by Robin Mahle
Her mouth pressed gently against his and he felt her warmth and tenderness. Gracie was young, barely 21, and he dangled between his mid and late twenties. He knew she hadn’t had a serious boyfriend before but had dated in college as one does. But he also knew she would be leaving for the city in a matter of days and wondered where that would leave him. His fondness for her had grown over the past few months since they’d been in contact, usually through texting and a weekly video chat. She desired him and the feeling was mutual, though they hadn’t yet crossed that line, mainly because she had been at school and he was here.
However, the idea that might happen tonight was not in play. This was Ellen’s house and Ethan wasn’t going to cross that line, regardless of how much he wanted to.
Gracie pulled away from the kiss and smiled. “I’ll walk you out.”
And the answer had arrived without the question being asked. Ethan couldn’t bring himself to inquire what the future for them might hold. It seemed premature and a little on the needy side. He was left with no choice but to let her drive the ship.
She started toward the door and Ethan followed. He watched her gentle stride, her hips sway with each step. Gracie wasn’t like Riley in any way. Not with her personality or her physical appearance. In fact, it surprised him how different they really were. But she was no less beautiful than Riley.
Gracie pulled open the door and raised on her tiptoes. “Goodnight, Ethan. I’ll see you tomorrow?” She kissed his lips only briefly this time.
“I hope so. Maybe we can go out for dinner or something?”
“I’d like that.” She peered over her shoulder at the staircase, then turned back. “I know it’s tough with my mom here. Maybe we can go to your place?”
“If that’s what you want.”
She cocked her head. “Don’t you?”
“You’ll get no argument from me.” He crossed the threshold and stepped onto the front porch. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight.” Ethan walked to his car parked along the front of the home and stepped inside. He peered at Gracie and smiled while she returned the same and closed the door.
Riley had always kept him at a fair distance and especially as it related to her childhood in this very home. He knew things had happened—bad things. But he didn’t know her then. It wasn’t until high school and then they never really hung out in the same circles.
Over the past few years since they’d worked together, he’d come to realize who Riley truly was and what she was capable of doing. It was something he was sure she’d hidden as best she could from Gracie. The younger sibling had been protected by both her brother and sister from the worst of the family secrets and tragedies.
There was conflict in him about his feelings for Gracie. Jacob could see it, no doubt, and he assumed Riley could as well, but refused to acknowledge them. She was good at that—denying the truth when it stared her in the face. Who could blame her? Seeing what she had seen and still saw would turn off anyone to true feelings.
Jacob was a permanent fixture in Riley’s life now, whether Ethan wanted it or not. She’d made her choice. But what would happen if Ethan moved forward with Gracie? Would it force Riley to confront her feelings for him? He knew they were there. Somewhere deep inside, because he could feel them. He didn’t possess her gift, but he wasn’t blind. There had been an attraction there once, until Jacob returned.
Perhaps that was the real line he shouldn’t cross. It wouldn’t be fair to Gracie and he would not hurt her. He loved this family. His heart, however, was holding on to something that just wasn’t going to be possible. The question was, could he let go?
The perception that there was something duplicitous about Silas Levin prickled the back of Riley’s mind. While she hadn’t felt anything in particular, it left her unsettled as she arrived at the stationhouse.
Upon entering, she noticed Ethan emerge from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. “How is it that you always beat me here?”
He stopped and smiled. “Face it, Riley, I’m the better cop. What more can I say?”
“Well, considering how late you were out last night, it’s quite a feat.” Riley continued toward her desk.
“Someone say something about me?” Ethan returned to his desk appearing mildly concerned and possibly gratified at her interest.
“I got a text from Gracie this morning saying you were there until about midnight. You must be tired.”
“I’m a young, virile man, Riley. You’re going to have to get used to it.”
She laughed. “Okay. Slow your roll there, pal.” Riley peered at Ward’s office. “I’d like to sit down with the captain this morning and talk about Silas Levin. Do you have some time?”
“Yeah, of course. He’s not in yet, though.”
“I figured as much since I didn’t see his car outside. Any idea where he’s at?”
“No. He doesn’t tell me his schedule.” Ethan sifted through some paperwork on his desk. “I did hear that Abrams and Decker got a call last night about a domestic disturbance. I haven’t checked the logs yet, but I assume it’s on there.”
“Really?” She paused to think on the matter. “Yesterday was the first of the month.”
“Oh, that’s right. Probably what it was. That’s usually when we get the calls. I have to say, though, I’m a little surprised it was just the one. Could mean things are getting better here, right? More jobs? Fewer people on the rolls. I don’t know, Riley. Owensville is on its way up.”
The beginning of the month usually brought in more than a few domestic disturbance calls thanks to the stamps and checks arriving. Fights between spouses or partners often ensued because money problems always seemed to do that to people. Maybe things were getting better.
“I’m going give the captain a call and see…” Riley’s attention was diverted to the door. “There you are. I was just about to call you.” She immediately noticed something in his eyes. It would only take another moment to realize what that was, but she tried hard not to see too deeply anymore and especially not with those she cared about. “Is everything okay, Cap?”
Captain Ward continued inside and perched atop Abrams’ desk. “I was out on a call. Came in around 3am.”
Riley and Ethan traded glances.
“If you’ve seen the service call logs, then you know what I’m talking about.”
Riley’s heart sank. She could see it so clearly in Ward’s eyes that it was practically screaming out at her. “The domestic disturbance call. The wife is dead.”
Ward didn’t reply, only lowered his head. “Decker went out there. She was already gone when he arrived. The husband is in the back, in lockup. He’ll be transferred to County today. I stayed until the coroner picked up the body.”
“Captain, maybe you should go home and get some rest. Pruitt and I can handle the paperwork. I’ll call Decker and have him come in.”
“No. I’m staying here. I’ll be all right.” He pushed off the desk. “Goddamn it.”
After he disappeared into his office, Riley looked at Ethan. “We need to take off some of the load.”
“Already on it.” Ethan typed on his keyboard. “I’m pulling up the report now.”
Riley picked up her phone. “I’ll call Decker. I’m sure he didn’t sleep.”
Ethan retrieved the report and pulled it off the printer, walking to Riley’s desk to hand her a copy. He sat down opposite her and began perusing the document while she spoke to the night shift officer, Chris Decker.
“Chris, it’s Riley. How you holding up? I didn’t wake you, did I?” She felt confident she hadn’t. Chris was the type of guy to be pretty broken up about something like this.
“You know you didn’t wake me, Riley. I’m just sitting here on my couch in my skivvies trying to forget what I saw this morning. I guess Cap told you what happened?”
“Didn’t give us the details. Ethan just pulled up the report and we’re about to take a look at it. Is there anything I can do?”
“
You mean, with the gift?”
“Yeah.” She disliked using it in anything but extreme cases. Murder, in her eyes, was pretty extreme. And of course, it didn’t mean she’d get anything, but if it could help, there was a reason God and her grandfather bestowed on her the gift.
“I know you don’t talk about it, Riley, and I completely understand,” Decker began. “What I saw that day…”
“I know. And I appreciate you letting me keep that to myself. But if there’s something I can do…”
“The guy’s in custody. You’ll see in the report that he says he was drinking. Surprise, surprise. And that he’d gotten upset at his wife over money or some shit, but it was enough that he decided to take out his aggressions on her. Only he took it too far. Preliminary suggests blunt force trauma to her skull. You’ll have to speak to the coroner for more details and when his final report will be available.”
“Ward said this guy was going to County today,” she continued.
“That’s right. We can’t hang on to him for long here. We don’t have the facilities. Our cells usually get filled up with the drunks and junkies.”
“Right. What did Abrams have to say about all this?”
“Come on, Riley. What do you think? The man’s got no internal filter.”
“Okay. Well, look. I’ll review this thing with Ethan. Ward’s in his office and I’d like to take some of the paperwork off his plate, if you’re good with that. This was your collar.”
“It don’t matter to me who brought in this asshole. Just do what you gotta do, Riley. I’ll be in tonight as usual. Just do me a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Let me know when that prick is getting transferred? The sooner he’s out of our custody, the better I’ll feel.”
“Will do. Go and get some rest. I’ll see you tonight.” Riley ended the call and peered at Ethan.
“Let me guess, he’s not doing real well,” Ethan said.
“No. He’s not. What have you read so far?” She picked up the report he’d placed on her desk and began to read it.
“I don’t know if you want to talk to this guy or not,” he began. “Probably ought to get Ward’s okay, but maybe we can ask him about the money troubles. According to this, the guy works a steady job. The wife worked too.”
“Kids?” She almost hesitated to ask.
“One. He’s with CPS now. I hope he has other family who can take the kid,” Ethan replied.
“So they both worked and yet the argument, according to Decker, was about money,” Riley pressed on.
“Right. People can still need money even if they have jobs. But it wasn’t what I thought. I assumed it was the welfare checks. Timing and all that,” he replied.
“Same here. Does he have a record?” She flipped through the report in search of the answer. “No priors.” Riley regarded Ethan. “How does a guy with no priors end up killing his wife? No other domestic calls. Nothing.”
“He must’ve snapped. That’s all I can figure.”
“For God’s sake. That’s one hell of a snap.” Riley peered at Ward’s office. “Should I ask if we can chat with the guy?”
“You can ask, but he’s got no lawyer here. I doubt, even if Ward allowed it, that’d he’d say one damn word to us.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Of course, you don’t need to talk to people to get what you need from them, do you, Riley?”
“No, I suppose not.” She peered into the corridor that led to the holding cells. “I mean, the guy’s guilty, so what’s the point in seeing what he did to her? You know that’s what’ll happen. I’m not sure I want to go through that.”
“Well, he is guilty and the reason you do what you do is to find the guilty parties. Maybe you’re right. Maybe in this instance, it’s unnecessary. He’ll go to prison with or without your insight in his reasons why. Unless…”
“Unless he had motives. Did the wife’s family have money? Was there an insurance policy? Was this premeditated?”
“Those are questions to which I do not have the answers, Officer Thompson. But answers might help determine how long he’ll serve. Premeditated will be a hell of a lot longer sentence than second-degree or even involuntary manslaughter. And if you think his attorney won’t push for the lesser of those, especially with no witnesses…”
‘Okay, okay. I get what you’re saying. But you’re forgetting, there is a witness. The son. How old is he?”
Ethan searched the report and peered back at her. “Five.”
“Damn.”
“What do you want to do, Riley? It’s your call.”
She held his gaze, then shifted her sights to Ward’s office. And without another word, Riley stood from her desk and approached Ward’s door, knocking on it.
“Come in.” His voice sounded on the other side.
Riley opened the door. “Hey, Cap, I was thinking I should pay a visit to our detainee before he’s transferred. If that’s okay with you?”
“For what purpose? He won’t talk, not without a lawyer.”
“I know. But maybe I can get to the bottom of his motives.”
Ward leaned back in his chair and studied her. “Motives. He admitted to killing her.”
“Yes, but as I was discussing with—well, it doesn’t matter. But what if it’ll help determine the charges? Whatever murder charges he might face?”
“Riley, even if you could see whatever it is you wanted to see, you can’t exactly use that in court. Why put yourself through that? You know what it does to you.”
“I know. But if I get why he did it, there could be evidence to corroborate and if there is, then there you go.”
“It’s Decker’s collar. Have you talked to him about this?”
“I did. He’s on board with whatever I need to do.”
“And I assume Pruitt’s behind you one hundred percent, as usual.”
Ethan appeared in the doorway. “Yes, sir. You know I am.”
“Okay. Go pay him a visit. But do not, under any circumstances, do anything that could jeopardize the County’s case. You understand?”
“I understand,” she replied.
“Pruitt, go with her. Make sure this guy doesn’t get out of hand.”
Riley eyed Ward. “Really?”
“Yeah, I know. Just humor me, would you?”
She turned on her heel and started back. “Pruitt, are you coming or what?”
Ethan looked at Ward. “Thanks for that. Now she’s going to be mad at me.”
“Hey, she’ll never admit it, but it’s harder on her than she lets on. Riley needs you whether or not she realizes it.”
Ethan turned and followed her down the hall toward the holding cells. “Do you have the report?”
“I do.” Riley’s shoes squeaked on the vinyl flooring as she walked. The stationhouse had only three holding cells, which were usually empty or mostly empty, except maybe on a weekend when people would drink too much. And today, it was just the one occupant. “Wyatt Sims. Thirty-nine years old, employed by the high school. That’s interesting.”
“Doing what?”
Riley glanced back at him. “Phys. Ed.”
“Yikes. He wasn’t one of our coaches, was he? The name doesn’t ring a bell,” Ethan asked.
“I don’t think so. Looks like he and his family moved to Owensville about four years ago from South Bend.”
“Oh, thank God. I do not want to see one of my high school coaches in jail for murdering his wife.”
“You and me both.” Riley unlocked the door to enter the holding cell area. “You ready to do this?”
“Oh, I am. It’s you who has to be ready. But I’m here for you, Riley. Always have been.”
She revealed a demure smile and pushed inside. “Mr. Sims. I’m Officer Thompson. This is Officer Pruitt.”
“I’m not talking to you folks until my lawyer gets here.”
“That’s okay. We’re only here to check in and see how you’re doing. See
if you need anything. Have you eaten or had any water?”
“I’m fine. I don’t need nothing.” His face was marred with scratches and his stocky frame donned a t-shirt that was ripped at the bottom hem.
“Did the paramedics take a look at you?” Riley asked.
“I don’t need no paramedics either. What do you want, officer?”
Riley stepped closer to the cell while using her palm to prevent Ethan from doing the same. “I got this,” she whispered.
Ethan held his ground, appearing reluctant.
“You’re due to be transferred this afternoon to County. Is there anyone here you’d like us to get in contact with?”
“I don’t have family here.” He wouldn’t look at her.
Riley inhaled deeply. “What about your son? Who’s looking after him?”
Sims shot her a look and that was all she needed.
8
In a barrage of memories that drilled into Riley’s mind, she stumbled back from the jail cell where Wyatt Sims held her gaze. The brutal attack against his wife, the boy in the background watching with not just tears in his eyes, but rage. She was helpless to do anything about it but stand there and witness the event.
Ethan lurched forward and placed his hand against her back to steady her.
Sims scowled at Riley. “What the hell’s wrong with you? You having some kind of seizure or some shit?” He looked at Ethan. “Boy, you better do something about her. Something ain’t right.”
“She’s fine!” Ethan’s voice raised but his eyes never left Riley.
She continued to stand inside the home and watch as Sims beat his wife, screaming and yelling at her. “Why are you doing this?” Riley shouted at him, but he didn’t stop because he couldn’t hear her. She wasn’t there. Saving this poor woman wasn’t possible and all Riley could do was find a reason for the heinous act.
The woman was on the floor now, her arms shielded her face from the blows. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get mad at you,” she wailed in pain.
The little boy screamed at his father with clenched fists and a red face. “Stop hurting my mommy!”