Black Bird: A Murder Mystery Suspense Thriller, page 3
Unexpected anger bubbled up. “Absolutely not,” yelled Rem. “Leave him out of this.”
Mikey’s eyes widened, and she leaned back.
Rem reined it in. “Sorry.” He held up his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just the mention of his name, and you getting deeper into this…and remembering what happened with Margaret.” He groaned. “It makes me a little crazy.”
Mikey studied him. “I’m sorry, too. I know what Victor did to both of us, and I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Memories flared of his past with Victor and Allison Albright, the two people responsible for his abduction. “I can only take so much, Mikey.”
She stepped closer. “I know it’s scary, but remember, Margaret’s in an institution, and Victor and Allison are dead. They can’t hurt either of us anymore.”
Rem recalled Allison’s smug smirk when she’d used her pregnancy against him. She’d lied about carrying his child in order to prevent him from testifying against her at trial. It made his stomach turn at how close she’d come to succeeding.
Mikey put her hand on Rem’s wrist. “I’ll talk to Mason first, and I promise I won’t do anything without telling you. Okay?”
He looked back. “Telling me? Or asking me?”
“What is the point of asking when I already know your answer?”
Rem recalled his argument with Daniels when his partner had revealed he’d given Ackerman’s encrypted file to his sister Erin without talking to Rem first. “You sound like Daniels.”
“That’s because I know you. You’re never going to agree to this.”
“You’re damn right.”
“But I’m going to try anyway.”
“Mikey, you know your sister, and her weird infatuation with me. I—” His phone rang, and he cursed at the interruption. He picked it up and saw Daniels’ name on the display. “Hold on.” He answered. “Hey. You’re up early too?”
“Glad you’re awake,” said Daniels. “Crow called. We’ve got a body.”
Rem dropped his jaw. “You’re kidding? And she gave it to us? Don’t we have enough on our plate?”
“I expressed my displeasure, but she didn’t care. We’re up next, and since, in her words, we’re not getting anywhere with Jerry Lee and Reginald Durning, we might as well take this.”
Rem ran his hand over his head. “Son-of-a…” He eyed Mikey with a grunt. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. Send me the address. I’ll take a quick shower and head that way.”
“You’re gonna love it. The body was found near an abandoned building, where that new development is going in.”
Rem cursed. “How do we always end up over there?”
“Cheer up. Maybe this has some connection to Rook. We’ll take him and his empire down and be home before dinner.”
“And I might have broccoli and peas for breakfast.”
“Stranger things have happened. I’ll text you the info. See you soon.”
“Yeah,” said Rem. “See ya.” He hung up. “I’ve got to go.”
“A new case?” asked Mikey.
“Crow’s feeling generous today.” He pointed. “But we are not done with this conversation.”
“Rem, I just think that—”
Rem waved his hand. “Nope. Not right now. You want to talk to Mason? Talk away. We’ll discuss it tonight. Okay?”
Mikey squinted. “Does that mean you’re considering it?”
Rem’s phone beeped with a text message. It was from Daniels, sending him the address of the crime scene. “No. What I’m considering is how to change your mind.”
Mikey crossed her arms. “And I’ll be thinking about how to change yours.”
“Good luck with that.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “You know I love you.”
“You know I love you, too.”
“And I still plan on ravishing you later.”
“You better.”
Despite their disagreement, he winked at her and headed to the shower.
Chapter Three
Daniels pulled up in the alley and parked behind a police cruiser with flashing lights. A coroner’s wagon was pulled up beyond a second cruiser, and police tape was strung across the alley. Not seeing Rem’s car, he sat and waited. He figured the body wasn’t going anywhere. Thinking of Marjorie, he debated calling her. This was her first day back at work since the accident and miscarriage. She’d taken some time off, and he’d wanted her to wait another week, but she’d insisted it was time to return. Sitting in the house and dwelling on their loss wasn’t good for her, she’d told him, and she needed to get back to work.
The cast on her arm and the fading bruise on her cheek were the only visible signs of her injuries, but Daniels knew the grief from losing their child had taken the shine from her eyes and the smile from her face. J.P. was the only thing that could bring her smile out, and it was sticking around a little longer every day, but he still heard her tears when she showered and when she thought he slept. And when he heard them, he’d pull her close and hold her until the tears subsided. He understood she would recover with time but hated her suffering.
That morning, she’d left when he’d left, and his gut still churned. It was her first time driving since the accident, and it scared him to death that someone could come after her again. He’d wanted to follow her to work, but she’d refused, determined to get back on the horse and not let her fears get the best of her. Marjorie was not the type of woman to cower, and Daniels loved that about her, but he also loathed her vulnerability. He’d do anything to protect her and J.P., and if someone went after either of them again, he didn’t know what he’d do. He’d probably end up in prison with no help from Rook.
He studied his phone and willed it to ring. He’d asked Marjorie to contact him the moment she got to work. Not wanting to hover, he told himself a million times she was fine, but until she called, he would worry.
Deciding he’d waited long enough, he started to dial her number when a text came through from her, telling him she was safe in her office with no incidents on the way in, and that she would text him before she left for the day.
Saying a small prayer of thanks, he texted her back, told her he loved her, and would call her during her lunch hour. He didn’t care that he was hovering. She’d just have to get used to it until he felt calmer.
A rap on the window made him jump, and he lowered his phone and saw his partner waving at him through the glass. He put his phone away and opened the door. “Morning.”
“Morning,” said Rem. “You been here long?”
“Just a few minutes. I was texting Marjorie.”
Rem raised his brow. “How is she? She stick to the plan and go into work?”
“She did, and you’re lucky I didn’t have a heart attack and leave Rook and his buddies all to you.”
“I appreciate that. I could use the help.” He walked toward the crime scene tape. “Any word from her? She get in okay?”
Daniels could see Rem was as worried as he’d been. “She’s fine. She got there with no problems.”
Rem visibly relaxed. “Good.”
Daniels got a good look at his partner. “How are you? You get any sleep?”
Rem swiped his slightly damp long hair back with his fingers. “Enough to keep moving and breathing and not leave Rook and his buddies all to you.”
“That’s great, but how about getting enough so you can think straight and not drink a gallon of coffee just to keep your eyes open?”
Rem looked him over. “Look who’s talking.”
Daniels smoothed his normally gelled blond hair back and looked down at his rumpled clothes. He imagined his eyes reflected his own lack of sleep. “I was worried about Marjorie. What’s your excuse?”
Approaching the scene, they flashed their badges to an officer and ducked beneath the tape. “Life,” said Rem. He didn’t offer more.
Daniels suspected Cain was on his partner’s mind, but that was expected. Rem would carry the weight of his cousin’s loss for a while, and all Daniels could do was be there for him. Rem was good at keeping his grief to himself, though. Daniels had learned that the hard way with Jennie.
They approached a yellow sheet covering an inert form on the damp cement just outside a metal door. Thunderstorms had rolled through in the early morning hours, and small puddles remained on the ground around the scene. Daniels glanced up at the building. It looked to be about five stories, with grimy windows running up the side of it. Colorful graffiti covered the walls on both sides of the alley. Other than a parked car near the body and the official vehicles at the scene, the alley was quiet. Forensic techs took pictures of the area and the car, and an evidence marker sat on the pavement on the other side of the alley.
Rem squatted next to the body as an officer approached. Daniels was glad to see it was Jim Parsons, a reliable officer with a good head on his shoulders. Rem and Daniels knew him well. “Hey, Parsons,” said Daniels. “What’s the story?”
“Hey, Daniels. Rem.” He eyed Daniels. “How’s Mrs. Daniels doing?”
“Great,” said Daniels. “She’s better every day. Thanks for asking.”
“Glad to hear it.” Parsons lifted a small notebook as Rem lifted the covering over the body. “Our vic here took a shot to the back and to the head, the head one being fatal.”
Rem eyed the body of a Caucasian man lying face down on the ground. His head and hair were bloody, and blood pooled beneath the man’s face. “That’s a safe deduction.” Rem pulled the covering higher to get a look at the lower body of the victim. “Any ID?”
“His wallet was still on him, with cash in it, so not a robbery.” He pointed to the vehicle. “And that’s his car. License says his name is Martin Bailey. Age thirty-eight.”
Daniels stilled, and Rem’s eyes narrowed. “Martin Bailey?” asked Rem. He shot a look at Daniels.
“Yeah,” said Parsons, looking between the two of them. “You two know him?”
Daniels recalled the list of black bird members’ names. Martin Bailey was on it. “No, but we’ve heard the name.”
Rem lowered the covering and stood.
Parsons nodded. “Looks like Mr. Bailey pulled up into the alley. His clothes are wet, so it was raining when he died or after. He tried to make it to the door but was killed before he could get there. A patrol doing their nightly rounds saw Bailey’s car and a second car. The second one left the scene before the patrol arrived and found Bailey. Ibrahim says he’s been dead two to three hours, so not long.”
“What’s behind the door?” asked Rem.
“An empty hall leading to an empty room. It may have been a restaurant in the past. This building is scheduled to be demolished soon. Forensics hasn’t been in there yet, but they’ll check it out.”
“Got any gloves?” asked Daniels. “And shoe coverings?”
Parsons lowered his notepad. “Sure.” He glanced behind him. “Hey, Butler. Get me two pairs of gloves and shoe covers.”
Butler nodded and headed to a patrol car.
“There’s more,” said Parsons.
“I can hardly wait,” added Rem.
“In his car. There’s a bag.” Parsons stepped toward the vehicle that belonged to Bailey. On the opposite side, a technician was dusting the driver’s side door for prints.
Daniels and Rem walked closer. “Anything in it?” asked Daniels.
Butler ran over with the gloves and shoe covers and handed them to Rem and Daniels. “Thanks,” said Rem.
Parsons wrinkled his nose. “It’s a weird doll.”
Daniels approached the vehicle and looked inside. A plastic bag was on the front seat.
“We left it in the bag so you guys could see it. We got pictures, though, so you can take it out.”
Daniels put on his gloves, along with Rem, and grabbed the bag. He opened it and frowned. “What the—?” He pulled out the doll and put the bag back in the front seat.
Rem stared at it, too. “What the hell is that?”
It was a handmade doll with fat arms and legs, but a narrow waist and a round head. The fabric was rough and appeared to be burlap, and it was stuffed with something soft. Black plastic buttons sewn on the head formed the eyes, and a circular piece of black felt served as its mouth, glued into place. Daniels poked at a small slit in the fabric on the chest of the doll. “Looks like cotton balls inside.” He turned it over and saw a crude seam running up the back, tied with black thread, and another piece of round felt, this one red, glued on the back of the head.
Rem leaned closer. “Is that supposed to be his head wound?”
“I don’t know,” said Daniels, “but that’s what it looks like.”
“That is creepy as hell,” said Rem.
“Thought you’d like to see it before we bag it and the plastic bag,” said Parsons.
Wondering what the doll meant, and how Martin Bailey was connected to the black birds, Daniels put the doll back in the bag and put it on the front seat. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and find some fibers or DNA on it.”
Rem shivered. “I’d just as soon never see it again. It’s got a vibe.”
“You think that’s strange?” asked Parsons. “Check this out.” He walked away from the car and approached the yellow evidence marker on the wet ground on the other side of the alley.
Daniels and Rem followed, and Parsons pointed to an object on the cement. “Look at that.”
Daniels squatted next to it. “Is that a bone?”
Rem leaned close and paled. “Did Ibrahim see this?”
“Sure did. Says it’s a proximal phalanx.” He pointed to the lower part of one of his fingers. “This part.”
“So it’s human?” asked Rem, straightening.
“It is,” said Parsons. “Doc says he can tell you more, like if it’s male or female and how old it is, after he gets it to the lab. Hopefully, he can pull some DNA from it.”
“Well, Bailey’s got all his digits, so it’s not his.” Daniels looked around. “What the hell happened here last night?”
Rem shook his head. “I don’t know, but I feel a sudden urge to sage this place.”
“Sage?” asked Parsons.
Daniels stood. “Nothing you need to worry about.” He eyed Rem. “What do you think?”
Rem widened his eyes. “What do I think? We’ve got a bizarre doll and a human bone next to a dead body.”
“Not your average murder,” said Daniels, thinking of Rook. Was he somehow mixed up in this?
“Definitely not.” Rem’s gaze traveled back to the body of Bailey, which was being zipped into a body bag. “Bailey obviously met someone here. And like Parsons said, it didn’t go well, and he headed for that door to save himself, but didn’t make it.”
Daniels glanced back at the building. “You want to see what’s behind that door?”
“I sure as hell do.” Rem stepped away. “I think.”
They stopped in the alley until Bailey’s body was carted away, and put on their shoe covers. “You ready?” asked Daniels, approaching the door.
“Has Parsons officially freaked me out?” asked Rem, glancing at the officer.
Parsons shrugged. “Don’t blame the messenger.”
Daniels pulled the door open. “Age before beauty.”
Rem smirked and walked inside.
Daniels followed him, and they entered a dark hallway with minimal light. The door banged shut behind them, and Rem jumped.
“Don’t worry,” said Daniels. “I’ll save you.”
Rem made a face. “It’s the last guy out that needs saving, and that’s not going to be me.”
Daniels headed down the hall. “We’ll see about that.” He followed the murky corridor until it opened up into a bigger room with high ceilings. The only light came from two small dirty windows across from them. The walls were brick, and the floor was cement. A faint odor made Daniels cringe.
“What is that smell?” asked Rem.
“I don’t know.” Daniels looked around. “But it’s not pleasant.”
“Smells like my Aunt Marta’s three-day-old oxtail and crawdad soup.”
Daniels fought the urge to gag. “I’m not even going to ask.”
“Probably a good idea.” Rem went to another door across the room and pushed it open. “Looks like a kitchen. Maybe this was a restaurant at one point.” He let the door swing shut, then stopped and stared at something near his foot. “Someone has been here.” He squatted and pointed at a candle on the ground. Wax had dribbled down the side and hardened, and the wick was black. “Somebody’s been burning candles.”
Daniels studied the floor. “Do you see this?” He pointed at the faint outline of a circle.
Rem walked over and squinted at the floor. “You can barely see it in this light.”
“Looks like someone tried to erase it.” Daniels squatted beside the line and touched it. “I’m guessing they drew it with chalk.”
“Hey,” Rem stepped inside the circle. “Check that out.”
Daniels joined him and saw what Rem referred to. A small dark stain on the cement. They both squatted beside it. “Is that blood?” asked Rem.
Daniels barely touched the stain, but his gloved finger came back with a speck of red. He smelled it. “I’d say that’s a good guess.”
Rem rested his hands on his knees. “What the hell have we stumbled onto? This has all the markings of some sort of occult practice or ceremony.”
“Could be kids doing stupid stuff. You saw the graffiti out there.”
“With Martin Bailey lying dead in the alley? And a creepy doll and human bone nearby?” Rem stood. “This is more than just kids.”
Daniels straightened. “And Bailey just became a victim of it.”
“The question is, did he stumble onto something he shouldn’t have? Or was he part of it?”
“Bailey is on the list. He’s a black bird. So does that mean that all of this has to do with the black birds?”
Rem sighed. “If it does, Rook may have gone down a deeper hole than we thought.”
“Or some of his members have.” Daniels eyed the blood stain. “I was kidding this morning when I said this may have something to do with Rook.”
