Detective Partners (3 page)

"Garcia found a strand of hair that doesn't match the female," Galen told them. "It could belong to the killer."

Dr. Cain nodded. "I need to make a phone call. If either of you have any more questions I'll be here a little while longer."

"Thanks, doc," Nicole said.

"You're welcome." She moved away from the bed.

"What did you learn from Travers?" Galen asked.

"The neighbor, Mary Henson stepped outside to get the newspaper and noticed the front door was wide open." Nicole covered the bodies with the sheet. "She thought it was odd seeing as how it was cold outside. She came over to check on the owner and found them. Victims names are Jim Chappell and Candace Green."

Galen checked his watch. "Are you done here? I thought we might question the neighbor lady."

Nicole peeled off her gloves. "Let's go."

After talking with Officer Travers one last time, Nicole and Galen left the victims house and crossed the street to Mary Henson's house. Galen led the way up the steps and rang the doorbell. Nicole stuck her hands in her pockets to warm them and tried to think of something to say to him. Nothing came to mind. She stared at his back. Just then, the door opened. A young woman looked at them quizzically.

"Ms. Henson," Galen said, showing her his badge and ID. "I'm Detective Galen Maxwell and this is Detective Nicole Goodwin. May we ask you some questions regarding the recent deaths of your neighbors?"

Mary moved aside. "Come in."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"We'll try not to take up too much of your time," Nicole said as she and Galen stepped inside.

"I don't have any plans." Mary shut the door and turned toward them. "Would either of you like something to drink? I just made a fresh pot of coffee."

"No, thank you," Galen muttered.

"Thank you, but I'm fine," Nicole said.

"Let's sit down then." They moved to the living room. Nicole and Galen took a seat on the couch, Mary settled in a chair. "Ask your questions."

Nicole grabbed her notepad and ink pen from her pocket. "Did you see or hear anything suspicious last night or early this morning?"

"No, but then a herd of elephants could have trampled through here and I wouldn't have known." Mary smiled. "I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I finally broke down and took a sleeping pill last night."

Nicole eyed her for several moments. There were no dark circles or bags under her eyes. Her eyes appeared clear and bright. She looked as though she slept just fine. Nicole had a feeling the woman was lying.

"Tell me, Ms. Henson," Galen said. "How well did you know Mr. Chappell and Ms. Green?"

"I knew Jim quite well," she answered. "We've been friends for years. I met Ms. Green when she dropped by to see Jim last month."

"So Ms. Green doesn't live with Mr. Chappell," Nicole said.

"Goodness no," Mary replied. "Jim preferred to live alone."

"Do you know if Mr. Chappell or Ms. Green had any enemies?" Galen inquired.

"Everybody liked Jim." Mary shifted and placed her hands on her lap. "I can't tell you much about Ms. Green. I hardly knew the woman, but I will tell you one thing. I believe she was with Jim for his money. He won the lottery last year.
Two million dollars.
He was planning on taking a trip to Italy next summer." She shook her head sadly. "He was so excited about the trip and now-" She shook her head again.
"Next question."

"Actually."
Nicole pocketed her notepad and pen. "May I use your bathroom?"

"Sure," Mary said. "It's at the end of the hall."

"Thank you." She got to her feet. "I won't be long." She left the living room and walked down the long hallway to the bathroom. Once inside she locked the door and then turned to study her surroundings. The medicine cabinet caught her attention and she hurried over to it. Opening the mirrored door, she scanned the contents inside and saw a prescription bottle. She turned the
bottle around and read the label. Not familiar with the name of the pills she quickly wrote it down in her notepad and closed the door. After emptying her bladder and washing her hands she exited the bathroom and went back to the living room.

"I'm done here," Galen told her, standing.

"So am I." Nicole held out her hand to Mary. "Thank you for answering our questions."

"You're welcome," she said, taking Nicole's hand.

Nicole flicked her gaze downward and noticed an angry looking scratch on the inside of the other woman's forearm. She made a mental note to jot that down in her notes later. "If we have any more questions we'll be in touch. I am sorry about Mr. Chappell. I recently lost a close friend and
I-
" She grimaced. "I'm sorry." She released her hand and made a beeline for the door. Outside she stood on the porch and waited for Galen.

"We have more neighbors to interview," he said once he emerged from the house. "It would go faster if we split up."

Nicole arched an eyebrow.
"In a hurry to get rid of me, Detective?"

Galen didn't say a word. He just headed down the steps. Nicole didn't need an answer. In her heart she all ready knew.

Chapter  2

Sitting at her desk, hours later, Nicole looked over the notes she had taken during her interviews with Jim Chappell's neighbors. From his desk three feet away, Galen was working at his computer. He had removed his suit coat and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. He looked relaxed, something Nicole was not. Her head throbbed and she had a paper cut on her right index finger that hurt like hell. It would be a cold day in hell though before she let him see her discomfort.

The cell phone in Nicole's coat pocket started ringing. Taking her attention off the notes, she retrieved the phone from her pocket, flipped it open, and pressed the talk button. "Hello?"

"Nikki, I need money."

She sighed heavily. Her father called every time his disability check ran out and he needed money for beer. "I'm not paying for your beer, Dad. If you need money for food, I will buy food for you. If you need a bill paid give me the bill and I will take care of it, but I will not buy you alcohol. Tell me something, Dad. Have you eaten anything today? Or are you just sitting there in your chair and drinking?"

"What I do is none of your business, young lady," he growled.

"So you just want me to keep my mouth shut and my wallet open," she said coolly.

"You ungrateful little-.
After everything I've done for you and you talk to me this way."

Nicole let out a snort. "You haven't done a damn thing for me. Look, I'm working on a case. I don't have the time or the patience for this right now. I'll talk to you soon. Take care of yourself." She closed the phone and slipped it back in her pocket. She glanced toward Galen and found him watching her. "What are you looking at?" she snapped. "Don't you have work to do?"

"A red head with a fiery temper."
He shook his head. "I'm screwed."

"Yeah, well you're no walk in the park buddy." Peeved Nicole returned her attention to her notes. She turned the page of her notepad and skimmed over her writing. When she came across the name of the prescription pills that Mary Henson was taking, she moved her chair until she was facing the computer screen.
She
googled
the name of the drug and read the information that came up.
Soon she learned that Mary was taking a pill for epilepsy. A quick search and she learned epilepsy was a disorder of the nervous system. There was nothing suspicious about the prescription pills and yet she wasn't ready to give up on Mary as a suspect. She had a bad feeling about the woman. It was a gut feeling and she had learned long ago to go with her gut.

Nicole searched the criminal database and came up empty. There was nothing on Mary. As far as the law was concerned, she was clean. 'Damn," she muttered.

The phone on Galen's desk rang. He reached across the desk and snatched up the receiver. "Maxwell." He listened for a moment. "What have you got for me, Danny?"

At the mention of the lab tech's name Nicole's heart skipped a beat. "Please," she whispered. "Have something we can use."

"The results are in," Galen stated once he hung up the phone. "There was saliva in the lipstick found on Chappell's forehead. That and the strand of hair that was found belong to a Donna Richman."

Disappointment flared to life inside of Nicole. She had been so sure it was Mary Henson that did the killing.
Oh well,
she thought.
At least we have our suspect.
She quickly checked the database. Donna Richman's photo and information came up almost immediately. "She's been one busy girl. Aggravated assault, possession of a narcotic with the intent to distribute, grand theft auto and here's one for you. Twelve years ago she did some time for shooting her boyfriend."

"I guess she didn't learn her lesson," Galen said, rising from his chair.

Nicole read on, her eyes growing wide when she came across a stunning revelation. "Mary Henson is her sister."

"It's a small world after all," Galen said dryly. "Is there an address for Ms. Richman?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go pick her up."

Galen and Nicole entered the small lobby of the apartment building and made their way to the elevator. Galen pushed the button to summon the elevator and then glanced at his watch. The doors parted and they moved inside. Remembering that the manager had told them that Donna Richman's apartment was on the third floor, he pressed the button with the number three on it. The doors closed and the elevator began to ascend.

"I'm sorry about Detective Jonas," Nicole said softly. "He was a good man."

Galen turned his head and gazed at her. She had her head back and was staring up at him. "You knew him?"

"Twenty-five years."

He frowned. "I don't remember him ever mentioning you. If h wait. Nikki?"

Nicole cleared her throat. "He always called me that."

Galen nodded. "He talked about you every now and then. I wonder why he never introduced us. I guess he just wanted to keep you for himself."

Just then, the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open. They stepped out and turned right. Heading down a long hallway, they stopped midway and Galen knocked on the door. He shifted
from one foot to the other, impatient to get the arrest over with. It was the part of his job that he was the most uncomfortable with. He never knew what the
perp
would do when he or she realized they were going to jail. He raised his hand to knock again and dropped it when the door opened.