Detective Partners (24 page)

"Where would we go?" Nicole whispered.

"Some place where there's no people and no technology," he answered.
"Maybe a tropical island."

"Sounds like paradise," she mumbled.

At that moment, Galen's cell phone rang. "Damn it!" He removed the phone from his pocket, flipped it open, and pushed the talk button. "Maxwell," he said tersely.

Nicole bent down and retrieved her purse and keys. She set the alarm, ushered Galen outside, and locked the door behind her. Pocketing her keys, she led the way down the steps and to the car. By the time they reached the car, Galen was off the phone. "Who was that?"

"Dispatch."
He opened the door for her. "In you go, my lady."

"Thank you." She got in and he closed the door. Reaching for her seatbelt, she put it on.

"I talked to my Mom last night," Galen said as he slid behind the wheel. "She said she saw you on the news."

"Let me guess," Nicole said. "She's not thrilled about me befriending Judas."

"She feels the same way that I do." He inserted the key in the ignition and started the car, "but she wanted you to know that she will pray for you."

"That was sweet of her to say." She cleared her throat.
"While we're on the subject of Judas.
Did he send a letter to the station regarding the latest victim?"

"Not yet." Galen put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb. "I'm sure there will be one though."

"If there isn't a letter then how did Strauss know about the victim?"

He grinned. "We've got a witness."

By the time, Nicole and Galen arrived at the crime scene the sun was up. After they looked at the victim, a male this time, and talked with Dr. Cain and Garcia, who informed them that there were no foreign hairs or fingerprints left behind, they spoke with a group of Officers that was standing off to one side. Among the group were Travers and a man that Nicole had never seen before.

"Goodwin, Maxwell," Travers said. "This is Officer Jordan Blake. Blake, this is Detective's Nicole Goodwin and Galen Maxwell."

Nicole studied the Officer. In his early thirties, he was of average height and weight with blond hair and blue eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Officer Blake," she said with a smile.

"You too, ma'am," he murmured.

"Blake is taking my place on the case," Officer Travers explained. "I've been reassigned to work another case. This is my last day on the Judas case and let me tell you I'm not sad to step away from it. Anyway, Blake knows the case inside and out. You don't need to bring him up to speed."

"Good," Galen said. "I understand there's a witness."

"Jess Summers," Travers said. "She's agreed to meet with you at the station. I asked her to come here and she refused. I guess she doesn't want to come anywhere near this place again."

"May I sit in on the interview?" Officer Blake asked.

"I don't have a problem with it." Nicole glanced at Galen. "Is it all right with you?"

"Yes," he said. "Has anyone contacted the owner of the bar?"

"Of course."
Travers looked at Officer Blake. "What's the owner's name?"

Blake consulted his notepad. "Jerrod Benson."

"That's right." Travers scratched his
stubbled
jaw. "I spoke with Mr. Benson via phone earlier. He's in Fiji on vacation. The man acted like it was a crime to interrupt his vacation. He didn't give a damn that a man was murdered outside his bar. Some people have no compassion for a human life." He sighed heavily and shook his head. "I should've gone into advertisement like my brother did."

"Sounds boring," Galen said.

"True, but at least you wouldn't have to deal with dead bodies." Officer Travers turned his head and gazed at Nicole. "Mind if I talk to you privately for a minute?"

"Sure." She followed him and they stopped a short distance away.

"How have you been?" he asked, searching her face.

"Fine," she said quietly. "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering is all." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know you've had a rough time lately with the attack and everything."

"Well, I'm fine." She smiled. "Thank you for asking."

He nodded. "I know you have your hands full right now with the case, but when things slow down I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me."

Nicole's heart sank. She had hoped they wouldn't have this conversation and that she wouldn't have to hurt him. She chose her words carefully and said, "Thank you for asking me. I'm flattered that you-"

"You're not interested," Officer Travers cut in.

"It's not that." She thought of Galen. "I'm seeing someone."

"Oh," he muttered. "I didn't know. I'm sorry for-"

"Don't apologize," she told him. "It's all-"

"We need to go, Goodwin," Galen said, coming up behind Nicole. "We have a witness to question."

"Go," Officer Travers told her. "I understand."

"Thank you." Nicole turned and made her way toward the car.

"What did he want?" Galen asked.

"He wanted to know how I've been," she answered. "And he - he was wondering if I would have dinner with him."

"I see," he said coolly. "What did you tell him?"

They paused beside the car and Nicole turned to look up at him. She saw a muscle was twitching in his jaw and his gray eyes were as hard as steel. "Relax, honey. I told him I was seeing someone. He understood."

Galen's eyes softened and he relaxed. "Good because I would hate to have to rearrange his face."

"You wouldn't hurt him."

He squeezed her arm gently. "I would if he ever tried to come between us." He gazed deep into her eyes. "You're
mine
now and I'm not letting anything get in our way of being together."

His words sent a tremor racing through her. "I wish you could hold me and kiss me."

Galen smirked. "Later."

Nicole laughed softly. "I guess I had that coming."

"You guess right."

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Ms. Summers," Nicole said, at the station, an hour later. "We'll try not to take up too much of your time. This is my partner, Galen Maxwell and Officer Jordan Blake." She watched as the other woman squirmed in her chair. "I know this is the last thing you want to talk about, but any information you can give us will help our investigation. Please start at the beginning and take your time."

"It was around three - fifteen when I left the bar." Ms. Summers crossed her legs and placed her hands on her lap. "I walked around the corner to have a cigarette before I headed home. I had my boyfriend's car and he hates it when I smoke in his precious baby. Anyway, I was standing there
smoking when I heard what sounded like someone grunting. I followed the sound to the back of the bar and-" She hesitated.

"Go on," Galen urged her. "You're doing fine."

"I found a man slashing another man's throat," she croaked.

"Did you see the knifeman's face?" Officer Blake inquired.

"No," she said. "It was dark and his face was turned away from me."

"Describe him as best as you can," Nicole said, noticing that Galen had his ink pen poised above his notepad. "What was he wearing? Was he tall or short?
Heavy or thin?
Did he have dark or light hair?"

Ms. Summers closed her eyes. "He was dressed all in black. His hair was light colored. Blond, I think. Or maybe it was reddish blond. I'm not sure. He was tall and decently built. Not overweight, but not thin.
Average."

"Did he say anything?" Galen asked.

"Yes." She opened her eyes. "He said 'filthy demon'. His voice was deep. It sent shivers down my spine." She cleared her throat. "After he slashed the other man's throat he used the blood to write something on the man's midriff."

"He wrote '
Peccator
'," Officer Blake said. "It means 'Sinner'. That's what Officer Travers told me."

"I heard on the news that there's a serial killer on the loose that goes by the name Judas," Ms. Summers said. "Was he - was that him?"

"I'm afraid so," Nicole said gently.

"Oh God."
The woman's face turned deathly pale.

"Are you all right?" Galen asked.

"I - I'd like to leave." She stood quickly. "I don't have anything else to say."

Nicole rose to her feet and moved closer to the other woman. She touched her arm. "I'm going to give you the name and number of a therapist. If things get to be too much and you need someone to talk to I want you to go and see her." She asked Galen for paper and a pen. Writing down the information, she ripped the piece of paper from the notepad and handed it to her. "I added my number. If you remember anything please call me."

"I will," she said.

"I'll walk you out," Officer Blake offered. He got up and followed her from the interrogation room, closing the door behind him.

Nicole let out a weary sigh and rubbed her forehead.

Galen pushed back his chair, stood, and moved toward her. He stopped in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong, angel?"

"We have nothing." She leaned her forehead against his chest. "She didn't give us anything we could work with. We're back to square one."

He kissed her head and wrapped his arms around her. "I know it seems hopeless right now, but we have to keep moving forward. We'll catch a lucky break eventually."

"I hope so." She snuggled close and sighed with contentment. It was heaven being in his arms. For so long she had craved human contact. Never again would she be denied. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent.

"Sweet-"

"Hush," she murmured. "No talking, just holding."

"You just want me for my arms," Galen whispered, his voice laced with laughter.

"I love your arms," Nicole said. "When they're wrapped around me I feel safe and content. If I-" She was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. Quickly, they sprang apart. "Come in," she called out.

The door opened and a woman stuck her head into the room. "You have a call on line two, Detective Goodwin."

"Thank you." She hurried from the room, down the corridor, and into the bullpen. Crossing the room with Galen in tow, she stopped by her desk and reached for the phone. She pushed a button and said, "Goodwin."

"Good morning, Detective Goodwin," a deep voice said.

Nicole's breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat.
"J-Judas?"