Just as I was about to say something else our food arrived and we started eating like a couple of animals. I was almost embarrassed for my behavior. I was matching Garrett bite for bite.
“This is really good,” Garrett said.
I just nodded and kept on stuffing food in my mouth. I guess a little makeup and hair change didn’t help with my manners any. I couldn’t believe it. I ate the whole steak, baked potato, and even the nasty green thing. Broccoli, I think they call it. Gross, but today it tasted pretty good. There would be no extra for Garrett this time.
I leaned back and just smiled. I was one contented woman. I wanted to loosen my pants but didn’t see any graceful way of doing it at the table.
“Fantastic,” Garrett said, searching around on his plate for one last morsel.
“Really fantastic,” I agreed.
“You want another glass of wine?” he asked.
“I had better not. I’m driving.”
“Mind if I have one?”
“No, please, go ahead.”
“You sure you don’t want just one more?”
“Oh, what the hell. Yeah, I’ll just take it slowly,” I said.
I excused myself and went to the ladies room. I had to loosen my belt at the very least. I checked my teeth for any remains of dinner and applied a bit of lipstick.
Garrett was smiling contently when I came back.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
I wasn’t sure what he meant so I didn’t answer.
“I meant about the way the case is starting to shape up.”
“Ah. Well, I have to say some of the pieces are starting to fall into place at long last. I feel like we finally have something to pursue.”
“I agree. It’s funny how sometimes little things suddenly make the picture a whole like clearer. The passing comment by Cain about the SWAT team foul up. Suddenly it starts to kind of make sense. Add in the trauma to the baby, the fact that Sparks is Jonny Taylor’s sister, and voilà, you have something you can go after.
“I’m just glad you found out about Sparks. That may be the key to this whole thing.”
“So you are no longer angry that McGregor let me in on this?”
“I have to admit, it did upset me. I don’t like having people shoved on me.”
“But?”
“But you haven’t turned out to be so bad. You aren’t pushy and you haven’t tried to tell me what to do,” I replied.
“So I’m okay?”
“Yeah, you’re pretty okay.”
“Good. Look Angie, I know all about your rules. Dan told me. I’m not a cop and I’m certainly not married. I was wondering if you might want to go on a real date. Not just grabbing a dinner after work but a real honest to goodness date.”
“Gee Garrett. You are kind of putting me on the spot here,” I stammered.
“It’s just a question. All you have to do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I’m a big boy, I can handle it. It wouldn’t change our working relationship in the least. We are both professional enough to know we have a job to do. I enjoy being around you. We have a lot in common and I find you extremely attractive. I would enjoy spending more time with you,” he said.
Oh man, now what? I am such a blockhead. Garrett wasn’t a cop and he was damn good looking. He was smart and obviously had his head screwed on straight. What was wrong with me? Why was I even struggling with this? Just say ‘yes’, you dumbass.
“The thing is,” I replied, “I am lousy with any kind of relationship. I always screw it up. It’s nothing against you Garrett, I am flattered that you would even want to have a date with me, but I’m not very good dating material. You already know how fixated I am when I am on a case. I lose track of everything else. It is just the way I am made.”
“So?”
“Well it isn’t exactly a great relationship attribute,” I replied.
“Angie, I know relationships take time to build. I’m not talking about a roll in the hay. I’m talking about a date where we can let our hair down and just be what we are. Right now you have seen me at my best but like you, I have a ton of faults. I’m just saying, how about a date and let’s see where it goes from there,” he told me.
“Wait a minute. Are you saying I have a ton of faults?” I said, trying not to smile.
“Did I say ton? I meant a few ounces,” he replied.
“Garrett, you just don’t know how to quit when you are ahead. You have no idea what you are getting into. I am not all that nice a person. I can be obnoxiously independent and hardheaded.”
“So McGregor told me,” he said smiling.
We sat and talked, mostly about what it was like for him as he was considered the wonder boy when he was coming up through the ranks. He was still embarrassed at some of the accolades he received. He felt that he had most often just done what other cops had done but that his deeds were blown out of proportion.
When it came to the subject of him taking the bullets meant for McGregor he just skimmed around it. All he would say is that he did what any cop would do in the same situation. I knew there was more to the story but I let it go.
We finished our meal and he paid for everything even though I tried to pay my half. This was not a real date and it did kind of miff me but I decided to let it go this time. He was not going to start paying for everything. Right now we were still just working acquaintances. I drove us back.
When we got back to the station, I let him out at his car. I was apprehensive to say the least. I wasn’t sure what to do next. I really did enjoy his company but being the total twit that I am I was still unsure about what to say.
“Garrett, I really do like talking to you and yeah, you are fun to be with. I feel comfortable with you. I guess it would be alright if we maybe had a real date.”
“I would like that Angie,” he said, patted the side of the car and walked off.
I was both relieved and disappointed. I was glad he didn’t try to kiss me but then again….
CHAPTER TWENTY
I woke up feeling like hell. I looked out to see that the day was dark and cloudy. We were in for some really heavy rain. Just what I needed, I would be wet again when I got to the station. I was actually giving some thought to buying a hardtop for the Healey.
Just as I flushed the toilet, a loud crash of thunder shook the whole house. Wherever the lightening had struck had been very close by. The lights flickered and then went off.
That’s just great. Nice start to the day. I bushed my teeth, hoping the lights would come back on so I could do a little work on my face. After all, I was the new Angie.
Finally they came back on and I finished doing my basic routine. I looked at the scales just sitting there mocking me. I thought about getting on them but remembered last night’s pig out and decided why let them have the last laugh. I would just have salad today, no matter what everyone else was having.
I finished dressing, grabbed my gun and badge, and looked outside. Rain was coming down in torrents. I looked around for my umbrella and realized it was still in the Healey. I guess the little leaks in the Healey weren’t really going to matter after all.
I grabbed a plastic trash bag from under the sink and poked out a hole for my mouth and eyes and pulled it over me. Please, I thought, don’t let any of the neighbors be looking out.
I stood on the porch making sure I had my keys in my hand. The last thing I wanted to do was fumble for them. This is it, I decided. I dashed out and unlocked the car as fast as I could and got inside.
What a total moron. Here I was in the car with the bag over me and I was sitting on it. I couldn’t even get it off of me. What a fine predicament. I finally managed to rip the bag enough to get it off me and got it out from under my butt. I was pretty well soaked by the time I got done. I should have just gone on out and gotten in.
The Healey dripped its way to the station and I finally found a place to park that was within a reasonable distance to the entrance of the building. At least I had my
umbrella this time.
“Hey Bartoni, looking kind of like a wet poodle this morning,” the desk Sargent said.
I just shot him a dirty look and he laughed.
When I got upstairs I went straight to the ladies room. That was a first. I usually just go to my desk. What was going on here? A new hairdo and a little make up and suddenly I am appearance conscious? Give me a break. I did the best I could with my wet hair and went and got my usual breakfast of coconut donuts and Diet Coke.
I stopped and looked at the machine. There were four rows of coconut donuts. Usually there is just one. Garrett. He had to be responsible. He wanted to make sure he never got the last ones again. Geez, he might be okay after all.
Dan came in soaked. He didn’t stop, just went and got his coffee. He looked like hell to tell the truth. His eyes were bloodshot and he had dark circles under them. I just waited for him to get at least half way through his coffee before I spoke.
“Everything alright?”
“Everything sucks.”
“Okay.”
“No, I mean it. I tried to make up with Paula one more time but it was a total disaster. I told her to get on her broom and go back to wherever it is she came from,” he said.
“Smooth.”
“Don’t take her side. She is the ‘B’ word and I know how much you hate that.”
“So, how about those Cubbies?”
“They suck too.”
“Nice talking to you,” I said and started on my paperwork.
McGregor came in and I headed to his office.
“Oh hell Bartoni, can’t you at least give me a minute to get settled in?” he complained.
I let it roll off me.
“Captain, you need to know what is going on. And no it cannot wait.”
He sighed heavily, dropped down on his chair, sat his briefcase on the floor, and just looked at me.
“Okay. We have put some of the pieces of the puzzle together.”
“About time.”
“Anyway. All of the police officers that have been shot or killed were part of a SWAT operation that went south. A house was raided and it was the wrong address. A baby boy was burned by a freak accident when a flash bang went off in his crib. He was burned pretty badly.”
McGregor was now focused, his earlier annoyance gone.
“Anyway, the child has had a rough life and isn’t expected to live more than a few more weeks now. The mother killed herself because of what happened.”
“I remember part of that. They went to the wrong address.”
“Yeah. Jones was the captain in charge.”
“That’s right. He managed to escape disciplinary action but the rest of the team got reassigned.”
“You got it.”
“And you think the father is behind this?”
“Jonny Taylor is his name. Here is the real kicker. His sister is Linda Sparks,” I said.
I just let that sink in for a second.
I saw the look on his face as he made the connection.
“Our Linda Sparks?”
“That very one.”
“She is his sister?” he said.
“She is indeed. As you know, she has access to almost everything that transpires at this precinct.”
He laid he head back on his chair and just closed his eyes. I could almost smell the brain cells frying. And no I’m not going to say it smelled like bacon. That is such a guy thing.
“Angie, are you sure about all of this? How did you find out about Sparks?”
“I didn’t. Garrett was working on that angle.”
“Garrett?”
“Brock.”
“Garrett?” he said raising his eyebrows.
Crap. One small slip and now he would rag me mercilessly.
“Give me a break, we are working together,” I said.
“So it would seem.”
“Can we get back to the subject?”
“So the prevailing theory is that Taylor is getting information from his sister and then killing the officers involved?” he asked.
“Not exactly. Taylor has no military training. He doesn’t even own a gun that we know of. I think he has hired someone to do the actual killings.”
“We need to talk to them. Get Sparks in here and go to work on her. If she is the source, I want to know,” McGregor said.
“She comes in at 9:00 o’clock. I’ll be there waiting for her,” I told him.
“Alright. I guess I owe you an apology. We really do have someone in house,” he said shaking his head.
“We don’t know for sure yet but it darn sure looks like it. I hope we are wrong,” I said as I left.
I could see the captain rubbing his face with his hands as I went back to my desk.
Dan was almost human by the time I got back. He was on his second cup of coffee.
“We have work to do,” I told him.
“What’s up? The captain doesn’t look too happy.”
“Garrett found out that Linda Sparks is Jonny Taylor’s sister.”
“Garrett?”
“Don’t you start.”
“I’m not following.”
“Okay. We know that all of the police officers killed were part of a bad SWAT bust that went down. The house mistakenly raided belonged to Jonny Taylor and his wife, Jill. Their baby boy was horribly burned. Jonny’s wife killed herself. She couldn’t take seeing her baby boy suffer the way he was. Now it seems the baby is dying and there isn’t anything further they can do for him. His lungs are failing and I don’t know what else. Enter Jonny’s sister, Linda Sparks. She is a secretary here at the precinct. She has access to all the schedules and patrol route assignments.”
“Oh man, no wonder the captain is unhappy.”
“Anyway, she is due in at 9:00 o’clock and we need to collect her with a minimum of fuss. If we are wrong about all of this I don’t want a big scene. This is all still just supposition.”
“You don’t really believe that do you?” Dan asked.
“I don’t know what to believe at this point. All I know is that it makes more sense than anything we have had so far. It sure seems to fit,” I replied.
***
When Garrett came in I brought him up to speed on my talk with the captain and what we were going to do.
“How did McGregor take it?”
“As you would imagine, he is distraught that someone would actually help get cops wounded and killed.”
“Is he mad at me for poking around.”
“I doubt that is a concern. It’s probably the last thing on his mind at this point.
“Still.”
“Maybe you should go talk to him,” I suggested.
“It would probably be the best thing to do. I know he feels like I went behind his back.”
“Right now he just wants to get to the bottom of this. I doubt he will have any hard feelings if we solve this thing,” I told him.
“Alright. It’s almost 9:00 a.m, I’ll talk to him and then come back for the interview.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied.
“I don’t like this,” Dan said.
“You mean getting Sparks?”
“The whole thing. We are all supposed to be on the same side aren’t we?” he said disgustedly.
“That’s the theory.”
“I can see her being upset and caring about her brother but to actually help get police officers murdered. That’s pretty far around the bend if you ask me.”
“People do strange things. You have to remember, they live in the same town and I am sure she saw the baby quite often. She saw the suffering of both her nephew and his father and mother. At some point she probably thought enough is enough.”
“And that makes it right?” Dan asked.
“Dan, we are not talking about right and wrong. We are talking about what is. Maybe in her mind enough was enough. Watching a child suffer like that must be numbing. Think about it. The little baby never had a life. Even if it lived
longer, what kind of life would it have? Heck, I would have been as mad as hell myself.”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t have hired someone to kill the police involved.”
“I wouldn’t have had to.”
“Oh come on Angie, you don’t mean that,” Dan said.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have thought about it every time I looked at my child.”
“You know, this is the second time you have said something that has really shocked me,” Dan replied.
“I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
“Damn Angie,” he said exasperated.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
We caught up with Linda Sparks just as she was taking off her raincoat and hanging up her umbrella.
“Ms. Sparks?”
“Yes?”
“I’m Detective Bartoni and this is Detective Roberts.”
“Yes, I know who you are. What can I do for you?”
“Captain McGregor had some questions about the posted schedules and we would like your help straightening this out.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Would you mind?”
“I need to clock in first.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Dan and I walked back with her to the time clock. There was no way we were going to let her slip out of us. She clocked in, locked her purse in her desk drawer and we all walked back to our squad room.
“We need to talk in private. Would you mind waiting in here while I talk to the captain?” I asked, trying to be polite.
“I really should be working.”
“The captain will take care of that. It won’t be but a few minutes,” I assured her.
“Alright,” she said and Dan took her to the interview room.
I went into the next viewing room and watched with the captain as Dan asked if she would like something to drink. A few minutes later he joined us.
“What do you think?” the captain asked.
“She knows the jig is up,” I said.
“I think you’re right,” McGregor said.
“We will give her a few minutes and then I will go in and talk to her.”
Just then Garrett came in and stood next to me. I could feel the heat from his body. Stop it Angie. Get a grip. Focus, focus, focus.
Payback (Angie Bartoni Case Files Book 13) Page 12
