Liar

by Campbell, Jamie

  She made for the door again, but once more was stopped by Leo’s strong arm. “Oh no, you’re going to help me with this.”

  “I’m not a cop.”

  “But you’re involved now. I need you to meet with my colleagues and probably my boss too. We need to convince them of your psychic prowess.”

  Amelia sighed, it had all seemed too easy, she should have known better. “Okay. I’ll be back after work.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere.” Leo leaned on the door, making sure of it. “They’re going to have to live without you today, you’re working for us now.”

  “But-”

  “You don’t have a job that’s life or death, do you?” He watched as she shook her head to the negative. “Alright then, the police thank you for your time.”

  * * *

  Half an hour later, Amelia was nauseas and wondering why on earth she had started this whole thing. Standing in a small room surrounded by police officers and detectives, she didn’t want to be the center of attention. She should have just gone to work where she would now be sitting in an empty room with nothing but a computer and stacks of paper to keep her company.

  But it was clear it was too late for that. Leo had left her in the interview room for twenty minutes while he filled his boss in on their meeting. When he said he wasn’t interested, the only thing Leo could do was to rally support from his colleagues.

  “Amelia is psychic,” Leo explained. “She thinks Blake Turner falsely confessed and I-”

  He was interrupted by one of the uniformed cops. “Since when do we listen to mystics? It’s nothing but bulldust.”

  “Yeah, smoke and mirrors,” another cop joined in.

  “We have our guy and you’re going to trust the word of this charlatan?” A detective from the back added.

  Amelia shifted, wondering if she had actually turned invisible while standing there. Still, she remained silent, unable to find a good reason to defend herself. Leo was doing a good enough job for the both of them.

  “She’s not a charlatan and I believe her,” Leo started earnestly, putting his hands up to silence the other jeers heading his way. “If you don’t believe her, then think about the evidence. We’ve already raised concerns about some things not adding up. To me, this is just adding further fuel to the flame.”

  “He confessed,” the detective from the back spoke again. “Our job is done. I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t have time to go on a wild goose chase.”

  He received a few nods from those immediately around him. Leo just stared him down. “Our job isn’t done until the murderer is behind bars and we have given the D.A. all the evidence. When they see the holes, they’re going to tell us to fill them.”

  “So we’ll fill them,” a cop from the side said sarcastically. He was young, Amelia instantly took a disliking to him. She knew the type well, cocky and arrogant. “I’m sure we can make things fit.”

  The detective from the back nodded. “Turner confessed, there probably won’t even be a trial. The guy will plead out in exchange for isolation and protection from general population. It’s a done deal.”

  “He’d want to stay in solitary, gen pop will kill him before dinnertime. They don’t like child killers,” one of the older cops commented wisely. “I wouldn’t blame them, justifiable homicide I say.”

  Leo stepped in again, seeing the lack of support only spiraling downward. “The D.A. won’t even get to pleading stage if the evidence doesn’t stack up. Even Turner’s state appointed lawyer will see the gaps. I’m not going to sign my name to a report that doesn’t make sense. I’m not going to risk my career when there are doubts.”

  The thought of a career-ending mistake sobered them up a bit. Everyone who put their name on the report would be liable if something happened to overturn the decision later on. They would be questioned and possibly summoned to an internal review commission. Not to mention the hearsay that would damage their reputation. It wouldn’t be pretty.

  Leo eyed every one of the skeptical cops in the room. Suddenly his decision to tighten up their evidence wasn’t sounding so bad. He jumped on the opportunity. “Look, I’m not saying we throw out all the hard work we’ve already done. And I’m certainly not saying we cut Turner loose. I’m just saying that we look a bit harder to fill in the gaps, and if the evidence leads us back to him, then at least we can sleep at night knowing we’ve got the right guy.”

  A few of the men nodded, still not looking at Amelia. She may have been a fly on the wall for the attention she was getting. She wished Leo had let her leave. She could have given a false name and address and never had to deal with it again. If only she had thought faster – and he hadn’t requested to see her driver’s license for proof. It seemed he had some trust issues too.

  The door to the small meeting room opened and Commissioner Pace poked his head in. Amelia had to step away from the door to stop herself getting whacked in the face. He didn’t seem happy about the gathering.

  “Michaels, my office. Now,” he barked out before leaving just as quickly.

  Once the door was closed, Leo received some ribbings from his colleagues. It was akin to being sent to the principal’s office at school. Nobody ever came out of there happy.

  “Okay, that’s enough,” he tried to play it down. “Excuse me. Amelia, please come with me.”

  The commissioner didn’t scare her, she trailed after him like a lost puppy. She didn’t savor the thought of remaining in the room with all the disbelievers, she wasn’t exactly made welcome. They scared her more.

  Leo led them down the hallway and into the corner office. Commissioner Pace stood at the window, looking just as arrogant and smug as he did on every television appearance. The only difference was he had some anger brewing too now.

  “Close the door,” he ordered. Leo obeyed. “Did I not tell you no less than half an hour ago that we weren’t going to re-open the White investigation? Did I not order you to write your final report and then move on to the next case? Did I not give these direct orders? Tell me I imagined the whole conversation.”

  “You did say that, sir,” Leo held his gaze but stood firm. Amelia lingered near the door, left to wonder again if she was invisible. It seemed only Leo was able to actually see her.

  “Then why didn’t you follow my orders? I find out you’re holding this secret meeting and what am I supposed to think?”

  “I’m sorry, sir. However I don’t believe Turner did it. I think this warrants further-”

  “You don’t get a say in this.” The vein on the commissioner’s neck started to pulsate, Amelia couldn’t look away from it. “You are not the boss here, I am. Whatever I say, goes. The White case is closed. Now finish your report and solve another file.”

  “I can’t do that. I need-”

  “I just told you what you need. Now get out, there is no room for an argument here.”

  They held their steely gazes at each other for a few moments more, each waiting for the other to break. As much as Leo didn’t want to, he knew it would have to be him to blink first. There was no winning with the commissioner. He never listened to logic and he always made sure to flex his muscle.

  “Fine,” Leo said, giving no warmth to his voice.

  “I’m glad you see reason.” His lips curled into a smile at his win. The same smile that had been plastered across the television all night.

  Amelia knew she couldn’t be invisible anymore. Seeing Pace smirk was the last straw. She headed straight for his desk, ignoring the worried look of the detective with each stride.

  “You can’t put away an innocent man.” She thumped on the desk, sounding way too loud in the tense room. “Because of your closed and incompetent mind, you are allowing a killer to stay free to murder another child. You are a fool.”

  Momentarily stunned, Pace couldn’t do anything but scowl. He looked at Leo, his eyes flicking back between them. He was trying to control the rage burning inside him. He didn’t want to unleash it
on a female member of the public. Yet sometimes it was difficult to contain.

  “You… need… to get out,” Pace said the words deliberately, taking a breath between each one. He pointed his finger at her and then the door. “Now.”

  The three of them didn’t move as the seconds ticked by. Finally, Leo tugged at Amelia’s arm. “We were just leaving.”

  “No, he’s not listening,” she protested. He kept going, pulling her toward the door. “Detective, he needs to listen. It’s important.”

  “Just walk,” he whispered in response.

  His grip was so strong she didn’t have much of a say in the matter. She allowed herself to be led away. Even when outside, he didn’t slow down. Not until they were back in the meeting room by themselves did he release her.

  “Why did you back down?” Amelia pushed him, angry herself now.

  Leo took a step backwards, out of her reach. “Because he’s never going to change his mind. Even when he’s wrong he will never admit to it.”

  “But the murderer is still out there.”

  “I know.”

  “We have to do something.”

  “I know.”

  Amelia took a few deep breaths, trying to think. “That’s all you can say? I know?”

  “I never told him I wouldn’t investigate further,” Leo grinned. “He barely let me get a word in.”

  “So you’re going to find the real killer then?”

  The detective nodded. “And you’re going to help me.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Amelia sat in the car, and for the second time that day, had no idea why she had agreed to the detective’s request. One moment she was just another ordinary citizen, the next she was riding shotgun in the unmarked police vehicle. Unfortunately, it was because she was anything other than ordinary that got her into the situation.

  “I don’t know how to do this,” she said for the fifth time, but the first time out loud. “I’m not a cop. I don’t even watch cop shows on television.” That last line was a lie, she could hear it with her own ears. Thankfully, the cop couldn’t.

  Leo grinned while keeping his eyes on the road. “Lucky for you, I know what I’m doing. Most police work is purely asking questions. I’m sure you know how to do that.”

  “I suppose.”

  “It’s going to be fun, like an adventure,” Leo said. Amelia waited for the lie but it didn’t come. He truly believed it. She wouldn’t have blamed him if it was a little white lie, he would only have been trying to make her feel better. She knew the difference between friendliness and malice.

  “What do you need me for anyway?” She asked, moving on.

  “You’re psychic. I need you to tell me what you feel and if anything comes to you.”

  “Right.” Amelia nodded, wondering how she was going to break the news to him. “So I just follow you around until I get a flash?”

  “Yep.”

  She sighed, that would have to be a conversation for another day. “Where are we going?”

  “To speak with the one person who should know everything about Blake Turner.”

  “His mother?”

  “His girlfriend,” Leo answered, like it should have been obvious.

  Amelia doubted it. If Lane was questioned about her, he wouldn’t know about half of her life. He might be able to say how she liked her coffee or when she went to bed at night, but anything really deep and he wouldn’t have a clue. Some things only family could know.

  “Are you sure we shouldn’t be speaking with his mother?” Amelia asked tentatively. “She probably knows him a lot better than his girlfriend.”

  “Good instincts, but his parents are dead. His girlfriend is the only family he has.”

  “Oh.”

  They rode in silence along highway twenty-two until they reached the suburb of Monasty. It was a working class area with a relatively low crime rate. Everyone that lived there was too busy keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads to worry about killing each other.

  Leo pulled his standard issue undercover vehicle into the curb outside of 16 Edgeway Street. The house was exactly the same as all the others in the street – single storied, white brick, and rust tiled roof. The lawn was well kept but the busted up old car in the driveway betrayed that not everything was rosy.

  Leo led them to the door and knocked, Amelia following close behind. She didn’t have a plan except to listen. If the woman lied, she would know it, and she might be able to pass it off as a psychic flash or something. But she wasn’t sure, being so far out of her comfort zone was frying her brain.

  After a few moments the door was answered by a woman in her forties wearing too much make-up. Instead of covering her flaws, the thick foundation was caking in her wrinkles and making her appear older than she was.

  “What do you want?” She greeted them. Her voice was deep and raspy, she had to be a long term smoker. She spoke through the screen door, refusing to open it.

  “Miss Parkes, I’m Detective Michaels. I was hoping to have a quick chat?” Leo said lightly, feeling his way through.

  “You’ve got Blake, what more do you want?”

  “We have questions about his guilt. Perhaps we could come in and discuss it further?”

  Mandy Parkes eyed him suspiciously, like he would spring and attack at any moment given the chance. “You really think Blake isn’t guilty?”

  “I have questions over his guilt, certainly.”

  Finally, she opened the screen door and stood back for them to enter. Inside, the house was neat and tidy but still shabby. The furniture had seen better days and one of the back windows was broken, being held together with some cardboard.

  Mandy sat on the lounge, waiting for them to do the same. “Forgive me if I don’t offer you a drink. I don’t want you to stay long.”

  “We just need a few moments.” Leo flashed her a smile. The more time she spent with him, the more Amelia couldn’t help but notice his natural charm. “You have a beautiful home here.”

  “Huh,” Mandy snorted. “I’m sure. Who’s the girl? You a detective too?”

  Amelia panicked. She had been trying to do her best invisibility trick. Thankfully, Leo saved her. “This is Amelia Landau, an associate helping with the investigation.”

  Mandy looked skeptical but continued anyway without argument. “Go on, ask your questions then. I don’t have all day.”

  Leo didn’t waste a minute, knowing she could kick them out at any time. “Do you think Blake murdered the kid?”

  “No. Next.”

  “Why did he confess?”

  “I don’t know,” she sighed. Amelia sat straight up, she heard I do know.

  “How close are you and Blake?” Leo continued, completely oblivious.

  “We’ve been together for six years. Not that it counted for anything.”

  “Do you think he’s capable of killing a child?”

  Mandy shook her head. “No, not a kid.”

  The way she said it made Amelia think he was capable of killing, just not a child. Mandy was being careful with every word she spoke, too careful. Even if she hadn’t heard the truth in her lie, she would have been suspicious of the woman.

  Leo shifted, trying to work it all out. “How has Blake been acting lately? Has he made any new friends or acted like he was keeping things from you?”

  “He’s been spending a lot of time at the pub but that’s usually how he gets work when he doesn’t have much on,” Mandy explained. “Guys hang out there having lunch or go there for a beer after work. He finds out who’s hiring.”

  “Which pub?”

  “The Armstrong Inn.”

  “So he hasn’t been working much?”

  “He lost his fulltime job about six months ago. He’s been picking up the odd job here and there ever since. In this economy, no-one’s hiring.”

  Leo nodded, understanding. Unemployment had been rising quickly since the stock market crash a few years earlier. The entire country was still ree
ling in the shockwaves. For someone like Blake, a tradesman in his forties, he would have even more of a hard time.

  “So he could have met someone at the pub then and you wouldn’t have known?” He asked cautiously, nobody wanted to hear their partner had a secret life away from them. Clearly that was the least of her problems, but it still didn’t take away the burn.

  “I suppose so.”

  “Has he ever been violent?”

  “No,” Mandy replied. Amelia heard a resounding yes. She couldn’t stay silent any more.

  “He’s never hurt you? Even accidently?” She asked, ignoring the look Leo gave her.

  “No, never.” Yes, many times.

  “You can tell us,” Amelia continued. “Leo’s a cop, he’s not going to tell anyone.”

  Mandy instantly grew defensive. “I said he didn’t. I think we are done here. I’m busy, you should both leave.”

  She stood, making it clear there was no turning back. Leo did the same, giving Amelia a look that said their time was up. “Thank you for your time, Miss Parkes.” He handed her his business card. “If there is anything else you would like to tell us, please give me a call. Day or night.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Mandy replied. Amelia knew it to be the truth.

  They returned to the car in silence and Leo fired up the engine. It wasn’t until they were back on highway twenty-two did he speak again.

  “Did you get any feelings about her?” He asked, already having an opinion himself. He didn’t want to tell her yet, he wanted her to be free of his persuasion.

  “She knew why Blake Turner confessed,” Amelia said flatly. “She was lying when she said she didn’t.”

  “I kind of got that feeling too. Anything else?”

  “He was physically violent towards her, she was covering for him.”

  Leo nodded, thinking it over. “Are you certain? How scientific are these feelings of yours?”

  “I’m never wrong,” Amelia answered honestly. Others may lie but she rarely did. And even then it was only to cover for her ability. She never wanted to be the same as the people she loathed. Everybody deserved the truth, it was wrong to assume a lie was always better.