Better the Devil You Don't Know

by Mairsile Leabhair

  She put her fork down and tilted her head slightly toward me. “I learned in my travels with my mother that it’s all in how you look at things. Cows roaming free on the streets of Mumbai is considered normal. Old Koreans selling grilled dog steaks by the roadside is considered a delicacy. May to December romances are considered strange in America, but also, secretly desired by most. I desire you, Michele. Simple as that. What you perceive as problems, I see the solutions for.”

  Outwardly I wasn’t buying it, but inside, I was craving it. “And your solutions would be?”

  She grinned and fed me another bite of pastry, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Well, you say you’re too tired to stimulate your sex drive, but apparently, I was able to do that with just one kiss.”

  “Oh please. You had me hot and bothered by the time the dessert arrived.”

  Again, she grinned. A satisfied grin of vindication. I inadvertently proved her case. “So you see, you have a very strong libido. To the other things you mentioned, that’s just all superficial. You deal with menopause, I deal with monthly mood swings and cramps. You deal with not driving at night, I deal with fear of the dark. You have a bucket list, I have the passion to fulfill it with you. What other arguments do you have?”

  “You have the rest of your life in front of you, I have Medicare,” I quipped, not really trying to win the argument any longer.

  “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and you could live to be 110. The question is, do you want quality over quantity? The answer is most definitely quality. The answer is to have fun, take chances, and live life to its fullest potential. Because, Michele, you only get one shot at this life. And I may not put this right, but you’re on the precipice and it’s time to either give up or jump off and soar.”

  Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. Could it really be that easy? Could I really trust her to catch my heart when I jumped off that cliff? No, not yet. Maybe not ever. “No, I don’t think this will work. You’re all gung-ho now, but what happens in five or ten years when I grow older and you lose patience with my aches and pains?”

  “Honey, we could play the what-if game until the sun comes up and still not know the answers. Look, I’m not asking you to marry me. You barely know me. I’m asking you to trust me enough to have some fun together, no commitments necessary. You could just as easily decide you don’t like me and my heart is taking a huge chance too, you know.”

  Something snapped inside. I’m not sure what possessed me, perhaps she had all the right answers, but I leaned over the wine glasses, grabbed her by the collar and pulled her to me. Our lips bumped, but I didn’t feel the pain, I felt the tingling, the electricity, the desire as she took control from me and teased my senses with her probing tongue, exactly as I had hoped she would. Some women prefer to be in control of the pursuit, and I am totally all right with that. In fact, I prefer it.

  The sounds a person makes when they are in the thralls of a kiss are as much a stimulus to me as the voltaic feel of their tongue against mine. I was lost in her kiss, swimming in desires I thought had long since dried up, when she called my name.

  “What?” I looked around, confused by several things. “When did we get down on the floor?”

  Laughing, she kissed me again, on the lips, but much to my dismay, she didn’t linger. “I’m so sorry, but I’m going to be late for work if we take this any further because I don’t intend to rush where you’re concerned. And,I don’t think the chief would be too happy with my excuse.”

  “Damn it! I’m going to die of old age before—” She put her finger to my lips.

  “Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” she warned, taking my hand in hers. “This is actually a good thing for us.”

  “I’d like to know how?” I huffed in disbelief.

  “Because, we agreed to take it slow and you know, anticipation can be just as much fun as the actual event.”

  I shook my head, not buying any of it. “I agree, we should take it slow, but that is in regards to moving in together, not in getting me all worked up with no outlet.”

  “I’m so sorry, honey. Is it really that bad?” she asked, running her fingers across my arm. “I would rather face the chief’s wrath then leave you hurting.”

  My heart instantly melted. How selfish am I? “No, sweetie. It’s not that bad, I was just being whiney.”

  “No, you weren’t whiney. You were telling me how you really felt, and I totally understand. I don’t even have time to take a cold shower.”

  I looked at her with complete empathy. “Are we crazy? Is this crazy?”

  “No, Michele. It’s a test,” Lula said, sitting up and holding out her hand. “And we are passing the test with flying colors.”

  “A test of what?” I asked disparagingly, taking her hand, sitting up and moving to the seat.

  “Of our patience. If it’s meant to be, and we’re patient enough to find out, can you imagine what it will be like when we finally do make love?”

  She seemed so sincere in her assessment, and I actually found myself excited with anticipation. Please, God. Let me pass the test.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Casey Dennis

  “I want police protection on these women right now!” I demanded furiously.

  “Already done,” Becky assured me. “There will be a plainclothes officer outside of the pediatric ICU in a few minutes. Dr. Aponte will have a patrol car outside of her clinic tonight, and we’re not sure where Michele Michaels is at the moment, but we will place a patrol car in her neighborhood.”

  “I don’t think they will try to grab Scottie here in the hospital, and she has not left her son’s bedside since he came in. It would be too hard to get her out without being noticed. But the other two women are very vulnerable.”

  I picked up my cellphone again and sent a collective text to everyone involved, except for Scottie, telling them to report in immediately. This was not something I wanted Scottie to have to worry about. Then I picked the picture up and studied it closely. Celine’s photo had a painting in the background that I didn’t recognize, so I didn’t think it was taken here at the hospital. Perhaps it was in her office, which would verify that the killer was her patient. I could tell that Scottie’s picture was taken during the impromptu prayer service this morning. Michele’s composite showed the cafeteria in the background. As far as I knew, Scottie was the only one who had been abused and was seeing a psychiatrist, which was Celine. Is that why Celine’s picture is included?

  The door to the main office opened and I quickly put the photo back in the envelope and slipped it into the evidence bag. I slid it into my middle desk drawer and yanked off the gloves just as Josh and Noel walked in. I had forgotten that Noel was teaming with Josh this week.

  “I got your text. What’s up, Chief?” Josh asked.

  “I want Noel to shadow Barney tonight. Josh, I need you for something else.”

  “Roger that, Chief,” Josh said, nodding at Noel, who looked at me curiously before leaving.

  “We’re here,” Michele chirped as she and Lula walked in, greeting Noel as he left.

  “I don’t want Detective Littleton to have to repeat herself several times so wait for her in the conference room, please.”

  Michele’s smile turned into a frown with a look of apprehension in her eyes. She looked from me to Becky and then back at me. “Something’s happened, hasn’t it? Do you want me to clock back in?”

  “Yes, something has happened. No, I don’t want you to clock back in,” I said tersely, agitated because I knew what was coming, and I was helpless to spare them this harrowing information. “Just wait for us in the conference room.” After they left, I stood up and walked around to my office door and shut it. Then I turned to Becky and said, “I think the killer is one of my people, but I’m not sure who.”

  “Then I’ll bring them in one by one and interrogate them.”

  “That might spook the killer,” I replied, walking back to my desk and pulling the p
icture out. “I’m trusting that my two team leaders, Josh and Dorey, are innocent, because I’m going to ask them for their help. But the rest of them, especially the temps, are on my suspect list.”

  “How long is that list?”

  I handed her the composite back and said, “Seven altogether… no, eight. I fired one yesterday. A full-time employee named Byron Becker. Can you check him out? He’s very belligerent and should have been fired a long time ago. Definitely interrogate him.”

  “Will do. Who else?” Becky asked, pulling out her small notepad and pen.

  “I don’t have employee records on the temps, so that’s one of the reasons I don’t trust them. My full-time guards, except for Byron, have a clean record at work. Can you run a background check on all of them anyway, full time and temporary as well?”

  “Sure, I can do that,” Becky agreed.

  There was a knock on my door and I swerved around and opened it. Celine was standing there with a frown on her face and her hands on her hips. “I was summoned? I only came down here to tell you to your face that you can kiss my—”

  “Good evening, Dr. Aponte,” Becky said as she stood up and waved a hand, a chuckle on her lips. “Thank you for coming down on such short notice.”

  Celine’s face drained of her anger as she put on a polite smile. “Detective,” she said and then looked back at me. “What’s going on?”

  My face was placid, but I was sure she would see the fear in my eyes. “There’s been a development in the case that I need to talk with you and a few others about.”

  “I’m here Chief,” Dorey said as she walked in followed by a man and a boy wearing a baseball T-shirt and cap. “What’s the emergency?”

  Damn. I didn’t mean for her whole family to come in. In hindsight, sending a text message that says emergency meeting, conference room in thirty minutes, no exceptions, might need a little more clarification next time.

  “I’m sorry, Dorey. I should have worded that text better. You didn’t have to drop everything, but since you’re here, I do need your help with something.”

  Celine glared at me but I ignored her.

  “No problem, Chief,” she said.

  “Is this your family?” I asked, feeling like an idiot.

  “Yes, this is my husband, Donald Davis, and my son, Donny, Jr. Guys, this is my new boss, Chief Dennis.”

  Donny, Jr. stuck out his chest and saluted. I couldn’t imagine what Dorey must have told him, but he was adorable. “It’s nice to meet you both,” I said, returning Donny’s salute. “What does your T-shirt say?” I asked.

  He stretched his jersey out to show me. “Little League Colorado Champions,” he said, his face lit up with pride. His father was looking pretty proud, too.

  “Wow, that’s awesome,” I cheered. “What position do you play?”

  “First base, but I’m a really good pitcher too,” he boasted.

  “I’ll bet you are, Donny,” Celine said, glancing from the boy over to me. I was sure there was something unspoken in her eyes, but I wasn’t going to get into it with her again. Not now.

  Dorey put her hand on her husband’s arm. “Honey, you and Donny better get going if you don’t want to be late for the game. I’ll catch a ride home.”

  “You’re not coming with us, Mom?” Donny asked.

  “No, honey. I’m needed here. But you can tell me all about it when you get home, all right?”

  “I guess,” he sulked.

  “Call me when you’re done here, and we’ll come get you,” Donald insisted.

  “I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” Dorey said, looking at me.

  “I’ll be sure she gets home safe, Mr. Davis,” I assured him.

  He gave me a once over and then smiled. “Thanks, and don’t keep her too long. We both have the night off tonight.”

  Donny waved as they walked out the door, and I smiled and waved back. Celine leaned around and gazed at me. “You should see yourself the way I see you,” she quipped, instantly stirring up my anger again.

  “Let’s go into the conference room,” I commanded, leading the way. When I walked in, I counted heads to make sure everyone involved was present. “Ms. Ferguson, you don’t have to be here for this,” I said, having forgotten that she came in with Michele.

  Michele looked at me with large frightened eyes and shook her head. It was like she knew something wasn’t right and she grabbed Lula’s hand.

  “With all due respect, Chief,” Lula said, standing up but still holding Michele’s hand. “I’d like to stay and help.”

  Lula’s body language and look of concern told me she was being sincere. Now there were three people I would have to trust with three women’s lives.

  “All right, take a seat,” I said and then turned to Becky. “Most of you know Detective Littleton. She has some news about the murder that happened here on campus.” I nodded to Becky and then moved to the back of the room.

  Becky stepped up to the table and placed the plastic-covered picture face down on the table. “Before I start, I need to ask if either of you have personally been abused?”

  “No, but as you know, I treat women who have,” Celine replied.

  Becky looked at Michele next. “Have you ever been abused, Ms. Michaels?”

  “Only every time I step on the scales,” she joked and the others laughed.

  Michele was the kink in the theory that the killer was abusing the abused. Granted, something had caused him to change his MO and most likely that was the last victim who got away from him. Already emotionally unstable, that probably sent him spiraling in a different direction in order to compensate. He had to prove he was still in control and the way to do that was to torment the police with the possibility that he would kidnap and kill three victims now instead of one. In effect, he was torturing the police as well.

  Becky picked up the composite picture. “The killer has sent us a message about who his next victim might be. We take these things very seriously, even though it may turn out to be just a hoax. There’s no easy way to tell you in this case, other than to show you what he sent.” She flipped the composite over and held it out so they could see it.

  I watched everyone’s reaction as they leaned in to look closer.

  Michele shook her head. “My hair is a mess,” she joked nervously, confusion written across her face.

  Celine put her hand to her lips, obviously not sure what to make of it either. When a victim, or in this case a potential victim is shown evidence like that, they don’t see themselves in the picture at first. It takes a minute to sink in.

  Dorey was the first to understand. “Oh, my God!” she gasped. “You can’t let this happen!”

  “Let what happen?” Michele asked, looking from one person to another, still not putting it all together.

  “Ms. Michaels. You and Dr. Aponte, along with another woman, have been targeted by the serial killer,” Becky explained brusquely.

  Michele’s eyes grew large as her mouth gaped open. She looked at me questioningly and I nodded. She slapped her hand to her mouth and jumped up. “I think I’m going to be sick,” she muttered as she rushed out the door. Lula ran after her.

  Celine, whose face morphed from shock to fear to anger, scowled at Becky. “Okay, now that you’ve scared the living shit out of us, what do you intend to do about it?”

  “We have police stationed at your clinic, Ms. Michaels home and outside the ICU for Ms. Thomas. In most cases, the sight of a police officer in the area is enough to warn the perp off.”

  Michele came back in looking pale, and I could see that her hands were trembling.

  “Are you all right?” I asked, sitting down at the table beside her.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I think it was something I ate,” she replied and looked at Lula, who chuckled. It must have been an inside joke.

  “What can we do to protect these women?” Josh asked pensively.

  “As I said,” Becky continued. “We have police patrolling in their neighborh
oods, and I would encourage them to report immediately anything suspicious they see, to those officers.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you will do?” Lula asked indignantly.

  I stood up again. “That’s all they can do within the scope of the law. The reason I let you stay, Lula, and asked Dorey and Josh to be here, was to formulate a plan to help the police keep them safe.” I realized that I was calling them by their first names, but under the circumstances, principal be damn. I’m putting three women’s lives directly into their hands, I’d say they passed my self-appointed probation period. “Let me be blunt. I believe the killer is one of the security guards here at the hospital.”

  “My money’s on Byron,” Josh offered.

  Shaking my head, I continued, “I thought so at first, too. But the photo of Ms. Thomas was taken right after our little prayer session. I can tell because of all the people in the background. Byron was gone by then. No, my gut says it’s one of the temps just hired on.” Everyone began talking at once with a lot of speculation being bantered around. I held up my hand, and they quieted instantly. “I asked Detective Littleton to run an in-depth background on everyone in this department, especially the temps. Lula, that includes you, too. I trust it won’t turn up anything?”

  “No, Chief. Just my penchant for old movies and traveling.”

  Michele smiled at her as if exchanging another inside joke. Those two had bonded a lot faster than I would have thought. Surprisingly, I was glad of that, given the circumstances now.