by Sara York
“Hey buddy, I think you’re on the money about being drugged. I don’t believe you offed this girl, but I need to call in the rest of the team and Randall. You may have to go downtown for a bit. I don’t think you’ll be held overnight.”
“I can’t.” Tony’s voice was desperate as a chill swept through his body. They couldn’t book him. He wouldn’t last an hour in jail. He and his team had personally busted fifteen methamphetamine labs last year. Prisoners hated him.
“Tony, the girl is dead. It looks similar to our suspect’s MO, but we have to get a bit closer to ‘by the book’ to make your absolution complete.”
“I don’t want everyone to know about this. Rex, what if I’m guilty?” Tony blurted. The oppressive weight holding him in place lightened. Tony stood, his legs felt wobbly, but he wouldn’t be railroaded into jail.
“I’m trying to help, but we need to call in Janice and Michael.”
“I didn’t do it.” Tony’s voice rose as he became bolder. His hand searched for the wall behind him, looking for the comfort of the cool solid surface.
“Tony, I believe you, but we need evidence collected. I already have a hair shaft with the follicle still attached. We can beat this thing.”
“Fine, but I want to shower first.”
“Not until we get a picture of you.”
“No.” Tony’s belligerent voice held the room still. Rex and Sekorski gave him a strange look again. Maybe he was crazy, but he didn’t murder the girl.
Photos of him covered in blood would be passed around the department while junior officers laughed at him. His hopes of a future in law enforcement would be washed away. Unable to voice the words that would take him out of his job and leave him the laughing stock of the Juniper Police force, Tony nodded his head in consent.
He stood in a corner, out of the way of the activity, and listened as Rex placed calls to Michael, Janice and Chief Randall. There was no going back now, his career was over, and he was going to jail. Even if he ran now, how far could he get? Maybe a few miles, possibly out of town, but he would never leave the state of Texas. They would hunt him down and fry his ass.
Randall arrived first, his face set in a scowl, head shaking as he surveyed the scene. Pity. That’s what Tony saw. Chief Randall had to know Tony’s career was over. Nothing he could do or say would keep him on the force. There would always be rumors, innuendo, and little gossip sessions where the pictures would come out time and time again. Tony wanted to yell, but he didn’t. Like an obedient child, he stood out of the way, waiting for the damaging pictures to be taken.
Janice showed up next. Tony watched as she walked into the room. Her first look at the body made her step back. Visibly shaken, Janice turned away from the bed and placed her camera case on the floor. When she sought Tony out, she averted her eyes, unable to make contact. She snapped shots without a word.
“I’m done.” Her eyes searched for Rex. She turned away from Tony as quick as she could with no words of encouragement. He was guilty in her eyes and nothing would change her mind.
Tony moved towards the bathroom. Randall followed and waved Rex over. Both of them converged on Tony, crowding the already small bathroom.
“Tony, I need your badge and your gun.” Randall’s calm voice soothed Tony. There would be no arguments. Tony was off the force.
“The dresser. Top drawer,” Tony answered, his voice flat with defeat.
“This is just a technicality, but you are suspended from the police force until further notice.”
“I figured as much.” Tony’s voice was scratchy to his own ears. He sounded years older, like an old man at the end of his life.
“Also, as soon as you are done in here, Rex will take you down to the station to be booked.”
He was being booked. Everything in him wanted to rant against the chief. He was being railroaded into jail. He should have run. Tony wanted to slam his fist into the wall, but his energy was on short circuit this morning, leaving him drained and incapable of abusing the wall in anger. “I didn’t do it,” Tony said weakly, knowing his words didn’t matter anymore.
“The evidence will tell us the entire story, just keep quiet until then.”
“Damn it, Randall, I didn’t murder that girl. I may be a fool, but I’m not a murderer.” Tony’s voice echoed in the small bathroom. The chief turned to leave, his face red with anger.
“Tony, I’ll try to get the district attorney to set a low bail, but I wouldn’t bet on it,” the Chief said as he walked out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
“Do you have a name for the girl?” Tony asked in the wake of the chief’s anger.
“Yeah, Latisha Enzer. We found her purse on the floor beside your bed.”
Tony lifted his gaze and stared at Rex. He wondered if he had already made his decision. Did Rex think he was guilty? Tony wanted to know if Rex was in his corner or if it was Tony against the world. He’d played that part before and could do it again.
His life at the boys’ home was thrust to the front of his mind. He’d had no allies, no one to turn to and no one to hold him when he cried. He had learned to be tough, never giving in to his feelings. Now, he would have to pull the lesson out again. Prison was rough, but prison for a cop was certain death. Tony rolled his shoulders forward, defeat echoing in his mind. If he survived this, he would leave Juniper and never look back.
“Tony, I believe you, man. I don’t know how, but we’ll find the evidence we need to get you out. Sekorski has already taken the bags of evidence to his office. He’s keeping a tight lock on them. No more disappearing acts. He’s doing a rush on your blood to see if you were drugged. Buddy, trust me.”
Tears welled in Tony’s eyes. Before Rex could see, he swiped them away with his arm. He hated crying. He didn’t cry often. Ashley’s funeral was the last time he remembered tears falling. He felt strange. His entire body was messed up, like he couldn’t control any emotions or thoughts. He wouldn’t give in. He would be strong and show them what a rock he was. Tony turned away from Rex and pulled off his shirt, flinging it against the back wall. He tugged at his shorts and let them fall to the floor. The blood cracked on the fabric, flecking as it hit the ground.
“Tony, I--“
“Just let me shower in peace.”
“Wait,” Rex hissed. His hands shot up, touching Tony’s back. He flinched at the unwanted contact.
“Damn it. Just let me take a shower.”
“Crap.”
“What is it?” Tony barked.
“There’s something on your back.”
“What do you mean?” Tony twisted his neck, trying to look. It was no use. He couldn’t see what Rex was talking about.
“Stay here and don’t get in the shower.”
Rex left the room and returned with Janice. Tony instinctively reached down to cover his privates. Embarrassment rushed through him. ‘Get used to it. You’re going to prison,’ his mind yelled.
“Rex, what the hell is she doing in here?”
“She’s taking the pictures,” Rex replied, his voice unwavering.
“The blood’s dried.” Janice’s voice was cold as she snapped shot after shot.
“I’m going to get a sample,” Rex said as he walked out the door.
Tony’s back was to Janice as her camera clicked and whirred. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Tony closed his eyes, wishing he could disappear. No one on the force, other than his best friend Rex, had seen him naked. He hated the feeling of being totally exposed. Memories of living in different boys’ homes across the country ripped through his body, and he shuddered. He didn’t want to remember being beaten with a bar of soap in a pillowcase, but there it was, pulled into his active stream of consciousness instead of staying hidden in the past.
Tony sighed heavily and Janice paused, no longer clicking pictures of his naked backside. The silence was almost unbearable. He wanted to curl up on the floor and pretend no one else was there, but her scratchy voice, fill
ed with emotion, drew him to the present. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“What does that mean?” Tony spat out.
“There’s an ‘L’ carved on your back.”
“What?” Tony stilled. The fog parted further, and his brain kicked into motion. This was proof he had been set up. He wasn’t guilty and he could go back to work. Elation bubbled through his thoughts, leaving him feeling woozy and light headed. He wouldn’t be kicked off the force, his life would eventually return to normal.
The door opened. Rex and the chief piled into the small bathroom. The space was crowded. The air conditioner vent couldn’t overcome the raw heat from four bodies pressed into the small room. Sweat dripped down Tony’s face. He let it run over his eyes, not bothering to wipe it away. Janice was still in the room, and now they were pressed close, too close for him to uncover his privates and wipe away the annoying perspiration. Tony cleared his throat, hoping Janice would leave the tiny room.
“Turn around, let me get a look at this,” Randall commanded. His fingers pushed at Tony’s back. The pain from the wound pinched at Tony’s nerves as the chief probed.
“Chief, I don’t think Tony did this. The ‘L’ proves he’s innocent.”
“It doesn’t prove anything,” the chief growled.
Tony turned, rounding on the chief, his elation melting away with each word the chief had spoken.
“It doesn’t prove anything?” Tony demanded. “How the hell do you think it got there?”
“Detective Santos, you are out of line.”
“Excuse me for not staying in my place, but I am not guilty. The ‘L’ etched on my back proves it. There’s another girl out there who’s been murdered. We have to find her. We need to gather as many clues as possible from the murder scene and catch this guy before he does it again.”
“What do you mean there’s another girl out there? Did you kill someone else too?”
“No, damn it. Don’t you understand?” Tony moved his hands, bringing them up to add emphasis to his words, not caring that he was totally exposed to everyone in the room. “If there’s an ‘L’ then there has to be an ‘H’.”
“Rex, make him shower and book him.” The chief opened the door and walked out of the bathroom. Tony grabbed a towel and followed, not wanting him to leave without hearing the facts.
“Randall, this is a vindictive killer.”
“Santos, you are out of line,” Randall roared.
“Damn right I’m out of line, and you’re railroading me into jail when you have evidence supporting my claim that I didn’t kill this girl.”
“You’ve got nothing other than an ‘L’ carved on your back. For all we know, you did it yourself.”
“I didn’t do it. How the hell could I carve it on my own back? Don’t you know what he’s spelling out?”
“What are you talking about?” Randall asked.
“Each victim has had a letter. The first girl, Angela Longfellow, had an ‘A’. Kelsey had an ‘S’ and now I have an ‘L’.”
“What the hell dose A-S-L spell?”
“He isn’t spelling A-S-L. He’s spelling out Ashley.”
A hush fell over the room. Everyone had loved Ashley. She had touched everyone in this room, making them laugh at her antics. Her vibrant spirit had moved them all. Once you met her, you loved her. Even the most miserable and hardboiled cop had a place in his heart for Ashley. The entire department had grieved when she died.
“Tony, her death was an accident,” Randall countered, his voice lowered with pity.
“We never looked beyond the animal marks.”
“What do you mean?” Randall asked.
“No toxicology was run. Sekorski didn’t do a full. He, and everybody else, had been devastated. We rushed her to burial.”
“You think someone killed her?” Randall questioned.
“This suspect of ours, he’s left three letters on our victims. I think there’s a fourth girl out there. She was killed like the last few. I don’t know why he brought one to my house. Maybe it was to render me unable to defend myself. I don’t know.”
“Rex, get Tony into the shower and bring him to headquarters.” The chief turned away, walking down the hall away from Tony.
“Haven’t you heard what I’m saying?” Tony’s voice was strained with emotion. He couldn’t afford to be off the force right now. They needed him to help look for this killer.
“Santos, I’ve heard you. We aren’t going to book you at this time, but you are still on leave.”
“No, you can’t do this to me,” Tony yelled. His head pounded and his eyes stung. He wanted to go back to sleep, to find some peace, but he couldn’t let Randall kick him off the force. No matter how bad he looked or felt they needed him to help solve this thing.
“You either take what I’m offering or resign right now. This is too personal for you. We need clear heads, not grieving fathers. Rex, you’re the lead now.”
Rex put his hand on Tony’s arm and led him back to the bathroom. Rex stood outside the door and let him shower in private. He was no longer a suspect, and they didn’t have to watch him like a hawk, but Tony hated even this intrusion. Pain shot through his back and down his legs when shampoo foam dripped onto the ‘L’ carved on his shoulder blade. Wincing, he held onto the wall for support until the worst of the pain passed.
He scrubbed his body twice, trying to wash away all of the blood, but he was unable to clean the scent of death from his nostrils. It clung to the membranes in his nasal passages, making him wish he had problems detecting smells.
With his shower finished, he dressed in clothes Rex had deposited on the toilet lid. Before he slipped on his shirt, he had Rex cover the oozing wound on his back with a pad of gauze. Later, he would go to the doctor to get stitches if he needed any. His clothes were casual, jeans and a t-shirt, not his usual attire for going to the police station. Then again, there was nothing usual about this trip. He was on leave.
The strange feeling followed him to the station. He stepped out of Rex’s H3 and the first wave of flashes caught him by surprise.
Someone had alerted the media. Their suspect, most likely. Tony had little doubt the newspaper’s caption would read ‘Local Serial Killer Caught’.
Marissa. He had to talk to Marissa.
Chapter 14
Ally’s eyes adjusted to the muted darkness. The room was strange, unfamiliar. She rolled over, eyeing the curtains covering the tall window. Light seeped around the edge of the fabric, illuminating the room enough for her to make out a large dresser and a nightstand. A sheet of paper propped against the bedside lamp caught her attention. Ally grabbed it, holding it close. She read aloud, savoring the words. ‘Thanks for the most wonderful night, Michael.’
Groaning, she rolled over and stood. Her legs shook with each step. Now she remembered. He’d given her a beer. She shouldn’t have taken it. The pounding in her head increased with each movement.
Ally made her way to the bathroom, turned the cold faucet on and drank. They had come back to his place around nine to talk. She wasn’t experienced, but she wasn’t stupid. Talking meant sex. She’d wanted it. Her one failed attempt at sex with a man had ended with a broken nose--not hers--and months of ridicule heaped upon her. How could she have known his nose would shatter? He shouldn’t have asked her to suck his thing.
Michael had been different, so loving and sweet. When he had come to her house the other night, he had kissed her only once, letting her know he wasn’t going to push her into sex. Last night he didn’t question her when she said ‘no’ to blowing him.
Ally rolled her shoulders and caught her reflection in the mirror. She looked satisfied. Michael had known what he was doing. He had spent time kneading her muscled back, working his hands like magic, getting her to relax. At one point, he had kissed almost every inch of her. His tongue had done amazing things to her breasts and between her legs. After he finished exploring her body with his mouth, his strong arms held her as they rocke
d back and forth, the powerful rhythm overtaking both of them, sending them over the edge.
He fed her strawberries dipped in chocolate and drizzled champagne over her body, lapping it up with his tongue. The memory of orgasm after orgasm sent a shiver down her spine. She had passed out at some point from exhaustion. The thought made her laugh. Today she was paying for it.
Ally showered and dressed quickly. Her first appointment for the day was in an hour. She paused in the kitchen, leaning her head against the cool refrigerator. The stupor from her hangover made her movements slow and sluggish. No more drinks for her. She wanted to stretch her stamina even further and see if she could outlast Michael.
Whistling, Ally left the apartment and locked up with the key she found on the kitchen countertop. Michael had written another note telling her to keep the key. He wanted to see her again, not tonight though. He needed one day of rest so he could keep up with her. Another laugh escaped her lips. She had a boyfriend and the key to his apartment. No one could claim she was a bizarre weirdo now. She was a normal girl, not some freak who couldn’t get a man.
The elation carried her through her first two appointments. Both women commented on how happy she seemed. Ally kept her newfound status a secret. She didn’t want to divulge everything at once.
Marissa came in smiling and waved to Ally. Her spirits lifted. She could tell Marissa about Michael, maybe.
****
Ally pushed hard, forcing Marissa to go beyond what she thought she could endure. By the end of the hour she felt like her body had been brutalized.
“You may want to soak in a tub tonight,” Ally said.
“Yeah, I think I will. You seem fairly chipper today.”
“I have a secret.”
“Let me guess, it has something to do with a man.”
“How did you know?” Ally asked.
“It’s obvious. I’ve been there myself.”
“I don’t know. It’s strange, I’ve never...” Ally shook her head. “We’re done for the day. Why don’t you go take a shower and I’ll see you next time?”
