Think, Nina. How can you get more water to your mouth?
She considered taking her pants the rest of the way off, but she knew she didn’t have the strength left to do it. Besides, they were probably loaded with infection now, and she’d just be drinking poison.
The area where she lay was soft, not quite sand, but not hard rock either. Almost like a gravel bank. Taking her hand and cupping it down, she pulled at the soil. It gave, and she felt water rush under her arm, closer to her.
That’s it. A channel! Dig a channel to yourself.
One scoop at a time she pulled at the soil, bringing the water ever closer to her. When she felt it run up against her shoulder, she rolled onto her right side, and buried her face in the water. Despite some grit, she gulped in as much as she could.
The little channel emptied, and she rolled back to catch her breath. A brief moment later, the channel had refilled, and she rolled over to drink again. She did this several times until she was full. Her body needed the water so badly, she was able to ignore the pain wracking her shoulder each time she moved.
Finally, she lay back, exhausted from the effort.
Relief from getting a drink washed over her, temporarily easing the fear and pain she’d endured for two days now. Eventually, she couldn’t help herself and started to laugh. She laughed until she was too tired to smile.
You’re losing your ever-loving mind, Nina, old girl. Losing it completely.
Chapter 9
Jason found Vanessa and Nate waiting for him when he arrived at the station the next morning. Getting a cup of coffee, he joined them in the conference room. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” they chimed.
“No word?”
“No,” they chimed again.
Jason sat down at the large wooden table, scratched from years of meetings, and rubbed his eyes. “Lieutenant in yet?”
Vanessa chuckled. “You kidding? I don’t think he went home. His wife probably wouldn’t recognize him.”
Jason looked over his shoulder at the door.
“Where is he?”
“Meeting with the captain. Nate and I have been trying to put together an image of Nina’s closet.”
“Oh, why?”
“Nate brought a couple photos of Nina to use at the news conference, but I realized we don’t know for sure what she was wearing.”
“So how’s it coming?”
Nate Jefferson sat spinning his coffee mug in circles. He seemed detached, but answered quickly. “Vanessa said you think she was going for a run.”
“Right, that’s what her boyfriend told us.”
“Well, my sister always wore the same thing when she ran, regardless of the weather. She had multiple colors of a Nike running windsuit. I was trying to remember what colors I’d seen in the closet.”
“And?”
Nate shook his head. “I can’t be sure, it was such a mess, but she likes purple and pink. I don’t remember seeing those colors.”
“Seems to me we should use a description of ‘purple or pink Nike jogging windsuit’ for the media.”
Vanessa nodded. “I agree.”
“You people ready?” They all turned to see Lieutenant Patton leaning through the conference room door.
Jason answered for all. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Let’s go, Captain Garcia, Lieutenant Banks, and Detective Menendez are going to meet us downstairs.”
*******
The four of them rode down to the first floor together. When they came out of the elevator, a small group of reporters was waiting for them in the pressroom. In its early days, the room had been the patrol briefing room, but that was done elsewhere now. The department hadn’t spent any money to make the press corps comfortable. It was still one-piece desks and white concrete walls.
As they moved to the front of the room, Jason spotted Devin James, lead reporter for the San Antonio News. He gave him a nod and James returned a smile. James was both an asset and a nemesis, but regardless, the reporter had earned Jason’s trust.
Captain Garcia tapped the microphone once. The thud told him it was on.
“Good morning. We’ve asked you here because we need the public’s help, which means we need the media’s help.” He turned and nodded at an officer by a projector, who flipped a switch, and a picture of Nina appeared. “This is a photo of Detective Nina Jefferson. She went missing three nights ago from her home. Foul play is suspected.”
He paused long enough for everyone to get a good look at the photo, before going on.
“She is believed to be wearing a purple or pink Nike jogging windsuit. Her last known whereabouts was in the area of Edgewood, near her home. We have a handout with a full description of Ms. Jefferson. I’m going to turn it over to Lieutenant Patton now.”
The captain stepped back and John Patton came up to the podium.
“We’ve established an eight hundred number for people to call. They can remain anonymous if they prefer. Any questions?”
Devin James, as was his habit, stood and fired the first question before anyone else could say anything.
“What makes you feel foul play is likely?”
“I’d rather not discuss specifics of the case at this time.”
“Do you have any suspects?”
“Again, I’m not going to go into any details at this time.”
The lieutenant nodded to a reporter from one of the local television stations. She stood as Devin sat.
“Is there a reward being offered?”
John Patton shook his head. “I am not aware of one.” He looked back at his detectives, who all shook their heads no.
A few more questions and the conference was done. The detectives dispersed, and Vanessa took Nate to the cafeteria for a bite of breakfast. Menendez took the stairs to the third floor, while Jason ended up on the elevator with Captain Garcia, Lieutenant Banks, and Lieutenant Patton.
The elevator stopped on the second floor, letting Sarah Banks off. When the door closed, Jason cleared his throat. “Lieutenant?”
“Yes?”
“I was wondering if I could get a couple minutes of yours and the captain’s time.”
Lieutenant Patton, who had appeared distracted, now looked at Jason. “What about?”
“It’s a rather delicate subject. I’d rather discuss it in private.”
“Well, I’ve got time,” he looked at the captain, who nodded. “Will my office do?”
Jason nodded. “Sure, that’s fine.”
The elevator door opened and the three filed into the lieutenant’s office. Jason sat in front of the desk while the lieutenant went around to his seat. The captain shut the door before leaning on it.
Patton looked at Jason. “Okay, what’s this about?”
Jason got directly to the point. “When we searched Nina’s house the other day, we found a calendar stuck to the fridge. One of the entries was an appointment last month with Shelley Meyers.”
The captain now moved over by the desk, taking a chair next to Jason. “Shelly Meyers of Internal Affairs?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Did Nina mention anything about this to you before?”
“No, Sir. However, the night before she disappeared, she called and asked me to meet her for breakfast. We were to meet at Denny’s on Commerce Street before work the next day.”
“I take it she didn’t show.”
“No, Sir.”
Captain Garcia looked at John Patton, then back at Jason.
“What exactly are you proposing, Detective?”
“I was hoping you, or the lieutenant, could approach Meyers about the meeting. I’d like to find out if she can give us a lead.”
The captain sat back in his chair, and Jason could see he was trying to decide the best course of action. Jason knew it wasn’t a detective’s place to pry into an Internal Affairs investigation.
The captain stood back up. “I’ll take care of this. We’ll do this according to protocol. After I talk to Officer
Meyers, I’ll speak with the lieutenant. I’ll let him know what, if anything, can be put forward to you, Detective.”
Captain Garcia looked from Jason to the lieutenant, and back again. Both nodded.
“No further discussion until that time, clear?”
Again, they both nodded. Captain Garcia excused himself and left. John Patton looked at his detective. “Good call, Jason. Does Vanessa know you’re doing this?”
“No, Sir.”
“Let’s keep it that way. If she brings it up, just tell her I’m handling it.”
“Yes, Sir.”
*******
The afternoon sun beat down on Nina, increasing the delirium she now faded in and out of, robbing her of the relief she’d felt drinking water. Infection now ravaged her entire body, and vomiting had taken its toll on what little strength she had left.
She stayed near the water, trying to drink when she could. Even if she wanted to get out of the sun, she didn’t have the strength to pull herself up the bank again.
Last night, she’d dreamt of her family. Mom and Dad, both gone now, and her brother. Nate was the center of her life, and he surely would be worried by now, even panicked.
Her thoughts went to Jason and Vanessa. She knew the two detectives wouldn’t stop until they found her, but now she felt it would likely be too late.
It had finally dawned on her who was responsible for her situation. She’d taken precautions, being careful who she spoke with, trying not to bring attention to her suspicions. Apparently, he’d found out what she was doing.
Looks like he might get away with it. I guess when I’m gone, it won’t be my problem, anymore.
The thought of a burden released made it easier to close her eyes. To just let everything go.
*******
Frank Menendez drove his pickup off the pavement onto the gravel road leading away from Rigby Avenue. He pulled out his phone and punched the number.
A voice answered on the first ring. “Hey.”
“You here?”
“Yeah. I’m right where you said to be.”
Menendez hung up without saying anything else. A little two-track road led back into some woods. About two hundred yards down this trail was a spot used by locals to dump trash illegally. You didn’t come here at night if you could avoid it.
For Menendez, the dump was just what he needed. Isolated, but close to town. He couldn’t afford to be gone from home too long or his wife would ask questions.
A couple hundred yards back from the street, he spotted his contact. Slimy Stan was the name Menendez gave him, but his real name was Stan Magnus.
Real names weren’t important in Stan’s line of work. Stan was a snitch. To the police he was known as an informant, but on the street, he was simply a snitch. People in Stan’s line of work tended to disappear, which was perfect for Menendez’s purposes.
He stopped his truck and rolled down the window. Slimy Stan came up to the driver’s side. “You got my cash?”
“Sure, sure. I have your money.”
Menendez looked around, scanning the area for anything out of place. “You come alone?”
“Man, course I come alone! Don’t I always?”
The detective raised the nine-millimeter Beretta lying in his lap, and as Slimy Stan’s eyes grew huge, shot him in the chest. Stan pitched backward, landing in a pile of old tires. Menendez climbed out of his pickup, walked over to where Stan lay moaning, and shot him in the head.
“Trash among the trash,” he proclaimed.
Menendez stood quietly for a moment while the sound of his gun echoed, dying among trees, before it could reach the streets of the city. Stan lay motionless, and, satisfied he was dead, Menendez got back in his truck.
With one more look at the body lying on the pile of tires, Menendez rolled up his window and drove away. With Nina dead, and now Stan eliminated, he was home free.
Chapter 10
Morning dawned warm, an Indian summer day in late September. Jason, as he had been each of the last three days, was out of the house before six. The reports on the missing San Antonio Police detective were all over the news last night and this morning. Jason was anxious to see if the eight hundred number had bore fruit.
Every day, Sandy grew more impatient for their baby to be born. She was on maternity leave from her teaching job, and staying home resting was getting old. The nursery was painted a month ago, the diapers, washcloths, towels, and assorted other needs were folded, stacked, and ready. It seemed only their little girl wasn’t ready.
When Jason arrived at the station, he’d beaten Vanessa in for a change, but Lieutenant Patton was already there. He immediately waved Jason to his office.
Jason grabbed a cup of coffee and went into to see his boss. John Patton showed the strain of the last few days. Nina was one of his people, someone he felt the responsibility to protect. “Shut the door.”
Jason did, making sure it clicked, then sat across from the lieutenant.
John Patton looked at him, worry etched on his face. “We haven’t got anything on the phone line, yet.”
“Seriously? Somebody must’ve seen something.”
John Patton shrugged and got to the real point of the meeting.
“The captain called me this morning. He talked with Officer Meyers about the meeting with Nina Jefferson.”
“That was fast. Did he come up with anything?”
“I’m gonna tell you exactly what he told me. You can share it with Vanessa, then we forget it.”
“Understood.”
“Officer Meyers said she met with Detective Jefferson, at Nina’s request, to answer some general questions.”
“General?”
“Yes, Meyers said a name was never used. Nina referred to the individual in question as ‘this person’ or ‘that person,’ and never indicated if she was talking about a male or a female.”
“What exactly are ‘general’ questions’?”
“Captain Garcia said Nina was asking about procedure. She wanted to know what steps were required to begin an investigation, what information I.A. needed to move forward, and what her involvement would be if she reports something.”
Jason rubbed his forehead as he evaluated what the lieutenant was saying. He didn’t like it.
“So as I understand it, she may have had information on somebody, and that somebody may be responsible for her disappearance, but we can’t pursue it.”
Patton rubbed his face with both hands.
“Look Jason, Internal Affairs stuff is very sensitive. Good people’s careers can be ruined by the wrong word, or an unfounded accusation. No investigation was opened and nobody was named.” The lieutenant threw his hands in the air. “It could be you she was talking about, for crying out loud!”
“And if I might be responsible for her missing, I should be investigated!”
Jason immediately regretted the outburst. He knew the lieutenant was caught between two things he cared about deeply. What was best for the SAPD and his loyalty to his detectives. Jason didn’t envy him.
The lieutenant kept his voice level. “This is not up for discussion. You have your answer, and you have your orders. Are we clear?”
Jason sighed. “Yes, Sir.”
“All right, get out of here.”
Jason got up and opened the door to leave, but the lieutenant stopped him.
“Jason. . .” Patton paused, measuring his words. “If someone in this station is responsible, I’ll help you string them up myself.”
“I know, John. Thanks.” Jason went out to his desk.
Vanessa was waiting for him. “Morning, Jason.” She gestured toward the lieutenant’s office. “What’s up?”
Jason took a quick look around the third floor. Just Menendez and a couple of uniform officers, but the lieutenant had been clear. “Let’s take a walk.”
The surprise showed on Vanessa’s face. “Umm, okay.”
They took the stairs down to the first floor, not talking un
til they got outside.
Vanessa repeated her earlier question. “What’s up? You’re being very cloak and dagger.”
Jason smiled. “Not by choice. Do you remember the note on Nina’s calendar referring to Shelley Meyers, I.A.”
“Sure. Did you follow up on that?”
“I did. After the news conference yesterday, I brought it up to Garcia and Patton.”
“And?”
“Garcia himself spoke to Meyers, and Lieutenant Patton just filled me in on what they found out.”
“Please tell me he got something.”
Jason shook his head. “Nope. What’s worse, we have to forget there ever was a conversation involving Internal Affairs.”
The color in Vanessa’s face began to change to an angry red. “What? You’re joking!”
“Afraid not. In fact, the conversation ends here. We’re not to mention an I.A. connection to this case to anyone.”
“But whoever Nina was referring to could be the person responsible for her disappearance!”
Jason nodded. “I know that. Orders.”
“That sucks! And it stinks of politics!”
He nodded. “I agree, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you can wiggle your way around it. This comes from the captain.”
“Okay. It can’t go any farther than you and me, but who do you think she would be talking about?”
Jason gave her a condemning look. “This is a very dangerous game you’re playing.”
“Nina’s life is at stake. That’s the dangerous game.”
Jason nodded, hesitating before answering.
“Well, normally in these kinds of things, it’s going to be something she’s seen or heard. That would lead you to suspect a partner, immediate superior, or co-worker.”
Vanessa started to take out her notepad. “Okay, let’s make a list.”
“No notes.” He waited for her to put it away. “Just list off the names for us to consider.”
She touched a finger each time she said a name. “Okay. Let’s start at the top. Captain Garcia, Lieutenant Patton, Lieutenant Banks, Frank Menendez, you, and me. Who else?”
ONE OF THEIR OWN (Det. Jason Strong(CLEAN SUSPENSE Book 6) Page 4
