Next of Kin

by Jae

  "I think she's starting to have one – and she's afraid it could hurt her political ambitions. That's why she told only Del Vasquez about the stalker."

  "What could be so destructive about our resident ice queen's private life?" Ray asked, using the good-natured nickname Kade had earned within the Portland Police Bureau. "She doesn't eat the politically correct brand of cereals or what?"

  Aiden didn't laugh. "Think about it. What rumors could make it hard for Kade to go after the DA's seat?"

  "Apart from the political nuances I won't even pretend to understand... that she's bribable, incompetent, or gay." Ray ticked it off on his fingers.

  "Exactly. Everybody knows that Kade doesn't need more money than she already has, and her closure rate is above reproach, so that leaves...?" She looked at her partner expectantly, knowing he would connect the dots.

  "Oh, come on, Aiden!" Ray flicked a crumbled-up piece of paper at her. "You don't expect me to believe... Kade?"

  Aiden nodded slowly.

  "Kade Matheson is a lesbian?" Ray still couldn't believe it.

  Aiden quickly held up a hand. "I didn't say that. I just think that she's beginning to explore other possibilities, and she doesn't want to read about it in a police report or in the newspaper."

  "Wow." Ray rubbed the back of his neck. "Stacy Ford, you, now Kade... are there any straight women in this place?"

  Aiden chuckled. She knew Ray was surprised but not upset. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I never got any vibes from Judge Linehan."

  "Oh, now that's a real consolation!" Ray grumbled good-naturedly while he stood and slipped into his jacket. "So what do you have planned for tonight? Staking out Kade's apartment?"

  "Finding out how he got into her apartment building. I called Vasquez. She's meeting us at Kade's." Aiden grabbed her keys and took the gun from its place in the bottom drawer.

  Ray held the door open for her. "So Lieutenant Vasquez and Kade...?"

  "Oh, no, I'm not answering that question." Not when she wasn't sure what was going on between Kade and Del. She wasn't even sure Kade knew. "If you want to know, you have to go directly to the source – ask Kade."

  Ray held up both hands, palms forward. "Thanks a lot! I want to live long enough to see my kids graduating from college." He grinned deviously. "I'll just let the rumor slip when I'm having lunch with Okada. You know he can't help investigating when he smells a mystery. Let him ask our DDA."

  Aiden smiled inwardly at his reasoning but didn't return his grin. "No. No spreading rumors about this, Ray," she warned him. "No rumors, no reports, no squad room jokes. Nothing. Can you do that?"

  "I've been doing it for you, haven't I?" Ray answered seriously. "I never joked about you and Dawn, not even when you came in with hickeys the size of Madagascar."

  Aiden's hand crept up to her shoulder, but she quickly stopped the movement before Ray could suspect she had told them a lie about wearing a scratchy shirt when she had repeatedly fingered the bite marks on her shoulder. "I know, Ray, and I'm very thankful for your support." She realized that she had never told him this. "I didn't want to imply that you'd –"

  "I know. Come on. Let's get going." Ray ushered her out of the door.

  * * *

  Del Vasquez was already waiting when they pulled up in front of Kade's building. She was leaning against her car and lifted a hand in greeting but didn't smile when she saw them.

  "So Lieutenant Vasquez, you, and me – we're the new Lesbian Case Squad, huh?" Ray joked as they got out of the car. "Don't I get a special badge or diploma for that?"

  Lesbian Case Squad? Aiden didn't want to encourage her partner's antics, but she had to laugh at that. "Why don't you ask the lieutenant?" she suggested, knowing Ray wouldn't repeat his question in front of the stern Del Vasquez.

  Del took a step toward them, greeting them with a nod. "Thanks for coming."

  She's thanking us? Like she's Kade's oldest friend and confidant, and we're the new acquaintances helping her out! Her old resentment toward Del crept up again. She was still not completely over Kade telling Del about the stalker weeks before she had mentioned even a word to Aiden.

  "So where do we start?" Ray asked, deferring to Del more easily than Aiden would have.

  "There's still a minute right before the attack missing in my memory, but I remember seeing a few people in the foyer of Kade's building before I went up. We should talk to them and find out if they saw anything of interest," Del said. She unconsciously rubbed the back of her head, where a small bald spot showed a healing gash.

  As they entered the marbled foyer of Kade's building, a tall woman stepped out of the doorman's office. "Let me do the talking," Ray said with a grin. "I'm a pro at handling doormen."

  Aiden and Del tolerantly stayed back.

  "Hi. I'm Detective Bennet, and these are my colleagues, Lieutenant Vasquez and Detective Carlisle." Ray flashed his badge and a charming grin.

  Aiden held back a smile. Oh, Ray, my friend, if my gaydar is in working order, your charms are wasted on this one.

  "We're investigating an incident that happened...?" Ray threw a questioning gaze at Del, who smoothly supplied the correct date. "...last Saturday morning," Ray repeated. "We were wondering if you would do us the professional courtesy of answering a few questions?"

  Professional courtesy? Ah, he's trying the "We're practically colleagues" approach! Really clever. A lot of the security personnel and doormen they encountered had at one time in their lives dreamed of becoming a police officer, and many of them liked to pretend that their jobs had a lot in common.

  The doorwoman didn't give Ray the flattered smile most of her colleagues would have. Instead, she directed a level gaze at him. "I'm not a cop, so professional courtesy doesn't apply."

  Aiden held back a grin at the expression on her partner's face. You might be a pro at handling doormen, but you're not doing so well with doorwomen. "Then how about helping out a fellow female working in a traditionally male job?" she suggested. She knew they couldn't afford to alienate the doorwoman. She and whatever colleagues she might have spent the most time around Kade's condo building and might have seen something.

  "I can do that." The doorwoman nodded.

  "So what did you see last Saturday morning?" Aiden asked.

  The doorwoman pointed at Del. "She went up with two cups of coffee, but she had done it before, so I didn't think much of it."

  Just how often does she visit Kade? Aiden wondered. "Was anyone else around at that time?" she asked.

  "Mrs. Meyers and Ms. Giavelli were standing in the foyer, chatting away for hours, like they always do," the doorwoman reported.

  "You didn't see anyone else that morning?" Aiden asked. "Anyone who doesn't live in the building?"

  The doorwoman thought for a moment. "There was a young man, smoking one cigarette after another on the sidewalk. He was there for at least half an hour, but when I went outside a little later to let the EMTs in, he was gone."

  A young man lurking around Kade's apartment building... Could this be the stalker? "What did he look like?" she asked.

  "Late twenties, brown hair, tall – about my height. He was wearing a baseball cap and didn't look up, so I can't describe his face," the doorwoman answered.

  That's more than most witnesses can give us, but it still fits half of Portland! Aiden would ask Kade later if that description fit any of her more recent cases, but she didn't hold out much hope.

  Del turned around and walked out of the building.

  "Hey!" Aiden quickly thanked the doorwoman and followed Del. "Where are you going?"

  Del crouched down right next to the building. "I'm collecting evidence. She said he was smoking, so maybe he left his cigarette stubs behind."

  She's very good at her job, Aiden had to admit. She silently bent down too and started to search for cigarette stubs.

  Ray joined them, mumbling, "You know, I thought working on this new squad would be more fun."

  CHAPTER 21 />
  THE SHRILL RINGING of her phone made Kade flinch. She threw down her pen and cursed. Since Del had put a tap on her phone, the hang-up calls had stopped. It should have calmed her, but it did exactly the opposite because it meant the stalker was aware of their half-official investigation. He was still watching her apartment.

  The phone rang again, and she reached for it. "Matheson."

  "Hi, Kade. It's Dawn Kinsley."

  Kade had expected it to be Laurie or one of her detectives. Dawn calling her was a surprise, and she didn't know what to make of it. "Hello, Dawn," she said, hiding her surprise. "What can I do for you?"

  "You probably know that Del's birthday is coming up."

  Actually, I didn't know that. "No, Del hasn't mentioned it," Kade answered with a frown.

  Dawn chuckled. "She's trying to ignore it because it makes her feel old. Anyway, it's next Thursday, and we're having a big surprise party for Del. I'm hoping you could come?"

  A birthday party. The thought was a little overwhelming. She did want to spend the day with Del and celebrate with her, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to meet the family and friends, all of them at the same time. "Who will be there?" she asked instead of a direct answer.

  "Well, you know Aiden, of course, and I think you met my mother. The rest of the family is coming too," Dawn answered lightly.

  "Family?" Kade repeated. She knew Del hadn't been in contact with her own family for more than two decades. "Yours or hers?"

  "It's the same thing, Kade," Dawn said. "And she wants you to be a part of that group too. So will you come?"

  Kade hesitated for a few more seconds, then mentally slapped herself. Del has done so much for you. She gave you shooting lessons; she let you and Laurie sleep over at her apartment; she even got hurt playing bodyguard. So what if coming to this party might be a little uncomfortable for you! It's the least you can do. "I'll be there," she promised.

  "Great!" Kade could hear the bright smile in Dawn's voice.

  "Can I bring anything?" Kade asked. Being a polite guest had been part of the Matheson upbringing.

  Dawn laughed. "I'd say a salad, but we didn't cover that in our cooking lesson, so I'll let you off the hook. You don't have to bring food, but you could bring your niece."

  "Laurie?" Del and Laurie got along very well, but Kade wasn't sure why Dawn wanted to invite Laurie to Del's birthday party. She wasn't even sure she wanted to bring her – Laurie was already convinced that Kade was in a relationship with Del. Bringing her to Del's party would only encourage that assumption. "Why do you want me to bring Laurie?"

  "I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce Evan to the rest of the family, and if Laurie is there, Evan wouldn't be the only teenager and would have someone to talk to," Dawn reasoned.

  "You're not playing matchmaker, are you, Dr. Kinsley?" Kade asked with mock suspicion. She had learned a few things about Dawn in the last few months, and she knew Dawn had a talent for connecting people.

  Dawn chuckled. "Me?"

  "Playing innocent is not going to work with me," Kade told her sternly. "I'm a DDA. I know the difference between being and acting innocent."

  "Okay, okay. I think Evan would like to see Laurie again, but she's too proud and too stubborn to take the first step," Dawn said.

  Sounds like she has a lot in common with her big sister. Who knows what would have happened if Aiden had taken the first step and had been as insistent as Del is with me? Kade quickly shoved the thought back. "All right. I'll ask Laurie if she wants to come."

  * * *

  Aiden stuck her head out of her closet. "Is it okay for me to wear pants to Del's party?" she called out to Dawn, who was getting ready in the bathroom.

  "Why shouldn't it be?" Dawn called back. "You know that Del is not too fond of skirts and dresses either."

  Yeah, Aiden thought, at least not when she has to wear them. On Kade it would probably be another matter. "I'm not asking because of Del. I want to make a good impression on your family," she admitted, albeit a little embarrassed.

  "Oh, come on! You know my mother is not big on formality," Dawn said.

  Aiden smiled at the memory. "Yeah, I remember. You're not the 'napkin at the dinner table' kind."

  "Exactly. So there's no need to impress my mother by wearing an elegant gown," Dawn said, still from her place in front of the mirror in the bathroom.

  "Your mother is not the Kinsley woman I'm trying to impress." A few months earlier, that would have been the case, but by now she had shared enough relaxed dinners with Grace to know she only needed to treat Dawn well to earn Grace's support.

  Dawn came out of the bathroom in the light green dress that always seemed to turn her eyes the color of emeralds. Before Aiden could take the time to admire her, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Aiden. "The other Kinsley woman is already impressed by you." She kissed Aiden, her lips just skimming over Aiden's. "Very..." she kissed Aiden again, "...very," another kiss, "very impressed."

  Aiden pulled her closer and captured her lips in a longer kiss. "I'm talking about your grandmother," she said when she finally came up for air.

  Dawn laughed. "My grandmother is not big on formality either. You could wear an elegant gown, ripped jeans, or a Hawaiian grass skirt, and Grandma wouldn't care one way or another."

  For some reason, Aiden hadn't heard a lot about Dawn's grandmother in the last six months, and now she felt ill prepared to meet her for the first time. She had never met her own grandparents or spent much time around old people. "So she's a liberal old lady?"

  "She's not old-fashioned at all, but don't let her catch you calling her old." Dawn pointed a warning finger at her.

  Aiden grinned and made a mental note to avoid all comments about anyone's age tonight. At least her not being old-fashioned sounded encouraging. "So she was cool about you being gay?" Her mother's parents had died before Aiden was born, so she didn't have any experience with grandparents and how they might react to their grandchild's coming out.

  "Well..." Dawn handed Aiden her earrings, silently asking for help with putting them on. "To tell you the truth... she doesn't know yet."

  Aiden dropped one of the earrings. "What? How is that possible? I thought everyone in your family knew." She bent down and picked up the earring, holding it numbly in her hand.

  "Everyone but Grandma," Dawn said with an embarrassed little grin.

  "How come?" Dawn had never been hesitant to tell people she was a lesbian. Even her ten-year-old niece was well aware of it.

  Dawn took the earring from Aiden and put it in her own ear. She took Aiden's now free hand and slowly traced circles into her palm while she thought about it. "My mother and Del didn't seem to be too fond of Maggie, and even with Del's help, it took my mother a while to feel comfortable with my sexual orientation, so I thought I'd wait a bit before I told my grandmother."

  "But you never did?"

  Dawn shook her head. "Before I could summon up the courage, Maggie and I broke up, and I concentrated on my work. I never had another girlfriend until I met you, so it never became necessary to tell her."

  "And after you met me?" Aiden asked. It had been almost eight months since they had met, after all.

  "Grandma was in and out of the hospital for most of last year. I also didn't want to tell her on the phone. I know it sounds like lame excuses, but..." Dawn sighed. "I want her to like you. I wanted to wait for the right moment."

  Aiden entwined her fingers with Dawn's. "Are you worried about her reaction?"

  Dawn shrugged. "We never talked about it, but I don't think she's homophobic or anything. After my marriage, though, I think she would be a little skeptical no matter who I brought home."

  "She didn't like Cal?" Aiden could understand that. He seemed like an okay guy, but she wasn't overly fond of him either.

  "She liked him well enough at the beginning. He's a cop, like her husband, my grandfather," Dawn said.

  Aiden brightened. "I'm a cop too! Is that
an extra point for me?"

  Dawn laughed and teasingly tugged at Aiden's ear. "Why do you think you need the extra points so desperately? It certainly didn't help Cal."

  "What happened?" Aiden asked. For some reason, they hadn't talked much about Dawn's marriage and her ex-husband. Dawn had told her why she had married Cal, but not much about their marriage itself and why it had ended.

  Dawn pulled her over to the couch as if she expected the conversation to last a while. "The first year of our marriage was fine," she began.

  "Fine?" Aiden repeated. She hoped Dawn used other words to describe their relationship. "That doesn't sound like marital bliss."