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Stacy traced a finger over the red band running across the screen, this time more defined and clearer than before.
She caught a glimpse of Austin’s dark eyes in the reflection on the glass, following her movements.
“According to this, Olivo spent most of yesterday and last night picking up people in North Olmstead, Bay Village, and Parma Heights.”
Stacy’s finger ran slower across the red band. “If this is accurate, then he would’ve driven a far distance to come to Fairfax to pick someone up.”
Austin leaned back in the seat. The faded, torn leather seat groaned and wheezed as he sat back. “Maybe he wasn’t over here to pick someone up. Maybe he was here to meet someone.”
Stacy was listening to what her partner was saying, but her mind trailed elsewhere. She leaned back into the doorframe. “And since somebody erased the numbers on the rate meter, we don’t know if he picked anyone else up before he came over here.”
Austin nodded thoughtfully. “And whoever killed Olivo cleared off the machine to throw us off.”
Stacy pushed open the door of the cab and got out. She longed for the burst of fresh air that hit her face the moment she stepped outside. It helped her mind refocus.
Austin walked around the hood of the car. Stacy pivoted to her right and stopped in front of him.
“Where are we with Ace Taxi? Did you go over there and check their computer systems to see if we can track Olivo’s movements in the last few days?”
Austin stared anxiously at his partner. “No. I haven’t. I’ve been trying to find out who has been taking money from Colton DeVito’s bank account.”
“Work harder and faster,” Stacy said in a disgruntled voice. “I’d say now is a perfect time to go over and look at his recent driving history.”
Stacy whirled around and stalked away. The burning pain in her lungs increased, and it felt like her entire chest was on fire.
Austin trailed behind her. “Hey,” he called to Stacy. When she kept walking, he called out again. “Stacy. Wait a minute!”
Stacy stopped and turned around. Every second that dragged on made Stacy more anxious.
“What, Austin?”
He looked at her with soft eyes. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Fine.”
“I noticed you splayed a hand over your chest. I wanted to make sure that everything is okay with you.”
She ignored his statement about the gesture she didn’t remember doing. “The fact that we haven’t thoroughly investigated a clear lead on this case, even though Diana and I had asked for it, now has us here,” she said, pointing to the scene behind them. “We asked you to go to Ace Taxi and check out their travel logs and find out where Miguel Olivo has been driving within the last week, and I come to find out just now it hasn’t been done. If the task had been completed, maybe we could’ve discovered that this wasn’t the first time Olivo had been over here in Fairfax after hours.” Stacy leaned in. “I gave an order, not a request. I am the superior officer assigned to this case, and I wish that you’d remember that. And all of that has nothing to do with my emotions or feelings. Multitask, Austin. Do two things at once.”
Austin stood there, startled and dismayed. When it was clear Stacy was finished, he shook his head and pushed past her.
She turned around to see his broad-shouldered silhouette fading into the distance.
“Where are you going?” she called out, her voice a croak.
Austin looked back. “Eat shit,” he said before crouching down and going under the caution ribbon.
At that, Stacy heard heavy footfalls behind her. “Lieutenant, I’d like to help.”
She turned around and saw Kendall, his fists clenched and his eyes hard and focused.
“I appreciate the offer, Kendall, but you don’t work in my unit. Peter Banks would have my ass if he knew I took one of his men without permission.”
Kendall flashed a wide grin. “Already got it.”
Stacy pursed her lips. “When?”
Kendall playfully wagged a cell phone in his hand. “Just now.”
Stacy folded her arms and regarded the corporal. “This case is going to be a lot of work, and it’s messy. We’re trying to pull together some threads, and I can’t say we’ve got much yet to work with.” She paused and arched an eyebrow. “Still want in?”
Kendall clapped his hands together with delight. “Hell, yeah!”
Stacy grinned and chinned behind them. “Start by managing the scene here. Stay close to Sergeant Cerrera. Keep me posted on any developments.”
“Got it.”
With that, Kendall turned and moved back into the stream of moving people with a bounce in his step.
Stacy appreciated Kendall volunteering. The case needed some more work, and Kendall could provide some invigorating intensity and focus to it. Stacy trusted him, and she recalled how he wasn’t afraid to take risks. He had continuously put himself in jeopardy guarding Stacy during the Devon Baker investigation and endangering himself by engaging in conflicts with suspects without once questioning the rationale behind the engagements.
She hoped he could also provide a fresh perspective to some of the details and evidence collected concerning the case so far. Kendall also knew Austin, so working him in as a new member of the team would be smooth and seamless.
Austin. Stacy quickened her steps as she moved under the police tape and went back to her car. Stacy hoped Austin would be there. For a moment, Stacy clung to the idea she was justified in what she had said to Austin, but a pang of guilt quickly replaced the feeling. Stacy didn’t want to make Austin feel inferior or as if his work didn’t matter to her. It did. The more they learned and discovered about the people connected to Colton DeVito, the more dangerous and deadly everything became.
“I’m looking for Detective Cerrera,” Stacy said to the young officer they’d met when they arrived on the scene.
“I saw him walk back that way,” he said, his eyes darting in the direction of the crime scene. He shrugged his shoulders. “Didn’t hear where he was going.”
Stacy stalked back to her Camry and jerked open the door. She scooped up her cell phone and called Austin. The call went right to voicemail.
She also checked the missed call, highlighted in red on her phone screen. Melinda had tried to call.
This time, Stacy called her back. The phone rang several times before an exasperated voice on the other end answered.
“Mother—”
“Stacy,” she said, sucking in a breath. “Thank God. Please come home. Please.”
The words came out fast and clipped. “Mother, slow down. What’s wrong?”
“The police are here.”
Stacy’s gut clenched. “Mother, is everything okay? Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine.” Melinda pulled the phone away from her ear, and Stacy could hear muffled words from someone else.
“Mother, who are you talking to?”
Melinda pushed the phone back to her mouth. “He was just here. I know it.”
“Who, Mother? Who was just there?”
“Chance,” she blurted out. “Chance was just here.”