Chapter Nine
Graeme was more than a little irritated by the time he made it back to the office, but he couldn’t figure out just why. He hadn’t expected to get much from Will, but something else was bugging him.
“Hey, how’d the meeting with McPherson go?” Adam asked.
“Boss told you we went?”
Adam nodded. “He went home a little while ago. Emma was feeling under the weather.”
Graeme frowned. “Elle had lunch with her, and she didn’t say anything.”
Adam shrugged. “Maybe it was something she ate.”
And she had eaten with Elle. “Elle didn’t say anything about feeling badly.”
Adam gave Graeme a strange look. “I’m sure it’s just Emma. Did you find anything out from McPherson?”
He shook his head. “A little background, but not much. He was assigned to the Honolulu Strangler case.”
Adam smiled. “Yeah, everyone was pretty much considered to be on the Strangler case at the time. It’s not like they knew that much about serial killers, so everyone had a hand in it, to tell you the truth.”
“So, were there people assigned to it specifically?”
Adam nodded. “Yeah, sure, but they weren’t turning anyone away who might have wanted to help. Lots of unis and detectives were working off the clock to catch the bastard.”
“Catching him would have made someone’s career.”
“So, there is a very good chance that someone could have ignored Jenny’s murder because they might have gotten a bigger bang out of solving the Strangler case.”
“Bastard.”
“Yes, but be careful who you throw that name around at.”
“You’re no’ defending the person who did this.”
Adam held his hands up. “Hey, don’t attack me. I don’t agree with the bastard, but you’re new to this kind of work. They will stick together, especially some of the older generation. You’re seen as an outsider because of your land of birth, and you’ve not been a cop for very long.”
“That’s why I told Del you should take this job.”
Adam shook his head. “I think it might be better to have someone from the outside. No connections makes it easier for you to work the case, look from the outside.”
“Yeah, sure. It also makes it hard to get a feel for what was going on at the time.”
“Listen, you can ask me, and I can line up some of my aunties. They can tell you all the tales of Honolulu of the late eighties.”
Graeme smiled. “That might work.”
“They’ll love talking to a haole like you. Blonde and with an accent...you’ll be a hit. Just remember to be careful with the older cops, if you talk to any more of them.”
Graeme nodded. His mind went back to the conversation with the Kalanis. “I will do that as a last resort. You know how they will react if I walk in there asking questions right off. They’re already out of sorts because we have this case.”
“You’re probably right on that front.”
Drew came walking in, a pensive expression at odds with his shirt that featured the weather forecast for Alderaan.
“What’s up?” Adam said.
“I had a call in the lab for the doc, but I can’t seem to get hold of her. Del said the two of you were at lunch?”
Graeme nodded. “She had already had lunch. We were talking to McPherson about the case. Who called?”
Drew shrugged. “Someone with an English voice.”
“Her family.”
“No. I know her parents’ voices. I’ve talked to them before. Plus, this guy said his name was Gerald.”
There it was, another ping of irritation. The fact that Drew seemed to know more about Elle’s family than he knew was irritating.
“He wanted to know her mobile...I mean her cell number.”
“You didn’t give it to him, did you?”
He shook his head. “But I tried calling her and she didn’t answer.”
“She was on her way home when we got back. She said she was going to do some research.”
Drew’s phone rang and his features eased. “That’s the doc.”
“Hey, Elle. Yeah, did you get my message?” He was quiet for a moment. “No, I didn’t give him your number. He said he would call back tomorrow. Okay. No problem. Bye.”
He hung up and looked at Graeme and Adam. He said nothing, but smiled.
Adam glanced at Graeme, then looked at Drew. “What was that about?” Adam asked.
“Apparently, the doc’s ex was trying to get hold of her for some reason. No idea why.”
“She knew it was the ex?” Graeme asked.
“Yes, I left his name on her voicemail. I will say, she doesn’t sound very happy to have heard from him.”
Adam let an eyebrow rise. “Yeah. That probably goes with the territory, since they are divorced.”
“She never talks about him. Like ever. I have an aunt who got divorced twenty years ago, and they were only married a year, and she goes on and on and on about him all the time.”
“Elle’s break up was not easy from what I understand, but it almost ruined her career.”
“Did she sound okay to you?” Graeme asked.
Drew shrugged. “She sounded irritated, but not any more than she would be normally.”
“Normally?”
“When she’s irritated. She gets this tone in her voice. It’s when I know to stop asking questions.”
Adam coughed, and Graeme was sure he did it to cover a laugh. Working with Drew on a daily basis was bad enough, but being his immediate supervisor and trainer could not be an easy task. Elle always seemed to have an infinite supply of patience with the over eager assistant.
“She said she was going over old newspaper articles having to do with the old case.”
“I was going to do that.”
Drew shrugged. “Unless we catch a case, she really has nothing to do. And, she does have some payback from HPD on her covering for the last couple weeks. It’s been kind of insane with the stomach flu going around.”
“Ah, that might be what’s wrong with Emma,” Adam said.
“She’s sick?” Drew said.
Adam nodded. “Del went home because she was under the weather, and since I was done with my stuff for the day, I sent him home.”
“Ah. So...who is everyone bringing to the wedding? Oh, and when is the bachelor party?”
Graeme and Adam shared a look, then they looked at Drew. Drew’s eyes widened.
“You’re his best man, Adam. It’s kind of your job.”
Graeme looked at Adam.
“I already asked him, and he declined, although I do think we should take him out before his mom gets here.”
“And your dates?”
“We’re supposed to have dates?” Graeme asked. “I always thought it was better to go stag.”
Not that he actually thought that much about it. Truth was, other than the occasional hookup, he hadn’t dated anyone seriously since he relocated to Hawaii.
“What do you mean?” Drew asked.
“It’s always best to come stag. Of course, that is usually to take advantage of the bridesmaids...oh, and one of them is involved with two men,” Adam said.
Graeme snorted. “I would not touch that woman with a ten-foot pole. I’m pretty sure Sean and Randy would make me disappear.”
Emma’s half brother had two lovers, Randy and Jaime. The trio were considered some of the best security experts in the Pacific Rim area, if not the world, and all of them definitely knew how to make people disappear. Jaime, the one female of the trio, had her hands full with the two men, but didn’t seem to mind.
“Yeah. But there are three other bridesmaids,” Graeme said.
“Only two,” Drew said. “Cat’s going with me.”
Again, he shared a look with Adam. “You’re taking her to the wedding?”
Drew rocked back on his heels. “Yep, so that leaves Elle and Charity, and I know Charity is comi
ng stag.”
“You know, how?” Adam asked.
Drew’s smile widened. “She told me. Said she liked to keep her prospects open. I have some reports to file for Elle.”
And then he just left, with Adam and Graeme staring after him.
“Now, tell me why I’m feeling like a loser,” Adam said.
“Because Dead Guy Drew has a date with Cat for the wedding and we’re both going stag.”
“Ah, and who has the bet on their first date?”
“Damn, I think Charity is keeping track of that one.”
“Someone is going to win big,” Adam said.
“Doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we are both still going stag, and Dead Guy Drew has a date with a hot Hawaiian woman.”
* * *
Del knew there was something really wrong. Emma had been in bed since he came home, dead to the world. He stood at the doorway to their bedroom and watched her sleep. She’d been out when he got home. A call to Elle reassured him that she wasn’t really sick, but he hated that the wedding was getting to her. He felt like a bastard for insisting on having a big family wedding.
“I can feel you staring at me,” she said without opening her eyes.
“Can you blame me? You have me worried, babe.”
She opened her eyes and stretched. Then she smiled at him, and he felt it to the soles of his feet. Just that, and his heart started to sing with happiness.
Emma sat up and stared at him. She scooted over, then patted the bed next to her. He walked over and sat on the mattress.
“I’m sorry, Emma.”
“Why?”
“We should have done a simple run to the justice of the peace, nothing big. Planning this wedding is making you sick.”
She shook her head and cupped his face. Without closing her eyes, she leaned forward and brushed her mouth over his.
“It isn’t the wedding, love.”
Terror filled him. “Give it to me straight.”
“You’re going to be a daddy, Del.”
For a second, the world seemed to slow to a complete stop. He couldn’t think, couldn’t even comprehend what she had said.
“You’re pregnant?”
She nodded, as tears filled her eyes. “Probably about eight weeks or so.”
“That’s why you’ve been getting dizzy and sick to your stomach?”
“And being so sleepy.”
Then, the reality of what she had just said hit him. Joy filled him.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Okay? No, I am not okay. I am fantastic,” he said, pulling her to him in a big hug. He leaned back and kissed her then, trying to pour everything he was feeling into that one gesture.
“You made me very happy,” he said.
“Well, you did have something to do with it.”
He laughed and stood up. The room spun around him.
“Whoa.”
“Del?”
“I’m okay. Just a little lightheaded.”
He looked down at her. She was his world. From the moment they’d met, she had been surprising him. Now, she was going to make him a daddy.
He grabbed her and lifted her up off the bed. “It’s the best news.”
She laughed, as he carried her into the living room. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.
“It’s so weird that it isn’t going to be the two of us in just seven months.”
“Yes. I’m putting my money on a girl.”
He set her on the stool at the breakfast bar and grabbed the phone.
“Gotta call my mom.”
“Do we have to? Can we wait until after the ceremony?”
He studied Emma for a second. “She isn’t going to care that you’re pregnant before the ceremony.”
“Are you sure?”
He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers. “Yes. She’s going to be thrilled with a grandbaby.”
Slowly her mouth curved. “Yeah?”
“Yes. And after I call her, we are going to go tell your brother.”
She blinked. “Is that normal?”
Sometimes he forgot how she had grown up without much social contact. Add in being orphaned and living on the streets by the age of sixteen, she really didn’t understand all of the family dynamics. The fact that she hadn’t known about her half brother until a year ago added to the confusion.
“He’s going to want to know, as will Jaime and Randy. They will all want to celebrate. But, first, Mom.”
* * *
Elle was just pouring herself some tea when there was a knock at the door. She frowned, setting down her teapot. When she reached the door, she saw Graeme standing there.
She opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s a fine way of welcoming me.”
“I didn’t invite you.”
He shook his head and tsked. “Just like a Campbell.”
She sighed. “How did you find my address?”
“You’re in the employee recall roster, Elle. I heard you were going over some old newspaper articles, and thought you might want to split the work.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“You weren’t answering, which is another reason I came over.”
Oh, damn. She’d turned her mobile off to avoid her ex. She didn’t think he had her mobile number, but there was a chance that he would hunt that up now.
“I’m sorry. I’m avoiding...”
“Your ex. I know. Drew can’t keep a secret to save his life. I just wanted to know where you had looked, and then we could coordinate the research so we aren’t wasting time looking at the same things.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
But she stood there looking at him, unable to move. She still could not process the fact that he was standing there on her stoop.
“Elle, love, are you going to let me in?”
She blinked and opened her mouth to apologize when she heard a bark.
“What on earth was that?”
“Dumfries.”
“As in Scotland?”
“As in my mutt, who decided to dig up his babysitter’s garden again.”
She stepped out onto the small stoop and looked at his truck. A massive wolfhound leaned out the opened window. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth.
“He’s beautiful,” she said. She slid her gaze to Graeme. “He housetrained?”
He nodded.
“Then, don’t leave him out there. Bring him in.”
He looked past her into the foyer that led to her tiny kitchen. “Don’t worry. Nothing of great value will be where he can damage it.”
“Okay, but I did warn you.”
She shook her head and watched as he went to his truck and opened the door. Dumfries jumped down and galloped to her.
“Dumfries,” Graeme barked out. The massive dog slid to a stop in front of her on the lawn. He sat, wagging his tail, with a doggy smile curving his lips.
“Well done, Dumfries,” she said, cooing to him. She held out her hand, and he sniffed at it, then stood and moved so her hand would run down his body.
“Aren’t you a pretty boy?” she said. When she smiled up at Graeme, he had a stunned look on his face. “What? Did I do something wrong?”
He shook his head, but he still said nothing to her.
“Seriously, you’re making me feel weird looking at me like that.”
“Sorry. Not sure I ever heard that tone in your voice before.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she straightened and waved Dumfries in. She tried to do the same with Graeme, but he took hold of her screen door and held it.
“Ladies first.”
She shook her head and stepped into her house as he followed her.
“I was just making some tea. Would you like some?”
“No, but some water would hit the spot.”
“I have my tablet on the coffee table there,” she said grabbing a bottle of water and tossin
g it to him. “I have my laptop on the lanai. We can work out there because there’s a nice breeze.”
“Do you have a fence?”
“Yes.”
“Come on, Dumfries.”
His dog was sitting in the middle of her tiny kitchen watching her every move.
“Oh, I see how it is. Always drops me for the lasses,” Graeme said shaking his head.
He slid her screen door open. She smiled as she made her tea, then stepped out the door, waited for Dumfries to trot out, and shut the door.
“Let’s get started. I’m going to look up anything referencing the medical examiner, and you can do anything from the police.”
“Do you think you’ll find much?”
“There could easily be articles in medical magazines. It’s a long shot, and Doc didn’t say he wrote anything about them, but someone else could have. Or it could have been mentioned in passing. I can also decipher medical double talk. I love Doc, but he was very politically correct at that time. He had a huge job, especially for someone who started out like he did. He might have not wanted to rock the boat.”
“I thought he was like a second father to you.”
“Yes. But I am also not blind, and I understand complex relationships with the press more than a lot of people.”
He nodded. “You’re not feeling ill, are you?”
She frowned. “I feel fine.”
“Good. Del went home because Emma was under the weather.”
“Oh, that. She’s fine.”
His eyes narrowed. “You know something.”
“Well, since she’s probably letting the cat out of the bag tonight, Emma will be fine, and we are going to be welcoming the first TFH baby in about seven months or so.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, then his mouth curved. “Well, that’s brilliant.”
His response brought a smile to her face. “It is.”
“My sister is pregnant again. Babies are amazing.”
He looked down at the tablet and blinked. After setting it back on the table, he said, “I’ll be right back.”
As he hurried out, Dumfries barely noticed. In fact, his dog was more interested in barking at the kids in the next door neighbor’s yard. Graeme stepped back out on the lanai, his glasses in hand. He sat down, slipped them on, then started to work.
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