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“Hello, is this Mrs. Jacinta Witt?” Dee asked the woman on the phone as Connie sat on the edge of Dee’s desk.
“Yes, it is,” the woman answered. “Who’s asking?”
“Mrs. Witt, I’m Detective Dee Quarter from Baltimore. Homicide.”
“Homicide?”
“You have a son named LJ Witt, do you not?” Dee made eye contact with Connie.
“Yes, I do.” Her voice shook. “Is something wrong?”
“We caught up with a friend of LJ’s who gave us your name and number. We’re trying to contact LJ. Is he staying in Aurora, Illinois with you?”
“I haven’t heard from LJ in at least twelve years.”
“What?”
“I don’t speak to my son, Detective. We fell out years ago. He left Aurora and that’s the last time I saw him.”
Dee blew out a breath. “We heard he moved back to Illinois about a year ago because you were sick.”
“Who told you that? I’ve never been sick. Did something happen to LJ?”
Dee sighed, grabbing her pen. “He’s missing. The property manager of where he was staying said he told her he went to Illinois.”
“If he’s back here, he hasn’t told me. I think that manager lied to you, Detective Quarter.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Dee tapped the pen on the desk. “I’m sorry to bother you—”
“Wait, shit. My son is missing? What’s going on?”
“That’s what we’d like to know.” Dee gave Jacinta her contact information. “We’ll be in touch if we hear anything.”
“I can’t believe this.” The woman’s breathing sped up. “Lord, please let him be all right. We didn’t get along, but that’s still my baby.”
“We’re gonna do all we can to sort this out, Mrs. Witt. Thanks for your time.” Dee hung up. “Holy shit.”
“What did she say?”
“She and LJ are estranged, and she hasn’t heard from him in years.”
Connie scowled. “What?”
“She’s never been sick either.”
“People just don’t disappear into thin air.” Connie swung her legs. “Either LJ lied to Nelda, or she made the whole thing up.”
Dee rubbed her mouth. “Only one way to find out.”
Connie jumped off the desk. “Let’s go.”
****
“His mother hasn’t heard from him?” Nelda sipped iced tea, face snow white. “That’s strange. I don’t know what to say.”
Dee stood over her, gripping her holster. “Are you sure LJ told you from his own lips he was going to Illinois to be with his sick mother?”
“Yes.” Nelda crossed her legs at the ankles, feet shaking. “Maybe he didn’t make it.”
Connie glanced at Dee with upturned lips.
“Detectives, why would I lie about LJ? I still don’t see what this has to do with Autumn’s murder.”
“LJ and his mother are estranged,” Connie said. “It would make no sense for him to tell you he was going there.”
“Well, he did.” Nelda’s voice rose at the end of the sentence. “I’m as confused as you two are.”
“Do you understand what a big deal this is?” Dee asked. “LJ was your tenant, and he disappeared off the face of the earth it looks like.”
Connie nodded. “And you told us something that doesn’t appear true.”
“I didn’t tell a lie on purpose.” Nelda scooted to the end of her couch. “I wish I could help.”
Dee rocked forward. “Mind going over when Grayson attacked you again?”
Nelda’s head swiveled. “Excuse me?”
“Tell us about when he attacked you,” Connie said. “Because it seems to be another thing that’s not adding up.”
“Grayson Paul is a lunatic.” Nelda stood. “What else would you call someone who would hit a woman my age? You both were here when he came back. He was out of control. Why do I feel like the bad guy?”
“Why would Grayson attack you?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Detective Quarter?” Nelda’s mouth fell open. “He killed Autumn.”
Dee sighed, scratching her cheek. “This just doesn’t look good for you, Nelda.”
“You think I killed Autumn or something?”
“You know something,” Connie said. “The smart thing would be to come clean.”
“I’m not hiding a damn thing.” Her top lip trembled. “And, I’m not gonna let you accuse me of lying when all I was doing was trying to help. If you want anything else speak to my lawyer.”
“It’s like that?”
“Yes, Detective Quarter.” Nelda plopped on the couch. “It’s like that.”
****
“Dee.”
“Oh!” She turned from the cabinet in the station file room to see Winston standing in the door. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He smiled, pushing his hands in his pockets. “Sorry.”
“Man.” Dee stooped over, exhaling. “What are you still doing here, anyway?”
“I knew you were staying late.” He scooted on top of the table. “Stayed to surprise you.”
She closed the cabinet, holding her breath as she looked at him. “Something you needed?”
“I’m sorry for how I acted last night.”
“You had every right to be upset.” She approached the table. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I wasn’t just hurt but scared.”
“Scared?” She batted her eyes.
“I can’t lose you, Dee.” He rubbed his thighs.
“Sh.” She put her finger on his lips. “I love you.” She hugged him. “I won’t see Jonathan alone again.” She pulled away from him. “But, for the case I might have to go with Connie.”
He nodded, exhaling. “I saw him earlier today.” He scratched his arm. “It’s easy to see how he sucks people in. He has a way of twisting things and he knows how to get to your vulnerabilities.”
Dee crossed her arms. “Are you speaking from experience?”
“Let’s say he tried to play mind tricks on me.” He wiggled his butt on the table. “But, he lost the battle.”
“After this case...” She tugged on his button. “We can forget about Jonathan Wild.”
“I hope so.” He brought her into his warm arms, his coconut cologne fascinating her.
“I think Autumn’s murder starts and ends with Nelda.” Dee put her arm around his waist. “She’s lying her ass off.”
“Well, you’ll crack the case.” He kissed her forehead. “You always do.”
“Meanwhile, how about we go to my place and you make things up to me?”
He snickered, kissing her. “Who’s making it up to who?”
“I love you.” She stroked his cheeks. “Remember that even if I make a mistake.”
He flinched, sticking in his neck. “Do you plan on making a mistake?”
“No.” She hugged him, thoughts of Jonathan’s kiss sneaking into her head. “I need to make sure you’ll love me no matter what.”