Bad Cop

by Linda Verji

  She kissed his shoulder. “So, are quitting your job?”

  Lucas laughed. “Are we still on that?”

  “Yup. We’re still on that.” She met his eyes. “Are you quitting?”

  Instead of answering her question, he asked, “Will you leave me if I don’t?”

  She thought over it. Frankly, the thought of Lucas being in constant danger was scary. But could she leave him? No.

  “I wish I could.” She sighed. “But I can’t. You’ve already made me fall in love with you again.”

  “What?” Lucas’s hand swept up to her chin to lift her face until their eyes met. In his, shock swum. “You’re in love with me?”

  She hadn’t planned to make the confession, but now that it was out there… She made a face. “Apparently.”

  “That means yes, right?” he asked. When all she did was roll her eyes, he laughed then bent his head to give her a hard kiss. “I love you too.”

  To be honest, even without him saying the words she’d already figured it out for herself. How could she not know when he kept doing things that screamed ‘I love you’? He was always running around protecting her, saving her. Of course he loved her. But hearing the words and seeing the truth of them was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

  She turned her head upwards and lifted to touch her mouth to his. This kiss was slow and tender, filled with the love and desire that they’d both suppressed for way too long.

  “If you love me, then stop trying to break up with me,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere this time. I don’t care what you say.”

  “Okay.” He smiled. “I won’t try to break up with you again.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise.”

  She searched his face to see if he was being sincere. He was. She sighed in relief before setting her head back on his shoulder. “You better keep that promise because the next time you ask me to break up with you, I’ll set my mom and Kenny on you.”

  His laughter rumbled in her ear.

  They were silent for quite a while before he prodded, “Angel?”

  “Mm?” She opened heavy, drowsy eyes to meet his.

  “You know I can’t give you everything other men can, right?” he asked.

  This again? She looked up at him, ready to remind him that she didn’t need everything from him. She just needed him.

  But before she could say the words, he cut in, “But just know that I’ll do everything possible to make you happy. I won’t make you regret giving me another chance.”

  A warm sensation curled in her stomach with his words and she couldn’t help smiling. “I know you won’t.”

  “I love you, Jasmine.”

  “I love you too,” she returned. Then, wrapped in the arms of the man she knew she would love forever, she let sleep take her away.

  * * *

  LUCAS CAME AWAKE to find Jasmine wrapped around him. Sometime during the night, they’d changed positions. He was now lying on his side facing the glass double-doors, while she was behind him, her arm around his torso, her breasts cradled against his back and her breath whispering against his neck. He turned in her arms. She was so deep asleep that she didn’t even stir when he moved and her arm fell away from him.

  He lifted on his elbows and propped his head on his palm as he watched her. Would he ever get used to how beautiful, how peaceful she looked while in her sleep? And she was all his.

  Smiling, he bent to press a kiss to her forehead. When he lifted his head, his eyes swept past her to the clock on the nightstand. Immediately, his eyes widened. Eight a.m.? He was late. He shoved the covers away from his own body then scrambled off the body. He stopped only to arrange the covers back over the still sleeping Jasmine before rushing to the bathroom.

  After a quick shower, he dressed up. He could’ve left just like that but he didn’t want Jasmine thinking he’d ditched her again so he stopped by her bedroom.

  “Angel.” He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “Wake up.”

  “Mmm?” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “Wake up.” He kissed her shoulder again.

  This time she turned. Though her eyes were open, they were still shadowed with sleep. However, the moment she took a look at him, she realized what was going on. “You’re leaving?”

  “Yeah, I’m late for work.”

  “What about breakfast?” She started to sit up. “I’ll make you something.”

  “No, it’s okay.” He pressed her back down into the bed. “I’ll grab a muffin or something at the station.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Smiling, he stroked her cheek. “Thanks for offering though.”

  “Oh.” She asked, “Will I get to see you later?”

  “Yeah, I’ll pick you up from work.” He asked, “That okay?”

  “Mm.” She nodded.

  “Okay.” Smiling, he bent to press a soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t sleep too long.”

  “I won’t.” She smiled back. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Bye.” He bent down for another kiss before leaving.

  While he was on the elevator on the way down, he called Shane. As soon as his partner picked up, Lucas scolded, “Yo, why didn’t you wake me up? I’m late.”

  “Late for what?” Shane sounded groggy, like he’d just woken up.

  “For work.”

  “Work? Oh!” There was some shuffling as if Shane was getting up. “What time is it?”

  “Eight. Where are you anyway?”

  “Home.” Shane yawned before adding, “I just got in four hours ago after we finished interrogating August.”

  “He woke up?” Lucas asked as he got off the elevator.

  “Yeah,” Shane said. “He woke up just as soon as they got the bullet out of him.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He confessed everything,” Shane announced. “Didn’t even ask for a lawyer.”

  “He confessed?” Lucas was so shocked that he stopped walking.

  “Don’t get excited. It’s not the kind of confession we were hoping for,” Shane said. “All he told us was that he killed both York and Teddy. He was even kind enough to assure us that his boss, Michael Walcott, wasn’t involved at all. It was all him.”

  “Bullshit!” Lucas frowned. “Of course Walcott was involved.”

  “August claims he wasn’t.”

  “Then how does he explain killing the two? Why would he do it if not for Walcott?”

  “He claims that he just did. Temporary insanity.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “That’s what I said.” Shane sighed. “I’m hoping that once we get him in an interrogation-room, we can get a more truthful answer from him.”

  “What about Walcott?” Lucas asked. “Did you arrest him?”

  “Murphy did.” Shane paused before adding, “But they had to let him go.”

  “What?”

  “The recording you did was illegal,” Shane said, “and with August completely absolving him of blame, there was nothing to hold him for. Maybe once we talk to August, we can find something solid to bring him in for.”

  Well, this was disappointing! Lucas had thought that after the whole kidnapping saga everything was now resolved. Sure, getting August was a win, but he wanted Michael Walcott too.

  “Are you on your way to the station?” Shane asked. “We’re supposed to meet the D.A at ten to brief him.”

  “Yeah, I’m on my wa-” Lucas paused as a sudden memory pricked at him. He’d completely forgotten about the key he’d found in Teddy’s gym bag. “Actually, I need to drop by somewhere else first.”

  “Something to do with the case?” Shane asked.

  “Maybe. I’m not sure yet.” Lucas opened the car door. “I’ll let you know once I’ve checked the place out.”

  It took him about twenty minutes to get to his place and grab the key. Afterwards, he headed to the gym whose name he’d seen emblazoned on Teddy’s bag.

  Gi
ven that it was late morning, it was understandable that Caspian Health & Fitness didn’t have a lot of traffic. Save for one or two clients, a trainer and the receptionist, the gym was practically deserted.

  “Good morning,” Lucas greeted the receptionist behind the counter.

  “Morning,” she stood up and smiled at him. “How can I help you?”

  “Detective Lucas Gallo,” he introduced. The moment he flashed his badge, the attendant stood straighter. Lucas added, “I’m here to ask about one of your members.”

  “One of our members?” She frowned. “Who?”

  “Teddy Bryk.” Lucas drew out his phone and pulled a photo of Teddy. Holding out the image to the receptionist, he asked, “Do you know him?”

  “Teddy… Teddy…” Frowning, she leaned forward to take a better look at the photo. After some staring, she shook her head and offered him an apologetic look. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t know the face.”

  Disappointment swept through Lucas. “Really?”

  “That doesn’t mean anything though,” the receptionist rushed to add. “We have over two hundred members and I’m not the only receptionist. Maybe he came around when I wasn’t around. Or I just don’t remember him. I can check our records if you like though.”

  “That would be helpful.” Lucas offered her a grateful smile.

  “Okay.” She turned her attention to her computer. After a few clicks, she smiled. “Ah… yes. Here’s he is. Teddy Bryk.” She looked up to meet Lucas’s eyes. “He’s a member of our club.”

  “Does he have a locker here?”

  “Let me check. Just a minute.” She checked her records again then nodded. “Yes, he paid for one. But I can’t tell you which one unless he authorizes it.”

  “That might be a little hard to do,” Lucas said, “seeing as he’s dead.”

  The attendant’s eyes widened into huge saucers as shock filled them. “He’s dead?”

  Lucas nodded. “He’s dead.”

  The news that Teddy was now deceased was enough to get the receptionist to give him Teddy’s locker number and even lead him there. There were two men in the locker-room. One seemed to have just gotten out of the shower. He was still in a towel even though he was playing a game on his tablet. The other man was changing into his workout gear. They both looked up in surprise when the receptionist walked in with Lucas on her heels. She ignored them and headed directly to the row of metallic lockers.

  She pointed at Teddy’s locker. “This is it.”

  “Thank you.” Lucas took out gloves from his pocket and put them on before taking out the key. Once the key was out of the evidence bag, he pressed it into the key hole. It turned and the door opened.

  Teddy’s locker was a typical gym-goer’s locker. It held bath products, clean workout clothes, a resistance band, two pairs of sneakers, a water bottle along with an assortment of other workout essentials. Ignoring the people who were watching him, Lucas took each item one by one out of the locker and set them on the floor. It was only once everything was out of the locker that Lucas saw it. The memory card tucked right at the corner of the locker.

  He picked it up and inspected it.

  “What’s that?” the attendant asked.

  Lucas didn’t answer. He strode towards the guy with the tablet.

  “Can I borrow this?” He pointed at the tablet. The guy looked reluctant but once Lucas showed his badge, he handed it to him. “Thanks.”

  Lucas inserted the memory card and waited for the tablet to read it. Seconds later, he clicked on its icon to see what files were on it. There were several files but one in particular caught Lucas’s eyes. It was labeled ‘York’. He clicked on it. There was only one file inside that file. A video file.

  The moment Lucas played that video file, his eyes widened. By the time the video ended, he had to pick his jaw off the ground so he could call his partner.

  “Yo,” Shane answered brusquely.

  “August Wells didn’t kill York Emerson.”

  “What?” Obviously surprised, Shane asked, “How do you know?”

  “Ho ho. You won’t believe what I’m looking at right now.” Lucas, who still couldn’t take his eyes off the image on the tablet, added, “I know what happened. I know who killed York Emerson.”

  CHAPTER 29

  The airport was teaming with people, old and young, female and male, like a sea faces flowing to their destinations. Lucas stood on the first floor, watching the ground-floor and all its entrances. He sifted through the people coming in to see if he could find his targets. They were nowhere to be found. However, moments later, his earpiece crackled and Officer Murphy’s voice came in.

  “The clients are here,” Murphy said. “They’re heading in through Gate Seven.”

  Lucas’s heart immediately leaped in excitement and he couldn’t help grinning as he trained his gaze on Gate Seven.

  “I just spotted them,” Shane came in just as Lucas spotted the clients too.

  Even though both ‘clients’ were wearing sunglasses and rolling a suitcase like most of the travelers around, it was easy to spot them.

  “Me too. I just saw them.” Lucas spoke into his lapel microphone as he started towards the escalators. “Going down now.”

  “Moving too,” Shane said. “I can’t believe they had the gall to try and run without even a disguise.”

  “They thought we wouldn’t notice.” Lucas had now reached the escalators. He took the one that was going down. “Attention everyone. We need to get to them before they check in.”

  A chorus of ‘got it’ and ‘okay’ rang in his ears as every cop who’d been deployed to catch the ‘clients’ moved towards them. Within five minutes, they all converged right in front of Michael and Jonas Walcott.

  Both Michael and his son were shocked to see the detectives. Michael stopped moving while Jonas took a step back as if to hide behind his father.

  Michael was the first to gain his composure. Scowling, he asked, “What is this? I thought you already released me because you didn’t have any evidence.”

  “We’re not here for you.” Lucas pulled his handcuffs from his pocket and waved them as he turned his attention to Jonas. “Jonas Walcott, you’re under arrest for the murder of York Emerson.”

  “Wha- what-” Jonas’s eyes widened until it looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. He swallowed convulsively. “Wh – why?”

  “Shut up.” Michael immediately grabbed his son’s wrist. He turned his eyes to Lucas. “I think there must be a mistake. August is the one who killed York and Teddy. I heard that he confessed.”

  “I wonder how you heard that!” Lucas retorted sarcastically. “But we can discuss that at the station.”

  When Lucas stepped forward to cuff the younger Walcott, Michael stepped in front of him. “No, wait. You can’t arrest him. Where’s your warrant?”

  “It’s right here.” Shane stepped forward with the folded document.

  Michael snatched it then opened it and quickly skimmed it with his eyes. When he looked up again, his gaze was filled with fear. But true himself, he kept up with the useless blustering. He waved the warrant. “I don’t know how you got this but if you don’t have evidence, you all better prepare to lose your jobs.”

  Both Shane and Lucas laughed.

  Maybe it was their laughs that did it, made Jonas Walcott realize that they were serious about arresting him. One second the punk was cowering fearfully behind his father and the next he’d turned and was running.

  Unfortunately for Jonas, the place was teeming with cops. Lucas didn’t even need to move. Jonas only took a few steps before an officer stepped right in front of him. When he tried to skirt past the officer, the officer tripped him. He went down with a pained cry. Shane left Lucas’s side to relieve the officer. He knelt down beside the fallen Jonas to cuff him.

  “Dad. Dad.” Jonas kept calling out as Shane read him his Miranda rights. “Dad.”

  Michael started towards his son but Lucas st
opped him before he could get to Jonas.

  “Oops, I forgot to tell you.” With a grin, Lucas added, “You’re also under arrest.”

  “What?” Michael’s already ashen face, paled even further.

  “You’re under arrest for solicitation of murder, tampering with evidence,” Lucas listed as he forcefully turned the older man so he could handcuff him, “interference with a police investigation… and much, much more. I’m sure we’ll find more to charge you and your son for.”

  Michael was silent as they led him way. Jonas? Not so much.

  “Dad. Dad,” he kept on wailing as they hauled him out of their airport.

  Lucas wasn’t sure what the younger man thought his father could do for him right now, but he was wasting his time. Jonas was well and truly caught with no one to hide behind or clean up his mess. It was time to pay for his crime.

  * * *

  “WHERE’S MY DAD?” Jonas’s panicked gaze switched between Lucas and Shane who were seated across from him as he added, “I’m not talking without my dad.”

  “That’s okay.” Lucas lazed back in his seat. “We don’t need you to talk. We have everything we need.”

  As soon as they’d arrived from the airport, the police had shuffled Jonas and his father into separate rooms then commenced with interrogations. Michael had already called for his lawyers. Jonas, on the other hand, kept insisting that he wanted to see his father. Like that could help him in this situation.

  “I didn’t do it.” Jonas said.

  When Lucas gave him a disbelieving snort, his pleading gaze swept to Shane. Unfortunately, Shane was preoccupied with the laptop in front of him and didn’t even look up.

  Jonas turned his attention back to Lucas. “I really didn’t do it.”

  “That’s it. Don’t confess,” Lucas urged the man. “Keep insisting that you didn’t kill him. It will only make your sentence longer.”

  “Bullshit!” Jonas cussed.

  “Let’s make this short.” Shane looked up from the laptop. “Do you know York Emerson?”

  “No. No.” Jonas shook his head vigorously. “I don’t know him.”