Toby stared at the officer until he reluctantly took a step back. “That’s clear, Officer. I’ll be in the office if you need me for anything.” The officer continued to block his path, clearly unwilling to let him pass. “Do we have a problem Officer…Helliman?” Toby read from the name badge.
The cop’s face reddened slightly and Toby saw his nostrils flare. Helliman gave him a small sneer. “Didn’t think you’d come back. Thought you’d stay away for sure. Your type usually doesn’t have the guts to face something like this.” The contempt and loathing was clear in the officer’s voice.
Toby just wanted to get to his office without any more hassle, but it was clear the belligerent cop had other plans. He reached the end of his patience. “What type are you referring to, Officer Helliman?”
The cop’s eyes widened at the obvious challenge. This wasn’t going the way he’d planned. The now angry Helliman clenched his hands into fists, ready to strike the man in front of him. He pulled back his arm, but before he could carry through, a cold voice interjected “Yes, Officer Helliman – fill us in. I’m curious how you are planning to respond to Mr. Bailey’s question.” Detective Reightman stepped to Toby’s side. “In addition, I’m sure you’re going to explain why you were about to haul off and hit Mr. Bailey.” Helliman glared at them both for a moment and then dropped his hands, and his gaze. He didn’t respond to Reightman’s inquiry so she turned up the heat. “Helliman, I’m waiting, and if you have any brains at all you’ll answer me before I have to ask you again.”
The cop shot her a look of pure loathing. “It wasn’t nothing. We’re just having little conversation – that’s all. Isn’t that right, Mr. Bailey?” He eyes dared Toby to denounce him to Reightman, like the pansy Helliman knew him to be.
“That’s right, Officer – just a little conversation.” Toby’s eyes never wavered from the man.
Reightman alternated her gaze between the two and then settled her eyes on Helliman. “I’m glad that’s the case.” She considered Helliman a second or two more. “That will be all, Officer Helliman.”
“I’m on assigned duty here.”
“I’m on assigned duty here – what?” The man clenched his jaw and refused to meet her eyes. “Helliman?” Reightman took a step closer to the officer and stood absolutely still, her face set in stone. She waited while the cop had time to realize his options were now severely limited.
Helliman licked his lips nervously. “I am on assigned duty here – Ma’am.”
“No, Helliman. You were on assigned duty here inside, where it’s nice and comfy and cool. You’re now assigned duty by the door. Outside – by the door.” She waited, feeling tension building in her neck and shoulders while she maintained eye contact. Helliman flushed a deep angry red and looked down at his shoes. Eventually he hitched up his pants and stalked to the door. Reightman watched him until he’d exited, before releasing her pent-up breath.
“Whoa…” Toby looked at her with something akin to awe. “You’re one badass detective, Detective.”
“Helliman’s a bully and like most bullies, he doesn’t know how to react when he is directly confronted by someone meaner and smarter than him. I knew he’d back down.” Privately she hadn’t been sure he would – she’d thought for a moment she was going to have to deck him. That would’ve hurt, but she would’ve gladly taken him down and nursed her bruised knuckles later. “Let me offer my apologies for his outdated attitude.”
“No apologies needed, Detective. He just doesn’t like faggots.”
Reightman’s eyebrows shot up to her forehead. “Please don’t use that word to refer to yourself, Mr. Bailey.”
Toby considered her closely, trying to garner some hint of what she was thinking. When he was unable to read her expression, he shrugged. “He just doesn’t like good looking, successful gay men who happen to own their own businesses.” He thought he saw one corner of her mouth twitch. “Is that better?”
“Much better, Mr. Bailey.”
“It’s Toby.”
“Pardon me?”
He couldn’t tell if she was irritated or simply confused, but pressed the point anyway. “My name is Toby. We had this conversation a couple of days ago, Detective. I recall the time and place very clearly.”
Reightman regarded the young man. His odd eyes looked right into hers. “Something about him is changed,” she thought. “He looks older and harder, and he stood his ground and didn’t back down from Helliman.” She considered his face, so very young, but showing the strain of the last couple of days. She knew she was going to need his help to get through all of the work piling up on this case, and at this point it couldn’t hurt to strengthen their relationship a little. “Alright then, Toby, if you’re sure. Given the circumstances of the last couple of days I wasn’t sure you’d want anything to do with me or the department.”
“Save it, Detective. You were just doing your job. I mean, I was pissed and all, but I’ve thought about it. You had a job to do, and you did it. I wish things hadn’t happened the way they did. But, there’s no point holding misplaced grudges in light of everything else. I promise, I don’t have any hard feelings. Besides, you backed down Officer Bigot.”
“It’s Officer Helliman, Toby. He may be a bigot, and a cretin, but he’s still an officer of the law. As long as he wears a badge, he deserves respect, because the law deserves respect.”
Toby guessed he could accept her positon, if it allowed him to get to his office. “Okay, Detective, whatever you say. But I still think he’s a jerk.”
Reightman tried to keep from smiling, and failed. “Don’t get me wrong, Toby. I absolutely hate his guts.” After a moment, Toby returned her grin. They were in complete understanding. “I spoke with Madame Zhou this morning. She said you’d be expecting me to drop by, and if possible, you’d make time to go over a few things. Is now a good time?”
“Yeah, she mentioned it to me. She gave me a rather firm talking to, and told me – in no uncertain terms – that I was to cooperate. I would have anyway.” He considered how he’d really felt after his visit to the city jail, and then added, “Probably.” He winced as he remembered some of his attorney’s choice commentary regarding the dangers of continuing to hold a grudge under the current circumstances. “After having her chew on me for a while, I didn’t have much choice. She’s a badass too.”
“Yes, she is a badass. I’ve seen her in action and even fell victim to her methods myself, if you remember.” Reightman indicated the passageway in front of them. “If I recall, you have a comfortable office back there somewhere, correct?”
“Yeah, although I don’t know how comfortable it is. I spent most of my available time, money and effort on the rest of the place.”
“Does it have a couple good chairs, four walls, a door, and air conditioning?”
Toby was puzzled by the question, since he figured every office had those things. “Yes, I guess it does.”
Reightman shared another grin. “Well then, it has three more things than my digs down at police headquarters. I can only claim air conditioning. It even works – most days.”
Toby smiled. “In that case, the next time I bitch about feeling cramped, I’ll think of you and feel fortunate instead. Come on, let’s go on back.”
Reightman followed him as he led the way through the hallway door, noticing he made a visible effort not to look toward the break room with the lurid yellow tape across the doorway. Nor did he spare a single glance toward the room at the end of the hall where he’d discovered Guzman’s body. He opened the office door and motioned her to take a seat.
She claimed a chair in front of the desk and looked around the small room. Toby’s office didn’t have the sophistication of the rest of the rooms. It was plain and fairly utilitarian, but didn’t lack personality. There were some humorous cut-out cartoons on a bulletin board, and multiple framed pictures on the desk and on the wall. Several were candid shots of Toby and Geri Guzman, and a larger photo of Toby and a much older
woman, hugging each other and laughing together. “Who’s the lady in picture with you?”
“That’s my grandmother,” Toby replied, with love and affection in his voice. “I call her Grams. She and Gramps – my grandfather – raised me after my mother died.”
“She looks like a lady who enjoys life. I bet she can give you a run for your money.”
“Yeah, she’s a pistol and you’re right; she’s always busting my chops about something.” A chirp sounded and Toby pulled his cell phone out of his back trouser pocket. “Excuse me while I get this.” Melba sat back in her chair, listening to his side of the conversation.
“Hello? Oh hey, SarahJune, yes…yes…thanks, I appreciate it…no I’m not sure yet. Well, if you don’t mind, can I send you a list of appointments to reschedule...Yeah, I know we do – let me check.” Toby moved the phone away from his mouth and turned to her. “Detective, do you have any idea when you’ll be through here? I need to get this place open as soon as possible and we need to start trying to reschedule the customers.”
Reightman knew the crime team had finished their work and all the rooms had already been photographed and plotted, but hedged to be safe. “We’ll probably only need a few more days, Toby.”
“Thanks.” He turned back to the phone to continue the conversation. “SarahJune? Yeah – sorry. Detective Reightman thinks they’ll finish up in a couple of days. Yeah, but – SarahJune, I know! I was about to tell you we’re going to have to get someone in to clean…to clean the back room where….” His voice broke as he remembered the last time he’d see the room where Geri died. “….clean the room where….” Toby felt a surge of grief rise up in the center of his chest. He tried to swallow it down, but knew he couldn’t. “SarahJune? Hang on a sec…” He put the phone down, and rubbed his eyes with both hands. “I won’t cry!” he told himself, and struggled to get himself under control. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and picked up the phone again. “SarahJune, you still there? Yeah, I’m okay. I just needed a minute. I’ll send you a list of client names and appointments in a little while so you can make the calls. Yes, I know where the appointment book is… Yeah…Okay, I’ll call you if I have any problems….thanks, SarahJune...Bye.” He hung up the phone. “Whew," he exhaled. “That was intense for a minute.”
Reightman knew he was still struggling with his emotions, but understood he was also determined to move on with everything that needed to be done. “You handled it though. You did a lot better than many people would have.”
Toby made the effort to give her a smile of acknowledgement and ran his hands through his hair a couple of times before sitting a little straighter in his chair. “It’s just hard – you know? You forget for a second and then…then suddenly, it all comes slamming back and hits you right here,” he touched his chest above his heart, and hung his head.
Reightman couldn’t think of anything helpful to say. After a moment he took a couple of deep breaths and lifted his head. As he moved the phone to one side of his desk, she ventured, “I see that you found your phone.”
“Huh?” He looked at the phone and then back at her. “No, it never showed up. Who knows where it is? This morning, I bought a new one.” Toby held up his phone. “It’s the same model and everything. It even has the same case, except the old one had a big scratch on the back.” The brushed silver finish shone faintly under the office light. “It’s going to take forever to get my contact list and calendar under control. Without my old SIM card, they couldn’t transfer much of anything to this one. Sometimes, I really hate technology!”
Reightman whole heartedly agreed with him about the evil nature of technology, and they shared a few horror stories of their relative ineptness. She enjoyed the banter, but knew it was time to get back to the business at hand.
Before she could redirect the conversation, Toby did. “Detective?”
She sensed, rather than heard, the pain behind his question. “Yes?”
“When will they release him? Geri, I mean. When will they release his body?”
Reightman couldn’t even begin to imagine what he must be feeling, and there was no way her answer was going to help. “I don’t know, Toby. I’m sorry to have to admit that, but they haven’t finished with it – I mean him – yet.” He blue eyes begin to cloud again. “I’ll do my best to find out and let you know later today, or tomorrow at the latest. I’ll try to drop by his personal affects, too. You’ll have to sign for them, but I can bring the form along so you don’t have to make a trip to collect them.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it. Grams and I are trying to make plans. For his burial, you know?”
The sad note in his voice was hard for her to hear. “I promise I’ll do my best, Toby. “
“I know you will." He looked away for a moment, and wiped a drop of moisture from the corner of one eye. When he turned back around, it was clear that he wanted to change the subject. “So, I guess we’d better determine how I can help, or Madame Zhou will want to know why. I don’t want to have her on my case again so I’d just as soon get started.”
Reightman appreciated the effort it took him to confront all of the challenges ahead. They talked for a while, agreeing on a plan for the next couple of days. They decided Toby could help most by helping them work through the client records and the spa’s financial reports. Reightman arranged a time to meet him the following day and indicated she might be bringing a couple of additional hands. Hopefully, the Chief had been able to free up some help. As she stood to shake his hand, she had a thought. “Toby, I’m sure Geri had a phone, but I don’t remember it being found at the scene.”
“Yeah, he did. It was the same as mine. The exact same make and model and he even had the same case, except his was scratch-free. We were always getting them mixed up, before…before we didn’t spend as much time together. Is there a reason you’re looking for it?”
“No, it’s just another loose end I need to tie up.” She gathered up her purse and turned to leave.
“Detective?”
She looked back at him over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“Well, I was wondering – what do I call you?”
“What do you mean?” Reightman didn’t understand the question.
“Since I finally have you calling me Toby, I thought we should settle on something for me to call you.”
“Oh.” She wondered where the kid was headed. “What’s wrong with Detective Reightman?”
Toby wrinkled his nose. “That sounds very uptight.”
“Really? You think so?”
“Yep, I do. I was thinking maybe something like…Detective Melba.” She frowned at the suggestion, not sure she cared for the informality. He picked up on her indecision and quickly added, “Just when we’re alone, and there’s no one else around.”
Reightman rolled her eyes at his hopeful expression. “Don’t push your luck, Mr. Bailey.” As his face fell. She thought it over some more and shrugged. “We’ll see. Ask me tomorrow.”
Pushing through the front door, she stepped outside and checked on Helliman. “Sure is hot outside!” she yelled his way. He didn’t even look at her. She snorted at his sweat-soaked shirt and then felt the perspiration running down her neck and her own shirt sticking to her skin. She hoped Madame Zhou’s tea worked – this was getting to be ridiculous. She walked to her car and her mind kept turning to the extra phone stashed in her purse. Maybe she should have told Toby about it. Then again, maybe she was right to have kept it to herself. It was probably better to get it checked out first. She stepped onto the hot asphalt of the parking lot. “Detective Melba, huh?” She climbed in her car, getting rid of the heavy bag on her shoulder and stowing it on the passenger seat. She started the car and rolled down the windows to let the hot air escape, and then turned the air conditioner on high. As the cool air worked its magic, she picked up the broken shoe heel and held it in her hand for a minute. She ran an internal check of her system and thought through the events of the last couple of days.
She realized, with surprise, she didn’t even feel cranky. She tossed the heel out the window. “Detective Melba…I think…I might kind of like it.”
CHAPTER FIVE
THE HONORABLE SUTTON Dameron, member of the City Council and local politician on the rise, stood in front of the huge mirror in his master bathroom in his white cotton briefs, with a plush towel slung over his shoulder.
He smiled at himself broadly, checking out the results of his latest teeth whitening session. He viewed his 5’7” frame appreciatively as he turned first one way, and then another. He puffed out his chest and pulled in his stomach, lightly slapping his belly. He frowned and slapped again, mentally adding an additional hundred crunches to his workout routine. He turned and twisted to check out his ass. “Not too bad Dameron!” He slapped the ass as well. He turned and faced the mirror again and wiped the last traces of shaving gel off of his face with the towel, and leaned in to check for any signs of dark circles or bags under the eyes.
“Shit!” He hurriedly dug through Christina’s vanity drawers. “She has to have some concealer in here!” After digging through several drawers and disarranging their contents, he finally located what he needed. He carefully daubed a little of the concealer underneath his slightly blood-shoot eyes, applying it with the ring finger of his left hand, as he’d watched his wife do many times. She said the ring finger of the left hand was the weakest, and therefore, the gentlest and best finger to use to avoid bruising the skin around the eyes. He didn’t want any bruising.
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