First to Die (10 page)

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "I can't answer that, and I don't like your tone or accusations."

"My tone hasn't changed, and I don't think that I was accusing you of anything. I was simply asking why the file is empty."

"I don't know," he shot back.

"Why didn't you tell me that Louise Harper was my mom’s best friend?"

"I didn't think that it mattered."

"Maybe you didn't want me to know because I would have questioned it immediately."

"You're starting to act like your father. He always questioned everything." He started to fidget in his chair.

"I would hope so," I said.

"Sam, I didn't tell you because I didn't think it was necessary to upset you. He leaned back in his chair again. "Your mom took it the hardest, and yes, we were all great friends. After a while, she couldn't take the stress of it and she left."

"And, to this day, nobody knows where she is?"

"That's correct." He took a deep breath. "Sam, she had a breakdown. After she pulled herself together, she just walked away."

"I already know all that, but nobody ever mentioned Louise Harper and that being the reason she left."

"You were a little girl, and no one wanted to tell you about someone being murdered, especially your mothers' best friend."

"What about Bill Randall as a suspect, and that she had a secret admirer that sent her poems?"

"We never found out who was sending her notes and Randall had an airtight alibi."

"And he was also one of your best friends."

"We have a complicated history and our friendship took a turn after Louise was murdered.

"It seems like everything took a turn after she was murdered." I crossed my arms. "Do you think that the Harper case is connected to the Mason and Edwards murders?"

"Absolutely not, Sam. You're not being logical."

Logical was not part of my vocabulary these days, but that's exactly what he was. I had no reason to doubt him. He was the closest thing that I had to a parent, and I was pushing him further away. My old wounds were aching and sore and the empty feeling that I always had in my life reminded me that it was never going to be replaced. Not even with Hayes.

"Chief, I'm sorry." I released my arms and let them fall in defeat. "You're right, I am overreacting."

Three taps and a click pulled me from my thoughts and Jason walked through the door. "Chief, Sam." He strolled in and stood next to me, pushed his jacket open and rested his hands on his hips. "Anything, I should know about?"

Hayes grabbed the handles of his chair and pushed himself up. "No, I think we're done here, Detective." He glared at Jason.

"Did you find out who leaked the information to the press?" Jason shifted in front of me and moved closer to Hayes.

"I already looked into it after you called me last night." He pulled his jacket from the back of his chair. "And, if I find out that it's somebody from here, they can kiss their job goodbye."

"We have another problem." Jason crossed his arms.

"Do you two ever stop?" I saw the corner of his lips curl up. That was the first time that he had attempted to smile in weeks.

"Someone's been prowling the Mason and Edwards’s houses and conveniently forgetting to sign the keys out."

"You've got to be kidding me." His jacket landed back in his chair. "Who?"

"I have no idea, but when I find out, it's not going to be pretty," Jason roared.

Hayes picked up the phone and dialed my favorite person at extension twelve. "Stella, can you come in here." He hung up. "I'll have a memo out immediately and if you find out who it is, bring it to me."

"No problem. Oh, and one more thing. What happened to the Fed assist that we asked for?"

"They said that they would have one of the field agents contact you. You haven't heard from them yet?"

"Not a word," Jason said.

"I'll give them another call this afternoon when I get back."

"Sounds good." Jason looked over at me. "Sam, did you get everything you needed?"

"Yes. I did, thank you."

Jason spun on his heels. "You can fill me in at lunch."

Chapter 14

T
he Main Street Diner was packed as tight as Frankie's ass in her black stretchy pants. She worked the room like a pro, gliding across the floor balancing four drinks in one hand, and a stack of menus in the other.

"Hey, you two," she said, smiling from ear-to-ear, ignoring me and giving Jason a wink. She handed today's specials to the ladies sitting at the end of the counter and bent over right in front of us to pick up a napkin. "I've got a booth in the back for ya being cleared," floated up from my feet. Jason lifted his shades to get a better view of the entertainment. The lunch rush was already in full swing and Frankie had no problem controlling the mob in her establishment.

We weaved our way around chairs and slid into the only spot in the place that was away from the line of fire. The kitchen door was dangerous. It swung the wrong way, and at least once a day someone was covered in a colorful array of delicious food. My bills from the cleaners are neatly stacked in a draw as a friendly reminder of where not to sit if you want to make it out of there unharmed. The food and entertainment was worth every stain I had.

Frankie appeared from nowhere and slid in next to Jason. "You guys find The Reaper yet?" She pushed her blond bangs away from her forehead and revealed her piercing blue eyes.

"We're working on it," Jason responded.

"Right." She chewed on her bottom lip. "This reminds me of the same crap that went on around here about twenty years ago." She put her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her clenched hands. "You guys are too young to remember. Babies back then." She had her eyes locked on to mine.

"I heard something." I stared back.

"What did you hear?" She tossed the question back to me.

"Louise Harper," I said.

"Bingo." She pointed her trigger finger at me and cleared her throat. She pulled a white towel from her waist and wiped her hands. "A lot of bad things went on around here back then." She stood up and leaned into the booth and touched my hand. "Don't trust any of those rat bastards over there, except for this guy." She hitched her thumb at Jason and winked at me, pushed away and disappeared behind the kitchen door.

"What the hell is going on around here?" I looked at Jason with big eyes.

"I don't know, but you can be damned sure that I'm going to find out."

"Do you think they're covering up?"

"Something’s not right." He shook his head.

"And, every time I ask, the answers are too easy." Jason was in deep thought, looking out at the main floor commotion. I wasn't sure if he’d heard me. I wasn't sure what to think of Frankie's latest information. I wasn't going to think about it until I had some fuel to keep me going. Swirling the ice around in my tea with a bendy straw, I took a drink. Jason looked at the door every time it opened. Nothing on the revolving trays looked like what we’d ordered.

Frankie slipped through the next swing of the door and came out, waving a piece of paper in her hand. "I knew that I still had this. Had to do some digging, but here it is." She handed the tarnished paper to me. "Take a bite out of that and tell me what it tastes like," she said over her shoulder, making a mad dash for the kitchen.

I was being pulled into the past faster than the quicksand that was sucking me down into a bottomless pit. Something that I’d read said to lean back and pull yourself out, inch-by- inch. I tried, as I read the latest plunge into the unknown and took a big gasp for air.

THE RIVERVIEW PHANTOM IS ON THE PROWL

June 3, 1990

James Adams

The residents and police department are baffled by the recent home invasions that have sprung up in the historical district. Multiple complaints have been filed in the past month and the stories are almost unbelievable until you hear the actual events that have occurred. Missing objects, televisions, radios playing in the middle of the night and the eerie feeling that they are being watched.

Carol Beckman of the two hundred block of Church Street has confirmed that on several occasions, she has been awakened by music playing on her downstairs stereo. "I woke up to music blaring and didn't know what to think of it. The next two nights, the same thing. My doors are bolted tight and I don't know how they are getting in the house. It’s frightening, to say the least."

Alison Thompson of the one hundred block of Monterat Street has filed a report that she heard noises in her house before she went to sleep and woke up to the feeling that someone had been watching her. Ms. Thompson was unavailable for comment.

There have been three other similar complaints and Riverview Police Department has requested that any residents with information regarding this matter please contact the department. Anonymous tips are always welcome.

"What is it?" Jason pulled the paper out of my hand.

"Another confirmation that we're starring in an episode of the Twilight Zone."

Jason read the article and sat it on the table. "Nothing surprises me anymore." He rubbed his hands over his face.

"Not even my recent slip into madness?" I asked as I straightened my flatware for the third time and rearranged the condiments into perfect rows. I was trying to remember the details from Stella when she’d barged into the briefing room and the newbies taking a call for the recent neighborhood shenanigans.

"What madness?" He raised his eyebrows at the obvious advancement of my O.C.D. "I already know not to change anything around that belongs to you," he said. "You've been doing it for as long as I can remember."

"I rarely notice it." I laughed and motioned for another round of iced tea. "Did you find the key thief?"

"No one fessed up, but I'd put money on Ward."

"I'm sure he was there trying to trip me up on something." My eyes locked onto a picture hanging behind Jason. I was in a daze trying to put the pieces together.

"What are you thinking?” He stared at me with his dark eyes.

"The poems, they’re driving me crazy.

"Did you check the Internet again?"

"Yep, and there's nothing that matches it. Nothing even close." I sighed.

"What about that old bookstore downtown?" He nodded at the door.

"I called them a few weeks ago after the Mason murder, said they had nothing that sounded familiar. I was surprised because they have some really rare books."

"You didn't tell them why you wanted the information, did you?" He raised his eyebrow and grinned.

"Did you really ask me that?” I said. “It doesn't matter now." I threw a sugar packet at him. "I didn't tip anyone off about the poems that Brian put on display and Nina would never say anything, even if I did."

It took forty five minutes for our order to arrive, and less than two to shove it down my throat. I didn't come up for air until my plate was clean. At the rate we were going with the case and the little time that we had, I figured that gorging on everything in front of me would carry me to the next meal that could be a day away, if I could tolerate the indigestion a few hours from now.

"When’s the last time you sat down and talked to Hayes?" I said, swallowing the last of my sweet iced tea."

"When’s the last time you ate?" Jason's eyes were wide with disbelief. I couldn't tell if he was in shock or embarrassed that I made a pig of myself in public.

"Last night, late, after Ivy passed out." I wiped the last trace of the bacon cheeseburger from my mouth with the napkin. "Crackers and peanut butter. I haven't had time or energy to go grocery shopping."

"Do I need to bring you a care package?"

"No." I laughed "I'll stop at the market later." I leaned into the back wall of the booth so I could people-watch.

"What's up with Hayes?" He questioned my curiosity.

"The old bastard isn't acting right." I leaned forward. "He also neglected to inform us that he was friends with the Edwards, It’s been years, but they said they were pretty tight back in the day. They left town after the Harper murder and Jennifer moved back not too long ago when she took a job at an accounting office downtown." I inched closer. "They didn't want her to come back here."

"I have a sick feeling that it's all connected in some way," he said "What happened when you talked to Hayes this morning?"

"Nothing that I can pinpoint, but something’s off with him. I turned to face Jason in the booth. "I asked him about Randall being involved, said he had an alibi." I shook my head. "He had an answer for everything. It was like he knew I was coming." I felt the twitch starting in my right eyelid. "He said I was overreacting like my dad. My dad never put up with any shit, including his."

"That's why I stayed on his good side." He sat up.

"I have no clue why he liked you so much." One little jab wouldn't hurt.

"Same reason you do." He laughed, rolling his sleeves back down. "He was a smart man." He stared at me with his dark, seductive eyes. He reached over the table and locked his hand around my wrist. I pulled away but my effort was useless. He had me cuffed and I couldn't break free.