Lullabies & Dead Bodies, page 8
“Same as the one from yesterday. Different little girl, different setting. But the same sick bastard at play.”
He sounded so troubled and Sidney just wanted to put her arms around him. This case made him feel guilty. And on top of that, she knew a ruling on the inquest was happening later today. That had to be weighing on him as well. She was concerned about his emotional well-being.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay, Sid.”
“No, you’re not. I can hear it in your voice. And I know you didn’t sleep very well. You tossed and turned for most of the night.”
He didn’t respond, and as the silence stretched between them Sidney only grew more concerned.
“Isaac?”
It was a softly spoken plea.
“I’m okay, baby. I’m sorry if I kept you awake.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you in a few hours, all right? And I apologize again about dinner.”
She could tell he didn’t want to talk about it, so she let the matter drop.
“Okay. I love you. I wish you were here right now so I could wrap my arms around you.”
Another heavy sigh from him.
“Oh, woman, you’ve got no idea how bad I’d like to be there.”
His tone was lighter, no doubt thankful that she was letting it go, and Sidney smiled. At least he was trying to be in good spirits, even if this case and the inquest were getting to him.
“Yeah, well you just keep that on your mind as you go about the rest of your day, Detective.”
“Gladly. Can I picture you naked too?”
“By all means. Naked and doing any number of naughty things just for you.”
Isaac’s soft laugh filled her heart with light, and Sidney smiled at the sound of it.
“I love you too, darlin’. I gotta go.”
Sidney made loud kissing noises into the phone and she could hear him chuckling softly as he hung up. She looked down at the kitten on her lap.
“I guess we’re making lasagna for dinner, Mr. Hitchcock. What do you think, hmm? Should we also do a little matchmaking?”
The kitten purred in response and Sidney scratched his ears before she got up and headed for the shower. Once she was clean and freshly dressed in a pair of yoga pants and one of Ike’s t-shirts she picked up her cellphone and dialed her new friend and next door neighbor.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Jada!”
“Hi, Sid!”
“Is this a bad time?”
“No, I’m on my lunch break. What’s up?”
“Well, I remembered you saying that you were kid-free tonight since Charlie will be with his grandparents, and I wanted to invite you over for dinner.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you! I’d love to. What can I bring?”
“Just yourself. We’ll see you around seven?”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Great!”
Sidney ended the call feeling triumphant. Matchmaking underway, she went into the spare bedroom they’d turned into a small home office and fired up the desktop computer. It was time she did some research into this Lullaby Killer case. She wanted to know exactly what had Isaac so rattled. Maybe if she learned all she could about it, she’d have a better idea of how to help him.
At ten minutes before three, Isaac headed for the stairwell. Normally he took the stairs at a jog, making the most of the free cardio workout. At the moment, however, he felt like a man walking to the gallows. His skin was tight, as though it suddenly didn’t fit his body. Stepping onto the IAB floor he smoothed a hand down over his dress shirt and ran the other through his hair.
“Detective Sgt. Isaac Taylor. I have a…”
“This way please.”
The response from the officer at the desk was clipped and to the point. He escorted Isaac around the corner to a long hallway.
“Last door on the left. They’ll come out for you when they’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
The officer disappeared before he’d even finished uttering the word, and Isaac started down the hallway. He spotted Lieutenant Gavin Hayes speaking to a man he recognized as the FOP vice-president, Franklin Kerns. Gavin perked up when he saw Isaac coming.
“Cutting it close, Sergeant.”
“Sorry, Lieu. I was getting an update on the case from Gerri and Pete.”
“Anything to report?”
“Nothing of note.” Isaac turned to the other man and nodded in greeting. “Mr. Kerns. Didn’t know you were coming today too.”
Franklin was short in stature, but he carried an air of authority that made him seem taller. He had shown up at Isaac’s request a week ago to act as his representative during his initial interview with IAB since it was standard practice to have someone from the Fraternal Order of Police present when you were being questioned by the Internal Affairs Bureau. Sort of like not speaking to the cops without an attorney present.
“I called him to be here.” Gavin looked Isaac in the eye. “Just in case.”
Isaac didn’t have to ask what his boss meant by that. Franklin was here just in case the inquest was held over for a full blown hearing. The thought of it seized his stomach, making him grateful he’d skipped lunch. He nodded, ignoring the nausea, and looked down at his shoes.
“You were great during your questioning last week, Ike.” Franklin tried to sound reassuring. “You were straightforward and forthcoming about your relationship with Ms. Fairchild. Just keep your cool in there today, no matter what they say. And if the ruling doesn’t go your way, I’ll be with you throughout the formal hearing as well, okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
The door opened and a female IAB officer stepped out.
“They’re ready for you.”
Isaac swallowed and took a deep breath, and then followed the others inside.
The room wasn’t big, but it was set up like an informal courtroom with one long table at the far side, a smaller table across from it, and then a few straight-backed chairs beyond that. The three-man panel, consisting of two IAB lieutenants and Captain Morris, was already seated at the long table across the room.
Isaac studied each of their faces as he and Franklin Kerns took their seats at the smaller table facing the panel of men, and Gavin Hayes sat down in a chair directly behind them. The men were stone-faced and all-business, giving nothing away, and Isaac’s stomach tightened. His brow beaded up with sweat, and the sound of blood swishing through his ears told him his heart was racing before he felt it.
He tried to take a deep breath and wondered what the next few minutes might bring.
Captain Morris called the meeting to order and then cleared his throat.
“Detective Sergeant Taylor, we have reviewed the interviews given by yourself, as well as Ms. Sidney Fairchild, Lt. Gavin Hayes, Detective Pete Vega, and Sgt. Natalie Bains.”
What?
Natalie Bains?
Red flags of warning immediately waved all around him.
He’d had no idea they’d also spoken to Natalie Bains, and he couldn’t imagine why they would do so. But he couldn’t dwell on it at the moment either. He had to pay attention to what Captain Morris was saying.
“While we agree that the timing of your relationship with Ms. Fairchild seems somewhat suspect, there is no evidence to back up the claim this office received of improper conduct with a witness. Therefore we feel there is no need to proceed to a formal hearing on this matter. However, we take allegations of this nature very seriously, and this inquest will remain a permanent part of your CPD record. For that reason, your interactions with female witnesses may be monitored closely going forward. This inquest is now concluded, and we are adjourned.”
The three men stood to leave, and Isaac let go of a heavy sigh of relief. As quickly as it began, the witch hunt was over. But the mystery of it was just beginning to take shape in his mind. He stood and followed the others out into the hallway.
“Monitor my interactions with female witnesses. Like I’m some kind of pervert?”
Isaac couldn’t hide the sarcasm, or the disgust.
“They know this inquest was a bullshit waste of time, Ike. So they’ve got to give you some kind of warning or reprimand to make it worth their while.” Gavin’s tone was confident, like he spoke with assurances. “Notice they said may be monitored, not will be monitored.”
“Gavin’s right,” Franklin chimed in. “Let it roll off your back. You won.”
They conveyed their thanks and said goodbyes to Franklin Kerns. Then Isaac and Gavin exchanged a relieved look and headed down the hall to the elevator.
“Thanks for being here with me, Lieu.”
Gavin shrugged a shoulder. “It’s my job to protect my detectives.”
“Hey, sir, let me ask you something.”
“What’s that?” Gavin reached out and hit the down button. The doors opened immediately, and they stepped inside.
“Were you aware that Natalie Bains was questioned during this thing?”
Isaac studied his boss and hit the 4th floor button.
“No I wasn’t. That was a surprise to me too.”
“Well, don’t you find that a little strange? I mean, I get why they questioned you and Pete. You’re my supervisor, and you were closely involved in that case. And Pete’s my partner. But why would they bother with Natalie Bains?”
Gavin shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe because that case involved the drug task force?”
“Okay. Or maybe because she’s the one who brought the claim to IAB in the first place?”
They looked at each other for a long charged moment.
“You think that’s a real possibility?”
“I think she’d love to make trouble for me, yeah.”
They stepped off the elevator and Gavin motioned him off to the side.
“What exactly is the bad blood between you two anyway?”
His voice was tell-me-a-secret quiet, and Isaac glanced around to make sure no one was within overhearing distance.
“Let’s just say not too many men have told her no. She doesn’t take it well when it happens.”
Gavin’s eyebrows shot up and he nodded in understanding.
“I’ve heard she likes to be… friendly.”
“A little too friendly for my tastes. She always takes my touch issues as some sort of challenge. Like they’re not real and we’re playing a game of grab ass.”
Gavin chuckled at him.
“So needless to say she was not too pleased when she learned about me and Sidney,” Isaac continued. “She hated the fact that I was on a date with Sid the night of the car explosion after I’d turned her down yet again. And she really didn’t like the fact that Sidney’s black.”
“Ah.” Gavin nodded. “Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. God forbid you should be attracted to an African American woman after repeatedly turning her down.”
“Hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Do you think she’d be vindictive enough to give up the safe house?”
Gavin leveled a pointed gaze on him, and Isaac was taken aback by the question.
“I would never have said that out loud without proof, but I’d be lying if I said the thought didn’t cross my mind back in the heat of the moment. I had dismissed it though.”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have.”
Isaac stared at him. Was his lieutenant actually validating his suspicions about Natalie?
“Look, I know Natalie is a piece of work, Lieu, but I don’t think she’d actually put an innocent witness in danger.”
They were talking about giving up a witness’ location to an evil drug lord who wanted that witness dead, after all.
Gavin tilted his head. “Never underestimate the wrath of a woman scorned, Ike.”
He shrugged a shoulder and walked off toward his office without another word.
Isaac stared after him, his gut bubbling with the sour, putrid feeling of dread.
8
The most enticing aroma met Isaac at the door when he got home, and his stomach growled before he even closed the door behind him.
“Something smells delicious!” he called out.
Alfred Hitchcock rubbed up against his leg.
“Thank you!” Sidney yelled back.
He grinned and headed for the bedroom with the kitten hot on his heels. He removed his gun and holster and stepped into the small walk-in closet to get out of his work clothes. He emerged from the closet wearing a pair of comfy grey sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt with the logo of a local oldies radio station.
“Come on, Mr. Hitchcock. Let’s go kiss the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Meow.”
He picked up the growing kitten and rested him over his shoulder like a baby, and was rewarded with gentle purrs and soft nudges to his ear from a tiny wet nose. The sound of voices as they ventured down the hallway got his attention.
“So who’s the fourth place setting for?” a familiar female voice asked.
Isaac stepped into the large combined living and dining room to see Sidney and their next door neighbor, Jada, setting the table.
“Hey.”
They both looked up at him, and he set the kitten on the floor.
“Hey, baby!” Sidney smiled broadly at him.
“Hi, Ike.” Jada said with a timid wave.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh. Jada mentioned she was alone for dinner since Charlie’s on a camping trip with his grandparents, so I invited her over to share our lasagna.”
Isaac could see the mischievous spark in Sidney’s pretty eyes, and he knew instantly she was up to no good. He couldn’t call her out on it in front of their company though.
“Great. The more the merrier!” He smiled at them, and then turned his attention to his lovely girlfriend. “Um, can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure. We’ll be right back, Jada.”
Isaac took her by the hand and led her down the hallway to their bedroom. He shut the door and turned around to confront her, and Sidney practically threw herself into his arms for a searing kiss. He didn’t even attempt to thwart it. His arms closed around her and his fingers sank into her mass of curls, holding her head steady as he devoured her mouth. They were both breathless when she finally pulled away.
“That was some kiss,” Sidney purred.
“It was at that. But you’re not kissing your way outta this, darlin’. What are you up to?”
“What?”
“Don’t give me that innocent act. What are you doing inviting Jada here tonight?”
Sidney grinned. “I don’t know. I just remembered the off-the-charts chemistry Jada and Pete had at our housewarming party last month, and she seemed to really like him. So I didn’t think it would hurt to get the two of them together for a meal.”
“Mmm hmm. And what if your matchmaking blows up in your face? Then what?”
“What’s to blow up?” Sidney’s shoulders hunched up around her ears in an exaggerated shrug. “Is Pete still single?”
“As far as I know.”
“Okay then.”
“Well, did you forget that Pete and I need to talk about work tonight? This isn’t exactly the time for a double date, you know?”
“It’ll be fine! You two can’t spend the entire night talking shop.”
Isaac could feel his frustration mounting. The more she made light of the reason for the impromptu dinner meeting, the more annoyed he got.
“Baby, we won’t just be talking shop here. We have a serial killer on the loose, stalking little girls. Raping and killing them. Now, I have information that Pete needs to be made aware of, and I’m not sure tonight is the best time for playing cupid.”
He’d tried to keep his voice down, but he couldn’t do anything about the look of disappointment on her pretty face.
“Well, I can’t ask her to leave now. That would be rude. And I’m sorry. I just thought keeping things light tonight might help you too. You’ve been so tense since this case began and you’re not sleeping…”
“Sidney.”
Her name came out on a sigh and Isaac felt like shit. He knew that she was worried about him, and he had no clue how to calm her disquiet. He opened his mouth to say more just as the doorbell rang.
“You and Pete can go into the office to talk, and then we can eat dinner and enjoy our friends company, okay?” Sidney moved to the bedroom door and glanced back at him. “It’ll be a nice night. I promise. You let Pete in, and I’ll go check on dinner!”
She rushed from the room and Isaac took a deep breath and sighed. The doorbell sounded again before he could get to it, and he yanked the door open to see Pete hold up a six pack of non-alcoholic beer.
“You know, I hear this stuff isn’t half bad.”
Isaac looked at the label and rolled his eyes, then he stepped aside to let Pete in.
“Apparently a lot of craft beer companies make a non-alcoholic version these days. You sample many?” Pete stepped inside still chattering away.
“Not really. Sidney’s brother, Simon, bought me some a little while ago. It wasn’t bad, but I usually don’t bother since beer was never my drink of choice, and they don’t make a non-alcoholic whiskey.”
“Actually, they do!”
Isaac shook his head. “Not convincingly.”
Pete laughed and carefully handed the six-pack over.
“Come on.”
Isaac gestured for him to follow, and led him from the hallway. When they entered the living/dining room Pete froze, looking stunned, and stared at their surprise guest.
“Hey.”
Standing near the sectional sofa Jada looked equally caught off guard.
“Oh. Hey.”
Isaac watched the odd exchange and then glanced at Sidney, who seemed oblivious to the weirdness.
“You two remember each other, right?” Sidney looked back and forth between Pete and Jada. “Pete, this is our next door neighbor, Jada Lopez. Jada, this is Ike’s partner, Pete Vega.”
Pete gave Jada a look that seemed to ask a loaded question, and Isaac got a sinking feeling in his gut that tonight was not going to go well.
