Dixon's Duty

by Jenna Byrnes

  “That’s good,” Dix agreed. “Beer deliveries? About this same time each day?”

  The owner sighed. “Three to four times a week. His route varies, but it’s usually early afternoon. Our vendor’s just a kid, you probably saw him.”

  “We did.” Dix looked at him. “Thanks for the information. And the food.”

  “Yell if you need anything.”

  “We will.”

  Bryan returned to the bar while Dix and Mac took the top bun off their burgers at the same time. Dix cocked his head at an angle and studied the meat and tomato. “Looks clean to me.”

  “Me too.” Mac reached for the ketchup. “Always prefer to get our food before people find out we’re cops.”

  “No shit.” Dix took a bite. “Tastes good. We might have to remember this place.”

  “You can come back for dinner,” Mac teased.

  “I might do that.”

  His partner’s face clouded over. “You don’t mind coming alone, do you? I’d hate to leave Cecile.”

  “Course not. I might ask Abby to come with. She’s got a keen sense of observation and might pick up on something.”

  Mac waggled his brows. “Abby, eh? You switch hitting these days?”

  Dix wiped his mouth with a napkin. “We’re just friends and you know it. I told my ex-wife she turned me off women for good.”

  “It’s no wonder the two of you have such a good relationship,” Mac teased.

  He shrugged. “Don’t have to see her anymore. Jared’s twenty-five and lives half a world away.”

  “Marine Corps got a good one with that boy.”

  “Yes, they did.” He glanced up when a young woman with a long blonde ponytail entered and walked straight to the bar. She barely looked old enough to drink. “Incoming.”

  Mac glanced at her surreptitiously. “Hope he checks ID.”

  Dix listened to try and catch their conversation.

  “How you doing?” she asked Bryan.

  “How’s it look? Sl-ow,” he drew out the word.

  She glanced around the room. The other couple had finished and left. It was just their table and the old man at the bar. “Yeah, I see that. I was going to ask if you needed help for a couple hours, but I guess I got my answer.”

  Bryan shrugged. “Just me, old Pete and the cops.”

  Her gaze immediately darted to their table.

  Dix looked at his plate, picking up a fry and popping it in his mouth.

  “Cops?” she repeated. “Why are they here?”

  “Eating lunch,” Bryan replied.

  “But they told you they were cops?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s odd.”

  Mac spoke softly, not looking up from his food. “Most business-owners like having police patronise their establishments. Makes them feel safer.”

  “Unless they have something to hide,” Dix agreed, one eye on the couple at the bar.

  “Why do you think they’re here?” she whispered, but it was loud enough for Dix to hear.

  “Maybe they were hungry,” Bryan whispered back.

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun. Where’s your sense of imagination?”

  “Imagination gets people in trouble. I’d prefer to think they were hungry and heard we have good food, which we do. You want something?”

  “Nope, if you don’t need me I’m heading for the library. I have a paper to work on. See you later!” She leaned across the bar and kissed his cheek.

  “Behave yourself,” he called after her.

  She glanced over her shoulder and winked. For a moment she locked eyes with Dix, and he saw amusement there. She winked at him, too, then flounced out. The place grew quiet again.

  “College student, one of his waitresses,” Mac observed.

  “A waitress with benefits,” Dix added. “She planted a kiss on him before she left.”

  “On the cheek.”

  “Do you kiss your boss on the cheek?”

  Mac laughed. “Good point. Okay, waitress with benefits. She’s a young one, though. Maybe Mr Scott is a dirty old man.”

  “He’s not that old,” Dix muttered. “About my age.”

  “I don’t see you kissing twenty-year-olds.”

  “Another good point. You ready? I’ll pay the check.”

  “I’m going to find the little boys’ room.” Mac stood. “Meet you out front.”

  “Yep.” Dix pulled a twenty from his wallet and sauntered to the bar. “Food was great. I’ll tell my friends, unless you don’t want other cops coming around.”

  “Please. The more the merrier. As you can see, we could use the business.”

  “Kinda what I thought.” He tossed the twenty on the bar. “Blondie one of your waitresses?”

  Bryan paused from making change. “I’ll bet you passed that detective’s exam on your first try.” He spread the bills and coins on the bar.

  Dix grinned. “Damn straight. She just looked young, is all.” He pulled back a couple of ones, leaving a five and some change for a tip.

  “She is young. Putting herself through college. I like to give decent kids a break when I can.”

  He gazed into Bryan’s eyes. “That all you like to give her?”

  Anger flashed briefly in the owner’s eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly. “She’s a good kid, and she’s twenty-one. Please leave her alone.”

  Dix shrugged. “Homicide investigation, you know. I have to go wherever it leads me. I noticed you didn’t tell her we were here because of a murder.”

  Bryan studied him levelly. “I’m sure you’ll take care of that when you come back tonight.”

  Dix nodded. “See you then.” He went to the front sidewalk and waited for Mac. It was a decent spring day. The weather was warm but not yet hot. Summers in the Midwest made wearing a suit coat everyday feel like a sauna. He’d enjoy this weather while he could.

  * * * *

  Back at the station, they tacked photos and information up on an evidence board. Dix brought in materials from the first homicide just a week ago. Madison Ames had been found in another alley, a couple of blocks away from today’s discovery. A married clerk in a ladies wear store, she was last seen leaving a restaurant after meeting friends, and was found strangled the next day. Evidence concluded she’d been raped, but no DNA was discovered at the scene. The half-dozen cigarette burns on her torso had been delivered ante mortem—preceding death.

  This new case appeared to be eerily similar.

  “I’ll phone Madison’s husband and see if she’d ever been to Last Call,” Mac offered.

  Dix nodded. “It may not be a connection, but at this point it’s worth checking out. Something felt off in that place, though I can’t put my finger on exactly what. Yet.”

  Mac smiled and went to work.

  When Dix’s phone rang, he was pleased to hear Abby Walters on the other end of the line.

  “We’ve got a positive ID. If you can believe this, her fingerprints were in the system. Donna Reitz worked as a secretary at the county courthouse. And of course, all government employees—”

  “Would have fingerprints in the system,” Dix finished her sentence. “Good job, Ab.”

  “You’ll need to notify next of kin. Database says that’s her mom and dad.”

  “We’re on it. Mac and I went to the bar she was last seen at, but none of the same employees will be there until tonight. Food was pretty good. Want to go back with me after work, grab a bite and talk to a few people?”

  “Let me guess, Mac doesn’t want to leave Cecile and you hate to eat alone?”

  “Something like that. I’ll go by myself if I have to. Just thought it might be interesting to get your perspective on the place. Things don’t seem quite right there.”

  “No, I’d love to check it out. Best offer I’ve had all week.”

  “Which is not saying much for your love life.” Dix chuckled. “I’ll call you later to firm up plans.”

  “I’ll be here.” She
sighed dramatically, for his benefit, he knew. Abby was a knockout and she could have a man in her life if she wanted one. But like many members of the police department, sometimes it was easier to focus on work than to try and juggle the job and a relationship.

  Until the right person comes along. Then the juggling is worth it. Dix smiled and went to find Mac. They had some bad news to deliver, and needed to get on with it.

  Breaking the news of a loved one’s demise was one of the hardest parts of Dix’s job. Donna Reitz’s parents took it hard, as they all did. They were close with their daughter but didn’t know where she went on a daily basis after work and weren’t sure if she frequented Last Call. Dix left his card with them and he and Mac returned to the station to continue digging.

  “David Ames thought he and his wife may have been to Last Call once or twice, but it wasn’t a place they went regularly,” Mac told Dix.

  “It might not be relevant.” Dix tacked a newly acquired, pleasant photo of Donna on their evidence board next to the one of her corpse. “I might be reading too much into it.”

  “I trust your gut, always have. Hope you and Abby find something tonight.”

  Dix made a face. “Not sure what I want to find. “

  Mac chuckled. “Same thing we’re always after, my friend. Answers.”

  * * * *

  Dix picked Abby up at her house shortly after six. She’d changed into black slacks and a silken red blouse. Her long, shiny platinum hair, usually pulled back, flowed freely around her shoulders.

  He stepped out of his black Lincoln Navigator and opened the car door for her. “Wow, I should have run home and changed, sorry.”

  “Nah, you’re working, it’s cool. I always like to come home and rinse the pall of death off before going out.”

  “Understood.” He climbed back in and drove to the Grille. “I’m not sure what’s bothering me about this place,” he admitted. “The owner’s name is Bryan Scott. Seems affable enough, but he didn’t really like talking to us. Thought the photo of the vic was disrespectful. That sort of thing.”

  “We got lucky with Donna. Most nice folks don’t have prints in the system. Not sure there’s an easier way to identify her than showing the least graphic photo we have.”

  “I agree.” He parked and got out, then opened her door for her.

  “Damn, Dix. A girl could get used to this.” She took his arm as she got out.

  He grinned. “Might as well go all out, put on a good show. Oh, and for the record, we try not to announce ourselves as cops until after we’ve gotten our food.”

  Abby laughed. “What, afraid someone will hock a loogie into your dinner?”

  “Or worse. Just sayin’.”

  “Enough said, believe me. I’ve got it.”

  He led her inside and scanned the room. The bar was much busier. Most of the stools were filled. About half the tables were also full. For some reason, Dix was happy to see it. “This table okay?” He pointed to one up front.

  “Sure.” She allowed him to pull her chair out, and they both sat.

  Dix glanced around but didn’t see the owner. A young, red-headed man tended bar.

  “Nice crowd tonight,” Abby commented.

  “There were a total of five people here for lunch, and I’m not sure the old guy at the bar was eating. At least he’s gone. I was afraid he might be a regular fixture.”

  She chuckled, and they both looked up as their waitress approached.

  Dix recognised the pony-tailed blonde from earlier.

  Her eyebrows furrowed for a second as she seemed to question if she’d seen him before. Then she smiled. “Welcome. Menus are there on the table. What can I bring you to drink?”

  “I’ll have a Long Island Iced Tea, please,” Abby requested.

  “A virgin Bloody Mary,” Dix added.

  “Be right back with those. Would you like an appetiser tonight? We’ve got a great chip and dip sampler. There are other choices on the menu, onion rings, chicken strips…”

  He glanced at Abby. “Shall we try the chips?”

  “Why not?”

  He nodded to the waitress. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” She walked off.

  He winced. “I hate that expression. I never asked if it was a problem. Since when did ‘no problem’ replace ‘you’re welcome’?”

  Abby laughed. “At some recent point, when you and I were busy avoiding the ‘thirties door’ hitting us on the ass.”

  “That’s for fucking real.” He picked up one menu and offered her another. They made small talk, and ordered steaks when the waitress returned.

  “So where’s this owner guy?” Abby glanced around. “Only people working here I see are children. Infants, really. That bartender has honest-to-God freckles on his face.”

  “Not here, unless he’s hiding in the back somewhere.”

  “He was aware you’d be returning tonight?”

  “He was.”

  “Curious.”

  “Yeah.”

  The steaks were as good as the burgers had been. Before long they’d polished off their food, and were enjoying a cup of coffee after the meal.

  “This place is a diamond in the rough,” Abby mused. “Not sure I’d come here alone, but the food was top notch and the drink was prepared well. Someone knows what they’re doing.”

  Dix spotted Bryan entering through the back door, stopping to talk with the bartender. “Someone just walked in.”

  She glanced behind the bar. “Oh. My. Yeah. I see your dilemma.”

  Dix blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Abby smiled. “Are we sure he’s gay? If he’s not, I might go after him myself.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Dix wasn’t following.

  She leant back and crossed her arms. “I can see your hesitance in investigating this place. He’s cute, Dix. Did you two share some sparks this afternoon?”

  “You’re out of your ever-loving mind. That thought never crossed my mind. He kissed our waitress, as a matter of fact. Mac called him a dirty old man.”

  “He’s not that old, and I could get dirty with him. The waitress, huh? Definite competition. But either one of us could take her, hands down, in the maturity and experience department.”

  “Oh, sweet Jesus.” Dix held his head in his hands. “You’re off the deep end, Abigail. This is not why I brought you here.”

  “What? You always say I have a keen sense of observation. I’m telling you what I observed. The owner is hot. Smokin’. Don’t even try to tell me you disagree. I’ve known you for too long, James.”

  He covertly studied the man from afar. Cute doesn’t begin to describe him. More like hot, sexy stud. Dix shook his head to clear it. “We’re working a case. He’s potentially a person of interest until we can rule him out. Quit stirring the pot, Walters.”

  A wide grin split her face. “Man, are you flustered! You’ve gone from my nickname to my given name and now my last name. Confused about something, Detective? Because your face is turning red and I see a bead of sweat on your temple.”

  Confusion was an understatement. Dix wasn’t sure what he was feeling, besides embarrassed. “You suck. We should go. Mac can come back and interview these people tomorrow.”

  She reached out and clasped his hand. “Take it easy, Dix. So what if the guy trips your trigger? He’s not really a person of interest. More likely an innocent bystander. But you’re not sure if he’s gay? Talk to him.”

  His heart leapt into his throat at the idea. “And say what? I know I saw you kissing the waitress earlier today, but I was wondering if you might be gay?”

  Abby smiled. “Um, maybe not quite that direct. You could bring up the case, let him know the victim’s been identified. But you still need to ask if anyone saw her here last night.”

  “Which is exactly what I came here to do.” He nodded, unsure why he suddenly felt like a school kid. He’d sensed something was up with the owner today. Could he have been projecting his ow
n feelings into the situation? Mac had teased him about the beer deliveryman, and it had only taken Dix mere moments to acknowledge that guy hadn’t been his type. He hadn’t let his mind dwell on the owner. Of course not. I was focused on my case.

  And now he was focused on Bryan’s ass as he reached up to retrieve a bottle from above the bar.

  When the man turned around, he spotted Dix, then took a moment to take in Abby. Setting the bottle on the bar, he approached their table. “Good evening, Detective Dixon.”

  “Mr Scott,” Dix said politely. “This is Abby. Abby, Bryan Scott. He’s the owner of this establishment.”

  “A pleasure.” Bryan shook her hand.

  “Thank you. Your restaurant is simply charming, Mr Scott. Our food was excellent and my drink was divine.”

  “So happy to hear it. May I bring you another?”

  “Nope, one’s my limit. And Dix is on duty, I’m sure you recall.”

  “Dix?” He glanced at them questioningly.

  Dix waved him off. “You’ll be happy to hear we identified our crime victim, so I have a much nicer photograph to show your employees.” He pulled the picture of Donna from his jacket pocket and held it out.

  “Better,” Bryan agreed. “A very attractive woman. I’m sorry, I still don’t recall seeing her in here last night. You’re welcome to ask my staff.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to do that. We appreciate your cooperation.”

  Bryan appeared thoughtful. “You have a very understanding wife, Detective. Most women wouldn’t like their husbands mixing business with pleasure.”

  Abby laughed. “I’m not like most women, Mr Scott. And I’m not his wife.”

  Dix smiled at her. “Dr Walters is Chief Medical Examiner for the KCPD.”

  Bryan blinked. “Dr Walters? Oh, this is an honour. I’ve read about you in the papers.”

  “Don’t believe everything you read,” Dix teased.

  She wagged a finger at him. “And don’t believe everything he tells you, either. He’s an ornery one. But he’s a dear, even if he doesn’t go for the female persuasion. Which basically means he and I sometimes go after the same guys.” She winked at Bryan.