“Belle seemed very proud of him,” Sam said. “She told us a little about him once.”
“Yes. She was just thankful he got into college. In high school, he was always in trouble. He was suspended at least once that I know of. She couldn’t do anything with him.”
“Did you know he was gay?” Tori asked.
“Gay? No, I didn’t. Belle never said. But then, he never dated in school. In fact, I don’t remember him having any friends, male or female.”
“Maybe he was embarrassed about his mother and the hostel?” Sam suggested.
“I think he was jealous,” Charlotte said. “Belle doted over the girls.”
“Was she ever involved with any of them?”
“What? Belle? No. They were like her own children. She would have done anything for them.”
“Something had to have triggered this,” Tori said. She rubbed both eyes with one hand. They had nothing. He had simply disappeared.
“Is there a family member, perhaps, that he would have confided in?” Sam asked.
“Are you kidding? Her parents wouldn’t give either of them the time of day.”
“Cousins?”
“No. They had no contact with them.”
Sam sat back and sighed, watching Tori as she continued to rub her eyes in frustration.
“Okay.” Tori finally stood up. “Protective custody.”
“For me? No way,” Charlotte said.
“You don’t have a choice. He threatened to kill you in the note.”
“I don’t give a shit. I have a very busy life, Detective. I don’t need the police tagging after me everywhere I go.”
“Like I said, you don’t have a choice. Until we find him, you’re not safe, Charlotte. You’ve been in the business long enough to know that.”
Sam watched the exchange, eyes moving from one woman to the other. Then Charlotte smiled.
“Will you be assigned to protect me? I might be persuaded, if that’s the case.”
Tori lifted one corner of her mouth but shook her head. “Uniforms. Two shifts. One at the office, one at the house.”
“And what if I decide to go to the bar?”
“Then Detective Kennedy and I might tag along.”
“What did you get?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You were in there over an hour,” Malone said, his voice rising.
“And we still got nothing.”
“Hunter, the goddamn Mayor called me. He wants answers.”
“I can’t snap my fingers and miraculously produce him, now can I?”
“Have you read the paper?”
“I don’t read the paper, and you damn well know it.”
Sam was watching the exchange silently, as were the other detectives.
“We’re getting dragged through the mud, Hunter. Six dead.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I’ve been at the scene of every one of them,” Tori yelled. “I goddamn know every detail of their deaths. What do you want me to do?”
It was Sikes who intervened.
“Lieutenant Malone, Hunter-calm down. This is solving nothing. The Mayor can call all he wants, and the paper can write what they want, but we still have a job to do. Come on, guys.” He spread his arms, a charming smile on his face. “Let’s go over it all again and we’ll solve it like any other case.”
Sam hid a smile behind her hand. Oh, when had they turned into one big, happy family?
“I’m sorry, Hunter,” Malone finally said. “It’s just… the brass is coming down on me.”
“They’re coming down on you for appearance’s sake. But this is personal for us.”
“We’ll get the bastard, Lieutenant,” Sikes said. “If I have to stake out a damn men’s bar, I will.”
There was silence in the room as they all stared at Sikes. He looked around. “What?”
“You haven’t been calling those phone numbers that got shoved at you the other night, have you?”
“Very funny, Hunter.”
She laughed and walked up to him, playfully patting his cheek. “Thanks, John.”
He nearly blushed and Sam smiled, walking over to him, too. “Thank you for stepping in there,” she said quietly.
“Yeah. No problem.”
Malone stared at his detectives. For the first time ever, they seemed to be a unit. Even Adams. Damn, who would have thought? Then his eyes slid to Kennedy as she walked up to Hunter. He saw the brief caress as Samantha touched Tori’s back, watched as their eyes locked together.
“I’ll be damned,” he muttered. He cleared his throat. “Kennedy? A word?”
Sam looked at Malone and nodded, turning to meet Tori’s eyes for a second. She closed the door behind her.
“What’s up, Lieutenant?”
“Nothing. We haven’t visited in a while now. Just checking on you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Everything okay since… you know.”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine.”
“You’re sure you’re okay? I know Hunter’s been staying with you. That’s probably put a crimp in your personal life. Not that I’m prying, but I know you’ve got a boyfriend,” he said. “How’s he handling all this?”
Sam leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. Yes, how was Robert handling all of this? She took the easy way out. “He understands,” she said.
“So he’s okay with Tori staying with you?”
Sam looked at him. “What are you saying?”
“Well, it’s no secret that Tori’s… gay. I just, well, if it were me, I’m not sure how I would handle it,” he admitted. “Not that I think Tori would ever… you know.”
Sam smiled, then chuckled. It was all so comical. He was worried about Tori. He never once thought to be worried that Sam would be the one to cross over that line.
“Lieutenant, if you’re worried about Tori, please put your mind at ease. We’ve become friends.”
“Good… good. I had hoped that she might be able to let you in. She’s let so few people get close to her. None that I know of, in fact.” He leaned back and smiled. “What happened out there today, I never would have thought possible. Sikes taking up for Hunter. Wonders never cease.”
“I think John has warmed up to her.”
“Yes, you may be right.” Then he leaned forward. “But I think you’re responsible for that. Tori’s changed. She’s more human, if that’s a good word to use. You’ve been very good for her, Kennedy. I hope you can make this partnership last.”
“So do I, Lieutenant. So do I.”
“Are you okay?”
Tori nodded but kept her eyes on the traffic.
“Everyone’s a little stressed,” Sam said vaguely.
At this, Tori smiled. “You think?”
“I can’t believe Sikes. He surprised me.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean.”
“Tori, the Lieutenant didn’t mean anything. It’s not your fault.”
“I know, Sam. Like you said, everyone’s a little stressed out.”
Sam sat back in her seat, still watching Tori. Lines of worry were etched across her face and Sam knew that a small part of Tori did blame herself. Sam wondered how she would be handling this if Sam wasn’t around, if Sam hadn’t come into her life. Would she be sleeping at all? Or would she be up at all hours, only snatching a few hours each night on the cot in the locker room? The cot, most likely. And this case would eat at her until Tori either solved it or-broke.
“What are you thinking?”
Sam looked up, unaware she had been staring. She reached over and captured Tori’s hand. “I was thinking about you, actually.”
Tori squeezed her fingers, then pulled Sam’s hand into her lap. “I’m okay, Sam. Having you with me… it makes it… bearable.”
Sam nodded. “You never asked what Malone said to me.”
“Oh, yeah. What was that about?”
“He was just making sure I was okay. You know, with you staying with me and all.”
“Oh?”
“He was making sure that I knew you were gay and…”
“And making sure I was behaving myself?”
“Something like that.”
Tori smiled, but her mind was reeling. If Lieutenant Malone had any idea how far their relationship had escalated, he would put an end to their partnership immediately. And, of course, she understood the department’s rules. But of all the partners she’d had, she trusted Sam completely to watch her back. And not just because they had become lovers. Sam was smart, and she wouldn’t take unnecessary chances. There was no competition between them.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking we’ve got to be careful,” Tori said.
“Careful?”
“About us. I kinda like you as a partner. I’d hate to be paired up with Adams and if Malone finds out, that’s what’ll happen. Or worse, he’ll transfer you out.”
“Because we’re… lovers?”
“Yes.”
Sam considered this, then squeezed Tori’s hand. “I don’t want another partner.”
“Maybe I don’t need to stay with you tonight,” Tori said quietly. “I’m sure everyone’s already wondering about that anyway.”
But Sam shook her head. “If we have to take separate cars and both leave our cell phones by the bed, that’s fine. But I’m not going to just steal a few moments here and there, Tori. God, I hope that’s not what you want. I love having you in my bed. I love waking up with you,” she said quietly.
Tori glanced at her briefly as she pulled up to the old red-brick school. Richard Grayson’s former high school. She cut the engine, then sat silently staring ahead.
“I hate… I really hate having to hide this, Sam,” she whispered. “We’ve just got to be careful.”
“I can be careful.”
“Okay. Let’s just see what happens. You may be begging me to stay at my own apartment before long anyway.”
“You don’t really believe that?”
“I don’t want to believe that, no.”
“Because I…” Because I love you, she longed to say. “Because that will never happen, Tori.”
Tori sighed, then squeezed Sam’s hand one more time. “Come on. Let’s go see what we can dig up. Maybe there’s some juicy details in Grayson’s records.”
The bell sounded just as they opened the doors and students materialized in droves, all talking at once. They sidestepped the crowd, making their way to the offices. The noise was only slightly less deafening in there.
“May I help you?” the receptionist asked.
Tori held out her badge. “We’d like to speak to the principal, please.”
Sam checked her notes. “Mr. Dreyfus.” Then she smiled. “This is Detective Hunter. I’m Detective Kennedy. We just have some questions regarding a former student.”
“Is he expecting you?” she asked nervously.
“No.”
“Okay. Let me see if he’s available.”
She left and Tori rolled her eyes, glancing at Sam. “The badge always scares them.”
“Can you blame her? She’s not even eighteen.”
Tori paced while Sam waited patiently. She finally grabbed Tori’s arm on her fourth pass by the desk.
“Will you stop? You’re making me dizzy.”
“How long can it take to announce us? Jesus!”
The office door opened and they both looked up expectantly as a gray-haired man approached.
“Detectives, I’m Howard Dreyfus. What can I do for you?”
Sam stepped forward, shaking his hand and smiling. “We just have a few questions. May we go into your office?”
“Of course, of course. Right this way.”
They followed him inside, then Tori shut the door firmly behind her. “I’m Detective Hunter. This is Detective Kennedy. Homicide. We have a subpoena for the records of Richard L. Grayson. He would have graduated in…” She turned to Sam with eyebrows raised.
Sam smiled only slightly. She knew very well that Tori had all this information on the tip of her tongue, but she dutifully glanced to her notes.
“Two thousand and one.”
“Very well. If I may ask, what is this in regards to?”
“A homicide investigation.” Tori laid the subpoena on his desk and pulled out a chair. “We’re in a hurry,” she said pointedly.
“Of course.” He lifted his phone and waited. “Steph, please pull the records on Richard L. Grayson, class of two thousand and one.”
“Did you know him?” Sam asked when he hung up.
“I recognize the name.”
“A school this size, I’m surprised you remember the students that pass through here,” Tori said.
“Unfortunately, I tend to remember the very good students… and the most difficult.”
“And what can you tell us about Grayson?”
“I wouldn’t have called him a troublemaker, if that’s what you mean. He was far too quiet in class for that, and it’s not like he had a group that he hung out with. But he seldom did assignments, never participated in class. I still find it amazing that he was able to graduate. No, the incidents I remember him for were destructive. Little things at first, spray-painting the girls’ locker room, locking Mrs. Stephens in her lab with the snakes, switching the music at the school play, things like that.”
A quick knock on the door interrupted him and the receptionist, Steph, Tori presumed, walked in with a file.
“Thank you, Steph.” He glanced through it briefly before handing it to Tori. “Grayson? That was his mother who was killed the other day?”
“Yes.”
“I met her only once that I recall,” he said. “Richard had been suspended. He poisoned the aquarium in the science lab. She seemed genuinely concerned, not like some parents.”
“This was… his last year here?” Tori asked, flipping through the file.
“Yes.”
“Is there anyone that you know of-teachers, students-that might have kept in touch with him?”
He shook his head. “Like I said, he didn’t have a group that he hung out with. And the teachers, well, he wasn’t exactly a model student. Most were just glad to be rid of him.”
Tori and Sam exchanged glances, then Sam stood, reaching across the desk to shake hands again. “Thank you, Mr. Dreyfus. We appreciate your time.”
“No problem. If I can help in any way…”
Tori paused at the door, eyes still glued to the file. “Says here he poisoned the fish with something from the janitor’s closet. That’s how he was caught. A Mr. Guerrero turned him in.”
“Yes.”
“Is he still employed here? I think maybe we’d like to speak with him.”
“I’m sorry. Mr. Guerrero… was killed that very summer.”
“Killed?” They both turned back and took their seats again. “Murdered?”
“Yes. He was found here at the school.”
“What happened?” Sam asked.
“I’m surprised you don’t remember. It was quite gruesome, actually.”
“His head was cut off and he was left in the Dumpster,” Tori murmured, remembering the case. It had been Adams and Donaldson’s case, one they never solved.