He chuckled as he grabbed a beer from the fridge. The lunacy of it all. Dickens lately, the gym demon from hell, managed to make him feel better than his own best friend, Zeke. He figured Zeke could thank himself for that. He’s originally the one who finagled Ben to join the gym.
Ben ended the night by downing two beers, a small package of saltine crackers, just to pacify himself that he knew how to eat, and plopped into bed hoping for a restful night.
It never came.
His mind flashed horrible images of Rina, bruised and strangled. A scarf, the color unclear, wrapped tightly around her neck. He woke in a panic, drenched in a heavy sweat. He walked around the house just to calm himself down.
A scarf.
No discernible color. Nothing.
She would not be a victim. She had nothing to do with the case. Just because she resembled the victim a tiny bit didn’t mean she would be next.
Then why couldn’t he shake the nasty feeling?
The next day consisted of more digging into Beth’s life, finding her routine, her habits, and interviewing anyone she knew. She liked to work out at the gym, same as his, Pump It Up Fitness. Although, he never recalled seeing her there. Ben braved going to the gym to talk to Dickens.
“Do you remember Beth Darlington? She was a member,” Ben asked Dickens. Avoiding full eye contact would be futile. Dickens would lay into him at any moment.
“Yep. Sweet girl. Pretty decent routine. Came in every Monday, and if she missed that day, she always came in on Wednesdays. Where have you been, Ben?”
“Working. Lots of work,” Ben said sheepishly.
Dickens crossed his arms making his body appear bigger, which made Zeke, who was standing next to Ben, take a step back. “That sounds like an excuse, Ben. We talked about this. You need to make time. You can’t fall off your schedule. When you fall off your schedule, you fall behind, you lose the motivation. You can’t lose the motivation, Ben.”
Ben cleared his throat, throwing him, what he hoped, was an eager smile. “You’re absolutely right, Dickens. I’ll be in this week. Back to Beth. Did you ever see her have any issues with anyone? Any problems that you know of in her life? You’re a friendly guy. People open up to you. Did she tell you anything?”
“She talked about breaking up with Steven. Although, she didn’t seem too concerned. She said they were great friends. She had a great schedule. Very focused. Not like you. I want to see you this week, Ben. No negotiations, my friend. Bring your buddy along. I think it’s about time you joined, Zeke.” Dickens smiled wide, turning his head toward the front desk. “Johnny, grab me some paperwork.”
Zeke looked panicked, glancing at Ben for help, who smirked wide and planted his feet a little more firmly to the ground. Zeke glanced at his watch. “Oh, geez, Dickens, look at the time. We have to get to another interview. We…ah…set an appointment.”
“It’ll only take five minutes,” Dickens said warmly, puffing up his chest a little.
“We could probably spare five minutes. Right, Zeke?” Ben said, enjoying his discomfort immensely. Served him right after the way he teased him relentlessly about Rina.
“No, I really don’t think so.”
Ben laughed, but finally conceded that they needed to leave. Why did he let Zeke skate by again without Dickens getting his way? Zeke’s discomfort gave him a small window in his anguish, lifting his spirits. When he centered his mind back on the case, his happiness came crashing back down.
Beth liked grabbing a cup of coffee from the diner near the salon every morning before work. Same time every day. No one in the diner could provide any useful information. She always grabbed her coffee, said goodbye with a friendly smile, and went on her way.
She had just booked a cruise with her friend Diane. She wanted to get away and pamper herself after breaking it off with Steven. While she knew they were better as friends, she still felt the heartache of losing him. She had been looking forward to the getaway.
Steven’s alibi indicated he was home alone that night, which really gave him no alibi, but they didn’t get the feeling he committed the crime. Timothy hadn’t given them a funny feeling either.
Who did that leave as a suspect?
The day offered nothing to help find a good suspect. Or the next day.
Ben went home that night, his mood no better than yesterday. He went to bed with the same hope he had the night before. He just wanted some sleep and a peaceful night with no brutal nightmares of Rina.
Of course, the phone ringing in his ear dashed his hopes. He rolled over to his nightstand, barely needing to rub his eyes clear of sleep, considering he really hadn’t been sleeping, and groaned. Only 1:15 in the morning.
“Hello,” he mumbled, not even bothering to check who was calling.
“We got another dead body. Do you want to meet me, or should I pick you up?” Zeke asked, the tiredness evident in his voice.
“Shit. Please tell me it’s not related to Beth’s case.” Ben sat up, throwing the covers off.
“I wish I could, buddy.”
“Come get me. I’ll be ready in five.” Ben started to walk toward the closet, then almost stumbled as he froze. “Do we have an ID yet?”
“Susan just called me and said she would meet us there. The victim’s husband found her.” Ben heard a pause and a slight breath escape. “It’s not Rina if that’s what your crazy head was thinking. I’m not even sure why you’d think that.”
He found the strength to finish walking and yanked a shirt off the hanger. “What can I say, Zeke? I can’t get her out of my mind.”
“I hear ya. That’s why when I tell you what I know I hope you don’t hate me for relaying the news.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
“Zeke, tell me now.”
Ben stared at the phone when silence answered him. How could Zeke hang up on him like that? He threw his phone on the bed, then started to change his shirt. Every time his fingers attempted to loop a button, he had to take a breath and try again.
Rina.
He was going to tell him something about Rina.
Chapter 4
Ben crawled into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. “Do we know anything else?”
“I know as much as I told you on the phone.” Zeke tried to sneak a glance at Ben.
“Whatever it is you feel you need to tell me, don’t. Does it have to do with Rina?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t want to know.”
“But I think—” Zeke threw up his hand. “And don’t you dare cut me off. I think you should know.”
“What you think and what I want are two separate things. I’ve lost my energy.”
Definitely lost his energy. They always had a war, throwing pencils back and forth when they teased each other. He couldn’t remember who started it. Perhaps he did. Roberta, the supply goddess, hated seeing their faces when they tried to get a new box of pencils. “Seriously, how do you two go through so many so fast?” Ben always grinned and replied, “I just love seeing your face.” She would always blush and hand him a new box without a problem after that.
“If I had a pencil right now, I wouldn’t even have the energy to throw it at you. What does that tell you?”
“That I have no idea how to make my best friend feel better. I’m sorry, man.”
Ben shrugged. What else could he say? He was sorry as hell, too.
Ten minutes later, Zeke arrived at a white, rambler house. He parked a few houses down considering the street and driveway was already filled with other police personnel.
Officer Spencer stood on the porch, hands on his hips with a morose expression. “Chance. Stoyer. I don’t know how you guys do this shit day in and day out.”
Ben stood by quietly. Zeke normally liked to take the lead on things. With his energy gone, he really didn’t care. Half the time he would mockingly rip at Zeke for always going first or talking first.
Not now.
“Compartmentalizing. What do you know?” Zeke asked.
“Victim’s name is Ashley Patterson. Her husband’s inside, sitting in the living room. They’ve been fighting lately and he’s been staying at his brother’s house. He had a little too much to drink tonight and came back home to talk to his wife. Sort of like drunk dialing, but he decided to do it drunk-in-your-face instead.” Spencer gestured towards the door. “He’s a mess. I saw her body. I’d be a mess, too, if I saw my wife like that.”
“Thanks, Spencer.” Zeke walked inside, ignoring the officer and the husband, who sat huddled on the couch, tears streaming down the husband’s face.
Ben followed suit, coming behind Zeke as he stepped inside the bedroom. The same pristine scene like Beth’s room hit his eyes. Bruised woman, auburn hair, a scarf around her neck. No signs of a struggle.
“Hey, guys,” Susan said with little fanfare.
Zeke walked closer to the bed. “It’s an orange scarf this time. Is he bringing his own, or are these the victims?”
“I think he’s bringing them. Beth didn’t have many scarves in her house, except for an old knit scarf, probably for winter. Ashley here, just a quick glance inside her closet, dresses up a little fancier than Beth did. But this is a silk scarf. Very high end. Ashley’s clothes are nice, but not that nice. The color of the scarf he chooses seems to go with the lovely creepy notes he leaves.”
Susan rounded the bed with an evidence bag and handed it to Ben, who stood the closest to her. “Check it out. I have no clue what this bastard’s getting at.”
Tiny goose bumps flushed his skin as he read the note. Orange for the glow, that hangs so low. He passed it to Zeke. Nobody probably wanted to hear the words spoken. “Could be the husband. They’ve been fighting and he found the body.”
“Yeah, he looks good for it, except he’s kind of an idiot. He’s been a blubbering mess, and while he looks like a big guy, he doesn’t seem smart enough to pull this type of crime off. This guy is methodical. The killer had to know she would be alone. She still has her wedding ring on. He knew she was married, yet broke in anyway and did this,” Susan said, whipping a hand at Ashley.
Ben instinctively followed her hand, cringing when his eyes landed on the body.
Rina all over again. Same hair color, same body type. Why did they have to look like her? Like he wasn’t already in enough pain.
“Is Dr. Everly here yet? I don’t recall seeing his vehicle,” Zeke asked.
“Not yet, but I’d say the same manner of death. She was strangled and raped. Bruises show enough indication of that. Cover her face, picture a different color of scarf, and you have a mirror image of our last crime scene. He has a type. Auburn hair, slim woman, younger, and I would’ve said single, but obviously Ashley is married.”
“So what, we let every auburn-haired, slim woman in the St. Cloud area be aware?” Ben snapped.
Susan stepped back, her face twisting with confusion. “Did I say something to upset you, Detective?”
Running a hand through his hair, a few strands slipped onto his forehead. “I’m sorry, Susan. I didn’t mean to snap. Anything else you can tell us?”
“No. Why don’t you two leave so I can do my job?” She turned back toward the bed, dismissing them.
Ben walked out first.
Idiot.
Taking out his despair on Susan. She didn’t deserve that. She was one of the nicest in the crime lab, usually bumping stuff up for him and Zeke whenever they asked with a sweet smile.
He just couldn’t erase those vicious images out of his mind.
A rough hand grabbed his shoulder, shoving him around. Zeke pursed his lips as he shook his head. “That was uncalled for, man.”
“I know. I said I was sorry.”
“Maybe you need to take a few days off and get your head together. In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you act this way.”
“We have two murders to solve.”
“I’ll handle it. You’re no help to me when you act like a jackass, especially to Susan.”
“I can’t—”
“This is me interrupting you for once. It wasn’t a suggestion. Don’t make me go to the captain and tell him why I think you need time off. I know you’re hurting about Rina. Figure that shit out and then come back. I don’t know what else to say. We normally joke around and we haven’t done that in a while. Where’s my best friend at?”
“I was wondering the same thing. I’m not taking time off. Go talk to the damn captain if it’ll make you feel better.”
***
“What’s it like to be back?” Dee asked, filling up her coffee cup.
“It kind of sucks. I’m so glad I don’t officially start until Monday. It’s already Thursday. I don’t have much time left. I feel like a noose is around my neck,” Zoe said, placing a soft hand over the blanket where Zabrina peacefully slept in her car seat.
“Why are you coming back then? We’ll miss you here, but it’s not like these stuffy accountants can’t find a new secretary. I mean, Mary, who’s been filling in for you, she’s been doing a nice job. Do what’s best for you, Zoe,” Rina said quietly as she looked at Zabrina.
“Did you just say stuffy? Since when does our Rina speak like that?” Dee pierced a hard glare at her, then just as suddenly softened her features.
“I don’t see the big deal,” Rina said with a shrug. See what happened when she tried to say what she really wanted. She got called out on it. It was so much better to stay quiet.
“I don’t think Mr. Young would like it if I left. After last year, when Mills and Murphy were murdered, he said as much. I mean, he gave me a raise and has been making sure everything is always easy for me. I have it easy here.” Zoe sighed, then shared a look with Rina.
She knew what Zoe just did. Redirected Dee’s attention. It certainly didn’t mean Zoe wouldn’t hound her later what the problem was.
“Mr. Young is pretty great. I still can’t get over the fact he slept with Murphy’s wife. That was his partner and friend. I guess it could be because I’m his secretary that I still like him, but the new guy who replaced Mills and Murphy, Donaho, he’s sort of douchey,” Dee said.
“He’s sort of hot, too,” Zoe added.
Rina couldn’t resist. She laughed along with them. Zoe hit the nail on the head. He’d never be hotter than Ben, though. No one would probably ever surpass him.
“I like hearing you laugh.” Zoe smiled, then slowly frowned. “Are you really going out with some lawyer? Where did you meet this guy?”
So much for Zoe waiting to pounce on her later.
“I really don’t like having to explain myself all the time. Does it matter where I met him? He’s very nice. We changed our date. We’re going out tonight instead of Saturday.”
Fleeing sounded like a great plan. She couldn’t handle this interrogation, especially from her two best friends. Sooner or later, they would know what a terrible liar she was. If they didn’t already.
“You’re becoming much more aggressive with your words, Rina. So unlike you. If you feel better lying to us, then so be it. But lying to yourself isn’t going to help you any. Have a nice date tonight,” Dee said, almost as softly as she would’ve spoken. It hit her squarely in the chest as if Dee had sucker punched her. Is that what she did to people when she spoke softly?
“I need to get back to work. See you Sunday, Zoe. We’re all going out for drinks still, right?” Dee asked, glancing between the two.
“Of course. I promise not to bring up Ben, Rina. We’re just worried about you and what’s going on. Because something is definitely going on. You always told me to talk it out with Zeke, so I’m not sure why you’re not talking out your issues with anyone,” Zoe said.
Rina could hear the worry and the concern in both of their voices. Seeing it in their eyes as well would just break her heart further. She couldn’t look at them. They would see everything written in her eyes. The pain. The shame. The fear.
“Some issues aren’t as easily solved as you two would like to think.” Rina finally looked up, her face expressionless. At least, she hoped so. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
She walked out of the break room first, heading to her desk like a fuse on a stick of dynamite just lit up. She wanted to imagine a lovely date with Anthony tonight. She met him once at her father’s house and didn’t lie about him being nice. He seemed like a gentleman. Every time she conjured his face, which was difficult to do, she couldn’t imagine going anywhere with the man. Not like when she thought of Ben.
Why did she torture them both? Why couldn’t she be stronger and give Ben a chance? She wanted to so badly. But the fear, like always, held her back. She may sound strong to everyone, but she was a wimp. A lowly wimp. A disgrace.
She left work without saying goodbye to Dee, something she had never done before, and felt the rebel in her sneaking out more and more as time went on. She needed that rebel to stay out and fight. When she arrived home to see her father’s car sitting in the driveway, she knew why the rebel always hid away into the deep recesses of her mind.
“You’re late,” her father said with annoyance, glancing at his watch. His scowl did nothing to help her nerves that were already wired. He walked around his car, clicking the automatic lock with a quick press of his thumb.
“Traffic was not good, father. It’s only 5:30, my date isn’t until seven. I’m not sure what the problem is.” Rina unlocked her front door, not even waiting for her father to follow.
“Don’t take that tone of voice with me, Rina. You need to look your best. Anthony comes from a good family. Our families have been friends forever. You two together would be perfect,” her father said in the normal insolent tone he always used with her.
Rina dropped her keys into the bowl on her dining room table and took a deep silent breath before she turned around to face her father. “I’m looking forward to this date.”
“Good. Do something beautiful with your hair. Put it up in a nice coiffed hairstyle. Wear something black. You always look debonair in black.”
Her father glanced around the room, his nose lifting in disgust. “Honestly, Rina, don’t you know how to keep a clean house. This is embarrassing. If you invite him in, he’ll be disappointed at how filthy everything is.”
One Taste of Love (A One Taste Novel Book 2) Page 4
