“Thanks.”
They stood in the doorway facing one another, enveloped by a shroud of uncomfortable silence.
“Do you think I could come in?” she managed through a tight jaw. Something flashed across his face and Carly knew she needed to relax, to be impartial here. Rehashing their history would get them nowhere.
“Oh yeah. I’m sorry.” He stepped aside and ducked his head sheepishly. “You can let Maddie out to play with Hector.” Hector was Jeff’s German shepherd. “Elaine is still out cold,” Nick continued as he led Carly through the house. “It’s past time for me to have a shower.” He smiled as they reached the sliding door to the backyard.
Carly opened the door and Maddie raced out to play with Hector. “She’ll have a good time.”
There was a long, awkward pause, and then both Carly and Nick spoke at the same time.
“Where are the kids?” Carly asked.
“You just missed Elaine’s parents,” Nick said.
They both let out nervous chuckles. Carly stuffed the anger and gestured for Nick to continue.
“A little while ago there was a pack of reporters pestering all the neighbors, and they didn’t want the kids exposed to that. They don’t need to see or hear any garbage about their dad.”
“Jeff’s guilty until being proved innocent, the usual media line?”
“Yep, like it always is with cops.” Nick rubbed the back of his neck and regarded her soberly. “You don’t think Jeff did what they’re saying, do you?”
“I don’t believe Jeff is a killer. But he’s done some stupid things, and we have a lot to talk about.” She kept her gaze averted from him, still not comfortable being so close. “Go take your shower. I need some coffee.”
“Okay. The pot in the kitchen is fresh.” He nodded in that direction, then headed for the back part of the house, where Carly knew the guest room was. She and Nick had stayed there many times either before or after a trip.
She found the coffee and poured herself a cup. Now she felt a little guilty that she hadn’t taken steps to stay as close to Jeff and Elaine as Nick obviously had. She and Elaine had maybe talked once that year, when they’d been as close as sisters before the divorce. A thought flickered that made her sick to her stomach: just how close were Nick and Elaine?
Carly gulped down hot coffee and burning shame as she tried to stop her wandering thoughts. Nick might be scum, but Elaine wasn’t.
Now, too antsy to sit still, Carly wandered around the dining room looking at pictures of the family in happier times. Elaine was a scrapbook keeper and an avid photographer. Carly remembered how she loved to put together collages of photos in creative ways. Carly and Nick were in more than a few collections. She lingered over one photo that was taken while the four of them were on a houseboat vacation at Lake Mead. She remembered the week fondly. The four of them smiled at the camera, tanned and oblivious to the pain coming their way. Elaine had long blonde hair she often braided in a plait that would reach to her hip. In the photo, Jeff, clean shaven and tanned, jokingly held the braid under his nose as though it were a mustache. Nick, wearing only shorts and flip-flops, was behind Carly and had his arms wrapped around her with a wide grin on his face, chin resting on her shoulder. Seeing his muscled biceps in the photo brought on a memory of how they felt around her that day and how happy she’d been. She had to step away.
Moving through the room, she came across a picture of Jeff accepting the Narcotics Association award from Teresa Burke. Chief Kelly was in the picture, along with Captain Garrison and a man Carly didn’t recognize. Relieved to direct her thoughts elsewhere, she sat down at the kitchen table with the picture and tried to place the mystery face. Nick would know. While she pondered the picture, she dialed Jeff’s number again and still got a recording.
In a few minutes, Nick, clean shaven and with wet hair slicked back, joined her in the kitchen. Gosh, why does he have to look so good? He was thinner, but that only accentuated his muscular build. As a triathlete, Nick was primarily a swimmer like Carly but very proficient in biking and running as well. He filled out his T-shirt nicely. Must be training for a competition. The Police and Fire Games are coming up. His light-brown hair looked darker wet, and a few stray strands fell across his forehead. The urge to smooth them back made Carly’s hand tingle. She gulped her coffee, uncomfortable with her physical response.
“Hey, I want to thank you again for the change of clothes. I feel human now,” Nick said as he sat. His blue eyes were tired and warm, covering Carly with a gaze like a blanket.
“What’s been happening?” Carly ignored the warmth and slipped into a detective persona.
Nick stiffened and his eyes changed to flat cop eyes. “With Jeff? You said yourself, he’s done some stupid things. The stupidest is pulling this disappearing act.” He covered his face with his hands before looking up to continue in a reportlike tone. “Elaine called me about a month ago and asked me to talk to him. I tried. He’d been keeping really weird hours and told her he was deep undercover. Me, he wouldn’t confide in at all. He had this weird idea that now that I was a sergeant he couldn’t talk to me anymore.” He paused and shook his head. “We grew up together, went through a lot, and all of a sudden he’s a stranger. I didn’t know what to do.” There was frustration in his voice.
“You must have asked around.”
“I did, but even his sergeant didn’t seem to have a clue about what Jeff was doing. All I heard was vicious gossip . . . that he was involved with the mayor.” Nick paused and gave Carly what she felt was a searching look, but she dodged his gaze.
“Then Garrison and Tucker pulled me aside after Teresa’s homicide,” Nick continued with a heavy sigh. “They knew Jeff and I were friends, and they wanted to talk to him in a bad way. I couldn’t help them; Jeff seemed to have disappeared. He’d told Elaine he was going to a school in San Luis Obispo; she’s even gotten postcards from there.”
“San Luis Obispo?” Carly’s voice rose an octave with surprise.
“Yep. I asked his sergeant about it, and he knew nothing about a school up there. Jeff was simply unreachable. And now this—a dead prostitute that homicide thinks Jeff had a motive to kill.” He blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “Papa-doc Guest told me they were going to search the house. He thought Elaine should have some support.”
Quiet enveloped the kitchen while Carly pondered this information. Jeff wanted people to think he was far away from Las Playas. A misdirection so he could be in town running surveillance or something similar?
“Why are they so sure Jeff killed Cinnamon?” Carly asked.
“She was shot with the same-caliber gun that Jeff carries.”
“Jeff and a few hundred other cops!”
He threw his hands up. “I’m just telling you what I know—or what they wanted me to know. Homicide didn’t share the reason they’re certain the bullets were from Jeff’s gun.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Carly couldn’t fit the pieces together. Cinnamon, Jeff, Teresa—nothing made sense, and some big pieces were missing.
“When did you talk to Jeff last?” she asked, toying with her coffee mug.
“Almost a month ago now. Elaine hasn’t seen him for three weeks, but she said he called a few days ago to check on the kids.” Nick stood and poured a cup of coffee. “I know you’ve been shut up in juvenile, sort of out of the loop, but have you noticed strange things going on at work?”
“What kind of strange things?”
“The narcotics detail being virtually retired after Jeff made that one big bust down at the harbor. Other agencies are now laughing at narco. Vice also seems to be on vacation. I hear Craven’s is running amok. And now our mayor’s been murdered.”
Déjà vu. Nick sounds like Joe.
“You don’t think the mayor’s murder was solved when they arrested those two gangbangers?”
“No, I don’t.” Nick snorted. “And I know you well enough to know you don’t either. Those kid
s were too shocked when that trunk popped open, even in their pot-induced haze. They didn’t kill her. And I don’t believe it was a random killing either. I don’t believe in coincidences. Mayor Burke was killed for a reason. What scares me is—” he paused and took a deep breath, absentmindedly stirring sugar into his coffee cup—“that people think my best friend might have had the reason.”
“I had a visit from Sergeant Tucker before I left to come here. He thinks Jeff killed Teresa to cover up their affair.” Other words flashed in her mind—betrayal, cheat—and she ground her teeth to keep her emotions in check.
Nick stopped stirring and put the spoon down. He looked at Carly, a mixture of surprise and pain in his eyes. “I don’t believe the affair rumors. I don’t believe Jeff would cheat on Elaine, not the Jeff I knew. He was a strong Christian. He loved Elaine.”
“Oh, as if that matters!” Carly’s restraint cracked and she smacked the table with her palms, not knowing what made her angrier, the affair denial or the word Christian. She stood, suddenly feeling as though the kitchen was too small, claustrophobic. “Stuff happens; people cheat—isn’t that what you said before?”
“Whoa, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Nick flinched as if she’d slapped him and set the coffee on the table. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Please, can’t we call a truce? I’m truly thankful you’re here to talk to; I don’t want to ruin it. Please.” He held both hands up in a sign of surrender.
Carly studied him and struggled to calm down. She paced a bit, found her way back to the coffeepot, and refilled her cup. Pain and anger didn’t want to stay buried. She took a deep breath, slammed angry feelings down, and returned to the table.
“Okay. Let’s change the subject. This picture . . .” She pushed the photo across the table to Nick. “Who is this guy next to Captain Garrison?”
Nick took the photo. “That’s Mario Correa, the harbor superintendent.”
“Why was he in the picture?”
“Because he’s involved in anything that has to do with the harbor, and the dope shipment came in at one of the docks closed for refurbishing. Jeff staked it out on a hunch and some informant information. It was a huge bust. Correa was grateful, I guess.”
Just then Elaine emerged from the hallway. Carly winced at the sight of puffy, swollen eyes. Pictures of the old Elaine and Jeff flashed in her mind—images from the photos and the last time the four of them had played a game of beach volleyball. It was a raucous, wild game with lots of laughter and a great deal of love. The image shattered like thin glass on hard concrete. None of them were the same anymore.
“Carly! I didn’t know you were here!” Elaine’s face brightened and she opened her arms for a hug. The hug was tight, but it didn’t match the tightness in Carly’s chest.
“That’s what friends are for. I’m sorry I don’t come out more often. How are you holding up?”
“I’ve been better.” She smiled weakly. Nick handed her a cup of coffee, and the trio sat at the table. Small talk bounced around, but it was uncomfortable, as if the three were strangers and not close friends. Carly couldn’t help but think of a worst-case scenario: that Jeff was a murderer and a cheat. Her heart went out to Elaine, but at the same time, as she watched and listened, she soon realized Elaine wasn’t as fragile as she looked. There was strength behind the red-rimmed eyes—and faith, Carly saw. Elaine is like my mom and Dora.
At some point an uneasy silence fell over the room, and Carly couldn’t help but blurt, “What was Jeff doing before he disappeared?”
She felt Nick turn her way but kept her eyes on Elaine, who didn’t cringe. She simply sipped her coffee and then turned her full attention to Carly to answer. “I wish I knew. He said he was undercover.” She studied the cup for a moment. “He told me he was working on something confidential and not to ask. I’m sorry, but I trusted him. No, I still trust him.” She hit the table with her palm. “My husband is not a cheat or a murderer; I’m sure of it.”
Carly glanced at Nick and saw him twitch. Elaine had used the word cheat; she’d heard the rumors. Or was Nick reacting for a different reason? She started to speak, but Nick spoke up.
“I agree with Elaine,” Nick said. “I don’t know what Jeff is up to, and he probably needs to be slapped, but I know him well enough to know he’s not a murderer.” He squeezed Elaine’s hand.
“Thank you, Nick. I know all of this is in the Lord’s hands, and as dark as things seem right now, it will work out.”
Carly stayed silent. It’s okay for this God delusion to give Elaine peace, I guess. But I won’t rest until I know, one way or the other, Jeff’s involvement with Teresa Burke.
16
Has it really been ten years? The question popped into Carly’s mind while she listened to Nick talk to Elaine. Her thoughts rolled back over time to the day they met.
“So why are you here, Recruit Edwards?” Recruit Anderson, sitting across from Carly at the academy picnic table, broke the ice with a simple question. It was lunchtime on the first day, and her stomach was doing too many flip-flops for the meal to be appealing.
“I want to do something active and useful. I don’t want to be stuck behind a desk the rest of my life pushing paper,” she answered as she opened her lunch bag, knowing that even though her appetite had disappeared, she should eat.
Nick Anderson nodded in response to her answer and took a bite of his sandwich. “Me too,” he said after he swallowed. “And it may sound corny, but I want to be a good beat cop, do a solid job, and earn people’s trust. I want to be a cop kids look up to and parents respect.”
One of the other guys started to tease Nick, saying he’d been hired, he didn’t need the civil-service response anymore. He turned to defend his statement.
Carly relaxed for the first time that stressful day. No, it doesn’t sound corny, she thought as she watched the handsome man across from her. He was tall and muscular, his hair buzzed short, but his blue eyes were warm and full of character. Carly was ashamed to admit it, but Recruit Anderson occupied her thoughts that day, more than the rest of the day’s lecture information on police procedure.
They were married a year later, the day after their probation was complete. And for the majority of their marriage, he was someone she looked up to and trusted. I always considered him an honorable man. The day we recited the police officer’s oath of honor—“On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust”—I knew he took every word seriously. “I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the Constitution, my community, and the agency I serve.”
The oath fit him as crisply as his uniform.
He really did sweep me off my feet, Carly admitted to herself as she slipped back to the present, blinked back threatening tears, and tuned in to Nick while he explained things to Elaine.
What went wrong?
“He’s already on NCIC,” Nick said, referring to the FBI’s national criminal database. “I hate to say it, but they have him listed as armed and dangerous.”
“How can they do that? Jeff hasn’t been formally charged with anything.” Elaine was incensed, and Carly was happy to see the anger. It’s good she’s not weepy and helpless.
Nick sighed and shook his head. “From what Papa-doc said, apparently there was enough evidence to convince a judge to issue a warrant. I’m sorry.”
Elaine closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. “This is all so unbelievable. I keep thinking it’s just a nightmare and soon I’ll wake up.” She opened her eyes and got up from the table. “I hope you guys don’t mind, but I need to pack my things and some things for the kids and get ready to join them at my parents’.”
“Oh, go ahead. We’ll be fine.” Nick waved her off.
Elaine left Carly and Nick in the kitchen and disappeared into her bedroom. Carly concentrated on her coffee cup and remembered the oath she’d mulled over a minute ago. In spite of their personal history, she knew
Nick was an honorable cop. She could trust him on that level if no other. And she realized now was the time to ask him to help her look into the mess that had swallowed Jeff up.
“Nick, let’s go out into the backyard for a minute.” Her voice stayed even, and she was pleased the churning in her gut had subsided.
His face registered surprise. “Sure.” He followed her to the back door. Outside, the rain was gone and the backyard smelled of wet soil and dog. Carly bent to scratch Maddie’s head and decide where to start.
“What’s up?” Nick asked.
“Something I want to tell you. I don’t know if Elaine should hear.” Carly told him about her dinner meeting with Jeff, including the admonition not to trust Nick. She also detailed more of Sergeant Tucker’s visit.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and regarded her with a thoughtful expression for a long moment before responding. “It’s obvious you don’t trust the sergeant. I guess the big question is, do you trust me?”
It was her turn to think, and she worked hard to pick the right words. All the barbs she’d stored up to throw at him—the sharp, cutting comments that rolled around in her head when she lay awake at night—came to mind. Now just wasn’t the time. “I trust you to a point. I don’t think you’re a dirty cop. I’ve been obsessing over Londy and Teresa Burke for three days. What tweaked things for me was the visit from Tucker. He told me he thought Jeff hired Londy and Darryl to kill Teresa. No matter what, I can’t believe Jeff would do that.”
“You’re right. Jeff’s not a murderer. But I find it hard to believe that someone at the police department, or even city hall, would frame someone else for murder. Why?”
“Jeff said he had an idea, and I’ll keep trying to get ahold of him. I’d like to do something to help Londy and Jeff. I want to do some looking around on my own, and I guess my question is, do you want to help?” Her words to him the other night boomeranged into her mind, and she wondered if he’d just say no.
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