A Date With Fate (40 page)

Ultimately, I take full responsibility for my own body. Having unprotected sex comes down to having complete faith in another human being. You are betting your health, and maybe your life, your partner is one hundred percent trustworthy and honest. Not only right then, but every time you have unprotected sex going forward in your relationship. Even if they are honest, they could have a disease and not know it. Anyway you look at it, I don’t like the odds.

Luke made the bad judgment call to enter me unprotected. He did so without my express permission, or even reassurances that I was safe. I should have stopped him. I was very troubled over his actions, and mine. I am actually extremely dismayed at the reality of exposure I was now subjected to from our risky behavior.

While it’s true I am safe, this seemed way out of character for a pragmatic man such as Luke to say he trusted me with no basis in fact. While I believe he is safe, having unquestioning faith that a man will never lie or cheat is not an attitude I will probably ever possess again. I’m okay with that.

My phone buzzed, surprising me out of my brooding reverie.

Picking it up, I read Crookie’s name on the screen.

“Morning, Crook.”

“Anabel, can you talk?

His tone of voice had me sitting up straight. “Sure. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am, but Cheryl’s body was found last night. She is dead. She was murdered.”

“Holy Buckets…Murdered! Oh, Crookie, my god, I’m sorry!”

“I know. Thank you. I was leaving to go work out and the police pulled up. They informed me of the news she had been found and was dead. They did not have any answers to most of my questions.” He cleared his throat. “The Edina cop I mentioned married to my friend at work? He is going to be calling me sometime this morning with more details. At this time, I only know she was found in her car in an abandoned barn somewhere outside Northfield by two teenagers. She must have been dead for some time because I do not have to identify her body, or whatever the police procedures would be in the situation of a,” he paused, looking for the right words, “recognizable corpse.”

“Ah man, how awful it must have been for those poor kids that found her body. Crookie, I’m shell-shocked here. I mean, I know she’s been gone two months, but I only found out yesterday about your married life with her. Now, she’s dead. Murdered! It’s one thing to talk about it, but the reality is…” I trailed off. Seeing a positive light in the gruesome news I asked, “Since your cop friend is willing to share details, does this mean they don’t think you’re a suspect?”

“It was nothing really, but a few months back I helped this couple out of a personal bind they were dealing with. We all became friends.” I smiled at his humble attitude in describing what I knew from first-hand experience is his kind, generous spirit. Crookie is a good friend to have in your corner. “Even so, I would not expect him to tell me anything if I was under suspicion for murder. My friend implied they did not consider me a suspect, but I do not have any information why that is true. I was with many people that entire Saturday and Sunday after I saw Cheryl last, so maybe they somehow have established a time of death for Cheryl that lets me off the hook. I think I told you yesterday the locksmith was over early on that Saturday, and then I was at Ecolab.” Crookie’s voice turned contemplative. “Although, I am curious what proof exists to indicate she died that day, or that weekend. That was the only weekend I gave the police a detailed alibi for my whereabouts when I reported her missing. I had gone over the details so many times in my head when wondering where she was initially, it was easy to recall times and dates of where I was and what I was doing. I cannot believe they have had time to perform an autopsy and report the findings this fast. Can I call you back after he contacts me with more details?”

“Sure. Should I say anything yet to Anna or my family about Cheryl’s murder, or would you prefer I keep quiet?”

“It is okay to tell them of her murder now. As far as any details learned from my friend later, I will have to let you know. I would not want him to have any repercussions on the job for confiding in me. Umm, Anabel, do you still want me to come over later?” Crookie sounded tentative and lost. He’s another only child, and has no family close by. I know how the shock of death makes you want to be with people who care. You may not want to talk, but you want the warmth and the reassurance of normalness.

“Yes, I absolutely insist you come here. I’ll be holed up at home all day, so please come down whenever you’re ready.”

Crookie didn’t pretend not to sound relieved and eager. “Thank you, I will then.”

I thought quickly for a second and then suggested, “If you’d like, why don’t you pack a bag and stay with me for a couple of days? I have a guest bedroom with your name on it. We’ll be helping each other out like in the old days.”

Crookie jumped at the idea. “If you are sure, I would be really happy to stay. I have been dreading the thought of doing this alone with no moral support. I will be taking off several days from work to deal with all the formalities, the funeral and whatever. Since there was no divorce, I am legally next of kin. I will have to call Tina next and meet with her this week in Northfield.” He groaned. “Anabel, this is surreal. Cheryl is dead.”

“I know, and I can hardly believe it. I’m trying real hard to not be a hypocrite here, but we never seriously wanted her dead, just gone from your life.” An anxious feeling was stirring in my guts again. There were now two murderous people out there running around connected to my life. Surreal was right. Sunday morning was going downhill fast. “I don’t mean right this minute, but are you going to be okay, Crooks?”

“You know, I think I am.” He replied slowly in his thoughtful, serious manner. “Yesterday, when you said the Cheryl that I fell in love with never actually existed, you were so correct. I think I always knew this at some level. I no longer loved her, but I never wished her harm.” Crookie blew out a deep breath. “Once the anger dissipated over all the lies, pity was all I had. Don’t you agree it must have been terrible for her going through life endlessly using people to fill such a bottomless void inside?” I murmured something noncommittal in agreement. “She was a broken human being, Bel, and I cannot hate her for that. She probably only desperately wanted to be loved, just like the rest of us. But, man, she was so wrong how she did it.” Crookie laughed ruefully. “The thought of the publicity I can now expect due to Cheryl’s sexual proclivities because of her murder fills me with anxiety. I have hives, Bel.”

I exclaimed in sincere, laughing sympathy over the hives. “Try not to stress over things out of your control. It might not have anything to do with a man, or an affair. It’s possible she was the victim of a random act of violence by a stranger.” I offered up this up not really believing it myself, but you never know. “You sound like you have your shit together, Crookie, and you’re a generous man. I’m glad for you. Cheryl was a pathetic woman, and what a terrible epitaph that is to sum up a life. No matter what happens, you can count on me to help you any way I can.”

“That means a lot, thank you. Wait a minute, Bel, explain how my staying over is helping you out?”

I laughed a little at my forgetfulness. It was becoming harder to keep track of who knew what about all the events happening in the last day. “Oh yeah, I guess you haven’t heard the latest. Before you decide to stay, you should know a serial rapist tried to kill me and the girls last night. He’s still on the loose. If that makes you too nervous to come here, I’ll understand.”

Crookie exclaimed incredulously, “What? A serial rapist! I received your text about your employee’s ex-husband, but there was
more
?”

“Yep, it was the ex-husband’s jail partner. He tried to run us off the highway last night. I guess I pissed him off. Imagine that, huh?”

He demanded, “He tried to kill you all and he is still on the loose? How did you get away?”

I recapped the bare bones details of last evening to catch Crookie up on events.

He was furious over our narrow escape and adamant he was coming down. “Thanks for the warning, but it does sound like I definitely would be helping you out by staying. We will be each other’s keepers.” He added dejectedly, “Although, I should be nervous. The way my life has been going, if anyone ends up getting raped and killed by this man I am sure it will be me.”

I tried to stifle my giggles at this image, but Crookie wasn’t fooled. He protested he was a seriously depressed man at this moment and his luck had been totally crappy. I promised him The Hammer would have to get through me to get near his bum.

I shoved Luke’s teasing, taunting envelope into my purse while I thought about Cheryl Crookston. After all my joking with the girls yesterday, somebody really had murdered her. I know she was terrible, but who would hate her enough to actually commit murder? Possibly it was someone I knew in Northfield; another unbelievably weird thought.

So that’s what Jack’s emergency call had been about last night when he took off abruptly from following our car. It gave new meaning to his very thick blue line between police and civilians.

I sighed, dispirited with Jack’s insistence on keeping me out of the loop. This was getting ridiculous. I truly got the cop angle, but it wasn’t only me being a civilian that caused his attitude. I was also a female; his little Angel, no less. Chief Jack’s male chauvinism was alive and well. It was deeply ingrained, not only from his generation and upbringing, but from the natural inclinations of his personality type. I could usually blow it off and laugh, he didn’t really affect me. This weekend, whatever his reasons, his issues were proving to be a major pain in my rectum.

Reggie swung around the corner carrying a long shotgun case in one hand, and a smaller, padded case that held his handguns in the other.

“I’m bringing three weapons total--a Ruger for you, my .357 and my 12 gauge shotgun. You’ll have the varmint gun if anything happens, but you can’t get into any trouble with the law in the mean…Whoa! What’s wrong?”

I stood and faced my brother. On a hunch, I pointed to my cell. “I heard the news about Cheryl Crookston.” Choosing my words carefully I added, “Not that Jack gave me any real information, I only know that she was found dead.”

When I saw the fleeting look of comprehension pass over Reg’s face before he glanced down to set the gun bags on the table, I knew my hunch was right. He had heard the news about Cheryl.

It’s demeaning to be protected and patronized because of my gender. It’s worse to realize I’m never going to change Jack’s view point. Possibly a female police officer would be allowed into the inner sanctum boys club, but even that was doubtful if he has a choice. It was bitterly ironic a possible suspect like my brother gets the courtesy of a heads-up because he is the male in my family, but not me. Then the idiocy of Jack’s logic tickled my bizarre sense of humor, despite my disgust.

Reggie was busying himself loading .22 caliber bullets into two magazines for the Ruger. This also allowed him not have to look me in the eye.

I laughed. “What the hell, Reg. Why wasn’t I told when it’s obvious you’ve heard of her death?”

Reggie held his hands up in mollification. “It’s not my fault. I wanted to tell you. Luke told me Jack called not long after you got here last night. They thought you’d dealt with enough crap yesterday. Luke told me I couldn’t talk about it. Besides, I don’t know any details other than she was found murdered in a barn in her car. That’s it, Bel.”

I stood motionless. It
had
been Jack’s voice I overheard on Luke’s phone when we were in the hallway last night.

Talking more to myself, I repeated quietly, “Luke thought I shouldn’t know, too, huh.” I regarded my brother. “Murdered how?”

Innocent eyes the color of a clear, summer sky opened wide and Reggie shook his head emphatically. “Truly, I know nothing more.”

I laughed shortly. “Come on, let’s go.”

Reggie slapped a full clip into the Ruger and put it back in the bag, along with the spare magazine and bullets. He kept his loaded .357 out for the drive. He grabbed all the gear and followed me at a trot to his truck. I slipped on my sunglasses while he hurried to tell me what went down.

“When you girls went into the living room last night, Luke told me about Cheryl. Jack wanted him to fill me in on the news. I was under the impression Luke and Jack decided none of us should say anything to you since you’d been through a rough day, what with Larissa’s ex and the van man.”

Now I wanted to maim someone. Preferably a man named Luke Drake. Jack being Jack was one thing. Luke being Jack was another. I silently climbed into the truck after Reggie clicked open the door locks. He handed me the handgun bag, but placed the shotgun case in the back.

Luke had looked me in the eyes after Jack’s call and not said anything. He may not know of my friendship with Crookie, or all the pertinent details of my involvement, but he knew enough to agree to keep it from me. The tired, little woman was strong enough to get her head bounced off a wall as he virtually did everything but screw me against it, but couldn’t be trusted with the news of Cheryl Crookston’s death due to her rough day? When and why did Jack and Luke exchange cell numbers and start their let’s-protect-Anabel-from-herself bromance?

I drummed my fingers on the console between our seats.

This over protective behavior had to go. Jack and Luke teaming up was not a positive development, it was a catastrophe. Chief Jack was a terrible influence on a man like Luke. I was having a hard enough time getting Luke to jump through hoops, and now Mr. Man from LaMacho was coaching him? They must not be allowed to play together.

Reg ventured, “Luke seemed to know the whole story about Crookie and Cheryl, but I’m guessing it wasn’t you who told him, eh?”

I shrugged dismissively in answer. That tidbit only made it worse Luke didn’t tell me about Cheryl. I continued looking out my passenger window. I was thinking of my own plans as Reggie went on talking to himself.

“It must have been Jack who filled him in.”