As much as Jordan loved the peace and quiet of her neighborhood, she loved waking up with Ellie next to her, Ellie kissing her awake more. She knew Ellie got immensely frustrated with detours and road blocks, whether supervisors or criminals put them in her way. They didn’t exactly have the same coping strategies when it came to the darker moments of their lives, but Jordan could work with Ellie’s. Perfectly. Their timing was impeccable too.
She was still gasping for breath when they heard the shower being turned off. Ellie wore a smug smile, and she had reason to.
“Got that out of your system? I’m glad I could help.”
Ellie picked up a shirt and shorts and put them on. “Oh, there’s nothing I need to get out of my system, but this is the best start of the day. I’ll lay low until I pass my test…I didn’t even expect Bethany to cut me as much slack as she did. I can’t wait to finish up for the week so we can get out of town.”
“Me too.” If the past few hours were any indication, the weekend could only be amazing. The only thing putting a damper on Jordan’s excellent mood was when she remembered the date she’d made for tomorrow’s lunch.
“Kathryn is coming to your house again?”
Ellie was good at reading her. To Jordan’s surprise, it didn’t spook her—then again, Ellie knew not to poke and prod.
“No, I suggested a restaurant. I think we’re at that stage where we can behave in public, no yelling, no blackmailing.”
“That’s good. It can only get better from here, right?”
“Let’s hope.” Jordan wrapped the sheet around her and went in search for her own clothes.
“Want to share the shower again?”
Ellie laughed. “Neither of us is ever going to get to work.”
“True. All right, let’s hope that it will be Friday afternoon soon. I’ll pick you up?”
“I can’t wait. Now get into the shower before I change my mind.”
* * * *
When Jordan returned, breakfast was ready, and she found Kate and Ellie talking about the previous night’s events.
“I hope you don’t mind I ruined your evening,” Ellie said. “Derek was the only one I could think of at that moment.”
“We weren’t going to hang out long anyway. Derek was going to see one of his informants.”
“Really.” It occurred to Jordan that with Bethany in town and Raphael Deane’s case pending, she hadn’t talked to Derek often lately.
“He didn’t say much about it, but apparently the guy didn’t show up, and then Ellie called.”
“Yeah.” Ellie sighed. “I can’t help thinking that’s exactly the reason why Bethany wants me off the case.”
“Does it matter?” Jordan asked softly, and Ellie understood exactly what she meant. She had taken a risk, and for the woman in the bar, it had definitely paid off.
“No, not really. Maybe Derek knows more about how Fiona Grayson is doing. I’m going to ask him.”
Ellie would be fine, Jordan reflected. The study material was already piling up in her room, and if Jordan wasn’t mistaken, she had been muttering a test answer in her sleep. It was odd to think that she and Bethany actually had a lot in common, intelligence, focus. The difference was, Ellie understood her. Jordan and Bethany had spent almost a decade trying to get each other, and failed. With this clarity, it was a lot easier to put personal issues aside and get the work done, though Jordan doubted she’d be on the case much longer. Once Strickland was on the inside, it would be completely in the hands of the FBI, and locals would be involved if logistics required it, no sooner.
“I need to go,” she said. “Come by for lunch if you have the time? It’s Doss’s birthday. She has a sweet tooth.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see if I can make it. Speaking of which, have you heard from Darla lately?”
“Not in a while,” Jordan said. “She was doing okay the last time she called.”
The young woman had been her CI for a couple of years before she decided to make some radical changes in the aftermath of a case that almost turned fatal. Darla had given birth to a baby boy not long ago, and seemed to be juggling the different aspects of her life successfully.
Jordan made a mental note to check in on her soon.
* * * *
“So, things seem to be looking up,” Kate remarked when she emptied the last of the coffee pot into Ellie’s cup. “You’ve been working things out?”
The question was probably completely innocent. There was no reason to blush, but she did anyway.
“It’s been good,” she said. “Esposito should be the last ex to show up without warning.”
Kate laughed. “Rhonda asked you out for a coffee.”
“Um, not the same. She’s still somewhat related to the case, and of course I didn’t go. Now is so much better.” She tugged on a strand of her hair, back to her natural color.
“No more compromises, huh? Sounds good to me.”
In fact, it was better than good. There had been a few obstacles in their way, but the truth was, Ellie loved her life at this moment. There was just one compromise left that on occasion made her uneasy, because she wasn’t sure how to approach it with Jordan.
“It is. Well, except maybe for the serial killer house.”
“Don’t call it that—you’re going to freak yourself out.” Kate made a face. “You’re going to freak me out. He never actually killed anyone in that house, right?”
“That’s right, but he still sold it to her. It will always be connected in a way.”
“But it’s important to Jordan.”
“Yes.” Ellie drew a deep breath. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually. Hey, we have a few minutes left—how about we take a look at the state of your relationship?” she asked, making her friend laugh.
“I see. It’s going fine. The gossip has pretty much died down—bad metaphor, I know. Still makes me flinch, and how weird is that?”
“I think it’s normal.”
Kate continued, “I have given up on that idea of a fairy tale wedding, or happily ever after. It may sound like a cliché, but I want to make the best of each day. Derek is on board with that, so all is good.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Same here,” Kate said.
Since they were already late, Ellie had to hold back what was on her mind. Kate was understandably still reluctant to invest more in her relationship with Derek—but Ellie was a romantic at heart. She wanted a true happy ending for everyone.
Chapter Seven
After a busy morning, Ellie didn’t have time to call Derek until she was back at the department, heading for the upper floor to see what delicacies Detective Doss had brought. As she entered the room, she realized he wasn’t there. She waved to Jordan who stood with Doss at the far end, and quickly tried his number.
This time, she reached him and got to ask about Fiona.
“How is she?”
“Last I checked, she was pretty shocked—turns out one of the guys put something in her drink. It’s now up to Narcotics, but they’ll let you know if you need to ID anyone.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“She’s lucky you were there,” he said. “She said to tell you she’s grateful.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Oh, it is. You caught it. By the way, is Jordan anywhere near?”
“Yes. Give me a second, I’ll get her.”
Ellie walked across the room to join Jordan and her colleague. “Derek for you. Hi, Maria. I hope you don’t mind Jordan invited me.”
“No problem. Help yourself, there’s plenty.”
By the time Ellie got herself a coffee and a chocolate-covered donut with sprinkles, Jordan had already ended the call and handed the cell phone back to her.
“Everything okay?”
“We’re not sure,” Jordan said. “He just seems to have trouble matching his schedule with his informant’s. The guy has been fairly predictable so far…Sprinkles, huh?”
“Yes. It’s
been a great day so far.” Concerns regarding the serial killer house notwithstanding, but they’d handle it like everything else—one day at a time.
Jordan’s smile was answer enough.
“Admit it, being this close to work is really convenient—leaves you time for all the important things.”
“Believe me, I see your point. Okay—now this is going to be interesting.”
Both Derek and Bethany arrived at the same time. He nearly slammed the door in her face. Ellie exchanged a look with Jordan, thinking she’d give him the benefit of the doubt. Derek Henderson was a pretty even-tempered guy, though he hadn’t forgotten Bethany’s conduct in the Darby case. Come to think if it, none of them had.
“You’re all here, good.” Bethany cast a longing look at the box of donuts. “I just wanted to come by in person and thank you all for your contribution. Ellie, you’ve helped a lot. Deane and his people are now our responsibility.”
Despite enjoying the flattery, Ellie couldn’t help overhearing the whispered conversation between Derek and Jordan.
“Of course they are,” he muttered under his breath.
“Be nice.”
Henderson shrugged and went to get a snack, exchanging a few words with Doss in the process. Ellie turned her attention back to Bethany, curious.
“Just like that? Lilah is already in?”
“We had to move up our deadline, and there was an opportunity. So again, thank you guys. We’ll be in touch.”
Given what she’d seen in the bar, Ellie was wondering if the Prophets would rein in their sons if they knew what they were up to outside of the compound, or if the exact same thing was going on inside. Except the women in there had nowhere to go.
Thinking of the dangers Lilah might be facing, her assignment didn’t seem like something to aspire to anytime soon—even though, if successful, it could make her career.
Ellie would focus on her own path.
In the afternoon, she was back in the squad car when the alarm of a store in the city center was triggered. She answered the call and after only five blocks down the road, she arrived at the address where a woman, the owner, she assumed, stood in front of the shattered show window.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” she said. “Officer…Harding. They’re gone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. This,” she pointed at the broken window, “and the door is the only way they could come in. I swear, I’m going to kill him. No, actually, please, pretend I didn’t say that. I’m going to sue his ass for every last cent though.”
“You are?”
“Sherry Irwin. I own this store.”
“And you have an idea who did this?”
It wasn’t until now that Ellie realized exactly what store this was. The mannequins in the window wore lingerie, but sexy underwear wasn’t all you could buy here.
“I know who did this,” Sherry Irwin claimed as she opened the door with her key, and they stepped inside. “My ex hates it. I think he can’t decide if it’s because I’m successful, or because he thinks there’s a special meaning in the theme, if you know what I mean. Well, both are true. He wasn’t the greatest lover.”
Taking a closer look, Ellie realized that the robbers had cleared out a few shelves of products. The cash register seemed untouched.
“Ed knows I take my break around this time. People either come very early, or in the afternoon or evening.”
“Did you hear or see anything?”
“Just the noise when they broke the glass. My apartment is upstairs. I called 911 after the alarm when off, and then stayed inside for a few minutes longer.”
Ellie cast a look through the window at the other side of the street. There were a few offices. Maybe someone had seen the robbers from there.
“Do you have a security camera?”
“You bet. Come upstairs with me? I’ll show you a picture. I’m sure it will be him and one of his buddies in the video.”
“Why steal the merchandise?”
“Honey, I appreciate you trying to keep a straight face,” Irwin said dryly. “It’s not for personal consumption, believe me, though maybe he should try it rather than come up with those petty schemes. They’re going to try and sell it online.”
“Well, we’re definitely going to take a look at that. I’ll get some colleagues in here so we can check for print, and I need the security footage.”
“Just a second, and thank you. Everything is so much better when someone is actually doing their job. Look, Ed wants to embarrass me, knowing I now have to deal with the police and the local press maybe. Guess what—I’m not embarrassed. I improve a lot more lives than he does selling insurances to people who don’t need them.”
“Speaking of insurance…”
“Yes, I’ll call mine,” she said. “You’re going to dust for fingerprints like on TV?”
* * * *
Ed, Eward Rollins, quickly lost his salesman smile when Ellie identified herself.
“Sherry is crazy. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere that ‘business’ of hers. I don’t want my name associated with hers in any way.”
“So you didn’t resent her for opening the store?”
“Your wife divorces you and opens a sex shop, what do you think people said behind my back and to my face? Of course I resent her for that, who wouldn’t?”
Ellie suppressed a sigh. Eyes on the prize. Tomorrow afternoon, she and Jordan would be on their impromptu road trip.
“I don’t know who broke into the store, but it wasn’t me. I don’t need what she’s selling.”
“All right. The footage from the security camera is being analyzed right now, and we found prints. I assume you have nothing to worry about.”
“You assume correctly, Officer,” he said.
“Thank you for your time.”
“No problem.” He studied her for a moment. “Listen, I know you’re young, but I imagine your job can be dangerous at times.”
For a brief moment, Ellie wondered whether he was going to threaten her.
“Do you have children? Have you thought about life insurance?”
“Again, thank you. I need to go.”
When she was out of earshot, she couldn’t help but say the words out loud.
“I can’t believe this.”
It would have been nice, though, if there had been nothing but an elaborate prank gone bad behind the break-in, something to be resolved quickly. Too often, reality was a lot darker.
Nevertheless, she’d have to go back and browse the sites that Sherry Irwin had given her to see if someone had put up a new batch of sex toys. If she was lucky, she could take a quick look before anyone noticed, and then check with the lab if they had anything new from the security camera.
The few officers present were all going about their work when Ellie arrived. Wes Martin from her class was conducting an interview. She would seize the moment. She doubted that whoever had stolen the items from Irwin’s store would put them up right away, but maybe, hopefully, they were exactly that careless. If anything, she could check out the sites and find out where new sellers would put their merchandise.
Ellie considered herself fairly open-minded, but her search made her face grow hot. Each to their own…She sensed someone come up behind her and decided on a pre-emptive strike.
“I don’t want to hear any jokes, okay? This is work.”
“Don’t worry, Harding, I wasn’t going to suggest anything else,” Sergeant Bristol said dryly.
Ellie swiveled her chair around for face her supervisor. “Sir, I’m sorry. I thought…”
“I can imagine. Any leads so far?”
“The ex-husband denies he did it. I was going to see someone in the lab about the security footage, then we’ll know more.”
“Good. Hm. Not every day that browsing those sites is part of the job.”
“Well, I don’t really do it at home... I mean…I’ll go to the lab now,” Ellie said quickly before the situation cou
ld become any more awkward.
The lab technician had some good and bad news for her. The camera had caught the robbers, wearing masks and gloves as they empties whole shelves within minutes. Neither of them seemed to have the ex-husband’s build or demeanor. Before leaving the store through the broken window, one of them held up a piece of cardboard, the word Bitch scrawled on it.
“Classy,” Ellie remarked. Even though Sherry had insisted it could only be her ex, Ellie was inclined to believe him. He held a grudge, for sure, but he didn’t seem so specific about it as to come up with a plan like this.
Later that day, Jordan was nowhere to be seen. Ellie decided to go home and get in some study time before making it an early night.
She wondered how Lilah was doing, cut off from the world.
The thought made her shudder. The vacation she’d had with Jordan had gone a long way towards healing for both of them, but some of the nightmares lingered, and would for a long time to come.
Before going to bed alone, she typed a text meant for Jordan, but then didn’t send it.
Tomorrow was almost here. She had to be sensible. What could happen between then and now?
* * * *
Between the two of them, they weren’t counting favors. When Derek asked her to meet with his informant tonight, a man called Mac who had helped them break a case not long ago, Jordan couldn’t say no. There were many places she’d rather be than driving out to the address he’d given her, Ellie’s bedroom on top of that list. The scenario she imagined was rather innocent. She was tired, and the idea of curling up next to her after a long shower was highly appealing—maybe she could still do it after talking to Mac who claimed he had something important to say after standing Derek up a couple of times now.
He knew it would be her, and he hadn’t been too thrilled about it, but finally relented. What he had to say was too important. Derek hadn’t specified why he couldn’t go, but he didn’t ask favors like this often. The area wasn’t too bad, just one broken streetlight that she’d seen, the front lawns mostly well kept. At the end of the road, the houses were farther apart, but still in acceptable shape. She parked in the spot Derek had described, and walked towards the front door of the one-story house. It was empty, its former owners victims of the housing bubble. No one had come back here to develop the area much, but prices were still too high for many to take on necessary renovations. She didn’t think Derek would send her to a house where she’d risk breaking her neck. Jordan knocked on the door and walked inside.
Initiations (Carpenter/Harding Book 5) Page 7