Detective Partners (5 page)

"She broke her promise." Nicole shifted on the hard wooden chair. "We need your help in finding her."

"I won't give you her location," Scorpion declared. "I'll tell you anything you want to know, but I won't tell you that."

"I see." Calmly Galen stuck his notepad and pen back in his pocket. "Then you leave us no choice but to arrest you for obstruction of justice." He smirked, "and for harassing an officer. I'm sure your parole officer will be disappointed to hear that you're going back to jail. I wouldn't-"

"She's staying at the
Cozy Inn
," he cut in. "Room 52."

"Was that so hard?" Galen got to his feet and grabbed his cell phone from his pocket. He called dispatch and told them he needed an officer to meet him at the
Cozy Inn
to assist in an arrest.

"Thanks for the help, Scorpion." Nicole rose from her chair. "You did the right thing. Donna has to be held accountable for what she has done. Don't feel as though you betrayed her. You didn't do-"

"Let's go," Galen said, pocketing his phone.

Nicole said goodbye to Scorpion and followed Galen out to the car. "How did you know he had a parole officer?" she asked once they got into the car.

"I didn't know." He stuck the key in the ignition. "I figured someone like him had to have done some time in prison. It was a lucky guess. I do know one thing though. People will turn on each other if it means saving their own neck."

"Officer Travers," Nicole said, getting out of the car. "I wasn't expecting you."

"The boss thought since I knew the case I should help with the arrest."

"Hello, Travers," Galen said.

"Maxwell."

Nicole led the way up the wrought iron stairs to the second level. She walked along, checking the numbers on the doors. When she came to room 52, she
rapped
her knuckles against the door. "I hope Scorpion didn't call her and warn her we were coming," she said to Galen quietly.

"I wouldn't put it past him," he responded.

She waited a few more seconds and then knocked again. After another brief wait, she pounded on the door with her fist. "If she doesn't answer soon I'm going to go find the manager and get the room key."

"No need to." Galen reached into the inside pocket of his coat and brought out a small leather case. He unzipped the case, knelt down in front of the door, and inserted the metal rods into the keyhole.

Nicole gazed down at him. "It's a good thing you're on the side of the law."

Officer Travers grinned.

Concentrating, Galen moved the rods until he heard a faint click. "We're in." He removed the rods and straightened up.

"Nicely done, Detective."
Nicole opened the door and stepped into the room. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the figure lying on the bed. Something wasn't right. Her heart pounding in her chest she hurried to the bed. On the nightstand, she spotted a bottle of alcohol and an empty prescription bottle. "Oh, Donna," she whispered. "What did you do?" She leaned over the woman and felt for a pulse. There wasn't one. Sadly, she shook her head.

"Travers." Galen turned to look at the officer. "Call for an-"

"Say no more." He grabbed his phone and left the room.

"Why do people do it?" Nicole croaked.

"Why do they commit suicide?" She nodded. "Because they're cowards and they're selfish. They think it's an easy way
ou
an answer to all their problems. They don't stop to consider what they're doing to their family."

Nicole snatched the throw at the foot of the bed and gently covered
Donna's
body with it. She placed her hand over the woman's heart and bowed her head.
God, please forgive her for what she's done. Have mercy on her soul.

"What are you doing?" Galen inquired.

"I'm praying for her," she answered softly.

"She's beyond prayers, Goodwin," he told her. "You're wasting your time."

"Prayer is never a waste of time, Detective." Nicole raised her head and gazed into his eyes. "You don't believe in God, do you?" She shook her head. "Don't answer that question. It's a personal one and I had no right to ask you. It's none of my business. I'm sorry." She turned away from the bed and glanced down. An envelope lay on the floor. She bent down and picked it up. Scrawled across the front was Mary's name. She opened the envelope and found a letter inside.

"What is it?" Galen queried.

"A letter for Mary."

"What does it say?"

"I'm not going to read it." Nicole stuck the envelope in the pocket of her coat. "It's between Mary and Donna."

"Let me see it." Galen held out his hand.

"No," she said.

"We have a right to read it, Detective Goodwin." He moved around the bed. "It's evidence. Now let me have it."

"It doesn't have your name on it, Maxwell," Nicole snapped at him. "It's not meant for you to read or for me to read. It belongs to Mary and only Mary is going to read it."

His eyes flashing Galen moved closer and looked down at her. "You either give it to me or I will take it from you," he growled. "Make a decision quickly."

The look in his steel gray eyes, the muscle twitching in his jaw, and the sheer size of him had Nicole's heart leaping into her throat and a touch of panic racing through her. He was
clos
too close. She could feel his body heat and smell his cologne. She took a step back and swallowed hard. "D-don't t-touch m-me," she stuttered. "P-please, d-don't-" She pressed a shaky hand to her mouth and tried to calm herself down. What was wrong with her? They had argued plenty of times throughout the day and she had been all right with it.

Galen took in her pale face and the fear lurking in her eyes. She was afraid of him. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. His anger melted away. Did she honestly think he was going to hurt her? He'd never hurt a woman in his life. She didn't know that though. He cleared his throat. "I'm not going to hurt you, Nicole."

The sound of his voice saying her name caused her heart to skip a beat and a warm feeling began to spread through her. "I-I'm sorry." Wincing at the hoarseness in her voice, she fished the letter from her pocket and held it out to him with a hand that wasn't quite steady. "Please don't let anyone else read it. When you're done make sure - make sure that M-Mary gets it."

"I will," he promised.

"Please excuse me." Nicole walked around him and made a beeline for the door. She needed air. More than that, she needed to get as far away from her new partner as she could get.

Chapter  4

"Maxwell."

Galen glanced up from the report he was working on and found Parker standing there.
"Sir.
Do you want something?"

"Yes." He leaned against the desk. "I want to know what you think of Goodwin. You spent the day with her. What do you think? Will you be able to work with her?"

Galen turned his head and watched as Nicole embraced a sobbing Mary. "I think so. It's not like I have a say in the matter anyway." He returned his attention to his boss. "She has a temper."

Parker grinned. "She's a tough cookie, Maxwell." The grin melted away and concern took its place. "She's had to be. Her life hasn't been easy."

Galen thought back to earlier that day when he eavesdropped on Nicole's phone conversation with her father. From what he gathered from the one sided conversation her father was a drunk, who wanted her money. Had her father been physically abusive toward her? Was that the reason why she became frightened in the motel room when he became angry and got too
close.
He found himself wanting to know more about her and that didn't sit well with him.

"Maxwell," Parker said. "Are you still with me?"

"Sorry, sir."
Galen shook his head. "I was just thinking."

"I see." Parker gestured toward Nicole and Mary. "Do you know why Ms. Henson's sister took her own life?"

"I do," he answered, thinking of the letter he had read. "According to what Donna Richman told Ms. Henson in her letter, she was tired of being used and abused. She felt empty inside and nothing she did could fill the emptiness. She wanted out and she felt the only way out was to end her life. It was a wasted life if you ask me." He sighed heavily and looked Nicole's way again. She was talking to Mary. "Goodwin shouldn't be comforting her. She's letting her emotions get in the way of the job. In our line of work, it's best to shut the emotions out and not feel. She keeps that up and she won't last long."

"Give her time," Parker said. "She'll grow hard and cynical like the rest of us. Go home and get some sleep."

"I will soon, sir," Galen told him.

"Good night then."

"Good night." The phone on Galen's desk rang. He reached out and picked up the receiver. "Maxwell."

"Hello my dear heart."

He smiled.
"Hi, Mom."

"Are you busy?" she asked.

"Not really." He sat back in his chair and ran a hand across the back of his neck. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything is fine," she assured him. "I was wondering if you would run an errand for me."

"What do you need?"

"My arthritis is bothering me and I'm out of Tylenol," she explained.

"I'll pick you up some." He checked his watch. "I'll be there around eight and I'll let myself in."

"Thank you, sweetie."

"You're welcome. I'll see you soon." Galen hung up the phone. He turned his head and saw Nicole standing at her desk. "Is Ms. Henson all right?"

"No, but in time she will be." She grabbed her coat from the back of her chair and slipped it on. "I had someone drive her home. She was too upset to drive herself."

"Going home?" he inquired.

"No." She straightened the collar on her coat. "I have plans."

"A date?"
He grimaced. "You don't have to answer that."

"It's all right." Nicole retrieved her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. "I don't date. My reason why is personal and I'd prefer not to discuss it with you. Are you going home any time soon?"

"I'm leaving in a little while."

She nodded. "Well, good night."

"Before you go."
Galen pushed back his chair and stood. "I want to apologize for my behavior at the motel. I had no right to talk to you-"

"I'm the one who should be apologizing." Nicole hugged herself. "I should not have fallen apart like that. It was unprofessional and I promise it will not happen again. Let's forget about it and move on. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Detective."