by Toni Leland
Quaid switched from the Tracer Database to a site he used to discover police records on individuals who’d tangled with the law. Wade Warren was clean, not even a DUI.
Just for the heck of it, Quaid searched Google images and, a few seconds later, all the air whooshed out of his lungs and time stopped.
He grabbed his phone, but Dixie’s number went straight to voice mail.
~~
Summer evenings along the Ohio River were the softest, sweetest imaginable. Every care ebbed from Kim’s mind as she and Dixie strolled along the promenade by the riverboat landing. Across the river, lights twinkled on the West Virginia shore and a few boats still floated lazily on the current. Music drifted from one of the bars on Ohio Street.
Dixie slipped her arm through Kim’s. “I never imagined how peaceful it could be in a place like this. I’ve always lived near or in a city.” A dimple appeared in her cheek. “I could get used to this.”
“Yes, I’ve thought a few times about moving back down here, but it just never happened.” Kim stopped walking. “I can’t believe Quaid called you to track me down.”
“Well, you are playing games. You don’t think he’s smart enough to figure that out?”
“Maybe, but it’s actually a good thing I bought some time. You’ve probably saved me from a life of crime. At least I have some time to figure out what to do about Bandit. Your idea about approaching Fortune seems reasonable.”
Dixie squeezed her arm. “Okay, but let’s not talk about work now. This is R&R for a couple of very tired girls.”
They continued along the street, taking in the sounds and sights of the riverfront before turning down a short side street.
Kim gestured toward an oddly-shaped building on the corner. “This is the Levee Café, my all-time favorite place to eat. You’re gonna love it.”
They entered and chose a table near a window facing the river.
Kim leaned forward and whispered, “This place was a sleazy hotel at the turn of the century, complete with riverfront whores and a scandalous murder.”
Dixie looked around at the art on the walls and the dozens of plants gracing the corners and cornices. “It’s so cozy.” Her eyebrows suddenly came together, then she pulled out her phone. She stared at it for a moment, then put it away. “One of the disadvantages of always being connected.”
“Problem?”
“No, now where were we? You were going to tell me all about your childhood in this charming town.”
A waitress appeared and took orders for wine and an appetizer. As she walked away, Kim tried to remember the last time she’d been in the restaurant.
“When I turned thirteen, my grandfather brought me here to celebrate my birthday. I didn’t have many friends, just one boy down the road from us who rode my bus. Grandpa wasn’t keen on friends who were boys, so my birthday dinner was just the two of us. But we had a great time. Grandpa knew everyone and, by the end of the evening, a long string of folks had come by to wish me a happy birthday.”
Two glasses of Malbec appeared on the table, then a plate of calamari with dipping sauce.
Dixie raised her glass. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you, but I stopped having them this year.”
Dixie sipped the wine. “Yeah, me too. Excited as I am about the K-9 duty, the routine is more grueling than I’m used to. I’m taking a little heat from the other guys about being the ‘senior’ in the group.”
Kim chortled. “What are you, forty?”
Blue eyes sparkled with delight. “Girl, you are gonna be my best friend. I’ll be fifty in November.”
Kim raised her glass. “Here’s to old broads lookin’ good!”
The wine worked its magic and Kim reveled in the warmth and comfort of being in Dixie’s company.
“Tell me more about your job, and your dog.”
“Saskie. He is so wonderful. So smart, and he seems to be able to read what I’m thinking and anticipate what I’m going to do.”
“What kind is he?”
“Belgian shepherd, Malinois to be exact. You should come over and meet him.” She grinned. “I can’t wait to officially get out on patrol with him.”
Kim enjoyed watching Dixie’s enthusiasm for the new job, although a twinge of longing ran through her chest. She had everything she’d worked for, everything she’d thought she wanted, so why did she feel empty? Her vow to change her life seemed hollow. What would help? What, exactly, would she change if she could?
Dixie leaned forward. “Space to Earth. You okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking about life choices and how hard they are to make sometimes.”
Dixie toyed with the stem of her wine glass, not looking at Kim. “Tell me why a good-looking, smart woman like you isn’t married, or at least in a relationship.”
Kim blew out a long breath. There it was, the demon she needed to face and put to rest.
“I came real close once, had the ring and everything.” She glanced at her left hand, remembering the magnificent sparkling diamonds Peter had chosen for her. “But life offers no guarantees.”
“Tell me–I want to know. It wasn’t just drifting apart, was it?”
Pain crushed Kim’s chest. “Hardly.” She drank the last of her wine. “You remember the story I told you about the riot?”
“How could I forget?”
“It was the turning point in our relationship. From the very beginning, Peter hadn’t liked the fact that I was a cop and he always acted as though, once we were married, I would quit the force. I think he actually believed it. I was awfully stubborn in those days and I saw no reason to give up my career just because it bothered him. I figured if he loved me, he’d want me to be happy.”
“Sounds reasonable to me.”
The waitress chose that moment to deliver the salads and bread, and Kim wondered if she wanted to continue this conversation.
Dixie must have seen the indecision.
“So did you guys fight about it?”
“Not exactly. He gave me an ultimatum to choose.”
Dixie’s eyes opened wide. “You mean between him or the job? Holy crap! What did you do?”
Kim pushed a crouton around the salad bowl. “I told him I’d give him an answer after the weekend.” She looked up. “It was the weekend of the riots.”
Dixie waited while Kim struggled to frame the words.
“After I got out of the hospital and was finally making some progress in rehab, Peter came to see me one day. He said he couldn’t deal with it anymore. We argued, then he finally admitted that he felt like the default choice, that if I’d really loved him, I would have left the force. But my injury had taken the decision out of my hands. He said he’d never feel like he’d been my first choice.”
Dixie’s face crumpled into sympathy. “Kim, I’m so sorry. What a hell of a story. Why wouldn’t he stand by your side through all that?”
She suddenly frowned and looked down again. “What the...” She stared at her phone screen, then sighed. “I’d better see what this is about...Hello?”
Dixie’s expression moved from mild irritation to concern. Oh God, I hope her mother is okay.
Dixie took a deep breath. “You’d better tell her yourself.” She held the phone out to Kim. “It’s Garrett Quaid.”
Kim snatched the phone, anger rising in her chest, but Dixie shook her head frantically and Kim controlled her voice.
“What’s going on?”
Quaid’s tone set every nerve on alert.
“Wade Warren is Bill Smith, the guy you saw in all the photographs and in California.”
Chapter 33
Kim listened hard, her mind spinning as Quaid expanded on what he’d learned about the dark-eyed mystery man. The main thought running through her brain was the connection between Teri and whatever this Warren was involved in. A sickening feeling rolled through her stomach.
Quaid continued. “What bothers me most is that the guy’s history doesn’t go back very far. I
need to dig a little deeper, ’cause his record is spotless and doesn’t fit with your theory.”
“Maybe he’s fallen on hard times like the rest of the country. Real estate isn’t exactly booming right now.”
“We’ll see. In the meantime, I thought you should know about this. In view of Teri Fortune’s murder, Warren might consider your snooping as a threat.”
Kim thought for a moment. “I doubt it, but thanks for the heads up.”
“So, you’re taking a little time off?”
“Yeah, my brain is fried after the California trip. I started thinking about visiting the old homestead, so here I am.”
“Well, have a good time. Say hello to Dixie for me.”
“Thanks, will do.”
“Kovak? Don’t be too complacent about this Warren guy. Just sayin’.”
Quaid actually thought she might be in danger. Interesting. Why would he even be thinking about her that way?
She handed the phone back to Dixie. “Quaid says hi.”
Dixie nodded. “Guess I’d better take care of that sooner than later.”
As they walked toward the hotel, the lights of West Virginia reflected on the river. The night air was still soft and warm, and now the only background sounds were the hum of traffic on the bridge and the water lapping against the banks. A comfortable silence enveloped them and Kim’s anxiety faded into the night air. She needed this, needed Dixie’s rock-solid friendship on which to lean.
~~
Quaid stepped outside his back door and inhaled the night air. The tree peepers were in full voice and, though the sound could be deafening at times, he loved it. Two loud bangs made him jump, then he heard laughter. Someone in the neighborhood was using up the last of the fireworks. His thoughts moved to Wade Warren. A simple scenario would be that he’d gotten involved with Teri either out of true passion or on purpose as a way to get close to the valuable horses in her barn. If the affair was simply an affair, then it stood to reason that the angry wife might have killed Teri. Quaid walked the perimeter of his small yard as he pondered. He knew nothing about Mrs. Warren, but she’d have to be one helluva big strong woman to hoist a dead body to the rafters to mimic a hanging. No, if the wife had killed Teri in a fit of jealous rage, she’d have used a gun or a blunt instrument for bashing. Teri had been strangled. Again, an action requiring strength or skill.
So, back to Wade Warren. Bedding Teri to integrate himself into her life and business was the most logical motive. He’d have had access to her barn office and client records, paperwork for horses, and who knew what else. And pillow talk could divulge a great many secrets, so he’d have had that advantage too. Women seemed so vulnerable when they were in love, often saying or doing things they’d never consider in other circumstances. Had Teri shared information with Warren that could potentially put Kovak in danger? There was no way to know, but Quaid’s instincts told him that Warren would be a part of whatever the outcome of this case might be. Quaid clucked his tongue. He was supposed to be wrapping this up, not chasing suspects.
The neighbor’s dog barked as he passed by. Glancing up at the dark sky, now brightened by the glow of lights in Cleveland, he headed toward the house to pack. He had a date with a little boy.
~~
Kim hid a smile when Dixie came out of the bathroom wearing pink pajamas covered in little black Scottie dogs. Kim’s own well-worn sleep-shirt was blatantly unglamorous in comparison. Dixie grabbed the TV remote, then crossed the room and climbed onto the bed near the window. Sitting cross-legged, she looked exactly like a teenager at a sleep-over.
Kim laughed. “All we need is popcorn and a pillow fight.”
Dixie’s eyes sparkled. “I remember those days. So much fun. All the giggling and playing with makeup. Part of the process of changing from a little girl to a woman. Getting ready for everything that means.”
She flicked the remote and focused on the television screen. “You like old movies? One of these channels has some of the moldy oldies.”
Kim slipped under the covers. “You choose. I see so few films I probably won’t even know it’s an old one.”
“You need to get a life, girl.”
The TV screen illuminated the room and Kim propped herself up with pillows.
Get a life. You are so right.
Sometime later, Kim woke with a start. The room was dark, the television turned off. She raised her head and looked toward Dixie’s bed. A small amount of light came through the edges of the drapes, outlining Dixie’s body under the covers. Kim laid her head down and stared into the darkness. Thoughts of Peter surfaced, then faded as they always did—no longer relevant, but still painful. Garrett Quaid’s face drifted into her mind and she allowed her thoughts to go back to the street scene in Burbank where she’d found comfort in his arms, if only out of happenstance. Loneliness curled through her chest and her eyes suddenly burned. She couldn’t imagine living like this for the rest of her life. There had to be more.
Dixie’s soft whisper drifted across the room. “You awake?”
“Yeah, it’s too quiet here.”
Dixie chuckled softly. “Yeah, and I think this bed is the same age as the hotel.”
Kim took a deep breath, taking courage in the cover of darkness. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course.”
Not sure how she’d frame the words, Kim paused.
Dixie’s encouraging tone helped. “I have thick skin. Shoot.”
“What’s it like for you? I mean, being a gay woman.”
“As in, how is sex with a woman? It’s very different from being with a man. Very sensual, very gentle. Suspenseful.”
Images of Dixie with a faceless woman flashed through Kim’s head and she felt almost embarrassed at this glimpse inside Dixie’s private life.
“Did you ever go with guys?”
Dixie’s musical laugh floated in the dark. “Oh, yeah, quite a few tumbles in the hay while I was in college. Nothing permanent ever developed.”
Kim sat up in the bed and wrapped her arms around her knees, drawing on a surprising well of courage. “Do you have someone special? A partner?”
A long, soft sigh drifted from Dixie’s bed. “I did, but she died a couple of years ago. Breast cancer.”
Chapter 34
Quaid turned down the street where Jenna lived, wondering how many more times he would visit this neighborhood. If base housing opened up soon, Ricky and his mother would move to Wright-Patterson immediately. Not something Quaid wanted to think about. As he approached the house, the front door flew open and Ricky bounded down the steps, waving wildly. Quaid’s chest tightened. Changes were afoot and they would involve him personally, whether he liked it or not.
Jenna appeared in the doorway, holding Ricky’s bags. “You are just in the nick of time. I was about to lock him out of the house so I could think straight.”
Quaid turned to his nephew. “Excited?”
Ricky nodded vigorously. “I’m gonna keep a journal of everything we do so I can tell Mom all about it when we get back.”
Quaid took the duffel bag and backpack from Jenna and secured them in the back of the truck. When he turned around again, Jenna was hugging Ricky while she gave him a long list of “be-sure-to’s”.
He struggled to free himself. “Mom, I will.”
She looked toward Quaid, as though to add something, but he shook his head.
“He’s gonna be just fine, aren’t you, Sport?” He winked at Jenna, then waved. “See you Sunday night.”
As he backed out of the driveway, he glanced at Ricky adjusting the seatbelt. This boy that Quaid had known from a distance would now be a companion for days. A perfect opportunity to get to know each other and build a true family bond.
“Can we listen to the radio?”
“Sure. What kind of music do you like?”
Ricky started twiddling the knob. “I’ll find something good.”
As the truck eased into the stream of traff
ic headed south on I-480, Quaid cringed. He wasn’t sure he could stand seven hours of whatever that noise was. He glanced at Ricky, who was bobbing his head to the beat.
What the hell, this is part of knowing who he is.
~~
Kim turned left into the road leading up to the condos, laughing at a story Dixie had just told about one of the other K-9 officers. Kim glanced at her friend, the best companion Kim had ever had. Dixie’s personal pain broke Kim’s heart, but she could truly understand the sorrow.
Dixie unbuckled her seat belt. “Well, party’s over. Time to get back to the real world...and my mother.”
“Is she doing all right?”
“Not really. I’ll need to go see her every day now. Apparently, she’s informed the staff that she can’t eat her dinner unless her daughter has visited.” A brief silence. “I never imagined this to be my future. I guess I thought she’d be strong and independent forever. Real wake-up call.”
Kim patted her hand, then climbed out of the car and opened the trunk. Dixie reached in and grabbed her duffel.
“If you want company later, just call. I’m going to hang out at home.”
Kim nodded. “I have to get those pictures to Quaid before he comes after me with a gun.”
“Does he carry?”
Kim cocked her head. “I have no idea. I suspect he owns a weapon, but I haven’t seen him with one.”
“How about you?” Dixie’s tone was offhand.
“Locked in a safe. I haven’t touched it since the riots.”
Dixie shook her head. “Seems strange. I can’t imagine not having my weapon accessible.”