by Stacy-Deanne
“These people?” She took her hands off the stirring wheel and laid her head on the headrest. “You mean poor people? I guess it’s easy to forget where you come from when you’re driving a Porsche huh, Reed?”
He glared at her.
“You were raised five blocks from here in the trailers. Now it’s ‘these people’.”
He turned toward her. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“But that’s what you said.”
“I haven’t forgotten where I’ve come from, Lexi.” He straightened up in the seat. “I wish I could forget.”
A short, chubby black woman in several layers of clothes, hobbled down the sidewalk.
“This might be her.” Alexis honked the horn. “I told you she was black.”
The woman headed for the car.
“Shit.” Kevin held on to the armrests. “I don’t like this at all.”
“Maybe what you don’t like is that I might hear something bad about Grant.” Alexis turned on the car and let down her window. “Andrea?” she called to the woman.
“Yeah.” She maneuvered her large hips to Alexis’ window. “Now I don’t want trouble, Detective.” She had a gap in every tooth but at least she had teeth. “I’m putting myself out here to help you.”
Alexis nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“You brought the money?” Andrea asked.
“See?” Kevin whispered, shaking his head. “It’s the first thing she asked.”
“Sh.” Alexis got her purse from the backseat and pulled out two hundred dollars.
“Two hundred dollars?” Kevin shrieked. “Lexi, are you out of your mind?”
Alexis handed her one hundred and held on to the other bill.
Andrea groaned. “I said two.”
“You gotta tell me something to get the rest of this.” Alexis unlocked the door. “Get in the backseat.”
Andrea got in, funk and all. “Is that your boyfriend?” She pointed the one hundred dollar bill at Kevin.
“Yes,” Alexis said.
“Mm.” Andrea stuck gum in her mouth while checking out Kevin. “You got nice taste, Detective.”
Alexis smirked. “What did you want to tell me and it better be good. You got me coming out here at night.”
“I saw you and the Chinese woman talking to Base at the motel.” Andrea stroked the one hundred dollar bill. “He said you had pictures of him and Grant Copeland.”
Alexis dipped her head. “She’s Vietnamese, and yes we showed him the pictures.”
Kevin turned around farther and hooked his arm over his seat.
“Base did a job for Grant.” Andrea chewed the gum as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
“Do you know what this job was?” Alexis asked.
“You got to promise not to tell no one what I tell you.” Andrea scratched her ear. “I don’t want Copeland coming after me.”
“I promise,” Alexis said.
“Grant wanted Base to get Leo Pacheco kicked off the police force.”
“What?” Kevin asked.
“Who is Leo Pacheco?” Alexis moved her hand from the seat.
“He was a homicide detective with the Tate Valley Police,” Kevin said. “He was fired.”
Andrea continued, “See, Grant didn’t like Leo sniffing around Nolan Armstrong’s accident. Leo suspected it was a homicide.”
Alexis covered her mouth and glanced at Kevin who held a bewildered expression.
“Grant offered Base some dough to set Leo up so Leo would be kicked off the force,” Andrea said.
Alexis leaned over her seat. “What did Base do for Grant?”
“That’s all I know.” Andrea stuffed the one hundred dollar bill in her cleavage and held out her hand. “May I have the rest of my money, please?”
Chapter Nine
“I told you, Kevin.” Alexis hit the steering wheel as she drove down the dark street. “I told you something was suspicious about Nolan’s accident and Grant’s right in the middle of it.”
“Based on what?” Kevin straightened his seatbelt. “What some hobo said for two hundred dollars?”
She stopped at a red light.
“How do you know she wasn’t just saying shit because you were dumb enough to hand out money like it was water?”
“Hold up.” She pressed her foot on the gas when the light turned green. “Are you taking up for Grant after what we just heard?”
“No, but you’ve gotten so desperate to get Grant that you’d run with anything.”
“Anything?” Alexis switched lanes. “She told us that Grant paid Base to get Leo off the force because Leo was suspicious about Nolan’s accident.” She turned the steering wheel. “Why would she lie and Base is her friend?”
“That doesn’t make it true.” He kept his eyes straight ahead. “Unlike you I don’t take just anyone’s word for things.”
She scoffed as she stopped at another red light. “Wow.”
“That woman couldn’t even tell you for sure why Grant paid Base.” He bounced in the seat. “I’m sick of you and this Grant shit. When’s it gonna end?”
She dug her fingers into the steering wheel. “What happened to the guy who said he’d believe anything I told him?”
“But things have to make sense and you gotta have proof.” He exhaled. “I’m sick of arguing about this.”
She went through another green light. “Okay, why would Andrea make this up?”
“For money.” He gripped the armrest, exhaling.
“Isn’t Leo off the force?” She glared at him.
“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth. “But—”
“But what? I thought you said you’d be on my side instead of Grant’s if I found out anything.”
“I am, but I need more than what a hobo says. Jesus, Lexi, you’re a cop. Do you just go on hearsay when you’re on cases?”
“Of course not but tips often lead to solving cases. You know that.”
“Why don’t we go back to our original agreement where we said we wouldn’t talk about Grant?” He crossed his arms.
“Fine,” she mumbled, turning toward Phillips Drive.
* * * *
“Come on in.” Jesse invited Alexis and Penelope into the trailer the next day. “I just finished breakfast, so you’re welcome to some.”
“No, thanks,” Alexis said as they followed her into the kitchen. “We have some quick questions.”
Jesse got the pan of scrambled eggs off the stove. “You needed to speak to Rose?” She dumped eggs into two plates. “Rose! Alexis and Penelope are here! They need to talk to you!”
“Be right down!”
“Actually,” Penelope said. “We needed to speak to you.”
Jesse placed bacon on the plates. “This isn’t more bullshit about me killing Donovan is it?” She held her waist. “It better not be.”
Rose walked in. “Hello.”
“How are you, Rose?” Alexis smiled.
“Fine.” She pushed her hair behind her ears. “Just not sleeping too well.”
“She thinks about what happened every minute.” Jesse ate a piece of bacon. “Poor kid hasn’t slept well in days.”
“I’m sorry,” Penelope said. “I can imagine how hard it is to relive something so horrifying.”
Rose got her plate and sat at the table. “Every time I close my eyes I see Donovan bleeding.”
Jesse laid two pieces of toast on Rose’s plate.
“I never wanted anyone to die.” Rose stabbed eggs with her fork. “Donovan tried to do a terrible thing to me, but I didn’t want him dead.”
“We want to believe that, Rose,” Alexis said.
“What do you mean you want to believe it?” Jesse scratched through her spiked hair.
“I’m not trying to be insensitive,” Alexis said. “We can’t be sure what’s happening until we solve this case. Unfortunately, everyone’s a suspect.”
Jesse threw her plate on the table. “You guys are just like the rich asses.�
�
“Jesse,” Penelope groaned.
“No, don’t ‘Jesse’ me. You know it’s true.”
Rose ate a slice of bacon. “Momma, don’t.”
“I’m not going for this shit, Rose.” She walked over to the table. “They’re trying to blame us because we’re the ‘scum’ of Tate Valley and the rich asses never do anything wrong. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s not what’s going on,” Alexis said.
“Bullshit. It’s because we live in this trailer we’re being treated like third class citizens.”
“This is an investigation, Jesse,” Penelope said. “A young man is dead, and that’s more important than your pride.”
“So to hell with him trying to rape my daughter?”
“He’s dead,” Alexis said. “And luckily Rose wasn’t raped.”
Jesse crossed her arms. “What are you here for?”
“We spoke to a few of Donovan’s friends,” Penelope said. “They said you threatened Donovan a week before he was killed.”
Rose looked at her mother.
“Said you’d found out about the…” Penelope switched her gaze to Rose. “Bet.”
Jesse closed her eyes.
“What bet?” Rose dropped a piece of bacon. “Momma, you talked to Donovan?”
“Baby—”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to know about that stupid bet.” Jesse sighed. “I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“What bet?” Rose shouted. “What the hell is going on?”
“Donovan’s friends said that he made a bet with them he could have sex with you,” Alexis said.
Rose clenched her blouse. “What?”
“He knew you were a virgin and bet his friends he could you know…” Alexis looked away.
“No.” Rose chuckled. “You’re lying. Donovan cared about me. He liked me.”
“Sweetie, he was a jerk,” Jesse said. “I tried to tell you that many times.”
“He cared about me!” Rose pounded the table.
“For god’s sake, he tried to rape you,” Jesse shouted. “He didn’t give a damn about you. I found out about the bet and confronted him. I told him if he did anything to hurt you he’d pay.”
“How could you hide this, Momma?” Rose breathed into her hands.
“I didn’t want to hurt you.” Jesse reached for her. “Besides, you were so gone over him that you wouldn’t listen if I told you the truth.”
“If it’s any consolation, a guy I was seeing bet his friends money he could sleep with me when I was in high school.” Penelope scowled. “And he only bet fifty dollars.”
“Penelope.” Alexis nudged her. “Sh.”
Penelope shrugged.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Jesse hugged Rose. “But you wouldn’t believe me when I told you he was bad news.”
“I was in love with him.” Rose cried into Jesse’s chest. “I feel so stupid.”
“No.” Jesse gripped her face. “You’re not stupid.”
“No, you were right.” Tears flooded Rose’s face. “I was a fool. Why would someone like him want me?”
“Listen.” Jesse shook her. “Donovan didn’t deserve to walk on the same ground as you. He wasn’t worthy of someone as decent and kind as you. I don’t care how much money he had.”
“Did he care about me at all?” Rose sniffled. “I guess I’ll never know.”
“Do you have a gun, Jesse?” Alexis asked.
“Jesus.” Jesse moved from the table. “I didn’t kill Donovan McCoy.”
“Then you don’t have a gun?” Penelope asked.
“No.” Jesse looked at Rose. “I don’t.”
Chapter Ten
“Captain Rojas?” Alexis popped from her cubicle when her superior walked past.
He stopped in the middle of the hall with his gun belt wobbling over his belly. “Yes?”
“May I speak to you for a moment, sir?”
He straightened the folders in his arm. “You’re oddly polite today, Adams. Follow me to my office.”
She rushed in behind him.
“I’m sure it’s safe to assume that you want a favor?” He went into his office.
“I wouldn’t call it a favor, sir.” She closed the door. “But I hope you’ll help.”
He laid the stack of folders on his desk and sat down. “You have any new developments on the Donovan McCoy case?” He put on his reading glasses. “Benson McCoy’s been calling up here every minute. I need you to give me something.”
“Got nothing except that thirty-eight shell casing.” She sat in the chair by his desk.
“That’s all you got?”
“Well, we have possible suspects but nothing concrete.”
“What about Jesse?” Rojas grabbed the coffeemaker from behind his desk. “McCoy’s convinced that she or Rose did it.” He poured coffee into his cup. “And Jesse hated the boy.”
Alexis clasped her hands. “Spoke to Jesse again this morning and she stuck to her alibi. She also claims not to have a gun. We also checked it out and found nothing.”
He blew into the cup. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Leo Pacheco.”
He sipped and set down his cup.
“He was a homicide detective for the department—”
“I know who Leo is,” Rojas interrupted. “I was his superior, for god’s sake. What are you up to, Adams?”
“Look, we butt heads, but I respect you, sir.” She scratched her head. “You’re a good man deep down. I…”
He waved at her. “Don’t pull my dick, Adams. What do you want?”
She leaned toward the desk. “Did Grant have Leo Pacheco fired?”
“Lord, have mercy.” He guffawed, rubbing his belly. “Why am I not surprised this is about Grant Copeland again?”
“Why was Leo fired?”
“He broke the law and a strict department policy.” He sipped. “The rest is none of your business.”
“I heard Leo had suspicions concerning Nolan Armstrong’s accident. Is it true he thought Nolan was killed?”
Rojas took off his glasses and sighed with a deep scowl as if he were irritated.
Alexis rocked her head. “Maybe Grant didn’t like that very much. Did Grant perhaps lean on you to fire Leo?”
He rubbed the wedding ring on his chubby finger. “We both know you don’t respect this department for shit, but do you really think I’d let Grant tell me what to do?”
She put her hands in her lap. “If your back was against the wall you would.”
“Leo Pacheco broke the law and lost his job on his own.” He opened a folder. “I can’t discuss anything else with you because it’s against policy.”
“Is it true that Leo thought Nolan was killed?”
“Jesus. Who you been talking to?”
“No one in the department, if that’s what you’re worrying about.” She winked.
He put his glasses back on.
“It disappoints me you’re not going to do the right thing.” She went to the door.
“Adams?”
She turned around, holding the doorknob. “Yes?”
“Mind your business and concentrate on your own case. Nolan’s accident has nothing to do with you.”
“People keep telling me that, and I keep not caring.” She shrugged.
“I’ve given you a warning.” He looked at her over his glasses. “I can’t make you listen to it.”
* * * *
That Night
Alexis followed Penelope up the walkway to Leo Pacheco’s two-story home. “Thanks so much for coming with me, Penelope.”
“Don’t mention it.” She swatted a gnat from her face. “Besides, Leo doesn’t trust anyone in this town but me.” She rang the doorbell.
Alexis checked out the multicolored bricks and slanted roof. “So Leo’s a good guy?”
“Leo was my closest friend on the force.” Penelope rang the doorbell again. “He hates Gra
nt, so you two should get along just fine.”
Alexis straightened her blouse as the door opened.
A tall, gorgeous man who appeared in his late thirties, with dark hair and a trimmed, black beard walked out. His hazel eyes glowed underneath the porch light.
“Leo.” Penelope hugged him. “How are you?”
He wrapped his arms around her while checking out Alexis. “I just go on being me, you know?” He gestured to Penelope’s snazzy blouse and violet slacks. “I see you’re still the fashionista of the department.”
She pulled Alexis toward Leo. “This is my friend Detective Alexis Adams.”
“You’re Stossel’s daughter?” Leo smiled and took her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Penelope told me a lot about you through the years. Said you were closer than sisters.”
Alexis pushed her hair away from her face. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m sorry for the loss of your father.” He let go of her hand and nodded. “Stossel was a good man.”
“Thanks.”
He crossed his arms. “Penelope said you were with your mother all those years when you left Tate Valley?”
“Yes.” She flinched. “She passed away three years ago from breast cancer.”
“I’m so sorry.” A vein wiggled in Leo’s forehead. “Penelope said you guys need my expertise on your current case or something.”
“The truth is,” Alexis said. “We wanted to speak to you about Nolan Armstrong’s death.”
He put his hands on his waist, his eyebrows wrinkling. “Nolan?”
Alexis caressed her hands from anxiety. “You suspected that his death wasn’t an accident and—”
“I’m sorry.” He stepped back into the house. “I’m not discussing this. That case ruined my career. It’s closed anyway.”
“Still, there are no statues of limitations on murder or suspected murders,” Alexis said. “Leo, from what Penelope has told me, you’re a good man, and that’s kind of rare around here.” She chuckled. “I bet this case has haunted you.”
He put his hands in his pockets and exhaled.
“What about Vanna? She died from a broken heart. She believed your theory. Don’t you think Nolan’s family deserves justice?”
“I already gave up everything I cared about because of that case and now I’m out of a job.” He held onto the door. “What’s the point of trying to get justice if it can’t be done in this town?” He shook his head. “I just wanna go on with my life.”