Frustrated, Kate took her second cup of coffee to the front porch. Even in early December it was a warm 65 degrees. Warm for someone else. For Kate it was chilly and she snagged a blanket off the back of a chair as she headed out the door. Wrapping herself in the blanket, Kate settled into the chair to watch as the sun rose.
Technically, it was east of her view of Biloxi Bay, but that didn't mean the sunrise was boring. Clouds from a coming storm created gray and purple contrast for the pinks and oranges of the morning sun as it pushed above the horizon. All doubts about Ryan disappeared as the majesty of the sunrise filled her senses. Colors, smells, the start of a new day. All of it together created one of Kate's favorite experiences. The only thing that could make it better would be Jack, snuggled under the blanket with her.
She was so absorbed in watching the sunrise that she barely registered the soft swish of the screen door as Jack padded out, coffee cup in hand. She fully registered his presence when he walked past her, dropping a quick kiss on her head before taking the chair next to her. He placed his hand on her knee.
“Good morning, angel. What's got you out of bed so early?” Jack’s voice rumbled through her, making her heart beat faster.
Kate thought about her answer. She didn't want to admit that she was worrying over the conversation last night. She had nothing more to add to it, so she said, “I just wanted to see the sunrise.”
“It's beautiful,” Jack said as he pulled his hand away. He propped his elbows on his knees and leaned toward her. “So, I guess you didn't hear the cell phones going off?”
Kate straightened. She was sitting crossed-legged in the chair, but she leaned forward, staying cocooned in the warmth of her blanket. “I didn't. I guess we're not going to get our Sunday off, are we?”
Jack almost laughed. “Not this time.”
Kate had known it was coming. Maybe that was part of why she was awake so early. She knew they would be investigating the murder that had happened at the docs last night. They were there. It was only natural that the captain would hand it to them.
“Give me twenty minutes. I need a shower.” She untangled herself from the blanket and stretched, her bare feet tingling at the cold of the porch boards.
“Make it forty.” Jack wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her close to him, nuzzling her neck, his stubble scratching at her soft skin. “I need twenty minutes too.”
Kate went instantly weak at the knees. Jack could have all day if he wanted it. She was powerless when his voice went all deep and velvety. Nothing else in the world mattered but him and her and the connection they shared. “Just twenty?” Her breath was barely more than a whisper as he gathered her in his arms and carried her back into the still-warm bed.
EIGHT
By the time they made it to the precinct, the activity level had reached a frenzied high. News that Julianna Parker was found with the other girls, and that Jack and Kate had been first on the scene traveled fast. Allen Thompson, a financial crimes detective was related to Julianna through his wife. Even so, everyone acted like it was their own family that had been found.
Kate followed Jack into the noisy room just as everyone noticed they had arrived. A round of applause went up and shouts of “way to go,” and “good job,” rose from around the room. Jack caught the slight coloring in Kate's face as they settled into their desks, but he didn't let the attention phase him. He knew from experience that the same people praising them today could turn on them tomorrow.
Before either of them could clear the noise of their entrance from their minds, the chief was bellowing at them. “Roe. Giveans. My office.”
Jack wasn't surprised because he knew this case would get attention not only because of Julianna Parker, but also because of the drugs found on the scene, and the day it happened. He wished they could just let this one go unsolved. He knew he had a job to do, but whomever murdered Abernathy had just taken the trash out. If it was another criminal, he would be caught eventually for something else. If it was an average citizen, he deserved a medal.
“Sounds like you two had an interesting night,” the Chief William Darnow was already settled behind his desk when Jack led Kate into the room. Kate clicked the door shut, but neither of them took a seat.
“Didn't turn out quite as we'd planned, Sir.” Jack didn't elaborate on the personal plans that the events of the night had ruined.
He’d put the ring back in his pocket this morning, where it had been since he picked it up from the jeweler. He tried not to think about that now, though. He needed to focus. Because you’re too much of a coward to tell Kate how you feel.
Chief Darnow gave them a pointed look, but Jack chose to ignore it. Many people weren't happy about the two of them dating, but there was no regulation against it, so rather than create a problem where there wasn't one, he avoided the issue as often as possible.
“We were happy to find those girls alive and relatively unharmed,” Jack said.
“So I heard.” The captain chewed the inside of his lip, and seemed to make a decision. “Good work handling that situation. I know you didn't plan to get involved in this, but you did. Now the homicide is your case.”
The chief looked down at his desk and cleared his throat. “But the kidnapping and trafficking cases are not your problem. Stick to the homicide.”
“But Chief,” Jack said.
The chief held up his hand, cutting off Jack’s objection. “The girls were missing persons that have now been classified as kidnappings. Trafficking isn’t your concern. Solve the homicide, Roe. End of story.”
Chief Darnow straightened his shoulders. His tone softened enough that it seemed he understood Jack’s frustration. “I know it seems like whoever killed Abernathy did us a favor, but the fact is, there's still a murderer out there. You two are the ones I'm counting on to find the guy. Granted, Abernathy was a scumbag, but we still have a job to do. I expect you both to do it to the best of your abilities, but stay out of the other aspects of this. Those cases are not your concern.”
Jack blinked. He wasn’t sure what to say. For probably the first time in his career, Jack was okay leaving a murder unsolved. He knew that was wrong. His job was to solve homicides and put the people responsible behind bars. But this murderer? He had done the city a service, regardless of what his motivations were.
Jack struggled to find balance between what he knew was right and what his gut said. His gut was telling him leaving the homicide unsolved might not be such a bad thing. Especially if they could spend their energies on the kidnapping and trafficking of young girls.
Except that would leave a murderer on the streets and the next person he killed might not be so deserving. Frustration welled in Jack’s chest. Why couldn’t they just let the investigation take them where it did, even if that meant getting involved in the kidnapping and trafficking aspects of the case?
“We're planning to follow up on the drug lead, sir,” Kate said, interrupting Jack’s train of thought. They had discussed it on the way in this morning, but they hadn’t agreed that would be the best tactic.
Jack let it go. He was still chewing on why the chief was cutting them out of the other half of the investigation.
The chief's cell phone vibrated and he looked down at where it lay on his blotter. “Good. Good,” he said, distracted by whatever notification had come through. “That’s exactly what I was going to suggest.”
Jack glanced at Kate. He could see irritation in her eyes. He could tell by her demeanor that she was upset about being bridled, too. Something felt off, but Jack couldn’t put his finger on what. Technically, the kidnapping and trafficking aspects of the case weren’t their jurisdiction, but to be told to stay out of it? Especially when it was directly connected to their murder investigation? It felt off.
“We're on it, Captain,” he said flatly then caught Kate’s eye and inclined his head toward the door. They left quietly, leaving the door open.
NINE
Frankie watched as
Kate and Jack left the police building. Did they go everywhere together? He felt frustration well in his chest and pushed it back down and tried to reason with himself. They had stayed together last night after leaving the docks. Frankie followed a safe distance behind and watched them drive down the long driveway to the antebellum-looking house that sat back off Beach Blvd.
He'd found a nearby neighborhood where he could park on the street without being noticed, and then jogged down toward the beach. He'd crossed over Beach Blvd. and sat on a bench where he could see the house. There he spent some time on his smart phone and within a few minutes, he knew that the house belonged to Jack Roe. Jack Roe, the super detective. The ex-military guy who let his own sister die and had to be saved by a woman. He didn't seem like much of a man, or a detective, to Frankie.
Other people in their group had shared some stories about Jack. Everyone seemed stumped by why he always seemed to shine. He was mediocre at best. But that was probably good for Frankie. He didn’t quite understand why Kate was so appealing to him. He’d spent hours last night trying to figure that out.
Whatever it was, Kate didn't know what a real man was. She was going to appreciate Frankie, he knew that. Once she found out what a real man was like, she would never think of Jack Roe again.
Frankie had stayed on the bench until long after the lights went out. He hoped Kate would leave and he could follow her home, maybe introduce himself, but she never left. It's okay, he'd thought. I don't have to rush this.
This morning, he found a place near the police building and waited. It wasn't long before Jack and Kate showed up, in the same vehicle. Now they were leaving together. Frankie shook his head. They would leave together tonight, too, he bet and he wondered how long it was between Kate's visits to her own home. He knew she had her own place. He'd learned that during his internet searches last night.
Jack and Kate drove past the spot he was lounging in. If they saw him, they paid him no attention. There were enough homeless people wandering around Biloxi that it was easy to become one of them. Homeless people who aren't begging for money are virtually invisible. It was an easy way to blend into the background.
As they drove past, Frankie could see Kate through the window. She was talking, hands moving in fast, choppy arcs. Before he could see more than that, she was gone. They were gone.
Frankie pushed up from the shadows and walked with long strides toward where he'd parked his truck. He had things to do. He was meeting Bubba in a couple of hours. Then, he thought he would go take a look at the place Kate called home.
TEN
“Frankie, I'm telling you, let this go. You don't want to get mixed up with this woman. No good follows her. It's just a matter of time before she gets herself or someone else killed.” Bubba couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Frankie had always been solid. Predictable. What the hell was it with that woman? Everyone seemed to be attracted to her and she wasn't that good looking. She's not a troll, either. Nice figure, really. If she wasn't trying so hard to make a place for herself in a man's world, if she was at home like a good woman should be, she could be very attractive.
Bubba thought of his own wife. It had taken some time, but she had eventually conformed to his view of a husband/wife relationship. Now, he had dinner on the table every night when he came home, she would service his needs when he requested and even once in a while without an order from him. She was a good wife. I haven't even had to punish her in weeks.
The thought made him smile.
“Tell you what, Bubba.” Frankie's eyes cast a dangerous look in the other man's direction. “You worry about your own little woman and let me worry about mine.”
The look was enough to shut Bubba up. He would never tell anyone, but Frankie intimidated him. He'd seen Frankie mad. All common sense left the man, and he acted like a rabid dog, spittle flying, teeth gnashing, and a penchant for blood. Bubba had watched him beat men much larger and much younger, until they ended up in the hospital. The stories that he heard were even worse.
Frankie worked in oil fields all his life. He was strong and mean. Bubba had no desire to tangle with him but his interest in Kate Giveans could be a problem. Maybe he would give it some time, though.
He could keep Frankie busy until he had to go back to work in North Dakota. With Christmas coming up, Frankie would go back this time and stay for a while. Maybe he would lose interest while he was gone. Or at least find someone else to focus on.
“Roe and Giveans took the Mamoncetes lead,” Bubba changed the subject and watched as Frankie's gaze cooled back down. He looked down at his food when Frankie turned his steel gray eyes back to him.
“I told you they would. Now you just need to do your job. Make sure they continue on that path and you won't have anything to worry ‘bout.” Frankie sipped coffee that looked like sludge.
Bubba stared out the window. He didn't want to look in Frankie's eyes again. “I talked to Martha. The girl seems to be okay.” Martha was his aunt by marriage, and the girl’s grandmother. She had been the one to call Chief Darnow and ask them to look for her. Unofficially. An official report had been filed, but everyone knew that would only get them so far.
Martha wanted the girl found. Darnow agreed and he’d called in Bubba and Frankie to get it done. On the surface, Frankie seemed like a hardworking, upstanding citizen. But anyone that knew Frankie the way Bubba did knew that underneath, darkness soiled that perfect picture.
Frankie was not only mean, but he traveled in circles that included a lot of dark characters; the kind of people involved in not-so-legal activities. It was the reason that Frankie worked well for the group. He could quietly get answers that no one else could.
His ability to find Julianna so quickly and deal with the situation was a perfect example. The missing persons detectives still didn’t have a single lead.
Silence filled the air between the two of them for a few minutes. A waitress came by and filled Frankie's coffee and offered Bubba another soda. Frankie waved her away rudely before Bubba could answer.
“So what's next?” Frankie asked quietly.
Excitement filled Bubba’s voice. “The best part. We sit back and watch. Roe and Giveans will do the rest. All we have to do is make sure that everything points them in the direction of the Mamoncetes. If they do their jobs, then John Juarez will be in custody in a few days. Classic two-fer. And we'll never be connected.”
John Juarez was one of the upper echelon for the Locos Mamoncetes. A Latin gang that was moving North and West from Miami along the Gulf Coast. Juarez didn’t look Latino. In fact, he looked more like his first name suggested. Boring, white, and mediocre. He was anything but.
John Juarez had been a player for a very short time. He’d come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and quietly built a small empire before anyone knew his name or his association with the Miami crime syndicate. He brought with him a reputation for being cruel and quick to anger. Juarez had something to prove and no one knew quite what it was.
“One criminal dead, one criminal in prison for killing the other. That's sweet justice, man.” Frankie grinned, his gray eyes sparkling.
“Uncle Will said he'll make sure this works itself out, but I don't know about him, Frankie. I think he's getting cold feet.”
“What do you mean?” The sparkle was gone from Frankie's eyes just as quickly as it had appeared.
“He said after this one, we need to cool it for a while. No one expected Roe and Giveans to be there. I think he’s worried they’ll catch on. Even if they don’t, their involvement complicates things.” Bubba toyed with a spoon.
“Who put him in charge? I thought we all agreed who deserves justice and who doesn't? Like this Mamoncetes moron. The guy has killed how many people with his drugs? And that doesn't even count the number of bodies that he's responsible for trying to establish himself here. He should be off the street.” Frankie took a breath. He was gearing up to step onto his favorite stump.
Bubba held up
a hand, “I know, Frankie. He doesn't decide. We'll discuss it with the others and see how to handle this. But he's the chief of police, for crying out loud. We have to be careful, because he could put us all in prison.”
“He won't.” Frankie's voice was as cold as his eyes. “He won't get the chance.”
Frankie pushed up from the table, dropped a few bills beside his coffee cup and said, “We will handle this. Regardless of what your uncle says.”
Bubba watched as Frankie pushed through the door and walked out onto the street. That had gone better than he hoped it would. Soon, his uncle wouldn't be a problem and then he could finally be rid of Jack Roe and Kate Giveans. With the chief out of the way, Captain Charles Chatley, who was a good friend of Bubba’s, would be the most logical choice for Chief.
Bubba could bring Chatley into the fold and then the group could continue taking criminals off the streets when the legal system failed without fear of being exposed. Bubba was certain Chatley would take part in the group’s activities. Even if he didn’t, there were ways to make him cooperate. The thing about knowing someone your whole life was that you also knew all the dirt on that person.
ELEVEN
Frankie walked slowly through the apartment complex parking lot. He'd parked a couple of blocks over, tucking his car into a vacant spot on a street lined with other vehicles. Now, he approached Kate's building as if he belonged there. Half of not being noticed was not being noticeable.
People were inherently inattentive to their surroundings, and with all the interest in cell phones and mobile devices these days, it was even worse. As long as Frankie looked like he belonged, he was certain no one would question him.
He walked through the open breezeway and up to the second floor apartment that Kate kept. He'd already thought this out. He slipped the lock pick out of his pocket as he approached the door marked 236.
A Biloxi Christmas: A Novella (The Biloxi Series) Page 4