Twice as Fatal: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel

by R Weir

  “He ever say where he was the last few days?”

  “No. For all I know he was sleeping in his truck.”

  “Hopefully he’ll open up. Are you working today?”

  “Yes. I’m trying to make up the time I lost. I have to work all weekend.”

  “You or Rachael call if you need anything. My newest case has pretty much wrapped up, other than serving papers on the husband. So I have time to help.”

  “Thanks,” he said and then hung up. Bill’s gratitude was often bare bones.

  As 4 p.m. arrived I made my way to Boone’s and entered to the smile and wave from Nick the bartender, who seemed to always be working there. Stepping in, I searched around the bar until I saw her in a booth. I made my way over and smiled as she stood up. She was about my height, with short dark hair parted in the middle and a fresh face. She was a bit on the heavy side, but appeared to be firm with lots of muscle tone. I shook her hand and it was strong for a woman. She had the uniform on, with sidearm, mace and handcuffs. I tried not to drool too much from the handcuff fantasy I’d had for many years.

  “You must be Jarvis,” she said while sitting down.

  “April. Nice to meet you,” I replied. “I see you haven’t ordered anything yet. I’m famished and I’d be thrilled if you’d join me for dinner if you didn’t have other plans—a down-payment on future research.”

  She smiled. “I can eat and no, I don’t have plans. Some spicy chicken wings would hit the spot.”

  I wasn’t much into the spicy ones, because of heartburn, but I’d manage thanks to the wonders of modern medicine.

  “Sounds good.”

  The waitress was promptly there and we ordered some chicken wings, fries, two beers and a glass of ice water to take an antacid pill. It was the all-American bar meal.

  “So what is it like being a lady cop on the Denver Police force?” I asked.

  “Fair,” she replied. “Still hard to get past the prejudices; some handle it better than others. But you have to pay your dues to break through.”

  “How is Bill to deal with?”

  “He’s pretty good. Not the worst but not the best either. But I think he sees me as a cop first.”

  The waitress brought our drinks and April drank half the beer in one gulp. I imagined she could drink me under the table. I felt like an old man having to take my OTC drug, although I didn’t care to be up half the night with searing heartburn from the hot wings.

  “How about the politics?” I asked.

  “Like any job, it’s there. I’m biding my time. I’ll be on the street eventually. Bill says it will happen. I’ll be a good cop if I’m patient.”

  “You look like you can handle yourself,” I said. “Definitely not a wilting flower, the way you chug a beer.”

  “I had three older brothers, so I had to be tough,” she said. “In time I could kick their asses. I was certainly a tomboy who did everything the boys did. I didn’t dress up in pretty dresses or put on lots of makeup. I wore jeans and a T-shirt while getting in the dirt, grease and mud. It’s what I love and still do.”

  The waitress was on top of things and brought a second beer for both of us, though mine was still fairly full. The place was starting to fill up with the evening crowd. A couple of ladies stopped by to say hi to April. She introduced me as a friend, though they didn’t buy it and gave me the once-over, followed by a nod of approval to April.

  “They think you’re hot,” stated April.

  “You could tell from a simple head nod?” I replied.

  “I’m trained in catching other women’s signals. The heat was smoldering off their ample bosoms.”

  “Can you teach me, because I can never tell for certain until the clothes come off? If I’m lucky enough to reach clothing removal.”

  April laughed loudly, which increased her attractiveness. A female friend would be good for me to have, to test my resolve. Of course, Melissa might argue the point.

  With more food, we dug in. April ate the chicken wings and fries quickly, though I swallowed the fiery meat more slowly. She had a good appetite and a second batch was ordered. I directed the conversation toward what it was like for a female cop to build long-term relationships.

  “Not easy,” she said. “The hours make it difficult and some men are threatened by a strong woman. They want to screw us, but not stay with us. Heaven forbid I’d have an opinion to share. I’m fine for now since my career is what’s important. But the day will come when I want more. There are always battery-operated devices to fill the void.”

  I was smiling and blushing; the frank talk surprised me some, though deep down I enjoyed hearing it.

  “Now I know what to get you for Christmas if you don’t find him,” I stated.

  She laughed at the banter, not embarrassed the least bit.

  “Plenty of time,” I said. “He’ll be out there somewhere. Maybe you’ll arrest him and it will be love at first sight.”

  “It’s the handcuffs, right?” she asked.

  “Every man’s fantasy come true,” I replied.

  My secret was out, so we sat and talked for two more hours, enjoying a stress-free meal together, exchanging R-rated innuendo as if it were a Judd Apatow movie.

  Chapter 14

  I made it to Friday and was happy the weekend was near. Feeling good, I was off and running after a good night’s sleep, at the gym pushing hard, the last vestiges of the beating’s soreness and bruises gone from my body. Tonight I would be meeting up with Melissa after a week apart, with dinner, a movie and, with luck, passion on the agenda. My heart was racing and it wasn’t from riding the elliptical.

  This day was for me. No more following Jack and no dealing with Ray’s problems. I did need to check on the salon, since Kate had decided to leave town until Monday. The ladies were all smiles as we chatted for a few minutes and everything was running smoothly. This left me with some time to run errands and get myself prepared for tonight.

  One stop I did need to make was to Lincoln High School down the street to visit with a former client and now friend. I texted Dennis Gash to see if he had some time to talk as I wanted to get a football player’s perspective on some things. At 2:30 today with the weather being pleasant for November, he planned on running around the track at the school a few times and throwing the ball around with Terence and the team quarterback named Deion.

  With my errands done, I swung by Kate’s house and found all was good. No sign of Jack, which wasn’t surprising; he was probably shacked up with his girlfriend for the afternoon, after a day of pushing around bums and addicts. From there I headed over to Lincoln High School. I strolled over to the football field and saw Dennis with his two friends, running. I took a seat in the bleachers and waited for them to finish.

  Dennis had filled out and even grown some since the bubble gum card case. He was now about an inch shorter than I was and a muscular 195 pounds. He’d grown his Afro out and walked with a sturdy confidence beyond the shy boy he was when we first met. It had been a good year at running back for him, though the team itself only won three games. He was a solid player now and continued to get better with one more football season in front of him. I suspected he would get some type of scholarship, maybe even at UNC like Ray, as they actively recruited in the area.

  As they finished up on the last lap, they raced to the finish line, with Dennis winning, Deion second, and Terence bringing up the rear, but only by a few feet. This wasn’t bad for a man his size. He’d also filled out some and was now a senior. He played both football and basketball, and could be a two-sport college student. Though still a few months away, the offers would start coming in.

  “Jarvis, good to see you,” said Dennis.

  I took his hand, the grip firm but not overpowering.

  “How are you? You don’t look like you’ve lost any of your speed.”

  “I’m faster and stronger now,” he replied. “You remember Terence.”

  “Hello, Jarvis,” stated Terence.


  “How’s the family doing?” I asked.

  “Great. My dad’s working steady again and even Mom has full-time employment. Money is still tight, but we’re together.”

  I was happy to hear this. Terence was a good kid who’d made a dumb mistake to help his family out of a financial jam. The reasoning and motive was correct but via the wrong execution.

  “Jarvis, this is Deion,” said Dennis. “He is our quarterback.”

  “Good to meet you,” said Deion. “Dennis mentioned you’re a private detective. Sounds like a cool job.”

  “It’s not bad. I don’t get all the girls like a QB does, but it has its rewards.”

  Deion was your quintessential high school quarterback. He was tall and lean, probably 6’2” and 180 pounds, and could run fast and throw OK. Since it was the wishbone offense, being a runner was key, and passing being second. He was not your classic NFL QB, but for college he had potential to be pretty good. Some small institution would likely take a flyer on him.

  “So you said you wanted to ask me something?” said Dennis.

  “I can ask all of you. Have any of you had your bell rung on the field? Suffered a concussion?”

  “I have,” replied Terence. “It was this year in the first game; head-to-head with another team’s running back. I saw some major stars.”

  “Did you keep playing?”

  “Yes. I don’t remember much of what happened until the third quarter.”

  “So they didn’t pull you?”

  “No. I did a good job of hiding it. You know, soldier on and play with pain. I got up and went back to the huddle. Good thing I don’t call the defensive plays or everyone would have known. A couple of the guys said I was speaking gibberish.”

  “Any problems since?”

  “No I’ve been fine. Headaches for a few days, is all.”

  “But you should have been pulled?”

  “Probably. This is high school and they don’t provide the medical staff like in college or the pros to catch things like this.”

  “What about either of you?” I asked of Dennis and Deion.

  “No,” replied Deion. “But I’ve seen guys go down like they’ve been shot—knocked out cold. It’s pretty scary when you see it. Your joints and ligaments can be repaired, but your brain—that’s a different story.”

  “I’ve been a little dizzy after a few hits before,” said Dennis. “Like Terence says, you soldier on and play with it. It’s how we are taught.”

  “Why are you asking?” stated Terence.

  “Do any of you know Ray Malone?”

  ‘Sure,” said Dennis. “He is a legend in the area. One great high school player until he blew out his knee.”

  “He’s suffered two major concussions this year,” I said. “He doesn’t seem right and I think it’s affecting him in his decision-making process. I’ve had a couple myself through the years, but not from head-to-head bighorn-type collisions. Of course, I wasn’t back out there banging heads again a week later.”

  “So is his football career over?” asked Deion.

  “He is done playing for this year,” I replied. “But with the decisions he’s making, I’m more worried about his life in general. He’s making mistakes I’m uncertain he’d make otherwise.”

  “Wow, what a shame,” said Dennis. “I wish we could help.”

  “Nothing you can do. I appreciate the feedback. It’s always good to hear from others, especially football players who’ve been through it.”

  “So we’re going to toss around the ball,” said Dennis. “Would you care to join us?”

  “I’d love to, but I have a date to get ready for, so I don’t want to get all hot and sweaty.”

  “At least not until later,” kidded Deion as we all laughed.

  I said my goodbyes and left them to their football. It was good to see the young men growing up and enjoying themselves. They were all well-grounded with solid families to guide them correctly.

  When I reached my parking spot at home I noticed a familiar Silver Acura RL parked out front. Melissa had a key, so I figured she was waiting inside. It was earlier than I expected but the more time with her, the better. I walked in but she was nowhere to be found.

  “Melissa, are you here?” I called out.

  At the bedroom door she stood wearing a see-through teddy, leaving little to the imagination. Her beautiful body enticed me, with a come-hither look on her face. My heart started racing at the thought of what lay ahead.

  “We wrapped up the trial early with a plea bargain,” she stated. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”

  I walked over to her to get a closer view, enjoying the titillating sight.

  “I can tell,” I replied.

  “Ever since I described the wonderful sex act to you over the phone I could think of nothing but doing it.”

  She grabbed me by the shirt, pulled me into the bedroom, stripped me down and turned fantasy into a reality.

  Chapter 15

  So, no dinner or movie out, we stayed in bed enjoying each other’s company and pleasure, having food delivered. After a good night’s sleep, we were up and showered and ready for a day together.

  “You got away with dinner in last night,” said Melissa. “But you are taking me to breakfast. I need some calories to replenish my body.”

  “It was your idea for the seduction over dinner out,” I stated. “Not that I’m complaining. Where would you like to have breakfast?”

  “You know the area, you decide. Something with eggs and pancakes would be great. But not Denny’s! I’m not a grand slam, thank you ma’am kind of lady.”

  I smiled and decided to take her to Rosemary’s Café, which was down the road on Sheridan. It was a quaint café with good breakfast at a decent price and good service. We arrived and had to wait about fifteen minutes for a seat during the Saturday morning rush. Once we sat down, we promptly ordered eggs, hash browns and pancakes. I chose milk to drink while Melissa wanted orange juice. I spent most of the time waiting, staring into Melissa’s green eyes, enjoying every line and mark on her face. It was a face I was getting familiar with very quickly. It wasn’t long before the food arrived and we ate quietly, and with each bite gazing at each other. It was a quiet meal, and after finishing Melissa had the look of someone who wanted to ask me something, but seemed leery of saying it.

  “What do you want to ask me?” I said.

  “Is it that obvious?” she stated.

  “Pretty much. You probably are bad at poker too,” I replied with a smile.

  “I’m wondering what you would think about me going back to school?”

  I was a caught off guard by the question.

  “School for what?”

  “Law school. I’d like to be a lawyer.”

  “Wow. Will you be going full time?”

  “No. It will be nights and then weekends studying. I actually started a few years back but had to stop for personal reasons. But I think it’s time to finish what I started.”

  “You can afford this?”

  “Bristol & Bristol will pay for some of it. I have money to cover the rest.”

  “How will this affect us?”

  “Well, it won’t happen until after the first of the year. So nothing will affect us at first. But it won’t be easy; I will be very busy. But I don’t want to be a legal assistant the rest of my life. And with a little luck, I could be a partner in the firm someday.”

  “Bristol, Bristol & Diaz.”

  “My name part of the brand would be cool. My mother was a lawyer and partner in her own firm, though she is mostly retired now.”

  “I think it’s great. If it’s something you really want, I’ll support you. I might grumble some, but in the end I want what is best for you. You need to make me a promise, though.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “That you hire me when you need detective services done for your clients. I can always use the work.”

  She reached out her hand and plac
ed it on mine.

  “Sleeping with the boss might give you a leg-up on the competition. But you’ll need to submit a resume and be interviewed.”

  “I promise to do whatever it takes to satisfy the requirements for the position.”

  She smiled her bright smile and we left the café arm-in-arm after paying. The morning sun was now blanketed with clouds, the threat of rain and snow creeping over the foothills. We reached the car and she turned to me and hugged me for a long time, the warm feeling seeping into my whole body.

  “Wow, you rocked my world,” I stated. “Do we go back to my place and continue this?”

  “No, I need to do some shopping first to limber up before jumping you again. I want to walk around Cherry Creek and see what new outfits I can find for work and school. Not the mall, but the shopping center up and down 2nd and 3rd streets. Lots of cool places a lady can swipe her credit card in.”

  No need to argue, since I knew it would get her juices flowing. We headed on down Evans to University, traveling north. I knew construction was messing up much of the area around Cherry Creek, but we weren’t in any rush. As we got closer my mobile phone rang and it was Bill calling.

  “Where are you at?” he said sounding panicked.

  “Heading to do some shopping,” I answered. “What’s wrong?”

  “I got a call from Rachael and someone is trying to break into the house. I had her on the line, but lost her. When I dialed back there is no answer. I’m on the other side of town on patrol and can’t get there right away. Can you get over there and see what is going on?”

  “Sure. Can’t you get another unit to stop by?”

  “We are shorthanded and there is no one in the area, and you are close. Too many sports events: college hockey, NBA and college football. I need to make sure she is safe. It will take me thirty minutes to drive over.”

  “I’ll get there as soon as I can,” I answered and then hung up.

  I did a quick, illegal U-turn in the middle of University and headed back the way we came. Bill’s house was only a couple blocks away.