Thrown Adrift

by Combs, Sasha

  When Linda described her little black cocktail dress to Hayford, he knew that her “off the rack” frock would make her stand out like a sore thumb once they went inside. Leafing through Elizabeth’s designer closet, he eyed the perfect dress for Linda after surmising that the two women were nearly the same size.

  Draping the black dress over his arm, while ushering Linda out of the penthouse; the two exchanged several words about removing evidence...and tampering with a potential murder scene; Hayford had assured her, the designer dress wouldn’t be missed.

  Hayford had taken Linda to his apartment...primarily because, he needed to changed into his tuxedo. The affair at the mayor’s mansion was a Black Tie Event...and he knew he would have to dress the part as well, if he wanted to fit in with the ritzy crowd attending the party. Linda had not expected Hayford’s role to morph into anything more than a minor footnote as the night dragged on. She was treading along a thin tightrope and she’d already put her job in jeopardy by involving a reporter in the solving of a homicide.

  If Chief Billings saw Linda at the event acting buddy, buddy with Hayford Mead; she didn’t know what the end result would be. She already had a difficult task to undertake and the quivers in her stomach had made her want to throw up from the moment she stole a glimpse of her suspect while being back at Elizabeth’s apartment.

  As they drove in Hayford’s BMW towards the mansion, she was beginning to understand what he’d been trying to tell her all along. She now understood Billings reasons for assigning the high profile case to his rookie detective. When Hayford had suggested they go to the Mayors New Year’s Eve Party to rap up this case; Linda had thought when they arrived, the place would be virtually deserted. But when they pulled up to the gate, and a sea of cars could be seen as far as her eyes could see; she then realized that this event had been labeled as the event to end and begin the year. As her eyes scanned the area, Linda also understood why none of the detectives had snubbed this event.

  “When we get inside, I’ll canvass the room...but I’ll be close enough to keep my eye on you.” he said.

  Hayford had been giving out these last minute instructions from the moment they pulled away from his luxury apartment. After she had gone inside to change into her outfit, while walking in his home, she couldn’t ignore his expensive furnishings or his lavish lifestyle. When Hayford led her to one of his guest bedrooms, she also noticed how blasé he appeared in his setting. Hayford was use to this and in his world most of his friends lived in places that looked much like his home. While standing in the bathroom applying her lipstick, she tried not to place much emphases on what had happened that night. But she couldn’t completely dismiss what had occurred on Elizabeth’s kitchen floor. She had pondered on this for more than a few seconds and still, the answer escaped her grasp. Linda couldn’t help but wonder, why this sinfully wealthy man was wasting a perfectly good evening helping her solve a murder.

  While riding with him in his car, she’d been nodding while they drove to the mansion...basically for peace sake, she agreed with whatever Hayford had been saying. When she’d agreed to ride with him and allow him to partake in this plan; Linda had already made up her mind that Hayford would’t be going inside of the mansion with her. She didn’t care that he’d dressed in his Armani Tux. As far as she was concerned, Hayford had done enough...told her enough...and now it was time for her to do her job without any interference from him. Yet, Hayford’s stubborn nature had kicked in...and something else that was much more possessive. He had told her, even though he and Elizabeth had last parted on bad terms; he had loved her like a sister. Elizabeth’s death had pierced Hayford’s heart and he wanted to do right by her. From the moment he received the call, tipping him off; he knew right away who had killed her. He’d been surprised to see that Linda would be the patsy for the farce of an investigation that Billings had planned for that night...and he knew none of Linda’s superiors would have ever imagined, their rookie detective would be getting his help tonight.

  Sure, he had thought...Elizabeth had made many enemies and her father had not been in the position to protect her from them all. Tonight, he’d been forced to witness what happens when one of his friends falls due to her ignorance as well as her crude tomfoolery but he wasn’t about to see someone he loved fall simply because men in high places had the power to make it happen.

  Linda had never been to the mayors mansion. Until today she didn’t even know where it was located. After graduating and going on to law school; her life had been strictly about getting her education. When she had received her degree, and while preparing to take her bar exam; Linda’s life had been turned upside down. Due to people that she had trusted and their unfounded fears; she had lost everything she’d worked so hard to achieve. Linda had been forced to work at a job where she now knew it wasn’t safe to place her trust in any of the employees.

  The dress that Hayford had chosen for her to wear, was a strapless form fitting number that hugged her curves and flowed out in layers of fabric. The gown demanded the attention of others as it tread along the floor like a magic carpet. The formal ballroom in the mansion was enormous...so large that she’d not seen one person that she worked with as she elegantly strolled into the home. Yet, she considered how unsettling she’d felt when she looked at herself in the mirror at Hayford’s apartment. Linda had pinned her hair up with a black clip that Hayford had taken from Elizabeth’s dressing table. She rarely wore makeup but she did have a tub of lipstick...and that one single adorning touch had made all the difference in the world. When Linda emerged from his guest bedroom, he had told her no one at the party would even recognize her. At first Linda had thought Hayford had just been idly speaking however, after closer examination, she had to agree with him. When she glanced at her imagine in the mirror, Linda had barely recognized herself. The designer frock was worth more than three months of her salary. Normally she would never wear anything like this because she couldn’t afford it. Yet, when Hayford handed her the gown, he had said that the dress suited her better than Elizabeth.

  Flowing through the crowd of people, Linda could see the men as they took second and third glances at her. She hadn’t meant to call attention to herself and without even trying; that’s exactly what she did. She returned their stares by pretending to be interested.

  Linda still had not seen the two people she’d come to find. She was hoping Hayford was right when he told her that these two people wouldn’t want anyone to suggest they’d been missing when Elizabeth had been found dead but he also reminded her that he wasn’t so sure the second person she had in mind had been with her suspect on the lower level of Elizabeth’s penthouse. Regardless...as they pondered on the suspects; they both agreed that the person or person’s that killed Liz would have discretely left the party when they knew they wouldn’t be missed. The medical examiner had not been specific with the time of death but he had said his preliminary report would read that Elizabeth Van Wilson died between the hours of 2300 and midnight. The location in the river, where her body had been found; if the person had been attending the party, they could have easily made their way back to the mansion before anyone would have realized they’d been gone. Even though Gregory’s time of death had been helpful; it had been his other findings that had shocked Linda.

  Scanning over the crowd, she still couldn’t see who she was looking for. She could hear the band in the distance, so she thought going in the direction of the music was just as good an idea as standing crammed up against all the other guest as they drank and mingled in the outer lobby area of the ballroom. She could feel her throat as it tightened...because across the room she could see the person she’d been looking for. Her eyes scanned in every direction as she looked for the other suspect in the room. The sea of bodies swayed and danced on the ballroom floor and more than anything, Linda wished she knew where Hayford was amongst all of these people. During her training, she’d had to demonstrate the correct way to approach an assailant just before reading the
m their Miranda Rights. The instructor had illustrated how this technique could be used in virtuality any setting. However, she knew in this instance those procedures wouldn’t work because the man she was about to approach was completely surrounded by some of the most influential people in the city. The place was simply too crowed and she would have to improvise so as not to attract too much attention. As she considered this, she could feel her confidence slipping away. Linda was beginning to think this plan that she and Hayford had contrived was a horrible mistake and she was certain her instructor had never carried out an arrest in a setting like this because as she watched her target; Linda could see too many routes that would facilitate an escape.

  Not being able to forgo what needed to be done; Linda excused her way in-between dancing bodies as she approached her assailant. She had felt the inexcusable touch of roving hands and she was quite sure the tone of the party had been the reason these people took their crude liberties. Her mind had been so focused on what she knew needed to be done; the random touches and feels that glided over her body seemed to empower her with a determination to do what she’d come to accomplish. When her father had called in his last favor; thereby securing her the coveted job as a detective on the force...from that point forward Linda knew, she would have to prove that she could pass the muster. There had been countless objections and even more retorts and she reasoned that tonight would be her opportunity to finally put the nay sayers in their proper place.

  Linda was only a few feet away from her target. As she moved forward, she noticed that his eyes stared at her while she advanced in his direction. She nudged her way through the crowd, and by the look on his face; her endeavor seemed to amuse him. A slow smile eased across his face, then his eyes began to narrow. She was certain the cut of her dress played its part. The designer frock didn’t leave much to the imagination. Even though she had taken the time to wear makeup; the revealing neckline managed to attract the eyes of most men in attendance at the party. Linda was exposing a great deal of her cleavage. In short, her breast had done the job and her targets eyes were totally locked in on her. Linda focused on the way he ogled her, then as her mind toyed with that thought, she knew every other man dancing on the floor that night was getting their eyeful; and mother nature had not been stingy in the bosom department. Currently, Linda was counting on one particular man thinking that she was not unlike any of the other party goers that night. As his focus bore into her she knew her revealing dress had been the reason he directed his attention on her instead of the two blonds that were bumping and grinding him as if they were the bread and he was the meat in their man sandwich. Not wanting to create a scene...Linda stopped her forward motion; allowing her seductive brown eyes to lure him in her direction. The motion on the dance floor made her body sway unintentionally to the beat of the music. She could feel her heart beating like a drum in her throat and the nerve racking butterflies in her stomach were threatening to make her hurl.

  Charlie extended his arm, then he snaked it like a gate to part two dancer. He moved the man and woman who were standing in between him and Linda. He extended his hand, then he pulled her to stand right in front of him. His gesture had been so effortless; much like threading a needle. What’s more, Linda didn’t resist his pull and before she knew it, their bodies were meshed together, bobbing up and down on the dance floor right along with everyone else.

  Tucking his head near her ear, Charlie spoke in a loud voice. The room roared with a mixture of sounds. People were talking and laughing and he wanted to be heard over the deafening noise. When Charlie angled his head to listen to Linda, her response had affected him in an odd way. His body was jolted by shock, causing a sudden reaction. Charlie’s body became as stiff as a board. When he did this, Linda had been forced to steady herself to keep from being carried away with the swaying dancers. She could hear thunderous cries of elations in the room because someone had gone to the stage to announce something exciting to those in attendance at the ball. For a moment, Linda turned her head and all she could see was sparkling lights as they jilted off of diamonds and other flashy adorning jewelry. Looking back at him, Linda could see that what she’d just said still had a stunning affect on Charlie. Moving in closer to him...because she needed him to hear what she felt compelled to say; Linda did her best to lift up on her tiptoes while balancing the dagger sharp stiletto heels Hayford had grabbed from Elizabeth’s closet for her to wear. The jubilance that he’d been demonstrating only moments earlier, deflated like a leaky air ballon. Placing his hand into hers, she led him through the crowd of people. They strolled off the dance floor...through the outer lobby of the ballroom and pass an area that earlier had been guarded. When she had first arrived, Linda had spotted several areas that were guarded and deemed off limits to the guest. But currently, as she retraced her steps, taking her back through the lobby area; Linda didn’t see any guards in sight and the large open hallway looked like a ghost town.

  The mayors mansion was fashioned after many of the older homes that had been restored or pristinely maintained in that part of the city. Dark mahogany wood...crown-molding...and spiraling staircases leading to every level in the grand house. When Linda and Charlie had been in the large ballroom; the noise in that area had made it impossible to question him, so she didn’t even try. She needed to get Charlie alone in a quiet place and away from the crowds, so she left the party in search of a better place to continue her investigation. Even though she needed to talk to Charlie; Linda admitted that this move was unwise and extremely risky. Especially since she believed that Charlie had not acted alone. Considering the medical examiners findings, Elizabeth had not been killed near the bridge like most had suspected. But that didn’t really matter. A woman was dead and this investigation had led her to Charlie. Linda didn’t have all the proof that she needed but she believed that Charlie didn’t kill Elizabeth alone. In spite of that, she reasoned; even if he didn’t do the actual killing...in some way he had played an essential role, causing Elizabeth Van Wilson to lose her life.

  Charlie robotically followed Linda down a long wide hall. As they traveled this route, she tried not to focus on the walls because the portraits made her feel like she was being watched. The wooden frames held oil paintings of men she didn’t recognize. She didn’t know if these men were perhaps related to the mayor in one way or another or if the portraits had been in the house when he moved in. At that moment, she was simply trying to occupy her mind because she wasn’t following any procedures found in her police manuals. Linda was behaving like a maverick. During her studies and after passing her detectives exam with the highest score; she had learned a number of ways to deal with situations like this one. But with all of that history behind her, Linda had not read anything that would support or agree with the way she’d chosen to behave at the mansion tonight.

  Nearly reaching the end of the long hallway, Linda stopped to open the next door that she saw to her right. She was following her instincts now and she didn’t know what she would have done if the door would have been locked. But with each move she didn’t sputter or hesitate. She’d been attempting to maintain an appearance of calm and her mock self-assurance was definitely fooling Charlie. She still couldn’t believe how amiable he’d been behaving since leaving the ballroom with her. Charlie had not given her one once of trouble and she supposed that more than likely her number one suspect was still in shock. Nonetheless, control...that’s what this situation called for. Linda needed Charlie to remain in his stunned state. She had shocked him on the dance floor...enough that he was willing to follow her off. And now, Linda needed a quiet place to continue her informal interrogation.

  When she turned the doorknob she knew it was important not to show her surprised elation. Moving inside of the room, and blindly reaching along the wall; Linda felt the light switch. When she flipped the lever up, she could see that the large room was a library. The two story room was lined with walls of books. Some of the shelfs nearly reached the ceiling and there w
as an old hooked ladder attached to the upper level with a wheel system. Linda looked at the ladder curiously, while she studied its function. The rolling wheels attached at the top rolled the ladder freely along a track. The system was devised to reach the books on the upper level. As her eyes traveled along the track near the ceiling, Linda couldn’t help but notice the odd shape of the room. She closed her mind for a moment because the library had fixed her attention unexpectedly. She enjoyed reading but for now her mind had more pressing matters to deal with.

  Turning to look at Charlie, Linda said in a controlled voice.

  “This is as good a place as any.” she watched as he studied her. Linda folded her arms across her chest; a clear indications that she wouldn’t tolerate any dawdling.

  Charlie closed the door behind him. She could see the perspiration beading like little droplets on his forehead. She hadn’t notice this on the dance floor and she was wondering if the signs of moisture had occurred while he’d been dancing or if the sweating had begun when she approached him and he was left with no other choice but to follow her to the room they currently were in.