The Dying Room (17 page)

The Garage Café, 10th Terrace South

Saturday, April 4, Noon

Sylvia sat in her car for a few minutes before going inside. She and Buddy had talked long into the night last night. Thankfully, her parents had been fast asleep by the time they made it home from the hospital.

She hadn’t asked her father about his dealings with Wilson Hilliard and he hadn’t volunteered any answers. The truth was, it didn’t matter. Whatever happened between her father and that man was in the past. Robert Baron was a good man. Whatever he had done it was for the greater good, of that Sylvia was completely certain.

He would be a fine grandfather as well.

Sylvia gazed across the leather seat and smiled. Buddy parked his Charger and shut off the engine. She had officially introduced him to her parents this morning. Her mother had looked a little uncertain at first but then she’d smiled and given Buddy a hug. Her father, on the other hand, had shaken his hand again and then hugged him as well. Somehow, over breakfast, Buddy had charmed her parents completely.

“Let’s do it,” Buddy suggested. He got out and came around to her side of the car.

Sylvia willed her body not to shake as Buddy opened the door and she climbed out. He had made
the
call this morning. Addison had agreed to meet with Sylvia. According to Buddy, she had been pleased that Sylvia wanted to know her.

“Deep breath.” Sylvia drew in two or three for good measure, and they entered the café Buddy had chosen.

He ordered a couple of beers and escorted her to a table. The waitress left the order at their table.

Sylvia made a face. “I’m not a big fan of beer.”

Buddy grinned and pushed the Corona toward her. “You’ll learn to like it.”

“The way I learned to like you?”

He winked. “Exactly.”

Sylvia fingered the label. “Is she here?”

He scanned the small crowd. “Not yet. But she’ll be here.”

When Sylvia looked up, he added, “I don’t mind a little alone time with you.”

Warmth spread through her. They’d almost made love last night. He’d had her so hot and bothered she’d nearly ignored the fact that her parents were right down the hall. He’d been the one to hold back. The way he’d kissed her goodnight still made her lips tingle whenever she thought of those few seconds. Buddy Corlew was a master kisser. As well as an inordinately skilled lover.

“I’ve grown attached to you, Sylvia.”

There was something about the way he said the words or perhaps it was the words he chose that made her giggle. She hadn’t meant to... couldn’t remember the last time she’d made such a silly sound.

“You find that amusing, do you?”

He gave her a stern look but all Sylvia could think about was removing that leather tie from his hair and running her fingers through that silky length. “No.” She cleared her throat. “Really. I guess I’m just giddy.”

“As I was saying,” he began again, “I have feelings for you. Feelings I don’t quite know how to handle.”

Sylvia bit her lips together. She would not make another sound. Her heart was racing and she could hardly sit still.

“If you don’t feel the same way, I totally get it. I just wanted you to know how I feel and that I would like to take our relationship to the next level. Especially since you introduced me to your parents.”

Sylvia couldn’t bear it any longer. She stared directly into his eyes. “I have feelings for you, too, Buddy. I’m not sure how to handle mine either, but I do know that I want to explore them. I want to spend more time with you... if that’s what you want.”

He grinned. “That’s all I think about night and day.”

He kissed her and the weight of the world lifted from her shoulders. Somehow being with Buddy made her completely happy.

When the round of applause started, they pulled apart.

Buddy waved off the cheers. “Most folks who know me have been waiting a long time for this to happen.”

“I know I have,” Sylvia confessed.

The bell over the entrance door jingled and her attention swung in that direction. Addison wandered in, her gaze sweeping the crowd. Sylvia’s breath caught. She turned to Buddy. “I don’t know what to say.”

He squeezed her hand. “Say what’s in your heart.”

Sylvia scooted from the booth, smoothed her sweater, and took a deep breath. She walked up to the gorgeous young woman who was her daughter and thrust out her hand. “Hello, Addison, I’m...” And then her jaw locked.

Addison accepted her hand. “You’re my mother.”

Sylvia nodded. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

Addison drew her hand away and shrugged. “A few. Mr. Corlew answered most of them.”

Sweet Jesus, Sylvia owed Buddy big for this. She gestured to their table. “Join us. Have you had lunch?”

Addison shook her head. “I hear they have great burgers.”

“I’m sure they do.”

Sylvia and her daughter spent the next two hours getting acquainted. They both cried and laughed... and cried some more. Eventually, they would discuss other painful topics like the truth about her biological father, and they would talk about Chad. For now, getting to know each other was enough.

Buddy was next to Sylvia, squeezing her hand under the table whenever she needed a little backup.

Right there in that eclectic pub her feelings for Buddy deepened just a little more and they were only getting started.

Look for my next romantic suspense novel, SEE HIM DIE, coming June 25, 2015! You can order it now by clicking
here
! Meanwhile, did you miss Jess and Dan’s wedding? Have you had a chance to read the story about Jess’s first encounter with serial killer Eric Spears? Read on for my gift to you – both Faces of Evil short stories are included with this novel!

A FACES OF EVIL Short Story

Debra Webb

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 Debra Webb, Pink House Press

Edited by Marijane Diodati

Cover Design by Vicki Hinze

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

PINK HOUSE PRESS

WebbWorks, LLC

Huntsville, Alabama

First Edition November 2014

Birmingham Police Department

Birmingham, Alabama

Friday, December 18, 4:00 p.m.

Lost in thought, Deputy Chief Jess Harris removed the crime scene photos from her case board. Her team had caught a double homicide early in the week. The case had appeared cut-and-dried at first. An intruder had entered the home and murdered the homeowner and his best friend. The house had been ransacked and any items of cash ready value such as jewelry had been taken. Sadly, the wife and two teenage daughters had arrived home later to find the awful scene.

Jess studied the photo of the wife and daughters before taking it down. The case had turned out to be anything but a random break-in. The father had been leading a double life that included drug dealing for extra income. The slow economy had driven him to make bad decisions. He and his friend had paid the ultimate price for his mistake.

Within forty-eight hours Jess and her major crimes team had uncovered the truth. None of it was pretty and finding justice for the murdered father and his friend hadn’t made any of them feel one iota better. The wife was still a widow and the two daughters were still without a father.

“You know,” Lori Wells moved up beside Jess and took the photos from her hands, “this was an unfortunate case to catch this week.”

Jess smiled at the detective who was her good friend as well as her maid of honor. “Everyone has secrets, some are just worse than others.” Jess removed the final photo. “Tomorrow I’m marrying the man I’ve been in love with for most of my life. I know him better than most women know the men they marry. More importantly, I trust him completely. That said, it’s impossible to know everything.”

“She knows all my secrets.” Sergeant Chet Harper grabbed the eraser and started removing the written timeline from the board.

Lori narrowed her gaze and issued a warning, “I’d better.”

From his desk, Lieutenant Clint Hayes tossed in his two cents worth. “That’s why I’m never getting married.”

Jess laughed as she turned to the lieutenant. “Because you won’t trust anyone with your secrets?” She’d long suspected he had a few.

“I’ll never tell.” He grinned. “Some secrets should stay that way.”

Chad Cook, newly promoted to detective, joined them at the case board. He still walked with a bit of a limp, but he was doing great. His up-close encounter with a follower of the depraved serial killer Eric Spears hadn’t kept him down.
Thank God
. Chad had been back to work for a month now. Jess imagined those eight weeks of recovery and physical therapy had been the longest of his life.

“By this time next year,” Chad said, “I plan on having a wife of my own with a baby on the way—if I’m lucky.”

Jess grinned at him. Chad and Dr. Sylvia Baron, who was Jefferson County’s associate coroner and closer to Jess’s age than Chad’s, had decided they were better at being friends than lovers. Jess was immensely grateful the break-up had been an amicable one. Chad was wise beyond his years. Having just turned twenty-four he had plenty of time. His recent brush with death had obviously made him decide not to waste a moment of it.

“That’ll make you the only bachelor, Hayes,” Harper challenged as he set the eraser aside. “You might want to rethink your strategy.”

Chet Harper and Lori Wells were engaged. The two were getting married next June. Jess still counted her blessings they had been able to pull off their personal relationship without it interfering with their work on the team. Jess didn’t want to lose anyone on her very specialized major crimes team. The Special Problems Unit had proved its worth in Birmingham as well as all of Jefferson County. So much so that the Sheriff’s Department and the BPD had decided to make the SPU permanent. Jess and her team would be fighting crime throughout Jefferson County for a long time to come.

“Not a chance,” Hayes declined. “I like my status and my strategy.”

“As interesting as this conversation is,” Lori announced, “the Chief and I are calling it a day. We’re having a mani-pedi party.” She rubbed her hands together in glee. “Twenty-four hours until the wedding!”

Jess checked the time and groaned. “I have so much to do.” She headed for her desk. “I don’t know why this wedding has to be so complicated.”

“Last night’s rehearsal went well,” Lori reminded her as she gathered her purse and keys. “The dinner was amazing.”

Jess hummed an agreeable note. Katherine, Dan’s mother, had insisted on a lavish rehearsal dinner for the wedding party since Jess and Dan had opted not to have a sit-down meal after the wedding. Neither she nor Dan wanted to delay their honeymoon flight until the day after the wedding so the dinner option had been taken off the agenda.

As pleasant and fun as last night had been the whole evening had been exhausting. Her soon-to-be mother-in-law and her sister, Lily, had organized a genuinely lovely but hectic wedding week down to the last detail. Jess had sworn she wouldn’t complain. She wanted to be happy and to enjoy all the festivities. The truth was, she was simply tired. At forty-two years old and five months pregnant, she wasn’t your typical blushing, energetic bride. Right now she’d trade her mani-pedi for a nap.

“We don’t get a mani-pedi?” Harper teased.

Lori waved him off. “Please. Tonight is ladies night.”

“I guess that means we get a guys’ night,” Hayes suggested.

Harper shrugged. “I have my son tonight, but you and Cook are welcome to come over for pizza.”

“Before you go,” Cook said, interrupting the male bonding moment, “we have a little something for you, Chief.”

Bag slung over her shoulder, Jess hesitated as she rounded her desk. “What? You guys have done too much already. You shouldn’t have bothered with a gift.” She’d lost count of the gifts she and Dan had received. In the past two weeks there had been a shower hosted by the bridesmaids, another one hosted by Dan’s mother, and yet another one from the BPD. There were also endless gifts from long distance friends—like Wesley Duvall, her ex-husband, and Ralph Gant, her former boss at the Bureau. She didn’t need more presents.

From beneath his desk Cook removed a gift wrapped in the traditional snow white paper and tied with an elegant silk ribbon in the same white.

What was she going to do with this wonderful group of people? “You better not make me cry.”

“No promises.” Lori placed the package on Jess’s desk. “It’s from all of us.”

Jess shrugged off her bag, letting it slip to the floor. She opened the gift with shaking hands. Foolishly, she had hoped to make it through this day with no tears. At this point she wasn’t sure she could keep blaming her emotions on the pregnancy. Beneath the glossy wrapping was a white box stuffed with tissue paper. Wrapped carefully in the paper was an eight-by-ten photograph of the entire team framed in Waterford crystal.

“When was this taken?” She didn’t remember anyone snapping a photo like this. Judging by the outfit she wore it had been taken in the past couple of months. Lately, she’d had to go with fabrics that had a little stretch to them. The crime scene looked vaguely familiar.

“I had one of my buddies from the Crime Scene Unit take it when we worked that case with the missing cousins,” Chad explained.

“Read the inscription on the frame,” Lori suggested.

Before she’d even read the engraved words Jess was already swiping at her eyes. “Your family away from home.”

“While you’re on your honeymoon and then staying home with the baby,” Harper said, “we didn’t want you to forget about us.”

“You don’t ever have to worry about that,” Jess assured them.

After hugs were exchanged and Jess had totally ruined her mascara, Lori insisted they had to go.

It was Friday after all. The case was closed and Jess had less than a day before her wedding to the man she’d loved for twenty-five years.