by Gerri Hill
“We’re not going to be allies, Sam. I don’t even like the woman.”
“Yes, you’ve made that obvious.”
“Well, I don’t like cover-ups. And she’s a part of it.”
Sam smiled gently. “We’re all a part of it, sweetheart. Whether we want to be or not.”
Tori sighed. “Yeah. We are, aren’t we.” She leaned back, attempting a smile. “But you’re about out of this mess, aren’t you?” She took a deep breath, then met Sam’s eyes. She saw Sam searching, wondering what she saw there, wondering if she could see the fear, the uncertainty.
“You want to talk about it now?”
Tori shrugged. “I don’t do real well with change, I guess.”
“Tori, our life together, what we have outside of this job, that’s so precious to me, I wouldn’t do anything to change that.” She squeezed her hand. “Our days will be different, yes. But our life, that won’t change.”
Tori watched her, realizing for the first time that Sam was taking this whole thing pretty calmly. In fact, she’d hardly seemed surprised when Malone told them. “How long have you known?”
Sam looked away, but not before Tori saw the embarrassment on her face. Busted.
“Marissa?”
Sam nodded. “She told me at the funeral that she’d heard they were going to reassign one of us. When I got back and Malone said he wanted to see us, I knew then what it was about.” She handed her wineglass to Tori when she held out the bottle. “That’s why I called you, but you were already in Malone’s office. I was going to warn you.”
“So, you’re really okay with this?”
“I don’t know, Tori. I mean, it’s a good opportunity, sure. But I love working with you. I love the team we have in our whole department.” She paused. “More than that, I’m going to lose that security I have.”
“What do you mean?”
She faced Tori. “I know that with you, I’ll always be safe. I know you would never let anything happen to me,” she said quietly. “I trust you with my life.”
And that’s what Tori was really afraid of. If something were to happen, she wouldn’t be there to protect Sam. She wouldn’t be there to look after her. But she pushed those fears away, thinking them silly. Sam was plenty capable of looking after herself.
“Maybe it’s me losing the security,” Tori said. “Who’s going to keep me out of trouble?”
Sam laughed. “You don’t think Sikes can handle you?”
Tori frowned. “Sikes?” She saw Sam bite her lower lip. Ah, a secret. But she waited, knowing Sam wouldn’t keep it from her.
“Malone told me that Tony is being reassigned too. They’re creating a taskforce to work Little Mexico.”
“Damn, they’re splitting up the whole team, huh?”
“Ramirez is bilingual. It makes sense.”
“And he doesn’t know yet?”
“No. Malone told me on our way out today. I don’t know if that’s immediate or what.”
“Unbelievable,” Tori murmured. “It’s fucking unbelievable.”
Sam wrapped her fingers around Tori’s arm, squeezing softly. “It’s going to be okay, Tori. At least you and Sikes… well, you guys get along fine now. At least they’re not bringing in someone totally new, you know.”
“No. We just get to play with Special Victims for a while, that’s all.”
Sam squeezed her arm again, then stood up. “You know what? I’ve had enough talking for the night.” She took Tori’s wineglass and tugged on her arm. “Come on.”
Tori smiled. “Come on?”
“Yeah. Come.” She raised both eyebrows teasingly. “I’m ready to get you naked.”
Tori laughed. “Come?”
Sam bent down, her mouth covering Tori’s, wiping the smile from her face. “You want to?” she whispered seductively.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Who the hell is that?” Sikes whispered.
Tori looked up. A tall woman strode confidently into the squad room, her gaze moving over them quickly before she stopped at Malone’s door. She nodded briefly in their direction.
“Cute,” Sikes said.
“You think?”
She was tall, although not as tall as Tori. Her light brown hair barely covered the collar of her blouse, and Tori watched as the woman brushed her bangs to the side, then knocked on Malone’s door.
“Special Victims?” Sikes asked.
“I imagine.” It was barely ten on Monday morning, and already the fun was beginning. She flicked her gaze to Sam’s empty chair, already missing her being with them.
“Detective O’Connor?”
“Casey, please,” she said as she shook hands with Malone. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Same here.” He looked out his window, then back at O’Connor. “Have a seat. Let me bring in Hunter and Sikes. No sense in going over everything twice.”
He stepped outside his office, and she watched him, watched the two detectives he spoke with. They weren’t happy with her appearance here, she could tell that. And she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be here, either. She’d been on the other end before, in the middle of an investigation when it was suddenly turned over to Homicide after it was determined no sexual crime had been committed. Although this was the only time she could remember Homicide giving up a case to Special Victims. Especially a high-profile case such as this.
“Detective Casey O’Connor, this is Tori Hunter and John Sikes. They’ve been the lead on this case. I believe you’ll find their reports very thorough.” He added, “Detective O’Connor is from Special Victims.”
She stood quickly, offering her hand to both Hunter and Sikes. Hunter met her eyes unflinchingly, although she didn’t try to hide the distrust there. Sikes gave her a charming smile and a subtle wink. She returned the smile, minus the wink.
“I’ve already read your reports. Very meticulous on details.” She sat down again. “My captain has gone over my role here, Lieutenant. I’m not exactly thrilled with it,” she said. “As I’m sure neither are your detectives,” she added with a glance at Hunter. She was surprised to see a quick glimpse of understanding there.
“Well, then, perhaps you know more than we do,” Malone admitted. “Hunter, Sikes, sit down. Let’s talk this out.”
“The M.E.’s report didn’t indicate there was any sexual assault,” Casey said. “My captain… well, he said I needed to find some.” She looked at Hunter. “Your notes say you think he was involved in a consensual sexual relationship.”
“Right,” Tori replied. “Based on the DNA evidence found in the bed, as well as evidence of sexual activity, but no evidence of trauma.”
“Then why the hell am I here?”
“To prove it was Juan Hidalgo who killed him, and to prove that he was assaulted,” Tori said.
Casey looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each of them, surprised at the near contempt they held. But it wasn’t aimed at her. It was aimed at the system.
“I think it’d have just been easier to have Jackson lie in his report, if they’re trying to fix the case,” she said.
“You’ve heard about the consultant? Goddard?” Tori asked.
“Yeah. I hear she’s got balls,” she said with a smile.
“Wouldn’t doubt it,” Tori murmured. “But she’s pushing the sexual assault. So far, it’s been mentioned in nearly every news briefing. It’s only logical they bring in Special Victims.”
Casey leaned forward. “You think Hidalgo did it?”
“Strangled him? Yes. No doubt.”
She nodded. “So why not just end the case now? Hidalgo is the murderer. End of story.”
“Because it’s not the end of the goddamn story. It’s only the beginning. There is no motive. And the fact that Hidalgo was killed within hours indicates there’s a third party.” Tori looked at Sikes. “Did you and Tony have any luck trying to locate that guy from the bar?”
“No. Carlos split town. We hung out at the bar Saturday night,
” he said. “I don’t mind saying, I was plenty scared. They made me for a cop right off.”
Tori laughed. “Showed up as your usual GQ self, huh?”
“But Tony, man, he fit right in. He’ll do good with this new taskforce.”
“Excuse me, but are you talking about the guy who gave Hidalgo a ride from the bar?” Casey asked. “This is the bar where Hidalgo supposedly said God told him to kill?”
“The third party. But I doubt seriously it was God,” Sikes said with a grin.
She nodded. “Okay. Well, I’ve read your files, read your notes. I think before I make my own assumptions, I’d like to interview the housekeeper again. She’s the one who found him, right?”
“Yeah. And we’ve talked to her twice. Alice Hagen. She hasn’t changed her story.”
Casey stood. “Then let’s don’t ask her questions. Let’s tell her what we know.” She looked at Malone. “I don’t guess you want me going solo.”
“Take Hunter. She’s familiar with the housekeeper.”
“Good. Thanks.” She turned to Tori. “I didn’t have breakfast. Mind if we stop for an early lunch?”
“I know a great drive-thru. You can eat in the car.”
“Yeah. Didn’t take you for the sit-down type.” She reached across the desk and shook Malone’s hand. “I’ll stay out of your hair, promise.” She turned to Sikes. “Nice to meet you, John.”
He nodded. “Let me know if I can help with anything.”
“Absolutely.” She glanced at Tori as she pulled out her cell and headed to the door. “I just have a quick call to make,” she said as she walked out of the office.
“Well, what do you think?” Malone asked as soon as O’Connor was gone.
“I think there are too many damn lesbians on the force,” Tori said.
Malone shook his head. “About the case, Hunter. The case.”
She shrugged. “Well, at least she’s not just ignoring the evidence. But her captain has pretty much given her the order, so yeah, I guess it’ll be wrapped up this week.”
“I know you don’t like this, Hunter. But at least it’s not like we’re letting a killer go. We all know Hidalgo did it.”
“So because he killed a priest, we shouldn’t be concerned with finding out who killed him?” She glared at him, her anger growing. “Because that’s just crap.”
“I didn’t say that. But if they want to close the case on Father Michael, if they want to pretend he was assaulted, then fine. Should we really care? Does it matter that he may have been involved with someone?”
“It’s a dangerous precedent to set by withholding the facts.” She paused. “Or worse, ignoring them.”
Malone looked at Sikes and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“I have to agree with Hunter. We may know who killed Father Michael, but we’re nowhere near the truth of it all.”
Malone smiled. “Damn.”
“What?”
“You two agreeing. You two getting along.” He laughed. “Hell, you two partners. Whoever would have thought it?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Tori tapped her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel of the Explorer as they waited at the drive-thru for O’Connor’s burger. She looked at her watch yet again, then sighed. They’d been in line nearly ten minutes.
“So, I hear you and your old partner, Kennedy, are an item,”
Casey said. Tori turned her head. “You hear? From who?” Casey shrugged. “When I found out I’d be working this case, I did a little checking. No offense, but you have a hell of a repu tation, Hunter.”
“And not all good?” Tori asked dryly. “I’m just shocked.”
“So it’s true? That’s why she got transferred?”
“It’s true,” Tori said, turning as the window opened and a young girl held a bag out. “Need ketchup?” the girl asked.
“No,” Tori said quickly, grabbing the bag.
“Yeah, ketchup. Got fries in there, you know.”
Tori looked back at the girl. “Yes, ketchup.” She handed Casey the bag. “Do you eat like this every day?”
“What do you mean?” she asked as she shoved a french fry into her mouth, minus the ketchup.
Tori looked over her slender figure and shook her head. “Nothing.” She held out her hand for the ketchup packets, tossing them at Casey as she drove away.
“Are you always in such a hurry?” Casey asked, holding on to the dash as Tori pulled out into traffic.
Tori ignored her as she changed lanes, albeit somewhat slower. She glanced at the other woman in disbelief as Casey took a big bite of her burger. “So, let’s talk about it,” she said. “No captain around, no lieutenant. Just us.”
“Kinda hard to do when eating,” Casey mumbled, her mouth full.
“Fine. I’ll talk. We think Mrs. Hagen knows who Father Michael was having an affair with. In fact, we’re positive she knows. We also think, obviously, that one of the thirteen prints found in the rectory belongs to whoever the affair was with.”
Casey put her burger down and grabbed two fries, eating them before speaking. “Your notes said you thought the housekeeper was protecting Father Michael,” she said.
“Yeah. And she would. She adored the man.”
Casey dipped another fry into ketchup. “But what if she’s not protecting Father Michael at all? What if she’s protecting his lover?”
Tori frowned, staring straight ahead. The thought had never even crossed her mind. They’d been so sure she was protecting Father Michael, they hadn’t even considered she also knew the lover.
“Good, O’Connor. We were focusing totally on Father Michael.”
Casey grinned. “That’s because you work in Homicide and you’re used to focusing on the dead.”
“Wait a minute? You think maybe it’s another priest?”
“Could be. Could be that’s why the church doesn’t want it to get out.”
Tori bit her lip. Sam would kill her. But it didn’t matter. She couldn’t let it go. “What I’m about to tell you is completely off the record and not to go any further.” She looked at O’Connor. “Agreed?”
“Do we know each other well enough for this?”
“No. But it doesn’t look like we’re going to have a whole lot of time to learn to trust.” Tori flipped on her blinker and turned on Milam.
She nodded. “Okay. Agreed.”
“I have learned from a very good source that the church is not involved in this. Not willingly, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“All of this cover-up bullshit is coming directly from the mayor’s office.”
“Oh, come on, Hunter.” Casey shoved two fries into her mouth. “The mayor’s not going to order a cover-up of a murder. Besides, the chief would never go for it. If it ever got out, it’d be career suicide.”
“Look, I don’t know you from Adam, but I don’t have a whole lot of choice but to trust you. Because I don’t want to close this case prematurely. There’s something going on. There are too many higher-ups involved.” Tori stole a glance at her. “The reason the mayor ordered the cover-up is because Father Michael was his brother.”
“Are you fucking with me?”
“No, I’m not fucking with you,” Tori hissed. “I’m goddamn serious.”
“But why would he try to hide the fact that the priest was his brother?”
“I don’t know. Hell, what do we know about politics?”
“How do you know this?”
Tori paused. “I can’t say.”
“You can’t say? Well, goddamn, Hunter, how the hell are we supposed to follow up on it if you won’t say who told you?”
“We’re not going to follow up on it. I told you, it’s off the record.” She glanced at her again. “But at least we know why he’s involved. He’s got bigger political aspirations than just mayor.”
“So this consultant, she’s not really here because of the church?”
“Right. She was hired by the
mayor.”
“Which is how I got my dinner date,” Casey murmured.
“What? What dinner date?”
“My captain said I had a dinner date tonight with Marissa Goddard. Said the chief set it up. She wants to meet with me and go over things, he said.”
“Oh, sure she does. Just like she met with us to ‘go over things.’” Tori turned and slowed. “The housekeeper lives just down the block.”
Casey tossed the rest of her burger into the bag, along with a handful of fries that were smothered in ketchup. “Got a napkin in here, Hunter?”
“In the console there,” she said. “And Mrs. Hagen isn’t real fond of me. Sam usually did the talking.”
“Sam? Your partner?”
Tori parked along the curb. “Kennedy, yeah, my partner.” Without waiting for O’Connor, she hopped out and started toward the house.
Casey slammed her door, hurrying to catch up with her as she walked up the sidewalk. “So, how did that work out?”
Tori stopped. “What?”
“Working with your lover?”
“Obviously not too well. They split us up.”
“No, I mean, for you. Was it weird living together and working together?”
“No, it wasn’t weird, and why all the questions?”
Casey shrugged. “Just curious. I mean, I’ve known partners who’ve had an affair. Nothing long-lasting, mind you, but sex. And when it was over with, it screwed up their partnership. With you, you’d think working together would screw up your sex life.”
Tori held up her hand. “Can we stop with the questions, please? It’s irrelevant anyway. We don’t work together any longer.”
“All right, Hunter. And it’s not like I’ll be needing advice from you on the subject. My partner back at SV is a very happily married man.”
Tori sighed. Couldn’t be paired up with someone who didn’t talk, could she? Jeez, the woman was a chatterbox. She reached out to push the doorbell, then stopped. “Are you done chatting? You ready for me to get Mrs. Hagen now?”
“Yeah, sure, Hunter. Go ahead. But, you know, maybe you should let me do the talking.”