by L. T. Ryan
The two men rose. Cervantes drove his shoulder into mine as he passed. Neither of us gave any ground to the other. Just one punch, that’s all I wanted from him. That would give me reason to lay him out.
Pennington stopped in front of Cassie and me. “You two have five minutes if you want to come with us to the suspect’s apartment.”
“Speaking of which,” Cassie said when Pennington was at the exit. “Anything turn up on whether he was there or not?”
The detective froze with the door half open. A warm breeze sucked into the restaurant. “We’ll grill him on it after we find him.”
I became aware that most eyes were on us. Could they piece it together? Had they seen Cassie on the news before? The woman who blew open a case by talking to the dead now stood in their presence. Maybe they wanted to ask her to reach out to a deceased relative, or give them the winning lottery numbers.
“Hungry?” Cassie asked.
“Yeah, I was planning on having a good meal to get me through the day.”
“Not gonna happen.” She gestured toward the counter. “Let’s get some coffee and a Danish to go.”
Five minutes later we were immersed in the morning humidity. Pennington tapped on his watch as we passed their sedan. They were parked a block from my rental. We drove in tandem through the historic district, winding around the garden squares. Though humid, the air still had that early fall cool feeling to it. We rolled the windows down and enjoyed the rush. A few musicians were already out. An older Black fellow with a patchy white beard belted the dark story of his life through his sax.
Pennington hiked his arm out the window and pointed at an apartment complex. It was a decent enough place. Not the best of buildings, but a far cry from the ghetto. The detectives continued another block, turned right, and pulled over next to the chipped curb. I stopped behind them and cut the engine.
“It’s on the second floor,” Pennington said. “You two can go as far as the landing, but you have to wait there.”
We moved in time with one another. Every move I made, the other two detectives did as well. They took in everything, including possible escape routes and hiding places. For the first time I felt a little better about their abilities. Still didn’t trust that they wouldn’t get me or Cassie killed, though.
Cassie and I remained behind after climbing the seven stairs to the landing. The echoes of the detectives’ footsteps deadened when they reached the corridor that ran the length of the building. It must’ve been Cervantes pounding on the door. Sounded like two bulls colliding.
Fifteen seconds passed with no response. A trash truck rolled past, stopped, began backing up. Its alarm shrieked through the silence.
I slid to the other side of the landing. There wasn’t much of a view, just the stairs and a stretch of wall. The persistent wind tunnel carried the scent of Chinese food. A bit early, but what the hell, I might grab some if we made it out of there empty-handed.
Cervantes pounded on the door again. Another fifteen seconds passed. The trash truck hoisted a dumpster overhead. The contents clattered and banged and shattered in the empty metal bed.
The two detectives appeared at the top of the stairs. Pennington shook his head.
“Where do you think he is?” I said.
“Who knows?” Cervantes said, huffing past me and avoiding eye contact.
Pennington stopped on the landing. “It was a long shot. We’ve already grilled him, and I’m sure he’s doing his best to stay away from us.”
“Might be hiding inside. Could be worthwhile to put eyes on the building.”
Pennington nodded. “We’re planning on it. On to the house.”
Cassie and I moved in slow motion, letting the detectives advance out of earshot. I was apprehensive about her returning to the house after her incident outside. Was she feeling the same?
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” I said.
“I do, Mitch. There could be something else in there.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
In that short span of time we’d been at the apartment building, the temperature rose enough that we had to turn on the air conditioning. The cabin smelled like the diner. Coffee and grease. Did little to settle my hunger. The Danish I had only sent my blood sugar soaring up, and it had already crashed.
“So have you received anything new?” I asked.
“About Robbie?” she said.
I gripped the steering wheel tight enough to snap it. “Well, no, that’s not what I was asking. But, have you?”
She reached for my free hand. “Nothing yet.”
“What about Alice?”
“Nothing there, either. Part of the reason I want to go to the house again. See if I missed something. If there’s an item that might churn up some images.”
We passed the old woman and her little dog as we approached the house. Her track suit was red today. Were they always out walking? Her sagging eyes popped as she caught sight of Cassie. We’d avoid any kind of questioning since the house stood a half block away. No way the woman would make it there in time.
What kind of questions would she have? No doubt the neighborhood residents knew something had happened. They might not know exactly what, but the cops had been around for the past few weeks, and the women hadn’t. Word had gotten out. It always does. How quickly and to what extent it would spread was anyone’s guess.
Pennington waved us into the driveway. He peered over the top of the car, eyes scanning.
“Let’s head inside,” he said, already trotting toward the door.
I cast a glance over my shoulder. Six people stood on four porches, watching us.
Word had most definitely gotten out. And it was spreading.
Cassie entered the house. She wasted no time in the main living area or kitchen. Instead she walked straight to the hall and disappeared into the darkened corridor.
“Tanner.” Pennington stood by the back door. I saw his partner’s silhouette amid the shadows of leaves through the screen. “Let’s head outside again and wait for Cassie to do her thing.”
There wasn’t much conversation to be had between the three of us. Cervantes and Pennington stood at the other side of the yard while I waited by the door.
We all moved at the same time when Cassie’s scream cut through the silence.
Chapter Twenty-One
I ripped the screen door open, breaking one of the hinges. Pennington rushed in right behind me and finished the job. The metal frame clanged on the concrete patio. Cervantes cursed as he kicked it out of his way. The deserted kitchen and living room felt heavy. The place was as silent as a tomb. I kept reaching for the pistol I’d left in Philadelphia. Didn’t stop me from rushing to the hallway.
Cassie yelled again, though not as loud as before. Something banged against the door. A man said something, and once more Cassie screamed.
I felt a hand on my back, gripping and digging into my shoulder. My momentum changed. I twisted and faceplanted into the rough plaster wall. When I had recovered, Cervantes hustled past. I lunged forward and knocked him to the side. We were fighting for sloppy seconds, though. Pennington had already reached the end of the hallway and was struggling with the door.
“Look out,” Cervantes said, pushing his partner back. He drew his knee up and struck the door with his foot. The lock gave way and the hunk of wood swung open. Light knifed through the parted blinds. Cassie was engaged with a man slightly taller than her.
The two detectives started yelling, guns drawn. A chaotic scene meant to confuse the man. The guy released his grip on Cassie and threw his hands in the air. I rushed to Cassie’s side and pulled her out of the room while the detectives threw the man to the ground. They kept yelling at the guy.
“What the hell happened?” I asked once we were safe in the living room.
“I felt drawn to the bedroom again,” she said. “And when I went in there, he jumped me.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“Well what the hell was he doing in there? Stealing panties?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t even know he was here. Think I would’ve gone in there if I had?”
Cervantes sidestepped through the door, his left arm wrapped through Seth’s right. The young guy bucked and kicked. All that got him was a right hook to the stomach. A hollow gasp escaped as he bowed forward. The two detectives carried him down the hallway, knocking his head into the wall a couple of times.
“She all right?” Pennington asked over his shoulder.
“Yeah, fine, man,” I said. “We’ll be out in a second. Just make sure those neighbors are clear of the yard. Got me?”
I wrapped my arm around Cassie’s waist and led her toward the front door. We stopped short and surveyed the surrounding street. The people I had seen on the way in, including the old woman and her dog, congregated across the road in an empty driveway. They held their hands in front of their mouths as they spoke. I supposed it was so we wouldn’t hear them. Their stares were fixed on the cops and the handcuffed perp.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s be quick about it. Head straight for the car. Don’t look at any of them.”
I stepped out first and did my best to shield her from the onlookers. Didn’t work.
The old woman pointed, and said, “That’s her. That’s the one that was here yesterday, passed out on the ground. Maybe she knows what’s going on.” She rushed up to us with her barking dog in tow. “Miss? Miss?”
The rest shuffled like a hoard of zombies closing in after we reached the car. I pulled Cassie’s door open and stood there, blocking them from her while she settled inside. Her hands and arms were shaking. The surprise attack had rattled her.
“Pennington,” I said.
He looked over at me as though the crowd was my problem, not his. To be fair, Seth wasn’t going easy. It took both of them to get the man in the backseat.
“Do something about these people so we can get out of here.” I slammed Cassie’s door shut and pushed my way to the other side of the vehicle. “You don’t want to have to escort two people to a cell after I run these folks over, do you?”
He sent Cervantes over. The lumbering detective with his badge in one hand and pistol in the other was enough to send the mob into retreat mode. For the first time, it felt like the two of us were on the same page. It only took an attack on Cassie to bring him to my level. He shot a quick glance my way and gave me a slight nod. And with that, I ducked into the car and slammed it into reverse. A half-block later, I whipped the car around and sped away, leaving the neighborhood behind. A few turns later and we were on I-16 West. I figured putting a half-hour or so between us and Savannah would be a good thing for Cassie.
She turned toward me and spoke for the first time after we had cleared I-95. “Do you think he knew?”
“Knew what?” I glanced over and saw her staring through the windshield.
“That we were coming.”
I adjusted the vent so the air hit me in the face. How was it that every rental car spat out the same stale-smelling air? “I doubt he would’ve been there if he knew that.”
“Maybe he was trying to hide something and hadn’t managed to get out in time. Figured a hostage was his best bet.”
“I guess that’s possible. But, still, that’s a big risk considering the house has been combed over thoroughly. We’re practically on cleanup duty in there.”
“What was he doing there?” She looked away, toward the trees that passed by in a blur. The question had been asked of someone other than me. Had they responded to her?
“Could be like you said, trying to cover something up. Or maybe he was there for the same reason as us.”
She remained fixated on the view through the side window. “How do you mean?”
“Looking for something, anything, to help find his girlfriend.”
Cassie said nothing.
After a few moments, I said, “Tell me, coming into contact with him, did you feel anything?”
“Besides his fist in my stomach?” She looked over and offered a wry smile. It was good to see she could joke about it already. She’d survived much worse than this, and if that hadn’t stopped her, there was no way this would. “No, I didn’t feel anything. It all happened too damn fast, and I doubt I’ll pick up on anything in the house again.”
“Why’s that?”
“That dumbass changed the energy in there. No telling what it’ll be like next time.”
“It’s doubtful Pennington will let there be a next time. He won’t let you back in after this. Not to mention the integrity of the scene has been compromised. They’ll shut it down now.”
Cassie drew her left foot up and under her right thigh as she shifted in her seat to face me. “And what does that do for those women? How does that help them?”
I shook my head. “You’re arguing with the wrong guy. I’m on your side, remember?”
“Yeah, I know.” She angled the air vents away from her body. “This is just so frustrating.”
“It usually is.”
We kept pushing west for a couple more exits, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then went straight to the precinct. Cassie led me to a rear entrance. We stood in front of the smoky glass door for a few moments. The door was tucked in and shielded on two sides by brick walls that prevented any airflow, making it feel ten degrees hotter. There was a buzzing sound followed by the lock clicking open.
Stale, chilled air met us in the doorway. Cassie walked to the desk where a portly woman waited with a fake smile on her face.
“Good to see you again,” the woman said to Cassie. “They’re waiting in interrogation room one. Have your associate sign in and I’ll let Detective Pennington know you’re on the way.”
We walked through the industrial gray halls. Fluorescents illuminated the walkways. I caught a whiff of corn chips. Either someone was snacking nearby or it’d been a while since they last cleaned the carpets. After a few turns we entered the interrogation hall and then the outer area of room one. Standing in a dark chamber behind mirrored glass, we watched as Pennington and Cervantes asked Seth a series of questions. The man sat at a table with a half-empty glass of water in front of him. It appeared as though they had been at it for fifteen minutes or so already and were past the formalities. They grilled him on his relationship with each of the women in the house. He’d known one of them since childhood, and met the other three through her, eventually becoming romantically involved with Alice.
I tuned out the monotony for a couple moments and thought about what had happened earlier. Why was Seth at the house? Had someone tipped him off? One of the neighbors, maybe? From Cassie’s account, there was no hesitation. Seth went right at her, attacking with intent to hurt.
I was dragged from my thoughts at a simple phrase Pennington uttered.
“Seth, that’s not what you told us the last time we spoke.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cassie and I both leaned forward. Our foreheads grazed the glass as though it would allow us to hear better.
“What did he ask him?” I said.
Cassie frowned at me. I presumed it was for failing to pay attention. I didn’t bother to tell her I was boggled down with her earlier concerns.
“He asked him about being at his apartment. I guess his answer differed this time.”
“What was his answer?”
She shot my reflection a look. “How have you managed to remain a detective for so long if you can’t follow this?”
“I was lost in thought. Now what’d he say?”
“Said his power went out early, so he headed to a friend’s house. The friend wasn’t there, but Seth knows where the spare key was, so he went in and stayed there for the night.”
In the interrogation room, Cervantes had positioned himself by the door. He leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest and his mouth clenched shut. He’d save his words for the right
moment.
Meanwhile, Pennington continued. “So, before you told us you were home the entire night of the storm. Now you’re telling me that you went to a friend’s place, but the friend can’t vouch for you because he wasn’t there? I gotta tell you, this smells of bullshit, Seth.”
“I was scared,” Seth said.
“Scared of what?”
“That you’d arrest me for breaking and entering or something like that.”
Pennington straightened up, pointed at Cervantes, then himself. “We’re homicide detectives. You think I care about some petty ass B and E charge?”
Seth stared at the table and said nothing.
“See, the problem I have here is that you lied to me, and now you’re trying to cover it up with more lies. And all this after we found you inside your girlfriend’s room in a house where three women were murdered and one, your girlfriend, was abducted. What do you think she’d think about you sniffing her pantie drawer while she’s missing? Huh? Or maybe you were there for a different reason?”
“To hell with her!” Seth slammed his clenched fists against the table. He gritted against the unexpected pain rifling through his wrists and arms. I’d seen it happen before. “If she’d have just taken me back, this wouldn’t have happened to her. To any of them.”
Did we have a confession coming?
Pennington shot a look at his partner, then toward us. He walked in a complete circle around Seth, stopping on the other side of the table. He pulled the empty chair out and sat down.
“What happened to her, Seth?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where were you that night?”
Seth looked up, but said nothing.
“We know you weren’t at home because it was rented out for the week. And we both know the friend story is a fabrication.”
Seth sat still and said nothing.
“You went over there, didn’t you? Headed out in the storm, to see Alice. Why? Were you trying to win her back?”