Taylor Made

by Alex Westmore

  Delta turned and sighed. She could no longer deny that.

  “She’s done this for years without anyone ever seeing her face. Suddenly, blam, there she is, hanging all over you. You’re the perfect jumping off place.” Connie grabbed one of the reports off her desk and began reading. “Your ID puts her at five-three, one-ten, and green, green eyes.” Turning, Connie cocked her head. “Contacts?”

  “Maybe. It was dark.”

  “Hair, blonde. Wig?”

  Delta shrugged. “Possibly.”

  “Accent?”

  Delta cocked her head. “Accent?”

  “If she started in London, we might presume she’s British.”

  Delta shook her head. “Not a trace. She definitely sounded American.”

  Connie moved back to the table and typed all of this information into Eddie II. “She’s a pro. If she is British, you can bet she cut her accent loose a long time ago. What else do we know?”

  “She knows where we both live. She drives a Harley and a BMW, and she’s strong enough to pull herself up the sides of buildings, so she must work out.”

  “Excellent! We can have someone check out some of the local gyms. What else?”

  “She steals only one item at a time—at least she did until she got pissed that I wasn’t responding to her calls.” Delta rubbed her temples.

  “That’s all I can think of at the moment.”

  “Good. Are you working tonight?”

  Delta nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  “Expect her to hit. She’ll hit tonight just to let you know she’s glad you’re back.”

  “This is too weird.”

  “We’ve had weirder. What are your plans for the day?”

  “I’ve got some snooping to do around Alex’s campaign headquarters. And you?”

  “Sleep. I’m exhausted.”

  Reaching for her jacket, Delta noticed the slight smirk on Connie’s face. “What are you smirking at?”

  “Oh, nothing?”

  “Consuela?”

  Looking up, Connie’s leering grin grew. “It’s sorta cute.”

  “What is?”

  “Her crush.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  Connie let her grin open into a wide-mouthed laugh. “Used to be, you’d have at least been flattered. What happened, old lady?”

  Pulling the door open, Delta grinned back. “Megan happened.”

  The only sound Taylor heard was the rope grating and straining as she lowered herself down the side of the high-rise. She loved high-rises. She loved looking out at the skyline and watching the lights shine over the darkened streets. There was something magical about a city at night, and she adored every moment. The air felt cleaner, the perspective fresher, and the overall ambiance was one of romance, excitement, and intrigue. At night, everything transformed; alleys became dangerous black holes, capable of swallowing the unsuspecting; shadows lurked around every corner, sometimes merging with their owners to become some poor innocent’s nightmare; nothing was as it appeared under the sun.

  Inhaling the crisp night air deeply, Taylor smiled. This little city reminded her a great deal of London; with its clock tower perched among large parliamentary-type buildings. Americans may have left a great deal of England behind when they seceded, but they would forever have a love affair with British architecture.

  The night’s chill reminded her of Hayward’s Heath, and she felt the slight tug of homesickness.

  She did not miss the seemingly endless rain and continual gloomy weather. That eerie fog which clung to her clothes like some nebulous sap was now a distant memory, much like everything else she’d been thankful to leave behind.

  Landing softly on the ninth-floor apartment’s balcony, Taylor surveyed the glass doors and surrounding area. Just as she suspected, the balcony doors were unlocked and left slightly ajar. And why wouldn’t it be? Time and time again, she’d seen sliding glass doors left unlocked simply because the owners knew that nine stories up was also nine stories down, and only the truly crazy or desperately brave would scale the side of a high-rise at night. For a moment, she wondered what Delta thought of her.

  The thought made her smile.

  She had found herself smiling a lot since she’d come to River Valley. Delta Stevens had, thus far, proven to be a very intriguing diversion. So sure, she knew that she had little time before Delta successfully tracked her down. From what she had read in her research, Delta came across as a take-charge kind of woman who seldom obeyed rules, acted on impulse, and who never lost control. The press seemed to love this heroine, this cop who successfully challenged her own system and won. The woman who caught a vengeful serial killer before nearly frying herself while saving children from a burning house. The television and press photos hadn’t done Delta justice. This was a woman with the most intense eyes Taylor had ever seen. Taylor would love spending just one night with a woman of Delta’s caliber, but if she had learned anything about Delta Stevens, it was that she was loyal to a fault.

  Taylor’s research uncovered Delta’s relationship with the prostitute who’d helped her break open the drug ring responsible for the death of Delta’s best friend and partner, Miles Brookman. But, where was this woman now? Surely, she hadn’t chosen to leave this hunk of a woman alone for very long. Delta Stevens may not have noticed how many heads turned when she strolled into the bar, but Taylor had. If her five-nine stature didn’t jump start their hearts, then those bedroom eyes most assuredly did. Taylor found herself nearly swallowed up by them until she remembered that Delta could see things that weren’t there. Taylor had watched the action in the bar closely enough to know that whatever those eyes took in, the mind behind them never forgot.

  But then, she already knew that. That was why she’d worn that silly blonde wig and green contacts; well, that, and the fact that she knew Delta had a thing for blondes.

  Looking back out over the night, Taylor sighed. Somewhere out there, Officer Stevens was driving around in her patrol car, waiting for Taylor to make her move. Waiting. Thinking about her and wanting to catch her. Too bad Delta didn’t simply want her. The game would be so much more fun if Delta weren’t so damned trustworthy.

  “It’s like great sex,” Taylor whispered to the city lights. “The experience is heightened by good foreplay.” Watching her breath as it left her mouth and dissipated into the cold air, Taylor turned quietly, slid the sliding glass door opened, and disappeared inside.

  Delta glanced over at Tony and struggled with whether to tell him the truth. On one hand, he deserved to know; Gwen deserved to have to deal with his anger. On the other, what good would it do to hurt him like that?

  Police harassment! What a crock. The cow didn’t have the guts to take her on right there, so she came after Delta from behind, dealing her a sucker punch. Well, cheap shot or no, Delta was more concerned about the effects such news might have on her partner. If any of Delta’s friends would have told her that Sandy was sleeping with their best friend, then Delta could have made decisions based on facts. As it was, she continued on her merry way, thinking everything was hunky-dory, and then—WHAM!—reality jumped up and knocked the wind out of her.

  “You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Tony remarked, looking over. “I thought you’d be stoked to be back on the street so soon. What’s up?”

  Delta turned and opened her window a crack. “I just don’t like being jerked around.”

  “Yeah, well, Captain Henry jerked mighty fast. The jewel thief had us for lunch, Del. We were looking like big, dumb dogs chasing our own tails. How in the hell she hit five houses in one night is beyond me. I guess she got what she came for, huh?”

  Delta forced a grin. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  Tony slowed down. “I’m really glad. You know, I never thought I’d say this, but boy did I hate working with another guy.”

  Delta’s face registered surprise. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Ronhaar’s butt took up half the car. He reeked of cigarette smoke. And twi
ce, oh, God, twice, he farted and tried to pass it off as broken sewage lines. He was gross. What a pig.”

  Laughing, Delta patted Tony’s arm. “Aw, are you saying you missed me?”

  “Let’s just say you never know how good you have something until it’s gone. The guy ate all of his dinner and most of mine, and that was before we stopped at the Hot Dog Palace.”

  Grabbing the opportunity, Delta smoothly segued into, “Yeah, well, sometimes, it seems better after it’s gone than it really was.”

  Tony cocked his head in question. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Pull over for a minute.”

  Tony did, and when he killed the engine, he turned his upper torso to completely face Delta. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Delta smiled tenderly. He had come such a long way. “I’ve been struggling with something tonight, and I don’t quite know how to say it.”

  Tony grinned. “Do what you normally do: talk in riddles.”

  Delta’s grin matched his. “Okay, let’s say you knew that Megan was cheating on me—”

  “What? She isn’t, is she?”

  Delta sighed in frustration. “It’s an analogy, Carducci. Pay attention.”

  Tony nodded and clamped his lips tightly together.

  “If she left me, but didn’t tell me why, and you knew it was because she had been having an affair, would you tell me?”

  Tony thought about this for a minute before nodding. “Why?”

  “Because you deserve to know the truth. You’re the most honorable person I know. You don’t deserve to be left wondering what you did wrong. Believe me, I know how that feels.” Delta inhaled deeply. “Suppose I told you that I know why Gwen left you?”

  “I’d say you were crazy.” Tony smiled at Delta, but when he saw that she was serious, the smile slowly faded. “How would you know?”

  “I saw her.”

  “Where? I looked all over and never found her.”

  “You never saw her because she doesn’t hang out in the kinds of places you two went to.”

  “Where does she go?”

  “I saw her playing pool at the L and L the other night.”

  Tony didn’t blink. “Oh, that. Gwen will play pool anywhere there’s a free table.”

  Delta sighed and laid her hand on his arm. “Tony, she wasn’t alone. She was...with her girlfriend.”

  Tony pulled his arm away as if he’d been stung, and held it across his torso like a shield. “Her...what?”

  “Gwen is a lesbian, Tony. She couldn’t find a way to tell you, so she just up and left. I’m really sorry. I didn’t know if—”

  “She has a girlfriend?” Tony shook his head as if confused. “As in...lover?”

  Delta nodded. “As in, I wanted her to be the one to tell you, but she pretty much blew me off and reported me to Captain Henry.”

  “She reported you? For what?”

  “Harassment.”

  “What a bitch.”

  “My sentiments, exactly.”

  “So, what happened?”

  Delta gave him a play-by-play description of that evening, and by the time she finished describing Gwen’s girlfriend, Tony’s anger seemed to evaporate. When she finished her story, he stared out the window for a moment before turning back to her and forcing a grin. “I’m glad you told me, Delta. Really I am.”

  “I’d want to know if Megan was cheating on me.”

  “What I don’t get is why she didn’t tell me the truth.”

  Delta smiled and put her hand on his. “You weren’t real tolerant or understanding of people who were different from you when we first started working together.”

  Tony blushed. “Oh.”

  “But that still doesn’t excuse her, Tony. She should have been honest with you so you didn’t have to carry all that guilt around.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s one less piece of baggage for me, huh?”

  The pain in his eyes hurt Delta. “How do you feel about this, now that you know?”

  Shrugging, Tony started the engine. “I’m a guy, Delta. I’d be lying if I said my pride wasn’t a little hurt.”

  “Your manly-man pride?”

  Tony laughed. “Something like that. I mean, do you know what the guys would say if they ever found out?”

  “Well, they aren’t going to hear it from me.”

  Tony pulled the car into the traffic. “A lesbian, huh?”

  Delta nodded. “Hey, she fell for a woman. Could you have saved the relationship if she fell for another man?”

  Tony shook his head.

  “Cheaters are cheaters. Either you do or you don’t.”

  “Do you?”

  Delta laughed. “Cheat? Nope. And not because I’m some saint, either. I just think it’s too much of a hassle trying to remember all the lies and alibis. No thanks. I’d rather spend my energy doing something constructive.”

  “I figured you’d say something like that.”

  “Honesty is underrated, Carducci. Look at the damage Gwen did by not being up front with you.”

  Tony nodded. “No kidding. And all this time I thought it was something I did.”

  Suddenly, the radio spit out their call number and crackled about a burglary-in-progress.

  Delta grinned as her heart rate sped up. “Here’s one woman in our lives who doesn’t let us down.” Delta picked up the mike and responded that they were on their way. In less than two minutes, they arrived at Franklin Gardens, a high-rise apartment building on the east side of their beat.

  “Carducci, you call backup and have them cover the west side of the building. You take the ground floor elevators, the lobby, and the parking lot. I’m going up.”

  “Up?”

  Delta nodded. “Up. Dispatch said the ninth floor, so that’s where I’m going.”

  Tony reached for the mike. “Don’t you think she’s long gone by now?”

  “Gone, maybe, but not long. I’ve made that mistake before. She likes to inspect her handiwork. She’s around somewhere. It’s the nature of the beast.” Jumping from the car, Delta started inside and took the stairs two at a time. By the fourth floor, her legs felt it. By the seventh floor, her quads and hamstrings burned. When she finally reached the ninth floor, she was standing on soggy noodles, trying to catch her breath.

  “Officer! Over here!” The blue-jump-suited building superintendent waved his arms to catch her attention as soon as she exited the stairwell.

  Forcing her legs to carry her down the hall through sheer will, Delta’s eyes scanned for any signs of potential danger.

  “While I was doing my rounds, I saw Mrs. Flanagan’s door open, and the apartment was dark. I called out to her, but she didn’t answer. I flicked the lights on, but I didn’t go in.”

  “You didn’t see anybody?”

  “Nope. But she always locks her door. Always.”

  Delta nodded as she peered into the dark room. “Why did you turn the light back off?”

  “I watch TV. I know I should leave the crime scene the way I found it.”

  “What makes you think a crime has been committed here?”

  “Hey, I read the papers. I know there’s a ring of jewelry thieves in River Valley.”

  Delta cringed inside. As usual, the media only got the story half right. “Well, calling the police was a very wise move. You stay clear.” Delta pulled her revolver out. “I’m going to go see if there’s anyone in there.”

  Turning the light on with her right hand, Delta immediately saw the open sliding glass door. Carefully moving toward the balcony, Delta let her .357 lead the way and stepped into the cold night air. The balcony was empty, save for a rope dangling against the side of the building, heading upwards. Delta did not need to see where it disappeared to, to know where it must have been tied. Tucking her weapon back in its holster, Delta ran back out to the hallway and radioed Carducci.

  “Fourteen floors?” she asked the super.

  “Not including the penthouse and the
basement.”

  “Thanks. Watch this door and don’t touch anything, okay?”

  “Sure!”

  Inhaling deeply, Delta brushed off the fatigue in her legs before starting back up the stairwell.

  Five floors later, she emerged on the chilly rooftop in time to see a small, dark figure dash across the length of the roof and take flight before landing on the roof of the building next door.

  “Damn it!” Delta yelled, wondering whether or not her rubbery legs could make the same leap. Before she had an answer, Delta hit the roof on a dead run, not stopping to think of the distance she was jumping or of how high up she was. Once at the very edge, Delta leapt into the air, covering a distance that might as well have been the Grand Canyon. In the dark, with only the light from the moon to guide her, Delta wondered for a brief second if she would make it.

  When the rooftop appeared beneath her, Delta landed with far less grace than the figure before her. A shooting pain in her leg zapped up her spine as the old thigh wound from the Zuckerman case flared at the wrong moment. Righting her balance, Delta groaned when she realized the suspect was heading for the ledge of this building as well. Feeling another suicidal leap would be hazardous to her health, Delta ripped out her Magnum and dropped to one knee. “Freeze! Police!”

  Stopping just before she reached the ledge, Taylor raised her hands in the air, turned toward Delta, and smiled. “Okay, okay, I’m frozen.”

  Delta guessed she was about thirty feet from the suspect. Weighing her options, she lowered the weapon slightly. “I ought to kick your ass over the side of the building. Are you insane? That jump could have killed us both!”

  Taylor grinned. “Pumped you up, though, didn’t it?”

  Delta rose unsteadily and took a step forward, her .357 still poised at Taylor. “Is that what this is about? Being ‘pumped up?’”

  Taylor shrugged. “Isn’t it?”

  “I still ought to kick your butt over the edge.”

  “Aw, you really don’t want to do that, now do you?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Delta took two more steps.