Stone's Mistake

by Adrian J. Smith

  He frowned. “Fine, but you bring me back a slice.”

  “That predictable?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Shaking her head, Morgan did what she hadn’t thought of before and took the mug shot of Reilly they did have and put it through their system to reverse her age ten years. Once the rendering was done, she’d run an image search and see if she came up with any hits on that.

  While the computer whirred, Morgan gnawed on her lip. Meeting up with Fiona for lunch might have been a bad idea. She could keep it professional for sure, but the problem was on one level, she really didn’t want to. Fiona was an enigma, young, dreamy, and probably just like her. Women didn’t just go into law enforcement without certain personality quirks. Deciding pursuing any type of relationship between the two would no doubt end in disaster, Morgan shoved the thought from her mind and looked at the image of Reilly at approximately seven years old.

  She turned her head to the side and then to the other side as she studied it. She’d seen her before. Where, she had no idea, but she would readily find out. It wouldn’t take too long for the computer to do its work. Checking her watch, she realized she’d have to jet from the office to meet up with Fiona. Bidding her goodbyes to Pax, she grabbed her jacket and left everything else behind as she walked to the elevator.

  ###

  Morgan arrived first, as she had planned. She grabbed a seat near the back where she could look out the front windows and know who was coming and going. Frankie pulled up a chair next to her, grinning when she smiled at him over the menu.

  “Why bother?” he asked.

  “Bother with what?”

  “You know what you’re getting.”

  Smirking, she blushed. “I come here too much.”

  “Not enough. Waiting on someone?”

  “Yes, she should be here soon.” His eyebrows rose and fell twice in rapid succession. Morgan shook her head. “Not that kind of lunch date.”

  “Sure it’s not. I’ll make sure to put on my best waiter face and cook the best I ever have.”

  “Shove it,” Morgan muttered, smirking when Fiona walked into the restaurant.

  Morgan’s heart stuttered. Her cheeks heated with a flush, and she had to run her hands through her short and spiked hair to try and cover it and get hold of herself. Fiona gave her a small wave, files in her other hand, as she walked over and slipped into the booth across from Morgan.

  “Thanks for meeting me.” Her voice was soft spoken, but Morgan remembered her from the talk—she asked direct and good questions.

  “Any time. Frankie should be by in a sec…speak of the devil.”

  “Ma’am.” He bowed low, and Morgan gaped at him. This had not been her brightest idea. “What can I get you to drink today?”

  Morgan watched as he turned his charm on with Fiona, pulling the pencil from behind his ear with a flourish and spinning and putting it to his notepad to wait for her order. Fiona shook her head.

  “Only water please.”

  Swallowing, Morgan sent Frankie a glare and a roll of her eyes as she ordered her standard coffee in the biggest cup he could find. He snorted at her and went to fill their orders.

  “Come here often?” Fiona asked as her hands folded neatly in front of her, her dark eyes cascading down to Morgan’s lips and back.

  Morgan blanched. “Too often, apparently.”

  “I always love to find a good hole in the wall place to eat and relax. Makes it that much better when I get to know everyone who works there.”

  Humming her agreement, Morgan jumped for joy that Frankie was already coming their way with drinks in hand. She took her coffee, glad to have something to do with her hands rather than clenching and unclenching her fists six million times. He had his pencil to his pad again, staring directly at Morgan.

  “Huh? What?”

  He shook his head. “Eat. What do you want, hunny buns?”

  Morgan tossed her head up at an angle and shook it at him. “Not funny. The usual.”

  Rolling his eyes, Frankie wrote it down. “You could try something new, you know.”

  “I’m sorry,” Morgan interrupted. “Weren’t you just here two seconds ago asking why I even bothered looking at a menu and told me to order what I normally do?”

  He shrugged. “And for the lady?”

  Fiona looked between the two of them, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll just have what she’s having.”

  He didn’t wait a beat before he left again. Morgan growled and sipped her coffee. “Sorry about him. He tends to get moody when I take all his coffee.”

  Fiona waved it off. “Don’t worry.”

  “So this case you have…?” Morgan asked, leading them away from Frankie and toward the real reason they had met up.

  “Yes. It’s odd. We can’t find any motive or any connection or really any idea of who or what might have happened.”

  “Mind if I see?” Morgan indicated the file Fiona had brought with her.

  Fiona slid it across the table, and Morgan flapped it open. The images inside were certainly gruesome, but they were still done with care. Morgan flipped to the next picture. A middle-aged woman, probably no older than fifty, lying in her bed completely naked.

  “Sexual assault?”

  “Sex, yes. We haven’t been able to determine if it was assault or consensual.”

  Morgan nodded and filed the information in the back of her head. “Forced entry, anything?”

  “No. That’s just it. There’s nothing. It’s like whoever was there is a ghost. They just up and vanished or really never existed before this.”

  “Any other cases similar?”

  “Not in the Chicago area.”

  Morgan sent her a look over the top of the file and nodded. “Have you checked elsewhere?”

  “That’s where I was hoping you could help.”

  Morgan set the photos down. “I could. I’m about to leave town for a case. I’ll be gone a week, but I can hand it over to my partner, and he can look into it.”

  “I’d rather keep this between the two of us for now, if you don’t mind.”

  Morgan’s heart fluttered. She couldn’t be sure why, but something in the way Fiona said it she thought there might be another reason for their reconnection. “I don’t, but you’ll have to wait until I get back before I can look into it any further.”

  “I can wait. We won’t be stopping our investigation while you’re gone.”

  “Surely not.” Morgan smiled as she saw Frankie round the corner with their two plates, heaping with fresh baked ziti and a slice of everything meaty pizza. “Thanks, Frank.”

  “Don’t call me that,” he ordered before turning on his heel and walking away.

  Morgan chuckled. “He says Frank is his dad. Hates it.”

  “Ah.” Fiona took a small bite of the pasta while Morgan dove right in to her meal. “I’m not sure if this is a serial case, but something about it says it’s happened before.”

  Morgan opened the file again and stared at the one picture that had the full body of the deceased on the bed. Her eyes were wide open, there was a definite strangulation pattern on her neck, but the way her body was laid set off warning bells for Morgan as well. She flipped to another photo that also showed a full image of the body.

  “It was someone who knew her.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Morgan flipped the photo around and pointed. “She’s covered with the blanket, and her hair is not a mess, though I’m sure she probably struggled.”

  “She did. There’s DNA under her nails along with blood.”

  “Any other injuries we’re not seeing in this?”

  Fiona nodded and pointed to the deceased’s chest. “She was stabbed three times in the heart.”

  Morgan grunted. “Crime of passion, then.”

  “Perhaps,” Fiona muttered. “Maybe it’s just a feeling.”

  “I always say follow your gut.” Morgan glanced up at Fiona, their eyes locking as the
pasta was positioned two inches from her open mouth. Morgan’s stomach flopped and then flipped before she forced the food between her lips and chewed. She’d seen the heat rise in Fiona’s cheeks, noted the blush that ran to her face and down her neck. Holding back her own shudder, Morgan focused on the photos. She would keep it professional, even if it was the last thing she did.

  Chapter Four

  Waking close to noon the next day, Lollie stretched her legs and arms, turning on her side to watch as Andrea slept almost soundlessly in the bed next to her. They’d had sex almost all night. Tracing a finger over Andrea’s cheek and breast, Lollie watched each movement carefully.

  Andrea took deep breaths, a small wheeze coming from her nose every fourth one. Sighing, Lollie got up from the bed, her fingers itching to stop the noise in her annoyance. She tamped down the feeling and threw on the pajamas Andrea had given her the night before. She then headed to the kitchen to make coffee.

  She opened each cabinet, her gaze skimming over the contents. Andrea had the good stuff. Whatever she did for work, she must be decently well off. The plates and bowls all matched, the food was packed neatly and organized. It was rare Lollie found a lover who was so meticulous. Perhaps it would last this time.

  Biting her lip, she reached for the coffee she found in the cabinet just above the maker. She measured and poured the grounds into the filter before filling the carafe with water. Setting the liquid to percolate, she leaned against the counter and sighed. She could live here. This could easily become a place she called home. Grinning, Lollie went to the refrigerator and grabbed milk and sugar and made herself at home in the open kitchen. She was setting it on the counter when Andrea’s bare feet padded on the wood floors and arms wrapped around her middle, tugging her gently.

  Lollie sighed and leaned into Andrea’s sleep-warm body. Andrea’s lips were at her neck before she rested her chin on her shoulder to look over at the counter. Lollie turned slightly to face her. “Hope you don’t mind. I’m dreadfully unpleasant without my morning coffee.”

  “Me as well,” Andrea whispered. She pressed a heavy kiss to Lollie’s cheek and reached over to grab two mugs from the cabinet Lollie knew they were in.

  Once they were on the counter, Lollie turned so they could face each other. Andrea was pressed to her front again, and Lollie breathed a sigh. If Andrea was this clingy after one night of romping, perhaps they weren’t a good match. Giving in to what Andrea obviously wanted, Lollie rubbed her lips over Andrea’s in an unexciting embrace meant only to satisfy not entice more lust.

  “Want breakfast?” Andrea asked.

  “Sure.” Lollie shifted away as she stared down at the pot of coffee and willed it to speed up its process.

  Andrea chuckled. “I don’t think glaring at it is going to make it work any faster.”

  “You know they make ones that have timers. You set them up the night before and then it starts up before you wake up.”

  Andrea pulled out bacon from the fridge. “I’ve seen those.”

  “We could get one.” The look Andrea shot over her shoulder told her she’d misstepped. Swallowing, Lollie shook her head. “I meant you could get one. I already have one, obviously.”

  The grin she sent Andrea smoothed the ruffled feathers, and she focused on the coffee pot, once again willing it to finish so she could drink her elixir of life. After a few more minutes passed, Lollie bounced on her toes as the coffee was finished. She poured them each a cup with a flourish, putting sugar and milk in Andrea’s.

  The batter was mixed in the bowl, and Andrea put round dollops onto the hot skillet. Pancakes. Lollie’s stomach twisted. Classic breakfast. She leaned against the counter until Andrea was finished. Each with a plate in hand and mug in the other, they walked out to the living room where they reclined on the couch, sipping at coffee and nibbling on their breakfast.

  The television was on in the corner of the room, and Lollie sat moving her gaze from the screen to Andrea. She was double-checking, wanting to make sure Andrea’s focus was only on her and not on anyone else. She kept her eye on every reaction Andrea had to any woman who graced the screen.

  As soon as the news anchor came on and her voice rang through the room, Lollie pivoted her gaze back to Andrea’s face. She seemed nonplussed, thankfully, so Lollie took another bite of her pancake, but she could already feel the tendrils of jealously raging in her belly. She wished she could turn the television off, but Andrea seemed engrossed.

  Swallowing hard, Lollie popped another maple syrup-coated bite between her lips. She wondered briefly if she could distract Andrea with some food play. She’d done that before but hadn’t really enjoyed it. Perhaps Andrea would, and then her entire focus would be on Lollie and off the prissy woman on the screen. Lollie wouldn’t have their relationship be tainted with infidelity—even infidelity by thought.

  When her coffee had run dry, Lollie stood for a refill, making a production of it to get Andrea’s attention. Leaning down and kissing Andrea’s cheek, she slid her hand to Andrea’s fingers and squeezed. “Want more coffee?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Smirking, Lollie took Andrea’s cup and headed to the kitchen, the whispers of the news echoing throughout the eerily otherwise quiet house. The wind hadn’t stopped pounding against the front door yet, snow falling hours beyond what had been predicted.

  She stopped to look out the window in the dining room to the front yard, at least what she could see of the front yard. There was a large mound where Andrea’s car was parked, but other than that, everything was white. If she wanted to get out, she’d have to trudge through feet of snow. Tree limbs bowed down from the weight of the wet snowflakes, and there was an odd snow drift that swung around Andrea’s front yard and ended—Lollie presumed—on the other side of her car after it wrapped around the back.

  There was no way they were going to get the car out without some serious shoveling. Heaving a breath, Lollie filled their mugs with warm liquid. Lollie was glad Andrea had invited her to stay. They could get to know each other while Lollie decided if they were a good match or not. The blizzard was only an added bonus.

  With two full mugs, Lollie went into the living room. Andrea had stopped eating and was staring at the television screen. Anger welled up in Lollie’s chest, and she dropped the mug in her left hand to get Andrea’s attention before she jumped in mock-surprise and spilled the second cup of coffee all over her arm.

  The burning sensation hit her fast, but Lollie ignored it as much as she played off it. Immediately her gaze was on Andrea, who jumped up and ran over.

  “Damn it!” Lollie said. “I’m so sorry. I just—I tripped and dropped it. God, I’m such an idiot.”

  “It’s fine. It’s just coffee.” Andrea paused briefly as she surveyed the mess. Walking over carefully, she made sure her bare feet avoided the shattered ceramic and the pool of hot liquid. Andrea disappeared behind Lollie and into the kitchen.

  When Lollie looked up to see who it was on the television screen that had captivated Andrea so much, she was stunned into silence. There was a picture of a beautiful woman on the screen, her name scrawled across the bottom. The news anchor’s voice echoed, but Lollie couldn’t see who was talking.

  The woman’s picture was of her smiling, her eyes crinkled in the corners as her age betrayed her, and her dark cold eyes staring gracefully at anyone who was watching. Lollie turned her head to the side as she listened carefully. The screen flashed to a video of cops and medics bundled together as the news story broke.

  The beautiful news anchor was back on the screen, and Lollie’s heart clenched. She spoke rapidly about the victim of a heinous crime. “Ms. Jenkins was a teacher, much beloved. Her students will dearly miss her.”

  Lollie wildly looked around to see if Andrea was paying attention. Her heart rapped in her chest as fear built in a way it hadn’t in years. Worry and fear hit her at once. They weren’t supposed to be there yet. Something had happened.

  Andrea arrived with to
wels in hand and bent down by Lollie’s feet as she pressed a towel to the hard wood floor, soaking up the spilled coffee. Lollie stepped forward, not watching where she was walking. A shard of ceramic bit into the bottom of her foot, but she was unphased by the pain. She lifted her foot carefully as she took another step.

  “Lollie! Be careful,” Andrea ordered behind her.

  Lollie stopped, but her eyes were still glued to the television screen.

  The news anchor continued, “The police were called to the residence after a tree fell in the storm, landing on both sides of the duplex. Ms. Jenkins’ neighbor found her and called authorities immediately.”

  The image went to the news anchor who had a sad look on her face. Her co-host shuffled some papers as he spoke. “They have no solid leads at this time, but they are continuing their search for Ms. Jenkins’ murderer.”

  Lollie’s heart fell as relief washed over her.

  “It’s so sad, isn’t it?” Andrea commented. “She lived around here. I guess I should make sure the doors are locked just in case whoever killed her is still in the area.”

  Lollie nodded. “Yeah, that’d be a good idea. We don’t want to end up in the same situation she did.”

  Andrea stood next to Lollie and touched her arm briefly. “You’re bleeding.”

  “What?” Lollie looked down at her foot. “Oh! I must have cut it.”

  “Go sit down. I’ll look at it in a minute when I’m finished cleaning up here.”

  Lollie nodded. Her shoulders relaxed as she hobbled over the couch, letting Andrea clean up the mess she had made. Once she was seated, she seemed to catch her bearings again. “Sad that it’s still a dangerous world for a woman to live by herself. You’d think our society would have grown beyond ruthless and random attacks by this point. We’re supposed to be the world’s greatest country, after all.”

  “One can only hope for that in the future, along with working and fighting for our rights and equality.”

  Andrea got down on her hands and knees as she cleaned the spilled coffee and broken ceramic. Lollie was only half-focused on the mess and what Andrea was doing as she listened to the news anchors move from the murder story and to the blizzard.