“In case you thought I’d been mugged you can cancel the 911 call. Sorry but I fell asleep, it was the cat’s fault, he let me lay down after dinner.”
“I’m glad to hear the BS artist is still alive and well. It would have been a sorry end to what has been a very good day.”
“What happened? Did you get a raise?” Did you find a gold bar in a dead body, what?”
“Well, I was told in strictest confidence that Doctor Roundtree has decided to retire, and he’s recommending me for his job. With his letter of recommendation, I’m almost assured of becoming the new ME of King County.”
“God, that’s great kiddo, when is all of this supposed to take place?”
“He’s going to leave in July sometime, but the handoff will be before then, so I can get up to speed. The exact date is still floating around out there.”
“I’m so happy for you Maya. This is good news. I assume this is what you wanted?”
“Yes, but I had no idea it would happen this soon. I’m sort of nervous Abby.”
“Just think positive Maya, you can do the job just fine.”
I didn’t want to tell her that I would probably return Wednesday evening I was hoping to surprise her.
“Abby, have a safe trip, okay?”
“I’ll be fine Maya. I’ll see you when I get back.”
There was a long pause, like maybe she was going to say something more but it passed and we both hung up. I felt somehow cheated. There was going to be an ending, but it never came.
All our lunches and dinners together and our past week that had moved our platonic friendship to something much deeper between us had me fumbling for words. I’d been hoping for months that Abby would show me how she felt. I wanted to, but the shyness that had been with me all my life was not letting me tell her how I felt. I felt guilty that I was making Abby take the lead. No one should be the leader we should be side by side in this.
Chapter 13
I was up early and caught the five thirty to the precinct. I had the car warmed up for Tom by the time he arrived with his bag of healthy snacks in hand.
“Morning Tom, I see you’re prepared for your road trip.”
“Yeah, I was up at four this morning putting this together. I even made enough for the two of us.”
“Thanks Tom, you’re a real Martha Stewart.”
I smiled over at him as he got behind the wheel, and set his bag of goodies in the backseat.
“Bite me Abby”
I laughed loudly as the tires squealed and we shot out of the police garage for Mercer Island and points east. We passed through Issaquah and on through the Cascades. The roads were plowed, but the snow rose up from the side of the road like a white blanket. We sped through Ellensburg, Yakima, Richland and finally into Walla Walla. We’d come from the deep snow to the desert and farm country of eastern Washington. The land was flat and rolling; perfect for crops and livestock.
We pulled into the prison parking area, and spotted the corner brick tower with its enclosed guard station at the top. It was an impressive structure, and I was hoping we could make Tate do the right thing. Our name was on the check-in, and the warden was buzzed to retrieve us from the guard shack. He arrived quickly, and after introductions we started to the meeting area.
“So Mr. Powell what kind of a prisoner has Tate been?” I asked.
“Call me Chuck, please. He’s been as they say a model prisoner. We weren’t sure what to expect when he arrived. His reputation had preceded him.”
“Has he gotten in with any of the gangs inside?”
“Not really, that’s one thing about being six five and two eighty, people tend to leave you alone.”
Chuck escorted us into our meeting room and was told the guard would bring Tate in shortly.
“Do know what you’re going to say to this guy Abby?” asked Tom.
“Not really. I’ll just layout the scene, and tell him what we’d like him to do, that’s all.”
We heard the gates clanking from way down the long hall that we’d just walked down. We both tracked the progress as the sound got closer. Tate finally came into view, and the sheer size of him was, indeed, awesome. He had chains on his wrists and on his feet. He looked like a giant bear that captivity had broken, and he was just along for the ride. He saw us and stared the entire time as he was moved into his chair.
“Could you please take his cuffs off?” I said to the guard.
“That’s against procedure detective,” he replied.
“Please remove them.”
I stared at the guard trying to have a mind meld moment like on Star Trek. Tate turned his head up to the guard, and held out his shackled hands. The guard sighed and unlocked the cuffs.
“You better hope you don’t piss him off, or you may regret your decision.”
“He’ll be just fine.”
Tate sat rubbing his wrists and turned his steely gaze back to Tom and me, mostly me, and uttered his first word.
“Thanks.”
“We’re here for a friendly conversation. We might was well be as comfortable as we can.”
“It must be awful important for you to drive all the way from Seattle to see little ole’ me?”
“It is Tate. What the hell is your first name? I feel odd using your last name.”
He looked at me for a long time and finally responded.
“Francis.”
“So, is Francis okay with you or are we back to Tate?”
“Francis if fine, in here, but let’s not advertise it outside this room, okay?”
“Mum’s the word Francis.”
I went through our whole story, and recounted the night by the pool where Sharon had seen Francis standing behind Gino Canutillo as he shot Tully McBain. I then launched into how Francis came to be sitting across from me in this fine establishment. Namely that one Gino Canutillo had sacrificed Francis to the cops to save his own hide, and how we wanted him for killing Sharon and McBain, but the evidence for Sharon was not going to pan out. If he would give us a signed statement about Gino’s involvement in Tully’s murder, we’d get his sentence reduced from twenty five to five. He’d already done seven as it was. I argued like hell to get the number as low as it was. I really wanted Gino behind bars, and if I made the deal sweet enough he might just take it.
I had stopped talking, and we were waiting for Francis to answer. His eyes never left mine, and I stared right back, not wanting to look away and show any fear or worse yet that I was not giving him the whole story. His shaved head was damp with sweat as he continued to look at me.
“I don’t know you from Adam. How do I know I can trust you?” he said, shifting in his chair.
“Look Francis, you either believe me or you don’t. I do this job because I like helping people who’ve been wronged, hurt, swindled, or even killed. I enjoy putting the bad guys in jail. I know you’ve had your share of scrapes with the law, but you’re not a killer. The deck was stacked against you, and here you are paying the bill for someone else’s crime. I’m here to try and correct that, but I need you to stand on your hind legs, get pissed, and tell your story like it should be told.”
Again, we sat looking at each other. I felt the four cups of coffee I’d had in the car suddenly screaming to get out. I hoped this didn’t take too much longer, or I could very well embarrass myself.
“I saw the fucker kill Sharon too. I drove him to the market site the night he did it.”
“So you’ll do it Francis?”
“Yeah, I’ve had enough of this crap. I didn’t have a way, or the money to get a fancy lawyer to work with me. I might as well work with you, besides I’d rather look at you than some ugly lawyer dude.”
We spent the next two hours with Francis as he wrote out the details of that he’d been a party to and what he’d seen. When he was done he’d written fifty three pages. While he was writing I was relieving myself. I even had a spring in my step, as I relieved Tom so he could get his spring back too. At the end
of our long day, with a typed, signed, and notarized statement, I stood next to Francis as they were getting ready to put the cuffs back on. He looked at me and then at the guards and then took me into the hug of all hugs. I felt his rock hard body pressing against mine, and his steely arms clinched around my back. He broke the hug, kissed me on the cheek, and made his last statement before we left.
“Thanks detective.”
He was actually smiling as the cuffs were clicked shut over his wrists, and the guards started him on his long walk back to his cell.
Tom and I left town in a hurry. It was Tom’s turn to drive since I’d taken over in the morning, and drove the leg from Ellensburg to Walla Walla. I napped as the countryside sped by my window, and Tom snacked on carrots and celery. We came over the rise on Mercer Island and saw the line of cars exiting Seattle heading toward us. We were both glad we were going in the opposite direction. It would be almost nine that night before traffic would thin out although I’m not sure traffic ever thins out in Seattle. I pulled into the police garage, and Tom headed for his car as I headed upstairs to put my briefcase away and called Jamison.
Chapter 14
I reported in to the captain since he never goes home before six. We called the DA together, and a meeting was arranged for ten the following morning to go over Francis’s, I mean, Tate’s statement. I leaned back in my chair thinking about Tate, and then moved on to Maya. I admit to liking the chase, the courting, the getting to know the other person, and yes the sex, but with Maya there was something more there. I’d been with several women to this point in my life, but Maya plucked at some inner strings that hadn’t been touched before. I reached for the phone and dialed her number. It rang five times.
“Hello, Dr.Sinaga.”
“I’ve got this pain in my heart, and I need some medicine,” I said.
“Abby, what are you doing. Are your in motel in Walla Walla?”
“No, I’m at my desk in Seattle. We got back forty five minutes ago. I’m sorry, but I wanted to surprise you, but part of that surprise is you picking me up so I can take you to dinner. How’s that for a date request?”
“Novel but nice, give me thirty minutes and I’ll pick you up in back, okay?”
“I’ll be the one with the smile on my face.”
“Pick up more jokes in prison did you?”
“I’m always trying to improve myself.”
“Still needs work,” was her last comment.
I heard the chuckle as Maya hung up. I started to map out how we’d approach Gino and where. This was not a two or three person arrest. Gino had too many body guards and shooters around him. I pulled out the yellow pages, and found the restaurant I was trying to remember. I found Palisade and called them to see if there was a problem getting a table for tonight. There wasn’t, and I even got a window table, after a little female whine was applied. Palisade is in the Magnolia district and overlooks Elliott Bay. It’s a class place, and just right for Maya.
I walked around back and watched the night patrols heading out to their neighborhoods, after roll call. I was glad I was out of that now. We all have to go through it, but I was happy as a detective. I saw the Maya’s BMW careen around the corner three blocks up. She looked like a stock car rounding the last turn and heading for the pit. Her top was up, but I saw the gorgeous smile as she passed the last corner before stopping in front of me.
“Going my way?” Maya said as the car hadn’t even stopped yet.
“Always.”
I climbed in and was greeted with a quick kiss. I glanced around to make sure we were still alone on the street. It’s the one thing about being a lesbian that continues to make me angry. Although our society is making progress with gays, we’re not there yet. People still have a problem with women or men kissing in public. Consequently, we all feel like we have to sneak around a bit. I was kind of glad Maya was not quite as guarded. I like bold.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Palisade, I’ll give you directions.”
We rocketed away from the curb as I started giving her the turns and direction. Twenty minutes later we pulled into the lot. Maya took my hand as we walked up to the front door. You can always tell a class restaurant by the size of their sign. The smaller it is the better it is. Class doesn’t require a gaudy display.
I gave my name and we were shown, as promised, to a window table. It was in the corner and kind of set off from the rest of the restaurant. It was a tiered table arrangement that resembled stairs, so everyone had a view. We sat quiet both watching the ferries moving across the sound over to one of the communities on the other side, carrying workers home from a day at the grind stone. I turned back and looked over at Maya, and smiled to myself as I watched her intense look; the dark long eyelashes that set off the piercing eyes that I loved so much, her soft rounded cheeks, and over to her pouting lips that were so kissable. As I watched, she turned, and I was caught.
“What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?”
I reached across and put my hand over hers as I spoke.
“I was just admiring how beautiful you are. We’ve known each other for over two years, and until this past week, I wasn’t sure how you felt about me, now I know, and it makes me happy. I could sit and look at you all evening.”
Maya looked down at my hand as the waiter brought our wine and we ordered. Her hand didn’t move, why should it? Maya raised her glass, and I touched hers with mine.
“To the start of something special.”
I looked over the rim of my glass as I sipped. Her eyes were locked into mine, and I felt myself start to melt. Her hand squeezed mine as we both sipped our wine.
“Abby, I have a confession to make. I think my shyness may have given you the impression that I wasn’t interested in you. I was raised by parents who thought a daughter should be seen and not heard. It was not their fault. It was how they were raised as well, so they were just following in their own parents footsteps. When I moved to the west coast and UCLA, it was hard for me to speak up and be heard. I worked at it long and hard. I’m better at work, but I haven’t gotten better in my private life. I’ve always thought you were a beautiful woman, and I wanted to get to know you better, but I could never say the words to start myself off with you. I’m glad you started us off because I feel comfortable around you, and I’m starting to feel more confident. All of this is leading up to the fact that I like you very much, and I want us to keep going together.”
If there was ever a time that I wanted to take Maya into my arms it was now, but that would wait until later, I hoped.
“Maya, I feel the same about you and I definitely want us to continue with our relationship, but you’ll have to get used to one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to probably continue to stare at you, a lot. You’ve captured my imagination, and I love to be around you and take you all in.”
We traded more revelations about how we felt about the other tucked away in our little corner. As we sat back from a wonderful meal, we both sat digesting what the other had just said. It was to be a turning point in my life and Maya’s, but I didn’t quite know that yet.
Later, we walked out to Maya’s car, and we stood under a bright halogen light and kissed.
“Can you stay tonight?”
“Yes, I came prepared.”
“Sneaky devil aren’t we?”
“I stopped by my apartment and got some clothes for tomorrow. I wanted so much to be with you tonight.”
We drove home with very little conversation. Maya punched in the security code of my gate, and we parked at the end of the ramp to the docks. I packed her clothes to my front door. As I turned on the lights, I was met with the meows of a pissed cat. Felix was none too happy that he’d been forgotten and had missed his meal. Maya held him as I fixed his dinner, and gave him a bit extra as an apology. He was leaning into his petting, but when he saw the dish hit the floor, Maya was forgotten. A cat has his
priorities after all. It was nine o’clock, and we had time for a glass of wine before bed. With wine glasses in hand, we walked out and sat on my deck feeling the undulation of the houseboat move under us. For some people, it would cause them to run to apply their patch, but for me it was heaven. Maya put her arm around my shoulder as we sat sipping.
“I love it here Abby. I’m jealous of your view.”
The words were circling in my mind, but I wasn’t sure about saying them. I’d never said the words before, but those strings that had been touched inside me were vibrating again. It was now or never. Why miss out on a great companion for the lack of guts to move forward.
“Maybe we should discuss you moving in here and enjoying it with me.”
Maya looked over at me with those eyes, those gorgeous eyes that were staring intently into mine. I held my stare as she set her glass down and turned into my arms. I held her warm body to me, and closed my eyes for just a moment, recording the feel of her against me for those times when she wasn’t.
“Abby, I like you very much but let’s wait for awhile to make sure we’re as good for each other as we think. It’s a big commitment, and I want to make sure, just like I know you do too.”
I hate myself when I jump the gun. Impulsiveness can be good sometimes, but not when you’re talking about changing two people’s lives.
“I have my faults and being impulsive is one of them. See how good we are for each other. You can help me keep my impulsiveness under control. You’re right Maya we should make sure.”
We went inside, locked up and I apologized to Felix one last time as Maya and I walked up to our bedroom.
She stood at the end of the bed as I slowly removed her clothes, letting my lips and hands caress her dark skinned body. I bit gently at her nipples as my fingers pressed against her pubic area. She had a narrow landing strip of hair, and it was smoothly shaved at the sides. I stroked her soft skin, as she spread her legs for me. Her hands worked the buttons of my blouse as I pushed easily insider her. Her breath caught as I sunk deep inside her.
Death on the Sound Page 7
