Blood Ties

  “Sure, Sam. Anything else I can get you?”

  “No, that’ll be all, thanks Jared.”

  He left and I phoned Mark. I stopped him from showing his displeasure regarding my letting Maggie leave; Mark has a few issues when it comes to feelings; he can’t understand that one may be sad during work-hours.

  Jared returned and sat across from me. He’d also brought a cup of coffee for himself.

  “How did you decide to become a book editor?”

  “I’ve read a lot, always. Books simply made me happy, if I liked the stories and how they were written. When I turned seventeen, Susie gave me a book as a present that was a mystery regarding an association of killers and…well, the plot of the book isn’t relevant. The thing is, the story was good, the writing average, but there were awful spelling mistakes as well as grammar ones. It freaked me out a bit; I grabbed a red pencil, marked the errors, and sent the book back to the editors. They replied with a thank you letter, in which they also apologized for the bad editing and they returned the marked copy as well as a clean one. And that was it, basically.”

  “My oh my, the young perfectionist,” Jared teased.

  “I know,” I said bashfully; “if I didn’t know it was me, I’d find myself pretty annoying.”

  “Don’t worry Sam, you’re pretty but you’re not annoying,” Jared said, grinning.

  I rolled my eyes and snorted. I drunk some coffee, mostly to cover my blushing face, and thought about broccoli. For whatever reason, broccoli has a taming effect on my hormones.

  “Did you become a detective due to family tradition?”

  “Sort of. My parents brought Juliet, Aidan and I up urging us to do something we loved, they never pressured us to actually become detectives. But dinners were spent talking about cases and solving mysteries, analyzing crime scenes or detailing personality traits. I couldn’t simply ignore the thirst I had for solving puzzles, and neither could Aidan. You can’t picture us being accountants or artists, can you?”

  “Not really, no,” I replied smiling, imagining Aidan in jean overalls with a paintbrush in his hand; it was one of the most unnatural scenes I’d ever pictured.

  I looked at the watch on my computer screen; Andrea would be getting in any minute now, so I asked Jared to wait behind Maggie’s desk and to take any calls that came in. He dutifully sat there and acted as the perfect assistant when Andrea arrived. She was dazzled by his smile and when he brought her a cup of coffee, I caught her staring at his butt. I pretended I hadn’t seen that and thanked Jared, who nodded and left, closing the door gently behind him.

  I spent the next hour and a half patiently explaining the changes I’d made to Andrea, confirming a few concepts, checking the fictional timeline, clearing a few doubts I had regarding characters, and going over Andrea’s biography for the flap.

  Depending on the client and the text being edited, such a meeting could leave me completely worn off and ready to take a nap or do some therapeutic shopping, or could make me feel proud of the work I’d done, fulfilled with my calling.

  This specific occasion left me quite content. She’d written a lovely book about a couple who worked for the CIA and traveled a lot. There was suspense, romance, hints of sex, true historic facts twisted slightly to help the plot, and descriptions of beautiful real geographical settings. Not only was her book good, but she was also a very humble, eager to learn from her mistakes kind of woman.

  Andrea was a dream as far as clients go.

  Jared walked her to the elevator and I could tell she was flirting with him; she battered her lashes, smiled timidly, softly grazed his arm and gave him a parting look that basically yelled ‘Fuck me!’; I snorted as Jared walked towards me, and he laughed as well.

  “I think your client likes me.”

  “I think you could make a living as a sex-toy, if you ever get bored with being a detective,” I said in a low voice so that no one else could hear.

  “Would you hire me?” Jared asked, sitting on Maggie’s desk, looking at me with a daring smile.

  “In a heartbeat,” I replied instinctively; blushing, I tried laughing it off and involuntarily snorted, which set Jared laughing as well.

  “I’ve got some things to change in the digital version of Andrea’s book, so I’ll have to get back to my office. Can you wait here until one, and then we’ll go to lunch?”

  “Sure thing; Sam. And you haven’t received any calls so far.”

  “Okay, great,” I replied as I returned to my office and closed the door behind me.

  I sat behind my desk and stared at the computer screen. Actually, I wasn’t staring at anything; my gaze had set there, but I was so caught up picturing Jared wrapped in a towel, a few drops of water sprinkled over his fit body, his humid hair moving wildly as he bent down and kissed me, taking my breath away, his lean arms embracing me tightly, his hands rubbing the edge of my breasts, his maleness perceptible against me...My sight wasn’t focused on anything.

  I shook my head, took a deep breath, pictured broccoli, and worked on Andrea’s book.

  After an hour of working, my stomach demanded food, and I wasn’t going to let it down, so I ate three biscuits and drank some instant soup. I continued making the final adjustments to Andrea’s novel and, once I was done, I had Jared call her and set up the final meeting, seeking her approval. I was sure she’d consent, but it was a requirement in Orchid Books.

  At one sharp I let Jared know I was ready for lunch. We got our coats and, after letting Annie know we’d be gone for an hour, we went to a deli two blocks away from the office.

  Jared told me some college stories; pranks he’d pulled on his classmates, shenanigans that had been made to him, how he’d slept with a teacher the day after he’d graduated, the fact that he’d once cheated on a paper—he felt ashamed of that, but he needed a good grade and didn’t want to risk his average due to his scholarship—among other anecdotes.

  Midway through lunch, Jared got a phone call and the light mood that had been surrounding us evaporated as his smile turned into a straight line, then into a worried frown, finally into a suspicious glare. I stared in expectation, knowing it had something to do with Susie, Sandy, Kelly, Noel or Olivia. I didn’t even try to figure out who he was talking to or what they were talking about because I was sure Jared would fill me in once he hung up. I was right.

  “Sam, things have gotten a bit complicated for your brother.”

  “Why, what happened?”

  “The crime scene investigators have matched the modus operandi of Olivia’s murder to Susan. They’ve also found a tie that matches one Susan wore to one of her office parties.”

  “How can they know that?”

  “Ben, the technician, suspected at first when he saw a photograph while checking out Susan’s office. Based on that, he ran a DNA test and there were traces of Susan’s which is irrefutable proof that it is, in fact, her tie, and Noel is the only connection between her place and Olivia’s.”

  “Or maybe he’s being set up,” I said, unsure.

  “Do you really think so, Sam? I mean, I know he’s your brother, but you should stop defending him, especially when there’s evidence that something is off.”

  I sighed and shook my head slowly.

  “Maybe you’re right; I’m used to sticking up for him and saving his ass. I have no problem acknowledging Noel is a fucked up egotistical asshole, but murderer?”

  Jared looked at me with kindness in his eyes. He was giving me the time to figure out what I really thought and how I felt. My gut told me otherwise, but I shrugged my shoulders, as if defeated.

  “I guess I only want to see good in people, but in this case, the evidence is overwhelming, isn’t it Jared? There aren’t that many reasons for Susie’s tie to be at Olivia’s, unless someone carried it over.”

  Jared’s mouth became a straight line; he didn’t force me into thinking anything. By keeping his expression neutral, he stopped himself from persuading me.

  �
�What will happen now?” I asked, accepting Noel’s involvement in a bigger, more complicated situation than he’d initially consented to.

  “Aidan will lead the interrogation with Violet. Unfortunately, we can’t be there. If Tank learns we’re there, he can claim anything from conflict of interest to a setup or whatever term he can twist and use to get a mistrial. We’ll have to wait until they’re done, and Aidan will fill us in then.”

  “Okay. What do we do until then?”

  “Do you think you’ll be able to work, or would you rather go back to your place?”

  “Kelly will be moving into her place in a little while. I guess I should drop by, they’ll think something’s up if I’m distant and don’t show the least bit of interest in what Noel’s going through.”

  “Okay, we’ll go there then. Call Rod and check the time they’re moving Kelly, and then call your boss.”

  “I’ve got to go to the office to pick up some things. Besides, we have to get the car.”

  “Okay, call Rod and then we’ll take things from there.”

  “Great,” I said as I grabbed my cell phone, searched for Rod’s number and pressed the ‘Call’ button. “Hi Rod, how are you? It’s Sam,” I said once I’d heard his greeting.

  “Yes Sammy, I saw the caller ID. How are you?” Rod asked with a calm tone.

  “I’m fine; I’m just finishing lunch with Jared. How are mom and Kelly? What are you all up to?”

  “Your mother is by Kelly’s side; they’re talking about a gossip show they saw earlier; as Kelly was mentioned, she considers herself a star now.”

  “Wonderful,” I replied mordantly.

  “Anyway, in a couple of hours we’ll be taking Kelly to her place. Would you mind giving us a hand once we get there? Just to put her stuff in order and make sure the place is tidy. I don’t want your mom straining herself too much, especially considering what happened last night.”

  “Sure thing, Rod. Call me when you’re leaving the hospital.”

  “Great. Thank you Sammy; and I’m sorry for Noel. Have you heard anything else? Sara cried herself to sleep last night, and Kelly hasn’t mentioned him once, which assures me that she’s worried about him, even if he treats her like crap most of the time.”

  “No, I haven’t heard anything,” I said quickly, convinced I wouldn’t know of the interrogation if Jared or Aidan weren’t in my lives.

  “Steven phoned me and said there were news to be shared, but he added it had to wait, so we’re expecting a call in a little while.”

  “Great, okay then, you’ll call me when you leave?”

  “Yes. Thank you Sammy.”

  “Send my love to mom and Kelly, and tell them I’ll be seeing them shortly.”

  “Will do, and greet Jared for us; your mom will be pleased to see him if he joins you.”

  “He will,” I said with a smile, “so you’d better keep a tight leash around her, to make sure she won’t run away with him.”

  Rod laughed lightly and we hung up. Jared and I finished our food, he paid after insisting; we went back to my office and remained there, and I worked as Jared played solitaire on Maggie’s computer.

  At around half past three, Rod phoned me and let me know they were leaving. I sent Mark an e-mail telling him I was leaving, turned off my computer, told Annie she should take any messages that came in for both Maggie and me, and left.

  Jared pulled over at a chocolate shop and bought a big box, filled with a variety of sweets, some with creamy stuffing, others with nuts, a few regular, and a couple with frosting. I teased him for his continuous sucking-up, but Jared replied he was just being courteous, adding that if we were an actual couple, he’d do things like that; attentions, he called them.

  We got to Kelly’s place just as they were getting out of the car. Jared parked and, after locking my Focus, we walked up to my sister, who was making her way aided by crutches, my mom, who carried a bag, and Rod, who juggled a couple of plastic bags that contained medicine, an orthopedic pillow, and Kelly’s huge purse. Jared immediately released Rod from some of the burden and I offered my mom help, but she refused, claiming she could manage.

  We entered the building and split up to ride the elevators. When we reached the sixteenth floor we got out and Rod let us in. Kelly was in such a critical condition, she couldn’t even open the door.

  The place was in pretty good shape. The policemen who’d searched the apartment hadn’t found anything, so it had been released back to Kelly. Steven had sworn there’d be hell to pay for if anything was even remotely damaged, and my sister made sure that she boasted about the brilliant, successful lawyer she’d hired.

  Jared made funny faces at me when no one was looking if he sensed I was about to snap at Kelly. He had really good timing.

  Jared carried Kelly around and she was delighted; my mom stared in amazement, also thrilled. Rod rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen; I followed him.

  We seemed to waltz around the huge room; Kelly didn’t cook, but she had a chef that made anything she demanded. The man went in twice a week and stocked her fridge; he also showed up for special occasions. The vast, beautiful kitchen was a waste, considering the limited use it was given; it was a pity.

  I prepared coffee and toast; Rod cooked some brownies for later and defrosted a chicken and I managed to make some mushroom cream and baked pumpkin.

  By the time we were done, three trays were set for dinner—the food would be heated whenever Kelly decided to eat—my sister was fully accommodated in her bedroom, Jared and my mom had put everything in its place, and the three were watching a gossip show.

  I thought the scene of my mom, Kelly and Jared sitting together, hoping to catch a glimpse of my sister on the TV was somewhat disturbing. They could pull it off as a family portrait or something of sorts, but as I knew their personalities, I was sure Jared would be fed up with Kelly following a ten minute conversation; yes, she was beautiful, but once she opened her mouth, not much could be expected. Unless he loved her, then he’d put up with any of her demands. I could tell my mom would love him as a son-in-law, but…

  What the hell was I thinking? Jared and Kelly? Jared as my mom’s son-in-law? What had led me to produce such dumb, pointless thoughts? And worst of all, was I actually jealous of the attention Kelly was getting from Jared?

  As I shook my head, attempting to erase these annoying ideas from my head, I saw Jared stand up and pick up his phone. When he crossed the threshold, I heard him say ‘Aidan’, and with an expectant look, he went to the room next to Kelly’s and closed the door behind him.

  “Sam, you’ll visit Noel to check up on him, right?” Kelly asked, without removing her eyes from the TV.

  I nodded and sat by her side.

  “Jared is a real sweetheart,” my mom said, a bashful smile on her face; she turned serious for a moment and looked at me earnestly. “Honey, I know this is not the time or the place, but I just think you should know that, even if you still love Caleb, it’s important for you to allow yourself to grow attached to someone else. Caleb would have wanted you to be as happy as possible, and I’m not pressuring you, but Jared seems like the kind of man who’s pretty much ideal for being happy.”

  I smiled at my mom. Yes, she overprotected Kelly and denied Noel’s state, but she was incredibly adoring and I knew what she said came from the kindness of her heart. But she was also right; this wasn’t the time nor place to discuss my love life.

  Before I could say anything, Rod entered, looking torn. Kelly muted the TV—God forbid she should turn it off—and Jared also came in, his face expressionless.

  “That was Steven,” Rod said, looking at my mom. “Noel is being charged with Susan and Olivia’s murders. They had evidence from both crime scenes, and Steven said it was undisputable. The DA will be pressing charges and Steven will do his best to get him out of prison until the trial or when a deal is cut, but for now, Noel will remain imprisoned.”

  My mom gasped and covered her mouth with her
hand, clearly in shock. Rod placed his hand on her shoulder and she closed her eyes in pain. Kelly’s stare was blank with a hint of dazedness. Jared was impassive; he already knew.

  “We’ll go down to where Noel is being held and make sure he’s okay,” Jared said, stepping forward. “If he needs anything, we’ll get it for him. It’s important that Kelly regain her strength and recovers from the wounds she has, and Sara,” he said, looking at her, “after last night’s peak of stress or whatever it was, you’ve got to be careful for your own health. I know he’s your son, but you need to be okay, for your family.”

  I was amazed by Jared’s ability to ease my mom’s stress. She nodded and smiled bravely. Rod looked at us with appreciation in his eyes, and after saying goodbye, we left.

  “What did Aidan tell you?” I asked the second we were seated in my car.

  “At first the only link was the tie, but Samaire found traces of soil on both Susan and Olivia’s bodies that were an exact match to a plant Noel keeps in his place. Ben found fingerprints belonging to Susan, Olivia and Noel on the tie that had been found at your brother’s place, and it appears to have been the murder weapon. The toxicology exam for your brother will be ready either on Thursday or Friday. What Aidan said was that basically, they’re still gathering more evidence, the crime scene unit will go over Susan’s apartment again, in case they’ve dismissed or have overseen anything that linked Noel to the place, but he added that Violet is pretty confident.”

  “Did Noel say anything?”

  “No, he sat quietly as Aidan and Violet explained what they’d found so far. Aidan said Noel looked surprised when they added Susan’s murder to the crimes committed, but he was unable to come up with an alibi. On Saturday night, he went to Brody’s, at twelve returned to his place, and he claims to have fallen asleep watching TV, but no one saw him enter his place, so he could easily be lying.”

  “I see. Why did you say crimes? As in plural?”

  “Violet is adding growing marihuana, keeping a brick of cocaine, and carrying an unregistered weapon to the charges.”

  “What?” I asked in disbelief. “I always assumed Noel was a pot-head, but cocaine? And what’s that weapon charge about?”