“I’m kind’a busy, Jason. What’s so important?” Grimes smiled into the phone, noting the distress in his partner’s voice.
Jason let out a loud, frustrated sigh. “What the hell is your real name?” he demanded.
“What? My name?”
“It’s Michael, isn’t it?”
“What the hell is wrong with you Howard?” God, toying with Jason was more fun than he thought it would be.
“Your real name is Michael Keith Grimes, isn’t it?”
“So what?” Grimes asked. “I go by my middle name.” Took you long enough, Howard, he thought.
Jason let out a frustrated breath. “We need to talk, Keith. You need to tell me what is going on.”
Grimes let out a taunting laugh. “You’re not making a lot of sense, buddy. Been drinking?”
“Dammit, Keith!” Jason realized he was yelling. “What game are you playing? I know about you and your sister, that my father denied your petition. Are you trying to get back at me for what my father did?” Grimes said nothing. “You campaigned hard to become my partner three years ago. Why Keith?”
“You’re a good detective. I wanted to learn from the best.” There was heavy sarcasm laced in his tone.
Jason wasn’t deterred. “Every move I made in the police department, you followed suit. You stalked me until you were my partner.”
“So you’ve got it all figured out, Howard. Just like you always do. Congratulations.”
The realization hit Jason like a brick. “You did poison my mother,” he stated into his cell. “And poisoned all those people. You set me up but you really did it.” Although the evidence had pointed in that direction, until this moment, Jason hadn’t been able to believe Grimes could have been responsible. Not the Grimes he had partnered with for over three years. Not his best friend.
Grimes gave a chuckle. “Hopefully you can figure out my next move before it’s too late. It would be a shame for anything to happen to that pretty woman of yours.” The phone line was disconnected.
“Shit,” Jason muttered. He unconsciously shivered, confident Grimes would make good on this veiled threat against Mia. What was Grimes planning?
After Grimes hung up, Jason dialed his captain’s private cell number. “Saunders,” his captain barked into the phone.
“Captain, its Howard.”
“You shouldn’t be calling me.”
Jason ignored the comment, knowing it was true. If anyone in the department found out Saunders was communicating with him, his captain would be in hot water. But Jason was desperate. “Where is Grimes? He all but confessed to me that he is behind setting me up.”
Saunders was quiet for a moment. “He just took some time off. Said he needed to get some personal things in order.” He sighed. “I originally nixed the request but he threatened to bring the union into the mix---so he got his time off.”
“With his gun,” Jason muttered. “He’s crazy, Captain. And I think he’s coming after me.”
“I hope you’ve told that Lieutenant that is investigating the poisonings. He needs to know what the hell is going on.”
“Yeah.” Jason’s voice was strained. He was still trying to digest his partner’s betrayal. “I showed him the information you passed along. I think he is starting to believe I wasn’t involved.”
“Be careful, Howard. I fully expect all of this to be resolved and for you to be back on duty very soon.” And with that, Saunders ended the call.
XVIII.
Shortly after the conversation with Jason, Grimes phoned Tyler Daniels. “Things are starting to heat up. You need to take care of Dr. Hitchcock,” Grimes ordered Daniels.
“She isn’t interested in me. I already tried,” Tyler spat into the phone. He had little interest in playing Grimes’ game, but felt he had little choice to keep himself out of prison.
“Well, you need to convince her that she is interested in you. If she gets involved with you, it’ll kill Howard. Tell her that you were at the church on the morning of the poisoning and that you saw her boyfriend there. Tell her if she doesn’t give you what you want, you’ll tell the police. I bet she’ll think twice.”
“I thought you wanted him to go to prison? You’ve done a good job in making him look guilty.”
“Prison won’t make him suffer enough.” Grimes’ voice was harsh. “Convince the fine doctor to sleep with you,” he demanded before he hung up.
***
When Mia returned to work, Tyler was waiting for her in the employee lounge. He lightly grabbed her arm as she was putting her bag in her locker. “I need to talk to you,” he informed her.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed as she forcefully grabbed her arm from Tyler’s grasp.
He gave her a cocky smile. “So jumpy, Dr. Hitchcock.” Tyler placed his hands on his hips. “You’re not going to see patients today. I need you to work on chart audits. You can have my office.” He waited for her reply, expecting her to be angry.
Mia knew he was looking for an angry response from her. She simply smiled and nodded. “Whatever you need me to do, Dr. Daniels. You are my boss.” Her voice was sickly sweet.
“The list of patient charts is on my desk.” He left her and headed for the emergency room.
Mia had almost finished the chart reviews when Tyler entered his office. He stood in the doorway for a moment, studying Mia, thinking how beautiful she truly was. He would love nothing more than to take her to bed, but he was confident that even after the threat of blackmail he was about to share with her wasn’t going to be enough to convince her to get her there.
“Done?” he asked Mia as he walked towards the desk. It made her nervous as he walked behind her chair and stopped.
“Yes.”
“Good.” He watched as Mia stood. Before she had a chance to move away, he spun her around and his lips were on hers. She struggled, pushing at his chest before Tyler let her go. Her eyes blazed with anger.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mia should have taken the opportunity when Tyler had released her from his grasp to get away but she demanded an explanation.
“You’re going to come home with me so I can fuck you,” Tyler matter-of-factly informed her. How he wished she would comply.
“You’re insane. And I am filing a complaint against you, you asshole.” Mia started to stomp towards the door and Tyler stopped her.
“I was at the church on the morning of the poisoning,” he told her through clenched teeth. “So was your boyfriend. From what I understand, the police have quite a bit of evidence that makes him look very guilty. How do you think the police would appreciate an eye witness placing him there?”
“You’re crazy,” Mia muttered under her breath.
“Sleep with me and I won’t talk to the cops.”
“I don’t believe you,” Mia informed Tyler. She looked him in the eyes. “And I would never sleep with you.” She started to move toward the door when Tyler’s words stopped her.
“We’ve decided to let you go. Things haven’t exactly worked out.” Daniels stood, his tall, lean body braced against his desk, waiting for her reply. His face gave away the enjoyment he was getting from the conversation. “You can turn that decision around, sweetheart, if you want to come home with me.”
“You disgust me!” Mia scoffed.
“You’re fired,” Tyler told her, his smile fading. “The board approved my decision last night. Pack your things, Mia.”
***
Jason was sure he had heard someone at the front door. When he peered out the front window, he saw no one. He opened the door and noticed a manila envelope had been dropped on the top step. He grabbed it, looked around and again saw no one.
There was no note or explanation, just photographs. Mia was in the photos and he immediately recognized Tyler Daniels, her boss, as well as the man he had found accosting Mia the evening he had first arrived. The first photo showed them having an intimate, candle lit dinner. Mia had a wide smile, and he could see T
yler’s hand resting on top of hers at the table. The second photo showed Mia and Tyler in a close embrace, his mouth devouring hers. A third displayed Mia being pushed up against her living room wall by Tyler’s frame, his mouth and hands on her, her blouse splayed open.
There was no doubting the photos were real. Jason felt as though he had been kicked in the gut. He threw them, letting them fall to the floor as he began to pace. Everything in his life was unraveling and now Mia was playing a part in that. How could she have left him, claiming grief from losing their baby and be involved---fucking someone else within a few weeks? What a fucking actress she turned out to be.
Mia interrupted his heated thoughts as she marched through the door. He glanced at her, thinking he should be angry, should be yelling at her but he only felt defeat and regret. Jason had thought he had found the perfect woman, one that he was deeply in love with, but obviously she did not feel the same.
Mia had walked home from the hospital, despite the snow that had just started to fall. She was angry and couldn’t believe she had been fired. Fired! She knew she had little recourse although she had not done anything to deserve being let go. The contract she had stupidly signed when offered the job stipulated she was on probation for120 days; the hospital had the right to let her go for any reason.
When she entered the cottage, immediately appreciating the warmth of the inside, she was met by a strange, distant look on Jason’s face. Mia couldn’t imagine what was wrong, but she was sure something was. He had worn an eerily similar look after he had watched his mother die in the emergency room. “What’s the matter?” Mia asked innocently.
Jason was at a loss for words. What was wrong? His throat was dry and he didn’t know if he could answer her. If he could find his voice Jason had no idea how to reply. He simply stared at her numbly.
“Jason? Are you okay?” And then Mia noticed the 8x10s that were scattered on the floor. She gathered them up and looked at them. Horror crept across her face. Mia knew what Jason must have been thinking. She moved towards him, touching his arm and he pulled away. Her eyes frantically searched his face while she spoke to him. “Jason, I know what this looks like, but it isn’t what you think…” Oh, how cliché. But what else could she tell him?
He lifted his head, his blue eyes piercing into her. Jason had felt the surge of anger build when she had tried to minimize what she had done. “You told me you didn’t fuck him. Just dinner. That must have been one hell of a dinner.” Mia couldn’t miss the coolness in his voice. “Looks like you did.” Jason’s eyes narrowed as he fought to keep control of his voice. “You could have saved me a lot of trouble if you had just told me you wanted out of the relationship instead of being a lying bitch.”
His words stung. “I didn’t sleep with him!” Even though the photos were suggestive, Mia couldn’t believe the lack of trust Jason was displaying. Jason was grabbing his coat. He was leaving, needed to get out of there. He had no idea where he was headed, but he couldn’t stay here. Not with her. She grabbed his arm. Jason pulled away. “Don’t leave like this,” she begged. “Let me explain.”
“Pictures don’t lie, Mia. Only people do. He practically had you undressed in that one,” he pointed to the raciest picture. “I know how men think and at that point, no man is stopping until he’s inside you.” Jason was intentionally being crude. He left without another word.
Mia stood in the middle of the living room, holding the pictures. She was stunned. She almost went after Jason but decided against it. Maybe he needed to walk off the anger before they could talk. She would give him some time and Mia was sure he’d be back. Jason couldn’t really believe she had been with another man---not after all they had been through together.
Grimes had been in a non-descript car, parked on the street, a few hundred feet away from the cottage. He had seen Mia enter and a few minutes later, a clearly angered Jason storm out. A wide smile broke out across his face. Obviously they had seen and discussed the photos he had left on the front steps. He could only imagine the turmoil his partner was feeling. But he was sure it wouldn’t come close to the turmoil Grimes had felt when his petition in from of Jason’s father had been denied or when he had been told his sister was dead. Grimes knew that above all, Mia was the most important thing to Jason in his life. And thanks to Grimes, it appeared she had been with another man.
XIX.
When he had stormed out of the cottage, Jason had no idea where he was headed. As he stomped through the accumulating snow on the short distance into town, he was glad he had thought to grab his coat and gloves. The temperature had dipped since the snow has started and it was not a day to be outside long.
He was confident he wouldn’t return to the cottage anytime soon. Mia was there, and at the moment, he needed to be far away from that woman. As Jason walked, he tried to figure out how everything with her had turned so ugly. He had a hard time actually believing she had slept with Daniels---but the photos had made it seem like it had likely happened.
It was easy to find a room at one of the in-town B&Bs this time of year. Few tourists bothered to tour the coastal town in the midst of blizzards. After checking into a cozy room overlooking the harbor, Jason ventured out into the weather again to go next door to the convenience store. He purchased a few toiletries and a bottle of scotch.
He lit the gas fireplace and sat in an over-stuffed chair enjoying the heat of the fire and the view of the snow falling onto the harbor down below. Visions of Mia kept swirling through his mind and he couldn’t get past the pain she had caused; first by withholding the news of her pregnancy from him, and now, unfaithfulness. Jason tried to focus on something…anything else without success. He opened the liquor and gulped straight from the bottle.
He had never made it into the romantic, four poster bed that sat in the middle of the room. Jason had passed out in the chair after consuming much of the scotch. His neck and back hurt when he awoke, from the unnatural angle he had slept in. The sunlight that streamed in through the windows made his head throb even more. He groaned as he got up from the chair and pulled the drapes closed. Barely opening his eyes, he made his way to the bed and flopped down onto it, not bothering to undress. Jason slept until early evening.
The darkness disoriented him for moment, but then it registered where he was and why. His life was a mess. And he had a massive hang-over. His head pounded and stomach was in knots. Jason groaned as he slowly got himself off the bed made his way into the bathroom for a hot shower. As the hot water hit his body, his mind started to clear. He still had caustic feelings toward Mia, but had great concern for her safety. Even if she had been with Daniels, Jason knew he couldn’t stand back and ignore Grimes’ taunt to hurt her. He needed to shelve the personal emotions away for now and assure she was safe.
Once he dried off from the shower and dressed, Jason grabbed his cell. He had several voicemails from Mia. She had left the first one a few hours after Jason had left.
“Are you okay? Please call me back. I’m so sorry, Jay. Please…let me explain. I love you.” She sounded so sincere---damn he wished he felt he could trust her words.
She had left two more messages during the night. Obviously she hadn’t slept. Her last voicemail had come early in the morning. “Please call me, Jason. I’m worried about you. Someone said they saw you at the church the morning of the poisoning. Talk to me, tell me what is going on.”
That had caught his attention. Who the hell had told Mia he had been at that church? Jason knew Grimes was behind it. His partner had successfully twisted Jason’s emotions, allowing him to believe Mia was unfaithful, knowing full well Jason would retreat from her. Leaving her alone and vulnerable. “Shit,” he muttered, hoping he wasn’t too late.
Jason grabbed his cell and dialed. He got her voicemail. Frustrated, he grabbed his coat and flew down the three flights of stairs to check-out. Jason quickly headed towards the cottage. It was a fifteen minute walk in the snow and freezing rain. Jason knocked and when there was no reply,
used his key to get inside. Mia was not there. Grumbling, he pulled out his cell and phoned her again. His call went straight to voicemail. Was she purposely ignoring him? Or was she in trouble and couldn’t answer her phone?
His next call was to Lt. Ross. “I need your help,” Jason told him in an exasperated voice.
“Interesting that you called, detective.” Ross chuckled. “I was about to call you. I’ve heard some interesting things about you.”
“And?” The last time Jason had spoken with this man, Ross had said he was starting to believe in Jason’s innocence. Had Ross changed his mind again?
“There was an anonymous call placing you at the church the day of the poisoning. The lone security camera confirmed a blue BMW in the parking lot. Looked the same as yours.”
“Jesus,” Jason muttered.
“The other interesting thing is that your partner rented a blue BMW, just like yours, two days before the poisonings. Now that car can’t be located. The other interesting thing is that forensics could not find any of the dirt from the church parking lot in your tires treads.”
“So you don’t think I was there.”
“I can’t ask you that unless you tell me you don’t want your lawyer present while I discuss this with you.”
“No, I don’t need my lawyer. And no I was not there that morning. I didn’t get into the state until that evening.”
“I don’t think you were there, Howard. I think someone is setting you up and it looks more and more like your partner.”
“Yes, well, I can’t find him and I can’t find Mia. He threatened her. That’s why I need your help. Because if he does anything to hurt her, you will be arresting me for someone else’s murder.”
***
Sleet and snow spit from the dark sky, making the roads slick and dangerous. Mia didn’t care; she was headed for the grocery store. Since Jason had angrily stormed from the cottage, she had not been able to concentrate on anything else. She hoped the mundane task of shopping for food would at least provide a short diversion.
She came to a slow halt at the stop sign. As Mia started to inch through the intersection, her eyes caught sight of a car fast approaching hers from behind. It was making no attempt to slow or stop. Before having time to react, the car careened into hers. Mia’s car flew forward, across the intersection and hit a tree head on.
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