Reprisal (6 page)

What in the hell is wrong with me? Never do I snap like that! But he just kept pushing and pushing. Shaking my head I realize, no he wasn’t. He was just making conversation, but if I don’t get these emotions in check, I’m going to fuck up this whole investigation. I grab my phone and call Leslie immediately after walking out of the deli.

“Hey, it’s
Syd. Can you meet me at La Cafe? I need coffee, and an ear.”

“You okay
Syd? You sound funny. Yes, I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Yep, see you then.”

I slide the phone back in my hipster bag that is draped across my body. I dare not carry a regular shoulder bag in NYC, because someone will run past and yank it off of me. After the day I’ve had, I might shoot someone. Speaking of, I’d better make sure my .45 is with me from here on out. Once this rapist gets word that I’m assisting in the investigation, I may become a target. Or, at least I was last time I got involved. Thankfully, the last guy missed his mark, by a mile.

But still, one can never been too prepared in New York.

October in New York is nice. Typically stays in the fifty degree range, but this wind is out of control, even for a girl from Chicago. I head into the wind and make my way to La Cafe, my favorite coffee shop. I grab a hot mocha and find a table in the back, but with a view of the door so I can see Leslie come in. And like clockwork, exactly fifteen minutes after our phone call, she comes walking in. She stops just inside the door and I wave her down. Without ordering a drink she marches back to me and sits down, her eyes glued to mine. She’s in doctor mode right now, not friend mode.

“What is it Sydney? Is it the case you got called on?” She asks, not making casual conversation.

“I had an anxiety attack in Chief Matthews’ office. This one wasn’t pretty either, apparently I blacked out and when the police shrink stuck the smelling salts under my nose, I flipped out.”

“Jesus,
Syd. Why didn’t you call me earlier?”

“Cause I thought I was fine. But get this.....that guy from Blazer’s last night? The one I ran into at HQ?” Leslie nods her head.

“Well, he’s a detective with NYPD and he’s in charge of this case.”

She smiles, but I don’t return the smile.

“Anyway, after my little ‘escapade’, I tried to do the mature thing and march my way out of Chief Matthews’ office, but Gabe followed me out.”

“Gabe?”

“Yeah, Detective Gabe Torres.”

“Ok, so what happened?”

“He asked me to lunch.” I say while looking down at my hands. I tend to twist my fingers when I get uneasy. Leslie knows this, so I look up to see her staring at my hands too.

“So, what’s wrong with lunch?”

“He started asking questions. Personal questions that I’m not prepared to answer.”

“Sydney, your business is your own. You don’t have to tell anyone anything you don’t want to, even me. But I’ll kick your ass if you don’t tell me what’s really bothering you.”

“It’s this case, Leslie. The similarities are......frightening. I can’t get into details and you know why, but let’s just say I feel like my father is alive and well.”

“Shit, really? Like a copycat killer or something?”

I just look at her, because I don’t believe this is a copycat. I believe my father is really alive and has started torturing and raping young girls again. I know it’s crazy, because I put the bullet in his head myself. I saw the blood splatter against the cold, cinder block wall of the basement he held me in. I can still hear the thunk of his body hitting the concrete floor. I can still smell the......

“Sydney? You all right?”

I focus on my friend and realize I’ve zoned out once again. “Yeah, this case....it’s got me creeped out a bit.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

“Not much to tell, and since it’s an ongoing investigation I think I need to hold my tongue for a bit. So far it hasn’t hit the press yet, but I fear for the panic when it does.”

“Shit. Well, as your doctor you can tell me anything. I’m bound by......”

“I know, Les. So am I, remember? I may be a mess right now, but I’m still a doctor and I have to keep my wits about me. I freak out again like that at the station and I’m done. I think Gabe already wants me off the case.”

“I think he wants in your panties.”

I spew my mocha all over the table, even managing to get it all over Leslie. She grabs a napkin while glaring at me through squinty eyes.

“Damn it, I’m sorry.” I say as I too grab some napkins and assist in wiping up my mess.

“Its fine, Syd. I didn’t like these pants much anyway.” She laughs.

“Yes you do, they’re your
favorite. So tell me, did Joe come home last night?”

“
Ahh, classic change of subject Syd. And yes, he did. But I ignored him and that nasty perfume all evening. He slept in the guest room and I made sure to make plenty of noise when I woke up. He grumbled something about going to the gym and he left. Haven’t seen him since. I plan to give him the unfortunate news soon.”

“Which news is that?”

“The news that he’s moving out. I can’t take it anymore, so he’s got to go.”

“I’m sorry, Leslie. He’s......”

“Don’t Syd. It’s been over for a while, I just need to get it over with.”

“Well, I’m here if you need me. You can stay with me while he packs up.”

“Oh hell no, you think I’m going to leave him alone in there to clean me out? Fuck that, I’ll be hovering over him every step of the way. Hell, I may even pack his shit for him and toss it in the hallway.”

I chuckle at that,
cause Leslie would do it and not care if anything broke in the process.

“Now, enough about me. What’s got you so anxious,
Syd? You called me down here for a reason, so let’s talk.”

I sigh, not sure I can get into the gritty details about this case. But she is a doctor and if I don’t force someone to remind me that my father is dead, then.........

“I can only tell you the basics. Two young girls found dead. One washed up on the banks of the East River, the other in the Hudson exactly one month apart. Both around eighteen, nineteen years old. Raped and strangled.” I leave out the barbed wire, cause that will give too much away.

“Both were very pretty........but they look like.......me.” I say as I look down. Leslie has heard so much over her years of
counseling that nothing can shock her, but I hear her suck in a breath.

“Sydney, it’s a coincidence. You, as a professional, have to know this. But that’s why your father has come screaming back in to your conscience, right?”

My father’s victims were all dark haired like me. My dad is Italian, so I take after him.

“Sydney? Stay with me girl.”

“I’m here.” I say as I smile. “I wish I could tell you more, but until I’ve gone through everything, that’s all I can say.”

Leslie takes my hand across the table. “I understand, but I’m here. Do you need something to help you sleep?”

“You gave me something yesterday, but I haven’t filled it. I think I’ll be fine. I managed to not have any nightmares last night, so I think I’m good.”

“Well, you call me if you do. And fill that prescription, just in case. You don’t have to take it, but it’s better to be prepared than not.”

“I’ll be fine, but I’ll fill it.” She cocks her head at me, “I promise.”

“So, tell me about Detective Torres.”

“Not much to tell, native New Yorker - Brooklyn. Father was a cop and his mom died when he was seventeen.”

“Wow, really getting to know each other eh?”

“I think it was his way to get me to open up. I guess he thought if he talked about his past, I’d talk about mine. But instead, I barged out after accusing him of an inquisition and ended up looking like an idiot.” I say as I smack my forehead. “Gosh, what’s wrong with me? Every time I get called in on a case like this, I totally freak. It doesn’t help that he’s rock star gorgeous either.

I was okay talking about school, but as soon as he asked about my family, I lost it.”

“Sydney, your teen age years were very traumatic. Even though it’s been twenty years that never goes away. You’ve learned over the years how to deal with it the best way you can, but life is full of triggers and with being in the line of work you’re in, well. Those triggers come more often.”

“I know, speaking of careers, I wonder if they’re hiring here.” I say while glancing around the shop looking for a ‘Help Wanted’ sign.

“You are not changing careers, girl. You are too good at what you do. You have a gift my friend, a true gift. You’ll bring down this asshole soon enough and then you can move on.”

“We’ll see I guess. Listen, thanks for coming down, but I need to get back to the station and get busy trying to solve this mystery. I barged out without the file I need, so I need to get back and do the walk of shame.”

“There is no shame in what happened to you. I know this and you know it too. But call me when you get home and let me know how you are. I can squeeze you in next week if you need to come to the office.”

“Thanks.” I say as I stand and pull her into a hug. She grabs her purse and heads out the door while I order another mocha to go.

Once I have my warm drink in my hands, I too enter the busy sidewalk heading back towards HQ and Chief Matthews. As I walk, I think back to earlier and the madder I get. How dare he accuse me of airing ‘dirty laundry’? He knew my father, he knows what he did and he blames me? He’s no better than my mom and brother. The bastard. If he thinks he is going to throw my past in my face, he’s got another thing coming. I think this is good. Anger. It’s better to be angry than embarrassed. Hopefully Gabe won’t be there and I can give good old Chuck a piece of my mind.

As I walk along
, someone slams into me, which is not unusual in this city. But my scorching hot mocha goes flying and lands in a splatter on the sidewalk. I turn back to see who it was and to maybe give them a piece of my mind, but all I see is a young boy marching with his head down and his hands in his pockets. “Asshole.” I murmur under my breath. I pick up the cup and toss it in to a trash can and keep walking.

Once I arrive at HQ I stop at the door and take a deep breath. I pull the door open and step in, the door slamming behind me in the wind. “Is Chief Matthews in?” I ask the girl behind the counter, who is not the same girl from earlier, thank goodness.

“Your name?”

“Doctor Sydney
DeCarlo.”

She picks up her phone and calls him, then hangs up and motions towards the door. As I reach it, I
hear the electronic lock click and I tug the steel door open. “Third door on the right.”

She says as the door closes behind me. I don’t mention that I already know where I’m going.

I tap on the door and peek through the crack, “Chief?”

“Come on in Sydney. I’m glad you came back, you forgot your folder.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here.” I say as I take the folder from his hand.

“Sit Sydney, we need to talk.”

“No Chief, I’ve talked enough today. I want to go home and dig in to this file and see what I can come up with.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What?” I reply in surprise.

“I said ‘I’m sorry’.” He repeats. “I put you on the spot earlier and I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that. I know what you went through, hell - I was there. I shouldn’t have made a mockery of it and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Wow, just wow. Now, maybe he will apologize for making an ass of me in front of Gabe.

Course, then again, I made an ass out of myself in front of Gabe, so I’m no better. I just hate being put on the spot. I have a career of putting people on the spot, not the other way around.

I sit down in the chair across from his desk, laying the case file in my lap. My fingers pick at the edges as Chuck stares at me. He leans forward, setting his elbows on the desk and takes a deep breath. Great, here comes the speech.

“Sydney, if this case is too much for you......”

“No, Chuck. It isn’t. I’ve already spoken to Leslie and she’ll be there for me if I need her. It will be tough, cause the details........”

“I know. The girls
’ appearance, their deaths....I know. And I know what you’re thinking too.”

“Oh really? Tell me Chuck, what am I thinking?” I ask as I lean forward cocking my head to one side.

“Sydney, your father is dead.....”

“Hold up one second, Chuck. Don’t you think I know this? I. Pulled. The. Trigger. I killed the bastard. He raped me, beat me to within an inch of my life and then strangled me with barbed wire. In our scuffle, I knocked his gun free and grabbed it. I put a bullet in his
head at point blank range. I know he’s dead, Chuck. I was there.”

“Sydney, that isn’t what I meant.”

“Well, what pray tell did you mean then Chuck?”

His eyes drift up towards the door and I know immediately someone is standing in the threshold. “Damn it Gabe, can’t you knock?”