by Carolina Mac
“Maybe later. Going to Liquid first.”
“Yep. We know you went to Liquid, JoAnne, and that was as far as you got. Who did you meet there?”
Next: Red Ferrari.
Lil came back and confirmed that JoAnne was an avid cyclist and she trained for local races. “So, rule out the Zilker Park guy. Who was that?”
“Superman.”
“One down.” Lil’s phone rang, and she retreated down the hallway.
Red Ferrari says he’s a pre-med student, and his picture looks decent, although I’d put him older than pre-med. What was his last message?
“Dying to meet you, JoJo, but I have a family thing this weekend. Maybe next week?”
“Okay, not him. Next.”
University of Texas. Austin Campus.
FARRELL was lost on campus most of the morning trying to find his way to the buildings where the victim’s best friends were supposed to be. With the semester just starting, students were running everywhere, and most of the freshmen were lost themselves. “This is bullshit,” he mumbled to himself. “I’ll never find the right goddam dorm.”
He was on his second pass through the common when a uniformed security guard grabbed his elbow. “What are you doing here? Watched you casing a lot of the buildings. You better come into the office and explain yourself.”
Already pissed off, Farrell was not at his diplomatic best. “Think so, buddy? That ain’t happening.” Farrell pulled up his list and pointed. “Tell me where in hell this building is.”
The guard pulled his Taser out. “Let’s go inside.”
“Nope.” Farrell reached for his ID and the guard saw his SW in his waistband.
“Hold it right there, mister. Hands on your head.”
“Bullshit,” said Farrell. “I’m a cop, if you’d let me get my ID out of my pocket.”
“You don’t look like a cop.”
Farrell pulled out his cred pack.
“Violent Crime?”
Farrell nodded.
The guard put his Taser back in his utility belt. “You one of Blackmore’s boys?”
“That’s right, sir, and I’d appreciate it if you could give me a bit of help finding my way around this maze.”
“Was there a crime committed on campus?”
“No sir, but a lot of the victim’s friends are here getting ready for school.”
The guard took the list. “I can help you out. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Blackmore Agency. Austin.
TRAVIS and Farrell arrived back at the office at almost the same time, around four-thirty, with nothing to show for their efforts but bad attitudes.
Blaine corralled them into the office after they each had a beer in their hand. “Tell me about the leads.”
“Ain’t any leads,” said Farrell. “Those college girls were so wrapped up in the first day of fuckin college, they were ditzy. Didn’t give a sweet goddam that their so called ‘bestie’ was lying in the fuckin morgue.”
“What about the bar, Trav?” asked Blaine, “What did you get?”
Travis shrugged. “Not much. Place was so busy nobody saw anything. If they did, they’re covering it up pretty damn good.”
“What about the manager? Did he remember seeing her there before last night?”
Travis shook his head. “Guy’s an asshole. Wouldn’t remember his mother if she was naked on the dancefloor.”
“Okay, then,” said Blaine. “Let’s call it.”
Hyde Park Area. Austin.
MAX flicked off the news and glanced across the room at his wife. No figure, Renee was skinny as a stick since the birth of the triplets. Pale face, and he hadn’t noticed all the gray creeping into her hair. She must have been pretty at one point. Why else would he have married her? Sure wasn’t for her brain.
“Ready for bed?”
“Uh huh. Just let me clear these glasses and then I’ll check on the girls.” Renee looked up with her hands full of wine glasses and gave him her crooked-toothed smile.
Jeeze, I should fix her teeth when I have a minute.
“You don’t need to check on them when they’re sound asleep.” Max’s voice took on an edge. “You might disturb them and then it will be the same old story. One of them wakes up the other two and we’re up half the night trying to get them back to sleep.”
“You’re a father now, Max, and that’s what fatherhood is all about. Giving your attention, your time and energy to your children.”
“Bullshit, Renee, as if that’s what you do. I’ve seen the way you pawn them off on your mother every chance you get. Face it. We weren’t cut out to be parents.”
“If it wasn’t for the girls, I would have left you long ago, Max. You’re a rotten husband and a selfish jerk.”
“I’m a selfish jerk?” He waved an arm around the kitchen. “Look at the mess you’re leaving here. Toys all over the house. You never pick them up. Food stuck to the tile under the highchairs. Trays not wiped off after dinner. Milk spilt on the floor and going sour. It stinks in here, Renee. This kitchen is disgusting. Unclean is what it is. I’m a dental surgeon. I specialize in hygiene.” He raised his voice and shouted at her. “Hygiene, Renee, and I live in a fucking pigpen.”
“Oink,” said Renee and turned her back on him.
As they approached the stairs one of the babies began to wail.
CHAPTER THREE
Wednesday, September 5th.
Morgue. Ranger Headquarters.
DEPRESSING and bone-chilling, that’s what hanging out in the morgue at nine a.m. was. Blaine hated autopsies and sometimes sent Travis in his stead. Farrell wasn’t a cadaver guy, and not much of a crime scene guy either, but he had the tenacity of a bulldog and made one hell of an investigator.
The Chief had opted to pop downstairs and get the skinny on JoAnne Engels, one of the rare times number one attended an autopsy, and he and Blaine sat on chrome stools, sipped their coffee and listed to Mort as he spoke into his mic.
When the pathologist finished, he removed his mask and gave a shrug. “Not much y’all didn’t know. Manual strangulation as suspected. The killer would be close to six feet tall. Big strong hands. He might even work in a profession or a job where he uses his hands. The victim was definitely raped. And from the considerable tearing and bruising, I’d say she was short on sexual experience—might have been her first time.”
The Chief pulled a face. “Hate that,” he mumbled. “Think the kit will produce any DNA?”
“I doubt it, Randy. The killer probably used a condom if he had half a brain, but you can hope he didn’t.”
“I’ll do that,” said the Chief. “Thanks for moving her to the head of the line, Mort. It’s a wonder the Mayor hasn’t called me this morning to start my day off on a sour note, but I bet the media have put together a little party for me out front.”
“Want me to shield you, sir?” asked Blaine as they walked to the stairs.
“It’s a little early for me to have my TV face on, son, but you always make good viewing. I’d consider it a personal favor.”
“The TV people love my long hair and tats,” mumbled Blaine. “Sometimes I count the eyerolls I get in one interview. They can fuck themselves up the ass.”
The Chief grinned as he closed his office door behind him.
Blaine strolled through the lobby and peeked through the glass doors to see if he had any customers interested in the autopsy of JoAnne Engels. There was one interested party, Mary Polito, who waited in the lobby for him. And yep, three vans with call letters were parked at the curb.
“Back in a sec, Mary.”
Shit, she looks tired and sad. Wonder if she’s crying over my asshole brother?
As soon as Blaine set foot on the steps of the DPS the questions started. “Any suspects yet, Ranger Blackmore?”
“I’m following a couple of leads, but it’s early.”
“Did the autopsy reveal anything new?”
“Nothing newsworthy. I’m sure y’all
will obtain a copy as soon as its public record, then you can decide for yourselves.”
“Why is Deputy Donovan at the U?” A female reporter took a step closer and shoved a mic in his face. “Do you suspect a student did the killing?”
“Are y’all following my team?”
The reporter shrugged. “Your team is news in this city.”
“Deputy Donovan is on campus speaking to friends and acquaintances of the victim. I haven’t been in contact with him, so there’s nothing more I can tell y’all at this time.”
Blaine went back inside and sat next to Mary in the waiting area. “You okay, Mary?”
Mary Polito, Farrell’s ex was a small brunette, about twenty-eight or nine to Farrell’s twenty-three. Very pretty, and she was the crime reporter for the Austin paper.
“Trying to work, but I don’t feel like it.”
“I’m sorry about you and Farrell, Mary. Anything I can do?”
“Don’t think so, Blaine. He’s dug in like the mule he is, and nothing can help.”
“He didn’t give me any details, but if you want me to talk to him, I will.”
“I made a mistake and said something I shouldn’t have. I can’t unsay it.”
This is about Annie.
“I understand.”
Mary stared at him with watery eyes. “No, I don’t think you do.”
Oh, I do. It’s the same thing that messes up all my relationships.
“I’ll give you what I have for your column, Mary, but it’s next to nothing.”
Dental Office. Downtown Austin.
BETWEEN patients, Max cloistered himself in his office for a sneak peek at the dating site. He hadn’t had a chance today to answer any of the emails. He put in his password, clicked on the toolbar and waited for the site to come up.
Thirteen new ones.
A smile spread across his face, but before he got to the first one, his cell rang.
Renee. What the hell does she want?
He used his best ‘husband’ voice. “Good morning, sweetheart. How can I help you?”
“Max, you sound so formal. Is something going on?”
“Of course not. My next patient is waiting, and I was just leaving my office, that’s all it is.”
“I just called to tell you I made an appointment with a marriage counsellor. Remember we talked about it?”
“You did what?” He didn’t mean to yell, but it happened. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Cancel it, Renee. I’m not going.”
“You are going, Max. We’ve been fighting and sleeping in separate beds for months. We’re fixing this before another day goes by. No arguments. End of discussion.”
Max pressed end and felt the heat rising in his neck. He’d take care of Renee when he got home. A couple of deep breaths and he clicked on the first email.
“Hey, there, Sexy Smile…”
A tap on the door and Angela, the hygienist interrupted him. “Judy Trimble is ready for you Doctor.”
He flicked off the site before Angela saw it and turned off his computer.
Blackmore Agency. Austin.
BLAINE closed his office door and took the brief moment of privacy he had to call the number he’d found for the U.S. Marshall’s Service. He let it ring and ring, and finally got a message that the number was no longer in service.
What did you expect? It’s been years.
Next, he took a chance and did what he was encouraged not to do—called the man who believed he called the shots in Blaine’s life.
Blaine explained the reason for his call and the man did not sound pleased. “Remember when I told you, ‘all in good time’, son?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“I’m trying to find a discreet individual to make inquiries for you. I don’t want you making random calls and snooping around on your own. It will raise too much suspicion.”
“Suspicion of what?”
“Suffice to say, your mother had clearance at an extremely high level. Leave it with me.” He clicked off.
Why did I think my parents were killed because of my father? Who did my mother work for? Why was she killed?
A tap on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Farrell came in with two mugs of coffee and sat in front of Blaine’s desk. “See Mary this morning?”
“Uh huh. She was waiting for me at DPS.”
“Thought she might be,” said Farrell, “How did she seem?”
“Tired and sad,” said Blaine. “She looked like she hadn’t slept much.”
“My fault. I don’t want her to be hurting, but no point in leading her on, is there?”
“I guess not, if she wants a commitment right now,” said Blaine, “and you ain’t ready.”
“Not just that,” Farrell mumbled.
Don’t I know it.
“I’m taking one of the online babes out for dinner tonight.”
“Shit,” said Blaine, “I took my face off there before anybody recognized me. Signing up was a huge mistake. Shouldn’t do stuff like that when you’re drunk.”
“For sure. Bad mistake and I’m taking the blame for it. You can’t be on there,” said Farrell, “but here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m gonna get the emails, screen them and pick out somebody super good for you.”
Blaine chuckled. “Nice of you to share, bro.”
“That’s what brothers are for.”
JESSE arrived at the agency a half hour later and he settled in Blaine’s office with a coffee. “Been thinking about what we talked about at the picnic, and I’m ready to come back to work…” he smiled and held up one finger, “in a limited way.”
Blaine studied his partner, mentor and step-father and wondered if it was a sensible idea. Jesse’s heart was not strong, and stress was a killer. It had almost done him in more than once. “Did you run it by Brian?”
“Not yet, and I might as well tell you up front that Ace is against it. She thinks it’s too soon.”
“I might have to agree with Mom,” said Blaine. “Depends on how much you’re planning to tackle.”
“Not much. I just want to keep my hand in and have input on the cases.”
“You’ve always had that,” said Blaine. “I’ve copied you on everything and so has the Chief.”
Jesse shrugged. “I guess I want a bit more. I’ve always worked long days in the barn and in the arena with the horses, and now all this goddam sitting around makes me feel so fuckin useless.”
“I hear ya. Let’s decide how much you can do in a day and Lil can get you started. We both know you can’t do anything physical.”
“What kind of a shit life is that. I’m a horseman for chrissake, and even my training schedule is on hold for a few more weeks. Tyler needs help and by the time I go back to the barn, Corky won’t even know me.”
“Okay, let me bring you up to speed.” Blaine went over the case, what they had so far and everything they didn’t have. “Lil has been talking to Lopez to see if he’s got anything open mirroring our girl. If he does, go to homicide and get them to transfer the cases to you—those guys are always happy to dump any unsolved—and while you’re there, pick up the murder books.”
Jesse grinned. “Didn’t realize I could jump back in so quick, but I’m happy for it, partner. Let me talk to Lil.”
FEELING panic in his throat, Blaine grabbed for his cell as soon as Jesse left the office. “Mom, you know Jesse is here and he’s bent on going back to work?”
“He knows better than to tell me that.” Annie sighed. “Damn it, sugar pop, he’s not even supposed to be driving yet.”
“That’s what I thought too, but he just showed up alone, out of the blue. He’s heading downtown to Austin PD.”
“Can you have Farrell drive him and keep an eye?”
“Sure, Mom.”
Blaine strode to the kitchen to find Farrell and noticed the front door was open. Carm was on the porch steps waving her arms and hollering in Spanish. The fence guys had opened the gate wide an
d Lexi was barreling down the street.
“Oh, shit.” Blaine ran across the lawn, grunting with the effort because his ribs were still sore, chains clunking on his Harley boots. He got as far as the house half a block away and a dark-haired girl on the sidewalk had Lexi by the collar.
A little out of breath, Blaine wheezed out the words. “Thanks, so much, Miss.” He took hold of the dog. “I’m sorry I don’t know my neighbors. I’m Blaine Blackmore.”
The girl smiled, and Blaine realized how beautiful she was. “I know who you are, Mr. Blackmore. Everybody on the street knows who lives in the big house with the iron fence.”
“Not to keep my neighbors out,” he said. “Just for security. Things happen.”
She gave a little giggle. “Things never happened on this street before you moved here. Just say’n. You brought excitement with you.”
“Not the kind I wanted, believe me. Thank you for catching Lexi. I didn’t catch your name.”
“That’s because I didn’t toss it out there. I’m Dakota O’Neill.”
“Can I offer you a coffee or anything?” asked Blaine. He didn’t want to walk away without making some kind of connection.
“No, thanks, I was just going to work, but it was nice to meet you at last. You’re a lot better looking in person than you are on TV.”
Blaine flashed her a grin. “Nice of you to say.”
He jogged back home with Lexi in tow and Farrell met him on the driveway. “Who’s the babe?”
“Neighbor who caught Lexi. She’s gorgeous.”
Farrell pointed a finger. “Do something about it, bro.”
BLAINE sent Farrell and Jesse to homicide, then dealt with the security guys wiring the fence and installing the cameras. Once they were up and running and Lil had her eye on them and on Lexi, he drove Carmelita to the closest garden center to pick out the new trees and bushes for the yard.
The first kid that caught up with them as they strolled through the rows of choices, offered to help but seemed to know nothing about the plants. He had to read the tags to get any information.
“I need somebody to help me make a plan,” said Blaine. “Do you have anybody on staff like that?”