No Ordinary Killer (2 page)

CHAPTER TWO

“Good lord! I don’t know how to answer that, Kari. I
can’t believe anyone would blame me for the actions of someone else.” Megan
swallowed hard … it felt like she had a mouth full of cotton balls.

“I would think you’d feel some remorse or
responsibility. I mean, think about it. You wrote all those scenes with such
detail. You were brutal and honest. Now someone has lost their life because of
it.”

“No! Not because of my book. I didn’t make anyone read
it. I’m only responsible for my actions. You are—“

“Isn’t the man serving liquor in a bar responsible for
the actions of the drinker?”

“That isn’t the same thing and you know it.” A hot
flash of color raced up Meg’s neck and across her cheeks. It burned a blazing
trail of guilt. She resented Kari’s accusatory gaze.

“I don’t know, audience. Should we voice our opinion?
Those who think Ms. Reynolds should feel some responsibility for her book
inciting this … what …
how to commit
murder
… stand up and clap your hands.”

Meg glanced around the nearly entire standing,
clapping audience. Anger filled her. She’d get even with Kari Winslow. “I
didn’t say I felt no empathy or remorse, I just said I wasn’t responsible for a
killer’s actions.”

“Okay, please sit down everyone. Thank you for your
support. Now, Ms. Reynolds, I realize you didn’t put the knife in the killer’s
hand, but you did give him a blueprint for murder.”

“Nonsense. Reading about a murder doesn’t show a
crazed person how to kill … any more than watching a talk show host with
silicone breasts explains how we can be more … ample.” Megan snickered with the
abundant of laughter from the crowd. Encouraged, she added, “Or, when hearing
or reading about how we can instantly be wealthy by marrying older men for their
money … just before they die … doesn’t tell us how we can all run out and find
a rich old codger to marry us.”

 
“You, Ms.
Reynolds, have gone too far. I don’t have to justify my breasts to you … and
for your information, I loved Harry.”

“I’m sure you did. But that’s my point.”

“What’s your point?”

“You don’t like my
accusations any more than I like yours. I’m responsible for me, and you’re
responsible for you. I’m not responsible for a killer out there because I wrote
about murder. People write about murder all the time.”

“You, Ms.
Reynolds, should consider the feelings of the parents of the sixteen-year-old
that was murdered. You should wonder if you hadn’t described the crime scene
with such detail, would this young life have been spared.”

The explosion of applause caused Megan immediate
concern. When had she lost the audience’s approval? “You, Ms. Winslow, have no
right to place this burden on me.”

“Perhaps you’re right. If I recall, there are three
murders described in
Malicious Intent
.
For your sake, I … and I’m sure all our listeners out there … pray that the
killer doesn’t use your book as a blueprint for murder and strike again.”

As the audience applauded Kari’s exaggerated comment,
Megan found herself rendered speechless. She’d underestimated Kari’s popularity
and loyalty of her followers. “I … had a best seller for ten weeks. The public
has voiced its approval.” The audience stood and clapped their resounding
approval and loud support.

“That might change in the next ten weeks.” The
audience sat and quieted down. Kari smiled and added, “We’ll just have to wait
and see. That’s all the time we have for today, my friends. I’d like to thank
my guest, Megan Reynolds, author of
Malicious
Intent
. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of her controversial book on
murder.”

Meg smiled, seething beneath her demure. The bitch
would pay.

“I hope to see you here tomorrow when we welcome
Detective Cooper Reynolds, ex-husband of today’s guest. I look forward to
exploring the truth as he sees it.”

Meg stared at Kari, shocked and speechless.

“This handsome detective just might have his badge on
the line. We’ll hear his reaction to
Malicious
Intent
and how it has affected his life.”

Meg continued to stare at Kari, anger and disbelief
suffocated her. Would Cooper really appear on a talk-show … and expose … what?
She couldn’t allow him to deface and ruin her success. She’d stop him. She
didn’t know how, but she’d make sure Cooper Reynolds did not make that
appearance.

* * *

With Josh on his heels, Cooper headed straight for his
desk. The stares and interest of most everyone in the room didn’t escape him.
No one asked, and he wasn’t about to offer an explanation until he had to.

“Reynolds, Arnott, in here right now!”

Cooper gave Josh a conspiratorial look and headed
straight for Captain Gulchinski’s office. He was loud, but usually a fair man.

“Boys, meet Internal Affairs team, Bicsak and Dallas
Fortune. This here is Cooper Reynolds and his partner Josh Arnott.”

They didn’t offer to shake hands. Josh sat and
teetered a chair back until it rested against the wall. Cooper flipped his
chair around and straddled it, facing the standing group. “What can we do for
you?” He wondered if they were going to suspend him pending their
investigation. If they did, he hoped to God it wasn’t without pay. “I’m
assuming this has something to do with my ex-wife’s piece of shit novel.”

“Well put, Reynolds.” Captain Gulchinski sat and
leaned back, stretching the black leather. “IA is here to look into the
sensitive nature of the—“

“Cut the bullshit,” Bicsak said, dropping an envelope
on Captain Gulchinski’s desk. “We have reason to believe you shared several
case files with your wife, Reynolds. We are pursuing the matter.”

“I didn’t share shit with my ex-wife.”

“It’s impossible that Megan Reynolds used her
imagination and just happened to have described three murder scenes damn nearly
to perfection. Nobody here is stupid.”

“Facts don’t lie and you should know that better than
anyone.” Fortune’s stare encompassed them both.

Cooper clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his temper
in-check.

“Not all of us believe you would be foolish enough to
have shared confidential case files with your wife … ex-wife.” Bicsak pulled
his fingers through his silver hair and walked across the room. “And although
taking case files home is frowned on by many agencies, it’s not uncommon. Your
captain here has confirmed you did this regularly.”

“Keep in mind, your success rate hasn’t escaped us,
Reynolds. You and Arnott are one of this precinct’s best teams. We get it, and
hope for your sake we can clear this up without any embarrassment to the
department. You’re too good a cop to lose.” Fortune jotted a comment in her
notebook.

Cooper nearly laughed at the switching back-and-forth
comments of the IA team. Who did they really think they were fooling? “Thank
you,” Cooper forced down the need to be sarcastic. “I realize this
investigation involves me, but I don’t understand why you called Josh in here.”

“He’s your partner,” Fortune leaned forward. “Partners
rarely hold any kind of information from each other.”

“Meaning?” Cooper asked.

“Meaning, if you’re found guilty, maybe Arnott is
guilty, too.”

“Just one damn minute here. I resent the assumption
Cooper is guilty before you even start the investigation. It’s bullshit. And,
I’ll be damned if I’ll sit back here and listen while you two yahoos turn those
accusations at me. You IA bast—“

“Josh, let them investigate. I’m telling you right
now, it’s going to be a relief when you prove that bitch is a snake in the
grass. Investigate – the media will eat it up and her ratings or whatever the
hell you call them will drop like the stock market.”

“You have an ax to grind with your ex-wife, Reynolds?”

“Hell, what man doesn’t have an ax to grind with an
ex-wife?” It seemed even the IA team laughed at his comment. Cooper released a
deep breath and shook his head. “She’s a piece of work, but you’ll find that
out for yourself. I don’t know where she got her information. You can be sure
of one thing, not once did I discuss or allow her to view, read, or look-over
any of my case files.”

“We’ll see about that,” Fortune snapped her notebook
shut and zipped it closed.

“Until you have proof, you can stay out of our way,”
Josh headed for the door. “Coming, Reynolds?”

“We’d like to be put on the LeAnn Haffer investigation
team,” Cooper said, looking over at Captain Gulchinski. “We were lead on the
original case and know more about it than anyone. Clarence Stevenson is
familiar with us and he may have some insight.”

“You don’t have to sell me, boys. You both were
requested for the team and I’ve already assigned you.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Bicsak pulled
on his overcoat. “Conflict of interest and all that.”

“Art, I’ll run my department and you run yours.”
Gulchinski rose with impending authority. “Reynolds and Arnott are on this
investigation until you can prove why they shouldn’t be. Do I make myself
clear?”

Cooper didn’t miss the underlying dislike between the
men. They no doubt had a history. “Thanks, Captain.” He glanced at Dallas
Fortune and found her smile unsettling. “Don’t take too long in proving my
innocence.” Cooper reached the door, then turned back and added, “Just so you
can say I warned you … Megan Reynolds has claws … very sharp claws.”

CHAPTER THREE

Megan dialed Cooper’s number for the umpteenth time.
It rang … and rang … before turning over to the answering machine. She jammed a
long, acrylic nail into the END button … again.

She scrolled through her contacts and pressed the
number. Drumming her fingertips on the backside of the phone, her patience
edged anger.

“Great Falls Police Department, is this an emergency?”

“Um, I want to talk to Detective Cooper Reynolds.”

“One moment while I transfer you.”

Megan waited, unsure what she’d say to him. No doubt
he hated her more than ever. She hadn’t faced him since her book came out. Her
book! A twinge of uneasiness washed over her. She shook it off. She owed him
nothing. He’d asked for the divorce, not her. She was willing to give their
marriage another try. So … she had an affair. Big deal. It meant nothing and
she told him it was over before he found out. Of course that wasn’t exactly the
truth. She swallowed.

 
“Officer Oats,
may I help you?”

“I … need to speak with Officer Reynolds.”

“He’s tied up right now. Wait, it looks like he’s out
of his meeting. Who is calling?”

“His ex-wife,” she answered, without thinking.

“Hey Reynolds, your ex is on the phone … line one.”

“Tell her not to call me here.”

Megan heard his comment and drew in a long, annoyed
breath. “Tell him it’s urgent.”

“She says it’s urgent.”

“Urgent my ass,” he shouted, reaching for the nearest
phone. “What do you want?”

“You don’t have to sound so angry.” She struggled to
sound soft and sweet.

“If it’s not about Tina or Tucker, I don’t give a
shit.”

“Coop, we need to talk. I know you’re angry with me,
but we have to put our differences aside, at least until this murder thing
passes.”

“Murder thing passes! Shit, Megan, you can’t be
serious. It’s not possible to put our differences aside. I don’t give a fuck
how much deep water you’re in. Fact is, LeAnn Haffer was hideously murdered,
and it’s your fault.”

“Don’t you dare blame me for that, Cooper Reynolds. I
can’t take it.” She dragged out a pitiful sob, then added, “I never meant for
this to happen….” She paused to include a few sniffles, “I … can’t we meet for
dinner and talk? I know you’re angry with—“

“Angry? Shit, Megan, I’m beyond angry. There’s a fine
line between love and hate … and woman, if it wasn’t a crime, I’d kill you
myself.”

“I don’t blame you, Coop. I truly don’t. But, you must
understand that I did it for the twins.”

“What? Did you say you did it for the twins? You stole
everything I shared with you about writing a book, and you wrote it from under
me. You claimed the story idea and now you’re eating up the limelight and the
money. Tell me exactly how I’m supposed to believe you did this for the twins?
I’m just dying to hear this one!”

 
Megan took a
deep breath, her mind reeling ahead, struggling to think of a way to convince
Cooper to meet with her. “Coop, I needed to find a way to support them. To give
them the kind of life they deserve. I didn’t think writing this book would be
so awful. I mean, you have hundreds of cases you can draw on for your books. I
just used three of them.”

“Just used three? And where the hell did you get the
information for those three, Megan? Who is your source because both you and I
know it’s not me. Don’t begin to tell me—“

“Let’s not argue on the phone, Coop. Let’s meet and
talk.”

“Talk about what, Megan? I have nothing to say to you.”

“But … but, I … what will you say on Kari Winslow’s
talk show tomorrow?

“What the shit are you talking about?”

“You know. Don’t try and deny it. You can’t because
Kari announced you are her guest tomorrow. I know because I was there on the
show, so don’t lie to me. I just want to know what you’re going to say. I mean
… what … well, I … don’t ruin this for me, Coop. I’ve worked too hard to get
here and—“

“You’re quite the number, aren’t you? I owe you no
explanations. It seems you have good reasons to worry what I might have to say
about your book. I’d be worried if I were you, too.”

A dial tone was all that remained of their
conversation. She stared at the phone, uneasiness filled her. What would Coop
say? Maybe she should stop by his apartment and talk to him face-to-face. Could
she convince him to keep quiet?

* * *

For the first time during the conversation, Cooper
looked up. The entire department was staring back at him. “Ex-wives are a pain
in the ass.” Several laughed and even more clapped their hands. They had no
idea how much their support meant to him. This could have happened to any one
of them. They all understood how hard this job was on a relationship and
especially on a marriage.

“Josh, you know anything about my being a guest on the
Kari Winslow show?”

“Hey, I heard that,” Oats interrupted. “My wife gave
me a call about an hour ago and said Kari announced you were her guest
tomorrow. I nearly shit my pants. You have a stack of messages on your desk,
and I noticed most of them are from Kari Winslow. Are you going to do it?”

“Megan called all worried about what I was going to
say. That was the first I heard of it.”

“I can just imagine what IA would have to say about
you appearing on national TV.” Josh sat at his desk and propped his feet up.

“What right do they have in telling me I can’t?”

“I’d do it just to crank their tractor.” Oats headed
for the coffee pot.

“I don’t know if it’s such a good idea,” Josh picked
up Cooper’s stack of messages. “It could backfire. That Winslow broad is a
tricky lady. She could get you admitting you’d walked on the moon without your
realizing it.”

“I can handle myself. I’ve had plenty of practice
dealing with a manipulative woman. Maybe I ought to give Miss Winslow a call
back after all. This could prove to be interesting.” He snatched the messages
out of Josh’s hand and headed for a phone.