The Queen of Hearts (Mountain Springs Mysteries, #1)

by J. E. Mann

  A quick pit stop to the office was all I needed to get the boost I was looking for. My files were neatly stacked together with my bag right where I had left it. Jake hadn’t been seen in a few days which worked nicely for me. Hopefully he was on the trail too. From the smell in the office I guessed he had stopped in recently too. There was a cross between smoke, body odor, faint alcohol and cologne. I couldn’t force myself to think about whom the cologne belonged to.

  Jake was always prone to drinking but then again, everything put together lead me to believe both guys had been by the office unless Jake took up wearing new cologne. I shook off my irrelevant thoughts but somewhere inside me, my happiness started to show up again. James was out, he may not be in the best shape, but he was out.

  I grabbed my bag off the chair, locked up, and went downstairs to the small café below. Normally I didn’t gravitate to such a noisy environment especially while I needed to think but I needed stimulation that was beyond my normal space. Sometimes the smallest details and behaviors could provide the biggest clues, and I intended to use anything to solve this case.

  The café was very busy this afternoon. The constant chatter of both patrons and employees filled the small space. There were three people ahead of me and it looked like I might be waiting about ten minutes.

  “You don’t understand, I had to let him go,” said an older man behind me.

  “Larry’s been on the job for seven years. He makes one little mistake and you fire him,” his friend said behind him.

  “He put all of our lives in danger. I like Larry, you know that, but I can’t let my feelings come before safety.”

  Larry, as I learned, had not taken the news of his firing well. Threats and even a promise of a law suit had marked his departure. The person in front of me was paying for his drink when the first man spoke again.

  “He didn’t take the pressure of the steam gauge. Do you know how often you have to do that? The pressure builds and builds. You don’t release that, and everything and everybody dies when it explodes.”

  The cashier smiled as he saw me. “What can I make for you today?” His face suddenly looked concerned. “Ma’am? Are you alright?”

  I hadn’t moved. Those last words from the two men behind me had started to echo in my brain. Pressure. You don’t release that. Pressure.

  “Ma’am?”

  “I have to go,” I said and turned and ran out of the café. We had miscalculated somewhere. I only hopped that it hadn’t cost some person their life. I unlocked my car and slid into the driver seat. I pulled out, my phone pressed it to my ear. If I couldn’t find Jake, a bad situation was going to get infinitely worse. Voicemail. Damn it Jake.

  “Jake it’s Rachel. It’s going to happen. Sooner than we thought. Call me please.”

  I drove, thinking of where I should go. I decided that I had to find where the killer was. I could follow and make sure nothing was done. Traveling, took me seven minutes to get to where I thought the car would be. As I parked, I scanned the parking lot.

  The killer’s car was gone. I smacked the steering wheel in frustration. I put the car in drive and began driving around the city. I knew what I was looking for, but so did the people looking for a needle in a haystack.

  Two hours later, as the sun began to set behind the mountains; I was still driving and finding nothing. I was so frustrated I almost started to cry. Instead, I parked the car and leaned my head back. Closing my eyes, I began to process all the information I had. The killer and their car were a variable. I could not determine where they were at this moment. I had to be at a place before they got there.. Opening my eyes, I knew where I should go.

  Darkness had fallen as I pulled into the gated community. The sections of townhouse actually looked very expensive. This was the kind of place where the rich could live and feel like they were in the middle of their own kind. As I turned down one corner I suddenly slammed on the brakes. There, parked in one of the spaces was the car. The car looked just as dangerous as an unexplored sitting in the middle of the street. Had I been too late? I put my own car into park and wondered if I needed to call the police or ambulance. As I watched the driver side door open and the killer stepped out. Without considering, I open my own door and stepped out. The figure started to walk towards one of the doors. I had to stop them before they got any farther.

  "Excuse me, do you live here?"

  The figure turned. Recognition suddenly came into their eyes. “Hi Rachel

  “Hello Nina,” I said.

  Nina nodded as I studied her, I was fairly confident. She wasn't wearing the hoodie when I had seen her standing over the body of her victim in the alleyway, which hopefully meant that her gun was probably still in the car. Maybe I could talk her down before she had a chance to grab it. Maybe she could be reasoned with.

  “I don't live here,” Nina said “I’m just visiting a friend

  “As am I,” I lied, “These houses are really nice. My friend said she can't live anywhere else.”

  Nina laughed. A normal laugh, just like every other normal person. “I don't think I'll ever be able to afford any place like this,” she said.

  “Your receptionist pay isn't too high?”

  She shook her head. Here we were just two girls talking about houses “Jake told me that you were studying to be a nurse?”

  “That won't be for a very long time” she said.

  I nodded. “Well I won't keep you from seeing your friend I just saw your car and wanted to come by and say hello.

  Confusion came over Nina's face “How did you know that this was my car?”

  Oh shit. Nina was right I had never seen her in this car so how would I know that it was hers. My mind raced and I came up with what was probably the lamest answer in the universe

  “Oh I saw you in the driver seat and I recognized you.” Nina looked back at her car. It wasn’t in complete darkness but it was pretty close

  “You must have amazing eyes” she said.

  I laughed “20/20 but they get me by. I won't take up anymore of your...”

  The gun was in her left hand. She had it the entire time. I raise my hands and wondered if being shot would be the perfect punishment for being so stupid

  “Were you following me?” Nina whispered

  “Nina, put the gun down.”

  “You were following me,” Nina gritted her teeth “You were trying to stop me again.”

  Any rationale, any sanity left Nina's eyes. Replacing that look was the look of a dangerous wild animal who suddenly finds itself backed into a corner and the only way to get out is to fight.

  “Nina,” I don't even know if she heard me. Her face contorted into evil sneer.

  “You should've just stayed away. Or do you have time for me now?”

  My father always said that pressure is what makes diamonds. This lesson was one that I held onto my entire life. I had no weapon; I couldn't rush Nina without getting shot, so I did the thing that I'm best at. I talked.

  “Nina I haven’t been cheating on anybody I don't deserve to die.”

  I saw the gun quiver for a moment. Just for a moment but it did.

  “I can't let you stop me,” she said. She might have been insane, but there was still logic there twisted as it may have been. What was stronger, the desire to keep killing or to only kill those who deserve it.

  “You have to realize what you are doing is wrong. They cheated and that's horrible, but that doesn't mean they deserved to die.”

  “Have you ever been cheated on?” She asked.

  “No.”

  “Then you don't understand. How it makes you feel. When you don't know but you suspect. When you don't know where they are or who they are with. You feel angry and sad all the time. People who do that deserve to die.”

  “What about their spouses and their companions,” I asked trying to find an opening I could exploit, “I talked to them Nina, no one was happy they were dead.”

  She smiled “It will take time, but the
y will be better. They can find someone who respects them. Someone who will love only them.”

  The sound of footsteps stopped my next question before it left my throat. Nina turned as a woman steeped into the street light. She was beautiful, dressed in a tank top and skinny jeans.

  “What's going on...” She stopped as she saw the gun. Nina's eyes narrowed. The eyes of predator who had just spotted the prey they had been stalking.

  “You!” she spat. The woman took a small step back.

  “You...you’re the receptionist from CO singles. What are you doing here?”

  The hatred in Nina’s eyes seemed to grow exceptionally. I had to distract her before she pulled the trigger.

  “Nina, it's over.” She laughed, not turning away from the woman.

  “This will never be over.”

  “Yes it is. You have two people you have to stop and you only have one gun. If you shoot her, I will be able to escape. Shoot me and she will be able to get back inside her house. Whatever you choose, this ends tonight.”

  Nina turned back to me. Doubt was starting to cloud her face. This was what I needed. If Nina was indecisive she was not going to fire that gun. But her hesitation was not going to last forever. I needed to end this and soon

  “Nina put the gun down.” She started to comply, the arm holding the weapon dropped about six inches. But suddenly it was raised again. The doubt disappeared, replaced by steely determination. She had made a choice.

  “Nina...”

  “Shut up, no more talking.”

  Fine, this is my last word. I took a deep breath.

  “Checkmate.”

  Before confusion could register on Nina’s’ face, a large hand came from behind her and wrapped around her throat. Another hand grabbed her forearm and flung it skyward. Jakes face appeared next to her ear. Nina’s eyes bulged and she began to change color.

  “Drop the gun or never breathe again,” he said.

  Nina tried to struggle, but there was nowhere to escape. After a few seconds, her hand released the gun. It hit the parking lot with a loud clank. Jake loosened the hold on her throat, but just enough to sweep her legs out from under her. There was no metallic sound as she landed, just the gurgling of her lungs trying to get more oxygen. I started toward her, the woman right behind.

  “I told you I'd be seeing you again,” Jake was telling her

  “Why the hell didn't you answer my calls?” I wasn't shouting, but my voice was notable higher. Jake looked up at me.

  “Phone was on silent. Sorry.”

  The fact that my life almost ended because a phone had been turned to silent was enough to make my head start to hurt. I exhaled and forced myself to speak slowly.

  “How did you know to come here?”

  Jake pointed across the parking lot. “I've been here the whole time. I was going to grab her when she knocked on the door. Then you came in and I had to wait for the right time.”

  “You said a code word,” the woman said, smiling. “Checkmate right?”

  I nodded. “I saw Jake coming up behind Nina as I was telling her about how she couldn't shoot both of us. When I say checkmate, it means grab whoever I say it to.”

  “That is really cool,” the woman said. We heard the sounds of sirens. They were coming closer.

  “I called them,” The woman said “After I saw you talking to her.”

  “She is a smart one,” Jake said. “And where are my manners? Rachel Paige, I'd like to introduce you to Abby.

  JAKE

  “You give me one god damn reason why I shouldn't throw all three of you in prison right now!"

  Rodriguez almost looked like he was going to explode. Sitting in an interrogation room, it was hard not to think we were the criminals.

  "We caught the killer,” Rach said.

  "No one else died,” Abby added.

  "We made the world safe for truth justice and the American way," I concluded.

  "Do I look like I'm joking around here."

  "Rodriguez, this should be a great day. Leave it to you to ruin a great mood."

  He threw himself into the chair. "Rachel, I thought we had this conversation? Two years ago?

  “Ben, this was completely different," Rach said, “We didn't go looking to take her. We were going to involve you."

  "What happened?"

  "I thought we would have more time. When we interrupted her, her timeline accelerated. She needed an immediate release."

  "So you had it all figured out. Using this.. this...." He turned and looked at Abby. " Who are you anyway?"

  "Abby."

  "…that a first name or last?"

  She smiled “Just Abby"

  "Like the advice columnist. Ask your boys over in vice, I hear they are big fans"

  Rodriguez exhaled loudly. He put his hands out almost in a pleading gesture toward Rach. “Start at the beginning. Why did you suspect her?"

  "From the beginning, we always suspected that it had been a woman who lured Steve into going into the restaurant. The promise of sex would keep his guard down. That cut the suspects down to half. The different sexes of the victims threw us for a little while, but a woman was still the better option."

  "Nina would have access to the list," Rodriguez said, " But you said you saw the owner taking pictures."

  "He was interested too, but from a personal standpoint. If he was the killer, why would he need a picture?"

  "Blackmail?" Abby asked.

  I nodded. "Very good, you are coming along quick. Check his bank records Rodriguez, I'm sure you're going to find some fairly large cash deposits."

  "Why Nina specifically?"

  "The key of course was a big clue, but put together with what Jake saw on her desk in the office and ever thing came together."

  He turned to me. I smiled.

  "Well?" He barked.

  "Only if you say the magic word"

  "How about I say withholding evidence?" “Or 72 hour hold?"

  I shrugged. “Those words are not magic. 72 is a number."

  Abby looked at Rodriguez and then at me.

  “You guys really don't like each other"

  You have no idea I thought

  "She had a book," Rach said, trying to stop world war three ."ST nursing. She told Jake it stood for sexually transmitted diseases. It's not common knowledge, but STDs are in a general book or one on viral diseases. There would not be one solely in its own textbook."

  "So what did it stand for?"

  "Surgical Trauma. There is probably a diagram on how to crack open a person’s chest to get to the heart."

  "And they say all bad ideas come from the Internet." I said.

  "You told me there was something interesting about her high school picture?" Abby asked. Rach nodded.

  "One of her pins. The figure standing with arms in the air."

  "What could that possibly have to do with this case?" Rodriguez said.

  "Nothing if Jake hadn't been attacked."

  "Couldn't get my hands on her. She was always somewhere else when I reached for her. After we started looking at her, we realized what that pin stood for."

  A pause.

  “Gymnastics." Rach said.

  "She was back flipping, somersaulting and God knows what else up there.” I sighed. “Shame she's completely crazy or we might have had some fun."

  Abby laughed and I even got a slight grin from my boss. Only Rodriguez continued to frown. "It looks good, but no one actually saw her with Jake in that warehouse."

  "Still we can prove it. Watch this Rodriguez and notice my partner has nothing up her sleeve."

  "There is a log of her being there. Her cell phone."

  Rodriguez looked confused. It seemed like his natural expression. "You said her phone started to ring. Do you know who called her?"

  "Sure do. To find him, look around and find the handsomest guy in the room" I lifted my hands and smiled at Rodriguez . "ta-da!"

  "Jake fell on his phone right before hers sta
rted to ring. Pinpoints where she was and at what time."

  "Even you can't screw this up."

  We sat in silence as Rodriguez processed all this. After a few minutes he stood.

  "There's going to be a press conference tomorrow morning. Can you come?" Rach nodded. “Leave these two at home."

  He turned to me. His next words stung a little. Maybe because he said them with no anger, but simply as if stating the sky was blue.

  “You could have gotten her killed Jake."

  I shook my head. “Nothing will happen to her. Not while I'm around."

  Rodriguez turned and walked out of the room. Abby was the first to speak

  “I thought this would go different. Lots of handshakes and somebody offering to buy the first round for us."

  "Things are quite different then TV blondie," I said.

  "He will make it right," Rach said, “he was just worried. He will come around."

  Yeah, right. Abby yawned and stretched her beautiful body into a standing position. " I didn't think I would be so tired."

  "Adrenaline is coming down. You'll sleep for a week." I pulled out my lighter and a cigarette.

  "You can't smoke in here,” Rach said.

  "I don't see a sign anywhere."

  "Please don't Jake. It smells, not to mention what it's doing to your lungs and heart."

  “That's what I tell him. the entire medical reports, he does not care."

  "when he's coughing, I just point out..."

  Dear god what have I started here? “Look, the cigarettes are going back in my pocket.” Both girls nodded approving. I was going to get anti-smoking lectures in stereo from now on. Rach and I headed to the door. We stopped when we noticed that Abby hadn’t moved.

  “Why did she do it?” she asked.

  “Oh Abby you have broken the cardinal rule,” I said, “Rach hates that question. She is here to find out if you did it and how you did it. The why is not important.”