Wounded at Home

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  “I’ll be taking pictures of Ms. Chapman’s apartment. I’m sure your insurance will cover her loss.”

  Mr. Bernard’s face turned red. “That’s not our policy. Our tenants are responsible for their own insurance.”

  “A man achieved access to her apartment when her lease specifically specifies security twenty-four hours a day. We have it in writing.” Dirk patted his pocket. “I think it would be wise to contact your provider.”

  As Mr. Bernard followed them out the door, his professional demeanor had disappeared, replaced by a look of desperation.

  Sky was quite sure this was an unexpected turn for him. When they left him behind, she turned to Dirk. “How do you know what’s in my lease?”

  “It’s standard for this type of apartment. Don’t worry. They’ll make an offer. When you have time, it might be a good idea to list all the things you lost.”

  “There are some things money can’t buy,” she whispered.

  They were at her apartment door. Sky’s skin turned clammy, her knees weak. She didn’t want to revisit the utter destruction of her life.

  She gave Dirk the key. He gave her a hang in there look and unlocked the door. Following him in, she kept looking up rather than at the mess on the floor. When she stumbled on what had once been a chair, he reached over and steadied her. His arm was amazingly strong and for a moment she forgot how she’d vowed to avoid any and all personal contact.

  “It’s worse than you described.” He took out his cell phone and began snapping pictures. “Everything here is ruined.”

  Once more, Sky made her way around the mess and into the kitchen. Once there, she opened the dishwasher. “Be sure and take a picture in here.” She couldn’t bear to look. The dishes brought back fond memories. Even though conversations might have centered on Dory, what she did that day, what friends were coming over later, what music she’d play for church that Sunday, it had been a nice time. Sky had to admit, for years, she’d basked in Dory’s accomplishments as if they were her own.

  “What’s this?”

  Sky swallowed hard as Dirk snapped a few pictures of the broken china. “My mother’s good china. I loved it.”

  He put down the camera. “Didn’t I see you put a cup that matched these broken dishes on the counter in the bungalow?”

  “It was the only unbroken piece.”

  She shut the door and turned away. “Take all the pictures you want. I’ll wait in the truck.” She couldn’t stay here another minute.

  He handed her the keys. “Keep your head low. You don’t want to be recognized.”

  “I will.”

  “Do you have insurance?”

  “My furnishings weren’t expensive, and I didn’t think I needed any. I never thought of anything like this.”

  “No one would.”

  He turned back to his work.

  Legs none too steady, she made it to the door and stepped into the hall. Taking a deep breath, she knew she’d never be back. Never make this her home again. She made her way back to the manager’s office to let him know.

  “You do realize there are three months left on your lease,” he told her.

  “Under the circumstances, I don’t think it matters.”

  “We’ll release you from your lease, but don’t expect anything from our insurance company.”

  Tired and not in the mood to take anymore, Sky snarled, “Why don’t we let the lawyers work that out?” She whirled and left the room. Outside, she checked out the area. It was a nice spring day, not a cloud in the sky. Suddenly, she wanted to be back at the bungalow. She missed Sully.

  Thirty minutes later, she realized she missed Dirk.

  There were more people wandering around than she expected, some were going in and out of the apartment building. All of a sudden, she felt exposed.

  So far, no one had a handle on the case. Who was the man on the tapes? Was it someone she knew? It had to be someone Dory’s husband knew, but did her sister know him? Did she?

  Now that she’d had time to think, Sky had a dozen more questions to ask her sister.

  ****

  Dirk stepped into Sky’s bedroom. He’d never seen such destruction. Whoever did this was angry as hell. Was he angry at Sky? Or the fact he couldn’t find what he was looking for? Either way Sky wasn’t safe.

  And she shouldn’t be out there alone.

  He hurried with the photos, pausing only long enough to go back to the kitchen and piece together one of the broken plates before taking one last photo. To Sky the dishes were irreplaceable, to the apartment’s insurance company, they were just another set of dishes. If he could find them on the Net, he might get a handle on their worth—at least dollar-wise.

  A few minutes later, he locked the door behind him and hurried back to the car. According to Sky’s description of her sister, she’d been spoiled and catered to like a princess. It seemed to him that what Dory wanted, Dory got.

  Not Sky. She’d had to work for what she achieved. His searches revealed that she’d graduated from college in three years, went on to get a Master’s in banking and finance. She was working on her doctorate when she went to work for the same bank she still worked for. Over the years she’d taken German, Spanish, Italian, French, and Mandarin Chinese. According to her records she was fluent in each.

  The woman was a genius. She had a perfect credit score and no debt. And she’d done it on her own. Her sister couldn’t say the same.

  Dirk was proud of Sky. Without encouragement from family, she’d achieved a position of trust. Which could crash down around her head if the FBI continued their investigation. Walking to his pickup, he looked for her, but didn’t see her outline in the truck. Nor did he see her in the parking area or sidewalk. His heart almost left his body. He shouldn’t have let her out of his sight. It wasn’t like him to be so lax.

  She depended on him to help her find the guilty party and keep her safe. Instead, he’d allowed her to walk outside and into the hands of a killer. He was so shaken he could hardly open the door of the pickup. He’d have to call the cops and the FBI.

  “It’s about time.” Sky popped up from the back seat.

  Dirk sat down before he fell. His sense of relief was so profound that for a moment he couldn’t talk. “Sky! I didn’t see you. I thought…”

  She climbed into the front seat. “Thought what?”

  His right arm shot out and he grabbed her shoulder to hug her close. She struggled out of the embrace. “Sorry. For a minute there I thought the killer had found you. From now on, stay close.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Why the backseat?” He was even more upset when he realized the brief hug rattled him. Sky felt too damned good in his arm and he wanted her there again.

  “Too many people going by. I didn’t want anyone to see me.”

  “Good idea. But you gave me the scare of my life.”

  “You’re exaggerating. Your biggest scare came when you lost your arm.”

  “I didn’t have time to be scared then.” That time had been a nightmare. One he didn’t want to think or talk about.

  “Don’t worry about me. All I need is you and Sully. Between the three of us I’ll be fine.”

  Dirk started the motor, still upset that he’d almost screwed up. “Sully isn’t here now, is he?”

  She put on her seatbelt. “No, but you are.”

  He turned his head when the strap stretched over her full breasts. Sky wasn’t a reed-thin woman, but a curvaceous one. She had a small waist and hips that filled her jeans just right. The T-shirt clung to her tantalizing curves. If Sky’s sister, Dory, was more beautiful than the woman beside him, he couldn’t wait to see her.

  As it turned out, Dirk’s first impression of Dory Oakes was the opposite of what he thought: Though a natural blonde, she wasn’t the least bit attractive. Her hair was limp and straggly, her blue eyes red-rimmed and swollen, her complexion sallow. Take away all of that and he still couldn’t see the beauty Sky had described.


  “Where have you been?” Dory whined. “I can’t take much more of this. The guards hate me. My stupid lawyer can’t do anything except try to get me to plead out. Tell me you’ve checked on Steel and his bitch assistant. Which one of them did it? Tell me.”

  “For God’s sake, Dory. It’s been two days. A weekend. This is Private Investigator Dirk Browning. He’s going to help us.”

  “I hope you’re better than my attorney.” She glared when she turned to acknowledge him. “I can’t stand the stupidity.” Sky’s sister looked frightened, which she should be. But she was also indignant, with a how-can-they-even-think-I-did-it attitude. He could only imagine how she screamed at her lawyer, the jailers, and everyone else who ventured into her orbit.

  Yep. Sky and her sister were opposites. He almost smiled, caught himself just in time. “Your case isn’t an easy one, Ms. Oakes. The cops have enough evidence to take to the Grand Jury. The FBI thinks you’re guilty as hell. The only thing holding back a murder one charge is they can’t find the money. If you don’t mind, I would like to ask a few questions.”

  She leaned across the table. “Call me Dory. I didn’t kill Martin. And I’m not going to stay in this piss-poor excuse of a jail for the rest of my life.”

  “Then help us get to the bottom of this.”

  “He’s right, Dory. You have to cooperate or you’ll end up staying here for a very long time.” Sky nodded at her sister.

  Tears swam in Dory’s eyes. Dirk pitied her. Guilty or not, the woman had a hard time ahead of her. “First question. Why were your fingerprints on the computer?”

  “What?”

  “Dory. Your prints were on the computer along with Martin’s. Why?”

  Dory rubbed a hand over her head. “I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

  “Think,” Dirk pleaded. “That alone tells the authorities you had something to do with moving the money.”

  “But I didn’t,” she wailed. “I barely know how to retrieve my email, much less anything else.”

  “Calm down. Close your eyes and take deep breaths.”

  She gave Dirk a critical look.

  Sky attempted to soothe her sister. “Do as he asks, Dory. You need help. Dirk’s willing to give it. But you have to help us.”

  “Okay.” Dory shut her eyes and did as she was told.

  After about a minute, Dirk asked her to remember what happened that night.

  “I was angry. Fed up, to tell the truth. I had put up with Martin’s screwing around for years and was sick and tired of it. I figured if I got half of what we had in a divorce, I would be set for life. When he didn’t come home that night, and told me he was working, I went to catch him in the act. I thought he’d lied when he told me he’d broken his affair off with that bitch, Cherise. If they were there—together, I would have the proof I needed to force him to give me what I wanted.”

  “Go on,” Dirk urged when she stopped talking.

  “When I got to his office I didn’t hear a thing. I figured they were hard at it and flipped on the lights. Martin was slumped in his chair, his right hand on the computer keys. There was blood everywhere.” Her voice hitched. “I was so scared. I tried to straighten him in his chair so he could tell me it was some kind of joke. I took his hand from the computer. I must have touched it then, but I was too shocked to think straight. I put his hand in his lap, picked up the knife from the floor, and put it on the desk. When it finally hit me that he was really dead, I ran.”

  The security tape verified her story. Only the cops had put a different twist on it.

  Her eyes popped open. “I was so stupid. If I had called 911 right then, I wouldn’t be here now.”

  She went into full-fledged histrionics, dropping her head on the table and sobbing uncontrollably.

  “I’m so sorry, Dory. Really. Stop crying.”

  But Dory paid no attention to her sister’s soothing voice.

  Dirk felt sorry for the woman.

  But did he believe her?

  Chapter Ten

  Dory’s story was hard to believe. She was either stupid or as sly as a fox.

  Dirk pondered his next move. How could he tell Sky that it was likely her sister would be convicted? She would get all over him…fire him.

  He couldn’t have that. Sky was getting under his skin. The fact that he wanted to hold her close again disturbed him. He liked the way she felt—soft and sweet. So had others before her. But this was different. Felt different.

  He started the motor. “Did your sister’s story sound plausible?” He asked only to test the waters, so to speak. He’d like to know whether a jury would laugh at her story.

  “Of course not. But it’s something she would do.”

  “Explain.”

  “You have to remember Dory always got what she wanted. It didn’t matter whether it was a bowl of ice cream when we were kids, or a guy she had her eye on in college. She never failed. The ice cream was given to her and the guy was putty in her hands. It was the same when she met her ass of a husband. He was handsome, had a good job, and was single. She went after him until she got him. But Martin had a wandering eye. I tried to tell her before they married, but she told me I was jealous so I dropped the subject. Dory had to learn her lessons the hard way.

  “When she couldn’t stomach his affairs any longer she threatened divorce. Just like she told you. Most likely, Martin didn’t want to share what he’d worked for, so he pretended to clean up his act.”

  “How do you know this? You said you didn’t see your sister often.”

  “I didn’t. But when this happened and she called for my help, I wasn’t too surprised when it spilled out. Anyway, she finally got fed up enough to swallow her pride and get a divorce. Then everything changed. Seeing Martin dead must have sent her over the edge. She couldn’t believe it. Having Martin dead wasn’t in her plans. For a few minutes I don’t think she knew what she was doing, so she tried to make it right. Which, of course was the real screw-up.”

  “You know a jury will never believe her.”

  “I know.”

  They passed through the city and headed out I-45. “Are we going to the house?”

  “Office. But we need to eat. Any preference?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You have to eat.” He called the office and had Buster order in.

  They passed the delivery guy on their way in.

  Dirk headed straight for the break room. No one was there except Buster. “Everyone else out?”

  “Yep. Marshall and Coop divided your cases between them, Carrie, of course, is at Steel Financial.”

  “I hope she doesn’t get in trouble,” Sky said. “I would feel so guilty.”

  “Save the guilt. Carrie glories in trouble.”

  Buster snickered. “I ordered sandwiches. Didn’t know what you liked, but there’s a selection. Help yourself.”

  “I’m going to wash up. I feel dirty. Little wonder Dory can’t tolerate that place.”

  When she left the room, Dirk turned to Buster. “Did Marshall give you the bank information?”

  “Of course.”

  “Find anything?”

  “I followed the money from where it was sent from Martin’s computer to Union Bank. From there it dies.”

  “Nothing new.”

  “Not a thing. But I’ll keep working on it.”

  Dirk grabbed a sandwich and stood. “I’m going to my office and see what I can dig up on the two people Dory insists are suspects. See if you can get Sky to eat something.”

  “Do my best.”

  Dirk sank into the chair at his desk. As he slowly ate his sandwich his thoughts went to Sky and her sister. Dory’s life was straight and simple. Whatever she wanted, she got. It didn’t matter whether it was that ice cream Sky described or a man who got her attention. Sky, on the other hand, worked for everything, while living in the shadow of the sister who was loved and fawned over by everyone.

  How must that have affected her
? She’d made a name for herself in the banking world in a very short time. She seemed to have it together. The loss of her belongings hadn’t turned her into a blubbering female, nor did the fact that someone had put a target on her back.

  She had a strength he admired. Not many could move forward with the courage she displayed.

  He finished eating and turned to his computer. He liked Sky Chapman.

  That was as far as it would go. Like. Friends. After his mother’s three miserable marriages, subsequent divorces, and her abandonment, Dirk declared at a very early age he’d live the life of a bachelor. Not that he didn’t like women, he did. A lot. But he sure as hell didn’t trust them. It was much easier to love them for a while and leave them later. That way, he wouldn’t be hurt.

  Not like his mom hurt him.

  He rubbed his chest. It was still there. That old hurt that wouldn’t go away.

  One of the worst days of his life was the day he and Coop came home from school to have Shorty tell him his mom had left for good. She had left off and on since he’d been in the first grade, but always told him she’d be back. That last time was different. Final. During the first few weeks, he’d held out hopes she’d change her mind. Instead she’d left for good, leaving Dirk with nothing but a shoebox of belongings. A box he’d never opened.

  He’d pretended he didn’t care.

  Six months later, they got word she had died of cancer.

  Shorty and Gramps wanted to adopt Dirk, but first they had to locate his dad. They spent a lot of money over the next few months before they located him in Florida. He signed the papers instantly. No questions asked.

  Though Dirk was proud of his family, loved them with everything in him, the realization that his biological parents didn’t want him still caused physical pain.

  Dory may not be the sister Sky would have chosen, but at least she had a sister. For that reason, Dirk would do his best to prove or disprove Sky’s belief.

  He looked up Steel Financial on the Net. It was a sound company, started ten years ago by Quentin Steel. His picture on the website showed a man in his fifties, nice chiseled features, dark hair turning silver. He gave the appearance of someone who could be trusted with a person’s money.