by Vakey, Jenn
*
“Cut him loose,” Wilcome said. Detective Patrick Wilcome, head of the homicide office, didn’t seem pleased at all with the words he spoke. His sky blue eyes, which were normally warm and engaging, had a flash of anger within them. His body was rigid as he leaned against the wall, arms folded tightly in front of him.
Rilynne turned toward him abruptly. “You have got to be kidding!” she proclaimed. “This is our guy.”
“Well, his friend corroborated his story, and we don’t have any evidence to tie him to the scene,” he stated. “The judge denied the warrant to search his apartment. We don’t have anything to hold him on.”
She was furious. “What about the other victim?” she asked. “We can bring her down and put him in a line up. It would get him off of the streets and give us cause for a warrant.”
He shook his head. “LaShad already called her. She has recanted her story, and is now saying it was a group of school aged kids,” he explained. “He tried to explain that we would be able to protect her from retaliation if she identified him, but she insisted her first version was inaccurate.”
Rilynne threw her mug against the wall, causing it to shatter. She could see Matthews tense up beside her, but she kept her eyes on Wilcome. “This is ridiculous!” she exclaimed. “So what are we supposed to do, just sit back and wait for him to kill someone else?”
Neither Wilcome nor Matthews seemed to know what to say. Rilynne leaned against the table in the observation room and watched through the mirror as an officer walked in to escort Teich out. After he walked past the door, she stepped out after him.
“Enjoy the last few days of freedom you have left, Mr. Teich,” she called out as they stepped into the crowded homicide office. The room fell into a deafening silence as all eyes turned to her. Teich stopped walking and spun around, smiling like he had just won the lottery. “You will be held accountable for your actions. I promise you that.”
He just chuckled and turned away.
“What do you think you are doing, Evans?” Wilcome asked, walking up behind her.
She watched as Teich disappeared through the door before turning to face Wilcome. “I’m rattling his cage enough to make him want to get rid of anything that could connect him to the case,” she stated simply. “We don’t need a warrant to search through someone’s trash once it’s out on the street.”
“He has an alibi,” he stated firmly.
“He scared his last victim into recanting. Do you really think he couldn’t convince a friend to lie to the police?” she asked.
Wilcome just glared uneasily down at her before he turned and walked back toward his desk.
“Now what?” Matthews asked as he walked up next to her.
“We do everything we can to make sure he doesn’t do it again.”
Chapter Three
“I heard about your little scene downstairs,” Ben said as Rilynne leaned against his desk. “It’s the talk of the station right now.”
Rilynne groaned, dragging her fingers through her long, auburn hair. “I may have lost my temper for a bit,” she stated. “I just hate it when I have to watch someone walk away when I know they’re guilty.”
“You’ll get him,” he said reassuringly.
She smiled at his attempt to comfort her. “We'll have officers out to collect the trash before it gets picked up Friday. Hopefully my little scene this morning will prompt him to wanting to dispose of anything that could connect him to the murder,” she explained. “In the mean time, I could really use a drink. Are you about finished here?”
Ben sighed and gently brushed the hair away from her face. “I wish I could, but it looks like I'll be pulling another all-nighter. We got a bit behind after that little stunt they pulled, so I’m going to have to work overtime until we get caught back up. I also want to make sure my name is attached to all of the current cases. That way if a defense attorney tries to use their prank to dispute the findings, I can step in and testify to the validity of the results.”
“I’ll leave you to it then. I wouldn’t want to distract you into having to spend tomorrow night working, as well.” She stood up and kissed him on the cheek before walking toward the door.
Rilynne paused when she stepped out of the station minutes later, contemplating which way to turn. If she walked left, she would only need to walk to the end of the block before coming upon Travis Bar, the local bar members of the department liked to frequent. If she turned right, she would find her car parked just to the side of the building. After several moments, she decided to just call it a night and headed for her car.
The drive home seemed to take no time at all. Her mind was so distracted by the events of the day, she seemed to be moving on autopilot. She was already out of her car and sliding her key in the door before she even realized she was home.
She kicked her shoes off when she stepped in and headed straight for her bedroom. After starting her bath, Rilynne headed into the kitchen and poured herself a large glass of wine. “What a day,” she mumbled to herself before walking back to her room.
Rilynne slipped into the steaming bath and closed her eyes. Though she knew she should be concentrating on the case, she didn’t. She had no desire to think about anything at all. The only thing she wanted to do was to shut everything out of her mind and relax.
That is exactly what she did. By the time she climbed out and curled up in bed, she had almost completely forgotten about the events of the day. As her thick comforter pulled up around her, she closed her eyes and she drifted off.
“Come with me,” she heard from just beyond the foot of her bed. Rilynne bolted up to find a man dressed in all black standing with his arm extended to the door. “You mustn’t keep your guests waiting any longer.”
She looked around the dark room hesitantly before sliding off the edge of the bed.
“I’m not really dressed to receive guests,” she said.
The man quickly looked her up and down before saying, “You look fine to me, ma’am.”
Rilynne looked down and found her pajamas had been replaced by a long, white dress. She ran her hands down the silky material before returning her attention to the stranger.
“Please, ma’am,” he said, motioning again toward the door. “Everyone is waiting.”
She nodded and stepped through the door when he pulled it open. As she emerged into a large, brightly lit ballroom, she was greeted by the sound of clapping. There were three hundred people surrounding her, at least. Each and every one of them was looking at her.
“You look beautiful,” a soft voice came from just behind her. She turned to find Ben, donned in a similar tuxedo to the one she had seen him wear to the Lewis’ fundraiser a few months before.
“Thank you,” she said, looking quickly back around the room. “What’s going on? Why are all of these people here?”
Ben laughed. “Ever so modest,” he replied shortly. Before she could explain that she really didn’t know what was happening, he turned and walked away.
Rilynne stared around the room, utterly dumbfounded. She looked at each face as her eyes swept past. She knew nearly all of them. Although most were people she saw on a daily basis, several surprised her.
Standing in the back, she saw Jared Lewis talking to a lovely woman she didn’t know. Judging by the intimate way his hand was resting against her back, she was his date. On the other end of the room, talking to Ben and Wilcome, was the chief of police. Though she was acquainted with both men, she wouldn’t have pictured them showing up to an event being held in her honor. Their presence only made her more curious as to what was going on.
Everyone seemed so happy and full of life. As she looked around, she started to feel overwhelmed. She had never been comfortable in large crowds. She needed some air.
The closest door she could find was the one she entered through minutes before. Backing slowly toward it, so as not to draw anyone’s attention, she was able to slip out before anyone could stop her.
/> When the door closed behind her, she was surprised for a moment not to find herself back in her bedroom. Instead, the warm sun above was shining down on her face. As she looked around at the familiar beach, she felt instantly relaxed.
She reached down to lift the dress up, not wanting it to get dirtied by the sand, but found herself back in her pajamas. Grinning, she walked slowly toward the water, not stopping until it splashed across her toes. The coolness of it sent a pleasant chill through her entire body.
It was so inviting.
She peeled off her clothes, dropping them on the sand at her feet. She didn’t stop until the only thing touching her skin were the rays of the warm sun. Glancing quickly around to ensure that she was alone, she stepped deeper into the water. Although it was cold, she didn’t stop until her feet could no longer touch the bottom.
The waves picked her up as they rolled past. As they left, they took every worry she seemed to have. Before long, the only thing she could feel was joy.
“The water will keep you safe,” a voice came from behind her.
She spun quickly around as she reached to cover herself.
“You startled me,” she said when she found Ben bobbing with the waves a few feet away.
He grinned and tilted his head back to wet his hair. “You don’t need to be scared,” he said as he looked back toward her. “The water will keep you safe.”
She let her hands fall away from her body as she started to swim toward him. As she did, though, he only moved further away.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
He smiled warmly at her before looking toward the beach. “You should get that,” he said. She looked at him quizzically before following his gaze. There was nothing there. She turned back around, but Ben was gone.
“Ben?” she called out, spinning around to look for him. The waves were growing larger, though, making it difficult for her to see anything at all. She fought to stay in place, but it was too hard. They were taking her back to the shore.
When her feet landed back on the warm sand, she reached down and scooped up her clothes. Though they had been in the direct path of the waves, the pajamas were still dry. She pulled them on and started walking down the beach, looking for any sign of Ben. By the time she made it to the large boulders overlooking the water, she had given up. He was gone.
She climbed atop them, placing herself in the shade of the large coconut tree just behind her, and laid gently back to watch the clouds dancing above. She thought about staying there forever. That is until the large coconut just above her came loose and dropped toward her head. She rolled out of the way just in time to avoid it as it hit the rock.
Boom.
Rilynne’s eyes shot open as a loud knock echoed through the house. At first she thought it was simply part of her dream, but another one quickly followed.
She glanced over to her alarm clock. It was just after eleven. She considered getting up to answer the door but quickly decided against it. Ben already had a key, and anyone else would call her if it were something important. When no call came in, she just rolled over and went back to sleep.
*
“We’ve got a call,” Matthews said before she had even fully stepped into the office the next morning. She was surprised to see him in before her. In the entire time they had been working together, it had only happened a handful of times. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes. I desperately need coffee.”
Rilynne grinned and headed back the way she had just come. When she stepped off the elevator into the lobby, she spotted Ben walking through the front door.
“On your way out?” he asked.
She responded with a gentle laugh. Ben cast her a quizzical look, looking around to see what was so amusing.
“You’re a mess,” she stated, looking him up and down. His hair always looked like he had just rolled out of bed and raked his fingers through it, but it was even more disheveled than normal. The circles under his eyes left him with the look of a much older man. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
He shook his head as she reached up to try and straighten his hair. After a few unsuccessful moments, she slid her hand gently down his cheek. He leaned into it, letting out a satisfying sigh and said, “I ended up-”
“Evans, let’s go,” Matthews interrupted as he walked past them. “Katy is staying at her sister’s until Sunday, so I’d like to get home at a decent hour tonight. I could really use the sleep.”
“Not coming?” she asked Ben.
He shook his head again. “I’ve sent Summers out,” he replied. “I’m actually going home to try and get a couple hours sleep myself. I’ll be in the lab later if you need me for anything.”
After saying goodbye, Rilynne hurried out the front door and climbed into Matthews’ awaiting car. “So what do we have?” she asked.
“I didn’t get the details,” he stated, weaving through traffic. “All I know is we have two bodies in an apartment. Wilcome didn’t give me any of the specifics. I was actually considering asking him if Jerkins and Sibrian could take it, but they’re looking into a cold case. I would much rather work a fresh scene right now.”
Rilynne turned to face the window so he didn’t see her smile. She wasn’t used to seeing him so grumpy.
The medical examiners bus was already parked in front of the apartment building when they drove up. They stepped under the police tape and found him in the first apartment they came upon.
“Why if it isn’t two of my favorite detectives,” he said joyfully when they walked in.
“And just how many favorite detectives do you have?” Rilynne chuckled. Something about Dr. Andrews always seemed to lighten her mood. Perhaps it was his striking resemblance to Santa, which always made her think of Christmas. It could have also had something to do with the fact that he was one of the most cheerful people she had ever met, which had not been diminished by his chosen profession.
“Not many,” he said with a puckish grin. “I assure you it isn’t above nine.”
“I’m sure it’s completely coincidental that there are, in fact, only nine homicide detectives,” she said. She made her way around the room and crouched down beside him next to the first body. Dr. Andrews just flashed her a large smile before starting his examination. “What do you have for us?” Rilynne asked.
He gently lifted the first body just enough to retrieve the wallet that was visible on the ground beneath him. “You can start with this while I see what else this gentleman has to offer,” he stated.
Matthews pulled the wallet from his hand while Rilynne watched Dr. Andrews work. The victim was on his stomach with his head turned toward her. His face-what little of it that was visible-was covered in blood. From what she could see, it looked like he had been shot in both the chest and face. Something about him was very familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Before she could mention it to Matthews, he let out a low whistle.
“Well, Dr. Andrews, I can assure you this man is no gentleman,” Matthews said, motioning her over. “The victim is Marshal Teich.”
Chapter Four
“Damn,” she said. Her head was reeling. The frustration bubbled within her, though she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. She would much rather have been able to prosecute him for his crimes, but at least she knew he would never kill again. “Who’s the other one?”
Dr. Andrews reached over Marshal Teich and slid the wallet out of the second man’s pocket. Matthews plucked it from in between his fingers and flipped it open. “That would be Sam Baker.”
“Isn’t he the man Teich named as his alibi for the Fields murder?” she asked.
Matthews just nodded, his eyes sweeping around the room.
“Well, it would appear at first look that they were both shot with the same caliber rounds. I’ll have the bullets sent to ballistics when I remove them, and they can give you a definitive answer as to whether or not they came from the same gun,” Dr. Andrews stated. Rily
nne turned away as he pushed his thermometer into both men. She didn’t know why, but something about it always left her stomach twisted. “I’m putting time of death sometime between ten and twelve last night.”
“What do you have, Summers?” Rilynne called out over her shoulder. Daniel Summers was in the process of digging something out of the nearby wall.
“Judging by the spatter patterns, it would appear that there was one shooter standing about there,” he said, motioning about four feet from where Matthews was. “I have one round here in the wall, which looks to have been a through and through. I also pulled several prints off of the door.”
Rilynne looked around the room before turning back toward Matthews. “Is this Teich’s apartment?” There was a note of excitement in her voice that she couldn’t hide.
He pulled the driver’s license back out and examined it. “Yes.”
She grinned and turned back toward Summers. “Tear it apart,” she stated. “Look for anything that might connect him to any crimes he may have been involved in.” She paused before adding, “It could give us a good idea of where to start looking for suspects.”
Matthews just grinned and slowly shook his head.
When they left twenty minutes later, Summers-accompanied by two other investigators-had finished with the living room and was working through the rest of the apartment. Rilynne wanted to wait until they found anything connecting Teich to the Fields murder, but finally conceded after Matthews’ third request to leave.
“I need more coffee,” he said when they climbed into the car. “Would it be terribly cliché if we stop at the donut shop down the street?”
“Yes,” she said bluntly. “But I wouldn’t say no to a few sugar ones.”
*
“What have you got?” Wilcome called out from his desk in the corner.
Matthews spun around in his chair to face him. “We aren’t at a shortage of people who had issues with the victim,” he stated. “In addition to his muggings and recent murder-sorry, suspected murder-he seems to have had this thumb in just about everything: drugs, extortion, carjacking, and the list goes on. Just in his apartment building, which he actually owned, there are a handful of people who didn’t seem the least bit upset when they were informed he had been killed. As far as landlords go, he was definitely one of the more despicable ones.”