by Lois Kay
“Me?” Trishia frowned. “Did he say why? I’m off duty now, Martin and Phil are on call. He didn’t say anything else?”
“Nope, just to meet him at the beach in front of Ocean View Gardens.”
“Ocean View? They found a body there? That’s one of the busiest places around.”
“Maybe it’s a natural cause of death?” Lucy suggested carefully, knowing full well that they would not have called Trishia if that had been the case.
“I’m afraid it will be a bit more complicated than that, honey,” Trishia answered absentmindedly. “Do you want me to drop you off at home? I don’t know how long they’ll need me for.”
“No, I’ll come with you,” Lucy decided, knowing that if she were around, Trishia would most likely get home a lot earlier. “I’ll keep my distance though. I don’t find the thought of looking at dead people very appealing.”
“It isn’t, Trishia answered. “But somebody’s got to do it.”
*
Even from a distance, it was clear the area around Ocean View Gardens had been sealed off. There were road blocks to stop the traffic, and police officers were standing guard to keep curious onlookers away. Trishia was recognized almost immediately, and with a nod one of the constables motioned her to keep driving, which she did, slowly, to finally stop the car in the parking lot overlooking the beach. Her eyes took in all the activity on the beach, and with a sad smile, she turned to Lucy.
“I hate to ask this from you, but maybe it’s best to stay in the car. Or I can ask one of the uniforms to drive you home.”
Lucy’s green eyes took on a darker shade, and she frowned when she looked at Trishia. “Why?”
“Because this is not going to be pleasant and I don’t want you to see and hear things that might be hard to unsee and unhear.”
A soft smile turned Lucy’s eyes yet in another shade of green, and she reached out to grab Trishia’s hand. “You’re sweet, Trish. Thank you. Okay, I’ll stay in the car, but if it takes too long, I might want to get out and stretch my legs. But if I do, I’ll walk away from the scene. So, don’t worry, I really don’t want to see all the gruesome details,” Lucy promised.
“Good,” Trishia nodded, spotting a rapidly approaching Peter. “I’ll make it as quick as I can.”
“Please do,” Lucy said, leaning toward Trishia to kiss her. “I do have some enjoyable plans for the rest of the evening, remember?” she whispered, before leaning back in her seat.
“How could I forget?” Trishia smiled. “If you need me, just shout. I won’t be far away.”
Lucy nodded and pointed at Peter, who was standing next to the car, impatiently rocking back and forth on his heels. “Go.”
After a last encouraging smile, Trishia opened the door and unfolded her tall frame. Before she had even closed the door, Lucy could hear Peter’s deep voice informing Trishia about the situation. Trishia grabbed Peter’s elbow and steered him away from the car, very aware of the fact that Lucy had excellent hearing.
“It’s a kid, isn’t it?” she asked, her voice strained with emotion.
Peter nodded and rubbed his chin, his eyes staring at his partner with a genuine, profound sadness. “How did you know?”
Trishia pointed at the beach where a group of people were busy taking pictures and combing the sand for clues. “Because the boss never gets called to the scene of a regular homicide. I’ve only seen her come out twice before. In both cases, there were kids involved.”
“You’re right.” Peter scratched the back of his neck. “It’s a kid, a teenage girl. A knife, straight into her heart.”
Trishia swallowed hard and tried to block out any emotion. She had to be able to think clearly and analyze the situation. “Why did they call us?”
Peter bit his lip and nodded toward Martin Coles and Phil Kanides, fellow officers who were talking to Inspector Wong. “Remember that Phil was at the office this afternoon, while we were there, talking to Alice? Well, he recognized her and gave me a call.”
“Recognized who?” Trishia asked, puzzled, looking from the scene at the beach to Peter and back again.
“Alice,” Peter answered.
“Alice?” Trishia repeated, still not understanding. “Alice is at Sam and Jody’s. I left her there about thirty minutes ago. I don’t know who that girl on the beach is, but it’s not Alice.”
“She looks about seventeen years old, long blond hair, slender. And you’re right, she’s not Alice,” Peter explained. “But this is.” He handed Trishia a transparent evidence bag which held a picture. A chill settled in the pit of Trishia’s stomach. The picture was a photocopy of its original, but still clear. The face of Alice stared back at her from the black and white image. It was a younger Alice, who was sitting on a simple, wooden chair in a room that was mostly dark and could have been taken anywhere. The most disturbing sight were Alice’s eyes. They were full of fear, and Trishia felt sick when she realized their initial suspicions could be right. “Where did this picture show up?” she asked, her voice was soft and low.
Peter swallowed and closed his eyes for a second, remembering what it had been like when he had arrived at the scene. “The photo was neatly packed in plastic and was attached to the girl’s shirt, with a safety pin. Over her heart. It looks like it was done after she was murdered.”
“Do we know of any other cases like this?”
“Not yet,” Peter answered. His face was set in a grim mask. “But the boss sent the word out, so if there are, we’ll hear about it soon.”
“Anyone who has seen anything?”
“Nope.”
Trishia quirked an eyebrow. “Nothing? This is one of the busiest beaches in the area. When was she found?”
“The call came in around six when most people had left the beach, although there were still quite a few tourists around and shoppers who were sitting up there, on the benches enjoying the view. We’re still interviewing people, but nobody saw a thing. And I have to admit, when I arrived and looked at the scene, it was just like the kid was napping. The killer must have turned her on the stomach and put her head on her arms. I swear, Trish, it was like she was sleeping.”
“Then who found out she had died?”
Peter pointed toward one of the balconies of Ocean View Gardens, that overlooked the beach and the ocean. “There’s an elderly lady who lives up there. She said the girl was in the same position for a while, which she thought was odd. She noticed her because she was wearing street clothes and not a bathing suit, but she didn’t think much of it. Later, when people left the beach, she saw the girl was still there and had not moved. She started to worry and thought maybe she was ill, so she asked the janitor if he’d please go and check on her.” Peter noticed Trishia’s raised eyebrows, and he shrugged. “She has a bad hip and walking in the sand is tough for her,” he explained. “Anyway, the bloke did just that, and when he reached the girl he tapped her shoulder, but there was no response. Then he noticed how pale she was and when he touched her shoulder again, he felt she was cold. That’s when he used his cell phone and called us.”
“God, what a mess. Is this where she was killed?” Trishia raked her fingers through her hair and looked up when Inspector Wong and Phil Kenidas approached them.
“Judging by the amount of blood, yeah,” Peter answered. “Listen, Trish. I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this. Phil was already here when I arrived, so he knows about the picture as does the Inspector. Nobody else does.”
Trishia looked at him. “Gut feeling?”
“Yeah. I can’t explain it. But I feel this needs to be kept quiet.”
“I’m sorry you had to come back, Trishia,” Inspector Wong said when she had reached them. “But considering the circumstances I thought it would be best to let you know as soon as possible. Where’s Alice?”
Trishia and Peter exchanged glances, and he gave her an imperceptible nod.
“She is in a safe place, Inspector. But maybe we should consider something safer.”
Insp
ector Wong nodded. “Did Pete fill you in? We’ll keep the picture out of the press. And the fewer people who know where the girl is, the better. For the moment, anyway. Besides,” she paused and took the time to scan the area, noticing the people who were lined up behind yellow tape. Some were carrying cameras, no doubt using zoom lenses to bring the gruesome scene as close as possible. “I’m no shrink,” she continued. “But I’ve read enough files and met enough murderers to know that this is not just another random act of violence. Somebody has a message, and that same person could still be around to make sure we pick up on that. And I don’t want one single word leaked to the press. Is that clear?”
“Sure, Inspector,” Phil voiced their mutual feelings. “We should get some information pretty soon. If there have been any other murders like this one, anywhere, we’ll find out about them. It’s not something you come across every day.”
Trishia cast a look over her shoulder and was pleased to see that Lucy was still sitting in the car, apparently totally engrossed in some reading material she had found. “So, what’s the plan, Inspector?”
“Martin and Phil will stay here and see whatever they can find out. I want to speak with the two of you in private for a minute. Nothing personal, Phil,” she said. “But I don’t want to be overheard by one of those modern spy gadgets. There are too many people around here for my liking. We’ll have a little talk in my car and Phil? Keep an eye on the public. Be on the lookout for anyone who shows more than the usual morbid interest. I’m no profiler, but I’m sure we’re dealing with a bloke in his thirties or forties, white, probably a neat freak who looks like the nice guy next door. And who is pretty full of himself right now, for being able to put his victim on display on a busy beach, while nobody noticed a bloody thing.”
Inspector Wong turned around and quickly walked toward her car that was parked behind the Forensic Services van. She motioned Trishia and Peter to get in and closed the door behind them. When she was seated, she started the engine to run the air-conditioning.
“Thanks, boss,” Peter mumbled, wiping some thick drops of perspiration off his forehead.
“Alright Trishia, Alice is in a safe place, I believe you. I’m pretty sure I know which place that is, and I’m confident she’ll be safe there. At least for the time being. But, we have a killer on the loose, apparently looking for her. Maybe it’s pure coincidence that he murdered this poor girl here, but I’ve got a feeling he knows Alice is around and he might be actively looking for her. Our job is to find the killer and keep Alice safe. In the meantime, the fewer people know about it, the better it is. I don’t want any information leaking out to anyone. That includes your fellow officers. Phil is one of the most reliable people I know, and I trust him. Let’s keep all the information about Alice between the four of us. It’s nothing personal. I just don’t want to take any risks right now.”
“I understand, Inspector,” Trishia answered. “But I’ll need to inform certain individuals. I can’t tell them what to do and what not to do, without explaining the situation.”
“I know.” Inspector Wong sighed. “You should tell them, they have a right to know. God only knows what they’ll be getting themselves into this time. Tomorrow, I want you to go and talk to one of our psychiatrists. Alice suffers from amnesia, and I believe she has a damn good reason not to want to remember, but she’s the key, Trishia. The chances are that Alice is the one who can identify our murderer.”
“If she remembers,” Peter said.
“Yes, if she remembers,” Inspector Wong admitted.
*
Sam yawned and stretched her tall frame, groaning in satisfaction when she felt the pull of her muscles. It had been a long day, and she was tired, feeling the beginning of a familiar ache in her right leg. She winced when she cautiously stretched the muscles in her calf.
“Are you okay, Sam?” Jody asked with a worried frown. She had just walked into their bedroom and carefully closed the door behind her. The tired and pained look on Sam’s face told her enough. Without saying another word, she walked toward the bathroom, to reappear with a large bottle of massage oil and a towel.
“Oh, sweetie, you don’t have to that,” Sam protested. “I’m sure my leg will feel a lot better in the morning. You’re tired, and you need to go to sleep.”
“No, Sam,” Jody answered calmly. “I know you’ll sleep better without spasms. And when you feel better, I feel better, so don’t even think about arguing with me, because…. whoa—.” Jody yelped when a strong arm unexpectedly pulled her down on the bed. A pair of twinkling eyes looked at her from only a few centimeters away, and immediately Jody got lost in the clear blue that radiated warmth, love, and mischief.
“If you’re trying to distract me, it’s working,” Jody whispered, completely fascinated by a pair of soft lips, that were tantalizingly close.
“Is it now?” Sam smiled, her voice reduced to a low drawl. “Are you that easy, my love?”
“Only around you,” Jody answered, letting go of the towel and bottle of lotion and wrapping her arms around Sam’s neck, impatiently pulling her closer.
“I’m glad to hear that, I—.”
“Sam,” Jody interrupted, her green eyes were dark in the soft light of the lamp on the nightstand. “Shut up and kiss me.”
Sam ran her hands through Jody’s hair, and her eyes took in the body that was resting almost on top of her. Her hands slid down Jody’s shoulders and down her back until they came to rest on her hips. With negligent ease, Sam lifted her up to settle her comfortably on her own, taller body. Jody’s sigh of pleasure had not escaped her attention, and with rapidly increasing desire, she ran her hands over Jody’s back, but this time underneath the oversized t-shirt.
“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” she whispered. She felt a familiar warmth spread through her body when Jody wiggled around a little to get more comfortable and slid a smooth, strong leg between her thighs.
“Several times,” Jody answered. “And even though you’re biased, I’m glad you feel that way.”
“How can I not?” Sam asked, lightly brushing Jody’s lips with her own. “You’re getting more beautiful every day.”
“Oh, Sam,” Jody sighed, before a pair of insistent lips robbed her of any desire to speak.
They exchanged soft touches and caresses, gradually building up the desire until they were both breathing hard and needed unhindered contact.
“I want…. this… off,” Jody moaned, tugging Sam’s t-shirt, craving to feel the soft skin she knew was waiting for her underneath.
“Yes, we’re clearly overdressed,” Sam breathed, pulling her shirt over her head when Jody had lifted her upper body to get rid of her own. As soon as their bare skin touched, they both sighed in pleasure. Their hands traveled to familiar, sensitive areas, increasing their longing to an almost painful level.
“I need to feel all of you, Sam,” Jody panted when Sam’s hands were teasing the skin down the small of her back. She pressed their bodies even closer.
Without a word, Sam flipped them over, and Jody found herself on her back, staring into a pair of eyes that were almost dark-blue. Sam’s lips and hands caressed Jody’s already overheated skin and found their way down a body that started to tremble as Jody desperately whispered for release.
Even if they had heard Sam’s cell phone ring, they would not have answered it. So, after buzzing a few times, a soft beep announced a message in the center of the dimly lit display. After a few seconds, the screen went dark, and the phone remained where it had been, on the nightstand.
*
“No luck?” Trishia let out a frustrated breath and stopped the car on the side of the road. She looked at Lucy whose face mirrored her own, drawn and tired.
“I won’t call again, Trish. I know it’s not that late yet, but… invading their privacy is not my favorite thing to do. I hate it when the phone rings when I am… we are… Engaged in…certain activities.”
Despite the situation and her
worries about Alice’s safely, Trishia chuckled, brushing Lucy’s cheek with the back of her hand. “Well, yes,” she admitted. “It’s a good thing that doesn’t happen often.”
“Because you put your phone on silent.” Lucy laughed. “So, I guess, anyone who calls us will probably know what we’re… engaged in.”
“Why do so many people have a dirty mind?” Trishia complained, feigning a hurt look. “We could be… in the shower, or… watching a movie…or… just wanting to have some peace and quiet. Right?”
“Sure, baby,” Lucy smiled. “You just keep reminding yourself of that, and you’ll never be self-conscious.” She grabbed Trishia’s hand and pressed it against her cheek, aware of the fine lines around her lover’s eyes that seemed to be so much deeper than before. “Talk to me, Trish,” Lucy urged. “What happened on that beach, except for the fact that there was a body?”
After she and Peter had talked to their Inspector, Peter had headed toward the police station to see if he could find any information to help their case, while Trishia had set off with the assignment to keep Alice safe.
As soon as Trishia had walked toward her car, Lucy had noticed the deep frown in her forehead, and the distant look in her eyes, which Lucy knew meant that Trishia was deep in thought. She recognized that look from the times when Trishia had been working on difficult cases or had come home after assisting at the site of a serious accident. Or that time when she and almost all the other members of her team had been involved in the search for a lost child, a little boy. After hours of frantic searching, Trishia had found the boy in the pool of one of the neighbors. He had drowned. The first thing that had come to Lucy’s mind had been that poor little boy, and with a chilling feeling of foreboding, she had known the body on the beach was that of a young person. The pained expression on Trishia’s face had confirmed that. When she had returned to the car and silently started the engine, Lucy had given her the space she obviously needed, but when she noticed they were not driving home, but in the direction of Jody’s place, Lucy had softly asked Trishia if she wanted to talk about it. Trishia had just shaken her head and had shot Lucy a sad, apologetic smile. “Not yet,” her voice had sounded hoarse. “But soon.”