by Stacy-Deanne
“Oh, Detective Swanson.” Deanne dropped her pen and took Lisa’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you but you’re about thirty minutes early.”
“I apologize.” Lisa sat beside her desk. “My motor’s been running since we spoke on the phone, so I could think of nothing else but meeting you.”
“I guess we shouldn’t waste time.” Deanne took off her glasses. “So you’re investigating the murder of Edana Paul and you came across me.”
“I’ve always hated how cops seem to gossip.” Lisa grinned. “But sometimes you find out some interesting information among that gossip and that’s how your name popped up.” She crossed her legs at the ankles. “I was discussing the case with some detectives who used to work at this precinct and they told me your suspicions.”
“At the time some found my suspicions about Grayson Paul unfounded and silly. Do you read Grayson’s work?”
“Not before this case. I’ve been reading Moon Day, and Melanie’s murder in there stuck out to me immediately.” Lisa snapped her fingers. “I thought of the Gretchen Trommell case from last year. I was talking to some officers about the Trommell case and found out you were the detective on it and...” Lisa gestured to her.
“I’ve always been a Grayson Paul fan.” Deanne chewed on the handle of her glasses. “So imagine my surprise when I ran out to get my copy of Moon Day, started reading, and came across Melanie’s murder.” She curled her fingers. “I can’t tell you the level of horror I felt inside when I was reading it. It was as if I walked back into the room where we found Gretchen’s body.”
“Mmm.”
“I’ve worked homicide for over twenty years.” Deanne moaned. “I’d never seen a murder so gruesome and a case so weird in my life.”
“Well Gretchen’s murder was anything but normal. She was found hung in her closet, right? After she’d been stabbed?”
“She’d been hacked to death with what we believe was some sort of sword, and then hung up naked like a piece of rotting meat.”
Nausea swirled in Lisa’s stomach. “And you never found a significant lead?”
“Now you know how cops are.” Deanne laid her glasses down and hooked her fingers. “That little bell starts ringing in our heads and—”
“Exactly.” Lisa nodded and chuckled.
“So when I read the scene...” Deanne’s gaze drifted from Lisa. “I noticed that little things in the scene were similar to Gretchen’s murder.”
“Like what?” Lisa moved closer to the desk.
“Like the way Grayson described how the coffee cup had been turned up on Melanie’s end table by the bed. It wouldn’t seem like a big deal to anyone else, but we found a coffee cup turned up on Gretchen’s end table.”
“What?”
“And that’s not all.” Deanne’s eyebrows rose. “Did you see how Grayson described the blood splatter on the sheets?”
“Yeah, he said it resembled a check mark.” Lisa gaped. “Don’t tell me—”
“With Gretchen’s murder, the blood spatter looked like the letter V.” Deanne sighed. “See we were so freaked out when we saw it. A V-shape in Gretchen’s blood and a check mark in Melanie’s?” Deanne grimaced. “And the way he described the scene...I get chills just thinking about it. It’s not just what he wrote but how he captured the horror and intensity of that crime scene. It’s like he had to have been there when Gretchen died.”
Lisa shivered. “This is some creepy shit.”
“And let’s not forget that in Moon Day Melanie was killed with a Samurai sword.” Deanne nodded. “At least that’s what Ronnie Pine thinks. Why would Grayson just pick a sword and not a knife or a hatchet or something?” Deanne squinted. “And no one but the police knew that Gretchen might’ve been killed with a sword. We never gave out that information.”
“But you did say you guys aren’t sure she was killed with a sword right?”
“Yes, but this is just too weird despite that. I mean we think Gretchen was killed with a sword then Ronnie Pine also has that suggestion in the book?” Deanne scrunched up her face. “Come on, right? It’s like Grayson was confessing within his book.”
“So you think he killed Gretchen?”
Deanne grabbed her coffee cup, peeked into it, and sipped. “I don’t know.” She set the cup down. “But my superior shot my theory down. He’s more worried about Grayson suing for defamation and making a huge media storm out of this that would make the department look bad.”
Lisa shook her head. “It’s always about the well-being of the department isn’t it? Just because Grayson is a public figure, it doesn’t mean he’s above the law. So you’re following up on other possible leads, or letting it go?”
“Oh, I’ll never let anything go until it’s solved.” Deanne titled her cup to Lisa. “I’ll continue to read Grayson’s books, but instead of reading them for entertainment...I read them for clues.”
CHAPTER TEN
“This is ridiculous!” Dee snatched ice out of the ice machine in the station lounge. “You’ve lost it, Lisa.”
“I have not lost it! I’m telling you what Detective Mosley said. Hell, she’s working the Gretchen Trommell case. Wouldn’t she know of any strange similarities?”
“So she actually thinks Grayson killed Gretchen Trommell?” Dee chewed ice. “No wonder she hasn’t solved the case then. She’s an idiot.” She headed to the door.
Lisa stomped behind her. “Why are you so dead set against believing that Grayson Paul might be a killer?”
Dee stopped. “And why can’t you see how ludicrous this all is?” She turned around. “This man is a famous author. You think he’d be out here killing people?”
“Yes, if he’s sick! Maybe he’s gotten so warped by his writing that he can’t tell fiction from reality.”
Dee stuck her cup in Lisa’s face. “No, you can’t tell fiction from reality.”
“You know damn well this looks fishy, but just because you have the hots for Grayson you’re ignoring reason.”
“Oh, and like you have so much reason when it comes to men.” Dee dumped more ice into her mouth.
“You’re playing with fire, Dee.”
“No, you are.” Dee pointed at her. “I’m not the one sleeping with one man and trying to jump into the sack with another.”
“I...” Lisa touched her chest. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Well it’s the truth isn’t it?” She crunched ice. “And the entire station knows it. Everyone around here thinks you and Winston are fooling around.”
Lisa held her breath. “Winston and I are not fooling around.”
Dee shook ice around in her cup. “Yet.”
“This is not about me and Winston. This is about you being blind and not using common sense.” Lisa poked her arm. “At least remember that Grayson has a motive to want his ex-wife dead. At least wrap your brain around some of the stuff that Mosley told me. At least remember you’re an officer on this case and try to be objective!”
Dee flashed a derisive smirk. “Okay, I will.”
“And you know...” Lisa held her waist and exhaled. “I’m really getting sick of this attitude from you. I mean it’s really getting old.”
“And you badmouthing Grayson is getting old too.”
“I’m doing my job, which is more than I can say for you.”
Dee rolled her eyes and went to the doorway.
“Dee?”
She stopped. “What?”
Lisa walked in front of her. “Why don’t you talk to Grayson about some of this stuff if you’re so sure he’s innocent?”
“I don’t need to because I know he’s not a killer.”
****
“Well, this is a lovely surprise, Detective Swanson.” Grayson sat at his computer in his home office. “Didn’t expect to see you—”
“Let’s get something straight right now, Grayson.” She rested her hand on her gun. “I am not Dee.”
He chuckled.
“You might have her
acting like a thirteen-year-old with her first crush, but, honey, you have zero effect on me.”
His eyebrows reached his forehead. “I see.”
“I’m not a fan of yours or your books.” She stood by his desk. “All of my mind is on this case.”
“I understand, and believe me, I don’t need any reminder that you’re not Dee.” He propped his elbow beside the keyboard. “See if you were Dee, you wouldn’t be standing there fully clothed. You’d be in my bed naked, and on all fours.”
She backed up. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me, Detective.” He leaned back in his chair and propped his right leg on his left. “See, when Dee and I get together...our clothes just magically fall off and we end up in positions we never thought possible.”
“You’re a pig.” She backed up toward the doorway. “You’re lying anyway. Dee swore that she wasn’t sleeping with you.”
He rocked his head. “And you believe everything you hear?”
“She wouldn’t sleep with you no matter how tempted she might be.” She walked around the office. “She knows it would jeopardize this case. She wouldn’t be that irresponsible.”
He stood. “You’re a cop so you need proof, right?” He left the room and returned with his
hand balled up. “Is this enough proof for you?” He opened his hand.
“What’s that?” Lisa stared at the balled up cloth.
He held up the panties. “You might not believe it but these are Dee’s.” He held them closer to her face.
She hit his arm. “Get that shit out of my face.”
“I just wanted you to see I’m telling the truth.” He sniffed them. “Is this enough proof? Or do you want to check the garbage for discarded condoms?”
“I...”
He twirled the panties around his finger. “Are we done here, Detective?”
She stomped out.
****
“Yes.” Dee typed on her computer. “I slept with him.” She straightened her monitor. “How is that any of your business?”
“You lied to me!” Lisa leaned over her desk.
“And you don’t lie?”
“You could get kicked off the case. What’s gotten into you, Dee?” Lisa walked behind Dee’s desk. “You’re like a completely different person. I barely recognize you.”
“Oh please.” She grabbed her pen and leaned back in the chair. “I know what this is really about and why you don’t want me with Grayson.”
Lisa crossed her arms. “Other than him possibly being a murdering psycho?”
“You’re jealous.” Dee turned the pen between her fingers.
“Girl, you have really lost it.”
“Have I? For once you’re not getting all the attention.” Dee pointed the pen at her. “For
once a man wants me and not you.”
“Okay.” Lisa bent down to her face. “Where is the real Dee and what planet did you come from?”
“I’m right here.” Dee threw the pen down. “And I’m sick of sitting around not having a life while you get everything.”
“What the hell have I gotten?” Lisa threw up her arms. “What, a life of misery? A man who used to beat the hell out of me? What?” She walked to the front of Dee’s desk. “You’re taking it out on me because you like Winston, but if you’re in love with him then you need to tell him.”
“For what?” She flicked her hair back. “To be rejected because he wants you like every man always does?”
“I don’t believe you.” Lisa put her hand on her hip. “I’ve gone through hell in my life, Dee. I’m finally happy with a good man and you’re coming at me like this? I thought you were the one who always supported me.”
“What about me having some support, huh?”
“I do support you!”
“Really?” Dee’s voice cracked. “Sure I’m not just here to be your shoulder or your pillow to cry on?”
Lisa pointed a shaky finger. “That is low. I don’t use you, Dee. You know that.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes it feels like it.”
“I...” Lisa fought tears. “If you felt that way then you should’ve told me.”
Dee stood. “And if you were half the friend I’ve been to you then I shouldn’t have to.”
She snatched her cup and left the room.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Detective Connie Wilks entered the women’s bathroom. “Lisa?” She twisted a strand of her long, blonde hair around her finger.
Lisa sobbed into a tissue in front of the mirror.
Connie patted her back. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
She sniffled. “It’s Dee.” She wiped her nose. “She’s different. She’s changing.”
“What are you talking about?” Connie tore a piece of paper towel from the dispenser and dabbed Lisa’s face. “Calm down. Now what’s going on with you and Dee?”
“She...” She sniffled. “She was horrible to me just now. She acts like she hates me.”
“That’s silly. Dee loves you. You’re her best friend.”
“No, she’s jealous of me.” Tears fell as fast as Lisa could wipe them. “She was so nasty to me just now, Connie. I never would’ve expected that from her.”
“But I don’t get it.” Connie rubbed her back. “Why would Dee be this way to you?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Sure.” Connie smiled. “What’s going on?”
“I think she’s taking it out on me because she has feelings for Winston and she doesn’t know how to deal with that.”
Connie took her hand off Lisa’s back. “You mean she likes him?”
“She’s in love with him.” Lisa wiped a tear off her lips. “And she’s upset with me because he likes me.” She dabbed the corners of her eyes. “But that’s not my fault. If she likes him she should be woman enough to tell him instead of acting all evil.”
Connie bit her lip. “I had a feeling she liked Winston. I mean she’s so defensive about him all the time.”
Lisa threw the tissue into the wastebasket beside the sink. “Don’t tell, okay?”
“I won’t.” Connie smiled. “So what exactly is the deal between you and Winston?”
“Nothing.” Lisa checked her face in the mirror.
“Lisa, come on.” Connie went toward the first stall. “When I caught you two kissing in the file room it looked like more than nothing.”
“Well whatever it was is over.”
Lisa left the bathroom.
****
That Night:
Lisa’s cell rang just as she got the skinless chicken breasts into the oven. She checked the phone and struggled between accepting and rejecting the call but answered anyway. “What do you want?” She tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder and got the brown rice from the cabinet.
“You still mad at me?” Jake asked.
“You damn right I am.”
“But it’s been days.” He sighed. “I thought you’d cooled off by now.”
She grabbed a can of mixed vegetables out of the cabinet. “You must not realize how upset I am with you.”
“So you don’t miss me at all?”
’Course I miss you. I’m dying without feeling your lips on mine and melting in your touch.
But, you don’t trust me so...
“Leece, I’m so sorry for attacking Winston.”
“No you’re not.” She set the can of vegetables on the table.
“Okay, I’m not but I’m sorry I embarrassed you. I didn’t intend to do that, sweetie.”
“It’s not just the embarrassment.” She leaned on the table. “It’s the fact that you don’t trust me. I can’t keep going around in circles with this, Jake.”
“I know I was wrong but you can’t blame me for how I felt.”
“I can blame you!” She grabbed the dishrag. “You acted like a nut and it made no sense. The problem isn’t Winston. It’s not even that you don’t trust me.” She got the large
mixing spoon out of the drawer and slammed it closed. “It’s you, Jake. You’ve lost your confidence.”
“Yeah,” he whispered. “Maybe I have.”
“I know it’s hard having to depend on a wheelchair all the time, but I don’t understand why now you’re finding it so hard to deal with.”
“I’m just so scared I’ll lose you.”
“Jake...” She sighed. “If you lose me it won’t be because of the wheelchair or because you’re not a real man as you seem to think.” She threw the large spoon on the counter. “It’ll be because you stopped being the man I fell in love with. I gotta go.”
“No, wait. Can I see you tonight? Can I come over?”
Her phone beeped.
She scratched her head. “I need a break from you right now.”
“Please. I love you and I will do anything...anything you say. Just please forgive me.”
“I can’t be with you when you’re acting like this, Jake.”
“Tell me what you want and I’ll do it. I’ll do anything for you.”
She tapped her fingers on the counter. “You need to sort through what’s been going on with you. I’d like you to talk to someone about it.”
“Okay.” He blew into the phone. “I think you might be right.”
Her phone beeped again.
“I gotta go.”
“I love you, Lisa.”
She closed her eyes. “I love you too.” She switched to the other call. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Winston said. “What’s up?”
“I’m cooking. What’s up with you?”
“Are you staying in?”
“Yeah.” She turned around and leaned on the counter. “Are you?”
“No, I’m going out tonight and looking mighty sharp if I say so myself.”
She grinned. “Ooh, got a hot date?”
He better not have a hot date.
“No, I’m going solo. Decided to treat myself to dinner and dancing.”
“Wow.” Her heart fluttered. “That sounds nice. I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
“I could have a lot more fun if you came with me.”
A date. Is he seriously asking me out on a date?
“Uh...” She gripped the phone. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
