The Wife of a Lesser Man (LA Cops Series Book 1) (20 page)

“Yes, everything’s fine ma’am,” Mark said, putting his hand out for reassurance.

“Does Peter Hatcher live here?”  Richard enquired.

She furrowed her brows.  “No, but I think he used to live here.  We’ve been renting this house for about three months now.  It was the only house on this street that was up for rent.  I found out I was expecting again and our apartment was too small for the four of us.”

“Well, did the last tenant leave a forwarding address?”  Mark asked, making silly faces at the baby.

“No, but he left some things here that I’ve kept.  I let the owner know and he said he’d take care of it but he still hasn’t done so.” 

“What kind of things?”  Richard asked, playing with the baby’s feet.

“Some silverware, a shirt, an ice bucket and some newspaper clippings I found tucked in the top of the closet.”

“Do you have them handy?  We can take care of them for you,” Mark said.

“Well, sure, you want to hold him a sec?”  she said, gesturing them in and handing the toddler to Mark. 

Her kitchen was just past the entrance and she reached above her fridge for the items.

“Here you go,” she said, handing Richard the items and taking the baby back.

“Say, is this Peter guy in any trouble?” 

“We just need to ask him some questions.  No trouble,” Mark said, waving to the baby.

She wasn’t convinced.  “Well, can I get your number in case he comes around looking for his stuff?”

“Absolutely,” Mark said, handing her his card.  She looked at it and her eyes widened.

“You’re a police chief?” 

Mark smiled without showing teeth.

“Geez, he must be in some kind of trouble if
you’re
looking for him.” 

“Not to worry ma’am.  We’ll take care of it.” 

Richard and Mark were thankful for when the baby began to fuss and the woman excused herself.  She closed the door to tend to him.  They both saluted and left.

Richard placed the bag on the floor before entering the car.  “So, do you want to look at this stuff now or wait until we get back?”  he asked, looking in the back seat for gloves.

“Gloves and bags are in the back.”  Mark answered.

Richard slid his hands in the gloves and began taking the items out.  The shirt was on top.

“One Adidas t-shirt, size XL,” he said, placing the shirt in an evidence bag and sealing it.

“Two forks, a spoon and butter knife.  Made in USA.”  He followed the same procedure with those items.

“An ice bucket.  No tongs,” Richard joked.  As he pulled the ice bucket out of the bag, he saw the newspaper clippings underneath.

“Ho ho!  What have we here….”  Richard pulled the clippings out, which were all mangled like they’d been stuck inside the mechanism of the closet door. 

Mark knew that tone in Richard’s voice.  He pulled over.

Richard took one of the clippings out and smoothed it on his thigh.  He studied it and put the plastic bag on the floor so it didn’t obstruct Mark’s view.

Mark’s face turned white.  He would know that headline anywhere.  It read:  ‘Convicted Murderer James Gruber Caught by Police’

…

Mark stormed into the office and said firmly to Lisa “Get me everything you have on James Gruber right away!”

“Sure sir, but…“Lisa said, trying to interrupt.

Mark stopped before entering his office.  “What’s the trouble?”

“Sir, um, it’s Lipkus, Andy gave him the updates including the bullet and he’s demanding you call him immediately.  I gave him your cell number.”

Mark took his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen.  “He didn’t call.”

Lisa shook her head, “Well, then he must be on his way over.”

“Geez,” Mark seethed under his breath.  He turned and went into his office.  “Get me what you can on Gruber and I’ll figure out what to do about Lipkus.”

Lisa nodded.

Mark’s phone began to ring. 

“Andy, what’s up?”

“I’m just on my way back from Charlie’s house.  Lipkus got to him.”

“Oh Christ.  What happened?”  Mark knew Lipkus had to be up to something, having not called or shown up.  He must have been irate when he found out what’d been going on under his nose.

“Forced him to retire.  I’m surprised to be honest. I figured he’d get him fired.”

“Lipkus would look bad if he did that.  This way Charlie can suffer in silence.  How did Charlie take it?”

“Well, it was good that he was forewarned I think.  He took a sedative and went to bed.  I think he’ll be okay, but we should keep an eye on him.”

“Good idea.  Have Nelson keep vigil.” 

“Will do.  Anything else going on?”

“It looks like our guy is a James Gruber follower.” 

“Really?  Are you thinking copycat?”

“Possibly.  We’ll know more after we interview his stalking victim.  You feel like checking out Stacey Miles?”  Mark asked.

“Sure.  Where’s she live?  I’ll head there now.”

Mark gave him the address and Lisa brought him the file he asked for.

“Lipkus was with Charlie,” he told Lisa.

“That explains it.  How is he?”

“Andy just left him.  Said he took a sedative and went to bed.  That’s what I would have done.” 

“Do me a favour and get Nelson over there to make sure he’s okay for a while?”  Mark said.

“Sure thing.” 

…

Mark looked at his watch.  It was almost 3:15pm.  He buzzed Richard and asked him to stop by his office.

“What’s up buddy?”  he asked as he entered the office.

“Have we got any unmarked patrol cars available?”  Mark asked.

“I think so.  Did you check with Lisa?”  Richard’s leaned over to see if she was at her desk.

“Sh…sh…never mind…can you go check for me?”

Richard raised an eyebrow.  “Oooo…kay.  Be right back.”

A few minutes later, Richard returned and reported there were two in the lot.

“Can I ask what’s going on?”

“If I let you come with me, will you keep your mouth shut?”  Mark asked.

“Sure.”

Mark let Richard drive. 

“Where are we headed?”  Richard asked as he turned the key in the ignition.

Mark scoffed like he had to admit something embarrassing.

“Timberlea Elementary School,” Mark said.

Richard’s eyebrow raised.  “Isn’t that Shelley’s….“

“Yes it is.  This would be a good time for you to shut up.  We talked about this,” Mark warned.

Richard nodded and began driving.

They were silent until they arrived at the school ten minutes later.

“So what are we looking for?”  Richard asked, after parking in the visitor’s area.

“Shelley quits right after dismissal on Wednesdays.  I want to follow her.”

Richard looked around the lot.  “There’s her car.  She’s still here.”

Mark looked in the same spot and nodded.

A minute later the buses began appearing and cars began streaming into the lot.

“Let’s just wait.  Shelley will be coming out soon,” Mark said.

About fifteen minutes later, all kids, buses and extra cars had disappeared and there were just enough vehicles surrounding them to make it look inconspicuous.

Mark took a deep breath and saw a few teachers leave.  “She should be out any minute now.”  Richard detected tension in his voice.

“Just relax.  I know what you’re thinking, and it probably isn’t what you think.  Shelley would never cheat on you.  The wife of a lesser man would.  You’ve shown her more love than anyone I know and she knows you belong together.  Don’t underestimate that.” 

Mark searched Richard’s face.  “Thanks man.”  Shelley appeared at the side door.  “You’re right.  Let’s get out of here.  I can’t do this, it isn’t right,”

“Well…I get that.  But we should wait until she leaves.  If we pull out now she’s going to see us.”

“Good point.”

Shelley drove away, heading home.  They waited a few seconds before heading back to the station. 

…

The phone rang in the middle of the night.  Both Shelley and Mark were startled awake. 

Mark jumped up and grabbed the extension on his night table, he looked at the screen. 

“Nelson?  What’s happened?” 

“Sir, I’m terribly sorry to wake you.”

“That’s okay, what’s going on?”

“Sir, I have some terrible news.”

“What is it?”

“I’m very sorry to tell you this, but Mr. Thompson has passed.”

“What?  Who?  Charlie?”  Mark stood up and turned on the light.

“Yes sir.  He begged me not to call you earlier.  His wife died around 11pm and I thought he was okay because he went to bed.”  Nelson’s voice cracked when he said ‘okay’.

“The paramedics said he ingested a lethal dose of pills they found in the bathroom.”

Mark’s head dropped.  He rubbed his eyes and could feel a lump in his throat.

“Sir, I’m sorry.  I never thought to check the bathroom.  I didn’t think he would need me to follow him in there.  He took his sedatives in his room.  I didn’t know he had all them in the bathroom.”  Nelson began to cry.

“It’s okay Nelson.  We were there just yesterday and saw all the pills.  We should have removed them.  Nobody ever thought Charlie would kill himself.”

Shelley darted out of bed and sat beside Mark, rubbing his back.

“I’m really sorry, sir,” Nelson said.

“It’s okay Nelson.  You did a good job.”

“So sorry.”  He sobbed.

“Thanks for calling son. I’ll talk to you later.  God bless.” 

Mark hung up the phone, slammed his fist on the night stand, seething. “Damn Lipkus!”

Chapter 17

Shelley arrived at the funeral home first.  Charlie and Madeline’s kids sat in the first pew, his mother in a wheelchair just beside them.  Both caskets were side by side at the front of the room, each with cascading flowers on top. Charlie’s were mostly white and blue, Madeline’s all pink roses and baby’s breath.

Mark and Andy had a meeting with Lipkus before the wake.  Shelley offered to come to the wake before them, having taken up a collection at the station and at school to help cover the cost of the funerals.  She delivered the envelope to their oldest boy, Colin.  He accepted with tears of gratitude even though it wasn’t much.  Two days’ notice wasn’t nearly enough to collect what Shelley wanted.

The room was filled with some familiar faces.  Many attending were colleagues of Mark’s.  She said hello and offered condolences to those she recognized.  Nelson approached her with a sunken heart.  She tightly embraced him.

“Nelson, you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself,” she said, patting his back.

“But if I’d just checked on him, he wouldn’t be….”  Shelley faced the entrance door, and as she comforted Nelson she watched people pour in.

“Sweetheart, it wasn’t your fault.  Charlie wanted to be with Madeline and he probably would have stopped at nothing.  I’m just sorry you had to be there when it happened.”

Nelson began to calm down and Shelley let go of him, but still clutched his upper arms.  She offered him a tissue from her purse and watched him dab his eyes and wipe his nose.  Suddenly she saw a familiar figure from the corner of her eye.  It was hard for her to tell the face amongst all the people arriving, but she kept her eye on the door, waiting for him to turn around.

“Is something wrong, ma’am?”  Nelson asked.

“No, no, I just thought I saw someone, but I think I’ve lost him.  Too many people.”

“You don’t have to stay here with me ma’am.  I’m fine.  I appreciate your help.”

“That’s okay sweetie.  I don’t mind.” 

“But I do need to use the lady’s room.  Would you excuse me?  I’ll be right back.” 

Shelley moved slowly through the crowd and made her way to the restrooms.  When she re-emerged, fiddling with the lid to her lipstick, she turned the wrong way and almost walked right into the men’s room.  There was a man coming out who she nearly bumped into as she put her lipstick back in her purse.

“Excuse me,” he said, redirecting her.

She lifted her head and recognized the face, smiling slightly.  “Hey.  What are you doing here?” 

“Don’t worry, yoga wasn’t cancelled,” Matt said.  “Charlie’s brother was friends with my dad.  Sorry for the loss.  Both Madeline and Charlie were wonderful people and they’ll be missed.”