Detecting Envy: An Erotic Detective Novel: Sin Book 2

by Mikey Lee

  Arti scrolling through his cell phone, “Ummm, yeah… I called her cell phone number. C’mon, what do you take me for. A cute girl actually, freely, gives me her digits… you bet your ass I’m logging that shit down.”

  Melvin continued his laughter even louder. “In your wettest dreams… I bet you all your video games you couldn’t even go on a quote on quote date with Ashley.” He said using his hands to make quotation marks.

  “Ok ok, guys. Listen, I need these results faster than you’ve ever done before.” Seth tried to bring their conversation back to a serious topic. “This could actually be my guy, but for this one… we need to be one thousand percent accurate and sure.” Seth now pointed at both of them. “You guys got me?”

  “We got you, Lane. Why is this more important than the past? Whose DNA is this?” Arti said, sliding on rubber lab gloves.

  “They belong to Ben ‘The Lightning’ Franklin.” Seth said.

  “Fuuuck…” both Melvin and Arti sighed together.

  Back upstairs, Seth started walking to his office to meet with Ashley and give her a bit of an ass chewing for not getting the information about the lab results. Not even two steps beyond the stairs, an undeniable voice rang through the precinct.

  “LANE… in my office NOW.” The Captain ordered.

  Taking a deep breath, Seth made a military style left face and headed for the Captain’s office.

  “You rang?” Seth said as he approached and knocked on the open door frame.

  “Get your ass in here. Close the door behind you.” Captain Barrett said.

  As Seth closed the door, he caught Ashley’s eyes.

  “At the beginning, I told you I didn’t want a single fucking ripple with this goddamn case.” A half angry and half worried tone emanated off of the Captain. “Do you want to explain to me, one, why the fuck I have Franklin’s manager calling me with an army of fucking attorneys? And two, why the fuck are you dragging your feet? Where is my suspect in fuckin’ handcuffs being processed right now? I want this fuckin’ case closed! And I’m NOT trying to deal with a fuckin’ law suit with you.”

  “First of all, Cap, you’re not going to like what I’ve gotta tell ya. But, I really think it was Franklin. Before I slap the cuffs on him… I need to be absolutely positive it’s him. I need to get the evidence where there’s no doubt.” Seth started.

  The Captain fell back in his chair and leaned all the way back. His hand started to rub his forehead. “You’re not joking with me are you?”

  “Trust me Cap… I really wish I were.” Seth said.

  “What do you have so far?” Captain asked.

  “The lab boys already worked up a profile from the hospital’s rape kit, and I got some blood DNA from Franklin. We’re just waiting on the scientific match to come back one hundred percent.” Seth said.

  “How the hell did you get blood from Franklin? You didn’t punch the fuckin’ heavy weight champion did you? You know what… I don’t even wanna know.” Captain said.

  “Also, I went and interviewed Franklin at the hotel. When I explained what I was there for, he became extremely defensive.” Seth said.

  “That’s usually a good sign for us. Immediate defense or instantly coming up with an excuse of why it couldn’t be him is normally a sign of guilt.” The Captain explained.

  “Exactly. As a matter a fact, he’s kinda an idiot. He almost freakin’ confessed to me this morning, but his manager came in and stopped the interview.” Seth said.

  “Oh, fuck me… you interviewed Franklin this morning? In his hotel room? Without even giving him the option of having an attorney there? TELL me you didn’t do that...” Captain starting to stress out.

  “What? No, I went there to explain that I was the one that placed the Person of Interest Warrant on him and why I did. He was the one that invited me in to his room and then before I could even ask if he had any questions for me, he was the one that started running his cock holster. I just sat there and listened to him.” Seth said, defending himself.

  The Captain sat up, shaking his head. “You know what… just go. Do what ever it is that you fucking do. I swear, you’re going to be the death of me. Why do you do this to me?”

  “I don’t know why you always worry about me Cap. I’ve never steered you wrong in the past. Just trust me.” Seth said.

  “I do, I do trust you… that’s what scares the shit out of me.” Captain waved him out of his office.

  Seth walked into his office, blinded by his thoughts and Ashley handed him a cup of coffee.

  “Everything ok with the Captain?” She asked.

  “Yeah, he’s just worried because Franklin is a high profile case.” He mumbled.

  Taking a sip of his coffee, Seth scanned his desk and picked up the paper containing the results from the hospital. Glancing over the sheet of paper, not really even reading anything on it, he noticed the comparison results from the lab boys. Putting his cup down and grabbing the lab report, he read through it. Scanning down to the end, looking for the match, he found it. One hundred percent match on the DNA from the hospital rape kit to the victim’s clothes. This was wonderful. This meant that the specimens that they collected from Kathy matched the DNA that was collected off of Kathy’s clothes that she was wearing the night from the attack. Now when the results came back from the napkin and fork they could go and arrest Franklin if it was the same profile.

  “Whatcha thinking about?” Ashley asked.

  Seth almost forgot Ashley was even there. His mind was racing. “Hey, I want to talk to you.” Seth sat down in his chair and Ashley followed in the chair across from him. “I’m not really sure how or even what to say here, so I’m just going to say what ever pops out. Don’t read too much into this.”

  Tension filled the office. Ashley had never seen this look on Seth’s face before. The air in her lungs felt like it was turning from a gas to a solid; thick and almost hard to breathe, she feared that there was something she did that crossed the line. Her mind jolted into a collage of events. Wondering if it was something she did during the interview with Franklin, was it something she said while in the car.

  Timidly she responded, “Yes?”

  “Good God girl, just in the way you said that, even I can feel the atmospheric global change. Its nothing bad, I promise.” Seth took a breath that sounded like a sleeping puppy sighing. “Look, I’m really not used to working with a…” His hands raised and his fingers made the universal sign for quotation marks. “…Partner. I tend to work fast. I get results and do them quickly. From what I’ve been told, I’m damn good at what I do.” Seth picked up his cup and took a sip of coffee.

  “I want you to know something,” Ashley, who was able to breathe again, said. “I know just how good you are. While I was in the academy… I studied you. I’ve read every report you’ve written, and followed every case you’ve been on.” She looked down.

  Seth continued, “Ok, look. Yes, you’re kinda slowing me down a bit. Only because you’re here. Not about anything you’re doing. But, if you’re going to be here with me, I can sacrifice some speed and intensity for some accuracy. And I’m not at my best without accuracy. You understand what I’m trying to say?”

  Ashley looked up at the desk, her eyes panning over the case files and notes scattered everywhere. “Not really. Are you saying you want me to stay here at the precinct from now on?” She asked.

  “No, not at all. You can’t learn what we need to do out there on the streets if you’re locked away in here all day. What I’m saying is… if you get a phone call, I don’t know, maybe from the lab guys telling you that they’ve done what I’ve asked you to follow up on. What you, yourself said that you were going to follow up on. Like the rape kit from the hospital. That maybe you should answer that call, and even more importantly, let me know that information.” Seth spoke sternly.

  Ashely tried nonchalantly to remove her cell phone from her waist band and opened it instantly seeing three missed calls.

  �
�I’ve noticed there are times that you just kinda drift off. I’m not sure what it is that you’re day-dreaming about, nor do I really care. But, when we’re working a case, especially one like this one, I need your head in the game.” Seth finished.

  “I… I understand. I totally get it. I didn’t mean to screw this case up.” Ashley said, choking down her emotions.

  “Look, Ashley, you didn’t screw anything up for us. There really isn’t anything that the lab boys could have done with the DNA anyway until we give them the known sample, which we just got today.” He paused. “Like I said, don’t read too much into it. Let’s just try to focus, ok?” Seth said.

  “Will do.” Ashley said resolutely as she stood up. “Excuse me for a moment.” She walked out of the office.

  Feeling like a complete asshole, Seth rested his left elbow on the armrest of his desk chair and dropped the bridge of his nose to his fingers, closing his eyes for a second. Speaking of not answering phones. Seth reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. One missed text.

  [hey baby, I want you to come home soon, I’ve got a surprise for you. Love Zee]

  Well, fuck me. Let’s just add one more thing here. First, I get this fuckin’ case landed on my lap. I have the Captain freakin’ the fuck out. Ashley’s slowing me down, but I can’t even be mad at her when here I am not even answering my own wife’s text. C’mon on world… there’s only so much I can do.

  17

  Seth jumped, his arm flinging off the arm rest and his head dropped. His office phone rang and just scared the shit out of him. Quickly he answered. “Detective Lane.”

  “Hey, Lane… this is Arti.” He heard a quiet mumble that sounded like, “as if you remember who I am.”

  “Sup Arti… and yes, you dork, I know who you are.” Seth replied.

  “Ummm… yeah, soooo, we’re… we need you down here in the lab, man.” Not waiting, Arti hung up.

  Seth bolted out of his chair, and like flash of lightning he dashed through the precinct down to the lab.

  “What… y’all got the results already?” Seth was expecting the answer to be yes.

  Arti looked over at Melvin, “Well, there’s something strange here.”

  “What? This is not the time guys. No joking around, what’s going on?” Seth was clearly confused.

  Melvin took over the conversation. “We’re... only coming up with a fifty percent match.”

  “Fifty percent? That’s not enough for me to arrest or for the courts to convict. I need at minimum ninety percent.” Seth said.

  “Yeah, yeah… we know.” Melvin started to explain. “First, we tested and compared the blood sample—great sample by the way. That was genius getting blood from the napkin, with saliva mixed in. How did you even get…”

  Seth looked at Melvin and waved his hand in a circular motion in a ‘yeah yeah come on come on with is already’ gesture.

  “Right. So anyway, we tested the saliva and blood from the napkin; and also the fork. With everything matching to the known sample. We then compared it the test sample from the hospital’s rape kit. And it came back as fifty percent.” Melvin said.

  Arti then spoke up, “I then recalibrated the computer and retested myself. And yeah, it only came back as fifty percent.”

  Crushed by the news, Seth asked. “How is this even possible? It’s him right?”

  Melvin looked over at Arti then back over at Seth. “Maybe, I mean, it could be.”

  “C’mon guys! You know I can’t use maybe’s and could’s. I freakin’ need a YES over here.” Seth said, frustrated, slapping his hands down on the counter leaning into it.

  After a moment of silence, Melvin spoke. “I mean, this guy’s a boxer, right? He tends to bleed during fights. I’ve heard and seen cases where a martial artist received plasma after tournaments to help speed up the healing process.”

  “That does make sense. The more white blood cells you have, the faster the healing goes.” Arti confirmed.

  “How would that affect anything?” Seth asked.

  “Well, ummm… if Franklin received donor blood, he would have some of that donor’s DNA in him.” Melvin said.

  “Oh man, that would be really easy for us to find out too. See all medical supplies have to be recorded in a database.” Arti said. “In fact, for something like blood, that’s all recorded with the Red Cross Management System. I used to date a girl that worked at the home office with Red Cross.”

  “Bahahaha, you used to date a girl.” Melvin said laughing.

  “Yeah, Melvin, unlike you. I’m NOT a virgin.” Arti replied.

  Seth had a quick laugh with them before getting back to business, “Ok, what’s all that mean?”

  “Oh, yeah. So, if Franklin was given any blood, the Red Cross will have records of sending it to him. That’s actually going to be easy to track.” Arti said.

  “And all the medical supplies he’s going to need to take to blood will be on record with with AMSD system.” Melvin said. “I’ll look that up.”

  “Ok guys, just like I always say, work that magic fellas.” Seth said.

  As Seth left the lab he heard Melvin say to Arti, “I can’t believe you can sit there and tell such bold face lies. You’ve never had a girlfriend, well, at least one that ‘she’ knew about. Hahahaha.”

  Stopping in the middle of the stairwell, Seth looked at his phone getting ready to reply to Zee’s text. Fuck, its already 10:00 pm. By the time I get home it’ll be too late to do anything anyway. My only saving grace is the fact that Zee is by far the most understanding woman in the world. I’m sure the biggest part of it, is the fact that she truly understands and supports what it is that I actually do. I see the way Zee looks at me, and I know she’s proud. She’s proud of the fact that I’m here helping women. Protecting them the best I can.

  [hey baby, I love you so much. I’m getting really close to closing this case. I’ll be home as soon as I can.]

  Seth’s thumb hovered over the send button.

  Zee is my drive, she’s my inspiration to do what I do. These days I can’t even stand on my own. She’s the one that gives me the strength to lift the world. I would be absolutely nothing with out her. God damn it, I love her. Seth clicked the [send] button and got back to work.

  Walking past his office, he noticed Ashley sitting there studying all the notes like she was preparing for the LSAT for law school.

  He poked his head in, “Go home girl, not much more we can do here, now.”

  Ashley looked up and before she could say anything, Seth walked away, making his way past the front desk.

  18

  Ashley was determined to make it up to Seth so she started working on a timeline. The timeline was the one thing that just kept rolling around in her head. From the beginning, during the interview, Seth mentioned that one of the best ways to understand what all happened was by making and creating a timeline of events.

  With the help of Youtube and the internet Ashley established what time the fight started that night. Reviewing Seth’s notes from the interview with Kathy, she wrote down what Kathy stated. Then going back attempting to verify the times she estimated when Franklin won the fight and returned back to the green room.

  Ashley took the disc out from the case file and loaded it into the computer. Pulling the the surveillance video from the hotel she was able to accurately note down the times they arrived at the hotel. Using the multi camera function she could track them all the way up to the suite. Refusing to fast forward, Ashley watched everyone who entered and left the suite, taking detailed notes.

  Her eyes starting to get heavy and tired from staring in the computer monitor, she wrote down the exact time when Kathy and Nathian walk out of the suite. Following them on video all the way down through the lobby and outside, Ashley watched as Nathian flagged the cab and opened the passenger side back door for Kathy. It appeared, then Nathian gave the cab driver some money, most likely paying for her ride. The cab drove out of view from the cameras and Ashle
y followed Nathian back up to the suite.

  She refused to use the fast forward feature, in fear of missing some new details. She focused on the suite door waiting to see Franklin leave. Ashley’s eyes grew heavier as each minute passed. Her head began to be too much for her neck, and she crossed her arms on the desk to rest her head in them. Still facing the computer, she watched the screen until her blinks turned to slumber.

  As Seth pulled in the driveway, Zee’s car was parked in her normal spot and not a single light was on in the entire house. Looking at the dashboard clock before turning the squad car off, he noticed it was late. Already midnight. Fuckkk I’m beat.

  He quietly crept in the front door, taking care to close and lock the door behind him; then made his way upstairs shedding off his clothes. Zee was already passed out. Her soft mini snore was utterly adorable. I can always tell when she is sleeping or just laying there pretending. Softly and stealthy Seth ninja-ed his way into bed. Getting cozy, he rubbed the top of his foot against the bottom of hers. A slight subtle moan from Zee’s unconscious body ensures her subconscious that he’s home.

  Laying there on his back, Seth’s brain was entirely way too busy thinking about the case. Ugh, this fuckin’ case. How the fuck does DNA come back as only fifty percent? I’ve got the Captain on my fuckin’ back about it, all because of the high profile suspect. The most important part of this case isn’t that fucker Franklin, but Kathy, the victim. Sometimes I feel like Captain tends to forget about that. Then… then there’s Ashley’s ass. Am I even ready to be someone’s teacher? I don’t know… and of course there’s this one. Seth turned his head and looked at dark shadowy figure sleeping beside him. The tiny glow of her cell phone charging with the little green blinking light illuminated her face briefly. The more fuck faces there are out there make me work harder and harder. And who’s the real victim here? She is. She deserves to have me here at her beck-and-call. Zee, you’re the one that deserves a thousand percent of my time. I love you more than you can ever imagine.