Nicholas Graves had been wrong. He’d underestimated someone. Underestimated how much they knew… Underestimated their sheer dementedness… To think. To calculate how what had happened, had just happened… Graves wasn’t even sure where to begin.
He was now sitting on a bench in the dome-sheltered lookout facing the nighttime beach. Dirt and debris still covering his body from the shaft. The sensation of falling. Of the mannequin with the glowing eyes jumping out at him from the dark. He’d heard 13th Avenue mentioned a couple of times today, but this was the first time when he actually remembered what it’d been like. How it felt. When it –
A light. A light from the phone he was holding in front of him.
Patricia was calling again.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Are you almost here? We’re ready to sit down for dinner.”
“You can start without me.”
A pause. “Nicholas. What’s going on? Are you on your way?”
His head sifted towards the ground. “I’ll call you later.”
He hung up.
Graves sighed and began scrolling through other names in his contacts. He found Stasia’s and tried her phone. “Hello. You’ve called the cell of Detective Stasia Rhine. Please leave –”
He ended the call. Thought a moment.
Tried Fae Dory.
Waiting. Wait –
Nothing. Dead. She’d declined the call.
Graves swallowed. Then he thought about Stasia’s ex-husband’s car parked in her sister’s driveway. Perhaps he was still with her. He tried that number.
“Hello?”
“Hi Christian. It’s Nicholas Graves here. How are you?”
“I’m fine thank you.”
Graves shifted. “You’re not with Stasia by any chance, are you?”
“I’m sorry, Nicholas. I don’t know where she is.”
“Oh. Alright.”
“There’s nothing else I can help you with?”
Graves considered. “Actually, I’ve got a rather serious situation I need some help with. Are you busy?”
“I don’t know,” Christian said distantly. “Perhaps. What is this about specifically?”
“It’s better that I see you in person. I’m … going to dust myself off and get a drink. I’ll text you the location. You come and join me if you’re free. You’re gonna wanna hear what I have to say.”
A pause. “Alright Nicholas.”
“See you soon.”
CHAPTER 15
The front part of the notepad was empty. She hadn’t written anything down. Stasia sensed Fae’s presence behind her in the car park, moving quietly away from the building’s inner lights. Till they were out in space together.
“You left this behind,” Fae said in a higher pitch than usual.
Stasia twisted her feet on the concrete.
She snatched the pad from the other’s grasp. “The pen too, please.”
Fae nodded. She reached into her pocket and passed it along to Stasia.
“Well then,” Stasia said. “Good night.”
Fae moved in closer. “Now’s not the time for you to be making enemies.”
“Is that what we are now?”
“I didn’t mean me.”
The building’s entrance doors opened and shut behind them. Stasia glanced over her shoulder and saw the Captain walking with Agent Morello along the footpath. Neither returned her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” Stasia said. “Betrayal doesn’t come that easily for some.”
“And yet if it was a choice between Graves and I, you’d choose Graves, wouldn’t you?”
Stasia faced her. “If he asked me to take you down, I’d imagine I’d have the same response I’m having now.”
“The only difference is Graves is dirty, and I’m not,” Fae said between gritted teeth. “I have to believe you have absolutely no idea what he’s involved with. If you’d had some inkling, a suspicion, then maybe –”
“I don’t, alright. I don’t.”
Fae swallowed. “And then maybe I wonder if it’s the other way. What if this whole time, Graves has you working for him – both on and off the books.”
Stasia scoffed at the suggestion.
“He’s an attractive man. Charming. Seductive. Lord knows, you’ve been through so much –”
In a fit of rage, Stasia grabbed hold of Fae’s jacket and spun her around in the air. She pushed her away, Fae tripping over her feet and collapsing to the road.
It happened so quickly.
Losing control like that.
Stasia rushed over, apologetic, helping Fae back to her feet.
“Look, just –” Fae tried to keep her at bay.
“You ambushed me in there!” Stasia yelled. “I’m sorry, but how did you think that was the best strategy? I bet you promised them I’d go through with it too. Such arrogance!”
Fae shook her head. “Let me just ask you a question. Okay. Can I do that?”
“What is it?”
“You’re protecting your partner. Right? That’s what all this about. Your loyalty to him.”
“So?”
“But if you knew he was dirty. If you knew the extent of his crimes. I mean. You wouldn’t protect a killer, would you?”
“What are you trying to say?” Stasia asked. “You think Graves has killed someone? Who?”
“The question isn’t who,” Fae said catching her breath. “The question is how many.”
CHAPTER 16
Detective Graves stared down at the drinks in front of him. Whiskey on the rocks. Bottle of bitter. He knew things could get out of hand if he kept going after this. But at the moment. Before touching either. There was something cathartic just looking at them.
“Alright then, Nicholas. I’m here.”
Graves looked up to his left.
Detective Nguyen was standing tall, sizing him up.
“Do you want something? I’ll buy,” Graves offered.
“Just a regular cola is fine.”
Graves motioned to the bartender. “He’ll have a whiskey and cola, please. Hold the cola.”
Detective Nguyen rolled his eyes. “I’m going to bathroom. Back in a minute.”
Graves smiled. He paid for the drinks and then took his back to a table in the corner, going back for Nguyen’s drink when it was ready.
He was seated and sipping his bitter when Nguyen returned.
“I hope this is important,” Nguyen said sitting opposite him. “It seemed like there was some urgency over the phone.”
“It’s extremely important and there is urgency,” Graves stated. “But you shouldn’t rush me. I’m still figuring out how to approach this.”
Nguyen tried to get comfortable. “So is this a personal problem you’re dealing with? Or is it work related?”
“Work related,” Graves said still sipping. “But also personal. I’m not going to bend your ear on marital advice, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“I wasn’t thinking –” Nguyen stopped, realizing he’d been slighted. “Listen, if you’re just going to insult me then –”
“Calm the fuck down. Have a drink. Look. Let’s raise our glasses.”
Nguyen stared at him coldly. He picked up the glass of whiskey and clinked it with Graves’.
They both took a drink.
“That’s better,” Graves said quietly.
“Alright. So start talking.”
Graves breathed in. “I’ve got something of a … predicament. There’s this man, you see. I don’t know his name. Or what he looks like. I only know, in my heart of hearts, that this man is both practical, and deranged. I don’t know what his crimes are, but I’m sure they exist. And I’m just at surface of this thing. Any other situation like this I’d be tearing the earth apart to find out what the fuck this thing is. But there’s a problem. A rather large one.”
Graves took another hit from the whiskey, then chased it with his bitter.
Nguyen sipped his wh
iskey again and then put it down, to the side.
“I’m listening.”
Graves nodded. “The perpetrator in this instance – he knows me. He knows a lot. He knows my secrets.”
“What secrets?”
Graves leaned forward. “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”
Nguyen was taken aback. “The worst thing I’ve done? I … nothing’s coming to mind.”
“There’s something. I know there is. You don’t want to share it. That’s fine. Just admit it’s there. Think. And admit.”
Nguyen reflected. “I can think of, well, I’m not sure if –”
“You ever break the law, Christian?”
“What?”
“Maybe you didn’t do it intentionally. That can happen. The circumstances of this world can turn their back on you in an instant. A snap of the fingers. And then everything’s reversed. You’re no longer the hunter. You’re the hunted. It happened like that for me. I didn’t plan it. I had no idea. And yet when I got home that evening. I realized I wasn’t the same person who left the house that morning.”
“I’m trying to understand,” Nguyen said. “Really, I am. But I need specifics.”
“All you need to know is, once upon a time, when I was a little younger. I did something wrong. And now there’s this fucking maniac out there – who I can’t even put a face to – this person knows what I did. How that’s possible, I have no idea. I’m still trying to figure that part of it out. But more pressing, the reason why you’re here, I need to know what I’m supposed to do next. Do I let this guy off, because of what he knows? Or do I go out there back after him, and destroy the both of us?”
Nguyen’s gaze drifted to one side.
Graves could see he was thinking.
Graves had another drink.
“Well, Christian,” Graves prompted. “If you were in my shoes…”
Nguyen looked at him. “Letting him go, isn’t actually an option, is it?”
Graves shrugged.
“Your choice is whether you come clean or not. If you come clean, admit what you’ve done, then you can put the burden of exposing this man on someone else. Take away what he has on you, and then you’ll remove yourself from the situation.”
“And what if I don’t want to come clean?”
“Well, then you’ll have to outsmart him, I guess. Destroy him before he destroys you.”
Graves blinked a few times.
Considering.
“It’s only a matter of time before the department gets you, Graves,” Nguyen said. “You realize that, don’t you?”
Graves opened his eyes, his field of vision growing wider.
“A matter of time?”
Nguyen stood up from his chair. “Your secrets aren’t so secret anymore.”
He turned to leave.
“Hey!” Graves barked. “Christian? What do you –”
“Whatever this thing is,” Nguyen said, looking back, “leave Stasia out of it –”
“Stasia’s already –”
“– If you don’t, it’ll be bad for her,” Nguyen advised.
Graves stared back, speechless.
“And it will be bad for you too.”
CHAPTER 17
Night winds and crashing waves danced about outside the windows in the taxi-cab. They were driving along the highway. Up the coastline. Stasia’s rejection of Fae’s proposal was now official. She’d rejected the ride home. The return inside to discuss it some more. No amount of promises or persuasive lies was going to sway Stasia’s resolve. Detective Graves may have had his share of indiscretions, she’d grant them that. But to take it to the next level… Stasia didn’t agree with the method at all.
She’d just gotten off the phone with him. He had more news for her. She could tell he sounded excited. Like he just wanted to open up and spill his guts to her. Stasia wondered if she should tell him about Fae’s investigation. It would maybe increase her disposition with Graves, but the trade off was more flack from Carmichael and the department. She didn’t want them pinning his crimes to her. Not that they would be able to in a reasonable fashion. She was innocent after all.
“Drop you up here?” the driver asked, his eyes in the rearview mirror.
Stasia peered out the front of the car. “Yeah, anywhere here’s fine.”
The car slowed down, and she paid and got out.
Posture firm, head high, she walked along the footpath up to the bar where Graves had sent for her. Before going in, she checked her phone. It was just after twenty past eight.
Graves was standing at the front of the place, in the middle of the open floor, as she walked in.
He waved, greeted her and forced her to hug him before she knew what was happening.
He smelled of whiskey and beer.
“I got you a drink, over here,” he said putting his arm behind her. She allowed him to lead her to a table in the corner, away from the majority.
“What drink is it?” Stasia asked, grabbing her chair.
“Vodka and lemonade with ice,” Graves said. “I would have gotten you a whiskey like I’m drinking, but I guess I’m sexist.”
“How many have you had?”
Graves shook his head. “Not that many. I haven’t been here too long.”
“Okay.”
They sat opposite each other.
Stasia took a sip. Despite Graves’ ill behavior, she was feeling surprisingly patient.
“Thanks for meeting up,” Graves said lowering his drink. “I know we spend enough time as it is. You’re probably sick of me by now.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Well, thank you. Your ex was just here a moment ago. I tried opening up to him, but … well. I guess he was helpful. There was just all these walls between us. Not like me and you.”
“So,” Stasia said. “Are you going to tell me then?”
“Tell you what?”
“What happened on 13th Avenue?”
Graves gave a brief chuckle. He smiled. Tears rose in his eyes.
“I am going to tell you,” he said finally. “I’m going to tell you everything.”
Stasia had another sip of vodka. “So…?”
“It was three years ago,” Graves began. “I remember it was a Sunday. My partner was at home with his family, and I was out on the road. There was a manhunt for this guy who had kidnapped a kid and everyone was trying to trace him. I was handing out these flyers at gas stations in the area. There were so many of them. I had a whole sheet. All the routes he could have taken. And I was just crossing them off one by one. I only realized later how fatigued I must have been. How … impatient… I just. I just wanted to get the guy. I wanted it to be me. I was … not myself that day –”
“Excuse me, one moment,” Stasia said pulling out her phone.
Someone was ringing her. No caller ID.
“Hello?”
“Mom…?”
Stasia smiled politely at Graves and stepped away from the table. “Who is this?”
“It’s Mei-Lee.”
Stasia swallowed nervously. “Oh. I – I’m sorry I missed you earlier –”
“Mom. I’m in trouble.”
“What sort of trouble?”
“I need you to come get me.”
“Where are you exactly?”
“I’m not allowed to say,” Mei-Lee whispered. “You have to find me.”
“What?” Stasia snapped. “Mei-Lee, just tell me where you –”
“You have to find me,” Mei-Lee repeated. “You and Detective Graves.”
CHAPTER 18
Hunched over the table, one hand on his forehead, the other clutching the glass – Graves had lost all connection with reality. He was far away. Somewhere, in the back of his mind. He could see the colors. He could hear the sounds. Everything in the current now had begun to dissolve.
Until he looked up, and saw the terror in her eyes.
“What?” Graves asked.
She was s
till staring at him. The hand with the phone falling away from her ear.
“Are you alright?” he tried again.
“I have to go,” Stasia muttered.
She turned and headed for the exit.
Graves sat up, trying to figure out what had just happened. He took a quick swig from his glass and then set it down, chasing after her. They reunited outside the bar.
“Stasia, what’s happening?” he said on approach. “You can tell me.”
She shuffled around to face him. “Do you have your car here?”
“Yeah, it’s just over there,” Graves said pointing to the car park.
“Alright, let’s go,” Stasia said.
Graves walked with her. “Who was on the phone?”
“My adopted daughter. Something’s happened to her.”
“How serious?”
“I don’t know.” Stasia forced the phone to her ear, presumably trying to call her back.
Soon the phone came back down.
They reached the car.
“Keys,” Stasia said, moving to the driver’s side.
Graves exhaled, his first instinct to protest.
Stasia smashed her fist on the hood of the car. “Keys! Now!”
He tossed them to her.
Graves waited until they were out on the road, and a fair distance down the highway before he probed her again. “So … Something’s happened to your daughter…”
Stasia glared at him. “I don’t know what’s happened. So, don’t ask.”
“Maybe you can elaborate on what’s gotten you so worked up.”
“I don’t know,” Stasia said dismissively. “It’s just –”
“Yes?”
“She mentioned your name.”
Graves blinked.
“As though she knew we were together.”
“I’m not following you.”
“She said I had come find her, but she couldn’t tell me where she was. She said you had to come too.”
“Me?”
“‘Detective Graves.’”
“Have you spoken to her about me?”
“What?” Stasia retorted. “No.”
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