First to Die (16 page)

"Stella," I shouted. "What is wrong with him?"

"I don't think he's feeling well, poor man."

"It's more than that."

"This case is really taking a toll on him, sweetie."

"We're all paying the same toll. Why would it be different for him?"

"This is too much stress for anybody to carry."

"What? Hayes, nothing rattles his cage. Ever. I'm not buying it."

"And I'm not selling it. I'm just saying."

"I'm saying he knows something, and he's not talking."

"Maybe it's best to leave well enough alone." There it was again. How much was well enough?

"Okay, chief."

"Sam, honey. I'm on your side. This place is a damn circus, and that old lion is going to bite you if you don't stop poking him with your stick.

"I'm sorry, Stella." I reached over and snagged a chocolate chip cookie.

"Homemade, just the way to like them."

"I'm frustrated. I’m upset about Max, and I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out what's going on around here."

"I know you are, sweetheart. Just watch your step and those doors you've been trying to open—don't pry the locks, there's lots of skeletons hiding in those closets." Stella's phone buzzed from an inside line. "What now?" She grunted, "Will do." She twirled in her chair to face me. "Your boyfriend is looking for you."

"You all need to seek professional help," I said, bolting out and heading for my office.

I squinted in the bright morning rays that were filtering through the window and casting a spotlight on Jason, sitting like a rock star in his chair. "Where’ve you been?" Jason's voice mixed with the particles floating in the air.

"Where haven't I been, is more like it?" Using my hand as a visor, I squinted so I could see his face.

"Start at the beginning." He smiled and clasped his hands together like the last shrink that I’d walked out on. "This ought to be entertaining."

"Junkyard, parking with Neville, talking to your sweetie, Mrs. Schultz, a lashing from Hayes, and a warning from the spitfire upfront." I threw myself in my chair.

"You've been busy since last night." He reached up and twisted the blinds closed. "I thought I told you stay away from the Junkyard."

"You and everybody else." Tilting my head down, I pointed daggers at him.

"Hey." His hands went up. "I don't want you to get hurt. Every time you head over there, Ben upsets you."

"It wasn't as bad this time, but he still doesn't want me around him."

"Can you blame him? You’re the one that's probably going to put his ass in jail one of these days."

"I get it, but he told me that Bill Randall's been over there talking about a special job and showing off a lot of money." I took a deep breath. "And Neville said he was the number one suspect for the Harper murder. We need to pay a visit to Mr. Randall. He can't use Billy as an excuse anymore."

"Well, let’s go." He started to get up.

"Wait, there's more." He sunk back down in his chair.

"Neville told me that Ward has been sneaking around the Mason and Edwards’ houses. He saw his truck there.”

"Unbelievable," he said, running his hands through his hair. "What a prick."

"I give you permission to kick his ass, and I want a front row seat."

"It's about time. Is that it?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Neville saw Hayes leaving the Randall house before Billy disappeared, but I think that he went there to really check on him. Probably telling the truth with that one, but Neville says Hayes doesn't make house calls and we all know that's true." I stood up and walked over to Jason. "I really don't know what to believe anymore." I pulled the picture out and moved it across the desk. He picked it up, looked at it, and slid it back to me.

“What am I supposed to see?”

“Look again.”

“Yeah, it’s your parents and the Hayes.” “You’ve seen that picture before. It’s been sitting in his office for years.”

“I never noticed it. “Who’s the guy standing by my mom?”

“No idea. Why?”

“I forget names, not faces. I don't recognize him.”

“Looks like they were at a party down by the river. Could be anyone.”

“It’s not just anyone. They knew each other well enough to be cuddling up like best friends, otherwise it would have been a crime scene photo. My dad didn't put up with shit like that.”

“I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows who he is.” He reached for the picture.

“I’ll make you a copy, I need to keep this one.”

"Hey, don't forget that I'm leaving on Friday. The conference in Chicago."

"Great, I completely forgot."

"I'll be back in time to take you to dinner Sunday night."

"You never give up." I couldn't help but smile at him. "I'll think about it."

"Good, and while you’re thinking about all the reasons why you shouldn't go to dinner with me, you can have Ivy stay with you while I'm gone so I don't have to worry about what kind of trouble you’re getting yourself into.”

"Have you lost your mind?" I burst with laughter. "With Neville on vacation and you out of town, Ivy can stay right in her nice little penthouse where she belongs. Peace and quiet. I look forward to it."

Chapter 23

I
t was the quiet ones that I was usually afraid of. The ones that are calculating their next move, and anticipating mine. In this case, it was the loud, violent one that was getting my attention. The one standing in front of me, moving from side-to-side, ready to attack. Bill Randall was always unpredictable, and no one ever knew when the fool was going to snap. Today felt like one of those days.

"You guys find Billy?" Bill huffed and tightened his grip on the screen door handle.

"No." Jason moved closer to the door.

"Then why the hell are you here?" Randall narrowed his eyes.

"I think you know why." Jason returned the stare.

"That’s your setup question?" He started to close the door. "Why don't you mind your own business and get the hell out of here?"

"You can either talk to us now or we can do it at the station. Your choice." Jason’s voice raised to a level that I usually run from.

"We already talked to Ward and Hayes. Billy had nothing to do with that Edwards lady." He took the last drink from his beer can and crushed the metal like he was choking one of us. "Dumbass has no business being around there."

"Then you should have no problem telling us the story."

"There’s no story. He told them everything he knew."

"Why don't you open the door and we can sit down and talk about Billy and Jennifer Edwards," I said.

"You got a warrant in your pocket? ‘Cause I don't see one in your hand."

"We're not here to search the premises, unless you've got something to hide. And in that case, I can be back here in about an hour." Jason looked at his watch. "We can play it that way, if you like." Jason rattled like a snake.

The screen door clicked and opened. "This is bullshit." He walked ahead of us into a dimly lit house.

It was surprisingly tidy compared to the last time that I was here on a domestic violence call. I came and rescued Billy for a few days until things settled down. Betty was roughed up pretty bad and Randall was slapped with counseling and community service for six months. "Is Mrs. Randall here?" I looked around.

"She's at work." He mumbled something else under his breath, but I couldn't make it out. "You trying to pin this on Billy?"

"No, and we want to keep it that way." Jason's deep voice was soothing. "We need to ask you a few questions and we'll be on our way."

He looked over at me. I was checking out all the sweet smells coming from the numerous terra cotta pots in the windowsill. Little white bells dangling in the corner by the window grabbed my attention. They were beautiful, and the smell was floral and sweet. I thought of my mom.

The green fabric couch fit one body and a full hamper of cloths. The washer was spinning around in the background and knocking at the sides. It was uneven, and Randall wasn't moving in its direction to go and fix it. A hint of bleach filled the air—a load of whites. Jason took the matching floral chair and I was left standing. I continued to roam around the room, looking for anything of interest.

"So, what do you want?" He rubbed his hands together.

"When’s the last time you saw Billy?" Jason leaned forward.

"Friday, but that's no surprise to nobody." Randall leaned back and crossed his arms.

"You don't think it’s a surprise that your son hasn't been home for days?" The sound of judgment spread through the air.

"No. Neither should you, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finally left for good."

"Why do you think that?" I said with surprise.

"He's been threatening it for as long as I can remember." He scowled.

"Did he know Jennifer Edwards?" Jason asked.

"No, and I have never heard of her, either. Not before all this shit started happening." I could see that his brow was glistening from where I was standing.

"Where were you the week that Jennifer Edwards was missing?"

"I was home." He sat up. "I thought this little visit of yours was about Billy?"

Jason flipped the next question like a blackjack dealer. "Can anyone vouch for you?"

"Damn straight. Betty can. I'm home every night."

"What about the other night when you were over at Allure talking shit with a pocket full of cash?" Jason asked.

Randall ran his hand over his hair and his eyes bulged a little. "I was just showing off, like everyone else does in there." He took a handkerchief from his pant pocket and mopped his forehead. "I don’t have any money." His eyes followed me as I moved toward the shiny new object in the corner of the room.

The brand new flat screen told me different. I strolled over to the big, pretty electronic box, ran my hand from one end to the other, and looked over at Randall without saying a word. The sweat was now a steady stream of guilt rolling down his face. "Betty got that with some money she saved up."

"Awful lot of saving for something like this when you've got your wife working for minimum wage while you sit here and watch about a thousand channels of nothing." I paused with my hands in my pocket and turned to look at him. "What about Stephanie Mason?" I stared into his eyes.

"What about her." His voice was shaky.

"You didn't know her?" I tilted my head to the side.

"No, I didn't." He rubbed the length of his neck.

"How about Louise Harper? You didn't know her, either?"

Jason and Randall were both on their feet at the same time. Randall lunged toward me. Jason grabbed his arm and put him back in the corner of the couch. "I've had enough of your shit." He pointed his finger at me. "Leave Louise out of this, you understand me?" His face turned red.

"Not a problem," I said. "We got what we needed for now. If you happen to remember anything else, please give us a call." I always tried to leave on a good note.

The door hit the heel of my boot when I walked out and the loud slam pushed me closer to being sure of his involvement. He couldn't get rid of us fast enough. "He's lying." I said, fumbling for my sunglasses in my bag.

"Yeah, but I think he's telling the truth about the girls." He pressed his lips together. “The money, now that’s another story.”

"And, we don't have anything to hold him with." I walked behind Jason to block the burning rays of the sun.

"Oh, don't worry about that one," he said. "He's scared now. He'll make a mistake."

Chapter 24

J
ason dumped me at the station before he headed to a two o'clock meeting downtown. "See you this afternoon,” he yelled out the window. “Call if you need me."

I nodded my head and waved as he drove off. I walked in the station and was abruptly stopped by Stella. "You don't want to go in there." Her eyes darted around, stepping in front of me every time I tried to pass.

"Stella, what are you doing?" I laughed at her dance moves.

"Don't you have someplace you need to be?" Her hands were squeezing her plump hips.

"Yeah, I need to be right here." I had a mess on my desk and phone calls that needed to be made.

"No, I mean, find someplace to go for a while." She stared at me with her big, round eyes.

"Why?" I've got a shitload of paperwork to do," I snapped at her.

"I think that can wait." We tangoed again. "Really, Sam, go to lunch or something.”

"What is wrong with everybody around here?" I’d always warned people not to drink the water. It did strange things to them.

"I'm just trying to watch out for you." She took a deep breath.

"Thank you." I tried to pass and she stepped in front of me again. "Stella, stop it," I demanded.

"Ward has been in the chief’s office all morning, filling his ear with some shit." Her sweet, loving face turned red and puffy.