| |
OFFICER PILIKEA “TEE” Teves disconnected and replaced the old-fashioned receiver in the cradle. She smoothed the soot-colored curly hair over both ears then rubbed her hazel eyes. The techs had already transported Detweiller’s body and a team continued to investigate the apartment. It looked like suicide. But since his business dealings opened up questions, she and her partner had taken a look at his workspace at Clear Choice Labs. They found the place trashed—based on Detweiller’s suicide note, he’d done the damage himself. But Tee took nothing at face value and was eager to sift through the mess.
After her Texas adventure, she’d taken a forced leave of absence. Once back full time, she’d barely left desk duty. Despite having seen and experienced more than her share of danger in her short tenure, she knew better than to hope for excitement, but boredom ate her nerves raw. So she’d been eager to take this call, despite Detective Redford’s reluctance.
More than twice her age, a foot taller than her own five-feet-four inches, and double her weight, Detective Bobby Redford looked nothing like his namesake. He had another six months to make retirement with a full pension, and planned to coast these final months. So she’d been grateful he believed in the ‘pairing and sharing’ philosophy. By working with a detective on a criminal investigation, she’d learn on the job, get to network with other detectives, gain access to investigative resources, and further her future aspirations. Still, he kept her on a tight rein. Now she knew how Karma felt about her leash. She’d only had the police dog a week, but already felt like they’d been partners forever.
Why would a state-of-the-art lab like Clear Choice rely on an old-fashioned landline? They hadn’t found Detweiller’s cell phone at his apartment and thought it might be here, but nada. Its absence, along with September’s call, added to her sense of unease.
“Interesting timing.” Redford wore his faded winter coat open over a threadbare suit, with damp gloves stuffed in the pockets. “Sounded like you know ‘em.”
“Woman named September Day. I met her last summer during that human trafficking case. She helped train my dog.” Tee rubbed tired eyes then fingered one of the tiny gold turtle earring studs. Her whole body ached. She blamed the icy weather. Ever since nearly dying when locked in the freezer, cold bit twice as hard. “September says she has information bearing on our case.” Shivering, Tee prayed her sore joints wouldn’t morph into the flu. She caught herself pining for the balmy temps of the Islands. To her, Lake Michigan paled in comparison to the ocean back home.
Redford groaned. “Our case? This isn’t your case. You’re just tagging along because you took the call and caught me in a weak moment. And we’re shorthanded.” She would have argued, but he cut her off. “I know you’re itching to make Detective, but you won’t get there faster by pushing so hard.” He waved a hand at the debris. “Detweiller pretty much closed this case himself. Nothing says guilty like suicide.”
“We...I mean, shouldn’t you at least take a look at what September says she found?” Tee didn’t know much about the woman, other than she trained dogs. “She found notes from some old police investigation by,” she checked her notes, “... Detective Christopher Day.”
“Chris Day? Hell, he’s been dead for two or three years now.” Sudden understanding lit his blue eyes. “Oh sure, I remember. The lady had a funny name, like the month. September, yeah, that’s it. Must have been six or seven years ago, Day worked this weird kidnapping case. He ended up marrying the girl, and got murdered for his trouble.” Redford pointed a finger at her. “There’s a lesson. Keep business separate from personal.”
“Murdered?” She made a mental note to find out more.
“Yeah, the cop-killing scumbag didn’t take kindly to losing his girlfriend. By that time, Detective Day had moved to South Bend. He got shot outside a convenience store. Took a while, but they finally caught the shooter. He’s waiting trial in Texas.”
She wrinkled her nose. Not her favorite place. She’d learned a lot about herself while in Texas. Stretched professionally. And discovered relatives she could definitely live without. Of its own volition, her hand went into her pocket, cupping a half dozen seashells, fingering them like worry beads, the whispery shshsh-sound soothing.
But she gained a best friend with four feet, black fur, and a heart big enough to heal the ills of the world, especially her own hidden pain. The thought made her smile, and she dropped the shells back into her pocket. Karma had been a surprise gift from her half-sister, Lia Corazon. The paperwork was slowly working its way through channels to get Karma official as her K9 partner.
Redford took off his hat to scratch sparse strands of red hair, and reset the cap. “So Day’s widow found something about one of his old investigations? How’s it connected to Detweiller’s death?”
Tee shrugged. “Don’t know. September said the material includes the newspaper article about the recent Clear Choice Labs investigation and indictment, plus some older clippings.” She waved one hand at the phone. “She called the number to find out.”
“Long shot. Probably not worth much after six years.” He shook his head, dismissive. “If it’ll make you happy, I’ll take a look when she brings it in.”
“She called from South Bend.”
“So she can scan and email it or something. With Detweiller dead, our timeline just opened up.” He mopped his brow again. “Look, Tee, we got plenty to deal with already. I admire your energy and eagerness, but it’s time to put this case to bed. No need to go snipe hunting for stuff you’ll never catch. Besides, I got a date with the missus and my boy Zach, home for the holidays.” He grinned. “His adoption-day celebration’s bigger than Christmas and birthday combined. We got him a dog. He’s always wanted a Border Collie.” When he spoke of his son, Redford’s face transformed from stoic cop to adoring, proud dad. “I’ve not had a dog since I was a kid. This one’s a rescue, pretty calm for the breed, and mostly white, with a half-and-half face. Looks like an Oreo.” He laughed. “Zach’s gonna do cartwheels. He’s asked for a dog every year since he was five. This’ll be the best Christmas ever.”
Tee didn’t want to think about Christmas. She couldn’t visit her Aunty in California, or go home to the Islands, so Redford’s happiness just left her hollow. “Come on, Redford. How many suicides call the cops in advance? Friends, maybe, or family. But the police? You don’t find that odd?”
He shrugged. “When you’ve been around as long as I have, nothing surprises you. Suicidal people don’t think straight, don’t plan, it can be spur of the moment, especially when they got the means so handy.”
She reflexively rubbed the light scars on her wrists, hidden under the long sleeves of her coat. She knew about that dark abyss that beckoned, and promised a relief to all the pain...Tee blinked rapidly. She’d got beyond that. She concentrated on the Detective’s words.
“Detweiller stood to lose everything. Business, reputation. Not to mention an upcoming sensational trial and probably going away for a long time. Detweiller just filled up one of his syringes at work and took it home with him for a nightcap.” Redford played with the zipper on his coat. “Once they found he falsified one test, every other result gets reviewed and probably tossed. Lawyers will have a field day. I already got Alderman Jacobs on my case to get this wound up tight.”
She’d met Kelly Radcliff Jacobs III only once, late last year, working security at a function celebrating his son’s seventeenth birthday. Tee found Jacobs pretentious, condescending, and entitled. He spent all evening bragging on his business success with his string of pharmacies.
“What’s he complaining about now? He got his way.” For the past year Jacobs had campaigned against aldermen being banned from outside employment. She held up her hands in surrender when Redford would have lectured her yet again on Chicago politics. Sometimes you had to make nice.
Nullifying lab results could impact a host of issues, from convictions to medical diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatments. Tee dreaded the pile of paperwork to come. The public believed cops chased bad guys, foiled conspiracies, and wrote irksome tickets. But she spent an inordinate amount of time filling out tedious reports.
“I got a gut feeling about September’s information.” She held up a hand again. “I know, you don’t want to waste any time. So how about this. I’ve got a couple of days down-time saved up. I’ll do it on my own, off the clock. Take a quick trip down to South Bend, pick up September Day’s info, and poke around.”
He stared at her, started to speak, then blew out a breath. “No, it’ll be on the clock. Detweiller’s bookkeeper is in South Bend, too, so that’ll save me a trip. And it’ll get you out of my hair for a couple of days. But clear it with the Captain first, and keep me informed.”
“You won’t be sorry.” She turned away to hide a grin, thankful she kept a packed to-go bag handy. She’d need to buy a train ticket, and let September know. She wondered if Karma would remember September’s dog, Shadow.
