“That’s it. My father and brother are deceased.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
Nick didn’t like to talk about that part of his life. Patrick’s suicide had left a hole that time had failed to heal. Izzy had been the only one he’d confided in. That was, of course, until Anaya came along.
“I’ve got to call Anaya,” Nick said, grabbing his cellphone off the table. “She’s got to know what we’re up against.”
“I’ll give you some privacy. When you’re done meet me in the car.”
“Okay,” Nick said.
“We’ve got a crime scene to work. Partner,” Simmons said, closing the door behind her.
Chapter 14
“Here she comes,” Cavanaugh said.
“The sexy redhead?” Ed Spangler asked, looking up from a squatting position.
“Trust me, once she speaks you’ll see there’s nothing sexy about that woman at all.”
“We’ll see about that,” Spangler said.
Nick followed behind Simmons as she entered the alleyway, crossing under the yellow Police - Do Not Cross tape. Any time Nick moved past the onlookers and onto a scene, he couldn’t help feeling that it was like being a VIP to the macabre. Or, as he had bluntly put it many times before, the front row seats to the freak show.
A short potbellied man with a high forehead and glasses stood up. He removed his purple latex gloves and tossed them into an open bucket marked Disposal. He adjusted himself, tucking his unkempt shirttail into his wrinkled khakis. He reached his hand out to Simmons. She accepted it, and the stout man shook it vigorously.
“Ed Spangler, Crime Scene. The big guy here says you’re running the show,” Spangler said, breaking the handshake and thumbing back at Cavanaugh.
Nick looked on as Spangler barely took notice of him. Cheryl definitely caused a distraction to the team working the scene. Spangler looked starstruck. He was surprised the ogling wasn’t followed by howling catcalls and whistling.
“Ed, nice to meet you face to face. I didn’t get a chance to see you at the motel. But I did see the report you drafted and your summation of the scene. Solid work,” Simmons said.
It was as if Heidi Klum had leaned in and given him a kiss. Spangler’s face flushed at the compliment.
“Cavanaugh, you said she was a real bitch. She’s seems really nice to me,” Ed said over his shoulder to the enormous, now mortified, Homicide detective.
“What? I never—. Ed you son of a—,” Cavanaugh stammered.
“No. He’s right. I can come off as a real b-i-t-c-h. Isn’t that right?” Simmons said looking at Nick.
Nick gave an exaggerated nod emphasized with a wide roll of his eyes. “You have no idea.”
“Meet my new partner, Nick Lawrence,” Simmons said.
“We know Nick. He’s been basically slumming with us city guys off and on for years. We told him he’s too ugly to be in the Bureau,” Cavanaugh chided.
“Someone’s got to keep you guys in line,” Nick jested.
“What’s Jones going to say when he hears that you’re cheating on his large brisket-loving ass for a redhead?” Cavanaugh boomed.
Nick gave a wide smile.
“Well, now that all that’s out of the way, what’ve we got?” Simmons asked.
“This fella here had a bad night of dumpster diving,” Spangler said. “It looks like a couple of alley cats got the best of him.”
Nick gave a tired smile at the weak joke. He was sure Spangler had used some variant of it on every new face arriving at the scene.
“Two puncture wounds. One lower right ribcage. The second, left side of the neck. The neck wound was the fatal one. Early guesswork would be middle of the night. Hard to tell until the M.E. gets him on the table,” Cavanaugh said.
“So, we are assuming knife? Any reason to think otherwise?” Simmons asked.
“It’d be my guess. The size of the wounds would be consistent with that,” Spangler said.
Simmons walked closer and gave a quick once over, looking down on the dead man. She turned back toward the group.
“Let my partner see the token,” Simmons said.
Nick gloved up, putting two gloves over each hand. His big hands tested the limits of the latex’s elasticity, indicated by the faded white stretched across the ridges of his knuckles.
“We’ve already done photos, and everything’s been tagged for collection. Just watch your step,” Spangler said.
“It’s in the mouth,” Cavanaugh said.
Nick took up the same position Spangler had been in when they first arrived. He squatted down next to the head of the dead man. The bearded jaw was already open. Nick balanced his forearms on his knees and leaned in, hovering close to the man’s mouth.
He peered closely. Amidst the sea of rotten teeth, he saw the circular metal shape buried underneath the corpse’s twisted tongue. Nick stood and the rush of blood in his legs caused him to wobble.
Nick looked at Simmons who was staring at him intently. The potential that this killer was coming for him, for his family, shook him to the core. He blew out the tension with a loud exhale.
“Two bodies in less than a week. It’s never happened this quickly before. I’ve never seen the deaths timed so close together,” Simmons said.
“What do you think it means?” Nick asked solemnly.
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s mad or really trying hard to get your attention.” Simmons turned toward the street.
“Well, he’s got it now,” Nick said, looking back down at the body of the homeless man.
“One thing I do know is that we better get our asses in gear and find this guy before the next body drops,” Simmons said.
Nick stripped off the gloves and tossed them into the bucket. Even in the cold of the morning, his hands were now slick with sweat.
“Don’t worry boys, the bitch is leaving.” Simmons cast a glance at the large detective. “Cavanaugh, I’ll be checking in later.”
Nick tried to shrug off the awkward departure, giving Cavanagh and Spangler a half-hearted shrug of his shoulders as he hustled after Simmons.
Chapter 15
“I understand why you’re here, but can you make yourself a little less visible?” Anaya asked, leaning into the window of the unmarked Michigan State Police vehicle.
“I’ll do the best I can, but I’ve got orders to maintain eyes on you and the house at all times. Rules are rules,” the trooper replied.
“I know. It’s just the little girl over there has been through a lot, and I want to minimize any unnecessary judgement from neighbors. She’s trying to start a new life here.”
Anaya looked back at Mouse who sat on the stoop of the front door petting her golden lab. She couldn’t help but be amazed at the child’s resilience. The trauma she’d faced would’ve crippled most people, but Mouse was not most people. Anaya’s goal was to make sure that she got a chance at normalcy, a chance for her to be a child. Seeing her now gave her hope that this was becoming a reality.
The trooper grunted his reluctance but caved to Anaya’s request. “I’ll move down the street a bit. I guess there isn’t really another approach to the house except by boat, so it should be all right.”
“Thank you. It will only be a few more days until I leave. I really appreciate you looking out for us,” Anaya said.
She turned and began walking up the white stone driveway of Mouse’s new home. The house was set back from the road and nestled against the expansive ice-covered Lake Huron. From certain angles, when looking out from inside the spacious open layout of the house, it appeared to be floating on the water. Anaya smiled broadly, pleased with herself for getting Mouse to this destination. It couldn’t have been a better location to begin life anew. She thought of how Nick almost gave his life making sure this little girl would have a chance. She loved that man without reservation. She knew that he’d put as much into raising his own child who was growing inside her.
Her contentment was interrupted by t
he muffled chime of her phone penetrating the thick lining of her heavy winter coat pocket.
“Speak of the devil, I was just thinking of you,” Anaya said.
“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“We’re okay. Promise,” Anaya said.
“It’s killing me that you are so far away, but I agree that it’s for the best right now. I’m wrapped up in this case, and I wouldn’t be able to protect you the way I should,” Nick said.
“I can handle myself, remember?”
“I know, I know. It’s just… um… different now,” Nick said.
“We’re going to be fine. The protection detail is here. You focus on finding this guy and let me worry about everything else,” Anaya said.
“Hey is Mouse around? I want to say hello,” Nick asked.
“Sure is. Hold on,” Anaya said, handing the phone off.
“Hi Nick!” Mouse said.
“Hey tough girl, I’m really sorry I couldn’t be there to see you,” Nick said.
“No worries. I understand,” Mouse said.
“What are you and Anaya going to do today?”
“Not sure. I think we are going to make some hot cocoa and take a walk out on the ice. We’ll send you a pic,” Mouse said, speaking a mile-a-minute.
“So glad you’re loving it out there. Anaya said you’ve got a dog?”
“Yup.”
“That dog couldn’t be in better hands,” Nick said happily.
“I named her Izzy,” Mouse said.
Nick’s throat constricted, and he paused to clear it. Izzy’s name coming out of Mouse rocked him.
“She saved me,” Mouse said in a whisper.
“Me too. More times than I can count and, in more ways, than I can say,” Nick said.
Nick wiped the moisture from his eye. “She’d have loved to know that you named your new best friend after her.”
“I’m so sorry about what happened, Nick,” Mouse said.
“You know better than most the crappy hand that life deals us sometimes.” Nick rubbed his temple and tried to clear his mind. “You enjoy your time with Anaya. Keep an eye on her for me.”
“Okay. I’ll see you next time,” Mouse said.
“You bet. Next time for sure.”
Nick pocketed the phone and looked over at Simmons who was intently focused on the wet roadway. Not cold enough for ice, but cold enough to make it a miserably slow commute back to headquarters.
“How’s she holding up with all of this?” Simmons asked without taking her eyes off the road.
“She’s good. The security detail is on site. Thank you for setting that up,” Nick said.
“No problem. I’m surprised they were so quick to respond to my request.”
“What’s the plan now?” Nick asked.
“I’ve got to bring you up to speed on this investigation, and fast.” Simmons adjusted the wiper setting to deal with the varying rate of precipitation and continued, “Are you up for this?”
“I’ve never backed down from a fight before and don’t plan on this being the first time.”
“Good to know.”
Nick stared intently ahead.
“You just seemed a little off after the phone call,” Simmons said, shooting him a glance.
“Just a lot to process, I guess,” Nick said.
“Is Mouse your daughter?”
“Mouse? No. Would be proud if she was. Tough as they come. Anaya and I helped her out of a really bad spot not too long ago. She was just adopted by her foster family in Michigan,” Nick said, allowing his pride to shine through.
“I didn’t mean to pry. I just overheard the nickname and assumed.”
“No need to explain. How about you? Kids?” Nick asked.
Simmons sighed and fidgeted in her seat. “Not for me. Life dealt me some bad cards in that department.”
“Sorry,” Nick said.
“Not your fault, right?” Simmons gripped the wheel tighter, exposing the white of her knuckles. “Any plans of starting a family of your own?”
“Plans seem to have had nothing to do with it,” Nick said.
His cheeks flushed at his subtle admission. He watched to see if Simmons picked up on it.
“So that explains it then,” Simmons said.
“What?”
“Why this Ferryman threat has you so messed up. How far along is she?”
“Two months,” Nick said.
“Well look at you. You’re going to be a father. Excited?”
“I just found out the day before yesterday.” Nick said.
“You had a hell of a start to your week,” Simmons said.
“That’s the understatement of the century.”
Nick stared out at the red chain of brake lights that danced across the windshield as the wipers worked to clear the drizzle. The zigzagged towers of Austin’s downtown skyline were dimed by the storm clouds overhead. The Ferryman was out there somewhere, and Nick needed to find him in the worst kind of way.
Chapter 16
The office was warm. The thermostat, set too high in an attempt to offset the cold of the day, left the office ten degrees warmer than necessary. Nick shed his heavy coat and rolled up his sleeves. Simmons made a direct line to the conference room and seemed unaffected by the drastic change in temperature. Nick felt the eyes of his coworkers as he followed behind the redhead. He forced himself not to engage their looks. He’d aligned himself with Simmons and didn’t want to betray the fragile trust they’d just recently established. Nick knew this alliance provided him with the best chance of catching the Ferryman.
Nick shut the door after he entered the conference room, closing them off from the others. Without Simmons on the attack, the room had returned to its comfortable standing. He tossed his wet coat on a nearby chair and sat. It took only a second before Nick realized that he was again sitting in the same chair as the night before. Simmons must’ve noticed this too, because she grinned widely as she placed the large cardboard file box on the table between them.
“Don’t worry. No more interrogations from me,” Simmons said.
“Good to know. I don’t think I’d last another round,” Nick snarked.
“I’m going to need you up and running on these cases, past and present. An extra set of eyes never hurts. And I’ve heard you have a knack for investigations.”
“Thanks. And I agree whole-heartedly that it’s always good to have someone else look at things from a fresh perspective,” Nick said.
“To be honest I don’t usually work with a partner.” She nibbled at her bottom lip. “I’ve found that I’m better off on my own.”
“Many hands make light work,” Nick said.
“Not for me. It’s more of a burden.”
“Then why ask me?”
“It’s simple really.” Simmons stopped unpacking the box and paused, with a file folder in hand. “Bait.”
“Bait? There’s that word again. I hope that I can be more assistance to you than a piece of cheese in a trap.”
“I hope so too, but if not, at least I can tie you to a chair and see if the bad guy comes. Figuratively, of course,” Simmons said with a wink.
“Geesh, that sounds bad.”
“Bad for you, but good for me.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of this.” Nick stared hard into the intense green of Simmons’s eyes.
“Not sure you have much of a choice. Look at it this way, for whatever reason the Ferryman’s picked you. He’s coming sooner or later. And I’d rather use that and try to control it. If we can draw him out, then it would give me an advantage that I’ve never had.”
“So, you want me to keep to my routine? Not draw any suspicion that we’re concerned so he feels comfortable making a move?”
“See! I knew you were a smart guy. I just want him to move without worry. Maybe he’ll get sloppy and make a mistake.”
“You keep saying him. How do you know the Ferryman is in fact a man?” Nick asked.
“I don’t. I just said it’s a possibility. I haven’t been working the case, and you’ve obviously developed your profile. I didn’t mean to question it,” Nick said.
“That’s irrelevant to my question. Why do you think it’s a possibility?”
“The stab wounds on the latest victim,” Nick answered.
“Go on.”
Well, the first one I’d assume was the rib shot. And I’d guess the dead guy to be about 5’10” to 6 feet tall. Basically, he’s average to slightly above average in height. If the killer was standing, that knife would’ve come in from low to high.”
“A tall man could make that wound by driving upward like this.” Simmons took the pen in her hand and held it pointing up with her thumb as the guide. She then made an upward arcing motion.
“True, but I think the second wound is more telling,” Nick continued.
“How so?” Simmons asked.
“I’m assuming that the stab wound to the neck was the second attack. So it was done at an upward angle.”
“How’d you deduce that about the neck wound?” Simmons said.
“The cut was not straight across, as it would’ve been if the doer were of similar height. So, based on that, I’m thinking it also came from low to high,” Nick said, studying Simmons’s reaction to his conjecture. Her face was stoic and didn’t betray any indication of her opinion.
“You got all that from being on that scene for such a short time?”
“Look, murder isn’t my forte. I could be way off,” Nick said.
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