Still Life

by Dani Pettrey

  Lexi cocked her head. “That’s odd.”

  Dr. Ebeid didn’t bother asking why. He clearly wanted this conversation over with.

  “We have an eyewitness placing Anajay Darmadi at a payphone in Canton on Saturday, shortly after he fled the merchant cargo ship he was smuggled in on.”

  “Perhaps your eyewitness was incorrect. I’m sorry to say that, for many, people of Indonesian descent are indistinguishable.”

  “No. We know it was Anajay. His fingerprints were on the phone,” Lexi said.

  Whenever she spoke, a tiny muscle in Dr. Ebeid’s jaw flickered. He clearly did not appreciate a woman questioning him.

  “I see,” he said.

  “And can you imagine our surprise when the call he placed was to the Institute.” Lexi smiled.

  “We receive many calls. Perhaps someone else used that phone to call the Institute.”

  “Perhaps the Institute gets plenty of calls, but that payphone rarely gets used. There was only one call placed Saturday and it was to the Institute.”

  “Well, he did not speak to me.”

  “May we find out to whom he might have spoken?”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to expose my employees to federal questioning.”

  “I had a feeling you might say that, so I brought this.” Declan handed Dr. Ebeid a warrant allowing him to question all employees and to check the Institute’s phone records. He had a second warrant to check their organization-owned vehicles, but he wouldn’t play that card just yet.

  Dr. Ebeid set the warrant down. “I don’t believe that will be necessary.”

  “Oh? Why is that?” Lexi said with raised brows.

  “As I recall now, there was a man who called here this weekend and spoke with Jari, asking about recommendations for a place to stay. Jari got the impression the man was in some sort of trouble, so he promptly ended the call.”

  Amazing how his memory came right back. “Four minutes and thirty-two seconds doesn’t seem prompt.”

  “He may have put him on hold for part of that time.”

  “I see. And did Jari get his name?” Declan asked.

  “He did not.”

  Now it was time to play the second card. “Then why did you send a car to pick him up?”

  Dr. Ebeid cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon?”

  “A black Lincoln Town Car, like the ones you have sitting out front, picked Mr. Darmadi up within a half hour of his call.”

  “Do you know how many Lincoln Town Cars there are in this city? You can’t possibly assume it was one of ours.”

  “Fortunately, I don’t have to assume.” Declan pulled out the second warrant and handed it to Dr. Ebeid, knowing the rest of their team was in place just around the block, waiting for the call to proceed. “I’ll notify my team to begin their search. I assume Jari can give us the keys?”

  Dr. Ebeid practically choked out his response. “This is an outrage.” He pressed the intercom button. “Jari, call Nidal down here immediately.”

  “And Nidal would be?”

  “The Institute’s lawyer.”

  “Interesting a cultural institute would feel the need to keep a lawyer not only on payroll but physically on the premises.”

  Dr. Ebeid didn’t respond.

  33

  After a much-needed stop at Starbucks for a caffeine boost, Avery and Parker made the drive back to Crystal’s place, where Griffin and Jason were already waiting.

  She and Parker climbed out of his Land Rover, the day promising to be equally as warm and humid as the past few, and moved for Griffin and Jason, both leaning against their unmarked car.

  Avery shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand. “What’s up?”

  “She’s not home,” Griffin said.

  “Did you try Gary’s?” Avery pointed to his trailer.

  “I will now.” Griffin strode over to Gary’s trailer, Jason at his side.

  He knocked several times, then shook his head. “No answer.”

  They walked back to their cars.

  “What now?” Avery asked.

  “We’re waiting on a warrant to come through. In the meantime, we’re going to talk with Megan Kent.”

  “Okay. Thanks,” Avery said. She knew they were doing their job, but she also knew Griffin was working the case as a friend too, and she deeply appreciated it.

  “While they’re talking to Megan, why don’t we swing back by Modell’s, since Vinnie hasn’t gotten back to you?” Parker suggested.

  “Sounds like a plan.” One she wasn’t looking forward to, but a necessary one all the same. She still couldn’t believe Parker hadn’t asked about her less-than-savory past. If the situation were reversed, her curiosity would be sky-high.

  Parker and Avery entered Modell’s pawnshop.

  Vinnie looked up from the customer he was attending to and scowled at the sight of them.

  “This ought to be fun,” Parker murmured to Avery.

  She had a sinking feeling he didn’t know the half of it. She’d seen that scowl on Vinnie’s face before, and it never boded well. She had the option of turning on the charm like the old days, flirting with a man who now revolted her, but she no longer played those games.

  They waited until Vinnie finished ringing up his sale and the patron exited the store before they approached him. He was wearing jeans and a red shirt with Modell’s scrolled across the front in white block letters. Modell’s shop attire hadn’t changed in a dozen years, and neither had her past. She’d changed but her past remained the same—frozen in time, a horrible reminder of her life before coming to Christ.

  “I told you I’d call,” Vinnie said, his tone gruff.

  “And yet you didn’t,” Avery said, striding toward him but keeping a fair amount of distance—the width of a display case was not far enough.

  “Were you able to call around?” Parker asked.

  “Yeah, but as you can see it’s been busy. Didn’t have time to call you.”

  “Or maybe Stallings didn’t want you calling us.”

  “Stallings sends business my way, but I run my own shop—and life, for that matter.”

  She doubted that. Whenever Max Stallings was involved, there were expectations, and Vinnie no doubt had to dance to them just like all of Stallings’ lackeys.

  “So what’d you learn?” Parker asked.

  Vinnie glanced at the other customers milling about the shop and then leaned in.

  Thankfully Parker leaned in to meet him, as she would never be that close to Vinnie Modell again.

  “I talked with all the pawnshops in the area, and Boyd hasn’t pawned anything in the past few months. Last thing he hawked was a knife about three months back at a place called, cleverly enough, The Pawnshop.”

  “Thanks, Vinnie.”

  He looked at Parker and then at her with a cocky grin. “How about you thank me like you did in the old days?”

  “How about I knock that smug grin off your face?” Avery retorted.

  “Seriously?” He laughed.

  “You’d be surprised,” Parker said. “But I think we’ll just be leaving.”

  “So you’re missing the gym,” Parker said as they stepped outside.

  “No. Just hated hearing him talk to me like that. It brought back a lot of bad memories.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It was my own fault.”

  “We all make mistakes.”

  “I’ve made more than my fair share.”

  “And all that got wiped away with Christ’s sacrifice, so stop beating yourself up for something He’s already taken care of.”

  She exhaled. “You’re right.”

  He held the car door open, and she climbed inside as he moved around the Rover and climbed in the driver’s side door.

  He kicked the air on and shifted to face her. “You wanna talk about it?”

  “No.” Yes.

  He clasped her hand. “I’m not here to judge. Heaven knows I’m in no place to judg
e anyone, but I’ve got a great listening ear if you just wanna vent.”

  He was offering her the chance to finally voice everything she’d wrestled with for years, and if he truly loved her, he’d keep his word and not judge. If he did judge, she knew he wasn’t the one.

  She swallowed hard. “All my life I didn’t think I was worth anything.”

  “Is that why you ended up with Gary?”

  She nodded.

  “But you must have ended it at some point. You left the trailer park when you were sixteen.”

  “I had to.” She left it at that. At least for now, but she had to tell him sooner or later.

  “It was incredibly brave of you.”

  She shrugged.

  “It was.” He shifted closer. “And Jesus? Where did he find you?”

  “On my own, at nineteen. Skylar had moved back to the trailer park to take care of her mom, and I went to an outreach center for a meal. A lady took time to sit down and chat with me. Before I left, she prayed for me, a total stranger, but her words were so kind. I didn’t know what to do with that. Something inside changed that day. I kept going back and talking with Sue, the director of the outreach center. She led me to Christ, and eventually I accepted Him as my Savior. She still goes to my church.”

  “That’s so awesome.”

  “Indescribable.”

  “Then you know you’re a new creation. Your past is in the past.”

  “I know.”

  “But?”

  “But all that pain doesn’t instantly go away. It gets better, and I know it’s in the past, but . . .”

  “Now you’re smack back in it.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But it’s different now.”

  She arched a brow.

  “Because you’re a new creation. A different person. That changes everything. Look at how you stood up to Vinnie.”

  “True.”

  “But I’m so sorry you have to be around all this. Is there anything I can do?”

  She leaned into him, resting her head in the crook of his neck. “Just love me.” That’s all she’d ever wanted in a partner, in a husband. Someone who truly loved her as described in the Bible.

  She was in love with a man for the third time in her life, and the first two relationships had crashed and burned. Gary abused her and Joshua dumped her when she got ousted from the art community, his reputation and position in Baltimore’s high society more important to him than her. Would Parker truly stand by her side no matter what?

  He stroked her hair as she nuzzled into his hold. “Done, lass.” He kissed the top of her head.

  Father, Parker’s right. I am a new creation. I need to let this go. Part of me thought I had, but I’d just been stuffing it down. Being back here, back around Gary and Vinnie . . . it’s raised it right to the surface. You aren’t like anyone from my past. You are trustworthy and you deserve all of me—battle scars and all. Not just the parts I’m willing to give.

  She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

  I give myself fully to you, Lord, and I pray so desperately for the healing only you can bring. I know the journey may not be easy. How could it be? But thank you for giving me Parker to walk through this at my side. Thank you for bringing a good man into my life. Please let him prove true. I know he is, but I’ve been let down so many times, deep down I fear when I tell him everything, he’ll bail. Please don’t let that happen. Let him be the man I believe him to be.

  “I know what might help relieve some of that tension,” Parker said, rubbing her shoulder.

  “Oh?” Neck rub? She could go for one of those.

  “A little time in the ring.”

  That always helped. But . . . “Do we have time?” They were on a case.

  “Sure. Instead of grabbing lunch out, we’ll hit the gym and bring takeout back to the lab.”

  That sounded perfect.

  34

  Avery cricked her neck from side to side, loosening up, muscles still tense from the bumps and bruises of the last few days. “I can have someone else spar with me,” she offered.

  “Only if it makes you feel more comfortable,” Parker said, dropping his gym bag—which he always kept in his car, knowing he had to hit the gym when he had free slips of time—to the ground.

  “No. I’m good.” She wanted to see what he had. “But you have to promise not to take it easy on me.”

  “As you wish.” He climbed in the ring, shaking out his arms, his colorful tattoo of evergreens running from his wrist to just below his elbow.

  They started tentatively, sparring slowly, but soon they both moved full-steam into the session.

  Perspiration drenching, Avery did another roundhouse kick. This time Parker anticipated it and ducked low under her leg.

  She swung a right hook, and his hand barely made it up in time to block it.

  He was good, but he was also taking it easy on her. It was so obvious.

  “Come on, lad,” she said playfully. “Let me see what you got. Stop holding back.”

  “Okay.” In one quick move he swept her legs out from under her. She quickly reciprocated the favor—both laid out on the mat, both crazy enough to laugh.

  Parker rolled on his side, propping his weight on his elbow, and leaned down low to kiss her. “Truce?”

  “Truce.” She smiled as his lips melded to hers.

  Declan paced the Islamic Cultural Institute of the Mid-Atlantic’s parking lot, waiting as the techs worked the last Town Car. Lexi leaned against the car, drinking a Coke.

  Please, Father, Declan prayed. If Anajay Darmadi was in that car, let us find evidence or we’re back to the drawing board.

  “I’ve got something over here,” Sam, one of the techs, said.

  “Yeah?” Hope rose at the tone of Sam’s voice.

  “You’re going to want to see this.”

  Declan and Lexi moved to the tech’s side, and he handed Declan the electronic fingerprint reader. They had a hit. Anajay Darmadi had been in the back of the Town Car parked beside them.

  Thank you, Lord.

  “Any idea who was driving?” Lexi asked.

  “One of the employees. Jari Youssef.”

  They reentered the building and Jari greeted them, his smile fading as he took in their countenance.

  “We’re going to need you to come with us, Jari,” Declan said.

  “I don’t understand. What is this about?”

  “We just need to ask you some questions.”

  “Then ask them here,” Dr. Ebeid said, rounding the corner.

  Jari wouldn’t be able to speak freely anywhere in the building. No. Their best bet was to take him to the Bureau. To offer him a plea. He knew Jari would never go for it, but perhaps they could get something out of the man.

  “I’m afraid we need to take him in for questioning.” Declan indicated for Jari to stand, and he cuffed him before leading him toward the front door.

  “Interrogation? Handcuffs?” Dr. Ebeid said, blocking the door. “This is an outrage.”

  “Khaled,” the Institute’s lawyer, Nidal, said, “they have the right. Let them go. I’ll meet Jari over at the Bureau office.”

  Declan stepped past Dr. Ebeid and put Jari Youssef into the back of his car as Lexi climbed in the passenger side. They pulled out of the lot and headed for Route 40, banking west on 40 en route for 695 North and their office.

  They stopped at the light by the Shell gas station at the corner of Route 40 and Swann Road. It was just about to turn green when Declan’s rear passenger window shattered. He floored the gas, speeding through the intersection with lights flashing.

  Lexi looked back. “He’s been shot in the head.”

  Declan called it in, and emergency personnel met them in the Westview Shopping Center parking lot, but it was too late. Jari Youssef was dead.

  35

  Kate greeted Parker and Avery as they entered Parker’s lab at CCI. It was weird because every other case Avery had worked with him ha
d been at his old lab in the ME’s office. This one looked very similar and not at all like a lab. It was clean and professional, the walls painted a rich hunter green and the cabinetry a rich cherrywood. Inset track lighting lined most of the ceiling on either side of the at-times-required fluorescent light. It looked like Parker—masculine, unique, and a clear love for the outdoors in color choice and wood accents. The man had good taste.

  “Good to see you guys,” Kate said from the doorway.

  “You too. Got you some lunch. I set it in the kitchen. I was just taking a quick assessment of things before we eat,” Parker said.

  “Awesome. Thanks. I’m starving and the kitchen’s bare except for peanut butter and pickles. Oh, and ingredients for chocolate chip cookies.”

  “Cookies for lunch don’t sound so bad.” Avery smiled.

  “Please. Kate bake something?” Parker laughed.

  “I’d argue, but you’re right. So what’d you get me?”

  “Mission barbeque.”

  “I love you.”

  “I know. I’m just that lovable.”

  Kate shook her head and moved for the kitchen.

  “We better follow or she’ll get into ours,” Parker said.

  They all grabbed their food and headed for the leather chairs in the lounge area.

  Kate took a bite. “Yum.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Hey, Avery, maybe after lunch, you could take a look at Luke’s photo.”

  “Sure,” Avery said, praying she’d be able to give Kate some good news and not dash her hopes.

  After lunch she studied the image file that had been e-mailed to Kate, searching for any signs that the image had been photoshopped or altered in any way, but she couldn’t find any trace of corruption.

  Kate hadn’t stopped pacing since Avery sat down at the computer.

  She pushed back from Kate’s desk.

  “Well?” Kate finally paused her pacing.

  “Well, I can’t say it’s Luke, as I’ve never met him, but I can say the image is legit. It hasn’t been altered or photoshopped in any way.”

  “I knew it.” Kate’s smile beamed.

  “Katie, it’s impossible to say that’s Luke for certain,” Parker said. “I’m not trying to quash your hope, but—”