by W L Knightly
He released a long breath. “I guess it doesn’t fucking matter anymore. It’s not as if his reputation could be ruined; his marriage; his job. We were lovers.”
Jo’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “You were what?”
“Lovers,” stressed the young man. “And before you ask, I’m nineteen. Perfectly legal.”
“It’s not that,” said Jake. “It’s just that we didn’t have any idea.” Jake exchanged a look with Jo, whose mouth was still wide open. Jake could tell she figured this story had motive written all over it. “Tell us more.”
“We started seeing each other every day. We’d sneak off together. But I was late that day, and when I showed up, he was gone. He hadn’t even texted me.”
“Did you think it was odd his car was still in the lot?”
“I figured he’d left with someone to get laid. I waited here for him to show back up for it, but I walked home when he didn’t show by dark. I figured he was having his fix with another man.”
“I’m very sorry,” said Jake. “And please don’t take this wrong, but was there any trouble with your relationship? I mean, he was new in town. Was it new, or had you known him before the move?”
“He found me online just before he made this his permanent residence, but we didn’t start having playdates until after he moved here.”
“Do you know if his wife knew about her husband’s sexuality?”
Timothy shook his head. “No way. I’m not officially out, and he was my first real boyfriend. We had to hide it, but he said that he was going to use her as his cover, give her a baby, and then come out to her in the right time. We talked about our aspirations and what we wanted out of life. We had agreed on each other. I was even okay with the baby, as long as I got to co-parent with him and she wouldn’t try to tear us apart. But he didn’t want to lose his place on the bench. That’s the only thing that was stopping us.”
“Sounds like you had big plans too.”
“What if she found out and had him killed?” asked Timothy. “Then, it would be my fault.”
“I’m sure it’s not your fault, Timothy.” Jo felt for the man. She also didn’t think he was capable of the crime. “Look, we have to get back to the station, but if you think of anything, you do not hesitate to call me, okay? Even if you just feel like you need to get things off of your chest. I can put you in touch with someone if you need help.”
Jake loved her generous ways and hoped that Timothy would find the help he needed. “Take care, man.” Jake clapped him on the back, and then he and Jo made their way back to the car.
Once they settled in the car and Jake started to drive away, Jo released a long breath. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t see that coming. It’s motive, right?”
“Not necessarily, but it could be, yes. I mean, I don’t know why she would kill her husband when you could so clearly tell she wanted a baby with him. Even the neighbor knew it.”
“Unless that’s just her cover,” said Jo. “It’s obvious both had secrets. You’re telling me she didn’t know her husband was meeting another lover? It tells me the sex wasn’t as great as she was making it out to be. A woman her age? She was getting it somewhere.”
Jake wondered where Jo got hers, and then he took a deep breath and tried to clear his head from the thoughts. “It’s possible. I don’t hate any of these theories, but I don’t like her or Timothy for the judge’s murder.”
Jo went quiet for a moment as if she were sorting it all out in her head. She would always get a little wrinkle in her forehead when she did that, and he couldn’t help but notice how cute she was.
Then she turned toward him, folding her arms around her middle. “The wife would have more of a reason to hide an affair and have someone take out her husband.”
“They both have a reason, but I don’t think they did it. We have to figure out their pasts. We’re going to have to research Timothy’s story now. I want to know all there is to know about him. We should see if it all lines up. If he just met him, I can’t see it being passionate enough for an elaborate scheme.”
“What about Kendra?” asked Jo. “We should look into her past for sure.”
“Without a doubt. There might be someone in her life she’s protecting. Someone who wanted her husband dead or hated the idea of the two of them having babies.” Jake pulled out onto the main road and headed back to the station.
“There’s a piece missing,” said Jo, biting her lip. She narrowed her eyes. “Something isn’t adding up.”
He knew what she meant. “We’ll find it.”
Jake had never been more certain of anything. He could still feel like they were close to finding out who did Bodin, and he was even more certain that the Hangman was about to make another move. He was getting careless calling him. And it was that kind of carelessness that would be his stumbling block. Jake was sure it wouldn’t be his own.
Jo shook her head like she wasn’t so sure of that. “What if this is the Hangman, Jake? What if he’s toying with us for messing with Missy? He might have committed this murder, made it look like someone else, and is trying to throw us off the trail and keep us preoccupied.”
Jake wasn’t convinced. “Again, plausible, but unlikely. He’d have to bring himself out of hiding to do that. And I’m not sure he’d take that big of a risk.”
“So, I guess we have to talk to Kendra again, and this time, she’s not going to be happy with the news we give her.” Jo sank in her seat a little.
“It’s a shame we have to talk to her at all,” said Jake. “But I know we do.”
“She needs to know, but I think we should wait until after the funeral for that little announcement.”
“Agreed,” said Jake.
Jo sighed. “Are you sure this isn’t the Hangman?” Jake could tell the possibility was eating at her. “I don’t want to be wrong about this. I’ve got a bad feeling that he’s toying with us. The letters, the phone call.”
“No, it’s not him.” He shook his head.
“Why? Because he said so?” She gave him a hard look as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I know it’s odd, but I trust him, Jo. I could tell it in his voice. He didn’t do Bodin.”
Jo gave a half-hearted laugh. “Listen to yourself. You trust a man you’re trying to find for murder. I wouldn’t let anyone else hear you say that.”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone else more than you to say that to, if it matters.”
Jo smiled. “It does. And it’s a good thing. I’m the only one who could begin to understand.”
Jake thought she had no idea just how much truth was in that statement. She got him more than anyone.
Chapter 8
Kyle
After a long morning away from his room at the Rockford, Kyle returned to snort a few lines and maybe make a few phone calls, including one to Kendra. Dodging the girls in the lobby, especially Rowan who waved as soon as he walked in, he hurried to the elevator and was glad he managed to avoid her. He needed time alone to think about his next moves, and deep down, he wanted to talk himself out of his first decided solution.
Surely, he could talk sense into Kendra. He’d known her long enough to be reasonable with her, and if it were anyone else, he wouldn’t be as patient. He had expected that killing her husband would push her off the deep end, but he wasn’t prepared for her crazy talk. She had made it seem as if she didn’t love him and that she didn’t want any part of him, but they had both promised each other always and that their always would prevail, no matter what. She was just talking nonsense in her distraught state, but he would overlook that misstep for now.
Kendra just wasn’t thinking clearly. It would all sort itself out in the end. He had to give her time, one more chance after the dust had settled to see things his way.
The elevator made it to this floor, and when she stepped off, he wasn’t expecting to see his father walking toward him. Son of a bitch.
It had been a minute since
he’d spoken with his old man, and while he was glad to see him alive, it meant he had to wait for his next hit.
“There you are,” said his old man. “I’ve been knocking. I thought I heard someone in there.”
As Kyle walked toward him, his father turned and walked back to his room with him. “It’s the TV. I leave it on. And it’s good to see you too, Father. I was beginning to worry if you had survived the payoff. Figured they’d knocked you off to kill their problem at the root.”
“Don’t pretend to care now, son.” He straightened his collar. “And the payoff went well, no thanks to you. They asked about you, but I convinced them that dragging you there instead of a hospital was a bad idea. They reluctantly agreed.”
“Yeah, well, they worked me over well enough. I probably should have gone.” He still had the facial bruising and a hard time breathing deeply. “They might have broken my ribs.” He stopped at the door and used his key card to open the door.
“You got off easy. They wanted to kill you. It was Stan that showed you mercy.”
His dad followed him inside, and after a quick glance at the table, he was relieved he’d remembered to put his drugs away. Luckily, everything was in its place, just as he’d left it. “Good ol’ Stan. I’ll have to thank him next time I see him.”
Michael shook his head. “There won’t be any next time. You’re done with those men. I want you to stay away, and so do they. It’s bad when a drug dealer won’t do business with you. But Spinks thinks you’re a spoiled pain in the ass. And he said the next time you owe them, you’re going to pay with your life.” He walked to the sofa and sat down.
Kyle sat in the chair across from him and lit up a cigarette. He didn’t give a shit what Stan, Spinks, or any of his dopehead dealers thought of him. Or anyone else for that matter. Only one person’s opinion had ever mattered. And he could already tell he was going to have to rethink that affection.
“Well, at least you walked away without a limp,” he said, looking up at his old man, who still fidgeted with his collar, finally loosening his tie. “Are things good with you and Stan?”
His father frowned at his smoking, which was the least of his bad habits, as he redid his tie. “Actually, you didn’t manage to fuck things up as badly as you tried. It turns out, Stan isn’t so bad after all.”
“Yeah? What did he do? Get you high? Are you two going to go into business together?” He remembered his dad wanted to hire Stan to work for him taking out Madden, but he had a feeling that since he’d botched that relationship with his debt, there was no salvaging it.
“No, but he did hook me up with someone willing to take the Hangman out for me. They said Madden is as good as dead. They might even know where he is.”
“Are they legit?” Kyle thought it was too good to be true.
“Of course. I wasn’t out of there ten minutes with them when he messaged me. This man is ex-military like Madden; a sniper. They all run in the same circles, and Stan says he comes highly recommended. He just doesn’t want Spinks to know because he uses him too. No worries there. I’ll never tell.” He chuckled. “He texted me and said that we could meet up and talk about the details. It’s not going to cost me half as much as I was paying Clay White.”
“Good for my trust fund.” He felt the need to remind his father that it wasn’t only his money that had been given to pay off his problems. He’d sacrificed a lot too, and he still hadn’t let him take over control of his own account. Even though he’d said he would. “Why don’t you go ahead and release the bulk of my money for me?”
Michael furrowed his brows. “The very reason you believe it’s okay for you to ask me that is part of the reason I don’t. You’re not responsible, and until you are, I’m not letting you sabotage whatever pathetic future you have.”
Kyle took a long drag and blew the smoke in his father’s direction. Even though it wouldn’t reach him, he still liked the way it made him squirm. As an ex-smoker himself, it bothered him worse than ever. “You just have to be in control, don’t you?”
“You know what it’s like. Don’t pretend you don’t.” His father gave him an accusing look. “It’s what gets you off. You’re not that hard to read, you know? And now for what I came here for.”
“What’s that? You want to take a shot at me?” Kyle held his arms out and waved him on. “Come on, old man. I’m ready for it. I’ve taken worse.”
“I should have beaten you in your childhood, but I’ve got too much heart. What I’m here to do is take you home. We don’t need to hang around here and be walking targets. Let’s flee while we can and let your sister take care of the rest.”
Kyle chuckled. “Do you have any idea how much of a pussy move that is? I’m disappointed. I prefer to see it to the end, and besides, Kendra is here. I’m not leaving without her. And since I have to wait until that dickhead husband of hers is in the ground, then it’s going to be a while.”
“Funny, you speak so highly of him.” The sarcasm was thick in his father’s voice. “Careful, or someone will think you had something to do with his death.”
“Someone? Or you, Dad?”
“Have you seen his wife?”
“Funny, you call her that. Till death do they part, remember? She’s no longer a married woman. And while yes, I can say it’s quite the convenience for me, I had nothing to do with it.”
“You need to let her go. She’s dealing with a lot, and you know she’ll be in the public eye now. You can’t afford that.”
“No, you’re the one who can’t afford it, Father. You want everyone to keep you far away from anyone touching you and your precious career. I get it.”
“That’s why you try to fuck it up with every move you make, isn’t it?”
“And the shrink said I’m the narcissist? It’s not about you, Dad. It’s about me and Kendra. I’m staying here. I’m going to be with her, no matter who likes it.”
“Does she? She sure didn’t leave her man for you. Maybe there was a reason why?”
His father didn’t know what thin ice he was skating on, and Kyle wasn’t going to get into it with him about Kendra. “I’m never giving up on her.”
“For the record, your shrink labeled you a psychopath. That’s what I’ve tried to protect my career from. And you from. Maybe I made a mistake, maybe a lot of them, but I know when we’re licked. And this Hangman son of a bitch is not going to stop until we’re dead.”
Kyle smiled. “So leave. I don’t need you around.”
“You do, though, Kyle. You’ve always needed me. You’re like a fucking child still, unable to keep your own nose clean or wipe your ass. I am still cleaning up your messes. What happens to you when I’m not around anymore to do it?”
Kyle laughed. He hated it when his father went all heavy on him. “I’d still have Mom’s arm,” he said with sarcasm.
“Ha, laugh it up. She’d never survive you. I’ve cushioned every blow you’ve ever sent that poor woman’s way.”
“Poor woman?” He really belted a laugh at that one. “You—the man who likes to cheat and do dirty deals behind her back—you’re going to accuse me of hurting her? I’m just standing in line. You’ve been doing it for years.”
“A husband is supposed to be a disappointment, not a child.”
“Oh, so now I disappoint you? I guess my sister hasn’t ever done that. I guess she’s the golden child now. She’s certainly suited with that blonde hair and those big green eyes. I’m sure she makes you proud.”
“I already know you’ve seen her. But I’m warning you, son. Stay away from her.”
“Oh, don’t worry. She stinks of bacon. I’ve never had any use for the Spokane PD.”
“She’s made something of herself, which is more than I can say for you.”
“And how much of that has your money bought? I’m sure she didn’t make it all the way up to detective by herself. I know you had a hand in it, so don’t be so quick to give her all the glory your money bought.”
“
I guess I figured she deserved it. She’s never been a disappointment.”
Comments like that made him wonder just how long he had been in the girl’s life and if it was longer than he knew about. Still, it was good ammunition. “She’s not had the time. A few more years with you as a father and I’m sure that’s where she’s headed. But don’t worry. I’m not the monster you think I am. I’d never kill family. As much as I’d like to at times. But then again, you’re no use to me dead, Dad.”
Michael’s face twisted in pain, but it wasn’t even the worst thing that Kyle had ever said to him. They loved their back and forth, each as much as the other, and they had never cared how deeply the other had cut, but the truth often hurt.
“I’m giving you a few days to heal before I bring you home to your mother, but make no mistake. You’re going with me. I am not leaving you here to ruin that girl’s life or your own. It’s time you moved on, Kyle. And for fuck’s sake, it’s about fucking time you grew up.”
His father got to his feet and went to the door, and he couldn’t leave fast enough in Kyle’s opinion. All he cared about was how quickly he could disappear so he could snort his lines in peace.
Chapter 9
Jake
Jake had not stepped out but for an hour to take care of some of his banking issues when he returned to find Sam sitting in his chair, looking at Jo like she was a juicy piece of steak he wanted to fork.
Jake walked into the room and stood by the bookcase where their shared plant soaked up sunlight, and Jo continued like he hadn’t entered the room.
“I want you to find out if she’s been talking to anyone at all. We know she goes to yoga class. She’s also tried to befriend the neighbor, but there has to be people she left behind when she moved here. Disgruntled lover? Maybe something else triggered the move.”
“I’ve gotcha. Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. I’m going to start with their old neighbors. See if I can find anything about who was coming and going.”