Steve awoke the next morning with a sense of dread. After a shower and shave, he dressed for a day in his condo. The first thing on his agenda was coffee, followed by a phone call to Kate. If he didn’t call soon with a report of last night’s arrests, he’d have two women after his scalp.
He wasn’t sure if she’d be busy writing, so he sent a text. “Closed case last night. Call for details.”
His phone rang before he had a chance to finish his first cup of the morning. Kate spoke in a hurried sentence. “Start talking, detective, and don’t leave out a single detail.”
For the next forty-five minutes, that’s what he did. It would have taken him fifteen, but the writer needed details. It reminded him of some of his encounters with attorneys for the defense when he was a cop. Answers followed questions, only to give birth to other questions.
Kate’s tone went from excitement to elation after he finished. “It’s a great ending for the story.”
“It may not be as perfect as you think. There’s a world of difference between an arrest and a conviction. To begin with, the charges will likely be reduced to manslaughter. It’s going to be hard to prove any of them intended to harm Cleo. Dora’s in the most trouble, but she also has the most money to spend on attorneys.”
“Stop! A mystery ends when the guilty go to jail. Everything that happens after the arrest is boring. All that’s left to do is tie up loose ends.”
“I still have so much to learn about writing a good story.” Steve scratched his head. “Melody spoke with Heather after Detective Hall took Chris to jail last night. They decided it would be best for Chris to experience some financial pain for his shenanigans. One of Heather’s attorneys will handle Chris’s bankruptcy proceedings.”
Excitement filled Kate’s voice. “A nice touch of resolution. I can use that.”
Steve wasn’t convinced, but he decided to bow to Kate’s expertise as other matters pressed in on his thoughts. “I hope you’re right about the ending, but that’s the least of my worries. Heather found ticket stubs for the Red Socks game. She’s coming over in a while. You might hear her hollering if you stick your head outside.”
“It serves you right for trying to play Cupid.”
“I’m selling my bow and arrows.”
The phone went silent so Steve said, “I’d better go ask Max for advice.”
Kate replied with, “And I need to pull a heroine out of the way of a runaway horse and carriage.”
The phone went dead.
Max settled himself on Steve’s lap and received his usual ration of strokes and head scratches. “I’ve messed up this time, my furry friend. Did Heather tell you what a bad boy I’ve been? No?” Steve huffed. “It’s a good thing. I’m not sure you're old enough to hear the words I’m due.”
A yawn was the only reply from Max.
“She must have forced Jack to talk. What do you think she used to pry the story out of him? Water-boarding? The bright light in the eyes? A truth serum?” Steve took a drink from his mug. “What’s that? You don’t think she needs to do any of those things? You’re probably right. Women have a way of knowing when something isn’t right, and we both know Heather is a special woman. If I lose her help with these cases that keep popping up, I’ll be like a cat with its whiskers cut off.”
Max stood and arched his back, as if he understood and didn’t like the mental image of shears snipping off his whiskers.
“Sorry, old friend. I’ll try to come up with a different simile next time.” Steve thought for a few seconds. “If there is a next time. I may have burned my last bridge with her.” He took another sip. “I still can’t believe she made me find my own way home last night.”
Max received a dozen more strokes. “Of course, I found a ride. Dr. Melody brought me home. She told me I deserve whatever I get for pretending to be a matchmaker. For a minute, I thought she’d stop the car and tell me to get out. All that talk about deceit and outright lies was fresh in her mind, and she wasn’t too happy with men.”
Steve kept stroking Max. “Can’t say that I blame her. I laid all that talk about deception on thick in order to get confessions. Detective Hall did a good job, too. Did you know cops don’t have to tell the truth when they’re interviewing a suspect? It works, too.”
He closed his eyes. “I might be a hypocrite, but I got to the truth.”
Steve lifted his chin. “I hear Heather in the kitchen next door. It won’t be long before she tears a large chunk out of my backside. You’d better hide under my bed.”
Heather covered a yawn. Perhaps after today, she’d get back to a normal routine. She shook her head. Normal didn’t come close to describing her life up to now. She smiled. And with any luck, she’d continue down the path of adventures and surprises.
She walked barefoot to Steve’s and banged on the door harder than necessary.
“Come in, Heather,” came the reply.
She walked to where he sat in his chair. “Put Max down and join me at the table.”
“Have you had coffee yet?”
“We need to talk.”
She preceded him to the table and sat in her usual place, facing him. He settled as she made her first accusation. “Why is it you think you can interfere in my personal life?”
“I apologize,” he said in a sheepish voice. “I was trying to help.”
“Did you ever think I might be like you and not want any help?” She let out a loud huff. “You can start by making a full confession.” She waited several seconds before saying, “Well? I’m waiting.”
Steve rubbed his hands together, buying time to find a good starting place. He began with slow, deliberate sentences. “The idea to get you and Jack to make a commitment started swirling around in my mind a long time ago.”
“How long?”
“Four homicide cases. That includes the one we finished last night.”
Heather all but spit out the words. “You’ve been playing matchmaker since we went to Marble Falls?”
“Yeah. I saw the change come over your father and mother when they came down, met Jack, and approved of him. Then there was the trip to Belize. When we split up and you and Jack went your own way for a few days, something changed in your relationship with him. Admit it, you experienced more than a wonderful vacation.”
Heather had to hand it to Steve. He’d read her like a professional poker player reads a novice opponent. She straightened her posture. “Even if that’s true, it’s our lives, not yours.”
“That’s not exactly accurate,” he countered. “You came back, and we solved that case. Then you immediately got involved with a deal your father cooked up involving a bullet train. You jumped into that project with both feet. Another murder case fell in our laps. That left you trying to please your father, wanting to pursue your relationship with Jack, and helping me solve what turned out to be two murders. No one can do that much. Not even you. So… after that case ended and the rail project fell through, I thought it would be a good time to nudge you in Jack’s direction.”
“Nudge?” said Heather. “Conspiring with Jack and Father to all but drag me to the altar is your idea of a nudge?”
Steve hung his head. “Jack must have ratted me out about everything. I told Max as much.”
Heather had to bite her lip, but she pushed on. “My father filled in the gaps Jack omitted. I have to admit, the timing of this conspiracy was impeccable. You three waited until I was at my most vulnerable.”
“That wasn’t the original plan. I’ll admit it was my idea for you and Jack to go to Boston where your dad would throw Jack out because he didn’t measure up. Then, you’d have to choose between the two most important men in your life. Both of your parents liked my plan.”
“Wait! Are you saying Mother and Father both approved of this hare-brained scheme?”
“That’s why your father pushed ahead with it. He said it was one of your mother’s dying wishes that you not push yourself until you turned into a lonely, old woman.” Steve paused. “Neither your father nor Jack told you about that, did they?”
Heather had to clear her throat before she could whisper, “I didn’t know Mother and Father liked Jack that much.”
“Like is too weak a word for what your mother thought of him, and what your father still thinks.”
Heather couldn’t speak, so Steve continued on. “The timing may have been wrong, and our methods were heavy-handed and clumsy, but we all believed we were pushing you in a direction you wanted to go.”
Heather slid her left hand toward Steve. “Take my hand. It’s in front of you on your right side.”
Steve’s fingers inched across the table until their fingertips touched. He pushed his hand a little farther and his smile threatened to show every tooth in his head. “That’s a very nice engagement ring.”
“You should know. Jack told me you went with him to pick it out.”
They squeezed each other’s hand. “By the way,” said Steve, “… your father wants to buy you that catamaran so you and Jack can sail to Belize on your honeymoon. This time, don’t argue with him.”
“Is there anything about my life you haven’t discussed with Father?”
“We only talk about the important things.”
“I guess that will be Jack’s job from now on.”
Steve shook his head. “You’re a complicated woman. It’ll take all three of us to keep up with you.”
Heather came to Steve’s side of the table, bent down, and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, but don’t count on any sudden changes in my marital status. It may take me years to teach Jack how to sail.”
Thank you for reading Vision Of Murder. I hope it kept you turning the pages to find out whodunit!
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If you like police procedurals with a side of mystery, let me introduce you to the Star of Justice series.
The truth may cost him everything…
but living a lie is no longer an option.
For sixteen long years David Harper has wanted justice for his murdered mother. In order to avenge her death, and prove his father’s innocence, he must find her killer or his father will be next.
Keep reading for a preview of
Long Road to Justice.