The Mystery of Jessica Benson

by Laurence, C. K.

  “Well, your feelings are right on the money here, Kyle. I wish you could have seen him today. He wasn’t smooth at all. He was a wreck and anxious to incriminate as many people as he could. I mean, the guy even came up with a mystery man, who, if he actually exists, is still a mystery. But he didn’t indict you. Everyone but you. Kyle, he was supplying drugs to half of South Florida.”

  Kyle gave a short smile. “Everyone knew Fraga was loose about handing out prescriptions, honey, you know, for pain meds for the team and all, but so what? There isn’t a team in the league that doesn’t have at least one drug pushing doctor. Most of the guys wouldn’t be able to get through the season without painkillers of one kind or another. Unfortunately, the only ones that are worth a damn are the narcotics. The anti-inflammatory pills and injections just don’t cut it for the beatings we take in this game.”

  “No, no. I’m not talking about legitimate medication, or even just over-medicating players. He was dealing, Kyle. He was supplying cocaine and I don’t know how much other stuff he was peddling, to anyone who’d pay the price apparently. But that’s not the best part. One of our guys spent some time up in Quantico with the Feds. He still has ties with someone up there, and he was able to get us bumped way ahead of the line to get the prints we picked up from Fraga’s house run through A.I.F.I.S....”

  “Wait a minute? A.I.F.I.S? Who’s that?”

  “Not who, what. It’s initials, A-I-F-I-S for the Automated Integrated Fingerprint Identification System. It’s more or less the FBI clearing house for prints. You usually have at least a three-day wait for them to even look at what you have, but we got lucky. Fraga had Jessica’s, Feyzi’s and, guess who, Tyrell Utley’s prints all over his place. There were others, too. He copped to feeding them drugs. Will thinks he might have killed Feyzi and even Jessica, but we’re a little short on motive. It fits though, you know. It was his gun that killed Batan, and apparently he and Jessica had some kind of a weird sex thing going, but we knew that, right?”

  “We know she had a lot of sex things going on. The question is which one killed her.”

  “Well, this is the first break we’ve had, and for sure the first time Will has wavered about you being the murderer. Fraga’s looking better and better for it. He’s really a very sick man. He’s so warped. You should have seen him today, Kyle. He was crying like an infant. I’m not exaggerating. His attorney was telling him to shut up, and then biting on us to back off. But the doctor kept right on babbling so Kirschman, his lawyer, finally just walked out on him. After he left, Fraga would have given up his sainted grandmother if we’d asked, you know? What a hero.”

  Kyle rubbed his chin and shook his head. “It’s hard to picture him any way but in charge. He never even broke a sweat when he came on to the field in a coat and tie. It just wasn’t natural.”

  “Well, my darling, you should have seen him sweating today. I can’t remember when a suspect went to pieces that completely. But it’s all good.”

  “I want to let my breath out a little, but...”

  “No buts. This is all going to be over soon. I just know it!”

  “Karen, uh, about when it’s over,” he stammered and then locked his intense blue eyes with hers. “God! When it’s over, well, I don’t want it to be over between us. I mean, what I want is for us to be able to go out without sneaking; leave my apartment without the fear of you losing your job, uh, and me losing my life. I want to take you out to dinner and to shows. And I want you to be with my family again and watch from the stands with them when I’m playing ball.” He took a selfconscious breath, and asked, “Do I sound like a bad book, or what?”

  Karen laughed and threw her arms around his neck. She kissed his forehead and then his lips. “You sound exactly like I want you to. You’re using all the right words, and I’m loving it. I’ve been so afraid that once you were off the hook you’d move on, oh God, move on and leave me again. Like when I was a kid, and Brett...”

  He cut her off with a sharp “No!” He pulled back, looking at her as though she’d smacked him. “I thought we were on the same page about us. Did you really think I’d jeopardize your career for some quick updates on what was happening down at Homicide?” He rolled his head on his neck, which cracked a couple of times, and continued.

  “As for when Brett died, well, it was different then. I tried to stay in touch with your family, but I was getting hustled by a dozen colleges and the pressure to choose was unbelievable. Everything was about my career—and there was such a hole in my heart for Brett. Whenever I was around you and your mom and dad, it was like reliving it all over again. I know I didn’t handle it well, Karen, but I was young, and it was the biggest wound of my life. It’s still the biggest wound of my life.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out that way. I know you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose. But, don’t forget, it was the greatest hurt in my life also. Then you going off, it was as though I’d lost two brothers. And now the case from hell and I fall for the murder suspect.”

  He arched his brows, and said “Ah, what a symbiotic team we are. The cop and the murder suspect.”

  “Now you’re making fun. I’m serious, Kyle. I haven’t had a guilt-free moment since the first time I walked out onto the football field after the murder.”

  “Yeah, well, that would be about the time I stopped breathing myself. But, Karen, and I’m serious here, too, I’d go through all this again if I knew I could end up with you.” He put his arms around her shoulders, pulling her to him.

  “I would have given up my job to save you. Did you know...?”

  His kiss stopped her from finishing the sentence. It was a slow, deep kiss, and they savored one another’s taste. He pushed her hair back from her face with his fingers and put his lips to her bare forehead.

  “I’m falling in love with you, Karen. You’re melting my soul.”

  They stood, not quite steady, and moved toward his bedroom. She had just enough presence of mind to turn off her pager and cell phone, then dropped them on the floor along with her clothes.

  They hadn’t bothered to close the shutters and light poked through the window very early the next morning. The sun’s rays beat brightly on Karen’s eyelids, so she disentangled herself from Kyle, sat up and opened her eyes. She felt a rush from the splendor of the shimmery cantaloupe that was the sun rising over the teal Atlantic ocean. She looked down at his face and thought it was the first time she had seen him at peace. She bent down and kissed his eyes, and they immediately opened. He broke into a smile but made no move to get up.

  “Hey, you...where are you going? I don’t have practice ‘til ten today. Let’s get really reckless, stay in bed all morning, and let me make love to you ‘til you can’t breathe. Then I’ll let you rest for only a second and make you beg for more.”

  “God, that’s tempting, but I’m going to need a rain check. I expect to have a bitch of a day today. We have loose ends all over the place. The narcs are in a feeding frenzy over the leads Fraga gave us yesterday, and we’re going to be spending some more time with him. He’s given us everything we’ve asked about with regard to the drugs, but he’s holding tight on the murder rap.”

  “What if he didn’t kill her, Karen? You can’t make him confess to something he didn’t do.”

  “That’s why we have a court system. We give them what we get and then it’s their problem. You know, like on Law and Order. But of course, the best case scenario would be getting him to confess to everything, although I think he’s pretty much emptied himself out for now.

  “They’ll put a public defender on him unless he finds someone to replace Kirschman, and then maybe we can cut some kind of a deal. I’ve never been more nuts about closing out a case, but the sooner this is over...”

  Kyle put his hand over her mouth and hushed her. “I hear you. So how about we use our time wisely and take a quick shower together.”

  She cocked her head and touched her tongue to her upper lip. “Mmm. We could do
that. Just give me a second to check my messages. I turned everything off last night so I could keep my mind on getting good and solidly loved. I’ve never done that before, cut myself off like that, but no question, it was worth every delicious minute of freedom.”

  She felt around on the floor beside the bed and pulled up her phone. She hit a couple of buttons and crunched her teeth.

  “Hmmm.... Frank Garcia called me. What’s with that, I wonder. He usually goes straight to Will.” She noted that he’d left a voicemail, and figured he must have something on the prints from yesterday. “Whatever he has can wait until after we take our shower, wouldn’t you think?”

  In response, Kyle stood and headed for the bathroom, beckoning for her to follow. His spectacular naked body supplied plenty of incentive. He smiled and said, “C’mon, you. I’m going to do my very best to make you feel how good and truly loved you are.”

  He disappeared, she followed and within seconds they were in the shower.

  About a half an hour later, in Kyle Sands kitchen: “Hey Frank. It’s me, Karen. What’s up?”

  “Karen, man, am I glad to hear from you. Plenty’s up. Where are you?”

  “I’m dressed and ready to go. Is that enough information?”

  “Yeah, yeah. That’s what I meant, anyway. I’m not checking up on your personal life. Listen, though. I need to see you right away. There’s been an unexpected development.”

  “No problem. Want to meet me at the squad room, say in half an hour, no make that forty-five minutes. I want to grab some coffee on my way in.”

  “Not at the station, no. I need to talk with you, uh, you know, privately. Where are you going for coffee, Starbucks?”

  “Nah, not today. Roasters ‘n Toasters. I’m going to have a bagel too. Can you meet me there?” She asked.

  “No, too close. Off the Beach. I don’t want us to be seen, so off the Beach.

  “What’s with you? What’s this about, Frank? Are you with Will?”

  “It’s some pretty serious shit, Karen. We have ourselves a situation here, and I wanted to speak to you before I do anything else with it. It’s no joke, Karen. I need to see you ten minutes ago. Now where do you want to go? Close, but off the damned Beach.”

  She started to get panicky. “Is it the Benson case? What’s going on?”

  “Karen. Stop with the questions. Get off the phone. You know where Bagels & Company is?”

  “Where’s it at? Miami proper?” Karen asked, her mind racing, her heart pounding.

  “No, no. It’s north on Biscayne Boulevard. Up around a hundred seventh or eighth street. East side, going north, blue awning. You can’t miss it. Small lot in front, bigger one in back. If you get there first, grab a back booth and order us coffee. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Frank, you’re scaring the shit outta me!”

  “It’s bad, Karen. It’s real bad…”

  “I’m leaving now.” She hung up the phone and turned to Kyle who was putting up a pot of coffee.

  He frowned and asked, “Are you okay? Trouble?”

  “I’m not sure, to both of your questions. Frank Garcia says he’s come up with something on the case, but wouldn’t tell me anything over the phone. He was in a real hurry and doesn’t want to talk at the station. It’s just not like him. He’s usually very low key, but he sounded downright hyper. I guess Will’s already with him.”

  “Take it easy, baby. Don’t get ahead of yourself here.”

  She felt as though the air in the room had gotten thick and breathing was difficult for her. It occurred to her that she had been found out, or worse, they had something on Kyle. “I gotta go, Kyle. I told him I’d be there right away.”

  He stepped closer and reached out to her. She flinched and tried to push past him.

  “Don’t do this, Karen. Please don’t shut me out.”

  “I’m frightened. God, I’m scared like when I was a kid. I’m afraid of what I know, what I don’t know, and more than anything, I’m afraid of what I’m about to find out. Why couldn’t he meet me at the station? Better still, why didn’t Will call me? He wouldn’t even meet here on the Beach. It has to be off the Beach! This damned case is one nightmare after another!”

  She looked at Kyle. He moved forward, enveloping her with his arms.

  “I’m here. Whatever it is, you don’t have to be upset thinking something’s going to happen to us. On my life and on the lives of everyone dear to me, Karen, there is nothing they could find out that would make this about me. I didn’t kill her. Please don’t doubt that. Please.”

  “Kyle, what if someone saw us together?”

  “Like where? In my bedroom? I don’t think so. If nothing else, we’ve been discreet.”

  “I don’t know. The valet, or even the concierge, they’ve all seen me and know I’m with you. Anyone could have noticed me in the elevator or the hallway here. And another thing. There was a tennis demonstration going on the other day when I got here. I didn’t even think to say anything to you but the media was all over the place. I was so stupid. I walked over to take a look at it. What if someone were watching me? Maybe Will…”

  “You’ve got to calm down. You’re making yourself nuts, and you’re not helping my psyche either. Get your stuff together. I’ll call down and have your car waiting for you on the ramp. The coffee shop isn’t five minutes from here. It’s going to be fine. I promise, okay?”

  She had to smile. He was doing everything right. He had so much strength of character, and she felt his eyes were fusing it into her.

  “Karen?” He pulled back and waved his hands to break her trance.

  “Wow. You’re good. Thank you.”

  “Thank me?”

  “Yes. Whatever it is that keeps you going, I think you just gave it to me. I’m feeling better. Honest.”

  “Well, whatever it was, I’m glad I did it. Stop thinking so much about the things you can’t control, huh? We’re good together. Really good.”

  “You’re sweating out a murder charge and I’m using you as a security blanket.” She leaned in for a kiss and told him she’d call him as soon as she knew what was going on.

  She felt his eyes on her back as she walked out the door.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  K aren was in luck. She found a parking space right in front of Bagels & Co. Frank wasn’t there yet, so she followed his instructions and went all the way to the back and took a booth. The warm, toasty aroma of brewing coffee assailed her senses and calmed her frayed nerves. Talk about your basic caffeine addict, she thought. A small, handsome café au lait — I’m even thinking colors in coffee! — man was at her table in no time with a menu and a cup of brew. In a slight Jamaican accent he offered as he poured, “You are looking like some coffee could help you, yes?”

  Karen, wanting to hug him, simply smiled back. “I’m meeting someone here and I’m sure he’ll want a menu and coffee too. He should be here any minute. And, um, we’re going to be in a hurry.”

  “That is not to be a problem. I will bring a menu and coffee as soon as I see the gentleman has come to your table. I will tell Michelle, who is your waitress, you must order quickly and have no time to eat. Is good?”

  “Perfect,” Karen nodded. Frank Garcia suddenly showed, looking grim. He said “Hello Roger,” to the man as he scurried away, and looked at Karen. “We gotta talk,” he said, as he slid into the booth across from Karen.

  The waitress showed up immediately and bent to give Garcia a quick hug. “Detective! Is good to see you. It has been such a long time, but I know you are in a big hurry today. No time to talk gossip. So something special for you to eat?”

  “Sure, Michelle, thanks. How about a poppy seed bagel with cream cheese, huh?”

  “And for you, Miss? Anything for you to eat with your coffee?

  Karen shook her head, and said, “Coffee’s fine, thanks!”

  Frank grimaced. “Karen, I...”

  “What the hell is going on, Frank? Where’s Will, and what’s
so hush-hush that we couldn’t talk at the station?”

  “Karen, please shut up. Let me talk and you’ll understand. This is hard enough without you reading me the riot act, okay?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that this case has me jumping out of my skin. Chasing our tails like we have, it’s too bizarre.”

  “You got that right. But what I have to tell you now is really going to blow your mind. I, uh, Jesus, I don’t know where to start.”

  Michelle came over and put Garcia’s coffee on the table, and he took a big sip. “Ouch. Hot.”

  “Sorry, just brewed!” Michelle winced as she headed back to the counter.

  “Karen, you know the only definitive prints I got from the gun at Feyzi Batan’s were his own. Other than that, it was wiped pretty clean. But not completely. The shooter must have been in a real hurry, because he left a couple of smudged partials which were definitely not Batan’s. So I got to thinking about it and decided to call my buddy at Quantico again. I figured maybe I’d send him the latents from the gun and have him run them through for me. Maybe see if A.I.F.I.S could work a little more magic for us. The short of it is that we got a match, but I don’t know what the fuck to do with it.”

  Karen wiped an imaginary crumb from the table. “Frank, you’re scaring me. Tell me where you’re going with this? Was it Sands?”

  He took a deep breath and let it slowly out. “Sands? I wish it were that easy. Hell no! They were Will’s. Goddammit, this is crazy, Karen. This is goddamn crazy, but they were Will’s.”

  “Come on Frank, what kind of a game are you playing. Will wasn’t anywhere around Feyzi that day. He had specifically asked for me to come without Will. Will never even saw the gun until after I called him to the scene. Now that you’ve had your little joke, tell me, were they Fraga’s? That’d fit.”