“Did you remind her you were separated and headed for divorce before we got together?”
“She knows that, but she brought up those rumors about you. Said at least she never tried to kill me like you did. I told her that story about you panicking at the Hurtado place was bullshit. She just smirked like the whole thing was a big joke. That’s when I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me.”
“This is all very interesting but—”
“Becky’s a gossip and a lot of her friends are married to cops. It’s not hard to imagine she helped spread those rumors. She might have started them herself. I doubt she understood the trouble it would cause. When I told her you could have gone to prison, she wouldn’t even look at me. She seemed sort of shocked.”
“Sort of?” Davie threw the chamois at the bucket. The slam-dunk splashed soapy water onto Hall’s suit pants.
He brushed away the suds. “Okay, you’re pissed. I get that.”
“Why not just ask her if she started the rumors?”
“I did. She wouldn’t answer me, not even to deny it. That told me everything I needed to know. Remember a few weeks ago when we were talking outside the station? I said you work a partnership until it lives or dies. That way you have no what-ifs, no regrets.” He met her eyes dead on. “I worked the marriage with Becky. Twice. But now I know I can’t trust her. When there’s no trust in a relationship, there’s nothing. Last night I walked out.”
“Give it a week. You’ll be back.”
“Not this time. Look, Davie, I’m sorry. I made some bad decisions. I wish I could change things, but I can’t. Right now, all I want is to be your partner, even if it’s only for the next couple of weeks. Let me try to make it up to you.”
Davie felt a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite sort out. “Working with you on this wasn’t my decision. Somebody made it for me. For now, we’re stuck with each other. Let’s keep it professional.”
Hall emptied the contents of the bucket into a nearby sink. “I told Lieutenant Bellows about Becky. I asked him to pass it up the chain of command. Not sure he will, but I wanted you to know.”
A patrol car pulled up behind them, waiting for a wash.
“We have a body in Mar Vista Gardens, Spence. Give me the keys. I’m driving.”
© Marisa Q Photography
About the Author
Patricia Smiley (Los Angeles, CA) is a bestselling mystery author whose short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Two of the Deadliest, an anthology edited by Elizabeth George. Patricia has taught writing classes at various conferences throughout the US and Canada, and she served on the board of directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as president of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Visit her online at www.PatriciaSmiley.com.
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