Spirited 1 (10 page)

“Fine.” The captain nodded, then pulled a handkerchief out of his desk drawer and mopped the sweat from his head. “Jones, share your findings from the scene.”

Jones nodded. “The body of a woman aged twenty to twenty-five was found in a Dumpster. Body was in full rigor when discovered. Marks on the neck indicate the cause of death was likely manual strangulation. As you already know, the TOD was between three and seven this morning. Still waiting further findings from the ME to confirm cause of death. Body was found without identification.”

“Physical description? Distinguishing marks?” Peterson asked tossing aside the damp cloth and jotting notes onto a pad on his desk.

Jones continued. “Distinguishing mark was a single tattoo on her lower back near her spine: a green snake wrapped around three red roses. At first glance, the woman appeared to be a brunette. However, when the body was moved, the wig fell off. The vic had shoulder-length blonde hair. She was five-seven. Eye color brown.”

“Have you run her description against the list of missing persons’ cases?”

“Yes. No match. We do know one thing.” Jones paused then added, “She’s a physical match for one of the robbers in the Diamond Gang.”

Captain Peterson tapped his pen against his lower lip. “English, give me your report again from when you arrived on the scene.”

Seth recounted his experiences again. Despite knowing each word moved him closer to losing his case, he answered respectfully. The captain nodded and held a hand up to silence the group as he wrote notes.

Seth’s mind raced. He needed to find a way to keep this case. This was his ticket out. Without it, he would probably have to wait another year or more before being offered another opportunity to take the sergeant’s exam.

“Captain.” Seth waited for Peterson to look at him. “I know this complicates matters, but I believe that Jones and I should have first crack at the murder. It’s tied to our burglaries. I have a meeting scheduled for later today with someone who claims to have inside knowledge of the heists. We’re close to solving the burglaries. I’m positive this murder is tied to it. Just give us a week. We’ll have the burglaries wrapped up and bring in your killer.”

Reynolds bounced in his seat. His ruddy complexion darkened as he narrowed his eyes at Seth. His focus quickly shifted, as did his expression. He turned to the captain and plastered his best bootlicking grin on his face.

“With all due respect to my former
partner
 . . .” Reynolds nodded at Seth. “This is now a homicide investigation. If English and Jones want to continue working the burglary part, that’s fine. But homicide is our division. We don’t need amateurs screwing up
our
case any further.”

“Sir.” Seth sucked in air between his teeth in an effort to reign in his mounting irritation. “We were on the scene. We’ve gone over every single detail of the burglaries and we know this body is one of our suspects. We need time to solve the case.”

The captain tossed his pen onto the desk then laced his fingers together over his portly belly. “Reynolds, you and O’Dell want the murder?”

“Yes,” Reynolds and O’Dell replied in stereo.

“But you’d be willing to give English and Jones here full access to the crime scene so they could continue their investigation into the burglaries?” the captain asked in an almost bored tone.

“As soon as we’re finished wrapping up the murder scene this morning, they can have at it,” Reynolds answered emphatically.

“Hmmm . . .” Captain Peterson picked up his pen again and resumed tapping.

Seth wanted to argue, but he’d already pleaded his case. If Peterson didn’t give him the case, he’d just have to work it himself. He’d solve it before his brown-nosing ex-partners. Nothing was going to interfere with him taking the sergeant’s exam.

After all, he’d started this case. He would finish it.

Before them.

Now he just needed to get Jones on board. He glanced over at his partner. Determination blazed in Jones’s eyes and then he gave a curt nod.

No mistaking the fire there.

He and Jones were on the same page.

Seth’s heart rate slowed. He hadn’t even noticed it had been racing until the pace decreased. Hope had his temper cooling. He glanced back at his captain.

“Well, in that case,” Peterson said, “I’ve made a decision. Jones and English have one week to solve the murder and the burglaries.”

Seth barely stifled his satisfied grin.

“But, Captain!” Reynolds began to argue.

Peterson held his left hand palm out to silence the outburst. “Not up for discussion. You two are already working five other cases. We’re going to give English and Jones a crack at this.”

Captain Peterson pointed a finger at Seth then swung it back and forth between him and Jones. “One week. That’s it. Solve the murder, recover the diamonds, and bring in the thieves.”

Or else.
He didn’t say it, but the words etched themselves on Seth’s soul anyway.

CHAPTER 5

“A
NEW TWIST
in
the Diamond Gang robberies. A body was discovered in a Dumpster this morning by a worker of this store.” The newscaster waved to the façade of April’s Flowers before the camera zoomed back to her. “The police haven’t released the name of the worker, but News Channel Five has learned—”

His iPhone rang, cutting out the live news feed. The screen darkened briefly. “Blocked” appeared in bold white letters on a black background.

Glancing around, he assured himself of privacy, then answered in an undertone, “What do you want?”

“Did you see the news? The body . . . it’s Aimee-Lynn, isn’t it?”

Say her name louder, you asshole. Maybe someone will hear and nail us for this.

“Yes,” he hissed, then winced as the fool cursed in an octave unnatural for a grown man.

As much as he wanted to tell the imbecile to get over it—she got what she deserved—he couldn’t. He needed the man’s help a little longer.

“We have another problem. They knew each other. How else would shop girl have found
her
?” He didn’t dare say Aimee-Lynn’s name. He wasn’t alone and couldn’t risk someone overhearing him mentioning it. He lowered his voice to barely a whisper, “Word is
she
had shop girl’s cell. How’d she get it?”

“I don’t know.” His partner paused, then asked, “You think Aimee-Lynn told the flower shop girl about the gems?”

“Perhaps,” he replied. “Or gave them to her. Either way, the new girl might be our best lead.”

Two people strode toward him. He bowed his head and stepped out of their way. Moving away from the crowd toward the shadows, he added, “Follow her and find them. Before I have to do something else you’ll regret.”

 • • • 

“Y
OU DON’T NEED
to come back in today, Juliana.” April’s voice sounded strained through the receiver. “I’m heading out with Ernie. We’ll be gone most of the afternoon. Diana’s running the store. The locksmith just left April’s Flowers. The super is out of town until Wednesday. I left a message but he said he’d change the locks when he returned. Cheap jerk won’t pay for a locksmith and threatened to charge us if we changed it ourselves. Just keep my apartment key since I won’t need it in Florida. Tonight, I’ll give you a copy of one of the new shop keys. Don’t feel obligated to come back right now. I want you to take care of yourself and rest.”

“I’m fine really.” Jules hated to hear the worry in April’s tone. “A shower and a nap were all I needed. I feel much better. Besides, I promised I’d review the upcoming bookings before you left.”

“We can do that tomorrow.” April paused, then added, “Or I can always put off the trip by a day or two.”

“No, don’t do that.” Jules shook her head even though no one could see her. Grabbing a brush, she ran it through her hair with one hand while holding the cordless telephone with the other. “I’m coming in. Leave my key with Diana and I’ll get it from her. Trust me, I’m rested. I’ll review the bookings this afternoon and be ready to talk to you tonight if need be. You don’t need to postpone your trip. Tell Diana I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Bye.”

She hung up the phone. She’d already lost half the day. After her little Technicolor show on Seth’s trousers, she’d allowed him to drive her home. At least he hadn’t tried to question her. In truth, the four-block drive had been quick and loud. His little car clanged and moaned, making it next to impossible to carry on a conversation with the windows down.

And they needed to be open. Between her garbage-encrusted clothes and his vomit-laden pants, only someone born without a sense of smell could have handled the stench.

Wonder if he’ll ever get that stink out of his car?

She winced and focused on getting to work. She locked the apartment with keys April had loaned her after the Dumpster disaster and slipped them into her front pocket before hurrying down the apartment stairs. She’d barely opened the building’s front door when she sensed she wasn’t alone. Her back stiffened and a prickly awareness skated down her arms.

She froze in place and glanced around, expecting a ghost.

“Headed somewhere?” Officer Chaz Gareth called out. He leaned against the wall of her building with his arms folded over his chest.

The tension melted away at the sight of a living person. She gave him a weak smile. “Yeah, back to work. Sorry about earlier.”

“Hey, at least you didn’t ralph on me.” He pushed away from the building and gestured to his police cruiser parked across the street. “Come on, I’ll drive you back.”

An alarm gonged in her chest and she sucked in a breath. It wasn’t his fault that he drove a police cruiser. Or that she’d had one ride too many in them to welcome another. But she couldn’t think of a way out of it. “I-I’m headed back to work.”

“I know that,” he replied with a chuckle. “That’s where I was offering to take you. That’s not a problem, is it?”

“No. That’s great.” She smiled and hoped it didn’t look too plastic. “A ride to work would help. Thanks.”

She followed him over and climbed in. As soon as she buckled up, he pulled onto the road so fast, she clutched at the dash for support.

He laughed. “Don’t worry. This baby can do ninety and still turn on a dime.”

Not something I really want to see.
“Are you going to interview me now?”

“Nah, that’s for the detectives to do. I’m just helping a damsel in distress.”

“Okay.” She chuckled. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

“All that work, and you didn’t even get it,” he said as they jerked to a stop at an intersection.

“Didn’t get what?” she asked, bracing both hands against the dashboard. She was sure she’d leave fingerprints in the vinyl.

“Your cell. They confiscated your phone as evidence after they found that body.” He stepped on the gas.

She slammed backward into the seat and her hands fell limply into her lap. “Oh.”

They traveled a few hundred feet before Chaz whipped the steering wheel to the right and brought the car to a jerking halt in front of April’s Flowers.

“We’re here, milady.” He waved toward the shop.

“Thanks for the lift.” Not that she ever planned to let him drive her anywhere ever again.

Opening the door, she stepped one foot out when Officer Gareth grabbed her arm. “Next time, leave the Dumpster diving to the professionals. Have a nice day.” He winked.

She hopped out of the cruiser and closed the door. The car zoomed away almost before she’d released the handle. Standing on the curb in front of April’s Flowers, she watched him zip around a corner and out of sight.

“Jules?”

She turned to find Mason Hart sauntering up the sidewalk.

Not him again.

She thought she’d gotten rid of him when she’d blocked him from copping a feel at the Pimp and Ho party last night. Apparently not.

Although nine years had passed since they first met, he looked very much the same. Just older. And more attractive. Something he no doubt still used to his advantage.

In college they had been complete opposites with nothing in common other than they both wanted an A in chemistry class. As a geeky horticulture major with a bad haircut and no figure to speak of, she held little attraction for the quarterback of the football team. But somehow they’d been friends. At least until she met Billy in her senior year.

Last night at the reunion, however, dressed in her FM boots and her killer bustier, she’d had an up-close-and-personal run-in with her old friend. And it had been more than friendly.

Embarrassment scorched her cheeks at the memory. “You’re right. Let’s do it. Let’s do it now. Tonight,” he whispered into her ear just before his lips closed over her right earlobe. She yelped in surprise and spun around to face him. It was hard to tell in the dark who looked more shocked, her or him.

Now he was outside April’s Flowers.
Man, it feels like God has it in for me today.

“Mason, what are you doing here?” She tried to ask the question brightly but her voice sounded high-pitched to her own ears.

“I’m ordering flowers.” He opened his mouth and closed it again. “What are you doing here?”