Family Ties Mystery Series Box Set

by James Kipling

  After they rang the doorbell, the door opened and Richard Barnes stood there with his son at his side. It had been a little over a year since his mother had been murdered in this house. Hazel wondered why he had stayed here.

  “Mr. Barnes,” she said, flashing her badge at him. “I have a few more questions that I need to ask you. Is it alright that we come in?”

  He nodded and moved aside to allow them entry. An older woman came from behind. “Please take Connor out of the room,” he said to the woman, handing the child over to her. “What would you like to know?”

  “I was wondering if you could tell us if you recognized any of these women.”

  Pulling out their pictures, he examined them and watched as his brow furrowed. “Her,” he said, pointing to Morgan’s photo. “Her mother was Karen’s doctor. I saw her at one of the appointments.”

  Hazel was unsure how to handle this new information. Two new leads in one day. Suddenly it was slightly easier to breathe. “Mr. Barnes, there are a few other questions I have for you. Did you have a security system in here before that day?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Karen insisted on it. A man had come over – he was a door to door salesman, and had a bunch of statistics on home invasion. Since Connor was only two at the time and we had nice things, she felt it was a good idea.”

  She nodded. “And before everything that happened, was there anything in the area that didn’t seem right?”

  “No. Everything seemed normal. No strange cars were around and no new faces were on the street. Everything that happened was unexpected and it is still hard to breathe easy. My boy is growing up without his mother.”

  “Why did you stay here?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t afford to leave, and with the way the housing market is, I wouldn’t be able to get a good enough sale on this house to gain anything.”

  “Thank you for your time,” she said.

  As they were walking outside, Mr. Barnes looked at them with sadness in his eyes. “Please catch the son of a bitch that did this to my wife.”

  “We will,” said Owen.

  As they walked to the car, Hazel pulled out her phone. “Hey Lisa,” she said. “Could you do me a favor? Figure out who the primary care doctor was for all the victims. I have a hunch. Alright, thank you.”

  Owen started up the car. She stared at her phone and began to think. Was this just a coincidence? She doubted it. Owen took her hand and she looked at him. “What?”

  “After this case is over, you need to go on a nice, long vacation.”

  She shook her head. “There is no way I could go anywhere. I prefer working.”

  He smiled. “I know you do. But you are so stressed. You need to get away and just relax.”

  Rolling her eyes, she felt him squeeze her hand. She didn’t like how she was feeling towards him at that moment. It was not logical to have these feelings for him – was it?

  “We should go back to the station and see what else we can figure out,” she said as a matter of fact.

  “Neither of us has eaten today and I know you’re hungry. We can grab a quick bite to eat and then we’ll be back on this.”

  “Okay,” she said. He didn’t specify where he was going to take her. When he pulled into the Red Lobster parking lot, she smiled to herself. This place was by far her most favorite restaurant. As they walked in, the hostess took them to a small booth. It was not that busy. She looked down at the menu despite the fact that she already knew what she was getting. “Nate is going to be alright,” he reassured her. “He is a lot like you, smart and strong. He won’t go down without a fight.”

  “I know. I just can’t help but wonder where he is and if he’s okay. I just want to get a phone call saying he is home with my mom.”

  Reaching across the table, he held her hand tightly. “Hazel, everything will be okay.”

  She tried to smile, unable to believe that. Her work life had run smoothly in the past five years. Nate had done undercover operations before, but this was the first time he had been exposed. She disliked how this was playing out and wanted to do something, frustrated she wasn’t able to do anything. She was stuck here. Finally she looked up at Owen and spoke. “Owen, I am so sorry for everything. I was so stupid and there was just so much going on.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry,” he said firmly. “What happened wasn’t in your control and I don’t blame or resent you. Remember, I was the one who packed my bags. I didn’t fight for you and I’m beginning to wonder what would have happened had I done that.”

  Bowing her head, the waitress brought their beverages and Hazel got up. She wasn’t able to sit there with him. Lisa was right – she hated it when she was right. It was slightly annoying but she sucked in a deep breath and knew she had to clear her head by leaving the restaurant.

  Owen followed behind her. “Hazel, you need to stop running away from me,” he said, reaching out to catch her arm. “I’m here to help and you of all people should know that. Why else would I be here?”

  “I can’t lie to you about what is going on in my head,” she stated, trying to act professional. “My head is full and it just keeps spinning. I don’t know what I should be doing. I am trapped in my own problems and I can’t help these women.”

  “Yes, you can. I believe in you.”

  Owen watched as she walked away from him. He was not going to make the same mistake he did five years ago. He wasn’t going to let her go and now he was at a crossroads. If he told her what was truly happening, she would resent him but be able to put this case away quicker – wouldn’t she?

  He was ready to tell her, but his phone rang. It was Brooks. “Jones,” he answered.

  “Are you on a date with her?”

  Looking around, he saw Brooks across the street, watching. Brooks was by far the best at his job. “No sir. We were just hungry.”

  “You’re not going to tell her anything. Okay? This is for us to deal with, not them. We are trained for this.”

  “She deserves˗…” he began but was cut off.

  “She deserves to know what she knows now. This young woman would blow this out of the water for us. If she knew the truth, we would be at war with the Italians. You know that.”

  He hung up the phone and quickly followed behind Hazel. He disliked these orders. Hazel was smart and would do right in the situation. Then again he swore an oath and knew he had to obey these orders. He went back in the restaurant to settle the bill. Then they left for the office in silence.

  §

  Hazel was disgusted with these men. Owen was hiding something, and she was going to figure out what it was. She had seen Brooks there, and overheard part of their phone conversation. They were hiding something – something that she was not allowed to know. She was not going to let them have the upper hand. This was her case and she was going to solve it – with or without them.

  As she walked over to her desk, Brooks appeared. “Your ME has concluded that your victims have the same primary care physician, Dr. Mathis. I suggest you go and have a conversation with her.”

  “I know what I am doing, sir,” she said snidely.

  “Don’t use that tone with me. I have the ability to take you off this case.”

  “I don’t give a damn about what you can do. You obviously don’t know what I can do. So go back to your office and keep your secrets. I know Owen is hiding something and I know he is under your orders. I will go ahead and figure out what it is. Do not ever underestimate me.”

  Pushing past him, she headed to her stepfather’s office. Brooks grabbed her from behind. She wanted to lash out and hit him, but she refrained. “Don’t underestimate what I can do to you. I have more power than you think.”

  “Power has nothing to do with it. Even dictators fall.”

  He let go of her and she walked away, opening her stepfather’s door. He was reading through something and barely looked up at her when she spoke. “You didn’t really
ask them here, did you? They stepped in and you had no other choice but to let them stay.”

  “Hazel, you know as much as I do how the FBI operates.”

  She looked at him puzzled at first. “Who are they? Some special task group?”

  “That is something I don’t even know. I have no choice but to let them stay here. And as far as everyone is concerned, they are here to help. I can assure you that you don’t want to look into this, Hazel.”

  “I don’t give a damn,” she said as she left the office. She was going to continue doing this investigation but on her own. She refused to allow anyone else to know what was going on. First she was going to speak with Logan Peters and see what he could tell her. Then she was going back to an old suspect who was previously ruled out. She knew he was innocent, but he could give her information she didn’t have before.

  Chapter 5

  Slipping out of the station undetected was simple enough. Owen was busy speaking to Brooks and she wasn’t allowed to know a damn thing. She disliked men like Brooks. He preferred that women had children and stood over a stove all day. She took her stepfather’s car and began driving to Logan Peter’s apartment. It was the same building the Mathis sisters had lived in.

  It did not take her long at all to arrive there. Walking up the steps, she was at the door and knocked. A sad-looking young man pulled the door open. “Logan Peters?” she said, flashing her badge.

  “Yes. What would you like to know?”

  “I would like to know about Morgan.”

  He nodded and allowed her entry. It was decorated nicely, but despite the money his family had, he did not dress like it. “What would you like to know about Morgan?”

  “Anything you can tell me would help,” she said, sitting down at the kitchen table.

  He walked to the fridge and pulled out water. Handing her one, he sat down across from her. “Morgan is a good person who everyone loved. She was smart and a good judge of character. She was not one of those girls who would let something like this happen to her.”

  “Who do you think she would trust enough to open the door?”

  “Any of her friends, but that doesn’t help you. Look, I watch the news. I know there have been other women who were killed too. Those other women look a lot like her. I will be honest with you – I know her security code and I know how to get in. I am the only person other than Morgan and Kelly who knew the code.”

  “I don’t think you had anything to do with this. Morgan fought her attacker and you have no cuts or bruises on your body to indicate you had anything to do with it. Now, could you look at these women and tell me if you know any of them?”

  He shook his head. “I have seen their pictures on the news, but I don’t know them personally. I am sorry that I couldn’t be of more help.”

  She nodded. “Do you have any security cameras?”

  “We do, but everything from the past week has been erased. None of the guys who have access to that room have a clue as to how it happened. So if you would like to talk to them, I can give you a list of names.”

  “That would be fine.”

  Logan got up and handed her a piece of paper. She just had to say one last thing before leaving. “I have to admit, you’re not what I expected. I had envisioned Armani and Rolex, but you seem like a regular guy.”

  “I don’t need expensive clothes or accessories. Just because you have something doesn’t mean you have to go ahead and show it. A lot of people seem to forget that.”

  Nodding, she left and began walking downstairs. Someone called out her name. Turning, she saw it was Mr. Hues from yesterday.

  “Detective, I remember more about how the killer looked.”

  “Is it possible for you to come to the station with me and sit with a sketch artist?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Could you wait for me until I tell my wife?”

  “Of course,” Hazel said to him. “I’ll wait right here for you.”

  Mr. Hues returned to his apartment and then they walked out together to her car. He was silent during the drive, but she knew something was eating away at him. “Are things fine with you?”

  “Oh yeah, everything is great. I was just thinking about my grandkids. They’re still spooked. I don’t think my daughter will let them come back and visit me. It is depressing really, but what can you do?”

  “I am sorry to hear that,” Hazel said soothingly.

  “Do you have any children?”

  “No. I don’t ever plan on being a mother.”

  “Why is that? Being a parent is amazing,” he began. “I remember my little girl growing up. She was so smart. It was difficult as she got older. I never wanted to let my little girl grow up.”

  Hazel nodded as she began reflecting on what could have been. But they’d arrived at the station, breaking her train of thought. Owen was standing outside and appeared to be waiting for something.

  As she got out of the car, his eyebrows raised as he walked over towards her. “Where did you go?”

  “I went to go speak with Logan Peters. Mr. Hues wanted to come down to the station and sit down with a sketch artist. He remembered more about the attacker.”

  She tried to walk past him, but he grasped her upper arm and pulled her back to him. “You had no right to go behind my back on this one.”

  Looking into his eyes, she glared at him in disgust. “I work better on my own. I don’t need to have a babysitter during this process.”

  Mr. Hues remained silent as he walked into the station. She knew he had more to say. She knocked on her stepfather’s door to see Percy speaking with him. “Sir,” she said. “Mr. Hues has more information for us.”

  Her stepfather nodded. “Go with Percy now,” he said. “We’ve found out some more things, too.”

  Hazel watched him give them both a look and she understood immediately. Percy gestured for her to follow him. “Dad did some digging. The people we are dealing with aren’t in any system. Including Owen. There is an article stating he is dead.”

  “Why are you two snooping around?”

  They both froze. Owen stood behind them with his arms folded over his chest. Hazel stepped in front of Percy and looked at him, shaking her head. “Part of working together means knowing everything about the other person. You look good for a dead person.”

  “You wouldn’t understand any of this, Hazel.”

  “Try me,” she snapped. “We all grew up together and deserve to know the truth about what is going on.”

  “We are here to catch a killer, same as you. Now you should go ahead and stop questioning what and who we are and just go with what we’re doing.”

  “The police department can force you out of here,” she said. “We don’t need to tell you a damn thing. Now if you want our cooperation, I am asking for yours. You don’t get to keep secrets.”

  “And you don’t get to leave and question people without me being there.”

  “You seemed very busy when I left. I wasn’t going to wait for you to finish your conversation with Brooks. This case is all about time. We know this guy didn’t get enough time with his last victim and he will have that urge to kill again, and soon. I won’t let someone else die on my watch.”

  “You have no idea what is going on.”

  “Then enlighten me. I don’t like being in the dark. It’s very annoying. I wish you would go ahead and just come out and say what you’re hiding.”

  He was silent and Hazel nodded. “That is exactly what I thought. I’ll figure this out on my own. I don’t need some shadow organization attempting to control what happens and when.”

  She and Percy pushed past him. Owen stood there in silence. If only she knew what was truly going on. Keeping her in the dark was ensuring her safety – or at least that was what Brooks was attempting to engrave in his head. He walked past Hazel, punching the wall. She needed to know.

  Sitting at her desk now, he could see how angry she was. She wasn�
��t very nice when she was angry. She was looking through papers and he saw that she had keys in her hand.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To talk to someone who could give me information.”

  “And who is that?”

  She stood up and shook her head. “You know so much about this case as it is. You should know who I am going to be seeing.” She tried to push past him, but he wouldn’t let her. “May I tag along?”

  He knew her answer, but was hoping she would change her mind. “You know what?” she said. “No. You know so much already. Go ahead and just tell me something I don’t know.”

  “I will if you let me go with you.”

  He watched as her brow furrowed. She was thinking about it, which was a good sign for him. Finally she nodded and he followed behind her. He was anxious. If Brooks knew what he was about to do, he could lose everything, but she needed to know.

  §

  As they sat at a red light, Hazel knew he had something to say to her. He just wasn’t sure how to say any of it. “You know why Nate was sent in after Cecily Ciervo?”

  “He is a sick bastard who has killed three families, but there is no connection.”

  “There is a connection, but only a few people know about it. Benjamin Reynolds, Harvey Smith, and Charles Harper were family men, there is no denying it. But they were also part of an organization in the government called Bloodstone. They stopped domestic threats and the Italians are one of those threats at the moment. The Ciervo family has a cache of weapons that could start a war in New York. However, they don’t intend on starting a war. They are selling those weapons on the black market, and a lot of those guns are being used to start gang wars. The entire reason Bloodstone was created was to stop gang wars and crime. They intended to get drugs, prostitutes and guns off the streets.”