by Dave Daren
“Aren’t you curious about who the actual killer was?” I asked.
“It’s not Luke since he’s in the bar,” she answered. “So unless Yura or Ronan suddenly showed up at Diana’s house as you were dropping her off, there’s only one answer.”
“You don’t seem surprised by this,” I observed.
“I am surprised,” she said. “But I have the rest of my life to mull over Harrison’s death and the person who killed him. I only have tonight to follow up on your promise since apparently you’re planning on leaving tomorrow.”
“You don’t think I’ll ever come back?” I asked.
She laughed at this.
“Why would you?” she asked.
She kissed me to show that the question was rhetorical, and the action garnered a lot of whooping and cheering from the crowd standing in front of the bar. She pulled away from me to look back at the group and flip them off. They jeered at her, and she laughed.
“Come on,” she said as she pulled me toward the hotel.
I allowed myself to be dragged inside, and the woman working behind the reception desk glanced at us for a moment before returning her attention to the computer monitor in front of her. I grabbed Tash’s hand and led her to the second floor, and as soon as we entered the empty hallway, she pressed her body into mine and her lips against my lips.
I pinned her against the wall and deepened the kiss until I thought I would run out of air. When we finally pulled apart, we were both gasping, and I used that moment of recovery to approach the door of my hotel room. Once I stood in front of it, I dug around in my pockets for the key. During that time, Tash’s hand slipped inside my shirt as she planted kisses along my jawline. Her other hand played with the edge of my pants, and I tried not to groan while we were still in the doorway.
As soon as the door was open, I wrapped an arm around her and hoisted her up just as my lips found hers. She wrapped her legs around my waist and removed the band holding my hair back. She ran her fingers through the unleashed strands just as our tongues met.
Somehow, we stumbled into the room, or I should say, I stumbled into the room with Tash still attached to my waist. She leaned forward to shut the door behind me and then stole another long kiss. While our tongues explored each other, I reached blindly behind me for the lock, and when I heard it click, I carried my goddess to the bed.
“You better prove this was worth the wait,” she said with a laugh as I laid her down on the bed.
“You don’t need to worry there,” I said in her neck as my hand reached under her shirt.
She shuddered beneath me, and as I tugged the fabric from her breasts, I imagined all the ways I intended to make her moan.
Chapter 17
I opened my eyes and blinked several times as the memories from last night flashed through my head. I winced at the pain in my side as Diana’s enraged face filled my head, but I let out a sigh of satisfaction as Diana’s face morphed into Tash’s. As the memory of the fisherwoman’s loud moans and soft skin filled my head, I reached over to my left. When all I touched was the mattress, I looked over and found only an empty spot. There was a sticky note on the bedstand, and I reached over to grab it.
You were right. You are a lot of fun.
I smiled, placed the note back, and climbed out of bed. I kicked my discarded clothing on the floor out of the way as I strolled to the bathroom. Inside, I inspected the bruise on my shoulder, nodded at its healing process, and then inspected where I had been jabbed in the ribs. No bruises there, although I felt some pain when I moved slightly. No bite mark remained on my arm either. I was grateful for the injuries considering the alternative.
One shower later, I felt refreshed, and after a couple of Tylenol, I was pain free as well. Once I was dressed, I picked up the clothing strewn around the room and stuffed them into my suitcase without bothering to fold them neatly. It wasn’t something I would normally do, but everything would need to be cleaned anyway, and I was anxious to get back to Anchorage.
But first, I needed to find out from Cassandra what our scheduled departure time was, and when we needed to check out of our rooms. Right on cue, there was a knock on my door, and I had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t Tash returning for a final farewell. I crossed the room, opened the door, and wasn’t at all surprised to find my paralegal standing there with a large grin on her face.
“Good morning,” Cassandra greeted as she held up a Styrofoam cup of coffee in one hand and a cinnamon coated bagel in a napkin in the other.
She handed both items to me and then peeked into my room as though she were expecting something. She frowned in disappointment when she didn’t find what she was looking for, and her eyes returned to my face.
“So… how was last night?” she asked with a smirk.
“I slept great,” I answered as I feigned ignorance at what she really meant. “What time is our flight today?”
“It’s at twelve, so that gives us three hours to see Mr. Morris,” she answered and then narrowed her eyes at me. “I wasn’t asking about your sleep. I was asking about Marleen.”
“That’s none of your business,” I told her as I turned around and walked back into my room.
I hadn’t closed the door, so she followed me inside and watched me place the bagel and cup of coffee on the bedstand. She was still scanning the room for any signs of another presence, and then she noticed the note and snatched it up before I could protest. She arched her eyebrows at me, but I ignored her as I gathered my remaining things and placed them in my bag.
“It is my business,” she said when she realized I wouldn’t acknowledge her. “Especially since I could hear you two next door. It sounded like Marleen was having a heck of a time.”
“Did you already pack your bags?” I asked her in an attempt to change the subject. “When are we checking out of here?”
“Yeah, my bags are packed and in the trunk of the police cruiser,” she sighed.
“Police cruiser?” I said as I picked up the bagel to take a bite.
“I asked Chris to give us a ride to the hospital and then the airport,” she explained. “He’s waiting for us right now, actually.”
“You should have told me that right away,” I complained as I picked up my pace.
I shoved the rest of the bagel in my mouth, and as I chewed, I threw on my shoes. I picked up my bag, grabbed the cup of coffee, and did a final sweep over the room for anything I might have forgotten. Once I was sure I had everything, I started toward the door again only to find Cassandra in my path.
“Could you please kiss and tell?” she demanded as she placed her hands on her hips.
“Absolutely not,” I answered as I walked around her.
She groaned and followed me out into the hallway. She closed the door behind her, and I offered her the room key since she looked like she wasn’t going to move. She took it without hesitation and locked the door before she turned around and glared at me.
“I got you breakfast,” she said as she pointed at the cup of coffee. “I didn’t have to do that. I deserve compensation.”
“I pay you,” I reminded her as we walked down the hall.
“To do paralegal things,” she countered. “You don’t pay me to feed you. I deserve compensation in the form of juicy details.”
I sighed and shook my head, and for the first time, I wondered if she was the right paralegal for me after all. But that thought quickly vanished, and as I sipped my coffee, I considered how to get myself out of this situation since it was clear an outright refusal meant nothing to her.
“I’ve never had a conversation with my sister about my experiences in bed, so I don’t plan on having that conversation with you,” I finally said.
She opened her mouth to protest but then suddenly smiled as she arched her eyebrows at me.
“I’m like a sister to you?” she asked as we descended the stairs.
“After everything I’ve seen from you, I’d say your resemblance to my sister is
uncanny,” I answered and then finished the rest of my coffee.
She smiled at this, and when we reached the lobby, her smile grew as she approached the reception desk. She practically skipped her way over there, and I found her giddiness humorous since she didn’t realize that as much as I loved my sister, the woman was a master at driving me batshit crazy. Katherine Brooks was one of the most infuriating people on this planet, and if she hadn’t been my sister, I would have stopped talking to her long ago.
I threw the now empty Styrofoam cup into a nearby trash can, and then stepped out of the hotel doors. I was happy to find that the weather was warmer than it had been the last two days, though of course, that meant very little this far north on the globe. My parka still needed to be zipped up to my chin, but I wasn’t compelled to pull my hood up to protect me from the wind.
Our ride to the hospital was waiting near the entrance with the engine running, and I waved to Waska through the windshield as I approached the police cruiser. He flashed me a grin in response, and then I saw him scan the area for my paralegal. I tried not to take it personally, though it was hard not to be a little frustrated. I was the one who’d found the killer after all.
I opened the door to the back seat and placed my bag next to Cassandra’s, and then held it open when I saw the woman herself step out of the hotel. I held the door for her as she slid inside, and then I closed the door and climbed into the passenger seat.
“Great work yesterday,” Waska complimented me once I was settled into my seat.
“Thanks,” I replied. “I was just glad you guys turned up when you did.”
“I still can’t believe it was Diana,” the tattooed officer continued as he shook his head. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, like Officer Ansong. Both of you don’t let anyone out of your sights. If I’d been investigating this case on my own, I would have completely overlooked Diana. I’d have dropped the bag for sure.”
“I’m sure you would have figured it out,” Cassandra assured him. “Especially with Reese here to keep you straight.”
“I know you mean well, but that doesn’t comfort me,” he said with a laugh. “You’re supposed to tell me I wouldn’t drop the bag at all. I’d be stellar at my job.”
“Oh, my dear, we both know that’s not true,” Cassandra said with feigned somberness, and Waska laughed.
The conversation between them continued like this for the rest of the drive to the hospital, and for once, I enjoyed the constant chatter, though I only added one or two words here and there. Finally, we reached our destination, and Cassandra looked at the hospital in excitement.
“I finally get to meet our client,” she said as the car came to a stop. “It feels weird to meet him at the end of the case, though.”
“Try to keep the talking to a minimum,” I said as we climbed out of the car. “I don’t want us to miss our flight.”
“Hey!” she called. “I don’t talk that much.”
“You would if I let you,” I said and then bent down to look at Waska. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Hey, no problem,” he said. “Take your time. I’m trying to avoid doing paperwork back at the station.”
I chuckled and closed the passenger door, then debated whether to free Cassandra from the back seat. When she shot me a pouty look, I finally opened the back door for her, and then we walked toward the main entrance together. Our presence immediately caught the attention of the nurse at the reception desk, and I recognized her from my first visit to the hospital. It was the nurse with a straight bob, and her eyes widened at the sight of us.
“Morning,” I called to her as Cassandra and I crossed the lobby.
“Good… morning,” the nurse replied.
Like the first time I had met her, a million questions were on her face, but I had no desire to answer any of them. I figured she already knew the story of what had happened last night, so what more needed to be said? I watched as the nurse’s eyes darted between me and Cassandra, and I could see Cassandra was definitely interested in walking over and chatting with the woman.
However, I kept a hand on my paralegal’s elbow like a father with a wayward child, and my steady gait across the lobby kept her moving forward. My quick pace annoyed her, and she made that evident by scowling at me once we were in the hallway.
“That woman looked like she wanted to talk to us,” Cassandra said.
“You’re free to go chat with her,” I said as I stopped in front of the door to Morris’ room.
“Yeah, but you’re not going to wait for me,” she complained. “I’ll miss this conversation with Mr. Morris.”
“Choose wisely,” I said with a smile as I pushed the door open.
Cassandra huffed and followed me inside.
Morris snapped his head in our direction as we entered the room. He stood by his bedside, and his position made me think he had been in the middle of pacing. This was his first time out of bed since I’d arrived in this town, and I found the sight of him standing odd. It was the first time I remembered he had legs, and I almost laughed at myself for thinking he didn’t.
“Ouch,” Cassandra whispered as she took in his injuries.
Little did she know that he actually appeared better than he had the first time I’d met him. The fact that he was now able to even stand on his own two feet showed his recovery was going smoothly. Despite this improvement in his health, however, Morris didn’t look happy at all. His face was twisted by anguish, and he pointed a finger at me.
“It’s not true, is it?” he asked in a hoarse voice. “What Kimira said about Diana isn’t true, right?”
I sighed. Ansong had beaten me to the punch, but maybe that was for the best. It was probably better for him to have received the news from someone he had known for years than the man he had hired two days ago. I wondered how long ago Ansong had told him. Not long enough since he was still distraught.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Morris, it is true,” Cassandra said as she slowly approached the man. “Diana killed Harrison and tried to frame you for it.”
His face crumpled, and he shook his head as he looked down at the ground.
“I don’t understand,” he mumbled. “I didn’t know things were this bad between us. Why didn’t she say anything?”
I pitied him, both for the situation he was in and for his lack of awareness.
“This isn’t what I wanted,” he said suddenly and looked up at me.
“Would you rather be in court facing a jury of your peers who were convinced you were guilty?” I asked.
He didn’t say anything as he shook his head. He tugged at his beard then as if he searched his mind for some appropriate response, but nothing came to him. He started pacing by his bedside as he thought, and Cassandra took that moment to take a seat in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the room. Seconds passed as we waited for him to gather his thoughts, and finally he stopped pacing to groan in frustration.
“Are you absolutely certain it was her?” he demanded as he came toward me. “No one else could have done it? No one at all? Not Ronan? Or Yura?”
“None of them did it,” I said with a shake of my head. “Diana herself admitted to it. I’m sorry, Mr. Morris.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat.
“What’s going to happen to her?” he whispered.
“That’s a question better suited for Officer Ansong,” I answered. “If I had to guess, though, I’d say she’ll be placed at Anvil Mountain or Fairbanks, one of those prisons.”
He sat on his bed, and the mattress creaked beneath him from the force of his action. He stared at the ground absent-mindedly, and I wasn’t sure if he was even aware that we were still in the room.
“We have a flight to catch,” I said just to remind him of our presence, and also as a goodbye.
I walked forward, placed a hand on his shoulder, and gave a gentle squeeze.
“Are you going to be alright?” I asked him.
“Yeah, I guess,” he whispe
red without looking at me.
I gave him a pat on the shoulder and then gestured to Cassandra to follow me. We stood in the threshold to look back at the sad husk that was Morris one final time, and then I closed the door a final time.
“I don’t know why I imagined that going better,” Cassandra said once we had stepped into the lobby. “I thought I would at least get to introduce myself. I kind of forgot that it was his wife that framed him, so I didn’t expect him to be so upset. I never got the impression they were a married couple. Does that make sense?”
“I understand what you mean,” I reassured her. “In my case, I never got to see them in the same room together, so I have no idea what kind of dynamic existed between them as a couple. I can’t imagine they were lovey-dovey, but there was something there to convince Morris their marriage was fine. I suspect, though, he was just oblivious.”
“That’s my guess, too,” the paralegal said. “What do you think will happen afterwards?”
“After what?” I asked.
We had crossed the lobby and now stood at the double-doors of the hospital. I could feel the gaze of the nurse boring into my back.
“This case,” she said as though it were obvious. “Aren’t you curious about what will happen to the people involved now that the case is over? Like, Yura and Ronan. I wonder what they’ll do now that they don’t have a captain.”
“I guess that’s interesting to think about, but I’m more curious about what our next case will look like,” I said.
“What are you, a thrill seeker?” she asked as she shook her head. “If you’re so excited for adventure, then why not explore the town? We still have a couple of hours to kill before our flight.”
“You should always show up at the airport two hours before your flight,” I reminded her as I pushed the door open.
“It’s a small airport,” she complained. “There’s no way we’ll miss our flight.”
“I’m not arguing with you,” I said. “But I want to get back to Anchorage and stop by my office. I might have voicemails from potential clients. Actually, I know I do, because I checked my email this morning.”