Zeke pulled up to the crime scene already full of commotion. Patrol cars lined the street as the flashing lights illuminated the night. Yellow crime scene tape was strung up in a wallowing loop preventing entry to the small crowd already lined up dying to see what the body looked like.
Vultures.
It never failed to amaze him how fascinated people were with murder. He slammed his door, ignoring the imploring looks and questions directed at him as he made his way to the barrier, ducking under as another officer held it up for him. Zeke nodded a thank you, then made his way down the slight hill to the embankment where the body washed to shore.
Ben stood at the bottom of the hill. Zeke always managed to arrive before Ben, enjoying the immense pleasure of giving him shit for being so slow. Like him, Ben hated to be awakened out of a good comfortable bed. The difference, though, Zeke could shake off the sleepiness quicker than Ben. It was quite a statement that Zeke arrived last.
Ben looked up from the body near his feet as Zeke approached. "You had to have a quickie before you left, I see."
Zeke grimaced, wishing that were actually true. Her kiss had tasted like heaven. As usual. He had also felt the uncertainty in the air as he kissed her. It scared him being away from her and losing ground.
"No. But I found it difficult to leave the side of a beautiful woman." Zeke wasn't willing to share anything more. "What do we have?"
"See for yourself. Gunshot wound to the back of the head. Looks executioner style. Coroner's on his way, but I'm guessing he was killed around the same time as Mills. I was hoping Murphy was our man. No wonder we couldn't find his car. Whoever killed him wanted to make it look like he killed Mills and ran. Maybe we were never supposed to find his body."
Zeke neared the body, noticing the wound on the back of the head as well as numerous abrasions covering his body. "Looks like he floated awhile with the other injuries. Who found him?"
Ben looked at his notepad. "A Neal Holl. He was walking along the bank, picking up garbage. It's particularly dirty down this way."
"Picking up garbage at this time of night?"
"Hey, man, that's what he told me. I don't think he's our guy. If that's the excuse he wants to use, then so be it."
Zeke sighed. He looked at the river. Garbage littered everywhere, up and down the stretch. Susan was bent down near the edge of the water, putting anything she saw into an evidence bag.
Murphy had washed ashore on the Sauk River, on the west side of St. Cloud. Zeke wasn't positive where the river started, but he recalled a few memories of tubing down this very river starting in Rockville and jumping off a mile before this area. It was disturbing to think about a body floating down the river. Soiled his memories a bit, especially seeing the garbage. What happened to the good days when you could enjoy nature without society polluting it?
"So he came down the river, suggesting he wasn't killed in St. Cloud. Unless the killer dumped him farther upstream hoping he wouldn't be found," Zeke said as he looked back over at Ben.
"I'm going with body dumping. He never came home that night after knocking on Mills's door. Where did he go and who did he run into?" Ben countered.
"Good questions. Let's find out. First, we have to notify his wife. I hate this part."
"Yeah, me too." Ben frowned and then hollered at Susan. "Find anything useful yet? The murder weapon, perhaps?"
Susan walked toward them, shaking her head. "You wish. It's never that simple. I'm collecting most of what's down there. First, for evidence purposes, and second, because it's disgusting how dirty it is. I'll let you guys know what I have, if anything, when I do."
"Thanks, Susan." Zeke patted Ben on the shoulder as he guided him back up the hill. "Let's get the hard part over."
They headed to their separate vehicles, briefly stopping at the precinct to take one car to Murphy's house. They arrived twenty minutes later to break the bad news to Carly Murphy.
As Zeke got out of the passenger side, he looked at Ben. "You take the lead. I'll follow you."
"Man, you say that all the time and you always take it from me." Ben shut his door and followed Zeke as they made their way to the front door. "See. You're even walking first."
Zeke abruptly stopped at the steps, moved to the side and gestured with his hands for Ben to walk first. Ben raised his eyebrows with a smirk and proceeded ahead of him. Ben took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. They waited patiently, not hearing any noise from inside. Ben rang the doorbell again.
"No car in the driveway, but it could be in the garage. Maybe she's not home," Zeke whispered in Ben's ear.
"Dude. Personal space. Do you need to whisper like that in my ear?"
Zeke laughed. "Yeah. It's fun to annoy you."
"I'll keep that in mind for later. How's Zoe?" Ben grinned.
Zeke's smile dipped. "Not funny. I'll have you—"
Zeke zipped his lips shut when the door opened. Mrs. Murphy was wrapped in a terry robe, eyes half shut, with her hair haphazardly in a ponytail.
The moment she saw them, her eyes opened wide, alertness front and center. "He's dead, isn't he? Why else would you be at my home at five thirty in the morning?"
For once Zeke waited for Ben to speak. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Murphy. His body was found a few hours ago. May we come in and speak with you? We're terribly sorry for your loss, but in order for us to find his killer we need to ask you a few more questions."
Instead of responding with words, she opened the door further, gesturing for them to enter. She headed for the kitchen. "I need coffee. Would you like some?"
Ben glanced at Zeke, who shrugged. "Sure, Mrs. Murphy. That would be nice."
As they followed her, both their eyes took stock of everything as they passed it. Nothing seemed amiss. When they entered the kitchen, Mrs. Murphy pointed at the table. "Have a seat. I'll be right with you."
She busied herself preparing the coffee as they took a seat at the table. Zeke leaned over to Ben and whispered, "Does it seem odd she isn't breaking down? She didn't seem that surprised either."
"Two reasons. She knows how he died. Or it hasn't hit her yet. Some people don't break down in front of others. It's strange, though."
A few minutes later, Mrs. Murphy came to the table holding three cups of coffee. She handed them their coffee and took a seat. She took a sip before speaking. "I'm sure you're wondering why I'm not in tears. I won't say I'm not sad because I am. George was a good man, but we lost touch a few months ago. Our marriage wasn't doing so well. I was actually contemplating divorce. I even contacted a lawyer two weeks ago."
Carly paused, taking another sip of coffee. "I was very concerned when he disappeared a week ago. I actually thought he killed Mills. This is terrible."
"Mrs. Murphy, you do realize withholding the fact you filed for divorce is quite suspicious," Ben said.
"You'll look at the spouse first anyway in a murder. I didn't think it was important nor part of the reason he disappeared. I said I talked to a lawyer. I never fully filed for a divorce. He hadn't been served any papers."
"Is there anyone else you can think of that your husband had an issue with? Maybe someone him and Mills had a problem with," Zeke asked.
"No. Just Mills. We had our problems, but he was a good man. I didn't kill my husband. I won't be answering anymore questions unless a lawyer is present. You two know how to find the front door," Carly said as she got up from the table and walked back into the kitchen.
Ben and Zeke shared a look before standing up from the table. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Murphy. If you think of something important that you're willing to share, here's my card," Zeke said as he laid it on the table.
They exited the house, getting into the car before speaking. Ben started the vehicle. "Okay, that was weird. She acted guilty, yet got insulted when we acted like she was guilty.
"Maybe she killed them both. But why kill Mills? They have to be related. Coincidence that two people who work together are murdered and it's not connected? I d
on't do coincidences," Zeke said.
"Well, maybe Murphy killed Mills and Carly found out. She sees a way out without divorce and kills him. Let's dig deeper into their finances and life. Maybe it is all coincidental."
"Highly doubtful, but worth a try. What judge do we bother for a warrant? I know one that I'm not going to call," Zeke said with a laugh.
"I don't know why not. He'd give us what we want if you only asked nicely. But I guess let's go find one who doesn't mind working so early," Ben said as he drove back to the precinct.
***
Zoe stood by the garbage can in the break room, throwing away the rest of her lunch she had no appetite for.
"Hey, I was hoping to catch you by yourself. Dee seems to be your new hound dog."
"Is there a point to this conversation, Mark?"
The last person she wanted to speak to was Mark. Since she took the test, it's as if her body decided to show the signs of pregnancy. She'd been nauseated all morning. The sight of the bathroom was enough to make her nauseated. She had already made several trips to the bathroom twice as much as she normally did.
"I'm sorry, Zoe. Please don't be mad at me." Mark took a step closer to her.
She backed up a step. "Mad at you? I'm over you. What is it with you suddenly wanting to speak to me all the time? I understood your words loud and clear the last time we spoke."
Mark sighed. "I was wrong. I miss you. I was going through a rough patch in my personal life and I took it out on you. I'm sorry."
Zoe frowned at him. "Sorry? You made me feel disgusting. And a rough patch in your personal life—I thought being your girlfriend would make me part of your personal life. What was so rough you couldn't share it with me?"
He averted his eyes. "I don't—can't talk about it. I want another chance. I can make it right between us."
She had the sudden urge to throw up. She couldn't decipher if it was Mark's insane request, or being pregnant. Maybe a bit of both. "We're done, Mark. There is no chance."
He walked up to her, grabbing her arm before she could back away again. "Please, Zoe. I deserve another chance. I need another chance."
"You don't deserve anything. You hurt me. It's over," she said calmly, even as tiny shivers rushed up her arm at his touch.
"I didn't mean what I said a month ago. I was a jerk. I want to try again. Make it up to you," Mark pleaded, increasing the pressure on her arm slightly.
"There is no trying again," Zoe said, glancing at her arm. "Let me go, please. I'm seeing someone else anyway."
Mark suddenly squeezed her tighter. Zoe grimaced in pain, as he said through gritted teeth, "Who the hell are you seeing? Since when?"
"It's none of your damn business. Let me go. You're hurting my arm," she cried, pulling at his hand.
He let her go, taking a few deep breaths. "I can't lose you, Zoe. I want to know who you're seeing."
Zoe rubbed her arm as she took a few steps back. The glint in his eyes looked savage. She could still feel the strength, the repulsive feeling of his hand on her even as he stood a few feet away.
"Leave me alone, Mark. I'll call the police."
"You'll regret ever picking up the phone if you do that. You'll regret ever leaving me," Mark sneered at her.
"Leaving you? You broke up with me. Are you delusional?" Zoe said, suddenly terrified by the glimmer in his eyes.
"I remember the hot, cold attitude you dished at me. I remember just now trying to make it up to you. You'll regret this," he snapped, clenching his fists.
"You need to calm down." Zoe slowly backed up towards the door.
He almost rushed at her when Rina walked into the room. "Mark, there's a client on line two for you. I tried to take a message, but they weren't having it," Rina said calmly, almost as if she were unaware of the tension filling the room.
Mark unclenched his fists and glanced at Zoe with a smile. "We'll continue this conversation another time, Zoe, perhaps over dinner. I miss you." He smiled politely at Rina. "Thank you."
Zoe started shaking as soon as he walked out of the room. Rina rushed to her side. "What happened?" Rina then glanced at her arm, lifting it up. "Did he do this to you?"
Tears started to flow freely as she wrapped her arm to her chest. "He scared me, Rina. He said I would regret not getting back with him. Is it okay to feel like your heart could explode? Could that hurt the baby?"
Rina's eyes got round, yet she maintained her composure. "I'm sure the baby is fine. Does Zeke know? You should tell him about what Mark did. I've never known him to be violent, but he left a bruise on your arm. He threatened you."
"He knows. He didn't seem too happy about it last night. We sort of fought—like we always do." Zoe sighed, as she wiped her tears away as best as she could. "I'm scared. I don't know if I should tell him. He wants me to stay with him until he solves these murders. I'm not sure I should go back there."
Zoe gestured at the doorway. "Now I have a crazy ex-boyfriend on my heels. Zeke probably doesn't want anything to do with me. A baby he doesn't want, a psycho ex-boyfriend. I'm nothing but baggage galore."
Rina smiled. "Zoe, come on. That man adores you. I saw it that day when he asked you to go home with him. He wants you. You don't see that? He probably just needs to process having a baby. You guys met in an unusual circumstance and have been moving so fast. You have to tell him about Mark. He physically hurt you. Maybe it isn't so strange to think he killed Mills like Dee threw at him the other day."
Zoe sucked in a breath. "You really think that? Mark, a killer?"
"I don't know, but he did hurt you and threatened you. Tell Zeke, please." Rina propped a hand on her hip. A very foreign gesture for her. "I'll tell Dee, who will go all out demon on you."
"Please don't do that," Zoe said with a depressing smile. "You know how she gets."
"Tell him then. He's a cop, if nothing else."
Zoe sighed, wiping a few more tears that escaped. "I'm just so raw right now. I need to go home. I know I've been doing that a lot lately, but I can't help it. Can you tell Ms. Black I'm leaving?"
Rina nodded. "Sure."
Zoe thanked her, grabbed her purse from her desk, and walked out.
***
Ben sat at his desk going over every aspect of Murphy's life. Nothing strange was popping up yet. He broke a pencil he'd been twirling, flipping a page as he did. His desk phone rang as he started to reach for a new pencil.
"Detective Stoyer speaking," he said with little enthusiasm.
"Hi, Detective. This is Rina Chastain. I was looking for Detective Chance. Could I speak with him, please?" she said quietly into the phone.
Ben sucked in a breath at her smooth voice. "Yes, Ms. Chastain, I remember you. He's not at his desk right now."
He heard her sigh heavily. "Is everything okay? With you? With Zoe? You can tell me whatever you wanted to tell him if you're comfortable with that." He suddenly had the urge to see her beautiful face again. God, how pathetic.
"Well...I think I should tell someone. I know they haven't been seeing each other for very long yet and it's been an interesting relationship so far."
"He really cares about her. He has a funny way of showing it sometimes. But trust me when I say he's never felt more strongly about a woman than he does for Zoe. Whatever it is you think you should tell him...me...then I think you should. Trust your instincts," Ben said, his heart pounding a bit.
Every time her voice pricked his ears, his body shivered with anticipation. It was unlike any emotion he ever experienced when it came to a woman.
"She's apprehensive right now about him. With good reason. Especially with a baby on the way and he's not happy about it. I—"
"Wait, what?" Ben interrupted her. "What do you mean a baby? She's pregnant?"
Rina inhaled a deep breath. "You didn't know that?"
"Hell, no, I didn't know about that. No wonder he's been distracted as hell today."
Why would Zeke keep something like that from him?
He picked up another pencil and started to twirl it like the last one. "I can't imagine he's not happy. Like I said before, he adores Zoe. He'd do anything for her—especially be there for her every step of the way with this pregnancy. Tell me right now what's bothering you?"
"Her ex-boyfriend...one of the reasons she went to the bar that night...he works here at our office. Mark Johnson. He cornered her in the break room. He said he wanted to get back together with her and she said no. He grabbed her arm and left a bruise. She's scared. I'm scared for her. He said she'd regret it—doing that to him."
Ben broke the pencil and sat up straighter in his chair. "Is she alright? How bad is it?"
"She was shaken up and left work. I walked in right after it happened. His fists were clenched. I'm honestly not sure how far he would've gone if I hadn't walked in. I told her to tell Zeke and she was...apprehensive about it. I called because I had to make sure he knew. I'm worried about her. I don't want to cause tension anywhere—especially our friendship, but I just want her to be safe."
"You did the right thing. I promise you that. He won't lay another finger on her. Zeke, or even I, will never allow it to happen again. Is he still there?" Ben asked with quiet anger lacing each word.
"Yes," Rina whispered, making him wonder if Mark was close by. That thought didn't sit well with him.
"Is he near you?"
"Not right now."
"Good. Don't say anything to him or give him the impression you called anybody. We'll be there soon," Ben said firmly.
"What? Well, maybe—"
"Listen to me. He assaulted her. He left a bruise." Ben sighed. "It raises suspicion as well that he could be violent like that. He worked with Mills and Murphy."
"The same thought crossed my mind. I don't want to cause an issue."
"Trust me. You didn't cause anything. Mark did the moment he laid a finger on Zoe. You called us because you knew we would do something. Well, let us do our job."
"Thank you, Detective Stoyer," she said softly.
Ben took a small breath. This woman could break his heart with her soft words. "Call me Ben. You're welcome."
Ben hung up with Rina and leaned back in his chair as he processed everything. Zeke was going to flip out when he told him. Before he could decide how to break the news gently, Zeke walked back in, sitting at his desk.
One Taste of You (One Taste #1) Page 9