by Jet MacLeod
Sam looked at Grace dejected, like French had just kicked her in the shins. Grace motioned for Sam to follow her as they made their way out into the backyard. It was just a mess. The whole crime scene was just a mess.
“This is insane,” Grace said.
“It’s a damn mess,” Sam replied.
“What notes do you have so far?” Grace asked.
“Okay, well, we have three victims. The home owner is Jessica Reilly, age twenty-eight, a receptionist for a builder downtown. No sign of forced entry. Still trying to pinpoint his point of entry. Don’t know who got killed first. The two in the back yard seem to be a mystery, possibly opportunistic. These two victims seem odd for your perp,” Sam explained.
“How so?” Grace asked as they came up on the first body in the yard.
“One female and the other is male.”
“A male, huh? That does make things interesting. Do we know if Jessica was a lesbian? Do we have any identification for these two?” Grace asked.
“Not that I’ve found,” Cormack stated, joining them.
“You think he took it?” Sam asked.
“Doubt it, that isn’t part of his MO,” Grace answered.
“Either way, there is no ID on them. Either he took it or they left it in the house. If they left it, CSU hasn’t found it, yet. Doesn’t really matter, though.”
“Why you say that, Cormack?” Grace asked her.
“They weren’t killed here,” Cormack answered.
“What do you mean they weren’t killed here?” Sam asked.
“They are dumps. The boat at the dock is theirs, I’m guessing. It isn’t the main victim’s. Don’t know if they were friends or if the perp just killed them on the water and brought them to shore. The least I can tell you, now, is that there was a fight aboard the boat. If they didn’t die aboard the boat, the fatal wound was delivered where they lay. Not enough blood on the ground for all their wounds, but the boat is covered. There isn’t enough blood for two, but enough for at least one,” Cormack explained.
“Any mud this time?” Grace asked.
“No.”
“Damn it. He’s escalating and getting smarter. Now, I can’t figure out which way across the lake her came. I was trying to narrow it down to the cove he was coming from,” Grace stated.
“I know. I tested all the mud from the last crime scenes. It was all from the same area, but I still haven’t been able to narrow it down any further than it isn’t from a Lexington County cove. I’m still trying though,” Cormack stated.
“I know you are. I’m just tired of finding bodies to get more clues. I just wish that the computer recognition program had caught something. But, I know everyone is trying.”
“The program did its best. Every time we added some characteristic to his build, nature or profile, we had to re-run it. I’m trying my best, but there is only so much that I can do with half a profile,” Sam replied, upset.
“I know, Sam, I know. I try everyday to see if Reagan can remember anything. I know that everyone is doing their best, but fortunately and unfortunately, Catie, looks just like her mother,” Grace stated.
“I tried everything I know,” Sam responded, dejected.
“What about Tabby?” Cormack asked.
“What about her?” Grace questioned back.
“She’s helped you before. Maybe, she can help, again. We both know that she is the best damn portrait artist in the tri-state area. Why haven’t you asked her to play with the computer composite, yet?” Cormack inquired.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it.”
“Who is Tabby?” Sam asked.
“Tabitha Grey,” Cormack and Grace both said in unison.
“You have Tabitha Grey on the payroll and you didn’t tell me? What the hell, guys? She is one of the greatest artists of our time,” Sam stated.
“She works for the LSO as freelance. She isn’t exactly on the payroll. I’ve asked her to fix a composite once or twice before. She tweaks them and sometimes it helps our victims,” Grace replied.
“So call her. What could it hurt? Right now anything is better than nothing. I’ll gladly give her composites. Hell, I’ll give her my program. Maybe, she can tweak it. It does need an artist’s touch. Call her, Grace,” Sam demanded.
“I have to clear it through channels first. I have to let your mom know. She is our captain, remember? I can’t just bring in a civilian without approval.”
“Couldn’t we just say that she is a CI?” Sam asked.
“Are you crazy? You would lie to your mother about this? I’m going to forget that you even suggested that, okay? Walk away, Sam, walk away. Go take notes about the house, the layout, the yard, the lake in reference and forget what you just said. Got it?” Grace suggested, angrily.
“Got it, Lieutenant,” Sam replied walking away.
“Whoa, Grace, go easy on the rookie,” Cormack told her.
“She maybe a rookie, but she knows better,” Grace replied.
“I’m not sure that she does. If Danica is her mother, then maybe she knows how to sugarcoat it and make it seem legit. Calm down. I don’t want to lie to the captain, but we do need a break. Do you think that Tabby can help?” Cormack asked.
“I do, but we still need Danica’s permission.”
“Then call her, Grace. I’m sure she’d give you approval. She wants this guy as bad as you do.”
“I know, Cormack, I know. I just don’t want to involve more people than we have to. The more people that get involved, the sloppier the case gets,” Grace added.
“Not if we don’t let it,” Cormack replied.
“How do we do that?”
“We limit the number who we let see the evidence,” Cormack answered. “If we control the evidence, then we control the case. If we control the case, we catch the killer.”
“We catch him and the DA fries him, I’ll be satisfied,” Grace responded.
“Then call Tabby. What could it hurt? Maybe, it’ll get you the break you need.”
“Maybe, Cormack, maybe. You got this while I go call the Captain?” Grace inquired.
“Do what you gotta do. I’ll go find the rookie and teach her a thing or two about murder. It’ll help on her exams,” Cormack answered, giving Gracie some room.
Grace looked around. The place was a mess. She was a mess. Grace knew that she had been hard on the rookie, but she also knew that Danica would kill her if she let Sam do anything stupid. Sam and Cormack were right; they needed Tabby, but she needed Danica’s okay first. Grace watched Cormack and Sam looking over the two questionable victims. She knew that Sam was in good hands. She knew that it was the best time to call Danica and explain what was going on.
Grace pulled out her cell. She decided that she needed to call Reagan first and tell her that it was going to be a long day. She dialed the number and waited for Reagan to pick up the phone.
“Hello,” Reagan answered.
“Hi, Baby,” Grace replied.
“What’s wrong?” Reagan asked, immediately.
“It’s going to be a rough one.”
“Okay,” Reagan replied.
“Sorry.”
“I understand, Baby. Just try to let it go before you come home. If I’m still awake, I’ll take care of you. Be good and don’t get too upset,” Reagan told her.
“I’ll try, baby. I love you. Stay safe,” Grace replied.
“I love you, too,” Reagan answered ringing off.
Grace looked around, again. Everyone seemed to be busy gathering evidence. She would review Sam’s notes before she added her own to them. She knew she had to call Danica so she did. She dialed the number and waited for Danica to answer.
“Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Wannamaker, speaking, how can I help you?”
“Cap,” Grace replied, “It’s me.”
“What’s wrong, O’Shea?”
“Nothing really, just a lot of blood. He seems to be escalating, again. But, that isn’t
why I called,” Grace explained.
“Then, what’s up?”
“I need your approval on something,” Grace answered.
“Need more tests?” Danica asked.
“No, it’s not a test. It’s a person. I want to bring in someone,” Grace told her.
“Who?”
“Tabitha Grey,” Grace answered.
“The artist? How can she help you? She know something?”
“Yes, she can help and no, she doesn’t know anything. She can help with the face recognition and the composite drawing software. I think that maybe she can help with the case and with Reagan,” Grace explained.
“Is that all you’re asking for?” Danica questioned.
“Right now? Yes, that’s all I think that we need. If I can think of anything else, you know that I’ll call.”
“Just remember to do it before you go ordering for some crazy tests,” Danica warned.
“I’ll do my best,” Grace replied.
“Then, you have my permission to ask Miss Grey if she will help.”
“Thank you, Cap.”
“Just catch the bastard, Grace,” Danica replied ringing off.
Grace smiled to herself. She knew how bad everyone wanted this guy. They didn’t want all of Lexington County freaking out because of this guy. The whole Sheriff’s Department was on alert. Grace and Frenchy were always the first to hear what the on-scenes came upon. They knew he was a serial but they were all confused about him waiting six months to continue.
Grace walked back over to Cormack and Sam. Sam was taking pictures of everything that Cormack was bagging and tagging. Cormack was teaching Sam the fundamentals of field work and Sam was soaking it all in like a sponge. Grace knew that Sam was in good hands but they needed to go find Tabitha Grey.
“Anything I should know about?” Grace asked them.
“Nothing, yet,” Cormack answered. “Won’t know anything until I run everything in the lab. Something specific you need?”
“No, not yet. Just got approval from Cap to go ask Tabitha to help. I was about to go by her studio to see if she will help us. I’m going to call her on the way over. I still need to type up my notes. You want to go with me, Sam?”
“Yeah, I do,” Sam answered.
“Then, come on. I’ve got things to do. People to see. Notes to write.”
“Coming. I’ll meet you in the lab later, Cormack,” Sam stated, getting her things together. “Let’s go.”
Grace couldn’t tell if Sam was more excited about meeting Tabitha or being out in the field investigating. They got in Grace’s F150 and headed to town. Grace didn’t turn on her lights and actually did the speed limit.
They pulled up into a grouping of apartments. They didn’t seem too big to Sam but she knew that Grace knew Tabitha enough to know it was Tabitha’s apartment complex. They wound their way to the back of the complex. It was there that Grace parked the truck in front of building 21. Sam followed Grace to Tabitha’s door.
“Now, this is your idea. I’ll introduce you, but this is all up to you. I have no clue what you’ll need. This is your project, remember that,” Grace told Sam.
“Okay,” Sam replied, unsure of what else to say.
Grace knocked on the door and waited. When Tabitha didn’t come to the door, Grace knocked on the door, louder, again. Tabitha must have heard it the second time because she answered the door.
Tabitha was standing in the doorway staring at Grace and Sam. Her skin was covered in plaster and various colors of paint. Her pale brown eyes looked the detectives over a few times before she brushed an errant lock of dirty blond hair back behind her ear.
“What can I do for you, Gracie Lynn?” Tabitha asked.
Grace just smiled. She knew that Sam just melted a little more, as soon as she heard Tabitha’s London accent. Grace reached inside her pocket and pulled out her credentials and showed them to Tabitha.
“Wish I could say that this was a pleasurable visit, but it’s business,” Grace said.
“What do you need me for now?” she asked.
“We’ve created a new sketch artist program. This, by the way, is Sam Wannamaker, my new partner. She is a sergeant with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. She has just transferred into my division. She designed the program, but to be honest it needs an artist’s touch. Our captain has okayed it for you to work with us on it, if you are willing.”
“You need me to help you with a program?” she asked Grace and Sam.
“No, not help me. I need you to help Sam. You’ll be working with Sam. She’ll be your liaison with the department, besides myself. But, she’ll be the one you are dealing with the most on this project,” Grace answered.
“Why, Gracie, tired of me already?” Tabitha teased.
“Of you, Miss Grey, never,” Gracie replied.
Sam stood there flabbergasted by their words. She didn’t know what was really going on. She felt like she had just been thrust upon Tabitha Grey. She wasn’t sure, but she felt like Grace did it to get rid of her. Sam stood there and smiled.
“What is it that you believe you need help with, Sam?” Tabitha asked.
“Evidentially, it needs an artist’s touch. I guess the program is too clinical. It is a good program, but it only goes off data. There isn’t a good smoothing or comparison,” Sam told her.
“It needs softening.”
“Softening?” Grace asked.
“A type of blending.”
“I’m not an artist, Miss Grey. I would appreciate any input you can give. We could start whenever you’d like,” Sam stated.
“Is now bad?” Tabitha questioned.
“Not if it isn’t for you,” Sam answered.
“Let me finish up here and then we can look at some sample sketches.”
“Do you need me for anything else?” Grace asked.
“Just a ride home or to my car,” Sam replied.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take you to your car. We are going to need to play with your program. I don’t have a computer here.”
“Okay,” Grace replied, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam.”
“Bye,” Tabitha responded.
“See you tomorrow, L.T.,” Sam told Grace as Grace left.
“Follow me,” Tabitha told her after Grace was gone.
Sam followed Tabitha to the back of the apartment where the main part of her studio was. Tabitha wanted Sam to see the portraits that she had done because she knew that the abstracts weren’t going to make Sam understand. Sam looked at them in awe.
Chapter Three
Grace got in her truck and drove home to Lexington and the lake. She wanted to check up on Reagan. It had been a long day for them both and she knew that she could type up her notes tomorrow at the office. She needed to be with Reagan right now.
She laughed at the way that Sam reacted to Tabitha, but she knew how Tabitha was. Sam wasn’t really prepared. Grace laughed, again. She was happy that Tabitha agreed to take care of Sam tonight. It made it easier for her to get to Reagan.
“Reagan, love?” Grace called out as she entered her house.
“In the kitchen, I’m feeding Catie. Dinner’s in the oven, if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, babe,” Grace answered, entering the kitchen.
Grace crossed the kitchen. She kissed the top of Reagan’s head, as she joined them at her table. She smiled at Catie. Catie smiled back over her plate of Spaghetti-O’s.
“Is it good?” Grace asked Catie.
“Mmm-hmm,” Catie replied to Grace shoveling another spoonful into her mouth.
“Believe it or not, she didn’t want mac and cheese tonight,” Reagan told Grace.
“Will wonders never cease,” Grace replied.
“All done?” Reagan asked Catie, who had just shoved her bowl away.
“Yup.”
“Yup, what?” Grace asked her.
“Yup, Mommy,” Catie replied.
Reagan laughed at Grace teaching her dau
ghter manners. Grace smiled at them both. Catie giggled. They all laughed pleasantly, making Grace smile inwardly.
“Will you take her upstairs? I’ll finish prepping dinner. We’ll eat before her bath,” Reagan stated.
“Okay.”
“Be good, Catie,” Reagan told her daughter and kissed her head.
“Okay, Mommy,” Catie replied.
“Come on, Munchkin. You get to play before your bath and bed tonight.”
“Yay!” Catie exclaimed as she jumped into Grace’s arms.
Reagan watched them go up the stairs, before she turned to the oven. A big broad smile crossed her lips as she plated their dinner. She couldn’t help the way that Grace made her feel. She couldn’t help the way that Grace had taken to Catie. She couldn’t stop the feelings that were brewing in her heart. Grace made her feel loved. Grace gave her a family feeling. It was something that she hadn’t felt since…since her parents died…since...since her rape. Reagan grabbed the kitchen counter as all her happiness faded into tragic memories.
Grace crossed the room, immediately when she saw it. She had been in the doorway, smiling just as bigly as Reagan had. She molded her body to Reagan’s back, as she snaked her arms around Reagan’s torso, to hold her.
“How do you do that?” Reagan asked her, as Reagan melted into the embrace.
“Do what, love?”
“Know when to be here for me,” Reagan replied.
“I’m just that good,” Grace answered, cockily.
“Are you, now?” Reagan asked her, sarcastically.
Grace and Reagan, both, felt the tension ease. Grace didn’t let her go. Reagan made no move to get away. She relaxed more into Grace’s subtle strength. Grace held her, still hoping that Reagan would just move in, but willing to let Reagan do it at her pace. Grace sighed and put her chin on Reagan’s head as she tightened her embrace around Reagan, willing all her love into Reagan. Reagan knew that Grace wanted to take away her pain.
“Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold,” Reagan stated breaking their reverie.
“Better now?” Grace asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
Grace smiled. She was glad when she could push Reagan’s dreams away, even if it was for just a little while. Reagan smiled back.