Lily followed Evan out of the office and joined the others where Hauser stood next to a gurney being loaded with the victim’s body. “Your thoughts?”
Hauser closed his bag and looked up. “The victim was shot and killed right here. I didn’t see any self-defense wounds on his hands. I’ll have more for you in the morning.” He turned and left.
Lily eyed Evan. “This apartment complex is one of the newer ones they built along the river a few years back. I’m going to go check the lobby.” She set off for the lobby and soon found herself standing in the middle of the room, examining all four corners. No camera.
Lily stepped outside. She turned to face the building and inspected the remaining corners. On her left, a camera faced downward, pointing at the entrance.
Lily keyed up the radio. “Jeremiah, you copy?”
“Go ahead.”
“Get ahold of the manager of the building and inform that him we’re investigating a murder and need footage from the camera outside of the building.”
“Got it.”
*
A few hours later, Lily and her team, along with Sergeant Owen, gathered in the station’s conference room to view the video feed collected from the camera located at Kyle Weeks’ apartment.
Thirty minutes had passed before Lily saw what she was looking for. On the screen, a female visitor in a white coat and heels strolled up to the door, but before she could open it, a male opened it for her. “Stop right there.”
Evan froze the video. “That’s Kyle.”
“It sure is, and the lady with him is Diamond Reese.”
Things were falling into place. Lily’s phone vibrated on the table. It was an email from the foreman who was working on her house:
“My workman cut a heat pipe going to the second floor. We had to shut down the boiler, leaving you with no heat. Unfortunately, we had to rip open the wall to fix the pipe. The plumber is on his way, but we can’t work until the heat’s back on. Then we can repair the wall and repair the water damage on the main floor and in the basement.”
You have to be kidding me. “I’m worried about my floors,” Lily responded. “Please make sure you re-sand once everything’s fixed. They’re old, and I don’t want the water to warp the wood.” She sent the email.
“What’s wrong?” Sarge asked.
“Sorry, Sarge,” Lily said. She explained what had happened. “I would’ve done it myself, but I’m in a hurry to get the remodeling done.” She scooped up her things. “I’m going to go see what Diamond has to say.”
Sarge said, “Jeremiah, go assist.”
With Jeremiah trailing her, Lily left and said, “The tension between you and Ms. Reese will not be played out in my interview room. It’s best you wait out here.”
“Thanks for not telling Sarge.”
“Don’t thank me,” Lily said, opening the door to Room Four.
Moments later Lily was sitting across the table from Diamond. The blue knit tee-shirt and pants hung loosely on her body; a far different ensemble than the one she wore when they first met. “Do you know why you’re here?” Lily asked.
“I know what I was told by the cops who picked me up.”
“Let’s not play this game. You’re withholding information about my case, and I can prove it. Make it easy on yourself. Tell me what I want to know and maybe you can go home.”
“What do you mean maybe? I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Then talk to me. Tell me what happened the night Kyle was killed.”
Diamond buried her face in her hands. “It was a crazy night. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.”
“What wasn’t supposed to happen?”
“None of it.”
Lily studied Diamond’s body language. The high and mighty confidence she displayed at the club was gone. Had it been for show? Was it because Diamond had been on the Surace’s property and knew that she was being watched? “Why are you still here and Kyle’s not? You were in his apartment at the same time he was murdered. Am I right?”
“Yes,” Diamond said in between sobs.
“Did you kill Kyle?”
“No. I was hiding.”
“Where did you hide?”
“On the balcony.”
“Did you ever leave the apartment and return?”
“No. Once I thought it was safe, I left.”
“Was Mikey there the night Kyle was killed?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you have any idea who killed Ariel?”
“It wasn’t Mikey. I promise you.”
“How do you know it wasn’t Mikey?”
“Mikey was there at the club with me all night. The bartender called in sick, so Mikey filled in. It’s the third time this month.”
“Is this the same man behind the bar when Jeremiah and I came to the club?”
“Yeah. His name’s Quentin. He’s pretty close to Mikey’s father.”
Lily sat forward and rested her elbows on the table. If Diamond was so sure that Mikey didn’t do it, then there had to be another person tied to that club who did. What about Quentin? He had access to every one of her victims.
The killing of her victims and the girl in Lake Koshkonong wasn’t all random; even the male found in Ariel’s car had to be connected to the club.
So even if what Diamond was saying about Mikey was the truth and he didn’t pull the trigger on Kyle or choke Ariel. He had to have an idea of who did. “What was Ariel’s position at the club?”
“She waited tables and danced a few times. She got along with most of the girls because of the parties she threw at Kyle’s. His place was the only hangout that wouldn’t tip off Mikey about who she really was.”
“You knew she was a cop?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell anybody?”
“No. I saw her as a way out.”
“What else?”
“I’m afraid to talk.”
“I get that you’re afraid. But I can keep you safe.”
“The only way to keep me safe is if you’re as powerful as Pop Surace.”
It was time to put Diamond on the mat and give her a reality check. “What did you go back and get?”
“Get?”
“The shoes you wore tracked the victim’s blood down the hallway toward the bedroom. If you went directly to the balcony to hide, then left the apartment without returning, there wouldn’t be blood in the hallway.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The sadness and fear etched on Diamond’s face wasn’t a disguise, it was the truth.
“Then prove to me that you’re not the woman I think you are. Stop withholding evidence and help me find this bastard who killed those women.”
“I’m done talking.”
“Then I’m done too.”
Lily rose out of the chair, left the room, closing the door behind her.
As she rounded the corner, the other detectives broke up the circle they’d formed around the television monitor and faced her.
“Do you believe Diamond?” Evan asked.
“I believe her.”
“Where do you wanna go from here?” Evan asked.
“Did you see anyone else on the video within that time frame?” Lily asked.
Evan folded his arms across his chest. “Two people went in about an hour or so after Diamond. They approached the building with their back to the camera, entered and exited fifty-three seconds later.
“Diamond exited through the lobby eighteen minutes after the men left, carrying a small box.”
“The box,” Lily said. “That’s what she went back for. What was in that box that she couldn’t leave behind.”
“Sounds like a set-up. She probably knew it was going to happen.” Jeremiah stated.
“If Diamond doesn’t want to talk, I’ll have to place her on a 48-Hour Hold, until we check out her story. We’ve got her dead to rights via the phone call with Ariel and according to the camera, she was the last person
seen with Kyle.”
“At least she hasn’t asked for a lawyer,” Sarge said.
Lily said, “She was very quick to flash the attorney card when we first met her.”
“To me, it seems like she wants to talk.” Sarge looked at Jeremiah. “You give it a try? See if you can get her to open up.”
“I can promise you she won’t open up to me.”
Sarge’s raised his left eyebrow; the same one he used anytime he heard something that displeased him. “Why’s that?”
“Diamond doesn’t like me, Sir.”
Lily looked down at the case folder in her arms and adjusted it, hoping that her boss wouldn’t look to her for answers. When Lily raised her head, she saw Sarge staring at her partner with an intensified glare.
“We’ll talk about this later.” Sarge faced Evan. “Go in and get something out of this woman.”
Evan nodded and left.
Lily looked up at the monitor. Come on, Evan. Get Diamond to give us what we need to move forward. She knew it was a huge risk; a risk to Diamond’s life.
*
“I’m Detective York.” Evan placed his planner on the table, took a chair next to Diamond so they were side by side and pointed at the door. “My team member who just left here said you probably have something you’d like to reveal to us, but are afraid of what might happen to you if you do. Am I on the right track so far?”
Diamond sat forward and slid one leg underneath her and looked over at Evan. “Yes.”
“How about we start from the top? Then we’ll work our way down. Is that okay with you?”
“I guess.”
“Was Mikey Surace at Kyle’s place the night of the murder?”
“He was,” Diamond said, chewing on her nails.
“Where were you hiding when Kyle was shot?”
Diamond went into detail about what happened after she stashed the box of letters Kyle had given her and reiterated that Mikey wasn’t the shooter. “That’s all I can say about that.”
As Evan pondered Diamond’s words, he adjusted the brace that supported his elbow. Pain enveloped in his forearm. Playing racquetball tonight may not be an option.
We all have options. Diamond definitely had options, and she was playing the balancing act well. Tell some, keep some was the old trick for anyone afraid of saying too much. The smart thing to do was to keep her talking by moving on to something else. “What’s so important about these letters?”
“There not letters, they’re records Ariel kept since the beginning. She told Kyle if anything happened to her to turn it over to a lady she was working with.”
“Do you have a name?”
“No. I swear I don’t.”
“Where are the letters now?”
“Back at my condo.”
“Will you take us to your condo so that we can retrieve the documents?”
“I’ll go get them and bring them here myself. If Mikey or the others see cops sniffing around at my place, I’m dead.”
“You want me to trust you that you’ll bring them back?”
“Yes.”
A text from Lily came over Evan’s phone. “I’m hoping those are the letters I asked Brian Weeks about when I did my notification. He said he’d think about it.”
Evan scooted his chair across the room and over to the table. He opened his planner and wrote down some information. “I’ll put an unmarked car on you. If you’re not out in an hour, we’re coming in.”
“I need at least a day. I’m supposed to meet Mikey for dinner tonight with his family. If I’m not there, he’s going to wonder where I am.”
“Look, Diamond, we’re not making any deals. You get an hour, and that’s it.”
“Detective, I’ve read what Ariel wrote. You’re going to need those records to help you find what you’re looking for.”
Evan knew the usual procedure was for a detective to go with a person who claimed to possess evidence. But this wasn’t a bloody knife or a gun; they were letters. They may not even be admissible in court, because they were hearsay. Still, it was a lead, and the letters might point to Ariel’s killer.
After Diamond had told her story, they had no probable cause to hold her. “We’ll talk about it when we verify what’s in the letters. And I’m still putting a car on you to help keep us informed of what’s going on. If you try anything funny, we’ll bring charges against you, and you’ll be the one left holding the bag for a murdered cop, and two others. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes.”
Evan retrieved a photo array with other mug shots fitting Mikey Surace’s description. “Since you admitted that Mikey was at the scene, I need you to point out your fiancé?”
“Number four.”
Evan handed Diamond a pen. “Please initial the photo.”
Diamond scribbled her two initials.
“All right, I’ll be back.” Evan stood up and left the room.
Sarge was waiting for him when he rounded the corner. “Good job.”
“Do I have your permission to let this happen?”
“I’ve already set it up.”
Lily gave Evan the thumbs up sign. Evan winked and continued to watch the woman he loved, regretting the lost time between them. Ending our engagement was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done, even if was the right thing to do. No matter what, we both suffered.
He didn’t want to spend another night alone without Lily by his side. I’ll be asking you to marry me soon. This time, we’ll get it right.
*
Sarge turned around and looked at the rest of his detectives. “That’s it for tonight guys. Go home, spend time with your family and we will start fresh tomorrow morning.”
Relief washed over Lily as she looked forward to getting more than five hours of sleep.
She scurried over to her desk, gathered her personal belongings, took the steps down to the first floor and was soon in the parking lot, making her way to her truck.
“Lily.” Evan headed her way. “You told me last week we were going to spend some time together and bring in the New Year.”
“Depending on this case, none of that’s changed.” Lily smiled.
“Seeing as you’re going to be living under the same roof with Deena, I thought I’d have to ask her permission to take her daughter out.”
Lily continued walking. “You don’t need her permission. If Mother would’ve had her way you’d been my first and only husband. In Mother’s world, you’re the ‘perfect’ man for her daughter.”
“Oh, so I’m not the perfect man for you?”
“You’ll do,” Lily said, sliding her hand into his.
As they started toward their vehicles, Lily heard a noise off to the right, a few feet away from a raggedy green station wagon.
When she peered closer, she noticed an elderly man with a scraggly beard stumbling towards her. “No. That can’t be Grant?”
“It sure looks like him,” Evan said.
It had been a while since Lily had seen her deceased husband’s father. Why would Grant travel the two hours from Green Bay to Fort Atkinson to seek her out?
As the older man in a plaid shirt and overalls drew near, a shiver swept over Lily. For a few seconds, she felt like she was staring into the dark eyes of the man who had been cremated two weeks ago.
“I don’t appreciate you tracking me down,” she said, taking a step forward. Alcohol emanated from his pores. She remembered the stories Julius had told her of the drunken stupors Grant would fall into, especially the ones where he’d drink until he blacked out.
“I didn’t come by to stir up any trouble. I came by to see why you weren’t at my boy’s funeral.”
“After what your son did to me I don’t owe you any explanation.”
Grant wrapped his arms around himself. “Is there somewhere we can go warm up and talk? Maybe have a drink?”
“You’ve sixty seconds to say what you came to say.”
Grant waved his hand at Lily and put his head
down. “I’d like to explain why Julius was the way he was.”
“I know what happened to him when he was little. It still doesn’t change the facts.”
“I warned him to talk to you about his childhood years.”
“Julius told me most of it.”
Grant exhaled deeply. “Then you know that what happened to him wasn’t his fault. His mother was sick, and I’m the one that failed my boy. I didn’t get him the help he should’ve had.”
“Then that’s something you’ll have to live with.”
“I’m sorry to bother you.” Grant’s chin trembled as he looked over his shoulder in the direction of his car.
Damn. Lily reached out and touched his shoulder. “Wait, Grant. I apologize. It means a lot that you cared enough to try and help me understand your difficult circumstance. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Grant nodded and dug his keys out his pocket. “I’ll leave you now.”
“I can’t allow you to leave in this condition. You’ve been drinking.”
“I’ve been drinking for years. I’ll be fine.”
“No you won’t. Stay right here.”
“I’ll call dispatch and see if I can get an officer to take him to the tank,” Evan said, taking his phone from his pocket. “This is Detective York, badge number 469. I’m in the parking lot at the station and need a patrol car to help with an inebriated older male and haul him off to the tank.”
“Copy that, Detective York.”
Still trembling, Grant said, “Christmas will be here before we know it. It’ll be the first holiday without my boy. I’m all that’s left of my family.”
Lily clasped Evan’s arm. “Cancel the call.”
Evan covered the speaker with his hand. “What? You don’t need to feel guilty. He’s drunk.”
“He was also once a part of my family. Please, Evan, cancel the call. I’ve got an idea.”
“You better.” Evan shook his head. “Dispatch, cancel that. I’ve found someone to take him.”
“10-4.”
Lily searched her cell phone for roadside inns. She scrolled down the listings for a stop and drop until she came to one about eleven miles from the house.
Her Final Watch (A Detective Blanchette Mystery Book 2) Page 10