by M. Z. Kelly
It was almost midnight by the time she took a break and poured herself a cup of coffee in the staff breakroom. She glanced at a news app, scrolling through the headlines on her phone. The story about the murder of the investment banker was one of the stories. The report said the investigators were actively pursuing leads on the case and expected to release more details soon.
How could that be? She put her phone away and took several deep breaths, mentally reliving everything that had happened. While she’d suffered a minor cut on her wrist during the attack, it was superficial. She was almost sure she hadn’t left any blood at the scene. She mentally retraced every step she’d taken. Then she remembered that she’d pushed open the gate in the side yard when she left. Had she left blood there? She was unsure, but, even if she had, she was certain she hadn’t left any prints and knew there was no way the investigators could match the blood to her.
“You look like you could use some company.”
Haley tried to steady her nerves as she looked up. Jason Berman, another physician who sometimes assisted with emergency procedures was standing next to her table with a tray of food.
“Midnight snack?” she asked him, forcing a smile.
“Lunch,” Berman said, setting the tray on the table and taking a seat next to her. “I don’t get off until mid-morning.”
Haley knew the physician was in his mid-thirties and divorced. He was handsome, with dark wavy hair and blue eyes. One of the nurses referred to him as Dr. McDreamy, after that actor on Grey’s Anatomy.
Haley saw that he had a bowl of something she didn’t recognize on his tray. “You must be hungry.”
“Leftover spaghetti.” He smiled. “The life of a bachelor.”
Her gaze moved off. She had a feeling about what was coming next.
“I’ve still got those tickets to the Disney Concert Hall.” His smile grew wider as she looked back at him. “Yo-Yo Ma.” He leaned closer to her and chuckled. “Who’s your mama?”
She inched away from him. “Don’t tell me you can’t get a date.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still not dating.”
“I told you I’m seeing someone.”
His smile was gone. “No, you’re not. I talked to Donna. She said you live alone and don’t date. Tell me something, what’s it like being a spinster?”
Haley stood, silently cursing the hospital administrator who loved to gossip. “This conversation is over.”
The rest of Haley’s shift was quiet, with just a couple minor injury cases and an older man who had suffered a stroke. The sun was coming up by the time she got home. After showering, she wrapped a bathrobe around herself and sat on her bed. She’d done her best to put what Jason Berman had said out of her mind, but eventually found her thoughts drifting back to him. She was angry over his comments. She chuckled. If the idiot doctor had seen her dressed like a prostitute last night, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Haley went over and took her jewelry box off the dresser. She found the two matching rings that her mother had given her and Lizzy on their twelfth birthday. The rings were made of silver, with amethyst settings that her mother had said reminded her of their eyes. As she held the rings in her hands, she remembered what her mother had done after Lizzy was gone.
“Where are we going?” Haley had asked her mother. It was three days after Lizzy had been murdered. They were walking toward a tall building with a pitched roof and colored glass on the windows.
“To see your sister,” her mother said.
“But she’s...she’s not here.”
Her mother opened a door. Haley now realized they were entering a church. The pews were empty and there was an altar in the front. Then she saw the coffin.
“Your sister is here.”
Haley had tried to turn away and leave, but her mother had taken her hand and insisted they move to the front of the church. They stopped a few feet from the closed coffin. Haley had tears in her eyes as she looked up at her mother.
“Do you remember what I told you about twins when you were little?” her mother asked.
Haley’s heart was pounding, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She forced herself to repeat what she and Lizzy had been told their entire lives. “Twins are two parts of a whole. We share a bond that others do not. We are the sunrise and the sunset.”
“The ring,” her mother said. “You must take her ring.”
“No. I’m...I don’t want to see...”
“STOP.” Her mother bent down to her, forcing her to look at her. “The ring will bind you together, always. You must take it, so that you will be complete and have your sister’s power.”
They moved forward, her mother pulling her along until they were standing right in front of the coffin. Her mother reached out, running her hands over the polished dark wood. Haley saw that she had tears in her eyes as she leaned forward, lowering her head and resting it on the coffin.
“Your sister is here,” her mother said, as though Lizzy could hear her. “You can be with her now.”
Haley’s heart was racing as her mother then lifted the lid on the coffin. Tears sprang from her eyes as she saw that Lizzy was wearing a pale blue dress. Her head...it was somehow back on her body. There was even a bow in her hair. She realized Lizzy was wearing makeup and her face was changed. She only vaguely looked like the sister she had known.
“Take the ring,” her mother demanded.
Haley saw that Lizzy’s fingers were interlaced and the ring was on her finger. Her body shook. “I can’t...”
Her mother took her hand, forcing her to reach inside the coffin. Mother’s voice shook with anger. “Take it.”
Haley remembered touching her sister’s dead hand as she removed the ring. When she had it in her own hand, her mother turned to her and slipped the ring on her finger. It was an exact match to the one she had on her left hand.
“Do you feel the power?” her mother asked.
Haley’s gaze lifted from the ring, meeting her mother’s eyes. “Yes. My sister is with me now. She will be with me forever.”
Haley closed the jewelry box, the images of that long-ago day receding. She slipped both rings on her fingers and smiled as she walked over to the mirrored vanity.
“I’m here,” she said to her dead sister.
Lizzy’s reflection stared back at her. “I know what you did last night.”
Haley ignored her, reciting the nursery rhyme; the one their mother had taught her to recite after Lizzy was gone.
“Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight.
I wish we may, I wish we might,
Be together on this night.”
“What you did...”
Haley met her sister’s eyes in the mirror, cutting off her words. “I avenged you.”
“But, you’re wrong...it wasn’t...”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Haley screamed, covering her ears. “The man, the one who took you away is dead. He will never hurt you again.”
TWENTY-TWO
I got home around five that evening, stumbled over several boxes my friends had packed for me, and collapsed into the bed. I slept a couple hours before I heard voices outside my window. I got up and pushed back the curtains, seeing that Natalie and Mo were loading boxes into Tex’s hearse.
I groaned as Bernie came over to greet me. “I guess I’d better go help them.”
After dressing, I went next door and loaded my boxes into Tex’s hearse. After he took off with our belongings, my friends asked me to come over for a few minutes.
While Natalie went into the kitchen and used her blender to make us cocktails, Mo asked me about my day.
“Just a few interviews and follow-up on our cases,” I said. “Nothing very exciting.”
She worked a comb through her green wig. “I had a chat with Jimmy’s pastor today, a guy named Reverend Jack.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t know Jimmy went to church.”
“He only goes ‘cause
his wife, Stella, makes him.” She removed her wig, apparently deciding it needed more attention than she could give it on her head. “Anyway, Reverend Jack was telling me ‘bout a group that’s been operating around town. From what he knows, they call themselves the Society and the head guy’s a pretty bad dude. He acts like he’s some kinda guru.”
“That’s interesting, but I’m not sure what it has to do with my cases.”
Natalie came over with a tray of drinks. “Mo thinks Mel mighta had some contact with the Society.” She handed each of us a drink. “These are called Peacocks, ‘cause after you down a couple, some people wanna show off their tails, if you get me drift.”
“Keep an eye on me, in case I start to strip,” Mo said, downing her drink in one gulp.
I was circumspect, having suffered some prior ill effects from Natalie’s cocktails, and had no desire to show my tail, especially after recent events. I sipped the drink, deciding it tasted like fruit punch and gin.
“Very good,” I told Natalie, then went back to the topic at hand, asking Mo, “What makes you think Mel was involved with this group?”
“Just word on the street. From what the reverend knows, they’re a bunch of users, scamming their followers outta their last buck.”
“Do you think they’re into the drug scene?”
“Maybe, not sure.” She asked Natalie for another drink before adding, “Just thought you might wanna keep it in mind while you work the case.”
Natalie brought over another Peacock for Mo, then asked me, “Is that Ross bloke gonna help us out with the move tomorrow?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure how much I’ll be around. I’ve got to work in the afternoon.”
“No worries. Just be sure you’re home by eight tomorrow night. We got us a cleaner comin’ over.”
“Maybe we should have the place cleaned before moving in.”
“Baby sis is talkin’ about a shaman,” Mo said. “Someone who can drive the evil spirits out of our new place. I hope it works, ‘cause, to tell you the truth, I’m a little worried about livin’ with a bunch of spooks.”
“Neptune’s got herself a degree in spirit bustin’ from some place in Europe,” Natalie said. “They call her the ghostbuster to the stars.”
“Neptune?”
She shrugged. “I think her mama was a hippie.”
Mo worked on her second Peacock, then said, “Accordin’ to what we heard, Neptune was successful at driving Mazie out of that house up in the hills after she murdered Dominick Partridge.”
“The singer?”
“I heard Mazie cut off his privates after he cheated on her.”
Mo loosened the top buttons on her blouse. “Them Peacocks really hit the spot, baby sis. I’m feelin’ like maybe I should give Cleo a call.”
I stood, and Bernie came up to my side. “I think that’s my cue to leave. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
When I got to the door, I happened to think about my meeting with Barry Goldman earlier in the day. I said to Natalie, “Do you remember anything about the money that was in my dad’s safe deposit box when your boss’s cousin found the numbers you gave me?”
Natalie looked at Mo. “Didn’t Jimmy’s cuz say somethin’ ‘bout the box just havin’ a bit of change?”
Mo had her phone out, probably to call Cleo. She looked at us. “Yeah, but he said it was just a few bills, not worth nothin’. I think his cousin kept it as a small finder’s fee.”
“Could you ask Jimmy to ask his cousin what kind of currency it was?”
“Why is that?”
“Just curious. I talked to a guy today who said if I can tie the numbers that were in the box to a foreign currency, it might help determine where the account is located.”
“We got us some work to do for Jimmy on Monday,” Natalie said, coming over and seeing me and Bernie to the door. “Since Tex has struck out on findin’ anythin’ ‘bout the account, we’ll ask Jimmy to talk to his cuz. See you at six in the morning.”
“Six? Why so early?”
“Krump came by today and said if we’re not gone by nine, he’s callin’ some biker buddies to throw us out.”
TWENTY-THREE
I woke up the next morning to the sound of motorcycle engines revving. I rolled over, looked at the clock, and realized it was after nine.
“Shit,” I said, scrambling into my jeans and a t-shirt. I looked at Bernie. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
He just whined. It was my dog’s way of saying, “I gotta pee—bad.” I got his leash and took him to a flowerbed just outside my front door.
Krump came over with a guy who looked like he belonged in a biker gang. “Get your stuff and get out.”
I looked over at Natalie and Mo’s mobile home. “Where are my friends?”
“In jail.”
“For what?”
“They assaulted me,” the biker said. “The hot chick kicked me in the nuts and the big one sat on me.”
“They battered my associate,” Krump said. “They’re going to pay for that.”
I glanced at my phone and saw that I had several texts from my friends. I realized they’d tried to contact me after their incident with Krump and his buddy, but I’d slept through everything. The latest text indicated they had posted bail and were headed to our new home.
I looked at Krump. “Give me an hour, and, if I can get some help, I’ll be gone.”
“Sorry.” He looked over his shoulder, where I realized there were a half dozen other biker types in the parking lot, flexing their muscles. “You were given ample notice.” He started to call over to them.
“Wait,” I said. I motioned for him to take a few steps away from his biker buddy. He reluctantly followed. I stopped when I was sure we were out of earshot and fixed my gaze on his beady brown eyes. “You need to listen to me. You either give me some time to finish moving my things out, or I’ll tell your friends about your past.”
“What exactly are you insinuating?”
“I’m not insinuating anything, but, if you don’t give me time to move, I will state the facts. I will tell them about the first case you worked after graduating law school. If you’ll remember, you represented me and my friends on eviction proceedings from these premises.”
“So what?”
I lowered my voice. “Maybe you forgot, but you were scared to go to court.”
“Oh, that. I’ve gotten past that problem.”
“You had a panic attack, wet your pants, and had to wear a diaper to court.”
He lowered his gaze. “I’m a different man, now.”
“Maybe that’s true, but if you don’t help me out, I will tell them everything that went on. I’ll also tell them about your mother.”
“What about her?”
“Do I have to spell it out? You’re the biggest mama’s boy on the planet. You sleep with a woobie and suck your thumb. I’m sure your friends would love to hear all about it.” I started to call over to his buddies.
“Wait,” Krump said, exhaling. “Alright. I’ll give you until noon, then you need to be gone.”
“One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I want you to tell your buddy to drop the charges against my friends.”
Krump looked over at his friend. “I’m not sure...”
“Find a way, or I tell all, including your relationship with Nana.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the original thirty-year-old virgin, someone who had his cherry popped by the world’s oldest cougar, and I’m not talking about something that lives in a zoo.”
He sighed. “Okay...okay. I’ll see to it.”
After he was gone, I got lucky. Ross showed up, and together we managed to get what little I owned into his truck and onto a trailer that he’d rented.
A half hour later, we pulled to the curb in front of my new home. “This is it, in all its glory,” I said.
Ross, who was handsome, with d
ark wavy hair and green eyes, smiled at me. “Are you kidding?”
We both looked at the house as my friends came out the front door. “Come on,” I told him. “I’ll give you the grand tour and introduce you to Maurice and Lola, my headless roommates.”
***
I spent the morning getting my belongings moved into our new house, then grabbed a quick lunch with Ross, and made it to the station by early afternoon. Since it was Saturday, there were only a handful of detectives working, and almost no civilian staff on duty. Leo and I said hello to Darby and Woody before taking seats in Olivia’s office to map out our day.
Jenny and Molly were off, so Olivia took over their duties, handing out still photos from the convenience store down the street from Wonderland Drive. “These shots will be released to the media today. As you can see, they’re a bit grainy, but hopefully we’ll get a positive ID from someone.”
The photographs were three different shots, taken from an overhead security camera behind the store’s clerk. They showed that our suspect had dark hair and wore a short black dress, but her features weren’t clear, making me wonder if anyone really would be able to identify her.
Darby had his own take on the photos. “She looks like that actress from Friends, with a bunch of makeup.”
“Who?” Olivia asked.
“I think he means Courtney Cox,” Woody offered.
“The character’s name was Monica Geller,” Leo said.
I looked at my partner. “I didn’t know you watched sitcoms.”
“My wife loved that show. I’ve been forced to watch every episode over the years.”
Olivia refocused the discussion. “Let’s plan on talking to our victim’s wife this afternoon. I called the Weston residence and spoke to a family friend, who said we could come by.”
“What about...” Woody checked his notes. “Mike Malloy, her minister?”
“We’ll go by the church and talk to him when we’re done with Weston.”
When we finished discussing the Wonderland case, Leo mentioned the Peters investigation. “I got an address for David Baxter, the former officer who Mel was dating. I made an appointment for us to go by his office at four this afternoon.”