A Deadly Secret

by Debra Sage

  After making a few calls, Alex went to grab a cup of coffee and stretch his legs. He skimmed the police blotter to see what news had come through in the past twenty-four hours. Shit. He recognized the name on one of the reports, Amanda Gladstone.

  He went back to his desk and pulled up the full report. What happened?

  It looked to be a reckless-driving incident. Was she hurt? She must have been startled. No known make or model on the vehicle. Alex made a mental note to check in on her later. Okay, so maybe it was an excuse to see her again, but she’d been through a lot recently. Maybe it was time to ask her out for that cup of coffee after all.

  He spun in his chair on hearing the footsteps behind him.

  “Alex,” Cam said, before settling at his desk.

  “Cam, how’s it going?”

  “It’s going. Nothing to report on the stake out yesterday. No comings or goings that were suspicious. What do we have going on?”

  “I’m trying to get some info on a cold case from Belmont. The borough had to let it slip through their fingers when they couldn’t make charges stick. I put a call into Louie Franco, a guy down in Philly I know from school. He’s got a couple of talkers out on the street. Hoping to get an updated scoop on the guy that was their target suspect. Name is Mark Abbott. He runs with the Devil Riders, goes by the alias of Blade.”

  Cam nodded. “Yeah, I know about that guy. A buddy I used to know worked the case. Said the guy was a real low-life. He was always jacking people up, getting into trouble. He was a real in-your-face, something-to-prove kind of guy. Anyway, the buddy took a bullet on an unrelated case during a drug raid. Remember the Cracker Jacker case earlier this year? Was a huge coke bust, but a couple of guys were hit in the raid. Two died. He was one. The other was an ATF guy.”

  “Damn. Sorry to hear it. I do remember, now that you mention it. Man, that was a raw deal. They had an inside leak or something, and they were waiting to ambush the guys.”

  Cam slowly shook his head. “Yeah, tragic.”

  “You know anything else about Abbott? Anything he might have said otherwise?”

  “Nah…oh, wait, yeah. They were starting to put something together about drugs running out of suburbs to divert attention from the city’s ring. Didn’t hear much more about it, and well, didn’t delve into it much since I wasn’t looking into the drug division. I’ll keep my ear to the ground, see if I can learn anything else from a few old colleagues.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Alex said. “Yeah, those drugs will never stop coming. Like the damn mail, you get rid of it one day, and it’s back the next. One time I heard a guy telling a story about a massive bust up in Chicago. He said that after it was all said and done, close to a hundred arrests, months invested in the undercover sting, and they’d only stopped the flow of drugs for something like two to four hours tops.”

  “Damn, like a waterfall. You put a small bucket down, you might catch a drip, but all that other water is running like a mother-fucker all around you.”

  ***

  Alex stopped at St. Mercy Mead after his shift ended. He hoped to check in on Amanda and see how she was doing. After the run-in on the road the previous night and losing a coworker and friend, he figured she’d be high on stress.

  He went over to the emergency room and leaned in toward the receptionist. The lady at the admissions desk smiled. “How can I help you today?”

  “I’m here to see Amanda Gladstone. Could you let her know I’m here?”

  She gave him a knowing look. This wasn’t a business call. “Sure, I’ll tell her.”

  “Thanks,” he answered, then went to sit in the waiting room. He’d been through the emergency room and hospital hallways plenty of times, but he didn’t want to interfere with her work if she was with a patient. The familiar scent of freshly mopped floors filled his nostrils. The strong aroma of bleach was a permanent fixture at the hospital.

  A few minutes later, Amanda popped her head through the set of double doors that led to the triage area. She scanned the waiting area. Her eyes brightened when she saw him. “Alex?”

  He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. He got up and walked over. “I know you’re busy, and won’t keep you long, but I was wondering if you wanted to get a cup of coffee on your break, or even after work. Maybe tomorrow if tonight isn’t good.”

  A soft pink filled her cheeks. “That would be nice. I’d like that, although, I already took my break, and I’m not sure coffee after work is a great choice since it will keep me up all night, but would you consider breakfast in the morning? What time do you have to be in?”

  “Breakfast is good, but I think our schedules overlap the wrong direction. You’d have to get up pretty early. Maybe lunch or dinner? When are you off next?”

  “Tomorrow. I wrap my three twelves tonight. This week I’m doing noon to midnight. You?”

  “I can do tomorrow. Let me give you my number. Call me when you’re awake and we’ll work out a time. How about dinner, maybe six or seven? That would give me time to run home and clean up before we go out.”

  “Sure,” she answered, realizing he’d just asked her on a date. It was a total surprise, though not an unpleasant one.

  Alex took out one of his cards, then turned it over. He pulled a pen from his shirt pocket and jotted his cell number on the back of it. “I look forward to seeing you. Hey, I saw what happened last night. Are you okay?”

  Amanda nodded. “Yeah. Crazy reckless driver is all. I was shaken up, but by the time I got home I was over it. I’m more pissed that I damaged my car. I don’t mean to cut you short, but I’ve got a couple of patients to check in on.”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m sorry to bother you at work. You’ve been on my mind lately.”

  She smiled. “That’s not a bad thing.”

  “Tomorrow?” he confirmed.

  “Tomorrow. I’ll look forward to seeing you.”

  As she turned around and went back through the double doors, a schoolboy grin was plastered on his face. There was something about her; she got his heart beating faster.

  ***

  Amanda flipped over the card Alex had given her and looked at his number. She drew a deep breath, then dialed. After her three twelve-hour shifts, she always slept longer than she’d planned. She was glad they settled on dinner rather than breakfast.

  When he picked up, they firmed up details of the evening. She’d meet him over at Claire’s on the waterfront, and they’d have dinner and drinks. She preferred to meet him there in case things got awkward or didn’t go well since it was a first date.

  She hadn’t been on a date in a while. She’d had relationships over the past few years, but nothing that ended in a happily ever after. She’d even dabbled in an affair she probably shouldn’t have, but when you’re lonely, well…it wasn’t the smartest move she’d ever made.

  Alex wanted time to run home, shower, and change before going out, so they opted to meet at seven that evening. A date. Amanda smiled. He was certainly nice to look at. He had short, dark hair, sexy brown eyes, and a body that certainly rang her bells. He took good care of himself and being tall and broad-shouldered gave her that extra something that left butterflies in her belly.

  She’d only been to Claire’s a few times, but it was a nice place. Nothing too fancy, and casual wear would suffice, but there was an intimacy at the tables with high backed booths and lower lighting that made for a great first-date environment. She opted to wear a black dress that hugged her curves, but had a soft flair at the bottom along with capped sleeves. Rather than choosing sexy heels, she played down the black dress with nude flats and a small, tan, leather crossbody purse. She decided to go with a natural make-up look, as she didn’t want it to appear she was trying too hard, so the mix of sexy and casual seemed the right fit.

  If she was looking to go home with the guy, she’d have gone with her sexy fuck-me pumps and a little extra gloss on her lips, maybe a smoky eye. She’d have chosen a different bra too, one
that pushed her cleavage higher, but she wasn’t sure she was at that point. Better to take it one step at a time.

  Dear God, she was lonely. Lonelier than she thought. Her last relationship…yeah, well, that didn’t end so well. She should have known. The guy was still technically married. Separated. She learned her lesson on that one. No more guys that were semi-attached. They kept things hush-hush, but after enough time, she gave up on the idea of them staying together and he ended up back with his wife.

  Amanda groaned. She’d been out of the dating scene for longer than she realized. Overthinking everything was her specialty.

  When she pulled up to the restaurant, she surveyed the scene. She didn’t even think to ask him what kind of car he drove. She had no clue if he’d arrived. She parked her car and made her way to the entrance. He was waiting just inside the door.

  “Amanda,” he said, placing his hand on the back of her shoulder. “You look great.”

  Her normal uniform of scrubs didn’t do much for her figure. She was glad he liked her outfit. “Thanks, so do you.”

  “Relaxed might be a better word,” he answered with a laugh. He was normally in a white button-down and tie if he wasn’t in uniform. Being able to go out in slacks and a casual shirt made him feel more like himself. “They’ve got a table ready for us.”

  “Oh, great, that was fast.”

  The hostess led them to a booth that sat off to the side and offered a small drop light with dim lighting and high backs. Other than the booths, there were a few tables in the center row between two strips of booths, and on the far side of the restaurant there was a highly polished oak bar. She loved the high-gloss of the wood.

  He waited for her to choose a side and was seated before he sat down.

  “Somebody will be with you shortly,” the hostess said, while pointing out the drink menu at the end of the table. She sat large leather-bound menus on the table, then walked away.

  “It’s nice to see you,” Alex started. “I’ve been thinking of doing this for a while, asking you to dinner. I’m glad I finally said something.”

  She gave a small grin and winked at him. “I wish you’d said something sooner.”

  He changed the topic only for a moment. “How are you doing? Are you okay?”

  “Honestly, it’s been rough. I’m still adjusting to the news, but what else is there to do but move forward?”

  He nodded. He got it. They both dealt in reality—her as a nurse, him as a cop. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses.

  “So, what do you like to do on your time off?” she asked, looking to get to know him a little better.

  “Besides take beautiful nurses out to dinner?”

  She rolled her eyes upward playfully. “Really?”

  “I thought it was clever,” he bantered. “What do I like to do? I go to batting cages to deal with work stress from time to time, hit a golf ball on occasion, ride my bike, but otherwise, I spend too much time in front of the television trying to erase my day. What about you?”

  “Running and indoor rock-climbing lately, but I go through cycles. I’ve been picking up a lot of overtime. I’m saving to go away for a while. I could use the break.”

  “Where are you heading?”

  “Anywhere but here. Preferably somewhere warm, maybe a beach.”

  A waiter stopped by their table to get their drink order and offered a selection of appetizers to choose from. Once they’d placed their order, their conversation went from one topic to the next, easily flowing between them. The world ceased to exist as they laughed and gazed longingly at one another.

  Amanda ran her finger along the edge of her glass as she flirted. When their food arrived, she was anything but hungry. She enjoyed Alex’s company more than she’d anticipated. She enjoyed the meal, but the conversation was the highlight of the evening.

  At the end of the evening, Alex walked Amanda to her car. He leaned in for a kiss. He gave her a tender, sweet peck and lingered for only a moment. He forced himself not to get greedy. He wanted more, but there was no reason to be aggressive and move too quickly. She’d been through a lot. He’d rather be a gentleman and take his time. She was worth more than a one-night stand.

  Chapter 11

  Come morning, Amanda had the day off while Alex had to be at work bright and early. He couldn’t help thinking about their date from the night before. She’d been a delight, not too uptight, and was friendly and warm.

  Once at his desk, he settled in to look at the latest possible leads. He’d learned about Greg’s new car during his date in casual conversation. It started about her wanting to get away, and what others had done in response to the shocking news. Greg’s new car raised his suspicions. Had he been trying to rid himself of evidence, maybe trade it in for a new one before anybody could trace something to him?

  Alex made a note to go back and have another conversation with Greg Stevens. There was more to learn. He also wanted to gather whatever else he could on Mark “Blade” Abbott and see if there were any similar connections from the unsolved crime he’d been investigated for.

  Later that day, he went over to St. Mercy Mead in search of his possible suspect. While he couldn’t keep disrupting their workplace, he could make sure that Greg arranged to come to the police station for more questioning. They’d set up an agreement as to when that would be. Alex wanted him in sooner than later, and if he made things difficult, he’d do it at the hospital.

  Lee had been gracious to allow Alex time to interview everybody the first time, but to go back and interfere again wouldn’t be looked at in the same light. Yes, there was an investigation ongoing, but no, he didn’t have to interrogate suspects at the hospital on their work time.

  When Alex showed up, Greg was less than happy to see him. “Mr. Stevens, I’d like to speak with you again regarding our ongoing investigation into the death of Dawn Lewis. I’ll need you to come over to the station and answer a few more questions for me. When do you think you can get over there? The sooner we do this, the better for the case.”

  “Are you asking other people? Why me? I had nothing to do with this,” Greg spat out.

  “I’m interviewing numerous people,” was all Alex said.

  “This is harassment.” His voice went up a notch. “You show up at my work and bother me about something that I didn’t do.”

  “There’s no need to raise your voice. These are simple questions. Can you stop by the station before work tomorrow?”

  Greg stomped his foot on the ground. “Now I’ll be all stressed out wondering what’s going on. I don’t see you badgering other workers here. I said everything I’ve got to say.”

  “I heard you got a new car. Trying to get rid of evidence?” Alex nudged, checking to see if he got a reaction.

  “What the hell are you talking about? Yes, I got a new car. Hell, Lee got a new car today. I don’t see you pestering him. Amanda is planning a vacation. Is she running away to hide something?” Greg was visibly agitated.

  “Tomorrow,” Alex said. “Before work. This is official business.”

  “Fine, but I’m bringing a lawyer. You’re obviously looking for someone to pin this on, but it won’t be me. I’m in the business of fixing people, or haven’t you noticed. I don’t have time for this right now.”

  Alex nodded, understanding he had patients to deal with. “Tomorrow. I’ll expect you at the police station, say right between ten and eleven in the morning?”

  Greg huffed and shuffled off, calling over his shoulder, “I’m not happy about this.”

  “Detective, I’ll need you to leave. You’re causing a ruckus, and while I appreciate you’re doing a job, I have emergency patients here,” the lead doctor of the floor said.

  Alex apologized for interrupting their workspace and turned to leave. He stopped and looked back to see Greg complaining to somebody loudly, his arms flailing around. He was going to be an emotional and lively one.

  ***

  The following day after Greg showed up
for more questions, Alex realized that while he was moody and frustrating to deal with, he didn’t actually think Greg was the killer they were looking for. For one, his wife was able to offer an alibi which was pretty solid, and secondly, it was the way he kept direct eye contact, didn’t skirt away from any questions, and was open about his mixed feelings over the entire situation. He wasn’t trying to hide anything obvious, but it almost seemed like there was more to his story that Alex was getting out of him. Maybe he was asking the wrong questions. Either way, he thanked Mr. Stevens for his time and let him go.

  It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that the call came through. A witness called the Belmont police department to give an anonymous tip on something they’d overheard at a bar the night before. Somebody was bragging about getting away with murder. He couldn’t see who it was, but there was a group of them hanging together, some bikers with devil patches on their sleeves. He didn’t know which guy was doing the talking, because he could only see their backs. He hung up before leaving any other information.

  Belmont got in touch with Alex after a note on the file said he was working on a case in nearby Mason Ridge that may or may not be related. They called him up and gave him the latest scoop. The patches clued them into the Devil Riders as a group, but they were a big organization and it would be difficult to pin down one of them. Though one member was already on their radar. It was time to check in with him again.

  Alex started to wonder if Mark Abbott was his guy too. Was it possible he’d gotten away with one murder, and thought he’d be able to pull off another?

  There was only one way to find out. Alex went in search of the bandit. He intended on having a talk with him. He asked Belmont if they were bringing him in to the station again, but they were going to hold off, since they’d already interrogated him on more than one occasion.

  Alex let them know he’d be in touch if he learned anything, but it was time to talk to him about Mason Ridge’s latest murder case. Did Mark know something? Were the cases related?