“Detectives, why don’t you take a break?”
All eyes went to the lieutenant standing in the doorway.
“I guess your supervisor doesn’t like what you’re insinuating either,” Linwood said. “I’m glad someone’s finally showing common sense.”
“Mr. Ashcroft. I had a call from Congressman Bond.”
“Is that so? What did he say?”
Jordan remembered the man from Abby’s party, angrily demanding they’d let everyone go.
“I assume you already know. I told him I had no intention bringing that kind of politics into the workplace. My detectives picked you up for a reason. Their private matters are of no relevance here.”
Jordan was aware of Derek’s questioning look, and she shrugged. The bluff went both ways, apparently. They had the tapes, but their colleagues were still working on finding anything damning on them. Ashcroft had quickly made good on his threat and was trying to throw his power around.
“Is it not? Aleja Santos is homosexual also. Detective Carpenter testified that she met her in a bar, and isn’t it interesting that she’s hell-bent on clearing her? You don’t think that’s a conflict of interest?”
“Sounds like it, but I think you should stop talking now. Linwood, come on, you know better than that,” his lawyer chastised. “I’d like to confer with my client in private, please.”
Jordan shook her head and got up to leave the room. Derek and the lieutenant followed her outside.
“He planned the whole thing. He had access to the meds, he knew Sandra. Maybe she did it freely, maybe he used her situation to send her after Aleja. He must have somehow caught Ms. Ryan when she talked to me.” She didn’t like the lieutenant’s concerned expression. “You don’t think I’d coddle a suspect because she’s a lesbian?”
He sighed. “No, Carpenter, I don’t think that, but I could do without calls from congressmen lecturing me about my hiring practices. Wrap this up, and do it quickly. Find Ryan.”
“…but tread carefully?”
“Don’t push it,” he warned. “You won’t be able to talk to Ashcroft again before tomorrow. So until then, it would be great if you could come up with something.”
“I’ll check in with the night shift, make sure they’re on the lookout for Ryan,” Jordan said. “There’s somewhere I need to go after.”
“I can pass it on to the night shift,” Derek offered. “I’ll meet you back here later.”
“Thank you. I won’t be long.”
Ellie had left a message to tell her that Darla and her newborn baby would be okay, picture included, but she still felt the urgency when she finally got in the car to get to the hospital. She was tired, and had a long night ahead of her. Probably they wouldn’t even let her see Darla or the baby, but she had made a promise.
* * * *
Ellie couldn’t believe what Jordan just told her.
“Really, he can do that, call on his congressman buddy for this BS? Doesn’t the guy have a job to do?” They were still in the hospital, and even if they hadn’t, she didn’t have the energy to raise her voice. Jordan didn’t seem much concerned about the situation, not enough in Ellie’s opinion. “God, where does it stop?”
“Relax. They’re not going to do anything. Once we find Ryan, it’s all over, and I don’t think the congressman wants to be seen as too chummy with a murderer.”
“Yeah, until the next time someone wants to throw their weight around.”
“The lieutenant understands the situation. No one is going to get fired just because we had a few drinks at D&T.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I guess I really need to go home.” Seeing Jordan’s longing gaze, she almost wished she hadn’t said that. “You can come join me whenever you get out today. Good luck with Ryan.”
“Thanks. Anything new on the missing girl?”
“Deane is still in custody, that’s all I know.”
“Okay. Good night, and thanks for waiting. I’ll see you later. I hope.”
“Yeah, me too.”
They shared a quick kiss before Jordan went to check on Darla, and Ellie headed for her car.
When Ellie entered the apartment, it was one of the rare occasions when she was alone. She had gotten used to having another roommate quickly, especially since she and Kate had been friends for a few years now. Jordan, while she insisted she wanted to keep the house “in the woods,” as Ellie called it, was around often, and so was Derek Henderson.
Tonight, it was eerily quiet. She had planned to take a long hot bath and relax with a book, but the evening turned out not to be much relaxing after all. Her thoughts were drawn back to Darla and her challenging situation. What revelations would Kathryn have for Jordan this weekend? Then, there were the regular threats of lawsuits from the Ashcroft family, which Linwood had taken to a new level. Growing up in a more liberal environment, Ellie hadn’t been confronted with odds like this before, men like Linwood and the congressman throwing their weight around for some sort of sick power play. She had always thought it was enough to go after the bad guys, but some of them did a lot of damage without ever breaking a law.
She didn’t take Jordan’s reassurances lightly. If she could have a career in this department, so could Ellie, but there was an uphill battle she hadn’t faced much before.
There was a sound, like someone dropping something on the floor, startling her out of her thoughts.
“Kate?”
Silence. She got out of the bath and wrapped a towel around herself, feeling trapped with the bathroom door closed. Ellie carefully turned the knob, aware that her hand was trembling. Even now, it wasn’t completely clear how Ward had made it into her place at the time. Danny Roth apparently didn’t know, and she had no memory of what happened that night. The living/dining area and the kitchen looked like she’d left it before, the front door still closed. Her heart was hammering. It took her only a few seconds to determine that both her own and Kate’s rooms were undisturbed. The sound had to have come from the hallway. Still clad in the towel, she took a deep breath, leaning against the locked front door.
Everything was fine.
It would get better with time.
Ellie poured herself a glass from the open bottle of white wine in the fridge, willing herself to calm down. Moving on, eyes on the prize…She just wished she wasn’t alone any longer in the usually lively apartment.
Cursing Roth and his fantasy of playing hero opposite of a crook like Ward, she lay in bed not much later, feeling exhausted. Sleep came with visions of darkness, the rectangle of a covered up window and the feel of the cuff around her wrist.
“Hey. Ellie, you’re okay. It was just a dream.”
Jordan’s soft whisper was fortunately reality. Ellie snuggled into her arms with a sigh.
“Sorry. You can’t have gotten much sleep. Did you find the secretary?”
“No,” Jordan said, sounding frustrated. “I missed her by maybe five minutes, and she dropped off the face of the earth? I’ll have the warrant by tomorrow. Linwood had plenty of time to do whatever he did to her before he went to the dinner, and I’m going to prove it. This family is too much. He hopes to get me fired because I’m a lesbian, and his brother thinks we’re family.”
“Yeah. They all have something to hide. It’s a shame that with the dad they had, they still turned out this way. There’s not much online about the mother, but she seemed like a nice woman too, worked in the business and with the charities.”
Jordan was silent at that, perhaps thinking of the strange ways biology and upbringing interacted. It was one thing to push her to communicate with Kathryn, because of Ellie’s own regrets and omissions. When she thought of a twelve-year-old taken out of a family because no one seemed to give a damn, it reminded her Jordan had reason to be very cautious where her biological parents were concerned.
“When can we go on vacation again?” she asked.
Jordan laughed. “Not anytime soon, I’m afraid, but once this mess is sorted out,
we could have a nice dinner somewhere out of town, maybe stay at a hotel for one night, just to get away from everything.”
“I’d love that.”
This time, the silence didn’t bother Ellie, and she drifted off into a more restful sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
“You took all the hot water again,” Jordan accused her partner who was sitting at the dining table with a coffee. “So it’s only fair you talk to the lieutenant first. He’s not going to be happy.”
“Maybe someone needed a cold shower more.”
“Maybe someone is talking about things that are none of his business.”
She caught Ellie and Kate sharing an amused look at the banter. “All right. We’re going to need more to keep Linwood in custody. Ms. Ryan seemed pretty savvy. Maybe there is something on the computer, in her office.”
“Did you find anything on the tapes?” Ellie asked.
“Linwood and Sandra, yes. That puts him with Sandra, though not necessarily on the night she died. He has means and motive, for the murders and framing Aleja, but if that’s all, he’ll make bail this morning.” Jordan put her mug down. “Come on. We have to go and ask Bristol for some of the kids.”
“You know you can’t call us that anymore, right?” Kate said. “Because it’s really awkward.”
“Right,” Ellie chimed in. “Remember who’s paying for all that hot water you’re bickering about.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. We’re all done here?”
“Ready,” Ellie said quietly, aware of Jordan’s impatient tone. Time was running out in many ways. It was impossible to forget that they’d both been on the other side of that equation.
Later, when requesting officers to serve the warrant, Jordan thought she must have imagined the flash of annoyance on Sergeant Bristol’s face. Sure, McCarthy had spent a lot of time working with Rogers. It wasn’t her fault when her case overlapped with Ellie’s duties, was it?
“Remember, we’re looking for any hint as to where he might have taken her, and a possible connection—or lack thereof—to Aleja Santos. Officer Marshall, I’d like you to assist Officer Atwood with the hotline, any hint to her whereabouts goes straight to me or Detective Henderson.” Libby nodded, though her expression was terse, making Jordan wonder whether she was aware of the gossip Atwood had been spinning.
“Good. I’ll see you there. Thanks, Sergeant.”
“You’re welcome, Detective.”
It was with some satisfaction that Jordan realized the same security guard was on duty this morning.
“Mr. Ellis. You said to come back with a warrant. Here we are.”
He snorted, but made no move to stop them. “I don’t know what you’re expecting to find,” he said. “I told you yesterday, the secretary left at 5:30, Mr. Ashcroft, a few minutes later.”
That probably meant she had never left the building.
With the search underway, Jordan checked in with Libby once more to learn that there was no substantial hit from the hotline. She called Valerie who picked up right away.
“When are you going to give me a suspect who actually looks good? I’m already in hot water regarding Santos, and that’s before Ashcroft’s hearing.”
“Ashcroft is going down, sooner or later. When we find Ryan…”
“If you find her, alive, that is. Good luck, Jordan. Keep me posted, okay?”
“Will do. Wait, sorry, there’s another call.”
“Well, yeah, I know it’s been a long time.”
“Funny. I’ve got to take this. See you.”
The other caller was Abigail Ashcroft, and Jordan braced herself for more or less righteous indignation.
“Detective, it’s you, thank God.”
The whisper on the other end of the line didn’t sound like she was going to chastise Jordan for anything, much less threaten with a lawsuit. She had read all the testimonies, interviewed some of the guests. No one had seen anything. Mrs. Santos had no idea who could have manipulated the breakers, and she had been in the kitchen the whole time.
“Mrs. Ashcroft, how can I help you?”
“I was wondering if you could come see me.”
“I’m busy right now. Would it be okay if I—?”
“Detective, I’m scared. I think I’m remembering something…I don’t want to talk on the phone. Could you come to my house?”
Jordan cast a look across the room where officers were still busy searching the office. Nothing had turned up so far. This was a recipe for disaster. They needed something on Ashcroft, or he would go free.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don’t let anyone in, okay? Your daughter’s still in school?”
“She’s on a field trip out of town today. Detective Carpenter, I heard you arrested Linwood.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but said, “That’s probably a good idea.”
Jordan went to inform Derek that she was going to see Abby. “I’m going to need some backup,” she said.
Derek nodded. “We’re almost done here. I’ll send Lyons and McCarthy, and I’ll check in with Esposito after.”
“Thanks. If Ashcroft gets off, we need to put a tail on him. If Ryan is still alive, that’s where he’s going to go.”
“I agree. See you later.”
“Yeah. Let’s hope Abby has something for us after all.”
It would be a good day, Jordan reflected, if they could finally wrap up the case and she could see Darla tonight. At this rate, the younger woman was probably thinking she was avoiding her. Jordan admitted to herself that she still felt guilty about her initial reaction to Darla’s pregnancy, all mixed up with her own issues about motherhood, something she would have to get over eventually. She had to squeeze in a visit somehow.
In the parking lot of the Ashcroft house, she saw Abigail’s car and a new truck. Did it belong to her—or was someone else with her?
Abby opened the door wide, nervously smoking a cigarette. “Come on in, Detective. I’m glad you came.”
“Is there anyone in the house with you?”
“No. I just wanted to talk to you. What’s with the cavalry? You’re not planning on arresting me too?”
“Ms. Ashcroft. You asked me to come.”
“Yeah. Can they wait outside? It’s kind of private.”
Jordan made a sign to the officers in the squad car, Kate McCarthy and Casey Lyons. “I can’t stay long. As you know, we’re in the middle of an investigation.”
“Just humor me for a moment, will you?”
Her behavior was odd, too odd for Jordan to send the officers away yet.
“They’ll wait outside. Okay. What is it you wanted to tell me?”
Abby led her into the living room where she had prepared tea and a plate with cookies for two. Jordan’s stomach growled at the sight. Her fault that she had cut breakfast short—however, there was no time for the indulgences offered by her host.
“Abby.”
“Yes, I’ll get to it. Will you sit down?”
Jordan perched on the edge of one of the armchairs.
“Why did you think arresting Linwood was a good idea? If you know anything, Abby, now would be a good time to tell us. We know he sent regular checks to a woman he admitted was his mistress. This woman is dead now.”
“You think he killed Dad?” Abby asked, her eyes wide. She nearly burned her fingers on the cigarette butt, and immediately lit another. “I’m sorry, I smoke too much when I’m nervous, especially when my daughter is not in the house and I have no reason…I need to know how much you have on Linwood. Forget what I said earlier. I heard Santos might be released from prison soon, and I’m afraid she might go after me next.”
“With all due respect, that doesn’t make sense. She was already in custody when you held your launch party.”
“Yes, but Mrs. Santos wasn’t. They hate all of us. Well, Linwood has done a lot of things to make people hate him, but she and her niece had it in for all of us.”
“You’re saying Mrs. Santos sta
bbed you?”
“Yes. I remember now. It was her.”
“You must be mistaken. People saw her in the kitchen the whole time.”
Abby scoffed. “And you believe them? Of course they covered for her. They don’t want to lose their jobs.”
“Well, it’s you and your brothers now who have the authority, not your father or Mrs. Santos. You are certain you saw her?”
“Why would I say it if I didn’t mean it? They want to frame one of us for it, first it was Craig because of the money, now Linwood. If the charges don’t stick, I’ll be next.”
Jordan was beginning to ask herself if Abigail was paranoid, or just that good an actress.
“Your father and Mrs. Santos were in love. I think all of you had trouble accepting it.”
“Oh, please, Detective, don’t turn this around on me. You don’t kill the people you love.”
“Can I ask you a question? Who does the truck in the parking lot belong to?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious.”
“It’s mine.”
Jordan could see the alarm on Abby’s face when her brother Craig walked in, answering her question.
“Why is it important?” he asked. “Abby is telling you what she saw. You don’t believe her?”
“Craig, did you lend the car to anyone recently?”
Abby looked upset, but she didn’t say anything. Her eyes held a clear warning.
“I don’t have to answer these questions. Why don’t you go arrest Mrs. Santos? Abby identified her as her attacker.”
“I assume you don’t consider Aleja Santos ‘family’ in this context,” Jordan said. “You have been very helpful to your sister lately, helping out with money and all. Linwood…I’m not so sure. He had his own little scheme going with Sandra and Health & Life. Did you know that we’ve been looking for a vehicle exactly like this? There were tracks from a truck like that at the scene where we found Sandra Paulson. I’d be surprised if the pattern didn’t match.”
“Why don’t we all calm down for a moment and stop accusing each other?” Abigail suggested. “I know what I saw. Mrs. Santos could have easily given Dad those pills, he trusted her. And Aleja was involved with Sandra Paulson somehow. If she killed her, of course they helped each other out. Detective, you seem hungry. Why don’t you have a tea and a cookie before you go over to Dad’s house? Or better even, send away those officers outside. They are making me nervous.”
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