by Ronica Black
“I did, but—fuck what happened?”
Maria shook her head. She didn’t want to think back to picture Avery in her tie and dress slacks, muscles writhing as she moved. Not to mention her blond slicked back hair and the slash of her cheekbones. She shuddered with desire once again, but then cringed from pain and from the shame of the memory. She had acted completely irresponsibly and had let it go way too far. She’d never ever do such a thing, so why now? What was happening? Why had she lost total and complete control when she never had before? And with a possible murderer?
“We talked.”
“And?”
“And I’m not sure what to think about her involvement. She seemed to think Lana—”
“She turned on Lana?”
“In a matter of speaking.”
He sank down onto the ottoman and allowed Horace to jump in his lap. He stroked him but only for a moment before he moved him to the couch. “Lana’s turning on Ashland.”
Maria wasn’t sure she heard correctly. “What?”
“She called this morning and gave her alibi. She’s hired a lawyer and is willing to cooperate fully.”
“What did she say?” Maria gripped a throw pillow. Her pulse raced. She thought of the look on Avery’s face. The way she’d pleaded with her to believe her.
“She admitted to leaving with Hale.” He stared into her. “She said they then picked up Ashland and drove to a nearby warehouse. She…she said they tied him up and toyed with him. But after that, Lana left, leaving him alone with Ashland. She claims she doesn’t know what happened next.”
Maria sat very still. The words stabbed her insides and she felt sick. Briefly, she shot back to her childhood and the ride she used to love to go on even though it made her stomach rise and drop. She imagined she was strapped in next to her brother and father, feet dangling, anticipation building. Then they would rise up and up, leaving the ground behind. And just when she thought they couldn’t get any higher, the ride would stop and lean them forward to look at the ground far below. She’d say a prayer and close her eyes. Seconds would seem like minutes. The wind would whip her hair and face. Her feet would stop kicking and her body would go rigid. She’d open her eyes, thinking it wasn’t ever going to drop, and then whoosh, they would fall, fall, fall straight down to the ground where the magnetic brakes would kick in and the ride would slow and they’d be hanging by restraint, hair whipped and faces red with excitement. It would always take her a while to recover, and she’d walk on shaky legs for a few minutes afterward with her stomach clenched tight, sitting right up against her throat. And she’d swear she’d never get on it again. But by the next visit, she’d be ready to go, the pain and fright forgotten somehow.
She felt like that now, like she’d just dropped from the sky and the brakes had stopped her, leaving her dangling in fear and shock. Could she walk? Could she think? Why had she gotten on in the first place?
Avery Ashland was like the ride. So alluring with its bright lights and loud music, people in awe of it and how it could make them feel. Others had climbed on, so why couldn’t she?
“I—She almost had me convinced she was innocent.” She spoke softly, almost to herself.
Finley stared at her with concern. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but with your current condition, you definitely shouldn’t have gone in alone. Damn it, you know better. What if she had been a male suspect? Would you have done it?”
She closed her eyes. “No.”
Finley was about to reply when their phones both beeped with texts. Maria fished her phone out, saw it was from forensics, and tried to sit up. It took her a moment before she could, and she was wincing in pain. Finley replied to the text and helped her stand. “Wonder what they’ve got.”
Maria slid into her shoes. “I don’t know, but it must be big. Kenny sounded hyped up.”
They crossed carefully to the door where Maria pushed him away. “I need to walk on my own or everyone will notice.”
“I thought you were going to stay home. You should stay home. Mainly because you hurt but also because of the paper. It’s all over the department.”
She shrugged and regretted it. “I’ve got to face it sooner or later. And solving this case will hopefully shut everyone up.”
He nodded.
Maria squared her shoulders and walked out the door with Finley hot on her heels.
* * *
Kenny Sing was sitting hunched at his computer at the front counter of the forensics lab when they entered. Finley tossed him a bag of fresh bagels from the deli he loved and he broke out into a smile.
“Fins, you’re the man.”
“Thank Maria. She’s the one who insisted.”
Kenny saluted her. “Pretty and thoughtful. Be still my heart.”
“Quit flirting,” Finley said, tapping the counter. “Don’t leave us hanging, Sing. What’ve you got?”
“Wow, straight to the point.” He winked at Maria. “Next time come alone so I can at least make pleasantries.”
Maria tried to laugh, but it hurt. So she nodded instead. Kenny looked at her for a moment longer. “I won’t say anything about the newspaper,” he said.
She sighed. “Thank you.” She already had a rampaging Sarge on her voice mail. Luckily, when she’d returned the call, she’d been put through to his voice mail where she’d left an apology and an explanation. She knew that probably wouldn’t be the end of it, but she hoped it softened the blow a little. And the Sarge was the master at spinning things for the press. He’d handle it; he’d handled far worse before.
“Figured you’re getting enough grief on that.”
He refocused on a file in front of him. The forms he pulled out looked like graphs. Maria had seen them all before in going over forensic evidence for years. Even so, Kenny leaned in and explained.
“You guys tracked down the limo that Hale Medley had been in the last night he was seen alive. And as you know we examined it.”
Finley cleared his throat and Kenny continued.
“We found a stain that registered as human blood. A small stain, about the size of a dime. We ran DNA.”
He raised his eyebrows. “It’s Medley’s.”
“No shit?” Finley said.
Ken pointed to the graphs with his pencil. “There’s no doubt. It’s his. And that’s not all. We found a fiber that seemed a little odd. We ran it and it comes back as a fleece fiber, like those used on blankets. That was interesting, but what is even more so is what was on the fiber itself.”
“What’s that?” Maria asked.
“Sunscreen.”
“Sunscreen?”
“Yep. Water Babies to be exact.”
“What the hell?”
“So it’s cross contaminated,” Maria said. “From someone who was in the car before Hale, maybe weeks before.”
Ken shook his head. “Could be. But I don’t think so, Maria. That car had been professionally cleaned. When we climbed in, I didn’t think we’d find much at all.”
“Where was the blood?” she asked.
“That’s what’s also curious. The bloodstain was found on the very top back side of the seat. As if someone had maybe rested a hand there.”
Maria couldn’t make sense of it. Of any of it. She searched her mind with the Water Baby clue. Lana Gold had no children in her life. She went rigid and stared at Finley.
“Ashland. She has nieces.”
Finley clicked with her, their minds in tandem. “Do they swim with her?”
Maria nodded, and her stomach clenched again. “Most likely.”
“Did you pull DNA from the fleece fiber?”
Kenny was watching them closely. He nodded.
“Well?”
“We got mitochondrial. It’s a match for Avery Ashland. So is the female profile we got from the back of the photo.”
Maria took a step back, and then her world tunneled in on her. She registered falling to the ground and seeing Finley’s face ab
ove her. She tried to speak but couldn’t. Tried to hear his words but couldn’t. A black blob appeared in the center of her vision. She reached out for Finley, felt his hand, and then closed her eyes.
Chapter Twenty
Avery knew what she was doing and why. But for the first time in her life, she wasn’t totally sure about it. An irritating itch of rationality was trying to take hold and grow, along with something along the lines of a moral compass. She rejected both and stopped cold to grit her teeth and squeeze her palms, to make sure both rationality and morality knew they were not welcome inside her. As she exhaled and walked on, she found them still to be present, but their voices drowned out.
She forced a smile and tossed her hair back. Tiny strands of it were loose around her moist face and they were bothering her, more so than usual, as was the humid heat. She wiped her brow and smoothed her hair. Despite feeling unsettled and annoyed, she had the confidence of a woman that looked good. That alone helped her continue on in the noisy auto center, a place she’d never been before.
With her head held high, she waved off man after man in blue greasy jumpsuits coming at her offering help. The first two, she’d been polite, but now she simply scowled with a quick wave, like swatting an incoming fly. She had a mission and she was damn sure she was going to succeed, regardless of the new inward irritations. Doing things this way was how she’d always played the game. So why should she change now?
An image of Maria came to her. Beautiful, mesmerizing, alluring…good. The first three, she could deal with and even thrive on. But the last one, she was having trouble with. She knew she didn’t fit that bill, but even so, she kept at her quest, determined more than ever to get Maria.
She came to the last garage where more men stopped and stared. She turned and motioned at the young man driving her car. He was easing along behind her, per her instructions. She pointed at a spot near the front of the garage where he parked. She then tipped him enough to make his jaw drop. He thanked her profusely, and she turned away from him, annoyed at his gratitude. She walked inside the garage, found the music and riveting loud, so she shouted at her target.
“Hi.” Avery tugged her sunglasses down and eyed the blond butch working under the elevated car. “I was hoping maybe you could take a look at my car?” She smiled her best seductive smile and placed a hand on her hip. She’d made sure to wear her tightest designer skirt and satin tank, along with her stiletto heels. She wore enough lotion to make her legs shimmer and shine like the highest quality wheels on the market. She hoped like hell the hard-working mechanic would notice. The men had obviously approved. But there was only one mechanic on her radar, and she wasn’t male.
Samantha Rogue lowered her arms and glanced at Avery. She stiffened and blinked and did a double take. The car, suddenly, she seemed to have forgotten. She faced Avery fully.
“I’d be glad to take a look.” She returned the smile, and Avery perked up, pleased at having her attention. Samantha wasn’t her type, but she was very handsome and well carved, and the grease marks on her skin seemed to accentuate her bone structure.
“What seems to be the trouble?”
Avery walked her to her Shelby Cobra and she watched as Samantha nearly dropped her tool and drooled.
“She sounds a little cranky.” Avery gave her a pouty look.
Samantha rounded the car with her fingertips an inch away, as if she were lightly caressing it as she walked. “You’re serious? You want me to look at her?”
“They said you’re the best with the classics.”
Samantha rubbed the back of her neck. “Okay, why don’t you get in and start her up?”
Avery approached her and placed a hand on her upper arm. She felt the strength there, and she burned with jealousy. She’d seen the video Bobby had taken. She’d seen how easily Samantha had physically handled Maria. She swallowed with difficulty and tried to calm the monster that was clawing up her insides trying to escape.
“I don’t actually have the time right now. Are you free later?”
Samantha looked confused.
“I’ll pay you handsomely of course. My place? Say seven?” Avery handed her a Euphoria Resort business card and Samantha once again did a double take.
“Ah, sure. I think.”
“You didn’t have plans, did you?” Avery suspected she might be planning to see Maria.
“No. I’m free.”
Avery grinned. “Very well, then. I’ll see you soon.” She climbed in her car and started the engine. Samantha backed away and waved as Avery pulled out of the parking lot. She pushed up her shades and watched as Samantha stared after her.
“Like taking candy from a baby,” she said as she gunned it onto the main road. She was just about to blast the stereo when her phone rang. She knew by the ring tone that it was Bobby. She scooped it up quickly.
“Yeah?”
Static came and then the sound of chewing. She held the phone from her ear and grimaced.
“Bobby, swallow for God’s sake.”
He coughed a bit. “Sorry, I’m starved.” More coughing. “Thought you might want to know something’s up with your girl.”
Avery pulled to the side of the road and slammed on her brakes. She didn’t even bother to give a finger to those that honked at her.
“What is it?”
“Not sure. All I know is her partner and some guy helped her to an unmarked cruiser. Her partner is driving her toward the hospital now.”
Avery hung up and did a U-turn as soon as she possibly could. She floored it and raced to the hospital. Bobby kept trying to call her back, but she ignored him. Instead she focused on Maria as her heart and mind raced with worst-case scenarios. She knew Maria had been going to a doctor. She knew about the MRI. As to what was wrong, she was clueless. All she knew was that she had to get there. She had to know. She had to see her.
She didn’t bother to ask herself why. Or if it was some kind of obsession, or worse, something more. She couldn’t handle those answers and realizations at the moment.
She peeled into a parking space at emergency and climbed out of the car to hurry inside. Just as she stepped inside the sliding doors, a rough hand grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back outside.
“What the hell are you doing?” Bobby Luca demanded. He was, as usual, covered in sweat. More so than usual. He scrubbed at his face as if frustrated and tugged her alongside the building. “You want Finley to see you?”
“I don’t care who sees me.”
“Since when?”
“You wanna get busted for having her followed?”
Avery rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure she knows.”
He shook his head. “You tell her or something?”
“Might as well have.”
He turned and cursed at the ground. “Jesus fucking Christ. Why am I doing this? Why am I even doing this?” He turned and pointed a finger at her. “I got my reputation you know. I’m helping you as a favor. This…the murder…Lana…this cop you have a boner for…it’s all too much for me.”
She laughed at his drama. “What are you saying, Bobby?”
He looked her square in the eye. “I quit.”
“You what? You can’t quit. We have a deal.”
“No, we had a deal. Now I don’t give a shit.” He started to walk away. “Tell whomever you want I like to watch people get it on. I no longer care.” He stormed past her and headed for his car still shaking his head.
Avery stared after him in disbelief. “Don’t do this, Bobby! You know you don’t want to do this.” She clamped her mouth shut as people walked by and stared. She stared after him a moment with her mind reeling. Bobby, her go-to guy, had just quit, despite the blackmail she’d threatened him with. And he’d mentioned Lana.
He thought she was guilty. He thought she killed Hale.
She clenched her fists and paced. How could she convince him? How could she convince anyone? She’d never had trouble getting people to believe her before. Why had t
hings changed?
She turned and looked toward the emergency room. Maria. That’s what it was.
She was growing soft. Letting things slip. Her tight ship was unraveling because she was at the helm chasing a damn detective who was trying to put her away.
Lana was right.
She turned to walk away, but another rough hand grabbed her arm. This time she turned with a high elbow and caught Detective Finley in the upper lip. He stumbled backward, cursing.
“Motherfucker. What the fuck was that for?” He held a tissue to his bleeding lip.
“You really shouldn’t make it a habit of grabbing women from behind, Detective.”
“Duly noted.” He winced and straightened, eyeing the bloody tissue he’d grabbed from his pocket to put to his nose. “Fuck.” He then looked at her as if he remembered why he’d grabbed her. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard Maria was ill. I came to check on her.”
He stared at her briefly and then laughed. “You’re serious?”
She didn’t answer.
His smile faded. “What the hell do you know about it? And what do you care?”
“I…” But she had no words.
“What? You care?”
She looked away.
He dropped his hand with the tissue. “You care, don’t you? That’s it.” He stepped toward her and leaned into her face. “Listen to me, you crazy, conceited bitch. You leave Maria alone. You’ve got no business here, no reason to be here. She’s not your friend, your little lover, your girlfriend. She’s no one to you. Got that? She’s just a cop doing a damn good job of pinning a murder on you.”
Avery fought trembling with anger. She stared into his cold blue eyes. “Back off, Detective.”
“Or what? They’ll soon find me dead? What will you carve in my forehead, Avery? Horny?”
“How about Limp?”
He inched closer and spittle flew from his mouth. “How ’bout I lock you up real tight and cozy and throw you in with your kind. The real crazy bitches who eat Barbie dolls like you for breakfast?”
She wanted to counter, to knock him off his feet with either a brutal verbal comeback or a rock-hard fist. But she didn’t feel like giving in to him and doing so would be giving him his way. He’d either continue to come at her or he’d get to arrest her for assault. He would get to gloat.