"So that leaves only Michael's sister," Callen worked out aloud, and Sandie nodded.
"Kendra's always been jealous of Michael. Although she was the oldest, she felt that her father paid more attention to Michael. She thought he was grooming Michael to be successful while neglecting her and Stephen."
"I take it you don't agree."
"Not at all. Michael was just more naturally driven than either of his siblings. Stephen just drifts along wherever he feels like. And Kendra is a follower. Content to let someone else think for her. It's why she ended up with Trevor." At the look of confusion on Callen's face, she elaborated, "Her husband. He's just as lazy as Stephen, but he managed to sweet-talk Kendra into marrying him after only three months." She shivered in disgust.
"What does Trevor do for a living?" He asked, though his eyes darted toward the camera rather than Sandie's face. Beth recognized what he was doing and got Nell on video chat right away.
"What's up?" The analyst asked, tucking her auburn hair behind her ears.
"Callen wants info on a Trevor Wills, Kendra Wills' husband."
"Anything specific?"
Beth shook her head, but Sam cut in with, "Work history, rap sheet, and if he has any ties to animal rights' groups."
Nell's fingers flew over the keys while Beth furrowed her brow at Sam.
"How'd you know?"
Sam shrugged. "We've been partners a long time. Comes naturally."
"Yeah, but..."
"He asked Mrs. Henderson about Trevor's job. He's trying to connect him to the poisonings, along with figuring on a motive. See, she says Kendra was behind them, but she also admitted her niece is a follower. Could be someone else put her up to them."
"Knowing she'd take all the blame and they could walk away," Beth finished. As Sam nodded, she asked, "But why would her husband want to do that? Unless they aren't as happy as they once were..."
"Okay, guys," Nell broke in then. "Trevor Joshua Wills. 34 years old, works as a mechanic in a shop on Thornton Street. He and Kendra have two children, and they all live with his older sister on 27th Street."
"Rap sheet?" Sam prompted.
"Short one. A few drunk and disorderlies, and one DWI. But nothing that would suggest he had anything to do with this case."
"What about the animal rights angle?" Beth asked.
"He donates to the ASPCA twice a year, but that's all."
Sam frowned. "Where is he now?"
"Let me see." Nell typed on her keyboard and then said, "Looks like he punched in at work at nine am. Hasn't left yet."
"Long day," Beth commented. "That's over 12 hours."
"Gotta be makin' some good money. You up for a ride?" Sam asked her. As she nodded, he told Nell to send the shop's address to his phone.
They got to the door before Beth stopped. "Shouldn't we tell Callen?"
"He'll figure it out. 'Sides, he has my number."
Inside Interrogation, Callen's sensitive ears heard the Boatshed's door shut, and then the rumble of Sam's Challenger as it started up outside. Keeping his features neutral, he continued the interview.
"So Kendra was jealous of Michael," he stated, and Sandie nodded. "That explains why she went after him, but not why she tried to kill you and the Captain."
"Or you," she replied with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile. Then, her features fell and her shoulders slumped. "I wish I could tell you what you need to know, but I don't know what's going through her head. I never did."
"That's okay. You've been a great help so far. I just have one more question."
"Sure."
"Does your husband know you're here?"
She laughed and shook her head. "Not a chance. He's at poker night with three of his Navy friends, and I told him I was going to the movies."
"But if we pick Kendra up he's bound to find out..."
"He'll get over it. That man is mostly bark and no bite."
"Unless you break into his house," Callen noted, recalling their first meeting. Well, the one he could actually remember.
She smiled. "True. And that was one reason I married him. Protective, sometimes to a fault, but every girl just wants to feel safe."
Callen instantly thought of Beth, and it must have shown on his face because Sandie softly asked, "Who is she?"
"Someone who doesn't realize how good she is," he replied.
"Hmm." As Sandie stood and slipped on her jacket, she said, "Seems like there's a lot of that going around."
He ducked his head and didn't reply. Opening the door for her, he let her walk out first and followed her to the front door. As they went through the main room, he was unsurprised to find it empty; though he had a hunch on where they'd gone, he decided to call Nell once Sandie was gone.
Out in the parking lot, Callen walked Sandie to her car and made sure she got in safely. As she started the engine she rolled down the window, and he bent to eye level.
"If you think of anything else," he said, handing her his personal card, "call me, okay?"
"I will. Thank you."
He watched as she drove away, already missing her kind smile and warm demeanor. Opposites do attract, he thought as he recalled the Captain's aloof, almost cold attitude. Sandie had to be a special woman to have the patience to put into loving Anthony Henderson.
His phone rang in his jeans pocket, and he pulled it out and answered it.
"Callen."
"Hi, Callen. It's Nell," the redhead's sweet voice said.
"What's up?"
"Beth and Sam went to go talk to Trevor Wills..."
"I figured," he interrupted.
"Problem is, he's not there. No one knows where he is."
"Cameras?"
She shook her head though he couldn't see her. "Last time he was on any of them was this morning at 10:30m getting a coffee from the shop beside the garage. Then he just vanishes."
Callen frowned. "Okay. Tell Sam I'm on my way over there."
"Will do."
He hung up and got into his car, tossing the phone into the center console. The deeper this case got, the bigger the pit in his stomach grew. Something was going on here, something more than a family feud or even the protest of sonar work. It was beginning to feel...familiar somehow.
Pushing those thoughts away, Callen shifted into Drive and pulled out of the Boatshed's parking lot. It was busy downtown, and he needed to concentrate on getting to the garage in one piece.
TBC...