No Time for Goodbye

by Marion Myles

  “I’m sorry. This isn’t about me. These are your people. You’ve known them your whole life. It has to be a million times worse for you.”

  “Let’s just agree we both feel crappy about it. Why don’t you go on home? I think I’m gonna let this sit for a while. It’s almost end of shift anyway, and it’ll give me more time to figure out how to get Schmidt on board. I have a couple of things to finish up, and then I’ll join you. Do you want me to bring food?”

  “That’s okay. I already picked dinner up at the diner. Don’t get your hopes up,” she said quickly when his face lit up. “We’re having healthy salads tonight. You need to start taking better care of yourself.”

  “Maybe I should have a pre-dinner snack before I head out. I think I have a coupon for KFC somewhere in my car.”

  “Don’t you dare. There’ll be plenty of food, and you’ll like it, I promise.”

  “Sure. Sure. Drive safe…and Mia, thanks for coming straight over with this.”

  “No problem.”

  She was more than ready to go home. Back to her four-legged boys and girls and the quiet where she didn’t have to wonder if she was rubbing elbows with a murderer. It was doubtful she’d be able to concentrate on work, but sitting in the sunroom with a glass of wine sounded just about perfect.

  The dogs seemed especially energetic when she pulled the SUV up to the house. They ran at the fence and Mac actually hit it so hard the wire sprang and bounced him back. It was strange. She’d only been gone a few hours.

  Naturally, they raced in through the doggie door ahead of her and practically bowled her over when she stepped inside. Layla did something she knew was against the rules. She jumped up so her front feet landed on Mia’s chest, knocking the food containers out of her hands and slamming her back into the closed door.

  “Bad girl,” she hissed. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t done that since I first adopted you.”

  Layla cowered at her feet. Tucker whined and licked the golden lab’s face. Rubbing her butt, which had taken the brunt of the impact with the door, Mia stooped over and picked up the food. Oh well, there’d be no need to toss the salad, she thought.

  Subdued now, the dogs followed steps behind her as she made her way to the kitchen. Mac let out a little whine and sat at her feet. Fifi crouched in between Mac’s front legs, gazing up at Mia. The other two dogs paced back and forth across the kitchen.

  She stared at them for several seconds. “What the heck is up with you guys? Do you want to go for a walk, is that it? I was thinking porch and wine, but maybe a walk would be better. Okay, troops. Let’s do it.”

  They perked up slightly when Mia said the word walk but remained quiet when she unlocked the kitchen door and stepped out. Not only was Mac pressed up against one leg, but Layla, uncharacteristically, stayed glued to her other thigh. The two small dogs slotted in beside their bigger companions, and Mia felt like she was marching in formation. When Mac whined for a second time, she finally looked up.

  Her heart lurched in her chest, and her hand involuntarily flew to her mouth. “Get back,” she screamed before she’d fully registered what was in front of her. “Come on. Everyone in the house. Now.”

  Grabbing Layla’s collar, she turned and ran to the side door. The dogs followed as one unit, and Mia had everyone back in the kitchen, safe and sound, within seconds. Whirling around, she slammed the deadbolt into place. Her breath came in short gasps while she grabbed up her cell phone and punched her contact list and Roman’s number.

  “Hey,” he answered. “I’m almost ready. Should be able to head out in fifteen. Did you change your mind about eating healthy?”

  “You need to come now.” Her voice sounded wrong in her ears.

  “Where are you? Are you safe?”

  “I’m…yes, I’m safe. The dogs and I are locked in the house. Someone was here. The greenhouse is smashed to bits.”

  “Don’t go out there. Don’t answer the door no matter who it is. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  He made it in eight.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Even in the short amount of time Mia waited for Roman to arrive, she managed to find her equilibrium. She was okay. The dogs were fine. Anything else could be fixed or replaced. From the front window, she watched Roman and Kevin exit the Impala with guns drawn. A black and white police car roared in after them. When it slammed to a stop, two officers jumped out.

  Roman motioned them to the house, and Mia saw him nod at Kevin before cautiously walking toward the back yard. She returned to the kitchen and peered through the window over the sink where she was able to track their progress around the greenhouse. All was quiet. Whoever had smashed the glass panels was apparently long gone.

  Eventually, Roman and Kevin approached the side door where she stood waiting.

  “It looks like a total demo. I’m really sorry,” Roman said.

  “What about the equipment inside?”

  Kevin shook his head. “Maybe some of it can be repaired, but wires were cut and most of the trays dented or cracked.”

  “Dammit. That’s my new hydroponic setup. I literally just got it last week.”

  “I know.” Roman took her hand in his. “It’s seriously crappy. Why don’t we sit down? You can take us through the timeline of the afternoon.”

  “It couldn’t have been Gabriel,” she said once she’d reached the end. “I talked to him right before I went to see you. There wasn’t enough time to get out here and trash the greenhouse before I got home.”

  “Yeah, I agree. But what about when you first got to the diner? Did you see him then?”

  Mia closed her eyes. “The new girl was at the hostess station. She’s the one who seated me. Brooke was already there. Um…Jim was working the counter then. I guess I didn’t notice Gabriel until later when he came out of the kitchen.”

  “So there might have been time, especially if he was watching your place and saw you leave?” His eyes flicked over to Kevin. “We’ll have to follow up on that. I’d also like to know where Luke McNally was this afternoon.”

  “This is so stupid,” Mia said. “I may have found Anita’s body, but I still don’t know who killed her.”

  “From the killer’s point of view, nobody has had any interest or clues for ten years, and then you came along and blew the whole thing wide open again. My guess is he wants you out of here. The sooner, the better,” Kevin said.

  “Makes me wonder if he’s getting desperate enough to kill again,” Roman said.

  “But there wasn’t a note this time. We don’t even know for sure it was the same person,” Mia protested.

  “Odds are good it was,” Kevin said.

  She rubbed a hand over her face. “I know. None of this seems real.”

  “I think it’d be best if you moved into town. It’s so remote out here. You’re making the killer’s job ten times easier,” Roman said.

  She stared at him. “I have four dogs, and I work from home. I doubt the local bed and breakfast would be willing to take me on.”

  “I meant to my place.”

  “Well, since I’ve never seen your place, I can’t actually say for sure, but it sounds like an apartment. A one bedroom apartment,” she said, emphasizing the last few words before pointing to the dogs pacing at the kitchen door. “How exactly do you think that’ll work?”

  “Okay, you’re right. My parent’s house then. It’s big enough, and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to let you stay until this guy is caught.”

  “Roman, thanks. I mean it. But I’m not moving into your parents’ house with a pack of dogs and an online jewelry business. So far it’s only happened when I’m not home. From now on, I’ll stay put. I can get practically anything I need with an internet connection and FedEx.”

  “We’ll put a uniform on the house,” Kevin said.

  “Yeah, for a day or two, but you and I both know we don’t have the manpower long-term,” Roman said.

  “I have the dogs and a c
ell phone, and I’ll be careful,” Mia insisted. She didn’t know why the thought of leaving her home made her feel so panicky, but it did.

  “And I’ll be here at night,” Roman added. “Non-negotiable. During the day, you’ll text me every hour.”

  “Every hour? Come on. Don’t you think you’re taking it a little too far? How about two times during the day?”

  “Four times,” he countered. “Every second hour.”

  “Three times,” she said firmly. “Ten, noon, and three o’clock.”

  “And we’ll add a couple of drive-bys,” Kevin said. “That should do it. Mia doesn’t strike me as the sort of person to take unnecessary risks.”

  “No, she doesn’t, but I can’t say the same for this psycho.”

  When everyone except Roman had gone, Mia went out and walked cautiously around the remains of the greenhouse. Every single panel except those on the roof had been damaged. Most were smashed into countless pieces. The grass was littered with debris. It would be a job and a half to clean it up, and she’d have to keep the dogs well clear of the area until then.

  She moved slowly, picking her way among the larger jagged pieces of glass. How long will it take to do this, she wondered? And what did he use? A baseball bat? A tire iron?

  Flash. The briefest instant of a vision. A sledgehammer. That’s what he used. Old, the metal carrying a sheen of rust and the handle wooden. She saw the black leather glove and a dark blue sleeve. Then it was gone. Although she strained, standing still and keeping her eyes closed while frantically reaching out with her mind, she couldn’t bring the vision back.

  “Nothing else?” Roman asked when she finally gave up and went inside to tell him. “What about shoes or pants? Anything in the background like a car maybe?”

  “No. It was barely a second, and the vision was tight. I saw it as though looking down. The arm was swinging forward. One arm, one hand, and the sledgehammer. Nothing else. The edges of my sight were smudged out and grey.”

  “Could you hear anything? Were the dogs barking?”

  She thought for a moment. “It was more like a snapshot. Just a single moment frozen in time. Wait, there was…” She paused and rubbed her temple with her right hand. “There was…he was happy. No gleeful. That’s the right word. He was filled with glee.”

  When the shiver traveled down her spine, she hugged her arms around her chest.

  “It’s okay. Try not to worry. We’re going to get this guy.”

  “I know. I’m not worried,” she lied.

  * * *

  The next week was enough to fray every last one of her nerves. During the day, she kept all the doors locked and only went out on the back porch whenever the dogs were in the run. She was terrified the killer would try something again. Something more sinister than cutting a hole in the fence.

  Other than the porch outings, she didn’t leave the house.

  Her only reprieve was a nightly walk with Roman and the dogs. It was arranged that one of the uniformed officers followed him to Mia’s house at the end of shift and sat on the place while they took the dogs around the property to stretch their legs. Roman carried his gun and said little on the outings, his eyes constantly scanning the fields and tree lines.

  His laser-like focus on the surroundings made her feel completely exposed, and she was barely able to exhale while her mind filled with visions of a masked man spraying her with bullets. It would be pitifully easy for the killer to hide out somewhere and take both Roman and her down in seconds.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t do this until after he’s caught,” Mia said.

  “We’re fine. Don’t worry. Dave and I always drive the side road behind your property on our way over. There’re no suspicious vehicles parked anywhere in the area. Just relax and enjoy the night air, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said though she didn’t feel much better.

  After the first few days, Mia put her foot down and insisted she couldn’t live on take-out. “It’s not healthy. It’s expensive, and besides, I like cooking,” she told him, counting off the reasons on her fingers.

  Mia came to truly treasure that time of the day. Once they were back safely from the evening walk, they settled inside the log house, and she finished preparing the food and plating up dinner. She and Roman ate in the kitchen nook. The dogs, totally used to having an extra human around, lay in pools of the late evening sun filtering through the front room windows.

  This new routine was homey and relaxing. Rather than feeling hemmed in, she found it nice having someone to talk to every night. Roman told her funny stories about the guys at the police station or about some of the small events that happened in his day. He talked about his family and the sports teams he followed, particularly the Atlanta Braves. She’d never really watched baseball, but now sometimes joined him on the couch to catch a few innings.

  And, of course, the discussion often wound around to Anita’s murder.

  There were still no new leads on whoever had come to Mia’s property and destroyed the greenhouse. Luke McNally had a rock-solid alibi. He’d been seeing patients at the time and hadn’t left the office building the entire afternoon. As for Gabriel, he was basically in the clear. Roman couldn’t officially bring him in for questioning since the only link they had to the case was Mia’s vision of him lecturing Anita about children born out of wedlock.

  Still, Roman had quietly asked around town about the day the greenhouse was vandalized and found enough corroborating witnesses to place Gabriel out and about running errands when Mia first arrived to have coffee with Brooke.

  With more probing of the employees at the diner, he’d been able to confirm the man stayed at the restaurant for the rest of the day. Unless someone was lying, there was no way Gabriel had been able to hightail it to Mia’s in the short time she’d left the diner, met with Roman at the police station, then gone home.

  The forensic evidence at Anita’s burial site had netted them nothing. Using the internet, Roman found the emerald ring was part of a signature line carried by Zale’s, one of the largest chains of jewelry stores in the country. None of the suspects had purchased anything at any Zale’s store the two years before Anita was killed with either credit or debit. Since there was no way of tracing a cash sale, it didn’t actually clear any of them either. For all intents and purposes, the ring was a dead end.

  Given the murder had happened ten years ago…no one in town remembered anything about vehicles parked at the entrance to the forest…nor had anyone stumbled across the freshly cultivated ground shortly after Anita had been buried. Really it had been a risky place to hide her remains since it was a known hangout spot for teenagers.

  Roman couldn’t decide if the choice of burial site made it more or less likely that the killer had been a teenager. Did adults even know about Sweetheart’s Clearing or had the guy simply stumbled upon the location by chance?

  “How’s your family doing?” Mia asked once they were both seated at the table one night.

  “Sort of okay. I can tell it’s wearing on them, but after all this time they’re basically used to dealing with this kind of stuff. Lina’s gone back to Atlanta. She still hasn’t said anything about getting a divorce. I guess she figures there’s enough going on right now without adding to the bad news in the family. Tony’s in…I think it’s Miami this week.”

  “That’s good, about Tony I mean. Is he away long?”

  “Not sure. I think he’s keeping it loose at work until we figure out when to have the memorial.” Roman forked up a mouthful of mashed potatoes and sighed. “These are really good.”

  “Thanks. I hadn’t thought about the memorial. When will Anita’s remains be released?”

  He swallowed and put down his fork. “Any day now would be my guess. They’ve tested and retested everything. I don’t think there’s anything more her bones can tell us. Ma’s thinking maybe July sixth.”

  “The day she went missing and was likely killed?” Mia murmured. “Very fitting.”


  “Yeah, it makes a nice circle I guess. Whenever it is, I want you to come.”

  Before she could stop herself, she’d reached across and placed her hand on his arm. “Of course. It would be an honor.”

  He nodded. “Good. Having you there…it’ll make it easier.”

  “And maybe I’ll sense something,” Mia said, squeezing his arm.

  He leaned back in his chair and moved her hand until he could thread his fingers through hers. She looked down at their joined hands for a moment, her brow drawing together, but said nothing.

  “It will be good to lay her to rest. I’d rather we catch the killer first. Still, even this way, it’ll feel like we’ve done something for her,” Roman said.

  “I know. I’m sure your mom and dad will be relieved.”

  “That’s for sure. They hated the thought of her buried in unconsecrated ground. These things are important to them.”

  “Not to you?”

  “The Catholic stuff?” He shrugged. “I like some of the ceremonies and rituals, but I’m not especially down with everything they preach. Did you know I was an altar boy?”

  “What? Really? What was that like?”

  “To be honest, it was cool. I got a kick out of being behind the scenes, going places other people weren’t allowed to go like the altar or into the sacristy. I still like it, I guess. As a detective, I can be right in the thick of things behind the police tape, and everyone else has to stand back. What about you? Any religious affiliations?”

  “No. Some of the homes…I mean, my parents were Anglican but didn’t go to church.”

  He stared at her, blinking rapidly. “What homes?” he finally asked.

  She released his hand and leaning forward, gathered their plates and cutlery. “We moved a couple of times, that’s all. I made brownies for dessert.”

  “Why won’t you talk about it?”

  “About what?”

  “About anything from before. How many times did you move? What was it like being an only child? How come you have a degree in art history, but there aren’t any paintings in your house or books on art? Most people have personal photos and relics of the past scattered around. Where are yours?”