by J. Valentine
He nodded his agreement. “So? Richard Miller. Tell me about him.”
“Let’s go to the basement, I can show you my evidence board.”
“Wait, like in movies and stuff, a corkboard with pictures, strings attaching them, notes, etcetera?” He asked her, laughing.
“Uhhh, yeah, do you not use those?”
“No,” he chuckled. “Those are only in movies. We have everything on computers, and in folders. Maybe they used cork boards twenty years ago!”
“Well… it works for me,” she laughed.
“Hey fair enough!”
She led him down to the basement. Her father’s desk was slightly more organized than before, all the papers and documents saved in folders, and sorted on his old shelving. The corkboard was in full display in the adjacent basement living room. An old couch and chair that Max had stuck down there during his upgrades sat in the middle, with an old carpet covering the concrete poured basement floor.
The detective looked over the board. Much had been added to it, and she still had to add more.
“Miller told me he never called Maryam a tranny. He stumbled upon Maryam and Barry while running the bev cart on the golf course, and they became intimate with one another. They didn’t want to be found out so they painted him as a transphobe, and got him fired. If he were to tell anyone his side of the story, they’d never believe him,” she started.
His eyes widened, and he looked, intrigued, with Olivia. “And you believe him?”
“I do. Everything I’ve learned about Barry. He is definitely a sex addict, and maybe a coke addict. I know of him being with Layla, the hostess Rachel at Mark’s Diner, and whoever he cheated on Layla with that led to the end of their relationship. It makes sense that the novelty of having sex with Maryam would appeal to someone like him.”
“Yes, he does have quite the history in town. And yes, he has been picked up for coke a few times, so you’re probably right about the addiction. It’s common enough in Red Arch, I didn’t think much of it honestly,” he explained.
“What are you thinking?” She asked him, after he put his hand to his chin, seemingly in deep thought.
“Well I never really thought that Richard Miller was the killer either. A murderer is never that comfortable around the police, even if he is a bit of weirdo. So are you leaning back towards Barry?” He asked her.
“It’s possible. He’s still my prime suspect. It just doesn’t make sense that he’d be the one to hire me. If he did it, I would expect him to avoid talking to anyone like you or I, and probably move to another city, or even country. If I was in his shoes I’d be looking at Argentina, or another country without extradition treaties.”
“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he laughed.
Olivia smiled at him. “I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t think for a second that I am one,” she quoted BBC’s Sherlock.
“Okay Sherlock Holmes,” they laughed together.
Olivia went to her corkboard and added the new information. “Proven domestic abuser” she wrote underneath Maryam’s picture. She attached a string between Barry and her, adding “possible affair.” Underneath Barry’s name she added “Bitcoin thief?”
“Bitcoin?” Brad asked her.
“Yeah Layla told me that Maryam had a significant amount of money in bitcoin on a harddrive. The harddrive is missing, and she thinks Barry stole it.”
“Why would he steal it when Maryam left him so much money?” Brad asked.
“Well.. Layla really doesn't like him, so she could just be looking for another accusation to throw at him. Who knows, people do crazy things, and those bitcoin were apparently worth a tremendous amount of money” she explained.
“I know that, all too well,” Brad added.
Both of their phones went off, signalling a county emergency alert.
*HEAVY SNOWFALL WARNING IN EFFECT FOR RED ARCH REGION*
Chapter 15
“Looks like we’re going to be stuck here for a while,” Brad said, in his deep masculine voice, disappointedly looking at his phone.
“Yeah really.”
Olivia was ecstatic. Excited for the opportunity to spend more time with Brad, hoping, and fantasizing about the endless possibilities of the two adults stuck home together. She looked over his impressive body, filling out his tight detective’s white collared shirt nicely. His biceps and chest muscles testing the tensile strength of the fabric. She could feel her mouth salivating, and quickly swallowed. They went upstairs to check out the weather.
“It’s a white out,” Brad said.
The snow falling fast, and hard enough to obscure their view ten feet from the window, he could barely make out his cruiser. Brad worried about the traffic, and accidents that were likely to happen to anyone caught out on the dangerous winter roads. There wasn’t much they could do. His fellow officers are well trained, and capable in the winter conditions. Olivia thought of the danger as well.
“I should call my brother,” she said, before dialing his cell phone number.
“I’ll call dispatch, see if they need me out there,” Brad replied.
***
“Hey Olivia,” Max said after answering the call. Olivia was relieved that Max had gotten his phone fixed in time for the blizzard.
“Hey bro, just calling to make sure you’re not on the roads right now.
“No, I was driving to the store when I got the alert. Stephanie’s was nearby and she was kind enough to let me come over,” he explained.
“Hey Olivia!” She heard Stephanie shout from the line.
“That’s good, probably best to hold out over there until the storm lets up,” Olivia warned.
“Yeah, that’s the plan. Are you at the house?” He asked.
“Yeah I am,” she looked towards Brad, also on the phone to his dispatcher. “I have Brad over right now, we were looking over some details of the case together.”
“Well make sure he stays there. The roads are too bad right now, we have to all hunker down.”
Olivia was happy to hear her brother approving of her having the man over. “Okay well, stay safe Max, I love you.”
“Love you too, Olivia,” he hung up.
Olivia looked back to Brad, discussing the situation on the phone with a supervisor. The situation was serious, and Olivia was worried he may be called away from her, and into the danger of the treacherous Red Arch blizzard conditions. She worried for him. She cared for him, already in the short time since their reconnection. She thought that she may love the man already, but it was too soon to say anything to him. He nodded his approval while talking on the phone, before hanging up.
Brad looked back into Olivia’s deep green eyes. She noticed the hazel of his, and realized how beautiful they were for the first time. “They have enough cruisers out right now, but they told me to keep my radio on in case a situation happens.”
“I’m glad you’re staying here, it’s too dangerous out there,” she stepped forward towards him.
“It’ll be okay,” he took the hint and leaned down to hug her. She could smell the cologne and worried sweat on his skin, he was nervous. She lavished in the strength of his arms during the embrace. He lifted up his head and turned it deeper into her neck, before surreptitiously gently inhaling the scent from her hair into his nose. She felt butterflies in her stomach upon noticing his action.
He wanted this too, she thought, before pulling her head away and looking into his eyes, his arms still holding her torso. She opened her mouth slightly, and looked up, back into his eyes, proverbially giving him the clear to make a move. He took advantage and leaned in to meet her in a beautiful deep longing kiss. Olivia was in heaven.
The lights of the house flickered for a moment, before going out entirely. They both laughed with each other at the timing of the event. Olivia turned when she heard whimpering behind her. Alvi was nervous and upset.
“Oh it’s okay boy,” she told him, “I’ll see if Max has a thunder jacket f
or you.”
She went through the front closet with her phone’s flashlight to find one, then put it on the nervous dog. He seemed happy with the attention she was giving him.
“You have to leave us be, okay Alvi,” she whispered to him, hoping he wouldn’t interrupt whatever Olivia and Brad were going to be doing.
Olivia looked through Max’s things before finding a pack of tea light candles. She found it a bit strange that Max had a pack, ready for her, but she was grateful they were there. She quickly went back downstairs to the basement hoping to re-establish the titillating mood. She gazed at Brad, still standing in the basement, looking through her evidence board, phone light in hand.
“Any thoughts?” She asked him, as she went about setting the candles around the basement, lighting them as she went.
“No, just thinking. It's quite a case… exciting, but I’m glad these are so rare in Red Arch. That poor family,” he said.
“Yeah, I know how that feels,” Olivia knew all too well from her extensive history of investigating murders that the police had given up on. It was always bitter sweet. The sadness for those affected by the death combined with the thrill of the hunt.
The aroma of the red cherry tea light candles filled the room, lighting it just enough so they could make out each other’s bodies. Olivia walked up behind him, and brushed his arm with her hand. He knew what she wanted, and he wanted to be the one to give it to her. He turned around. Their gazes met once again.
“The candles smell lovely,” he told her.
She nodded.
“You do as well.”
They kissed passionately. His hands explored her ready body. Olivia loved the feel of his luscious lips, pressed up against hers. She knew how much he loved the taste of her, and the lipstick she had applied that morning. She thought back to the coffee shop, when they touched each other for the first time, her hand on his arm. She put her hand on his shoulder, and ran it along the length of his arm, stopping to admire his bicep and forearms, before wrapping her arms back around him, and squeezing him in closer, pushing her chest up against his.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered in her ear after breaking mouth contact, bringing his face back into her neck, breathing in her scent, much more obviously than before.
They made their way to the dingy old couch in the damp basement. He used his impressive strength to push her down onto it, he landed on top of her. Olivia generally didn’t enjoy making love on a couch, but so caught up in the moment, she knew she wanted him then and there, even if it was on the cold concrete floor. She wanted him, wherever.
He ran his hand along her body, stopping to feel her ass, and pulling her in closer to his pelvis. He slowly unbuttoned her shirt, all the while continuing to kiss her neck, and feel her with his other hand. Her bra was in view, and he reached his hand up to feel her breast.
“I want you so bad,” she told him.
“I need you,” he replied, in his deep sexy voice. “Let me taste you,” he said as a statement that Olivia knew was a question.
“Yes,” she agreed, generally she was uncomfortable with a guy going down on her so soon, but it was different with Brad. She was totally comfortable around him, putty in his hands.
He made his way down her body, stopping to kiss her as she went, getting slower and slower as he got closer to her womanhood.
It was unlike any feeling Olivia had ever had. Thrusting her hips into his face, and holding his head in place, massaging his scalp, and digging her fingernails into him.
She was overcome with lust.
He was overcome with passion.
She pushed her head back into the couch cushion she was laying on, and thrusted her hips into him as waves of pleasure pulsated through her body stemming from deep within her.
Quickly he shot his face back up to her, and embraced her in a deep passionate kiss. She felt radiated in love with the man, and how well he played her body. She reached down and quickly found his ready and excited manhood, massaging it through his pants with her loving hand.
“I want you in me,” she told him. He leaned upwards and in one motion pulled off his shirt. She saw each line of abs as he went, before revealing an impressive pectoral frame. He’d spent hours in the gym readying himself for moments like these. She was in awe of his body, and his lean muscles. He unbuckled his pants, slowly removing them for her, showing her his manhood. Her mouth opened as she saw him, her body quivering with excitement. She almost felt self conscious at how wet and ready her body was for him, before the thought quickly left her mind, as she was intoxicated with attraction for the man.
He gave her exactly what she wanted, penetrating her deeply. She gasped for air as he embraced her, wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her in closer with his great strength.
Chapter 16
Olivia woke up nuzzled in Brad’s strong arms. She felt safe, and secure, knowing that he held her throughout the night, basking in the closeness of their bodies and their souls. She felt his warm breath on her neck, and decided to stay put, not moving an inch so that she could be with him longer. Her time was cut short, as he sensed her wakefulness, waking up himself.
Brad groaned before speaking, “good morning, Olivia.”
She loved hearing him say her name. How her high school acquaintances would look at her now, sleeping with the hockey team captain. They would be so jealous, she thought. “Good morning, Brad.”
Olivia nuzzled in closer to him, and he gave her a wonderful squeezing hug, before letting go and standing up.
“That was a great night,” he told her.
“I think so too,” she smiled, standing herself up off the basement couch.
They went upstairs to check out the damage from the night before. The blizzard had been heavy, snow still falling lightly packing on top of what had been laid previously. At least two feet of snow piled throughout the driveway. It looked as if the plow had just gone by, clearing the streetway. They checked news reports and found there were luckily zero deaths and only a few small road accidents. Hopefully they’d be just as lucky the next time around. The roads would still be bad today, maybe not out of the clear just yet.
“Breakfast?” Olivia asked Brad, who was standing next to her looking out the window.
*Barks*
“That’s a yes, for Alvi,” Olivia laughed, heading to the kitchen to feed and let the dog outside to play in the fresh snow.
“I’d love some breakfast as well.”
“How do you like your eggs?” She asked.
“Over easy, please,” he replied.
Olivia smiled. They had the same donut shop order, and the same breakfast order. A perfect match, she thought. They also both loved solving crimes and created their careers around it. Olivia paused, surprised and startled once Brad hugged her from behind in the kitchen. The startling feeling quickly passed as she leaned into his warm embrace. A lot of guys were awkward the morning after in Olivia’s experience, but Brad was a pro. Making her feel loved and cared for. She appreciated how affectionate the man was to her.
Olivia let Alvi outside and watched the dog jump and play in the snow for a minute before heading back to make breakfast. The smell of fresh sizzling bacon filled the room, as she turned on the exhaust hood overtop the oven. She knew it was unhealthy, but Olivia loved nothing more than frying her eggs in bacon grease. She decided it was worth it, to impress Brad with her cooking. The toast popped from the toaster just in time for her to flip the eggs, and lay them out on matching plates for Brad and her. He took time to set the table to help.
Olivia enjoyed playing house with him, she hoped this could last for a long time. Sadness overcame her, as the realization took hold that this would only be a short fling. She had work to do all over the province and country, she knew that soon she’d be off to the next case. And Brad had set up shop in Red Arch, unlikely to ever leave his austere detective position within the Red Arch police force. She let the realization pass over her, and tried to think mor
e optimistically. Just enjoy the time you have with him now, she thought to herself.
Before sitting down to eat, she let Alvi back inside and gave him his breakfast. The dog was overjoyed, chowing away at the dog food Max had gotten him. Brad inhaled the breakfast and told her how delicious the eggs were. She was overjoyed at his compliments.
“So what’s the plan for today?” He asked her.
“I want to talk with Barry again. I have quite a few questions to ask him.”
“You know, I’d really be interested in listening in on that if you don’t mind. Maybe we could set up a recorder?” He asked her.
“I actually record all my interviews, so once I’m done I can send you the mp3. I’d love to hear what you have to say about whatever web of lies Barry spins for me,” she laughed.
“Yeah he’s quite the character. Are you going to interview Layla, and Anna again?”
“I’m not sure yet. Not right away. I want to find a little more information first before I talk with them again,” she explained. “I’ll text Barry now and see when he’s available.”
“How are the snow tires on the beemer holding up today?” She began.
“No response yet?” Brad asked her a few minutes later.
“Nothing yet,” she replied.
“Well I should probably be heading into the office, I have to keep up my appearances,” he laughed.
“Okay sure thing.”
She hugged him goodbye at the door, and watched as he struggled to get his cruiser out of the long driveway. Once he got a bit of acceleration behind the vehicle he was able to get out no problem. Olivia realized that her brother may have some issues as well. Then she noticed the ATV with the plow attachment in the driveway. This’ll be fun, she quickly realized.