by Robin Mahle
She shot him a glance but continued on until they reached the unit. “105. This is his place. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” Ethan palmed his weapon and she knocked on the door.
“Justin, it’s Officer Thompson. We spoke the other day. Can I come in?” She waited, anticipating an answer or a door opening, but neither occurred. “Justin? We want to ask you a few more questions about Chloe.” Riley looked at Ethan with concern before drawing her weapon. “Justin?” With her gun aimed at the door, she tried the handle. It was locked.
“Should we try his cell phone?” Ethan asked. “I’ve got his number here.”
“Go around back, check behind his patio fence for lights inside.”
Ethan nodded, and with his own weapon drawn, started around to the rear of the building. Riley peered through the windows, but the curtains were drawn and heavily lined, making it impossible to see anything inside. “Damn.” That familiar feeling grew inside her. It was a gnawing, gut-clenching sensation that told her something bad was going to happen or had already happened.
She quickly turned her sights to the parking lot, looking for Rehnquist’s car, and in the spot marked “105,” there it was. Riley was going to have to find a way in because his car was there and yet there was no answer at the door. This was not a good sign. She raised Ethan on the radio strapped to her shoulder. “Ethan, I’m heading your way.”
Before he had a chance to reply, she started around the side of the building and his voice sounded. “I’m here. No lights on.”
“Stay put.” Riley continued to the back where an alley abutted the small fenced-in patios of the ground-floor units. She spotted Ethan and caught up to him.
“I don’t think he’s here, Riley. I was able to peek over the fence. No lights and I don’t hear anything either.”
“His car is here. Ethan, we’re going to have to find a way in. I’m getting a really bad feeling about this.” She grabbed the top of the wood fence and positioned herself to be hoisted over. “Help me up.”
“Wait, you can’t just go inside. We don’t have a warrant.”
“I believe Justin’s life is in danger. That’s enough probable cause to get inside. Ward will see it that way too.”
“For crying out loud, Riley.” He clasped his hands together and leaned over for her to place her boot inside his laced fingers. “Just don’t break your leg or anything.”
“Then don’t throw me over. Go easy, got it?” She raised up with his help and straddled the fence. With careful maneuvering, Riley lowered herself onto the concrete patio. “There’s a latch down here, but it’s padlocked. You’re going to have to jump over too.”
“What?”
“You got a good six inches on me, you can do it, Ethan. Come on, we’re wasting time.” She eyed the top of the fence and spotted his hands. “Just pull up.”
The top of his head surfaced and soon he was halfway there.
“Damn it.” Ethan tumbled onto the patio. “Shit!”
“What happened?” she asked, staring down at him on the ground.
He showed her the cut on his hand. “I’m fine. Let’s just get in there before someone calls the cops on us.”
“Funny.” She inspected his injury. “You’ll live. Now how are we going to get in?”
“Thanks for the sympathy.” Ethan approached the sliding glass door. “You sure you want to do this?”
“Have I steered you wrong before?”
Without another word, he returned his sights to the door and pulled up on the handle. “I saw this on TV once. Apparently, there’s a track and the door can just lift off…”
The slider lifted from its track and the lock disengaged.
“There you go.” He turned to her with a smile.
“See, I knew you could do it.” Riley aimed her weapon and crossed over the threshold and into the dark apartment. “Justin, it’s me, Officer Thompson. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
They both continued inside with guns ready, and side by side, they moved cautiously through the darkened room.
“I can’t see a thing.” Riley found a light switch and turned on what was the breakfast nook light, but Ethan struck the fixture before she’d flipped the switch.
“That’s going to leave a mark.” He rubbed his head.
It took a moment for the scene to register. The place had been ransacked and Riley turned an anxious gaze to Ethan. “This is bad.” She immediately dashed through the apartment and toward the back, where a bedroom and bath were tucked away inside the short corridor. She reemerged from the bedroom. “He’s not in there.”
“Well, someone’s been here,” Ethan said. “He could’ve been kidnapped, like Jacob’s girlfriend.” He started down the hall where she had just been and stopped at the bathroom. “Riley, you check in here?” He moved inside.
She joined him. “You see anything?” Without warning, she doubled over in pain.
“Riley! What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Ethan grabbed hold of her.
“The bathtub.” Her words were a mix of syllables and groans.
Ethan turned slowly toward the tub with dread in his eyes and reached for the curtain that was pulled closed. He yanked it open. “Oh my God.”
Justin Rehnquist lay in the tub, naked in a pool of blood-stained water.
Riley gasped for breath before she was able to stand upright again. She walked toward the tub and stared at the body.
“It looks like suicide,” Ethan said.
By the look of him, he hadn’t been dead long and Riley knew what she had to do, so she reached for his shoulder and lay her hand on him. The images exploded in her mind, powerful and seething with pain. She gripped the edge of the tub with her other hand.
“Are you okay?” Ethan touched her, but she shrugged him off. All he could do was sit back and wait.
In her mind’s eye, she was transported to where Justin stood, ready to enter his apartment. Someone he expected was waiting inside. And in a flash, another image burst in her head. Inside the living room, Justin was fending off his attacker while she stood only feet from him.
“It has to be this way. You should’ve kept your mouth shut,” the man said.
The attacker’s back was to her. “Show me,” she whispered. And Justin looked at her as though she’d been physically there as it was happening.
The man who came at him with relentless vigor saw the shift in his gaze and turned with curiosity.
“Stop! You’re hurting him!” Riley screamed at him, but he looked right through her. She wasn’t really there. She had been too late and all this had already happened.
The man choked Justin until he fell unconscious before dragging him toward the bathroom and placing him in the tub. He then grabbed a knife from his pocket and slashed Justin’s wrist. Blood spurted from his veins, landing on Riley’s face. She flinched and outstretched her hands to somehow attempt to save him, but there was no use.
The attacker went for the other wrist, slicing it again. The tub and walls were now coated in Justin’s blood while the man turned on the faucet and the water ran, creating a marbled, swirling piece of bloody art.
She yanked her hand away. “It wasn’t suicide, Ethan. Someone killed him.” With wild eyes, sweat on her brow, and out of breath, Riley turned to her partner. “I saw him. I don’t know who he is, but I know he’s with the rest of them.”
“I’ll call this in. Why don’t you go sit down a minute?” Ethan reached for his radio as Riiley stepped back. “We’ll need to see what these men look like too. All of them, including George Hammond. Maybe you’ll be able to ID this perp.”
Riley stared at the lifeless body of the young man with whom she had talked only days before. And this did nothing to solve the mystery of Chloe’s killer, and in fact, it only muddied the waters.
“Dispatch, this is Pruitt, we’re going to need an ambo at 1839 Mineral Way, unit 105.”
“Ten-four, ambo will be dispatched.”
The radio cu
t out and Ethan turned to Riley as she stood in the hall, still pale. “They’re sending an ambulance. We’d better get Ward out here too.” He studied her for a moment. “How are you going to explain who you saw here tonight?”
“To Ward? He’ll know, but as for the lieutenant, I’ll have to figure out something.”
“He won’t believe any of this,” Ethan said.
“I wouldn’t either, if I was him.”
By the time Riley and Ethan returned to the station, it was approaching 11pm. Justin’s apartment was secured, Moody’s team swooped in for forensics. And now the time had come to explain what she saw and who. The “who” she hoped someone else could provide the answer.
“Oh, thank God you’re back.” Jacob rushed to her side. “Are you okay? You look pale. Do you need something to drink?”
“I’m fine, really.” Jacob always worried when she had an episode. Of course, one like that hadn’t come in some time, but it was clear he was afraid for her. Even now, she sensed fear in him. And there was reason to be afraid. Dangerous people were out there waiting for him, maybe waiting for all of them.
“Why don’t you give her some space, man.” Ethan helped her inside.
“I’m okay. I don’t need any help.” She eyed Ethan’s hand that held on to her arm. “You can let go of me now.”
He pulled away. “Where’s the captain? He’s not back yet?”
“He and the lieutenant are setting up a team to surveil the plant,” an IMPD officer spoke up. “You uncovered something pretty damn important. Moody’s pulling out all the stops now.”
“Good. It’s about time.” Riley started toward the breakroom, motioning for Jacob and Ethan to follow. Once inside, she began, “Look, I don’t know who it was I saw, but, Jacob, we need to get our hands on a picture of Hammond, for starters. And if it wasn’t him, then I need to get in front of a sketch artist. Whoever killed Justin might’ve also killed Chloe.”
“What about Blake Rhodes?” Ethan asked. “Is it possible it was him?”
“I know what he looks like from the legwork we’ve already done. It wasn’t him,” Riley replied.
“Right. So let’s get a picture of Hammond.” Ethan started toward his desk.
“Riley, wait.” Jacob held her back for a moment. “You don’t look well. I think this one took a heavy toll on you. Are you sure I can’t get you anything? How’s your stomach?”
“You remember.”
“I remember. Nausea, loss of color, clammy hands, and oh wait, let me check.” He placed the palm of his hand on her forehead. “Yep. Brow’s still sweaty too. All the symptoms are checked off.”
She tried to smile, but her chin quivered.
“Hey. Hey, it’s okay.” Jacob pulled her close. “Just relax. It’s just his emotions leaving you, remember? There’s always some residual feelings. Just take a breath.”
Ethan reappeared in the doorway and caught sight of their embrace. He stopped for a moment, then cast his gaze away and returned to the bullpen.
“Are you okay now?” Jacob regarded her closely. “Yeah, you look okay now.” With his thumb, he wiped away a stray tear. “We’d better take a look at those pictures.”
She’d forgotten how comforting it felt to have him around. These episodes didn’t happen a lot, but when they did, she was drained, just like she was right now. And Jacob always knew what to do.
He started ahead without her but stopped and turned back. “Are you coming?”
“Right behind you.” Riley followed him out into the bullpen.
“Riley, come take a look at this.” Ethan pushed away from his computer and waited for her approach. “Look familiar?”
She stood behind him with folded arms and peered at the screen.
Jacob made his way next to her. “That’s Hammond. Was he the one?”
“The one what?” Lieutenant Moody entered with Ward behind him. He walked toward them. “What are you looking at?” He eyed the image on the screen before looking at Riley. “Hammond. You think he’s responsible for killing that kid you found?”
Before she could answer, Captain Ward interrupted, “Officer Thompson, can I have a quick word. I’ll have her back in a flash, Lieutenant.” He headed into his office and waited for her.
Riley already knew what this conversation would entail. She’d been prepared for it since they made the call about Justin.
“I wanted to stop you before you said anything to Moody,” Ward began.
“He’s going to want answers. I can’t keep this from him.”
“Riley, you’re going to have to. There has to be another way. If word gets out about your abilities…”
“Yeah, I know. They’ll kick me off the force. Any case I’ve been involved with, they’ll think I’m just some crazed lunatic who sees things.”
“Something like that, but I know you. I’ve seen you in action more times than I care to recall. But this has to stay here, in this station house.”
“How do you propose I go about explaining that I saw who killed Justin?”
“First of all, that picture you were looking at was George Hammond. Did he do it? Did he kill Justin Rehnquist?”
“No, it wasn’t him.”
“Then who did you see, Riley?”
“I don’t know who he is. But if I can just see what the other guys look like, the ones who are coming here. I’m sure he’s among them.”
“Then you’ll have to do it someplace else. Go to Carl’s, take Jacob. That was your original plan anyway, and take your laptop. You can log into the system from there and track down the names we already know. If he’s one of them, call me. I don’t care what time it is. I have a feeling me and the lieutenant have a long night ahead of us.”
“I can’t leave you guys here.”
“That’s an order, Riley. We just put a surveillance team in place. Moody’s got his guys here and back in Indianapolis tracking Hammond. There’s nothing more for you to do tonight. Besides, after what happened, you need some rest. I know how draining it can be for you.”
“I wish people would stop treating me like I have a disease. ‘Go, get some rest. You look pale. Can I get you anything?’ I can look after myself. I always have.” Riley turned on her heel and approached Jacob. “Come on. We’re leaving.”
20
When the door opened, Riley expected to see Carl half-asleep and wrapped in a robe, irritated because it was so late. But as he stood before her, alert, almost energetic, she knew he’d been waiting for them and was invigorated to be included in something again.
“I’m sorry it’s so late,” Riley said.
“Don’t be. Come in.” Carl stepped aside and let in the two kids with whom he had been so close over the years, one in particular. The other, well, he was still a little pissed by what he’d done. But that was going to have to be tabled for the moment. “You want something to drink? Water? Pop? I wish I could offer you something stronger, but they don’t let me keep booze here.”
“You go and sit down. I’ll get us some water.” Riley walked toward the small kitchenette. The bar-sized refrigerator still had bottles of water inside from when she stocked it up the other day. She grabbed a few and returned to the living room. “Here.”
“Thanks,” Jacob replied.
“Looks like you’ve had an interesting day,” Carl began. “Care to share what happened?”
“Is it that obvious?” Riley asked. “We found Chloe Dawson’s friend—dead—made to look like a suicide.”
“And you must’ve seen who did it?” Carl asked.
“I did, but I don’t know who he is. We started looking into it at the station and that was when Ward essentially ordered us out.”
“Ah, he didn’t want the big city cops getting wise to your gift, because that could jeopardize everything.”
“That’s right. So here we are.” She opened her laptop. “Jacob knows what most of these men look like and while not all of them will be in the system, some of them will most certainly
be. And, if he isn’t here, Ward will have to get access to Lieutenant Moody’s files of the men they’ve been following for the past year.”
“I hope you recognize one of them.” Jacob tossed back the rest of his water.
“And if this killer isn’t one of these men you’re looking for?” Carl asked.
“Then I guess we sit here until morning. According to Jacob’s friend, that’s when our guests will arrive,” Riley said.
“He’s not my friend anymore,” Jacob replied.
“Well, isn’t this some kind of shit storm? This is the gnawing feeling I can’t shake,” Carl said.
“You’ve picked up on it too, huh?” Riley logged into the department’s servers and checked her email. “Jacob, I need a name.”
He walked toward Riley’s chair and crouched down next to her, peering at her computer screen. “Virgil Howard, that one you already know.”
“Right.” She pulled up his information and looked at a picture. “That’s not him. Pretty much what we expected. Who else?”
Jacob cast his eyes upward. “Oh yeah, check out Paul Kearns. It seemed to me he was Virgil’s right-hand man. At least after Eddie Costa was gunned down by the cops.”
She pulled up the name. “No, definitely not him either.”
“I don’t who else.” Jacob sighed. “Those were the only guys there the other day.”
“Unless it isn’t one of these men at all,” Carl said.
“It has to be. Who else had reason to kill Justin? He was Chloe’s friend and she’s dead,” Riley added.
Carl studied her. “Look deeper. Remember who you saw, remember what she said to you.”
“She warned me,” Riley began. “And when we initially talked with Justin, I felt he might’ve been holding something back. I couldn’t see it at the time, but I felt it.” With immediate recollection, she looked at Jacob. “We have to go back to his apartment.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s something there. We’ve overlooked something obvious. I can feel it and I can almost see it. And I have to find out what it is.”
“Riley, it’s not safe out there. They could already be here, regardless of what Blake said. The captain sent us here to keep a low profile,” Jacob said.