A scowl crossed Derek’s face. “You’ve always been such a hardhead. Serves you right for trying to act like you’re twenty. I’m serious about your doors, though. In today’s world, you can’t be too careful, especially when you live alone. Just because you’re all rough and buff now doesn’t mean you’d be immune to hot lead.”
Merry sensed his dark mood. Saw the creases of worry and lack of sleep etched deep across her brother’s brow and around his eyes. She handed him a glass of tea and made her way into the living room. Settling on the sofa, she remarked, “Oops. Told you my head is thumping, and you know how I get when it morphs into a full-blown attack. Again, enough about me. To quote you the other day, you look like hell. What’s so damned important it couldn’t wait until my head didn’t feel like it was going to explode? Zombie apocalypse start or something?”
Derek sat in the chair across from Merry, his gaze sweeping over her face and arms. She couldn’t tell if he bought her story or not. “For some.”
Merry cocked her head with feigned curiosity. “What, did you guys get your first case of a user on bath salts here? Is that what’s freaked you out? Seriously, bro, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or a real zombie.”
“Case I assisted on today was rough. Vic was one of Mitch’s, and the second drug dealer in two days to bite the big one. The guy’s face and neck were gone, though not from a zombie or a crazy on salts. His dog munched on him. I probably won’t be able to eat for a week after seeing that up close and personal. Made me really grateful Stonewall is a toy Pom and that I don’t work homicide.”
Merry’s heart skipped a beat. He went to the scene? Why? Figures Mitch is Mookie’s handler! Justice gods 2: Murphy’s Law 1.
“How awful! Just the thought makes me nauseated. You said second dealer. Do you all think there’s a connection to Peppy’s death?”
“At first glance, no. Looked like a simple case of a bad owner got his comeuppance. Once the scene was processed and no signs of forced entry were found, and vic’s cell phone is missing, the consensus is another hit. Mitch is all up in arms about the whole thing. Never seen him so wound up.”
Merry bit her lip, holding back the numerous questions on the tip of her tongue. She didn’t want to seem too eager or interested in the particulars, so she switched gears. “You rarely discuss work, Derek. A trick I think you learned from Dad. The crime scene must have been extra gruesome if you want to talk. Somehow, I don’t get the sense that’s the only thing bothering you, so talk. Again, not sure how much longer I have.” Merry forced a yawn. “But I’m all ears now.”
Derek kept his eyes on the glass, unwilling to look up. Uncomfortable silence filled the house for almost a full minute before he spoke again. “You know, there’s a reason I don’t work homicide. I can’t stand looking at all the nastiness that happens when people die. Saw my share of carnage and blood when I worked the streets. Still have nightmares about some of the accident scenes I worked. Dad warned me about those things when I told him I wanted to go to the academy. Said he saw his share of cops become either raging drunks or eat their guns because some memories don’t disappear. I became a cop because I wanted to make a difference in my little section of the world. Sometimes, I believe I made the wrong choice. Should have just gone on to medical school after I got my biology degree. Days like today give me serious pause about my career decision and make me contemplate turning in my badge.”
“Oh, Derek, stop talking like that! You make a difference every day! You, Mitch, your entire squad. All of you put your lives on the line each time you step out the front door!”
“Grow up, Merry. Stop fooling yourself. Our unit barely makes a dent in comparison to what’s really on the streets.”
“That’s not true, Derek.”
“Our Captain disagrees. In fact, Mitch and I were grilled for over two hours today about the issue, among other things. The entire incident left a sour taste in my mouth.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs a vacation. Hasn’t it been over two years since your last visit to Miami?”
“Next month will be three.”
“See there! It’s only been one year since all of us went to…” Merry felt a strong pang of sadness hit her chest at the memory of the last family vacation in Branson. It took her a second to refocus. “You insisted I needed a break, and the time since my last one has been much shorter for me. Heed your own advice. Take a leave of absence. If you prefer, I could just go talk to your captain and insist. Tell him how worried I am about you and your mental state. Maybe he’ll be as understanding as Judge Tompkins was.”
Derek rolled his eyes. “You aren’t ever going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope. Rather annoying having someone poke their nose into your business…agree?”
“Okay, I get it.” Derek sighed. “I love you; you love me. We both worry too much about each other.”
“So, does that mean you are going to follow through and take some time off? I’m not the only one who’s suffered losses in the last six months. I think each of us need some time to heal. Regroup. What did Dad used to say? Yank on our grown-up panties?”
Derek’s laugh was bitter. “Yeah, that’s the phrase.”
Merry set her glass down on the coffee table and scrutinized Derek’s body language. He looked beyond tired. Deflated and exhausted were better descriptions. “When you said ‘other things’ what did you mean?” Merry knew she was on to something the second the words left her lips. She could see Derek tense up.
“My entire unit was questioned about not only our whereabouts the last forty-eight hours but also our commitment to the department. Captain didn’t come right out and accuse anyone of impropriety, but the subtle hints were there. Seems not only Hudson thinks something is fishy about the deaths of two snitches so close together. According to Mitch, Hudson accused him of taking out his charges. Said things were too clean, not done by some street thug or enemy. Hinted he didn’t think a pro was behind things either. Hudson—and others—thinks it’s a cop. Didn’t help any that someone fitting Mitch’s general description was seen talking to the vic only hours before he died and that person drove a motorcycle. I had to get in between Mitch and Hudson at the scene when Hudson made a snide remark about Mitch owning a bike. There’s so much suspicion floating around the department right now. Everyone is walking on eggshells. The job is stressful enough without all this added bullshit. ”
Great. Just great.
“You’re serious about quitting the force, aren’t you?”
Derek bit his lip and nodded. Merry noticed a deep sadness behind his eyes. She stood and walked over and knelt down in front of him.
“If your heart is telling you it’s had enough, then listen. You’ve had almost twenty amazing years on the job. Made your contribution to society in one way, so why not try another? Science was always your first love, so maybe you should consider that avenue. I…don’t like seeing you like this, Derek. In fact, I’ve never seen you so distraught before. Our family…we’ve been through a lot. First losing Mom in such a tragic way, then Dad’s slow and agonizing death, then, well, you know. Sometimes, tragedy shifts the direction of our lives in ways we never imagined.”
Derek looked away from Merry’s intense gaze. “It’ll be hard to start over. Being a cop is all I know. But I gotta say, I’m sick of all the lies. Tired of walking the thin line of living two separate lives. Add in this latest twist of never-ending suspicion and it’s just too much to handle. In short, I’m burned out.”
“The question is, dear brother, is being a cop what defines you? If it is, then you need to sit back and really take stock of yourself. Because at the end of the day, it’s just a job. Derek Isaac Clarke is an amazing man who happens to work as a police officer. He would be the same amazing guy if he bagged groceries or sold auto parts. Plain and simple.”
“Dad would be so disappointed…” Derek whispered, his voice trailing off.
“He would not! Besides, even if he
was here and said to your face he was, that shouldn’t stop you. It’s your life, after all. You live it, and the rest of us don’t. Now, quit being such a big wimp and follow what you know to be the right course for your life. That’s exactly what I’ve done. Debbie thinks I’m nuts for selling this place and moving so far away from work…”
“So do I.”
Merry stood and cocked her head in defiance. “Okay, so you both think I’m crazy. Your opinions didn’t stop me from making decisions and choices contrary to yours, now did it?”
“No.”
“Well, there you go. End of discussion. Now please, before I fall asleep standing up…”
Derek rose and hugged Merry tight. “I know; I know. You need to rest. Sorry for keeping you so long, but I needed to vent. Thanks. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Merry replied into Derek’s shoulder. “I’ll be in and out the next few days, moving a few more items, so cell service will be sketchy.”
Derek pulled away and headed downstairs. “And I’ll be busy trying to decide what new job title I should strive for, so no worries. See you Saturday. Oh, and one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
Derek paused by the front door, a stern look on his face. “The next time you decide to beat the shit out of the bag, eat first, and remember to wear gloves. Black and blue are not good colors on you.”
Merry gave Derek a weak smile and watched him walk out the door. The lump of hot tears formed fast in her throat, surprising her with their appearance. The salty mess was a mixture of guilt for putting Derek in the middle of her plans and sadness at the knowledge the heart-to-heart chat was the final one they’d have inside the house.
Yet the thing that made the tears race down her cheeks was how proud she was of Derek for recognizing he needed a change and doing something about it. Unlike their father, who resolved himself to the life until he retired, unhappy and frustrated with the profession he’d chosen. Even on his deathbed, their father wouldn’t let go of the anger and bitterness.
Proud of you, big brother. You’ll need something new to occupy your thoughts soon.
15
8:00 p.m. Thursday evening
“Don’t give me that look! You wouldn’t enjoy the trip anyway. Sitting in a car for hours watching someone isn’t much fun. Besides, my cover would be blown if I had to let you out to do your business. You’re just going to have to hang here until I get back.”
Percy whined, thumping his tail against the floor. His big, dark eyes seemed to plead for Merry to change her mind. Ever since she’d returned on Sunday, Percy had been glued to her side. Housetraining turned out to be a breeze. All she had to do was get up and go outside and walk around to the back of the barn every few hours. Percy followed, and when the call of nature hit, he did his thing and then came right back.
The poor creature had been so starved for attention, he couldn’t get enough. She’d tripped over him several times because Percy insisted on being right next to her—even when she was in the bathroom. Twice, while Merry went through Peppy’s cell records, hoping she might find some contact with Tad, Percy fell asleep against her leg. She’d almost forgotten he was there until he made water leak from her eyes with a noxious, invisible cloud. In the back of her mind was a mental note to switch dog food brands the next time she went shopping.
A bolt of lightning flashed, followed by a clap of thunder so loud the entire house shook. Percy cowered next to Merry’s leg. She glanced out the front window, cringing at the gun-metal gray clouds swirling overhead.
Though it was risky, she couldn’t force herself to lock Percy inside the barn. She’d made a promise not to hurt or mistreat him while in her care. Leaving him inside the house wasn’t an option either. It wasn’t that she worried about him having an accident but more about the slight chance of a surprise visit from Deb or Derek. There would be no way to explain Percy’s presence, especially to Derek.
Considering her mission was to simply watch and observe Tad, Merry made her decision. Grabbing her purse and keys from the counter, she walked outside and headed to the car. She didn’t need a leash or to even tell the dog to come or get inside the car.
“I certainly never intended to have a partner-in-crime. At least I know you’ll never rat me out. Must say, it is nice having a chance to vocalize my thoughts. Kind of hard to keep things straight sometimes. So, thanks Percy. I appreciate you listening to my ramblings.”
***
The heavy rain in the outskirts of the county had morphed into a light, sporadic drizzle inside the city limits. Percy was curled up on the floorboard, lulled to sleep from the car ride. Merry drove down Chester Street, looking for a silver Tahoe. She spotted it in front of the fourth house on the right, along with Tad standing in the yard talking on his phone, his back toward the street. Continuing on, she made a loop through the neighborhood, making mental notes of the area. Once finished, she pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned convenience store at the end of the street and smiled at the perfect view of Tad’s driveway.
Cracking the windows, Merry shut the engine off. She scanned the area, making sure she was alone. This part of Little Rock was older, the tracts of land larger than the newer subdivisions but the houses smaller in size. Most of the residents were elderly with only a smattering of families with small children. Merry recalled an argument between father and son in the judge’s chambers the day Tad stopped by to announce he’d purchased the place. Judge Tompkins tried to convince a headstrong Tad the decision was foolish and didn’t comprehend why in the world his son would pick that particular part of town to live in. The judge said resale value in the area was low and tried to change Tad’s mind. Son told father to shut up, he was no longer a child and didn’t need his approval. Merry remembered being inside her office, shaking her head at Tad’s upstart demeanor and total lack of respect for his father and silently agreeing with her boss’s arguments.
Considering what he did for a living, the choice Tad opted to call home made perfect sense. Houses were far enough apart from each other one couldn’t overhear conversations, and nosey neighbors went to sleep early.
Smart boy.
Merry grabbed the binoculars from the seat and focused them on Tad’s house. She cringed when she noticed cameras by the front and garage doors. Though not surprising, their presence did complicate matters. It’s not like she could just lure Tad out of the house with a fake phone call, pretending to be a junkie in need of a fix, since she didn’t have his number.
Tad paced around in his yard, and the cameras hadn’t moved. Merry hoped that meant they were stationary, which would make sneaking up from a different angle to spray them with paint easier. If not, she’d just have to be extra careful and camouflaged when it came time to take the bastard out.
Tad Tompkins was in his early thirties. and he rarely spoke to his father. She knew Tad was a constant source of disappointment for Judge Tompkins. Any time Tad’s name was mentioned, she could see it in his face. Merry tried to recall a recent conversation about the boy but came up blank.
The relationship started to sour less than a month after Merry started working at the courthouse. Judge Tompkins’s wife, Rachel, died in his arms of a massive heart attack a week before her sixtieth birthday. The entire staff went to the funeral, and it was Merry’s first interaction with Tad. She remembered the shock and anger she felt at the boy for the lack of not only grief at the loss of his mother but concern or compassion toward his destroyed father.
Tad had been an obnoxious, barely twenty-something back when his mother passed away. He’d been home only three weeks after getting kicked out of college for cheating when she died. At the time, Merry chalked up his behavior to his age and inability to express his emotions from the loss of his mother. It wasn’t until she witnessed several interactions with his father that Merry came to realize Tad Tompkins was nothing more than a spoiled, rich brat with no heart or consideration for anyone other than himself.
The thin tend
ril of family ties frayed even more when Tad was arrested several years later and charged with DUI. Judge Tompkins had been mortified by Tad’s actions. He stood firm and made Tad pay for his mistake, insisting he be shown no special treatment. She remembered going home that night and telling Harold about the situation, each commenting on how awful it would be to be faced with such a decision.
It wasn’t long after they found out exactly how hard it was to have that particular problem.
Digging deeper into her memories, she seemed to recall Tad worked with computers. The official word was he designed websites and specialized in graphics. A fleeting conversation with Debbie in the kitchen one day years ago popped up. On a whim, Debbie decided to try her hand at selling some overpriced cosmetics and needed a website. Judge Tompkins recommended Tad, and to appease her boss, Debbie gave it a shot. Two days—and one very pissed off customer later—Debbie swore she would never recommend Tad for anything other than a swift kick in the groin.
“He showed up and seemed normal for about five minutes. When I brought my laptop out to show him the homepage of the cosmetics company, he tried to kiss me! I mean, one second he’s sitting across the table, and the next, he’s in my face, his tongue flopping like a wet worm! Can you believe it? When I told him I wasn’t interested, and it was time for him to leave, he actually tried to smooth things over by offering me a joint. Said I needed to smoke some and relax, and then he’d show me a good time. Ugh! I’d never been so happy to see my husband drive up! I swear, the guy is beyond creepy!”
Night Court Page 12