Harvey appeared in the doorway. He tapped the frame lightly with his palm.
“Hey, I’m heading down to speak to Jenna now, you wanna come?” Harvey asked.
“Yeah, sure.”
He looked at Reznik then ducked out. She followed him and on the way over to the ME’s office she couldn’t help but bring up the topic of Reznik.
“Harvey, I know you’re single-minded when it comes to your sister. I would be too but perhaps it’s time to let it rest.”
“Let it rest?”
“You heard what Davenport said.”
“Davenport wants an easy life. Did my sister get it easy when she was murdered?”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t know!” he bellowed as the truck weaved its way through the streets of Carrabelle.
“Yes I do. I lost someone as well.”
“Yeah and would you like it if I said that it’s time you let that go? Huh?” He shot her a sideways glance. “How easy has that been, Reid?”
And like that the conversation went dead. He had a point. It was one thing to tell him to drop it, another thing to let it go. The loss of a loved one was devastating. Everyone dealt with it in their own ways. Some pressed on, seemingly unaffected, others bottled it up and exploded later and then there were the rest that could go years holding on to grief and bitterness.
* * *
Inside the ME’s office they lingered for a few minutes in the waiting room before Jenna emerged. All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and with a spring in her step. She didn’t even greet them but simply motioned with a jerk of the head for them to follow her. They entered her stainless-steel office and took in the sight of the three bodies. They’d been cleaned up and a thin white sheet was rolled back past their faces, exposing just enough but sparing them the sight of the incisions. Discolored feet protruded out the end with a tag on the big toe.
“I hope you have something good for us,” Harvey said.
“Don’t I always?” She grinned and put on a pair of blue latex gloves. “The lab results came back and I think you’ll find this interesting.”
She went over and pulled back the sheet on Teresa. “Now to the naked eye it can be tough to see, though it was more visible on Teresa, that’s why I checked on the other two bodies. She pointed to an area around her neck. “You won’t be able to see it as I took a sample, and the rest is soaked in but there was a substance known as ZnO found on all three of them. Usually it’s in powdered form, however, this was a cream.”
“A cream? ZnO? You want to speak English?” Harvey asked.
“Zinc oxide, detective. All three of them had the substance on their skin.”
The very mention of it brought Skylar back to her encounter with Matt outside his apartment. He’d been wearing a thick layer on his nose to protect it from the sun.
“He had it on his nose,” Skylar said to Harvey. “Yesterday when I visited Taylor, I bumped into him on the way out. He had it smeared on his nose to protect from the sun.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I made a comment about it as I thought he’d put on face paint.”
“Face paint?”
She shrugged. “I’m from the city, Harv.”
He chuckled then turned back to Jenna. “Anything else beyond that?”
“Not really. That appears to be the only thing that connects all three of them. Of course we have the whip marks on the back of the two women but that’s it.”
“Hanson said when they pulled the body of Nancy from the bay that a fisherman had found her.”
She immediately got on the phone. She left Harvey talking to Jenna as she stepped outside into the corridor. Hanson picked up. “What can I do for you?” She could already hear the aggravation in his voice.
“Did you take a statement from the fisherman that pulled Nancy’s body from the water?”
“Yeah. Um, give me a second.”
She heard him fumbling around then thumbing paper. “Here it is. A Matt Sorenson.”
Skylar took a deep breath. Of course, he wouldn’t have made the connection to Taylor as they weren’t married yet, so she hadn’t taken his second name. And being as the body was found in water, he would have had a good alibi for why he was out there fishing. It was his living.
“Just as I figured. Any luck with Alvaro?”
“No, he’s sticking to his story. He says the only reason he drove off was because he thought he was going to be busted for assault on his ex.”
“So no mention of Tyron beyond what he already told us?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Okay, thanks, Hanson. Oh, and about earlier…” She cleared her throat finding it difficult to get it out. “I apologize.”
“What’s that?”
She cleared her throat again and repeated herself. “I apologize. Would you pass that on to Reznik?”
“Shouldn’t you do that yourself?”
“I am, through you.”
She heard him stifle a laugh. “Will do.”
As soon as she hung up, she poked her head in the door. “Let’s go. Matt was the one that pulled Nancy from the water according to Hanson. I think it’s time we get answers from Taylor.”
Harvey thanked Jenna, and they hurried out. Skylar set the pace walking purposefully.
“Slow down, Skylar.”
“Keep up.”
* * *
Taylor felt like a penned-in animal. Matt hadn’t been the same since he’d returned last night. If she hadn’t got back so late she was sure he would have taken it out on her then. Instead, he waited until the morning.
“I didn’t say anything. I swear,” she said.
“Then why were the cops searching the boat?” Matt asked. She’d got in early that morning with plans to leave him but not before she had something on camera, anything that would prove he was assaulting her. She’d turned on her camera phone and set it up behind a small vase on the mantelpiece. Since getting engaged he’d become like a different person altogether. She couldn’t go anywhere without him questioning her or pestering to know what time she would be back. He had a Jekyll and Hyde personality. It was confusing. One minute he was loving, the next lashing out.
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
He released her and walked into the kitchen. He pulled a beer out from the fridge and cracked off the top. He chugged it back and wiped the back of his lips.
“So what are you doing with that bag?”
He went over and she tried to stop him but he pushed her back. He unzipped it and glanced at her then started pulling out her clothes. “Are you going to leave me?”
“No, I was just going to visit my mother for the weekend.”
“And when were you going to tell me that?”
“I…”
“You’re lying, aren’t you?”
“No. I just didn’t want to bother you last night so I…”
He tossed out her clothes onto the floor, lifted the bag and emptied it over the couch. “Well you’re not going now.”
“Why are you doing this?”
He came over and got up in her face. “Doing what?”
“You weren’t like this before.”
“Before what? You’re the one to blame. Giving massages to old men.”
He tossed back more of his beer and regarded her with a look of disdain. She stared in disbelief before pulling her engagement ring off and tossing it. It hit his chest and bounced off rolling across the hardwood floor. “At least I wasn’t cheating.”
He lashed out and slapped her across the face, causing her to drop to the ground, she knocked her head on the corner of the table and she let out a cry. He loomed over threatening to backhand her again.
“It’s all about you, isn’t it? Poor you. Have you even stopped for a second to ask yourself why I was seeking the company of someone else besides you? Huh?”
She reached up and wiped her brow, which was cut. A steady trickle of blood ran down the side of her face.<
br />
“Oh no, it’s always about Taylor. Taylor’s dreams of becoming a famous model. Taylor’s not getting paid enough. Taylor’s…” he reached for the bag and tossed it across the room hitting the vase and several items on the mantel and causing the whole lot to topple to the ground. “But what about me, huh? I work my ass off from morning until night and what thanks do I get? I come home to an empty apartment because you’re at some shoot, but then I later find out you’re mingling with single men.”
“You did…”
He rushed at her. “Say it. Go on. I dare you to say it.” He nodded slowly. She was utterly terrified of him. He had at least a hundred pounds on her and she’d felt the full brunt of his anger multiple times. The following days were the worst. “Yeah, I didn’t think so,” he said.
He took another swig and his eyes roamed around. “Look at what you’ve made me do.”
She cowered on the floor, pressing her body up against the couch not daring to say another word. She just wanted him to leave. It had taken her long enough to get up the gumption to consider leaving him. Although she wasn’t sure if he’d been behind Teresa’s death, she was pretty certain. Teresa had been the only one she confided in. She’d been the one that had encouraged her to leave him after she saw the marks on her back.
“What the hell is that?”
Matt crouched down and pushed a few objects out of the way and picked up her phone. “You recording me?” he asked shooting her a cold look.
“No. I…”
Before she could get the words out of her mouth, he lunged at her and grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her out of the living room into the bedroom and threw her down on the bed. He ripped off the back of her shirt. “You want to record something. I’ll give you something.”
“Matt. No. Please.”
He turned and went over to the closet and pushed it back and pulled out a leather whip. Taylor bolted for the door but she was too slow. He slammed into her knocking her across the floor.
* * *
The scream could be heard from the parking lot. Skylar had just hopped out and was discussing with Harvey about Elite Matchmaking and possible ways that could bring an end to a business that catered to people with low morals. They couldn’t agree. Skylar said folks were entitled to do what they wanted but as a married man, he couldn’t wrap his head around it. The truth was she’d seen a lot worse, making infidelity pale in comparison. She didn’t agree with it but as long as it existed, there would be companies that would try to turn a profit from people’s secrets, even if it wasn’t sex they were after.
Upon hearing the scream, Skylar shot up the stairs taking two at a time and pulled her service weapon. Harvey wasn’t that far behind her. They sprinted down the wooden deck that wrapped the front of the apartments.
“Police. Open up!” she bellowed.
There was another scream, and Skylar stepped back and drove her foot hard into the door close to the handle. She had to strike it four times before it burst open, buckling the frame and sending shards of wood everywhere.
Taylor was on the ground clinging to what was left of her shirt and trying to cover her breasts. Skylar heard a window shift up and the sound of boots. She darted through to the back of the apartment and saw the drapes blowing in the breeze. Not wasting a second or giving any thought to her own safety she hurried over and looked out. Matt had climbed from one balcony to the next and then dropped down. He was now on the lower level and was trying to make a break for it. She climbed out and gave pursuit.
Matt looked over his shoulder and launched himself off the end of the deck, landing in a large sand dune. It had to have been at least a fifteen-foot drop because the entire apartment block was raised aboveground in case of a storm surge. Before she reached the end of the walkway, she could already see him trying to escape on foot — a difficult task when running on sand. Skylar followed suit, catapulting herself over and down. She landed and went into a roll but was back up on her feet and moving forward within seconds.
The beach that morning was fairly empty barring a few kids fishing, and a couple of tourists with paddleboards. Mindful of what the captain had said earlier but realizing that chasing him across sand wasn’t easy, she seriously considered shooting him in the leg but at the last second, she gritted her teeth and opted to shoot in the air. Two rounds shattered the silence. “The next one goes in you!” she bellowed.
Matt slowed, then stopped running and without looking lifted his hands.
He didn’t want to die.
Most cowards who hurt others didn’t.
Skylar caught up with him and instructed him to get on the ground, spread his legs, and put his arms behind his back. Once done, she crouched down digging her knee into his shoulder so he couldn’t move while she cuffed him and read his Miranda rights.
Chapter 21
A day later, Skylar sat on the edge of the boat with Scot beside her. The water glistened beneath them and a hard sun beat down. They were having one last drink before his taxi arrived, and she was enjoying some well-deserved R&R after learning that both she and Harvey had been placed on suspension with pay. Davenport didn’t want to do it but Jackson’s lawyers had come down heavy on the department and whoever was in bed with him was making sure to send a clear message. They were being used to set an example. He reassured them that they’d be brought back in once everything had blown over with Elite Matchmaking, and perhaps it was a good thing in light of their actions. Of course he was referring to the use of money and Scot getting involved. It didn’t matter that it had led to the capture of Matt Sorenson.
Scot patted her on the leg. “I keep telling you, Skylar, this place is not for you. You and I, we’re a different breed. They like to drive in the slow lane, we’re fast, they do everything by the book, we tear it up. They cozy up to the powers that be, and we give the finger to them. This slow pace of life, it’s going to change you.”
“Yeah, you’re right but maybe that’s what I need.”
He laughed. “God, you’re a sucker for punishment,” he said before knocking back his beer. “Man I am going to miss this sunshine.”
She exhaled. “So what are you going to do about Kala?”
He hesitated before replying. “I figure other guys manage. No point throwing the baby out with the bathwater, right?”
“So you’re staying with the Marshals.”
“They’re going to have to pry this badge out of my dead fingers.”
“Well let’s hope that day never happens”
She put an arm around him and then heard someone cough behind them. Both turned to find Harvey. He stood wearing a pair of white shorts, boating shoes and a Ralph Lauren orange T-shirt. In one hand was a six-pack of beers, and in the other two fishing rods and a tackle box. Skylar had to bite her lip to stop herself from chuckling. Scot got up. “Looks like you got company, and I should be heading out.”
“Back to the Big Apple?” Harvey asked.
“Yep. Afraid so. Some of us have to work for a living.” He smiled and turned back to Skylar. She got up and gave him a big hug.
“You take care of that girl,” she said.
Scot tapped his boat. “And you take care of mine.”
He hopped off and strode away down the dock. Harvey stumbled as he got on board.
“Thinking of doing some fishing?” she asked.
“Well the way I see it, Reid. You’ve been here, how long now?”
“Long enough.”
“And you haven’t done any fishing.”
“Why would I? We’ve got restaurants.”
“No, no, no… there is nothing like fish cooked on a stove after you just pulled it out of the water ten minutes earlier.”
“That depends. Would you be cooking?”
“Do I detect some slight sarcasm?”
“Well those pancakes were a bit chewy.”
He bristled. “My pancakes aren’t chewy. I’ll have you know…”
She laughed, and headed down into t
he salon to place the beers in the fridge while he continued to drone on. Something about cooking awards and taste of the county and whatnot. It went in one ear and out the other.
“So I was chatting with Davenport this morning,” Harvey said. “Seems our boy broke down in the interview room and came clean. He certainly wasn’t acting so tough when he was staring down a sentence. Anyway, he said Teresa’s death was an accident. Apparently even though LaSalle began seeing Teresa and allowing her to stay in his apartment, he didn’t prevent her from being with other men. In fact he’d met her through his connection with Callum Jackson’s modeling agency. As for Matt. Well, you were right, she’d been seeing Matt on the nights that Taylor was at shoots. Matt didn’t even know that Teresa was from the same agency until she moved into LaSalle’s place and Taylor recognized her. He got nervous and went over there to talk to her about keeping quiet as he didn’t want Taylor to know about him using Elite’s service. One thing led to another and according to him, she mentioned that she had threatened to tell the cops about him hurting Taylor if he didn’t leave her. They got into a fight and he pushed her. As for Tyron, and Nancy, they were just two unfortunate friends that got caught up in the middle of it. It’s amazing the lengths people will go when they get paranoid about what they think others know.”
Skylar flashed him a glance and he must have caught on as he narrowed his eyes.
“Yeah, look, I know I went pretty hard on there being a leak in the department and I’m still not convinced that there isn’t but for what it’s worth, I’m going to try and dial it back.”
She smiled. “And Alvaro?”
“They believe he’s telling the truth. He hasn’t strayed from his original confession and though he had a long rap sheet and he’ll do some time for driving the vehicle at you, and assault, they just think that Tyron was paranoid about Elite after his business started to dwindle. Axl doesn’t even believe that he was hacked but that’s neither here nor there now.”
She nodded. “Yeah that’s a whole lot of paranoia.”
Death Match Page 17