by James Hunt
Jim reached for Kerry’s hand and squeezed. They shared the same loss, the same doubt, the same frustration and anger.
“You know, before I had a partner I could trust, I never thought I needed anyone else,” Jim said. “But you’re the reason I know that I do.”
Kerry wiped her eyes and then shoved him to the side. Since their pairing, Kerry had become the sister Jim didn’t even know he needed.
“Take it easy; I’m in the hospital!” Jim said.
“You really should take it easy,” Kerry said, and then she stood. “But I know I’m not the one to convince you.”
“And who is?” Jim asked.
Kerry looked at the door, and Jim turned around to see Jen standing there. She was dressed in her work clothes, and her cheeks were red as if she’d been crying.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” Kerry said, walking toward the door. When she passed Jen, she whispered something into Jen’s ear, and Jen nodded.
Of all the people Jim wanted to see, Jen was always at the very top of the list. She was someone who made him feel like he wasn’t alone anymore, but all of that had changed with Jim’s self-imposed exile from the house.
“Can I come in?” Jen asked.
“Yes, of course,” Jim answered.
Jen had her curly red hair tied back up in her signature ponytail, her face dotted with freckles, and her attentive blue eyes focused on her shoes as she walked over to Jim. She stood in front of him for a moment, still staring at her feet.
“Jen, I’m sor—”
Jen lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Jim, and squeezed him so tight that his back cracked. She sobbed into his shoulder as she kissed his neck. When she finally pulled back, her face was red and wet, and she wiped her nose with her coat sleeve. “I was so worried when Kerry called me.”
“I’m okay,” Jim said. “No long-term damage.”
“They said you collapsed from exhaustion,” Jen said, taking a seat next to Jim on the edge of the mattress.
“I did,” Jim said. “But I took a power nap, and I’m fine now.”
Jen tilted her head to the side, still upset and trying not to laugh. “You need to take this seriously, Jim.”
“I am,” Jim said.
“No, you’re not,” Jen said. “You’ve been working yourself ragged, and if you don’t take a break, next time, something worse might happen. You could have a heart attack or a stroke, or you could crack your head on something if you fall wrong—”
Jim grabbed hold of Jen’s hands, and she relaxed. “I’m okay.”
Jen shook her head. “Jim, what is going on? You won’t talk to me, and I can’t help or understand if I don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
Jen knew about the cases Jim had been working. She knew he had taken Amy Fuller’s death hard but how hard he had kept to himself. And he had been carrying the burden of that weight alone for the past three months, refusing help. But Jim knew he couldn’t carry it alone anymore, not if he wanted to remain alive.
“I’ve never failed at my job before,” Jim said. “And Amy’s death… It shook my confidence. And I blamed that confidence on my relationships. With you, with Kerry, anything I thought was a distraction from my work. And that was unfair.”
“I know how serious you take your job,” Jen said. “That was one of the things I admired about you so much. You are a brilliant detective.” She gently held his face. “But you are also human. And people fail, Jim. And sometimes, those failures are horrible, wretched things. But I am here to help you through them.”
Jim closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel the warmth of her touch. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed it.
They held onto one another for a long time, and then Jim finally pulled back and took a breath. “I know I haven’t been open with you. I thought burying myself in my work would help, but it only made things worse.”
“Come home,” Jen said. “Please.”
Jim held Jen’s hand. “I will. But I have to see this through.”
“There are other detectives who can take this up,” Jen said. “Kerry can work with someone else, just until you feel better.”
Jim shook his head. “I know it looks like I’m being stubborn, but…” He struggled to find a way to explain it to Jen that she would understand. “When you have a body on your table at the coroner's office, you are always as diligent as you can be, right?”
“Of course,” Jen answered.
“And when there’s something that’s just… off, you stick it out until you find it,” Jim said. “That’s what I need to do now.”
Jen was still clearly worried, but she knew Jim well enough that the more she pushed him, the more he would resist. It was just how he was wired, and the source of that drive allowed him to do incredible things.
“I don’t want to lose you, Jim,” Jen said, and then she bit her lower lip. “Is this really the only way?”
“It’s all I know how to do, Jen,” Jim answered. “And I need you to be okay with that because I’m never going to stop.”
“What about slowing down?” Jen asked.
Jim nodded. “I could do that, just not right now.”
Jen bunched up her face as if she were about to cry again, and then she shook her head. “I don’t… I don’t think I can stand by and watch you do this to yourself.” She stood and wiped her eyes. “I love you, Jim, more than anyone else I’ve ever met. But I can’t stand by and watch as you run yourself into the ground.”
When Jen turned to leave, Jim knew he should have gone after her, but he stayed on the bed. Because as much as he loved Jen, he couldn’t turn away from this case. Even if it killed him.
15
All of the doctors at the hospital tried to convince Jim to stick around, but they couldn’t keep him pinned down. Against the advice of the doctors, his partner, and Jen, and to some extent even himself, Jim returned to work.
But what greeted him upon his return to the precinct nearly put him back into the hospital.
“You stupid, prick!” Director Hickem barreled toward Jim like a charging elephant, red-faced and snarling. “Do you realize how many favors I wasted!”
Lieutenant Mullocks was close behind Hickem, and she jumped in front of Hickem before he collided with Jim and crushed him. “Hickem, relax,” Mullocks said.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Jim said.
“You don’t know what’s going on?” Hickem asked patronizingly. “The guy we just spent a considerable amount of resources on, a man who the FBI had been looking to bring down, is about to walk free!”
Jim looked to the lieutenant for confirmation, and Mullocks nodded.
“We can’t get anything to stick,” Mullocks said. “Forensics didn’t find anything we could use at the pool hall. And since the warrant was to search the place in connection with Ricky’s abduction, we can’t hold him without evidence.”
“Do you know how many years our guys had been working to bring Vincent Marcus down?” Hickem asked. “All of it wasted on your stupid little hunch.”
“It wasn’t a hunch,” Jim said. “It was where the evidence led us.”
“Well, your evidence was shit,” Hickem said. “And now I have to get on the phone and call people to beg them not to fire the rest of my team and me for your colossal error.”
Hickem smacked into Jim’s shoulder on the way past, and Jim nearly toppled over. He rubbed his shoulder after Hickem had gone.
“Is it that bad?” Kerry asked.
“Worse for Hickem than us,” Mullocks answered. “But definitely not as bad as it is for Ricky Teller, who’s still missing.”
“So, Marcus denies the claim that his guys attacked Marcia Teller?” Jim asked.
“He maintains his innocence,” Mullocks answered.
Jim walked over to the monitors for the interrogation room and saw Marcus was still in their custody.
“Arrogant looking, isn’t he,” Kerry said. “He didn’t even request a lawyer
.”
After so many different layers to the case they were working, Jim was beginning to doubt his own instincts. But something was telling him that Vincent was still valuable. He just needed to figure out which piece of the puzzle he fit into.
“C’mon,” Jim said. “Let’s see if we can make him sweat.”
But the lieutenant put the brakes on Jim’s plans. “If you’re thinking about going in there, you can’t,” Mullocks answered.
“Why not?” Kerry asked. “He’s sitting in our interrogation room at our precinct?”
“Hickem doesn’t want any more interference from us,” Mullocks answered. “And seeing as how he has jurisdiction over the case that we agreed to give him, I’m inclined to listen.”
“Lieutenant, give us a chance to go in there,” Jim said. “I’m one of the best interrogators you have.”
“You shouldn’t even be here,” Mullocks said. “You should be back at the hospital recovering. I don’t know what the doctors were thinking letting you out.”
“I’ve given more than my fair share to this department and to the job,” Jim said. “If there is anyone who deserves a chance to go in there and speak with him, it’s me.”
It was obvious that Mullocks was considering it, and as she looked at Kerry, Jim wasn’t sure if his partner was going to back him up.
“Let us go in, Lieutenant,” Kerry said, surprising both Mullocks and Jim. “After everything we’ve done, we deserve a chance to see if we can crack this.”
Mullocks sighed, muttering beneath her breath. “You get five minutes with this guy. No more, understand? So make good use of your time.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Jim said.
Mullocks said nothing else as she returned to her office. When it was just Jim and Kerry, he looked to his partner, surprised.
“Thank you,” Jim said.
“Well, you are the best interrogator in the department,” Kerry said. “And we’ve pushed this too far not to see it through until the end.”
Even after everything Jim had done, how he had acted, this was a moment he would never forget because it showed just how much more steadfast Kerry was than him.
“I know you’ve been having a hard time,” Jim said.
Kerry cast her eyes downward, and she cleared her throat. “I’m working on it.”
“But that’s the thing,” Jim said. “I don’t think you have to. Throughout these cases, it’s you who has been the steady hand. You’re the one making sure we stay on the right track and making sure I don’t go off the rails.”
“Haven’t had much success on that last part,” Kerry said.
“No, but that isn’t on you, Kerry,” Jim said. “I know I’m not… in the right head space, but I know what happens if I take my foot off the gas when I’m running on empty. I don’t know if I’ll start up again.”
“It’s okay to take a break, Jim,” Kerry said. “You put too much pressure on yourself.”
“That’s true,” Jim said, and then he looked back to the monitors where Vincent Marcus was waiting for them. “So let’s put some of that pressure on Vincent Marcus.”
When Jim and Kerry entered the interrogation room, Marcus didn’t look worried. He sat in the interrogation room as if he owned the space.
Jim and Kerry had done their homework on Marcus, and they had learned that despite running a relatively well-known gambling ring, he had managed to stay off the books. His secret was staying small enough to remain off the radar of some of the bigger organizations. It was said he had a few Seattle PD officers on his payroll to help him out when he got into a jam, but Jim wasn’t sure if that intelligence was completely accurate.
It could have just been a rumor started by Vincent himself to buy him some credit on the streets. But even with the small-time accounts, he had to have been making a decent living. After all, he owned the pool hall, which Jim assumed was where he laundered most of his money, and he was able to employ a constant staff of workers.
“Detectives,” Vincent said as Jim and Kerry entered the room. “I was wondering when you were going to show up.” He checked his watch. “Can we make this quick? I have a meeting I need to get to in less than an hour, and you know how lunch-hour traffic can be in the city.”
Jim sat down, matching Vincent’s laissez-faire attitude. “You do understand you’ve waived your right to an attorney?”
“I haven’t waived anything,” Vincent said. “I just figured we’re a couple of people talking.” He shrugged. “So talk.”
“What makes you think you’re not in trouble?” Jim asked. “We had a search warrant.”
“Nothing wrong with a search warrant, so long as it was obtained legally,” Vincent said. “But since I haven’t been charged with any crimes, I take it your people didn’t find anything?”
The truth was the team hadn’t finished, but so far, there was nothing they could use. Wherever Vincent was keeping his bookie dealings wasn’t at the pool hall. But he must have known they’d find nothing.
“I’m not worried about what the team will and won’t find,” Jim said. “I have a signed testimonial which doesn’t paint a very flattering picture of you. Combine that with your reputation and I have everything I need to put pressure on you.”
Vincent laughed. “I heard about you.” He leaned forward, wagging his finger at Jim like a grandfather giving a lesson to a youngster. “You’re good at your job. You’ve been in the news a lot over the years. You catch pedophiles, right?”
“I catch a lot of people, Vincent,” Jim answered. “And I’m not someone you want to have on your radar.”
“Now, that is something I think we can both agree on.” Vincent leaned back into his chair and crossed his arm. “Your accusations seem a bit far-fetched, though.”
“I don’t see it that way,” Jim said.
“I’m in the middle of a deal with the city that would net me hundreds of millions through the use of my casino once it’s approved,” Vincent said. “Legal gambling is coming, and I’m going to be the first one to the top of that mountain. Why would I risk all of that over some bullshit?”
“I wouldn’t call being owed millions bullshit,” Jim answered. “And you strike me as a man who doesn’t waste a cent.”
Vincent smiled. He uncrossed his arms, his posture more amicable.
“You know, I don’t deal with kids in my line of work. Pool hall, that is,” Vincent said. “No one underage is allowed at my facility. Adults should only deal with adults, you know?”
Jim wasn’t sure where this was going, but his curiosity had been piqued, so he remained quiet as Vincent spoke.
“And I think I might be able to help you with this… current situation,” Vincent said.
“Current situation?” Jim asked.
“The situation with the missing kid,” Vincent answered. “Ricky Teller. It’s all over the news. And considering that his mother has frequented my establishment, it’s only natural for you to come and question me, right?”
“Frequented your establishment?” Kerry asked. “Mrs. Teller didn’t strike me as a pool player.”
“We also have darts,” Vincent said.
Jim was tired of beating around the bush on this, and he decided to take matters into his own hand. “What do you have on her?” Jim asked.
“You said Mrs. Teller accused my employees at the pool hall and me of assault?” Vincent asked. “Well, I have video surveillance at my business that shows Mrs. Teller arriving at my establishment unharmed and leaving in the same condition. She was, however, very loud and aggressive with my people.”
“You’re saying that you didn’t touch Mrs. Teller,” Kerry said.
“Of course not,” Vincent said. “What kind of a business do you think I run?”
“The kind that keeps things off the books,” Jim answered. “We’ll need the video tape.”
“Whatever I can do to cooperate.” Vincent smiled wide.
It was a salesman’s smile, and despite the friendly
demeanor he was displaying here, Jim couldn’t help but feel like Vincent was trying to goad them into something.
“What else do you have?” Jim asked.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean?” Vincent answered.
“Why would you work with us, besides trying to get on our good side?” Jim said. “And I’m not going to let you go until I have an honest answer from you about it.”
Vincent’s smile faded, but barely enough for Jim to notice. “Mrs. Teller has frequented my establishment before and has run up quite the tab.” He shrugged. “I simply want to be assured that I will get paid.”
“And what do you have to offer in exchange for your… cooperation?” Jim asked.
“We have an ATM at the pool hall,” Vincent said. “For select members only, of course. She made several large withdrawals from that ATM. A sum large enough to make some questionable choices.” He leaned forward. “And she also requested a referral.”
“A referral for what?” Jim asked.
“For services I do not provide,” Vincent answered, but with a twinkle in his eyes. “The kind of ‘muscle’ that might be used for a terrible atrocity. Maybe, something like, a kidnapping.”
“She told you that’s what she was planning? A kidnapping?” Kerry asked.
“You don’t have to believe me,” Vincent said. “Like I said, I just want to cooperate and tell you what I know. You can take that information and do with it as you see fit.”
Jim had developed a keen nose for liars and bluffers from his time in rooms like these, and all of those experiences were telling him that Vincent wasn’t lying.
“We appreciate the time,” Jim said, and then he stood. “It’ll just be a little while longer.”
“Of course,” Vincent said.
Once Jim and Kerry were out of the room, they returned to the monitors where they watched Vincent.
“He’s telling the truth,” Jim said.
“Are you sure?” Kerry asked. “Because this guy isn’t exactly the picture of honesty, Jim.”
“He’s either the best liar I’ve ever seen, or he’s telling the truth,” Jim said.