Breaking Protocol, page 2
Must be her dad.
His eyes were stuck in a blank stare and his mouth was slightly ajar. His eyes were incredibly bloodshot, and lips looked coated with dried saliva. A coffee mug was in pieces all over the floor.
“Let’s get them to bag the mug, and swab his mouth. Perhaps the bereaved widow popped some arsenic in the guy’s coffee. Yeesh…”
“Yep, and we’re going to have them take the dog as well,” Bret said.
“Great. Who do we have questioning the family?” Alex asked nonchalantly.
Bret’s eyebrows again popped up to what was once his hairline and he gave her his most winning smile. “Well, my friend, that’s gonna be our job.” He clapped Alex on the back and gave her a sideways glance.
Shit.
“Shut up, Bret.”
“Then pull yourself together. I thought I was going to have to wipe your chin… you were practically drooling.”
“Yeah, yeah. I just got…”
“I know what you got…” Bret cracked another smile. “I saw the whole thing… thought you got struck by lightning. Was going to have CSI take a look at you, thought you might’ve seen a ghost, locked eyes with Medusa or something. Alas, you were just frozen by lust. No biggy.”
“Yeah, no biggy. Let’s get this part over with so they can get out of here.”
And so I can have a closer look at her…
Float Like a Butterfly
The front sitting room looked like something out of Home & Garden - everything had its place, and every place had its thing.
Why do people collect so much crap? I mean, it looks nice… but what the hell do you do with all of it - just look at it? Jesus… look at all the doilies.
There was a hutch of fine glass vases, recognizable artwork on the walls, a bar cart cluttered with crystal filled with various liquids, two supple leather wing back chairs, a fireplace, multiple side tables and a loveseat with some ornate stitching. The loveseat was what Alex was focused on - well, more specifically the two individuals sitting on the loveseat.
Both detectives pulled out their notepads and took a seat in the leather chairs.
“We’re sorry for your loss and for the intrusion. But we need to ask you some questions,” Bret said sympathetically.
“Your names for the record…”
“I’m Kara Yazzie, and this is my mother, Caroline.”
Her name is Kara. Kaahraaa… sounds like an Amazonian princess name… Jesus Christ, pay attention.
“And your father’s name?”
A slight hesitation, a gulp, and then, “Jonathan.”
“Which one of you found him?”
“I did,” Kara said. Caroline’s shoulders began to shake and she shoved her face into a handkerchief to muffle her sobs.
“... And do you live here, Mizz Yazzie?” Bret asked.
“No, I have a key, and was stopping over to pick up some files. I was in the study looking through my father’s desk, and heard a loud crash.”
Okay, so twenty minutes ago you two couldn’t stop staring at one another and now she won’t look at me… greeaaaat. I definitely freaked her out. Maybe if I just stare at her feet she’ll feel less threatened.
“You mean, you were here when the mug broke in the kitchen?”
Another hesitation. “Yes. I didn’t think my father would be home. I had let myself in the front, and went directly into the study to collect some work documents. I heard the crash, and walked into the kitchen… and then… I found him…. Just lying there.” She seemed to space off as if she was seeing it all again. “I ran over to him. Felt for a pulse. But there was nothing. I called 911 immediately.”
Bret cleared his throat, “And did you see anyone else? Hear any cars running, squealing tires, anything like that?”
She shook her head, making her raven-dark hair glisten in the lamp light. “No.”
“Alright. And, Mrs. Yazzie, when did you arrive?” Mrs. Yazzie pushed the handkerchief to her mouth, squeezed her eyes shut, and started shaking her head left to right.
“She got here while I was on the phone with 911,” Kara answered for her.
Alex looked around the room again. There was a small pile of shopping bags on the floor in the corner. Gucci. Dolce and Gabbana. Armani. All clothing, no doubt.
Mrs. Yazzie was dressed in an impeccably tailored dress, spike heels, dripping in jewelry, and had mascara lines running all the way down her cheeks. Kara on the other hand, was wearing a pantsuit, sensible shoes, and earrings that glistened underneath her dark hair. Her makeup was understated and there wasn’t a hint of smearing.
Interesting… no tears… perhaps a femme fatale? Do you inherit when daddy dearest dies?
Alex was making notes on Kara’s answers, but was making more important notes about her demeanor and how she handled herself under the scrutiny of the questions. She seemed unflappable.
“And what documents were you picking up from the study?” Bret asked.
“Work documents.”
“Where do you work?”
“Symbio-Labs.”
“And did your father work there as well?”
“Yes. He runs the company.”
“Ah. Okay.”
Alex cleared her throat and looked directly at Kara, “Miss Yazzie, or is it missus?”
Kara adjusted her gaze to meet Alex’s, “It’s Miss,” Kara said slightly coolly.
Slightly embarrassed, but attempting to hold back the inevitable blushing Alex continued, “Okay…” Scribble, scribble, “Did your father know that you were stopping over for the files?”
Pause. Stare. “Of course.”
Is it just me, or did flames just rise up behind those dark chocolate eyes?
“I’m just wondering why the files weren’t out on the desk waiting for you. You said you were looking through the desk for the files.”
“Detective…?” Kara asked grasping for Alex’s last name.
“Connolly,” Alex said folding her hands, suddenly aware of how sweaty they were.
Why are you trying to antagonize her? Stop it.
“Detective Connolly, my father was a very important and busy man, the fact that he forgot to leave the files on top of his desk wasn’t strange.” Kara stood up.
Whoa… look at that body. Delicate, yet ample features. Stop staring. Seriously, stop staring!
“Now, I’m quite sure that you have everything you need. I can’t imagine what else you could gain from talking to either one of us.” Kara stared malevolently at Alex and then shifted her attention back to Bret. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take my mother upstairs and collect some clothing for her. I’ve already called my aunt – my mother will be staying with her for the time being.”
Bret popped out of his chair, “Yes, ma’am. We have everything that we need, for now. I’ll have an officer escort both of you upstairs.”
With that, Kara gave a quick nod and ran her eyes back over to Alex, and for another quick moment they were locked in a staring contest. This one was different from the first. This one – Alex felt the anger, resentment, and judgement that she felt were earned from her questions.
Wowsah.
Bret motioned to the officer on the edge of the room, “Officer Murphy, please escort Mizz & Mrs. Yazzie upstairs to collect some personal effects.”
And like that, they were out of the room, being escorted by some rookie.
Shit, I should’ve done that. Should’ve apologized. Look at her, you could practically blow her over with a fan.
Sting Like a Bee
After twenty minutes of speaking with CSI, going over the scene a couple more times, and talking about the latest Patriots victory with another plain clothes cop, Alex saw Kara helping her mother down the stairs. She was carrying a large suitcase in one hand and attempting to hold up her mother with the other. Officer Murphy plodded behind the two women – as useful as a fart in a jam jar in Alex’s mind. She left her fellow boys in blue to run up the stairs and help Kara with the suitcase.
Alex shot Officer Murphy a death glare over Kara’s head and said to him pointedly, “What the hell is wrong with you Murph? You couldn’t help her with the luggage?” Officer Murphy blanched and stopped walking down the stairs.
“Sorry Alex... I mean Detective Connolly,” he stammered. He turned a shade of red that Alex could only think to call ‘stewed beet’.
Alex shot him another death glare and offered a hand with the suitcase.
“Let me get that… you already have your hands full,” she suggested to Kara.
Kara stopped a stair above her, and looked down at her. “Oh, now you want to be friendly?”
“I’m sorry. Truly. I’m just trying to help,” Alex replied earnestly.
Kara must have seen the sincerity in Alex’s look. Her hard glare softened, and she held out the suitcase. As Alex reached for the bag, her fingers grazed Kara’s and they both involuntarily and simultaneously sucked in air and let go of the bag. The suitcase bounced against Alex, and she recovered quickly enough to stop it and her from toppling down the rest of the stairs.
“Ha… butterfingers,” Alex said. She could feel warm heat spreading up her cheeks and she knew her fair colored skin was quickly turning an embarrassing shade of mauve. She turned, loped down the stairs with the suitcase, and faced the front door waiting for Kara and her mother.
“Which way to your car?” Alex asked.
“Follow me, Alex, is it?” Kara was now right next to Alex, almost shoulder to shoulder. Alex felt slightly amused that Kara was a good four inches shorter than her.
What a lovely proportioned lady. Good height, great body, that face. Yeesh… stop staring!
Alex could smell some familiar yet allusive fragrance coming from Kara. It was slightly floral, very earthy, definitely sexy.
“Yeah. Alex.” She held out her hand, made eye contact, and smiled.
Kara looked down at it and back up at Alex. She almost looked a bit fearful when she said, “No offense, but I’ve had just about all the police interaction I can take today.”
“HA! I get that all the time…” Alex blurted and gave Kara her a winning smile.
Oh my god. Stop flirting. What the hell is wrong with you?
Kara and her mother started out the door and Alex followed. About a block later, they arrived at a very nice looking Mercedes. Alex whistled. “Nice car.” That elicited a sideways glance from Kara that looked like it was right out of Bret’s playbook.
“Thanks. It’s new.”
“Shall I put this in the trunk?”
“Yes, let me open it…”
Kara helped her mother into the passenger side and came around to the trunk. Once open, it obscured the view to her parent’s house and it was almost like there wasn’t a crime scene unit a block down. Under the streetlight, Alex thought that Kara looked tired, obviously the day had been very hard on her.
“Look, I just wanted to apologize for offending you. I can’t imagine finding my father like that. I’m truly sorry. I can be a little blunt, comes with the job… I know you’ve had a really terrible day...” Alex offered, staring intently at Kara.
Kara had her eyes cast down at the pavement and looked up. It was like a laser connecting their eyes together. Kara’s focus on Alex at that moment was too much, and made Alex feel uncomfortable in a strange way. She stammered on, “Anyway, I’m sorry. If you have any questions about the case, here’s my card. This is my line at the station and this is my personal cell number. You can call… whenever,” she shrugged and held out the card.
Kara looked at the card she was offering – her face crumpled and she began to cry. She started crying so hard that she nearly sank to the street, but just as she started to collapse, Alex grabbed her and held on.
Alex pulled her close, and whispered, “It’s okay. You’ve been strong all day. Just let it out. I’m so sorry...shhhhh…” Alex held her gently, and alternatively rubbed her arms and caressed her back. Kara continued to sob and shudder for another minute or two. And then, like a switch had been flipped, she stiffened. Alex didn’t notice for a few seconds – it felt so good to hold her. When she did, she pulled back, looked into Kara’s eyes with her hands on both her shoulders and said, “Better?”
Kara stared at her wide-eyed. Eyes still slightly filled with tears, she looked mortified and again just a little scared. She shrugged her shoulders to push off Alex’s comforting hands, backed away, quickly brushed the tears from her face and apologized, “I’m sorry, I never do that. Thank you for helping with the suitcase.”
Ouch…
Alex, held out the card again, gave her a little smile, cocked her head to the side, raised her eyebrows slightly and said, “Just in case?”
Kara looked down at the card, as if it might bite or sting her. She glanced back up at Alex, her earnest face, her sweet non-threatening smile, then she grabbed the card and fled to the car.
As she drove away, Alex puzzled over what had just happened. By the time she got back to the house, the body had been moved, the doors were being sealed with tape, and Bret was ready to head out.
“Everything alright?” He asked.
“Yeah, course.”
“Hell of a thing, finding your dad like that.”
“Yeah, shitty day.”
As they drove back to the precinct, Alex plucked at the wet spots on her shirt from Kara’s tears.
What a strange day.
Sometimes You’re the Dog
The next day started better than the last. No Mandi. There were several voicemails Alex chose not to listen to, but no Mandi in her bed, and no Mandi in sight, so that was a good start. She had fifty-two unread text messages; fifty-one from Mandi and one from her Mom reminding her that her brother was going to be in town in a few weeks and that they wanted to have a big family dinner. Maybe they could all go up to the camp?
Oh boy! The prodigal son returns…
The fifty-one messages from Mandi were basically just dirty talk and naughty pictures. Clearly, they were taken of Mandi, by Mandi, for Mandi and for whoever she was trying to lure into bed that night.
Why would anyone send that in a text? So graphic… and not in a good way.
Dexter was curled up on the bed, slightly irritated by Alex’s lack of enthusiasm for his morning love-fest. “Man, you are one demanding cat - you know mommy has other shit going on, right?”
He replied by squeezing his eyes shut and purring louder than before.
“Okay, just a few more minutes of love…”
Today, Alex was going to do some follow up running around on the Yazzie case. Check into the details of Mr. Yazzie’s day, which meant going to Symbio-Labs.
Perhaps she’d run into the enticing Kara.
Kara.
Alex had woken up a few times the night before, sweating profusely. She kept having the same recurring nightmare. Kara was at the top of a staircase… Alex stood a step below her… they were locked in a staring match and Kara pushed her. She then flew through the air towards the bottom of the stairs and then right before she hit, she woke up. Every time it seemed like she felt the impact of the floor, but instead woke to bouncing on the bed.
Showered and fed, she added to Dex’s food bowl and plopped in a bit of coconut oil as a treat. “Kitty, Kitty… Mean, Bad Boy Kitty…. Treat time for the lil’ beastie…” Dex bounded from his sleepy spot on the bed and purred at the added vittles.
“You’re welcome - and don’t you forget it.”
On the way into the office, Alex got a call from Bret.
“Hey Alex, I’m going to head over to the Coroner’s office… Do you want to start the day at the vic’s place of work?”
“Yeah, I can do that… Tell Cherry I said Hi...”
“Are you two back on speaking terms?” Bret jibed.
“Put a cork in it Bret… She understood why I didn’t want to date her… office romances and all.”
“Uh huh,” Bret deadpanned.
Dr. R.J. Cherry, was one of the CSI units top analysts at the Coroner’s office. She was a nerdy yet vivacious beauty that had the hots for every female police officer in the city. It became blatantly obvious to everyone that she had set her sights on Alex two months ago, but Alex would have nothing to do with her. Cherry was a great coworker, but based on her track record, she didn’t think it was a good idea to mix business with pleasure. Cherry didn’t take Alex’s refusal seriously, and embarrassed herself several times until finally giving up. Things had been a bit icy until last week when Cherry indicated that she was dating someone else.
Alex flipped a bitch and started towards Symbio-Labs all the while hoping that she would have a reason to talk to Kara again, but doubted she would be back at work already.
When she entered the lab, she was greeted by a security guard who smiled when she flashed him her badge. “Hi Detective. We were notified you would be coming. You’ll need to step this way to get a visitor’s badge.”
After she was properly logged into the system as a visitor, a young, nerdy looking woman took her to Mr. Yazzie’s office. “I’m Mr. Yazzie’s secretary, Ms. Sissy” she snuffled, “I mean, I was.” She snuffled again and grabbed a tissue from her desk. “Any questions you have, or any paperwork you need, you just let me know.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I’m going to need his entire calendar for the last year and any new appointments… or standing appointments for the foreseeable future. Also, a list of projects and a brief breakdown of what he was most recently working on would be appreciated,” Alex rattled off smiling sympathetically. “I’m also going to need to talk to a bunch of coworkers. So, if you could get me a list of his most recent interactions, and then get them to come down here one at a time, that’d be great. I’m sorry to ask you to do all of this…. I’m also going to have to speak with you… so, whenever you are ready, we can start with that.”
Alex worked the majority of the morning talking to boring science nerds, going through files, and looking at scientific studies that didn’t mean much to her – and no Kara.
“Well, Ms. Sissy. I think I’ve got all that I need for now. I’ve taped up all the boxes of items for the CSI guys to come and get. They should be here in about an hour,” Alex explained.
