Suddenly, the sky broke open, heaving large drops upon the earth. The children squealed with delight and ran over to the woman who was now opening an aged umbrella.
Gathering around her like chicks to a hen, they squeezed in to keep the rain from hitting them. Only the littlest one reached an arm out for the rain to land on. As she did this, her bear slipped out from under her arm, but the woman did not see it, and the little girl did not appear to notice.
As the woman opened the car door for the children, Delta ran across the street, picked up the bear, and jogged over to the woman who was closing the door.
“The little girl dropped this,” Delta said, handing the bear to the woman.
“Oh, thank you. She would have carried on for days if she would have lost her bear. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Still standing in the rain as the woman backed the car out of the park, Delta thought about Miles’s children and the sadness etched in their faces as he was lowered into the ground. His little boy clutched tightly to a worn brown bear much like the one this little girl was carrying. Delta remembered that what hurt the most as Miles’s coffin hit the ground was the realization that his little boy would never remember his daddy.
Closing her eyes, Delta pictured so clearly the little boy and his bear.
The answer she needed was there all along.
Bear. He would help.
When the front door swung open, a big, strapping, and overly hairy man stood smiling like a circus bear.
“Bear, it’s so good to see you.” Delta stepped into the hallway and hugged him. Her arms barely circled his waist.
“You too, Del. What’s up?”
Delta sat down on the small flowery couch in the den.
Bear’s home was cozy and made even more comfortable by the fire burning steadily in the brick fireplace. On the wall were several pictures of Bear and his friends from the CHP, most of whom were motorcycle cops. There was also a picture from the Police Academy with Bear hugging Miles.
The pictures hung crookedly over a mantelpiece scattered with miniature cars. Even with Lynn’s feminine touches, the house felt like the home of a cop.
“I wish this were a pleasure call, but I’m afraid it isn’t.”
Bear nodded and sat across from Delta on a large, aging rocker. “I didn’t suspect it was.”
Inhaling, Delta took the plunge. “I need your help.”
Bear did not move. He didn’t even blink.
“God, Bear, I don’t even know where to begin.”
Suddenly, Bear stood up. “Wait a second. Maybe I’ve got something that will help.” Bear walked out of the room but was back in seconds, holding a small envelope. “I suppose this has to do with Miles’s death?”
Delta’s jaw dropped open. He knew. “How did you—”
Holding his hand up, Bear stopped her. “I don’t know anything, Del, really. All I can tell you is Miles came here two days before he was shot and told me to give you this envelope only if you came looking for it.”
“What?” Delta felt a zinger run wickedly up her spine.
Bear shrugged and handed Delta the envelope. “He said if anything should happen to him, that he wanted me to give this to you. He asked me to ask no questions, so I didn’t.”
Delta feverishly opened the envelope. Inside, were report numbers of drug-related busts followed by the amount of dope entered in the report and the actual amount of dope in evidence. In all, there were seven report numbers listed, along with the reporting officers and the number of pounds of dope missing from the evidence room.
Looking up at Bear, Delta smiled softly. “Did you know I’d come?”
Bear nodded. “Eventually.”
“How?”
“He knew you too well. Miles must have known you’d end up here sooner or later. I just hope that whatever’s in that envelope helps you nail who did it.”
“And you really don’t know what’s in here?”
Shaking his head, Bear grinned. “If Miles had wanted me to know what was going on, he would have told me. But he didn’t.”
Delta stared down into the envelope. He knew. He knew she would-n’t let go. He expected her to go after them. “Did he say anything else?”
“Nope. I asked him what he was up to, and all he would say was that it was something big.” Bear leaned closer to Delta and lowered his voice. “It is, isn’t it?” Delta nodded her head slightly. “It sure is.”
“Did it get him killed?”
Delta nodded again.
“If you need anything from me Delta, just name it. I don’t need to know the particulars. If you find out who offed Miles, I’ll help in anyway I can. All you have to do is call.”
Delta took one of his hairy paws in her hand. “That means a lot to me, Bear. You can’t imagine how alone I’ve felt since he died.”
“Well Darlin’, I’m here. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.”
Rising to leave, Delta looked once more at the picture of Bear and Miles. “He trusted you a lot, Bear.”
“Yes, he did. And I trust that whatever was going down was important enough for him to risk his life over. Nail the bastards, Del.”
“That’s the plan.”
Starting down the wet pavement, Delta whispered to herself, “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Connie sat at Eddie II, her home computer, and pounded madly at the keys. The sole matchbook lay on the table next to the keyboard, and Delta sat backwards in a chair with her arms dangling over the back. She had raced back to Connie’s with the remainder of Miles’s report, talking a streak and gesticulating wildly. She had what she needed now to get the game rolling.
“Although there’s no code to break on this one, it’s going to take a while to match all the patrol units with their occupants who were driving them on these certain days.” Connie pressed return and Eddie II hummed.
“The way I see it, we have less than forty hours before I go back to work. Until then, I don’t have to worry about them coming after me. They won’t touch me until I get back on duty.”
“Do you think they’ll strike the first night you go back?”
Delta nodded. “I want to force their hand. If we make them nervous, they’ve got to come after me. We’re better off knowing when they’re coming. That’s our most important move. We must make them think I’m this close to nailing them.”
Connie nodded and turned back to the computer. “So far, it looks as if they got in as many different patrol cars as possible. God, can you believe they delivered their dope in their own units? Talk about moxy.”
Delta cracked a walnut and popped the meat in her mouth. “They’re just like any other criminal who believes they won’t get caught. After a while, they get sloppy.”
“Miles must have stepped in some of their slop.”
Delta nodded. “We won’t make the same mistakes. Miles didn’t know when they were coming, but we will.” Delta gazed into the monochrome monitor. Visions of Megan’s battered face floated before her. They had actually declared war on Delta and the people in her life. T h e y were fools for believing that she could be scared away; especially now.
Delta suddenly rose from the chair. “I’ve got to get Megan out of the hospital.”
“You think they’d really go after her in there?”
“They may underestimate us, but I won’t do the same. I want to know she’s safe.”
“Then bring her over here. If they’re tailing you, she won’t be safe at your place either. I think we’d all be better off staying here until this thing is over. You know, strength in numbers and all that.”
Delta smiled and placed her hand on Connie’s shoulder.
“You’re the best.”
“Yeah, well, so are you. So now what?”
“Once you and Eddie find out which cops are delivering to the Red Carpet, then we’re set.”
Connie turned from Eddie. There were streaks of gray in her black hair that Delta hadn’t noticed before. “Do you think they would just go on killing?”
Feeling worn and tired, Delta shrugged. “Miles came too close, that’s all. I’m sure they didn’t want to kill him, but Miles and Hammond were threats. Like common criminals, eliminating threats comes naturally.”
Connie reached over and touched Delta’s hand. “You’re their biggest threat now, Storm.”
“Yes,” Delta said, smiling. “That I am.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind me staying here?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gina said, fluffing up a pillow and placing it behind Megan’s back. “Delta won’t rest until she knows you’re safe. You’ll be safe here. Those two Dobermans in the back won’t let anyone within twenty yards of the house.”
Megan looked over at the doorway where Delta stood listening.
“How are you feeling?” Delta asked, stepping into the light blue bedroom.
“About as good as any woman might feel after being rushed out of the hospital.”
Delta leaned over and kissed her playfully on the nose.
“Admit it—you loved it.”
Megan smiled her new crooked grin. “Yes, I guess I did. And . . .” Lightly touching Delta’s cheek, Megan brought it to her and brushed her lips across it. “I love you for it.”
Delta felt herself blush as Gina quietly left the room.
“Do you really have to go through with this?”
Sitting on the side of the bed, Delta took one of Megan’s hands. “I’m afraid so. If there was a safer way, we’d do it. I can promise you that.”
Megan opened her arms to Delta, who leaned back into the embrace. “You go to work in ten hours.”
Delta nodded. “That gives us ten hours to play with.”
“You’re playing with your life.”
Delta gently squeezed Megan’s hand. “Trust that I won’t do anything foolish, Meg.”
“What happens if Connie can’t pinpoint the rest of the bastards before you go on?”
“Then I do everything I can to take my would-be assassin alive, so we can squeeze him. Once I have one of them, I’ll get him to squeal like a pig. That’s the one thing all criminals have in common; they never take the fall alone. Dirty cops are no exception.”
Megan exhaled loudly. “It all scares the shit out of me. The thought of you out there with people you’re supposed to ttrust, hunting you, trying to murder you like an animal makes me sick.”
“Then wouldn’t you rather that I go after them, instead of always watching my ass?”
Megan turned her face from Delta. “I suppose.”
Delta lightly touched Megan’s arm. “Megan, we’re dealing with desperate people here. Do you really think they would let me live even if I quit? I know too much, and after today, they’re scared to death of me.”
Megan turned back to face her. “What do mean? What did you do today?”
Delta rose from the bed and paced over to the window. “I went in to work and snooped around the files and the evidence room. I asked a lot of questions of a lot of people and also put in a requisition for some bugging equipment. I’ve made my presence well known, and by now, they know I’m this close.” Delta held her thumb and index finger together. “It’s their move.”
“What do you want with bugging equipment?”
“I may need to get some confessions on tape. I sure as hell don’t want to be out on that street alone.”
“Is that admissible in court?”
Delta shrugged. “Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. But I don’t want their confessions as much as I want them to name the big man.”
“And after that?”
“Then we go after him.”
“And after you've put them all behind bars?”
Delta gently ran her fingers through Megan’s hair. “Then it’s just you and me.”
Megan reached out and pulled Delta back to the bed. “Do we have to wait that long? Or am I horrible to look at with my puffy face and black eyes?”
“You are always beautiful to me, Megan Osbourne.” Carefully climbing on the bed, Delta straddled Megan until she was sitting on her thighs. Megan’s cleavage appeared cavernous beneath the low cut negligee and Delta envisioned burying her face there and never coming up for air.
“You must really love me, Delta, because I’ve seen what I look like, and it’s not a pleasant sight. I make Freddy look like a sweet fairy prince.”
Slowly unbuttoning the plum negligee she had bought for Megan, Delta slid both hands under her breasts and tenderly cupped them. “I do love you, Meg,” she said, kissing the bumps and scars already forming on her eyebrows.
As she played with the hard nipples and rolled them around in her fingers, Delta bit tenderly Megan’s neck and shoulders. Megan always tasted like she just walked out of a shower, and the clean smell drove Delta crazy.
Sliding down so she lay on top of Megan, Delta looked lovingly into the ice-blue eyes sparkling up at her, longing for her. “And tonight, I’m going to show you just how much.”
Delta stepped behind Connie and watched as her fingers rapidly skimmed over the keyboard. She could tell by the tway she pounded at the keys that Connie was anxious about uncovering the main man before Delta went back to work.