DEATH ON THE NEW MOON (A Troubled Waters Suspense Thriller Book 6)

by Michael Lindley

"You need to stay right where you are and tell me what happened. I got everyone in the damn department out looking for this Caine fellow."

  Alex reached for the heavy bandages on his neck and winced again at the pain.

  "You took a round through the side of your throat," Guinness said. "Nicked a damn artery. You nearly bled-out."

  Alex closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing. He remembered the last moments when the man named Caine turned his gun back on him and the puff of smoke as the gun silently bucked and tore off a slice of his neck. He looked over at the tubes running from his arm up to bags of red and clear liquids on a rack beside the bed.

  "It was a shit show, Captain," Alex finally said. He closed his eyes and tried to remember more of those last horrifying moments. "What about the others?" he asked.

  The two uniforms, Knapp and Armeda are dead, killed in the alley. Willy's gone, too."

  Alex was shaking his head slowly, his eyes pressed closed.

  "Beatty got two shots off on Caine, but thinks he missed. We're checking all the blood trails."

  "Captain... I'm not sure..."

  "Beatty stayed with you and Lonnie to try to stop the bleeding," Guinness said. "He didn't pursue."

  Alex remembered the door crashing into his arm and face, his gun falling away and then the shooter coming out... Lonnie going down. He knew in his heart he had screwed-up. Lonnie is gone! He felt a terrible weight pushing him down into the bed. He didn't think he could move. He felt his hands trembling and his feet were cold.

  Alex heard his captain say, "When you feel strong enough, we need to get this all down. For now, tell me anything that will help us find this guy."

  Random images and flashes of memory came and went. "I just don't know, sir," Alex finally said. "Lonnie got a call from the bar owner. We know the guy. He had Caine at his bar. We'd shown the picture around."

  "I know," Guinness said, "Lonnie checked-in with me before you left."

  "What did Beatty tell you," Alex asked.

  "I want to know what you remember."

  Alex sighed deeply. He wanted to get it all out, but something inside was holding him back. He just wasn't clear on all that had gone down... except he was sure he had cost Lonnie Smith his life. He squeezed his eyes tighter and tried to hold back tears. He felt his captain’s hand on his arm.

  "You rest a bit more. I need to check back on the search. I called Hanna. She should be here soon."

  Hanna. What was he going to tell her? That he hadn't been able to protect his partner? That he had gotten him killed. Hanna knew Lonnie and Ginny now, almost like family. Goddammit!

  A deep sorrow pressed over him, as bad as when his father had told him and his brother that their mother had just died in a car accident, back when they were in high school.

  He woke with a start and opened his eyes. The pain in his neck flared red and hot and he winced before turning to the door to see Hanna standing there. She rushed to the side of the bed and leaned down to hug him. He could feel her tears soak through the hospital gown on his chest.

  "Alex, I'm so sorry about Lonnie," she whispered.

  He didn't answer but pulled her tighter around him.

  "The department has people with Ginny."

  "I know," he said, the sadness in his voice like a dark fog hanging over the room.

  Hanna pulled back to see his face. "Are you okay? Your neck?"

  "I don't know. I haven't talked to a doctor yet."

  She looked up at the IV's. "The captain said you lost a lot of blood."

  He just nodded back at her.

  "Alex?" she started, then paused as he looked away.

  "Alex, what is it?"

  He was shaking his head slowly, his eyes closed.

  "Alex!"

  He turned back to her, a frantic fury in his face. "It's my damn fault, Hanna!"

  "What?"

  "I screwed up!"

  She reached out and held his cheek, then stroked it gently. "Alex, you can't blame..."

  "I got him killed, Hanna!"

  Their eyes met and he couldn't help the tears flooding out. She wiped at them with her fingers and then hugged him again. She whispered through her own tears, "Honey, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

  Chapter Eight

  Hanna drove up the street to the Smith's house. She saw two police cruisers parked in the front and another unmarked car in the drive. She looked at her watch. It was just past noon. She found an empty space across the street under a big oak tree and pulled in. Walking up to the house, she couldn't put thoughts of Alex's tearful confession from her mind. He wouldn't tell her what had actually happened but insisted Lonnie's death was his fault. She couldn't imagine the grief and pain he was feeling. Her own emotions were nearly overwhelming.

  Her heart beat faster as she walked up the lawn to the porch. The kids are probably still at school, she thought to herself. God, how will they ever get through this? And Ginny?"

  The front door opened as she got to the steps. A woman dressed in a blue skirt and white plain blouse stepped out on the porch. She had deep red hair pulled back tight in a bun at the back of her head and heavy framed black glasses covering much of her face. A police shield hung from a lanyard around her neck. She held out a hand to stop Hanna. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Smith isn't seeing anyone right now."

  "She's my friend," Hanna replied, then continued, "Alex Frank is my boyfriend."

  "Are you Hanna?" the woman asked.

  "Yes, yes I am. I know about Lonnie. Can I please come in?"

  The policewoman hesitated then said, "Let me check a moment," then disappeared beyond the door.

  Hanna looked up and down the street. It looked like a normal day in this Charleston neighborhood. The tall trees were shading the quiet street. She saw Ginny's flowerbed was filled with many colors and beautifully tended. She sighed deeply and looked down in despair. She looked up and Ginny Smith was standing in the door. Through the screen, Hanna could see her face was drawn and streaked with tears. She pushed open the door.

  "Hanna, thank you for coming." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  The two women embraced in the doorway Their cheeks were wet together. Hanna said, "I'm so sorry, dear. I don't know what to say other than I'm so very sorry."

  She felt Ginny's head nodding and then she pulled away and motioned for Hanna to come in. The woman who had first met her on the porch was standing to the side, her arms crossed. Hanna could see two other uniformed officers in the kitchen, both on their phones. Another plainclothes officer was sitting on the couch in the living room, watching them. His tie was undone and his shirtsleeves rolled up in the heat.

  Ginny turned to the policewoman. "Can you give us a few minutes, please?"

  The woman nodded, "Of course."

  There was a small den at the back of the house. Ginny motioned for Hanna to take a seat on a plaid couch and then sat next to her on a stuffed armchair, pushing the ottoman aside.

  "How is Alex?" Ginny asked. "I know he's been wounded."

  "I just came from the hospital. He's apparently out of danger, but very weak. He lost a lot of blood." She saw her friend blanch and look away. "Ginny, I shouldn't have..."

  "No, it's okay."

  "What can I do?" Hanna asked quietly.

  Ginny looked back at her and said, "I don't know how I'm going to tell the kids. They'll be home from school soon. The officers wanted to bring them home earlier, but I need more time and I didn't want them picked up by the police at school."

  "Of course."

  "Our minister will be here any time," Ginny continued.

  "I'll stay here with you to help with the kids."

  "No, you need to be with Alex. Thank you for coming, but..."

  "He needs to rest," Hanna said. "There's really not much I can do down there." She thought again about Alex's deep sorrow and guilt at the loss of his friend and partner. She knew she couldn't say anything to Ginny about it...
yet.

  Ginny wiped at her nose with a tissue.

  "Is there anyone I can call for you?" Hanna asked.

  "Lonnie's department is helping with most of that. I've already called Lonnie's parents. They live in Nashville and will be coming in tonight. My parents live across town and are on their way over." She paused and wiped at her nose again. "You're sure Alex will be okay?"

  Hanna felt guilty for some strange reason that Alex would likely survive, and Ginny's husband was gone forever. "Yes, the doctor said he should be fine after the wound heals."

  Ginny said, "Did he tell you anything about..." She couldn't finish.

  Hanna jumped in and knew she was lying, but said, "No, he's still trying to piece it all together."

  The officers out there won't tell me much," Ginny said, "an ongoing investigation and all, for Pete's sake."

  "I'm sure there's a process and protocol," Hanna replied and then regretted saying anything.

  "As soon as I saw that woman through the door this morning, I knew something had gone terribly wrong."

  Hanna reached over and took her friend's hand.

  "Lonnie and I were going to take a weekend away this Friday and go to the beach down in Hilton Head. We haven't been able to get away in so long."

  Hanna sighed and went over and sat on the arm of the chair, putting her arm around her friend. Finally, she said, "Alex and I will always be here for you and the kids."

  Ginny looked up and said, "I know dear. I know."

  Chapter Nine

  Alex leaned back against the pillows in his hospital bed and listened to the phone ringing at the other end of the call to his father's cell. It was mid-afternoon and he hoped he would catch him still out on the water within a cell signal or onshore before he was off to another night at Gilly's and who knew what calamity with Ella Moore. He was about to end the call when the ringing stopped.

  "Alex! That you, boy?"

  "Hey Pop, yeah. You out on the water?"

  "Just comin' in. Good run this morning. Damn near full hold of shrimp."

  "Good, good," said Alex slowly. "Look, I needed to reach you so you wouldn't worry if you heard something on the news."

  "What's up?" Alex could hear the roar of the big diesel below the deck of the Maggie Mae.

  "There was an incident during an arrest this morning, Pop."

  "An incident? You okay?"

  "I'll be fine, Pop, but..." He paused a moment to gather himself. "We lost Lonnie, Pop."

  "What!" the old man roared into the phone. "What in hell happened?"

  "We tried to take down this shooter who's been leaving a trail of bodies around town."

  "A shooter?"

  "He's a hit man for the Dellahousaye organization."

  "A bunch of bottom-feedin' sonsabitches!" the Skipper said. "Weren't the Richards boys tied up with that asshole?"

  "That's right, Pop."

  "And this guy got Lonnie? Oh shit, I'm sorry, son."

  "Yeah, it's the worst, Pop. I haven't been out to see Ginny yet, but this is gonna be a terrible..." He couldn't finish.

  His father broke in. "You sure you're okay?"

  "Nothing to worry about," Alex said, not wanting his father to overreact. "I took a round on the side of my neck, but they've got me patched up. Didn't hit anything vital."

  "Holy shit, son! That's too damn close!"

  "I'm okay," Alex said. "I just didn't want you to hear something on the radio or TV. Three other police officers were killed."

  "My God! They catch the guy?"

  "No, not yet."

  "They gonna give you some time off to heal up?" his father asked.

  "Don't know yet. This just happened late this morning."

  "You need to come up and spend a few days on the boat with me. Let the sunshine and salt air help with the healing."

  Alex let out a deep breath of air as he thought about the next few days and the internal investigation into the shootings that was sure to ramp up and ring him dry in the process. Four police officers down... there would be hell to pay. He had to get his mind clear on all that went down, but his primary concern right now was to get back on the job and join the effort to find Caine before he killed again. While the thought chilled him, Alex knew he would never rest until he avenged the death of his partner. "I'll think about it, Pop. Let's see what the boss has in mind for me first. I'll keep you posted."

  "You keep your damn head down, son," his father warned.

  "Sure, Pop. I'll talk to you soon." He ended the call.

  Hanna appeared in the hospital room door later that afternoon. Alex had been sleeping fitfully and turned when he saw her come in. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was just past 2:00. The nurses had been keeping him heavily sedated on something he couldn't pronounce. Hanna came over to the bed and sat beside him, leaning in to give him a kiss.

  "Sorry to wake you," she said. "I don't even want to ask how you're feeling."

  "Like shit, thank you," he said with frustration. "Sorry..."

  "You don't have to apologize."

  "Did you see Ginny?"

  Hanna nodded her head yes, trying not to show the concern she was feeling.

  "I need to go and be with them," Alex said.

  "You need to stay right here until the doctor says otherwise."

  "She must be taking this really hard. I can't imagine."

  "She's a strong woman and mostly she's worried about the kids."

  Alex knew Hanna wanted to reassure him, but it was a useless effort. He squeezed the bridge of his nose and pressed his eyes shut, trying to block the images of Lonnie's five fatherless kids.

  Hanna said, "Her pastor is there with them, and both sets of parents will be staying and helping out as long as needed."

  "What they need is their father, dammit!" Alex said, clenching his fists. He felt Hanna rubbing his shoulder in comfort and turned to see her looking down at him, a deep sadness on her face. He needed to step back and realize just how fortunate he was to even be alive, let alone have this woman to share these coming days with. He reached up and took her hand and pulled her close in a tight embrace. After a while, he said, "Thank you for being here for me."

  "Of course."

  "You've had to put up with a lot with this crazy cop life I lead," he said.

  Hanna whispered back into his ear, "I've had my own share of drama."

  Chapter Ten

  Hanna stopped back at her office just before 5 o'clock to check in with Molly and try to gather some work she could get to through the evening. She had ordered takeout for Ginny and her family and would pick that up on the way back over to the Smith house around six.

  There were still two groups of people waiting in her small lobby to speak with lawyers, an Hispanic man and woman with a small child and another young woman, also with a baby in her lap. Molly ended a phone call as Hanna came up to her desk.

  "I hate to ask," Molly said, scrunching her face like she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

  "Alex is okay. It's a pretty serious wound on his neck, but the doctor thinks he'll be up and around in a couple of days."

  "Well, thank goodness."

  "How we doing here?" Hanna asked, looking around the reception area.

  "All set. Adam will be able to meet with both parties here before he leaves. She was referring to Adam Preston who had worked at the clinic with Hanna for several years. "I left a few things on the center of your desk you need to deal with. Sorry."

  "No, that's okay. That's why I came back." Hanna looked over her shoulder and then turned to Molly. "Can you come back for a moment?"

  Molly stood across the desk as Hanna pulled her notes from the meeting earlier that day with Calley Barbour. "If you get some time later or in the morning, will you see what you can find on case law regarding underage abortion?" Her assistant was studying to become a paralegal and often helped with research when she could take time away from running the
front desk and administration of the office.

  "Your meeting with Calley Barbour this morning?" Molly asked.

  Hanna nodded and frowned, thinking back on the girl's difficult situation and decisions to be made. "She was raped and didn't report it. Now she's three months pregnant and doesn't want to keep the baby. She's convinced her parents will disown her."

  "Does she want to pursue the rape charge?"

  "No, she doesn't even know who the boy is or where to find him."

  Molly nodded.

  Hanna spent two hours at Ginny Smith's house, helping her feed and comfort her kids. The boys ranged from the oldest at fifteen, down to young Henry who was just four. Her parents and in-laws had arrived, and several close neighbors and church friends were also crowding the house. Hanna could tell it was all too much for Ginny to deal with, but she had no idea how to graciously ask everyone to give the woman some space with her children. Maybe it was best to have all the distraction, she thought.

  The police department representatives had all left over an hour ago. Ginny had been assigned a counselor who would continue to help her through the coming days. Her pastor had also seemed to be a great comfort. Hanna was helping some of the visitors get food when she saw Ginny at the sink, working on rinsing dishes and silverware. She walked over and placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Can you please take a moment. I'll do this."

  Ginny turned. "I'd rather keep busy, thanks."

  Hanna moved in to help her at the sink, loading the dishwasher. "Did you learn anything more from the police people who were here?"

  "I finally got them to share what they could," she said. "Lonnie and Alex were leading a team to arrest a suspect on some local murders. The man still hasn't been apprehended."

  Hanna said, "Captain Guinness told me they have the whole department out looking for this guy."

  "They think he's part of the Dellahousaye crime family," Ginny said, looking over at Hanna. "A professional assassin who's killed a couple of people locally in the past weeks. Lonnie got a tip where he'd be. Somehow, this guy must have known they were coming to get him in this bar downtown."