Thrown Adrift

by Combs, Sasha

  Thrown Adrift

  Sasha Combs

  Copyright © 2011 Lori Turner

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Copyright © 2011 Lori Turner

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  Thrown Adrift

  When a body is discovered floating face down in the river, Detective Linda Gables is placed in charge as lead investigator. As the newest member to the homicide division; jealousies and rumors threatened to sabotage her case.

  While investigating the murder, Linda is helped by a local reporter, Hayford Mead. He’s also her nemesis and a man that she’s more than casually interested in. While probing into the life of the deceased debutant, Linda quickly learns that she’s dealing with a crime of passion.

  Breaking every rule in the book, personally and professionally; Linda pursues the criminals. She also wrestled old demons, allowing her guard to fall. Hayford sees this as his opportunity to fix their relationship because he wants to help her solve this crime. Moreover, he wants to engage her in a romantic affair.

  **********

  Prologue

  A splashing sound could be heard in the distance; not to far from the shoreline. Ollie had been hunkered down for the night underneath a narrow bridge connecting two stretches of land. Due to the frigid temperature and the evening being a holiday; most vagrants were either in a shelter or staking their claim on one of the cities many heat vents. This wasn’t too unusual and Ollie didn’t mind being alone on the waterway. However, while others were rabble-rousing or kicking up a ruckus, he had hoped for a quiet night but his curiosity had been peaked by a minor disturbance coming from the water.

  Ollie unzipped his nap sack, then he eased his body forward, coming to the edge underneath the bridge. Before hearing the sound of something striking the water, he’d been close to falling asleep, but the splash had startled him and now he was no high alert. Ollie peered into the dark mirky water. As his eyes tried to focus on the object that had been thrown into the river; he simultaneously heard the engine of what he believed sounded like a sports car. The foreign noise roared its sound as it drove off not too far from the bridge.

  Ollie stared into the darkness of the river as it rushed by him. The water seemed more calm tonight than most and the vagrant couldn’t help but notice the lights from the city as it gleamed its reflection from a distance. With the moon bouncing its light off the water, the object that had been thrown into the river could now be clearly seen. Once upon a time, Ollie had lived in a house while working on the line at one of the auto factories. His life had been normal then, but when his life went south, his luck swiftly followed. His life had gone from bad to worse and he’d been force to learn survival skills while living on the streets. After living in and out of shelters, he had always felt safest sleeping on the street. Shelters could be dangerous places, and his worst experiences had occurred there. Over the years, he’d also seen his fair share of dead bodies. As she studied the lifeless form caught on a piece of river debris; Ollie didn’t appear to be in the least unhinged but he did voice his frustration. He muttered a curse while folding up his knapsack, then he began the short climb taking him back to the waters edge. He was certain he’d not been counted in the most recent census but he still considered himself a citizen. That would require him to perform his civic duty. As she marched through puddles of mud and snow, when he spotted an unmarked police car parked on the island; Ollie waved his arms like a bat. He needed to report his sighting of the lifeless floating body. After that, then he would find another spot on the island to bed down for the night. He would leave the police to deal with the dead woman.

  **********

  Body Adrift

  0030

  While partier’s rang in the New Year with loud festivities and frolicking celebrations; Linda relaxed on her sofa, eating a freshly nuked bag of popcorn. She tossed white fluffy kernels in the air, opening her mouth wide to catch them as they fell. She wasn’t very good at this and there were just as many kernels on the floor as there were in the bag. In spite of that, she found the game calming and she didn’t mind that soon she would have a mess to clean up.

  As she mouthed the words to one of her favorite black and white movies; she recalled the first time she’d seen the film with her father. He loved Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn movies and his taste in old classics had rubbed off on her. As New Year’s Eves went, this one wouldn’t go down in history as being one of her favorites. She didn’t mind the program or the popcorn but being at home had not been something she’d planned. Normally Linda would spend her holidays with family or friends and for the past six years, she’d spent her New Years with her two best friends, Corey and Maxie. As her mind conjured up mental pictures like a scrolling photo album; she wondered where her two best friends were on this nippy night. As her eyes glassed over, while staring at the screen; a slew of quick calculations sent her brain whirling. She knew her mental forecast would only provide her with a general location. Corey and Maxie were somewhere between Paris, France and Rome, Italy. She didn’t know exactly where, because it had been days since she’d last talked to either of them. Maxie’s father owned one of the areas most exclusive travel agencies and she frequently traveled outside of the country. Every year, Maxie would invite her best friends to stomp across Europe, starting in London, and ending their vacation in Spain. The trip normally took three weeks, and the girls had been doing this since their days in college. But everything changed when Linda’s life was derailed by an overzealous reporter. After that nightmare, not much in her life remained on course. Linda’s ears tuned back into the program because she wasn’t the sort of woman to brood over past misfortunes.

  Somewhere in between the loud distracting noises coming from her neighbors and the movie she’d chosen to occupy her time; as her eyes timed the decent of a kernel that was still in midair. Her game of popcorn catch was beginning to lose her interest. She wasn’t tired but just thinking about her friends had soured her mood. She caught the falling kernel in her mouth, then she decided to call it a night. As she reached for the remote on her coffee table she heard the sound of her phone ringing while it lay on its charger. Linda groaned a sound, because she hated interruptions. All the same, she reminded herself that she was on duty. From the moment her shift began, the chance of receiving the dreaded call had always been there.

  Linda pressed the button to connect the call. She perched one hand on her hip while eyeballing the clock on the wall.

  “Detective Gable.” she said. The voice coming from the other end could hardly be heard, and she had to strain to listen.

  “Gable... This is Commander Billings. I have a case that I need you to supervise tonight.”

  Linda had been standing near the table where she normally dumped her stuff the second she walked inside of her apartment. Her eyes drifted back to the living room because she felt a sudden need to sit down. As her feet went into motion, she directed her attention back on the words she’d just heard. Then she considered, perhaps she’d misunderstood the commander.

  “Sir...” her voice held a question.

  “Am I to understand that there has been a homicide tonight?”

  She phrased her question in a roundabout way; leaving out the word ‘supervise’. There was no need to fuel a misunderstanding especially if the confusio
n was solely on her end. This time when she listened, Linda tried to filter out the garbage. The noise that had forced her to strain. There were horns blowing and too many voices overlapping in conversations. She imagined that the commander was still at the Mayors party and he was issuing his order from there.

  Commander Billings spoke a little louder. He cleared his throat, then partially cupped the phones mouth piece with his hand.

  “Before midnight, a call came into dispatch. A woman was found floating in the river, near an inland island. I want you to head the task force. Use whoever you need and tell them that you’re working under my authority.”

  Linda’s eyes went big. She knew the time had come for her to speak but finding the words would be difficult. It would seem that Billings had expected her confusion. When his words came in clearer, she considered that he’d found a quiet room to talk. In his voice Linda discerned encouragement as well as a sense of his expectations.

  “Linda, I need you out on that island because I know you can handle this case. Your outlook is fresh and you won’t allow yourself to get bogged down or misled.”

  She didn’t know what gave him this impression of her but she did appreciate that he had confidence in her ability.

  “Sir... Did you say that someone called the precinct to report the murder?”

  The sound of party was back. Billings wasn’t in the quiet room anymore. Again, he cupped the phone, making it easier to hear him. In his customary stern voice, he said to her...

  “Just report to the scene. You’ll find out everything you need to know once you get there.”

  As she strained to hear him; Linda had more questions but Billing disconnected the call before she had the opportunity to express her concerns. She turned around, and looked at her half eaten bowl of popcorn. As her eyes drifted over to the scene where Katherine and Tracey were arguing in the courtroom; Linda reminded herself why she’d taken the detectives exam. If she couldn’t practice law, then she would do the next best thing. She crossed the floor, then she walked down the short hallway leading to her bedroom. She needed to change out of the sweatshirt and jeans she’d been lounging in. She also needed her holster and weapon. Linda headed to the small closet in her bedroom. She pulled out a pair of black slacks, and a white shirt along with a black sweater. She wasn’t interested in making a fashion statement. The commander wanted her on the island yesterday and that meant she wouldn’t have time to iron clothes or waste precious minutes coordinating the perfect outfit.

  Linda did a quick change of her wardrobe, then she slipped her arms through her holster. After that, she returned to her closet to retrieve one final item. On the top shelf, concealed behind a row of neatly folded sweaters; a lockbox sat. Linda lifted the metal container down, then placed it on her bed. She enter the combination before opening the lid. Each time she did this; the safety measures would cause her mental train to roll. She would find herself thinking about the sacrifices associated with her job. Being a detective came with a hefty price. It was a package deal and she’d known that from the start. All the same; her life would have been less complicated if she’d chosen a different direction for her life. Another career choice that wouldn’t place her life in danger, everyday she stepped foot on the pavement. In spite of the questions that always sprung up whenever she lifted the lid on the metal box; Linda placed her hand inside, then she gripped hold of her Glock. Tonight she wouldn’t get to see the end of her favorite black and white movie and she wouldn’t be going to bed early liked she’d planned either. On this night, she would be investigating her first homicide as the divisions team leader.

  **********

  When she arrived on the island, Linda followed the dispatchers directions; driving to a spot that was remote and off the main thoroughfare. Her first impressions about the area sparked her speculative thinking. As her headlights shined into the depths of dense evergreen foliage; she imagined that this was the perfect place to meet a lover if the relationship was an affair. This had been her first thought when she turned off her engine, then eased from behind the drivers seat. Maybe the person killed was done away with by a spurned lover or maybe the victim took their own life because the affair had become to much for them hide. Her mind was rolling and she had not been debriefed yet but she wouldn’t ignore these ideas until she knew more about the victim and what had been learned so far.

  Linda walked in between the other marked and unmarked cars and vans lined up along the makeshift parking lot. She observed the second looks and odd glances the second she emerged from her vehicle. She did her best to ignore them as she strolled across the muddy snow to join the most senior officer standing apart from the small groups. She needed to get his assessment before starting her investigation and she couldn’t allow her anger to be stoked by discriminatory glares. As a woman, Linda had been advised by other female detectives, not to advertise her shapely assets. After receiving these words of wisdom, her taste in work clothes tended to be unimpressive and bland. In spite of that, she didn’t miss the gawking eyes coming from the CSI guys. They were nestled in the snow, collecting evidence in tiny tubes and baggies. But when their attention wasn’t on their job; their focus shifted over to her, as she passed by them. Most looked at her as if she were a prime piece of meat while others gave her the “good ole boys” look because they didn’t like the way she’d been added to the detectives team.

  “Hey Linda.”

  A voice too cheery for this somber night broke though the sounds coming from the others mingling in the area. Linda turned around in the direction where she’d heard her name. She saw Carrie, one of the academy cadets scheduled to work the holiday shift while shadowing an officer. Linda had only seen Carrie a few times at the precinct but for some reason the young cadet had taken a liking to her. Linda’s eyes drifted to the other police on the scene. She wondered which one of the slackers the young woman was assigned to observe for the night. Then she told herself, it really didn’t matter as long as Carrie didn’t step out of line. Most of the men on the force didn’t have a problem serving with women. But there were a few who possessed egos that wouldn’t abide a woman out ranking or commanding them.

  Linda continued walking forward, while the young cadet matched her pace. They had reached a point where the snow sounded crisp when their boots sunk in, as they crossed over it.

  “Hello Carrie.” Linda’s voice was professional. Even though she’d addressed her by her first name. She didn’t have time for pleasantries but as she approached the officer in charge she considered that the cadet might have information she could use.

  Linda angled her head to the side, to gain a better look at the young woman while she spoke to her.

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Not long. We heard the call over the radio so Anderson thought it would be a good idea to come check it out.” Carrie sounded eager to be of help.

  The young cadet looked in the direction where her mentor stood talking to a group of officers. The men were laughing now, and Linda wondered if their joke was a jab aimed at her or if perhaps Carrie was their target. Whatever their reason was for thinking that the murder scene was a cocktail party; Linda felt that it was time to get their asses in gear. She understood the stress that came with the job but there was a time and a place for everything. If they needed to blow off steam, then they would have to do it on their own time. Right now, everyone loitering in the area was under her command. The thought sounded foreign to her but it was true. If their conversations didn’t involve the case, it was her responsibility to put an end to their hobnobbing.

  More sure of herself, Linda spoke with authority.

  “Do you know who is in charge?” She asked the cadet this question because she wanted to know what else had been aired over their radios. She wondered if Commander Billings had informed dispatch to announce her role in this case. Her cunning maneuver had been brilliant but the execution had been wasted on the young cadet. When Carrie looked over her shoulder, then she
pointed in a direction not far from where two men stood with poles. Linda realized that the young woman had misunderstood her question because Linda already knew who was in charge of the scene. When she arrived, her eyes spied out the uniforms as well as the rank worn on their jackets. Linda had spotted the most senior officer standing down by the rivers edge. Still, when Carrie turned back to look at her, the young cadet’s face looked like she’d swallowed something sour.

  “Linda...are you in charge of this crime scene?”

  Linda nodded while considering, just maybe she’d been wrong about Carrie. Perhaps the young woman was an observant thinker.

  “Yes Carrie, I’m in charge and you need to rejoin your partner. After I get my reports from the first responders, I’ll be handing out assignments.”

  She could see that Carrie wanted to say more, but the young woman knew when it was best to leave well enough alone. The first sign of a good cop, Linda thought to herself.

  “Sure, sure...” Carrie said, while walking backwards in the direction of Anderson. Before she tripped over the slush and piles of snow, Carrie turned, then continued in the direction she’d been headed in. With one hurdle cleared, Linda prepared herself for the next leap.

  As she got closer to the waters edge, from where she stood she could clearly see a limp body drifting with the rapidly moving water but she couldn’t see the object that prevented it from freely floating away. From her vantage point, the body was evading the long hook from shore, that had been attempting to fish it out. The sight had been enough to cause Linda to stop and silently survey the scene. Something wasn’t right here but she couldn’t quite put her finger on the disturbance. Eavesdropping wasn’t something she normally did, however on this night most of the officials were doing little to conceal their conversations. So, she listened, making mental notes that would later explain their chatter. Like most crime scenes, everybody had their own theories and ideas. Most of them agreed the death was foul play while a few hedged their bets on the death being an accident. As her eyes took in the individual faces, the majority had seen worse and that would explain their apathetic moods. As she reasoned this out, Linda had to admit, nearly all of these people were her senior. Some were approaching twenty years on the force and soon they would be turning in their badges. Unfortunately, for her, she couldn’t say the same. Her career was just beginning and that’s what made this evening so strange. Linda was trying her best to remain professional as she stood in the distance. She tucked her gloved hands in her pockets because she didn’t want her trembling to be mistaken for something else. The cold air wafting off the water made the night air seem cooler than it had been reported. She had dressed for the temperature outdoors but her shaking hands had not been caused by the weather. From the moment she received the call from Commander Billings; Linda knew this case was way over her head. When he issued his orders to her, Linda had thought he had misdialed and had meant to call one of the more senior detectives on call for the night. Chief Billings along with everyone else on the senior staff of the homicide investigative team were currently hobnobbing with the cities elite due to a stellar year within her department. As the newest hire, she was the only member on her team that night who had not been invited to the party. The soiree currently being held at the Mayors Mansion had been talked about at the precinct for weeks. She had heard some of the detectives saying they didn’t like the idea of partying with their bosses and she’d even heard a few saying they would rather work the night of the party because they would prefer getting the overtime instead of stuffing their mouths with pricy finger food. Even though most of the people working under her hadn’t been bothered when they weren’t invited to the grand event; Linda had felt the slight snub after not receiving an invitation to the cities main event. One morning after showering and changing due to her workout; she’d overheard the locker room gossip. The street beat cops were planning to throw a party apart from the one the brass and detectives had been invited to attend. Linda had looked at them with abject disgust because she abhorred the idea of drinking while still on duty. She was certain her frowns had been the reason, she’d not been invited to their party. That much, she understood. But as a member of the detectives division, she still hadn’t figured out why she wasn’t invited to the party at the Mayors Mansion with everyone else assigned on her team.