What She Left (Martina Monroe Book 1)

by H K Christie

  I turned to Martina, who was looking down at the ground, and then turned the other way to stare out at the water. It must be difficult for her to be here and to give a death notification to her best friend’s parents.

  I could only imagine what she was going through. I hoped that mixed in with her grief, she also felt proud that she was about to give closure to a family who had been waiting and hoping for so long.

  I turned around and stared out at the dark, choppy water. I hugged my jacket tighter to my chest. It was colder out on the island than on the other side of the bridge.

  Martina pivoted toward me. “You ready?”

  I nodded and took the steps toward the front door. I knocked once before the door eased open. An unfamiliar face resembling Donna Bernard greeted me. Before I could say anything, Martina stepped forward. “Dave, I’m glad you’re here.” I glanced at her, and she eyed me back. “Detective Hirsch, this is Dave Bernard, one of Donna’s brothers.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Please come in.” He was somber, as if he knew what we were here to tell them.

  I entered their home and stood near the recliner, while Martina approached Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, who sat huddled together on the sofa. Mr. Bernard had his arm around his wife as if bracing for the worst, which was exactly what they were about to receive.

  I flashed back to my family’s worst moment. I had stood next to my father when the detective told us that my brother, Sam, had been killed. My heart ached for Sam and for the Bernards. I rarely froze up in these moments. Not that I was great at delivering notifications, but usually I was at least able to remain more emotionally distant.

  I steadied my nerves. “Mr. And Mrs. Bernard. Dave. We received confirmation that the remains found at Beth’s Pond belong to Donna.”

  Mr. Bernard’s head bowed as he tried to conceal his grief. Mrs. Bernard shook her head and tears flowed down her cheeks. “You found our Donna? You’re sure it’s her?”

  “Yes, and actually, Martina found her.”

  I watched as Martina approached Dave and embraced him and then stepped back. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry it took me so long to find her. I should have looked sooner.”

  “No, you brought her back to us. Thank you.”

  “It wasn’t just me. Detective Hirsch and his forensic team helped as well. He’s the one who reopened the case and had the backing of the department.” She turned to face the parents. “Sandy and Mr. Bernard, I’m so sorry.” She leaned over, wrapping an arm around each of the Bernards, embracing in a three-way hug. When Martina eased back, Dave passed her a box of tissues. She plucked a few from the box before handing it off to Mrs. Bernard.

  While they consoled one another, Dave approached me. “Do you know who did this to my sister?”

  “No, not yet. The forensic team is still evaluating the evidence found at the scene.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t believe it. You know, we always hoped she’d come back, that maybe she’d run off with a new guy or something. I never wanted to believe she was gone. My brother, Tim, is out of the country right now. It will crush him when he hears. I need to call him.”

  “I understand. We will find out who did this to her.” And I believed in my gut, Martina and I would do just that.

  38

  Martina

  I climbed up the front steps to the house. My legs felt like jelly. My head was pounding. Oh, what I would give for a hot bath and to go straight to bed and be able to sleep for a week. Before I could even put my key in the door, I heard the pattering of footsteps on the other side. The door flung open, and Zoey stood there holding up a picture that she’d likely created with Betty. “Welcome home, Mommy. We made this for you.”

  I looked past Zoey. My mother, Betty, stood in the background wearing a cheerful smile. I received the picture from Zoey. It was heavy and constructed almost entirely of colorful glitter. A rainbow sky with people and trees. Betty must have drawn the outlines for the glitter. Zoey was pretty good with art projects, but she’d never drawn such intricate shapes. I hadn’t known my mother had artistic talent. Maybe there were a lot of things I didn’t know about her. “Mom, did you help draw this?”

  Before she spoke, Zoey answered for her. “She did. She’s so good at drawing. Mom, you have to see what else she drew. She’s an amazing artist. Like, the best in the world!”

  “I’d love to see it.”

  Betty turned to Zoey. “Why don’t we let your mom come in. She’s had a long day.”

  Zoey nodded before running back toward the kitchen. I shut the door behind me and made my way down the hall into the living room that was connected to our kitchen. My mother turned around. “Long day, huh?”

  “Do I look that bad?”

  “I’ve seen you look healthier. I’m guessing you could use some dinner and then maybe an early bedtime.”

  “That sounds heavenly.”

  “I was hoping maybe once you’re settled in, we can have a talk about Zoey.”

  My heart rate sped up. “What about Zoey? Is she okay?”

  “Yes, she’s fine. What I meant to say is that we can talk about Zoey’s care. I spoke to Claire, and she said that she’s graduating from school soon and you still haven’t chosen a new nanny.”

  Right, I still had to choose a new nanny. If I didn’t decide soon, I’d have no help with Zoey or the house. My mother’s eyes were shining.

  “Yeah, that’s just one more thing on my list of to-do’s. Let’s discuss it later.” I said before walking into the living room and plopping down on the sofa. Zoey soon joined me, as did my mother. Zoey nestled her head in the crook of my mother’s shoulder and grinned up at her. Part of me was surprised, and part of me was offended that Zoey wasn’t cuddling with me. I was her mom. Before I could feel too sorry for myself, Zoey scooted over and wrapped her little arms around me. Before sitting up, she glanced at her grandmother and then back at me. “So, Grandma and I were talking…”

  I studied their gleeful faces. They had conspired together. It had only been two days, and I was already the odd man out. “What were you talking about?”

  Before Zoey could catapult into one of her long-winded explanations, my mother put her hand on Zoey’s shoulder and said, “Let me talk, okay?”

  Zoey nodded and used her fingers to mimic zipping her lips closed. She listened to my mother, which was good, I supposed. Not that Zoey was ever particularly defiant - at least not yet. I focused on my mother, the person who I had been estranged from until forty-eight hours ago. “So?”

  “Like I mentioned earlier, Claire and I spoke about how you still hadn't picked an au pair or live-in nanny so that you would always have someone here for the times that your job has you being whisked away at the last minute.”

  It was true. I was currently in a whisking situation, seeing how I now needed to be in Pennsylvania. I guess I couldn’t deny that either would be a good option. “True.”

  “Now, I know I’m just now back in your life, but maybe I could take the job.”

  Zoey nodded enthusiastically. My mother had clearly made quite an impression on her. Perhaps it was the fact our family had dwindled down to the two of us, that she was hoping for a familial connection. Or maybe it was that she was worried about the fact her nanny was going to be gone soon. I sat up straight. “To be honest, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this.”

  “I can understand your hesitation. It’s been a long time since you and I have been in each other’s lives. Despite that fact, I love you Martina, and I love Zoey. How about I help with the house and Zoey on a trial basis while Claire is still here? That way, if it doesn’t work out, Claire can fill in, and you can continue looking for a different nanny.”

  “Claire is okay with this?” Would I have to pay for two different nannies?

  “Claire says she has so much studying to do that she could really use the extra time. I think she’s being spread thin between studying for her finals and taking care of Zoey.”

/>   We had an extra room or two. I didn’t use my home office, since when I worked from home, it was usually late at night in my bedroom.

  Part of me was suspicious that my mother had returned and was already offering to move in with me and had charmed the pants off Zoey. I was desperate, and maybe she knew that and figured it was her perfect opportunity to… I wasn’t sure what the potential motive was. Did she need money? A place to live?

  I needed help, but I needed it from someone I could trust. I just wasn’t sure that Betty was that someone. I supposed if it didn’t go well, Claire was still around and I wouldn’t be any worse off than before.

  I could do that, or stick to a strict nine-to-five schedule and pass on the tougher cases. Zoey could go to after-school care, and we’d both be miserable. I already knew from my time off, after the accident, that being a full-time PTA mom wasn’t in my nature. I had gone nearly crazy with boredom and lack of adult conversation. Plus, I loved my job. I loved figuring out the puzzle and helping people, whether it was bringing closure to a family or finding their missing loved one. It was what I was meant to do.

  I hoped I wouldn’t regret this. “Okay, we can do it on a trial basis.”

  Both of their faces lit up like it was Christmas. Zoey cheered, and I gave her the best smile I could, despite the day I’d experienced. “What’s wrong, mommy? You’re not happy about this.”

  I shook my head. “No, that’s not it. I’ve had a long day, and I’m sad.”

  “How come?”

  Normally, one would have to explain death to an eight-year-old, but she’d already had the talk after her father had passed away. “Do you remember when I told you about my best friend, Donna?”

  Zoey nodded.

  “We found her today.”

  “Then why are you sad?”

  “Because we found her body, and now we know she’s been in heaven all this time.”

  Zoey’s face went long, and her eyes stared at the rug. “She’s dead, like Daddy.”

  “Yep.” In that moment, I lost all my composure. Everything I had been holding inside. The stress. The anger. The sadness. I let the tears flow down my cheeks as my little girl hugged me. My mother joined soon after.

  Zoey whispered. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”

  I sniffled and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “Thank you, baby.”

  My mother’s eyes welled up. “I’m so sorry, Martina. I know how much Donna meant to you.”

  I had run out of words, so I simply nodded. Zoey leaned back and looked me in the eyes. “Did somebody kill her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to find the person who killed her?”

  My mind cleared. “Yes, I am.”

  “And is Detective Hirsch going to lock them up and throw away the key?”

  I hoped so. “He will.”

  “Good,” Zoey declared.

  After Zoey went to bed, I reentered the living room and spotted my mother sitting on the couch, reading a novel. She set her glasses down. “How are you feeling?”

  “Just another day in my life. I’ll be all right.”

  “It’s terrible about Donna.”

  “Yes, it is. There was something I wanted to talk to you about. Since you so graciously offered to come and help with Zoey, are you up for your first challenge?”

  “Oh?”

  “The case I’ve been working on has had a break, but I need to travel to Pennsylvania.” I quickly recapped my last trip to Pennsylvania and that I needed to follow up.

  “Wow. Zoey has been telling me you’re the best private investigator in the whole world. It sounds like she was right.”

  I didn’t know about that. Sometimes I felt like the worst.

  Betty continued. “Of course, I’ll be here for Zoey. How long do you think you will be gone?”

  “Two - three days, tops.”

  “Is it safe?”

  “This time, I’ll be with an armed police officer. Hirsch is going too.”

  “Well, that’s good to hear. So, are you and the detective friends?”

  I saw the implication in her eyes. It wasn’t like that. “We’ve just started working together recently and we make a good team. I suppose we’re kind of friends. We’ve come a long way, actually.” I chuckled as I recapped the last time, before the Gilmore case, I’d encountered Detective Hirsch. After he told me he was closing the DeSoto case, I had wanted to strangle him and it took all I had not to. “He’s definitely grown on me since then. He’s a good detective, and it’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.”

  “It sounds like your job can be a lonely one.”

  It hadn’t been, before Jared had died. He’d been my sounding board. He was the one I had bounced ideas off of. Not only did I miss my husband, I missed my best friend. Jared had been my partner in everything.

  “It can be.” I let out a breath. “Now to tell my boss that I’m going. He sort of ordered me to stopping working the case.”

  My mother cracked a smile. “I don’t recall you ever taking orders from anybody. I remember thinking it was so strange when you’d decided to join the Army where they give nothing but orders.”

  “The Army had been a challenge at first. I suppose we all have the capability for change.”

  Betty’s demeanor turned serious. “You know, I’ve always admired your determination and your smarts. I knew you wouldn’t stick around the trailer park for long. I want you to know, I’m really proud of you, Martina. You’re a wonderful, caring mother and an excellent private investigator who helps people.”

  I hadn’t realized I needed those words from my mother. When had I gotten so broken? I was an alcoholic. I was lonely. I carried guilt and grief. When had I needed my mother’s love and approval? Maybe I’d always been broken, and I had somehow put myself together with duct tape without even realizing it. Could it be that there was some honest-to-goodness healing going on? “Thank you, Mom.”

  Now I had to tell Stavros that I was continuing to work on the Henley case. I hoped he was half as gracious as my mother had been about my lack of desire to follow orders.

  39

  Detective Hirsch

  I drummed on my desk while I waited for Martina to answer the phone. Voicemail again. My gut stirred. It wasn’t like her to not answer her phone. I hoped she wasn’t lying somewhere in a parking lot or on the pavement at a gas station or any other place she had been attacked at since we’d started working together.

  She would want to be in attendance when I stuck it to Alonso, I was sure of it. As a last effort, I pulled up the number to Drakos Security & Investigations and dialed. The receptionist picked it up after two rings. “Drakos Security & Investigations, how may I help you?”

  “Yes, I’d like to speak to Martina Monroe, please.”

  “May I ask who is calling?”

  “This is Detective Hirsch.”

  “Hold one moment, please.”

  Relief trickled through me. She was at the office and not lying in a ditch somewhere. Although, I wondered if the only thing capable of taking her out was an entire army.

  “I’m sorry. Martina is in a meeting right now. Would you like me to have her call you back?”

  Damn it. I needed to talk to her, but at least she was alive. I wondered if she was meeting with her boss, Stavros, and finally telling him she was still working on the Henley case. “I’ll try again later. Please let her know I called.”

  “Will do. Have a nice day.”

  I hung up and contemplated if I should wait until Martina was available. I’d try her cell phone one more time before giving up and heading to the county jail.

  I sat across from Alonso Ricci, who seemed less than enthusiastic to see me again. I smiled. “Mr. Ricci. Good to see you again. Do you mind if I call you Lonnie? I hear that’s what your friends call you.”

  He remained stoic, refusing to even budge or acknowledge my presence. “You know, Lonnie, I hear you’re still not talking.” My grin faded, and I sh
ifted forward in my seat. “Not even to your lawyer.” I leaned back and folded my arms. “Actually, I’ve heard your lawyer hasn’t come to visit you yet. That’s got to be disconcerting. If you’d like, I can order you up a public defender. I can call right now.” I held up my phone for effect.

  Alonso stared toward the ceiling as if I was boring him. But I knew he must be squirming on the inside. Why hadn’t his lawyer shown up yet? He’d been locked up for three days. Whoever he was working for hadn’t come through for him yet. It wasn’t a good sign for Alonso, and he was likely all alone in his defense.

  I folded my hands in my lap and focused on Alonso. “I rarely like one-sided conversations, but I wanted to share some information with you that may be of some interest to you. You can choose to just listen if you prefer, but you are welcome to comment at any time. We just got DNA results back from the break-in at the veterinarian’s office and guess what?”

  He turned his gaze to me. And I smiled, a genuine I’ve-got-you-you-bastard smile. “That’s right, Lonnie. It’s your DNA. Now if you add it all up, we have you on video breaking into the vet’s office, and we’ve got your blood matched to the scene of crime. Not only that, but we’ve been able to link the stolen drugs from the veterinarian’s office to the drugs that killed Theodore Gilmore. If you’re keeping score, those are charges for breaking and entering, felony theft, and first-degree murder. But that’s not all, is it? We also have you attacking Martina Monroe in broad daylight on video and with eyewitnesses.” I waited for a reaction.

  He turned to the side and evaded my stare.

  I ignored his lack of speech and continued, “Now if I were you, which I’m not. I’d be talking and trying to cut a deal because whoever you’re working for has let you stew all alone for three days in a county jail cell on murder charges, attempted murder charges, and felony theft. My goodness, those three alone will get you life in prison. Here in California, we call that three strikes and you’re out. Three felonies and you go away for life. If you insist on keeping quiet, well, I’d recommend you get real cozy because you’re not going anywhere - ever again.” I sat back in my chair and watched him fidget. Finally, a reaction.