The Wife of a Lesser Man (LA Cops Series Book 1)

by Sandy Appleyard

  “Oh….Shit…Sorry. Do you want to talk about it?” Sarah asked.

  “It’s too early to drink.”

  …

  Richard broke into Mark’s office, breathless. “Hey…buddy…conference room in two…” Mark nodded and peeked over to see if Lisa was at her desk. She was gathering files and motioned for Mark to hurry.

  As he approached her and took some of the files out of her hand she said, “The media circus is here. Larger than with Reed.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ve got everything under control. I didn’t see Lipkus.” Sergeant Lipkus of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or F.B.I., one of Mark’s superiors, would be working in conjunction with Mark and his crew now that it was a suspected serial killer they were dealing with.

  “He should be here any minute, his secretary LouAnn called like twenty minutes ago saying he was on his way,” Lisa said.

  “I suppose after today we’ll be graced with his cell number,” Mark said facetiously. Lisa rolled her eyes in agreement.

  Richard held the door open for Mark and Lisa as hundreds of members of the media took their seats. The room looked much different than it had during Mark’s surprise welcome back party. There were about fifty wooden school type chairs arranged in a diamond like pattern in the centre. At the front were two large wooden tables arranged side by side lengthways, covered with a thick blue polyester tablecloth which puddled on to the floor below. The table was lined with five microphones evenly spaced apart. Andy sat at one and Richard was beside him. Charlie was at the opposite end and Mark assumed the remaining two centre microphones were for him and Sergeant Lipkus.

  All the members of the media sat patiently, some fiddling with their cameras, others reviewing their rehearsed questions which they had written down on clipboards placed on their laps. A couple of the major television stations had a crew of cameramen with them. Those were easy to decipher since the reporters could be found touching up their makeup or straightening their ties. Everybody had been cautioned to remain seated until the Chief gave the nod for the questions to begin. If any member got out of hand, Constable Nelson, Noonan or Hobbs were right there to escort them out. Nelson stood erect like the other two officers. It was easy to tell it was him based on the obvious tremor in his leg.

  Mark took his seat beside Charlie and saluted his coworkers. Lisa passed him all the files and sat off to the side. While they waited for Lipkus to arrive, Mark browsed the files in front of him. His eyes were so dry from lack of sleep that he almost couldn’t read the print. None of his crew, himself included, had slept since Jacqueline Kent was murdered less than twenty four hours ago.

  The door opened and Lipkus sauntered in like he was the guest star attending a movie opening and he was up for an Oscar. Mark took notice of his stature and stole a quick glance at Lisa. She wore the same look of disgust on her face as he did. Lisa’s eyes met Mark’s and they both exchanged a knowing look.

  Lipkus took his seat next to Mark without cordially saluting the other officers present, who were standing out of respect for him. He didn’t even look Lisa’s way which she thought was so arrogant considering all the information she’d forwarded to him without thanks. Mark stood and offered his hand and Lipkus gave him a quick pump and said coolly, “Are we ready to start?” Mark nodded and gave Lisa an assuring nod. She rose and walked to the podium behind them.

  “This meeting is about to begin. Raise your hand and wait to be called. One question at a time please, and keep your questions brief. Thank you.” Lisa remained standing. All the media stood simultaneously and the noise sounded like a thunderous cloud had just clapped.

  “You sir in front with the blue shirt,” Lisa pointed.

  The reporter briefly bowed a thank you to her and asked, “Chief Tame, can you tell us if you have in fact concluded that this is a serial killer?” He stood with his pen in hand like he was going to take Mark’s dinner order. His cell phone lay on his chair and Lisa suspected he had it set to record sound. The lapel pin on his jacket had lettering which indicated he was from a radio station.

  Mark responded, “We have not come to any conclusions at this time. However, we suspect it is serial based on the nature of the scene.”

  There was a rustle amongst the crowd as everyone raised their hands again. Lisa selected from the second row this time. The reporter had a camera man with her, who had the camera pointed towards the panel of speakers. “Sir, can you tell me when you will make that determination?”

  “Once the scene and evidence has been processed to our liking we will determine the likelihood of this being a serial incident.” As Lipkus spoke, the reporter gave him a puzzled look. She boldly interrupted his last word and asked. “And are you from the FBI, sir?” Lipkus was stung. He cocked his head to the side and retorted, “I see you’re from WNYU. What is your name?” he demanded.

  “Um Peggy Beck, sir,” she said, almost in a whisper.

  “Perhaps your superiors could send a more knowledgeable person to a press conference next time.” She took her seat, cheeks ablaze and remained silent for the rest of the conference.

  Lisa selected another reporter who addressed Mark. “Chief Tame, can you tell us if the gun used to murder Jacqueline Kent was the same murder weapon used to Kill Karen Reed?”

  “There were no shell casings left at the first scene and we’re still processing the second for ballistics. So far we’ve found none but we’re hopeful.”

  Lisa chose a reporter from each aisle until she’d reached the end and questions started bleeding together. Mark gave her a nod and she ended the conference. It lasted ten minutes. The reporters were instructed to wait in their seats until all the officers filed out.

  Mark rose from his seat and Lipkus gently took hold of his arm. “I want that couch ripped open. There’s gotta be a shell casing somewhere. Nobody’s that good.”

  Mark’s face scrunched up slightly then he raised his eyebrows. “Charlie’s on it I assure you.”

  Lipkus’s head shook. “I’ve seen the reports from the Reed case. Unacceptable. Get it done or I’ll send in my own crew and you’re off the case.”

  Lipkus walked away, almost elbowing Richard. When both Mark and Richard exited the room, Richard turned to Mark and said, “Charlie better pray he does this one right or Lipkus will eat us alive.” Mark looked behind at Charlie, making his way through with Lisa, carrying some of her files. He motioned to Charlie to come see him. They went to Mark’s office.

  “Hey buddy, listen. Lipkus is on a rampage with this case. We gotta band together on this one. Did all the evidence get thoroughly checked?” Charlie licked his lips and nodded affirmatively. “Is there any chance anything got overlooked?” Mark’s voice was low and comforting as though he was Charlie’s doctor and he was asking if he’d taken his medication.

  “Yeah, everything’s over at the lab right now. We’re in good shape.” Mark nodded his head and looked up at the clock. “Jesus, none of us have slept in almost thirty six hours.”

  Charlie’s head bowed down as though he was ashamed. Mark noticed the change.

  “Something wrong?” He asked, leaning his head down so he could see Charlie’s expression.

  Charlie’s eyes met Mark’s. “I need some time off.”

  Despite his fear, Mark asked, “Is it Madeline? How’s she doing?”

  Charlie pursed his lips and unconsciously bit his upper lip. “The cancer’s spread. She’s gotta start chemo again and the doctor’s suspect it’ll be worse this time. She can’t handle things by herself.”

  Mark looked at Charlie as though he was going to offer advice and said, “Nor would anyone expect her to.”

  …

  Shelley sent a text message to Sarah: ‘I’m in class and they’re about to start…where the hell r u????’ she keyed in and hit send with frustration. After sitting her phone on top of her bag, she was about to turn around and bumped into a familiar looking man. “Oh geez….sorry about that,” Shelley said as her face turned pink rem
embering Sarah’s comment about him being a Leo-going in like a lion and coming out like a lamb.

  “No problem, after you,” he said, gesturing for her to go take her place first. As he gestured, Shelley noticed his lion tattoo again as his bicep lifted slightly. If he noticed her attention waver from his face to his arm, he didn’t mention it.

  “Oh no, I’m just waiting for my friend to respond,” she said, motioning to her phone. “I’ll be coming in when I hear back.” The man with the tattoo nodded and continued walking. He lowered his yoga mat down and sat straight with his legs crossed and his arms resting on his knees. Shelley couldn’t help but watch him. He had a thick head of dark brown hair kept short around the sides but longer on top. His eyes were deep brown and his face was boyish but mature. She guessed he was the cute preppy type in high school. He was lean and tall in stature and stood at least a foot taller than Shelley. He gracefully sat, which intrigued her. The muscles in his butt were shaped like an apple from the floor and his musculature led her to believe he did more than just yoga to keep in shape.

  Finally her phone rang and her attention shifted focus as everyone turned around to look at her. She mouthed ‘sorry’ as she silenced the phone by picking it up. “Where the hell are you?” Shelley demanded in a hushed voice.

  “I’m so sorry; I’m trying to find a parking spot down here. Did you notice the place is packed?”

  “Well maybe you should have gotten here earlier!”

  “Look, traffic was a bitch and I’m here aren’t I?” Sarah continued “Do you see Michael there?”

  “No, the room is packed and I didn’t see him come in. I’ll try to save you a spot.” She flipped her phone shut and left her bag, carrying her mat as she tried to find a vacant place for it. As she scanned each row, the man with the lion tattoo motioned to her. ‘Oh great’ she said to herself ‘that’s the last thing I need. Sarah will have a field day’.

  Despite her reluctance she took her spot beside the tattooed man. He said nothing but smiled briefly as he took the next pose. Shelley laid down her mat and started the routine with the rest. “I’m Matt.” She heard him whisper. She looked over and the tattoo man smiled again.

  “Shelley.” She said.

  They continued with the rest of the class and only managed to brush fingers once. Neither responded to the unexpected touch. During break time Matt walked away from Shelley without adieu to fill his water bottle; Shelley looked for Sarah to no avail. Checking her phone she realized why. Sarah had left a text message ‘I found Michael. We’re at the bar…sorry. Next time’ Shelley nodded her head and placed her phone back in the bag.

  The second half of the class began. Everyone carried on gracefully as though there were only two people in the room: instructor and student. When the class was over, Shelley grabbed her bag and headed for the door, regretting ever mentioning yoga to Sarah. She went to use the washroom and check herself, meaning to shower and change when she got home. The door to the men’s locker room was right beside the ladies room and as she exited, she saw Matt coming out ahead of her. He didn’t turn around so Shelley took a moment to admire him. He had quickly showered and his hair was still damp. He had changed into long denim pants and a white t-shirt (one of Shelley’s favourite combinations). She hastened her stride so she could continue walking behind him without him taking notice. When they were just about to the exit door he stopped dead in his tracks and Shelley had no choice but to stop. He turned around and was checking his bag like he had forgotten something.

  “Oh pardon me,” he said, shifting to the right so Shelley could pass. “We must stop meeting this way,” he said with a gentle laugh. She smiled briefly and walked past him. “Your friend never showed.” He observed. Shelley pointed her thumb up over her shoulder and answered “Yeah, she decided to go on a date instead.”

  He nodded, pulling out his locker key, which he must have forgotten to return. “That’s not a bad idea.” He said. “Do you feel like going for a drink?” he asked. Shelley’s face went so red she thought she would go up in flames on the spot. Her smile was slightly too bright when she responded, “I’m really flattered. But I’m married. Thanks anyway.”

  Chapter 11

  Shelley walked in the door and right away noticed how quiet the house was. It was almost 8:00pm and she hadn’t heard from Mark all day. There were a few dirty dishes in the sink and it appeared as though he had eaten the egg salad she’d made for tomorrow’s lunch. Mark’s diet didn’t yet include eggs or mayonnaise, both of which were in the salad. Shelley shook her head in disappointment. When she went upstairs to shower she noticed Mark’s phone sitting on her dressing table. It wasn’t turned off but on silent mode. There were ten missed calls. Shelley assumed it was nothing that couldn’t be addressed tomorrow.

  She found Mark. The sheets were all askew, most no longer tucked in. His head was buried face down in her pillow while the rest of his body lay diagonally across the bed. She heard a muffled snoring. He inhaled briefly and coughed, turning himself over onto his back. He was naked.

  The sheets were woven around his body in such a way that he looked like he was wearing a short skirt. His genitals were scantly covered. Shelley looked at his body laying there and stopped herself. Before Mark’s heart attack she would have thought nothing of going over and sliding her body on top of his, waking him up in such a way that would delight both. She decided instead to take a shower and sleep in one of the girl’s rooms. As she stood in the shower, part of her wished Mark would hear the water running, which would prompt him to join her in what used to be his favourite lovemaking place. She felt the water coursing over her body and fantasized about what Mark’s hands and mouth would be doing in the places the water touched her. Her shower took a few minutes longer as she finishing pleasing herself, and then she took a bubble bath to ease her sore muscles. When she had dried off and was preparing herself for bed, she heard Mark get up and enter the washroom.

  “Long day?” he asked while he stood at the toilet, relieving himself.

  “Somewhat.” She began to apply lotion to her legs.

  “Need some help?” he asked, winking.

  “No thanks, I’m done.” She replied, kissing him quickly on the cheek.

  She walked over to the bed and swiftly tucked some of the sheets back under the mattress and smoothed the bedspread. After flushing the toilet, Mark went to his side of the bed and entered at the same time as Shelley. As they lay there spooning, Mark was unusually quiet.

  “Is everything okay?” Shelley asked. Mark took a moment to answer.

  “Yeah. It’s just so baffling.”

  “What is?” Shelley asked, turning over to face him.

  “That lotion. The smell used to drive me crazy before.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Not just the lotion but that whole line of stuff you use. Do you remember? You used to be in the bathroom no more than five minutes and I was all over you.” Mark shook his head.

  Shelley brushed his hair with her hand. “All in time,” she said.

  …

  “I’m not talking to you. You’re not my favourite person right now.” Shelley said to Sarah. She was driving to work and Sarah hadn’t even called her from the previous night.

  “Oh come on. I’m sorry. I was too damned sore to go last night anyway. Michael saw me limping into the centre and told me I was a fool if I went again. He said I should take it easy for a couple of days before going back.” There was a pause. “I swear. I’m still icing my leg today. My arm is another story.”

  “Really? So what did you and Michael do last night?” Shelley ventured.

  “We had one drink and I went home. He offered to come home and help me get into bed and I realized he was an asshole.” Sarah’s voice rose slightly with the second sentence.

  “So that’s why you didn’t call me?” Shelley asked.

  “Yes, I literally went home, took a muscle relaxer and passed out.” There was another pause.

 
“Okay. I forgive you.”

  Sarah sighed. “So, how was class last night?”

  “It was packed but good,” Shelley said.

  “Was that guy with the tattoo there?” Sarah asked casually.

  “Yeah, I actually had to take my place next to him since on account of someone I know there were no spaces left.”

  Sarah said facetiously, “You’re welcome.” Shelley let out a quick laugh.

  “So did you guys talk or exchange phone numbers or anything?” Sarah joked.

  “No, but we introduced ourselves……um……and then he asked me for drinks.”

  Dead silence. Five seconds later Sarah yells “He WHAT???!!!” Then she started laughing. “Okay, you’re funny…you go girl!!! That’s a good one!!”

  Shelley didn’t respond.

  …

  Mark’s line lit up and he glanced up at Lisa, who was sitting at her desk taking another call. She put one finger up in the air to signal Mark to wait a moment. The line rang once more before she spoke through his intercom. “It’s Lipkus,” she warned.

  Mark pushed the line and Lipkus didn’t wait for a greeting. “Did that couch get pulled apart yet? I want that damn shell casing.”

  “I’m sending a team out as we speak.”

  “Dammit Tame! How come it wasn’t done yet? You’ve had well over twelve hours to get this done!” Mark could hear Lipkus’s fist hit the desk.

  “We’ve had to switch around our team slightly. It took some time to get everyone on track.”

  “What do you mean? You had to ‘switch around’ your team? I thought you had this all under control,” Lipkus yelled. Mark wanted badly to maintain Charlie’s discretion but he feared he could be removed from the case. This would leave Charlie even more vulnerable if any further mistakes were discovered. Charlie’s job would be at stake and Mark wanted to protect him.

  “Charlie’s had to take a leave of absence,” Mark said.

  Lipkus was silent for a moment. Then he laughed. “I like you Tame. Pulling him off was the best decision you made.”