In the Shadow of Love (7 page)

“No, we never got that far.  We thought we were on the verge of finding out and then– ”  her voice cracked with emotion, “–Owen was killed.”

“But you never saw the body.”

“No, I already told you that.”  Her voice raised just a little, tension punctuating her words as she realized she was being interrogated.  She locked eyes with the lawman sitting across from her and tried to read his expression and body language but he remained neutral.  He would, of course, that’s what he was trained to do.

“Please tell me what’s going on.”

Maggie stood for emphasis, any feelings of safety and security fading fast.

“I’m not sure.”  His words gave an unexpected jolt to her senses.

“What do you mean you’re not sure!”

She heard herself scream out the words through a sea of anger.

Sinking back into the oversized couch for a comfort she desperately needed, she held back tears of frustration.  “Look, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to yell.” she said not wanting to alienate the one person who she needed right now.

 “Obviously something’s wrong or you wouldn’t be asking me all these questions.”

Had she known this was how her day would turn out she would have pulled the covers over her head and stayed in bed.  In less than twenty-four hours her world had been turned completely upside down.

“Where’s the restroom?”

Was he really asking that question?  At a time like this!

“To your left.”  She pointed towards a room off the entryway, her tone peppered with a sense of loss.

He paused in the doorway.  “We can stop for awhile, if you like.”

Wiping the tears from her eyes she sat up straight and looked him square in the eye.

“No, I’m fine.  I want to get to the bottom of this – and fast!”

The washroom was decorated in a floral pattern that was subtle and striking just like its owner.  Morris reflected on the past few minutes and how Maggie reacted to his questions.

When he returned she was pacing the floor.

“Shall we sit or stand?”  He’d follow her lead.

“You can sit if you like,” nibbling on her thumb as she said the words.

“Okay, then.”  He retook his seat, making sure he kept her pacing figure in view.  “What made Mr. Cassidy suspicious in the first place?”

Pausing to look his way she began to mouth a response but words didn’t follow.

“What was the one thing that made him start to investigate those letters?”  He clarified.

“He didn’t say.”  Slumping back into her seat a heavy sigh escaped her lips.  “He didn’t want me to be influenced by his opinion.”

Clearly it was time to investigate those now running the company.

“Okay, Maggie.”  He stood, towering over her.  “I’m going back to the station and do some follow-up work”

Jolting from her seat she lost her balance.  Instinctively, he reached out and latched onto her upper arms to steady her.  She fell against him   He could feel her heart beat as the smell of her wafted over him causing his own heart to keep pace with hers.  He hated to leave her but he had to.  Right now it was his job to leave her.

“Is there anyone you can call?”  A gentleness he hadn’t felt in a long time reached out to her.  He wanted to ask if there was a Mr. Faraday, but that would be too obvious.

“No it’s just me and my boys.”  Her voice started to break.  Then just as quickly she took a deep breath and straightened.  “We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll send a patrol car around to keep an eye on the neighborhood.”  She didn’t relax at his effort to reassure her.  “Besides, you always have Mrs. Rivers,” gesturing towards the house across the street.

Her eyes followed to see Mrs. Rivers standing guard by her front window.

“I suppose so.”  A hint of defeat still resonated in her voice as she sat down, the sofa almost swallowing her up.  He wanted desperately to pull her into his arms and keep her safe from the world, a feeling that took him by surprise.  He never thought that he’d feel this way again about anybody, and now that he did it would have to wait.

“It’s going to be okay.”  He held her gaze willing her to believe him.

“You have my cell and office number.  You’ll be able to reach me any time - day or night.”

 A smile spread across her face and her eyes sparkled, then suddenly it was gone, sparkle and all.  “Won’t your wife be upset?”

He felt a chuckle well up inside.  “I’m not married.”  Anymore, he added to himself.  It was too soon to share that part of his past.

“Oh.”

He wasn’t sure if that was relief or concern in her tone.

Maggie watched as her modern day knight turned towards her front door, unsettled by what she was feeling.  Relieved she wouldn’t be interrupting a married man’s life, a little voice told her there was more to her feeling of relief than she cared to admit.

He turned back looking directly at her, forcing eye contact.  She blushed as if he could read her thoughts.   “Make sure you lock the door after me.  And make sure you don’t let anybody, and I mean anybody, in the house but me - or people you can really trust.”

His words brought her back to reality.

“And tell your boys.”

The severity of his tone made her catch her breath.  “I will.”

When she saw him open the door to leave panic set in.  She wanted him to stay.  She needed him to stay.

“Would you like to come back for dinner?”

Once again words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.  She felt both regret and a sense of anticipation.

“I’m sorry,” she stumbled over her words.  “It’s not a good idea, is it?”

“No, it isn’t.”

The sexual tension in the air thickened.  She wanted to run and hide but couldn’t.  Her feet wouldn’t cooperate.  As usual, her heart took the lead.

“I just thought that perhaps we could talk about the case some more, and–” she paused struggling for her next words.

“What time?”

“What?”  Her head shot up, her eyes locking with his.

“What time is dinner?”

“Is seven too late?”

“No.”

Almost breathless and excited that he accepted her invitation she couldn’t quell that little voice telling her it was wrong.  It was, wasn’t it?

“Then seven it is.  Shall I bring something?”

Maggie was still lost in amazement that he had accepted.

“For tonight.”  The sensual tones of his deep voice vibrated through the air.

She shook her head.  “No, no – I have everything I need already.”

“Make sure you lock everything up behind me, Maggie.”

“I will.”  Anticipation for the evening ahead made her breathless.  She didn’t know why she was acting like a school girl on her first date.  It felt wonderful and confusing at the same time.

He turned once again to go, walked a few steps then stopped, spinning back around.  “We’re going to solve this Maggie, I promise.”

“Thank you.”  Gratitude replaced her fear and a sense of calmness returned to her world.

Morris walked to his vehicle mulling over the events of the day.   Careful not to make promises he couldn’t keep, he needed to solve the mystery of Owen Cassidy’s death regardless the outcome.  The look of relief on Maggie’s face emboldened his determination.

Suddenly, Maggie Faraday became a top priority in his life, both in work and pleasure.  The pleasure was the part he wanted to explore the most, but that would have to wait.  Dinner tonight was the most he could allow himself until this case was solved and put in the closed case file drawer - this time for good.

Her sudden offer for dinner was spurred by fear but he’d take what he could get.  A nagging voice warned him that he was stepping over an official line of conduct but at the moment it was the furthest thing from his mind.  He was following his instincts as a detective – and his heart – unsure which he wanted to listen to more

Traveling in reverse flow of afternoon traffic it didn’t take long for him to return to the station.  Soon traffic would move at a snails pace as commuters attempted to rush home to their families.  Tonight would be the closest he’d come to being a part of a family in a very long time.

Back at the station the mishap arrangement of desks in the large open space were nearly empty.  Carlton Davis stood by a file cabinet on the far wall leafing through a large stack of papers.

The younger man jumped at the sound of Morris dropping his notebook on his desk.  Papers spiraled to the floor into a disorganized mess and Davis scurried to retrieve them.

‘Detective Morris!”  Davis was now on the floor, desperately grabbing papers without regard to their order.  “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Obviously,” Morris eyed the papers on the floor.

“What’s going on?” wanting to know where everyone had gone.

“The Captain asked me to research some crime reports for him.”  He didn’t correct the other man’s misunderstanding of his question.

Bending down to help pick up what remained of the scattered mess of reports and photographs Morris noticed the name on the file.

“The Maryville case?” he eyed Davis suspiciously.

“Why would the Captain have you looking into a case that’s been closed for more than two years?”

“I’m compiling statistics on solved and unsolved crimes.”

Morris was unconvinced but had more pressing matters occupying his time.

“Where is everybody?”

“The Mayor’s press conference.”

The Captain had ordered all available officers to be present at the Mayor’s press conference for a show of force.  Looked like he’d be in trouble after all.

Chapter 7

The Mayor’s press conference was ending just as Morris arrived.  The Captain faced the stoic head of the city, feigning interest in every word the seasoned politician said.

Chicago’s reputation as
The Windy City
was largely associated with the fierce prairie winds that howled across the northern part of the state, winding their way through the concrete canyons created by the giant pillars of the city that created its famous skyline.  In reality, the name was earned in the late1800's due to the boisterous and overly talkative politicians that dominated the news of the day.  Not much had changed since then.

Morris hoped to avoid detection as he tried to blend in with the crowd, but the Captain, like a watchful parent seemed to have eyes in the back of his head – or, a rat in every corner.

He felt more than saw Geridano slowly work his way through the crowd to stand next to him.  “Not a good idea to keep the Captain waiting.”

Morris held his breath, and tongue, ignoring his nemesis.  A public scene would only invite unwanted attention.

Undeterred, Geridano continued.  “He was asking where you were, didn’t know what to tell him.”

“I’m sure you didn’t.”  Morris stood firm watching him from the corner of his eye while appearing to stare straight ahead, a trick he learned in the army serving as a Military Policeman on the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

“No, but the Captain just might be interested in knowing you’re dating a witness.”

Morris’ spine became rigid as the other man postured for a confrontation.

“Watch your back, Morris.  Watch your back.”

A desire to warn him to do the same caused him to grit his teeth as Geridano slinked away like the snake he was.  Discretion being the better part of valor he held back, having enough explaining to do with the Captain already.

As the mayor’s speech came to an end, Morris looked around the crowd to see who else was in attendance.  It looked like more than one detective was missing.

“Before I end today, I’d like to take a moment and remember my dear friend, Owen Cassidy who passed away suddenly yesterday.  He was a great friend and will be truly missed.”

The mayor’s booming voice broke into the unexpected silence a moment later.  “Thank you all for coming today.”

Applause erupted as the mayor stepped away from the podium.  Holding up his hands in pretend modesty he mingled with the crowd closest to him, a well-practiced smile plastered on his face.

The mention of Owen Cassidy - today of all days - provoked the detective in him to investigate why.  It was suppose to be a ceremonial recognition of fallen police officers and a statue built in front of city hall to keep their memory alive.  Watching the mayor maneuver skillfully through the small elite crowd at the front that included the Captain, he saw an opportunity to make his exit unnoticed.

As he moved easily through the crowd, the hairs on the back of his neck bristled at the feeling he was being watched.   Surveying the throngs of people and police officers in and out of uniform, nobody stood out.  His surveillance halted when a dark car matching the description of the one near Maggie’s house pulled away from the crowd and onto a side street. Moving slowly, the vehicle’s tinted windows kept him from easily identifying the driver or its occupants.

Weaving his way further through the crowd, now oblivious to the person who was watching him, he neared the edge of the crowd just as the car pulled away.  A hand abruptly grabbed his arm pulling him back and he tensed, preparing for battle while still focused on the license plate of the car pulling further and further away.

“Detective Morris!”

He recognized the voice – the Captain’s second-in-command.

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

“The Captain wants a word with you.”

This didn’t sound good.

 He turned and followed Lieutenant Baxter back through the crowd he had pushed through just moments ago.

“Captain, I found Detective Morris.”

The senior officer turned and fixed a look on Morris that made him stand up straight.

“Detective Morris!” he didn’t like the sound of how the Captain said his name.

“Yes, Captain?”  Morris held his head high, his voice firm and in control, resisting the urge to snap to attention.

“Looks like you have some explaining to do.”