Random Acts of Murder: A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery, Book 1 (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries)

by Christy Barritt

  He paused for a millisecond before nodding. “Come on, then.”

  I temporarily forgot about Brian and about my brother’s fund-raising gala and all the guests inside. All I could think about was the fact that the killer had struck again. I’d call someone later and explain where I’d gone. Maybe I’d do it in the car.

  I hurried after Chase, my shorter legs working twice as hard as his long ones. He’d found a parking space three blocks away on the street, at a meter. Pretty smart thinking, since he was a cop and all. Valet service would have taken way too long.

  We reached an unmarked sedan. He opened the door for me and waited while I quickly—but still like a lady—climbed into the passenger seat. He wasted no time slamming the door and hurrying to his side.

  I’d had images of asking him questions, finding out more information. But he turned on his lights and siren and we were off. I held onto what Jamie called the “oh crap” bar above the window, trying not to be jostled into Chase.

  Five minutes later, we pulled into the same neighborhood where the other two crimes had occurred. I breathed an ever-so-slight sigh of relief when I didn’t recognize the house.

  As soon as we jerked to a stop, Chase turned to me. “You can’t cross the police line. Got it?”

  I nodded. “Got it.”

  I had no desire to see what was on the other side of that police line. The images of the dead body in Katrina’s house still haunted me; I didn’t think the pictures could ever be scrubbed from my memory. That was another tragedy in and of itself.

  With more than a little hesitation, I opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. I pulled my shawl closer, trepidation surrounding me. There were probably six police cars already at the scene, along with an ambulance and fire truck—standard protocol, I supposed. A woman stood on the lawn, tears streaming down her face and a tissue balled in her hands. Two officers tried to calm her down.

  I wanted to give her a hug and ask her if there was someone I could call.

  But she was on the other side of the police line.

  I’d been given boundaries, and I really needed to stick with them.

  I stood there as minutes ticked past. I watched. I waited. I tried to keep my apprehension at bay.

  I saw Chase come out and talk to the woman. He laid a hand on her arm, and the woman seemed to instantly calm down.

  Then Chase’s partner, T.J., charged onto the scene. Whatever he said obviously upset the woman because she began crying harder. Interesting dynamic, I mused. Good cop/bad cop? Or was this just a matter of compassionate versus jerky? I voted for the second option.

  Just then, something vibrated under my arm.

  My phone.

  I quickly fished it out, realizing with panic that I hadn’t told anyone where I was going. Even worse, I’d been gone probably an hour already.

  I put the phone to my ear and rushed out, “Hello?”

  “Holly? Where are you?” Brian’s voice sounded across the line.

  “I’m so sorry, Brian. I got called to . . . to an emergency, and I meant to let you guys know.”

  “We’ve all been worried sick. Your mom was about to make an announcement at the podium about you.”

  “Please! Tell her not to do that. Please.”

  “Are you sure everything is okay?” Brian repeated.

  “I’m sorry. I’m doing something as a social worker right now. I’m not sure how long I’ll be.”

  “How’d you get there? You don’t even have a car.”

  “I got a ride from . . . from the police,” I finally answered.

  He paused for a moment. “I see. Well, if you need anything, let me know. I’d be happy to pick you up, if you needed me to.”

  “Thanks, Brian.” As I hung up, Chase motioned me over. A uniformed officer let me under the police tape, and I met Chase halfway. He leaned close and lowered his voice.

  “Could you stay with her? She could use someone right now. Says her nearest family is a few hours away still.”

  I nodded. “Of course. I’d be more than happy to.”

  “You’re the best, Holly Anna.” He took his coat off and draped it over my shoulders.

  Warmth surrounded me, as did the scent of leather aftershave. “Just Holly will do,” I finally managed.

  He squeezed my arm gently. “Thanks again.”

  I hoped he hadn’t noticed the starstruck look in my gaze when he touched me. It was like my body had frozen as adrenaline zapped me. The clash left me feeling light-headed.

  I really, really had to get a grip.

  ***

  Three hours later, Chase escorted me back to his car. He didn’t say anything until after the doors were shut and the engine hummed to life.

  “Same MO, Holly. A young guy, shot in the chest, left for dead.”

  “So, you think this murder is connected with the earlier ones?” I tried to remain calm, to stay cool, to act collected even when everything inside me screamed: panic!

  “There was a bucket and mop left there, and the kitchen had been cleaned.”

  Suddenly, my head started spinning. Someone was trying to frame this . . . on me! The real killer obviously knew I’d been to that other crime scene. Was there any better scapegoat? But why not just send an anonymous letter to the police? Why go through all of this trouble to make me out as the guilty party?

  “Holly? Are you okay?”

  I barely heard him. Wooziness threatened to overtake me, and I grabbed the “oh crap” bar again—for totally different reasons this time.

  The next thing I knew, Chase had pulled over and put the car in park. He twisted in his seat until he faced me. “What’s going on?”

  Not now. My disease couldn’t pick this moment to rear its ugly little head.

  I raised my hand, trying to gain control of the situation. “I’m fine. I just need a moment.”

  “The crime scene was too much for you, wasn’t it?”

  Good. That’s what he thought it was. He was going to be sorely disappointed if he found out the truth, though. Maybe I should just tell him. Right here, right now.

  But the words wouldn’t leave my lips. “It was a bit much, I suppose. This whole thing has left me feeling uneasy.”

  “It’s left the whole city feeling uneasy.” He reached out and rubbed a piece of hair back from my face. “I should have told you that you couldn’t come. But you did work wonders with the victim’s mother back there.”

  I forced a slight smile. “I’m glad I was a help.”

  His hand dropped. “I should get you home.”

  “Probably.”

  My entire body felt alive as we drove. There was something about being this close to Chase that made my senses more aware, made my heart pump harder, and made my mind feel more alert.

  We pulled in front of my house. He parked on the street and ran around to open my door. I didn’t object; I liked feeling like a lady, and there was no shame in that.

  We started up the sidewalk, his hand on my back, and my brain being engulfed with fairy-tale-like endorphins. Feelings that I needed to get under control.

  Chase glanced up. “You can actually see some stars tonight.”

  I paused and looked toward the nighttime sky. “There are a few out, aren’t there?”

  “That was the first time I ever remember talking to you, Holly.” Chase looked at me. “It was about stars.”

  “You remember that?” I knew exactly what he was talking about. Which could mean that I still had a little high school crush on him all these years later.

  He grinned. “Of course I do. We were assigned to be partners in our science class. Our project was on constellations.”

  My throat burned when I swallowed. That had been the start of my crush on Chase.

  “That’s when I realized that you weren’t like the other girls.”

  A few days ago, I would have thought he meant that as an insult. But, right now, I wasn’t sure.

  “Was that a good thing or a bad th
ing?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

  He stepped closer. “Definitely a good thing.”

  I raised my face toward him. Was it my imagination or was he leaning closer?

  My heart raced, and my skin tingled as anticipation filled me.

  He was going to kiss me.

  And I wasn’t going to stop him. The years weren’t rolled out before me with endless possibilities. I didn’t have gobs of time to contemplate true love. I only had the moment.

  I closed my eyes.

  “Now, that’s true love if I’ve ever seen it!” A horrible, scratchy yet nasal voice filled the air.

  My eyes popped open. Not only had the moment been broken, but it was like the magnetism that drew Chase and me together suddenly reversed and propelled us away from each other.

  Mrs. Signet.

  She stood on her porch grinning.

  In a not-so-ladylike moment, I wanted to throttle her.

  Something in that instant changed on Chase’s face. It hardened, and an unknown emotion—I wished I knew what—closed on him. He backed away, all traces of a smile gone.

  “I should go.”

  I nodded and pulled his jacket off. I instantly missed it—but not as much as I missed the warmth in his eyes. “Here you go.”

  The lines on his face still looked tight. “I’ll see you around, Holly.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Normally I ate with my family after church on Sunday, but today I decided to bypass lunch. I’d had my fill of my family last night, and I wasn’t in the mood for their criticism and teasing today. I could already hear them lecturing me about leaving the gala without telling anyone, reminding me that I should play it safe, warning me that I could be shot at again.

  Instead, Jamie and I had gotten smoothies at one of our favorite places downtown and then set out for a walk down the Serpentine Wall, which ran along the Ohio River, right in the shadow of downtown. I really needed some girlfriend time now, as I tried to sort out my jumbled emotions.

  Jamie and I loved walking around the wall, and we’d done it ever since our college days together. In the summer, there were concerts here. At night, one could marvel at the lights on the various bridges leading from Kentucky to Ohio. It was our little oasis in the city.

  “So, you really think Chase was going to kiss you?” Jamie asked.

  I pressed my lips together for a moment. “I don’t know that for sure. It felt like it, though.”

  “You really would have kissed him?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s not like I have forever. Before, I felt like I had my whole life ahead of me. Now . . .”

  Jamie raised a hand and nodded. “I get that. You’re saving your first kiss for true love. Maybe it’s Chase.”

  I laughed, quick and hard. “Chase? No. It was just the moment, you know? I mean, what’s the use of waiting for true love for your first kiss if you’re going to die before that happens?”

  “I’ve always thought your plan sounded crazy. There I was, a hundred pounds overweight and wanting desperately for someone to want to kiss me. You had a line of guys, and you weren’t interested in any of them.”

  I slowed my steps as I tried to sort my thoughts. “I thought the notion was romantic, and I still think that when I was younger, it was a really good plan of action. It helped to protect my heart. But I’m a big girl now, and I don’t know. I don’t want to be a hypocrite, but I’m twenty-eight and I’ve never been kissed. I’m going to be dead by next year at this time. It can change your perspective on things. I think I’m old enough to handle a kiss now.”

  “Even though I thought you were crazy, you actually managed to stick to it all these years, even when you were engaged to Rob. That couldn’t have been easy—he was awfully good looking.”

  “He also ran away at the first sign of hardship. I’m so glad I didn’t marry him. Things tend to work out the way they’re supposed to.”

  She tossed her empty cup into a trash can and tucked her hands into the pockets of her black leather jacket. “So, your evening sounded like it was nearly perfect.”

  She obviously hadn’t been listening all that well. “Aside from the murder and the bucket being found there.”

  “Exactly. Except for that. And Mrs. Signet.”

  I sighed and took a long sip of my mango-pineapple smoothie, thankful that there wasn’t a biting wind sweeping through the downtown area. Otherwise, the cool drink would have me shivering all the way to my bones. “I just don’t get it.”

  “If I ever understand men, I’ll write a book about it and make millions. Men are confusing and complex and they get some kind of male version of PMS; I don’t care what they say.”

  I chuckled. Jamie would know. She lived around enough guys. My mind quickly went back to last night, though. “It was like Mrs. Signet’s words scared him. Terrified him, maybe.”

  “Talk of true love can be terrifying to some.”

  “I don’t know. I can’t help but think there was more to it.” I shook my head. “Anyway, this isn’t my biggest concern of the moment. My biggest concern is these murders. I mean, even if Chase did like me, as soon as he discovers I was at that first crime scene, he’s going to resent me for lying to him.”

  “Maybe no one will ever find out. Isn’t that what you’re hoping?” The sun hit Jamie’s wild curls, and her auburn highlights became illuminated.

  “Someone seems desperate for the police to find out.” I took another long sip of my smoothie.

  “But why? What sense does it make?”

  “You’re the armchair detective. What do you make of it?”

  Jamie slowed her steps for a moment. “It almost sounds like someone wants to frame everything on you. But why they just don’t come out and give the police a bigger piece of evidence, I don’t know. Why don’t they just tell the police they saw you?”

  “Coming forward would make them look guilty.” I shrugged, never once having imagined that at any point in my life I’d be wandering through downtown Cincinnati having this conversation. “They’ve got to be more subtle.”

  “Subtle. Most criminals haven’t mastered that art form yet.”

  My brain was going at nearly full speed now. “And how about the fact that someone’s trying to shoot me? How does that tie in? This is all just crazy.”

  “That’s a good question. The other question is: Are they missing on purpose or just a terrible shot?” She raised her eyebrows and cast a glance at me.

  My head was beginning to pound.

  “Well, I discovered something interesting as I was researching a story.”

  I looked over at my friend. “What’s that?”

  “You talked about a T.J.? You said he’s Chase’s new partner, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, Rex Harrison’s former partner in the Cincinnati PD was none other than . . . drumroll please . . . T.J., Chase’s current partner.”

  My mouth parted in surprise. “Really?”

  She nodded like the cat that ate the canary. “That’s right.”

  I absorbed that information. “That is interesting. It’s a small world, isn’t it? Are you doing an article on Rex?”

  “For the newspaper, we have articles in queue for the election. So, we’ll have a bunch of articles about Rex in case he wins, and a bunch on Ralphie in case he wins.”

  “You’re not digging up dirt on my brother, are you?” I kept my voice light.

  “Girlfriend, we’d publish that beforehand if we did. You’ve got to know us reporters better than that. We thrive on exposing hidden information.”

  I smiled. Jamie was loyal but tough. “Good to know.”

  “So, anyway, I’ve been doing some interviews about Rex and found out some information about his brother. He’s the reason Rex is so adamant about cleaning up the drug problem in this area. Apparently, he was an addict.”

  I remembered Rex saying something about that when he spoke to the teens at the youth center. He’d m
entioned how, on the surface, his brother had everything together. A good job, a nice house with lots of land, lots of money. But he had a secret drug problem that destroyed him. He ultimately took his life.

  “We all have loss in our lives, don’t we? There’s no way to avoid it, no matter who you are. It’s something we share as humans, despite the barriers of class, money, race, gender. And everyone’s sad story comes out during election time. I guess it makes the candidates seem more human.”

  She swung her head toward me. “You talking about your brother?”

  “Brian is more like it. Someone in the White House once said, ‘Never waste a tragedy.’ I guess that slithers all the way down to local politics as well.”

  “Nothing surprises me about Brian anymore.”

  I noticed a crowd of people ahead, gathered around a platform set up in an open area. I’d seen protests here before. Was that what was going on now?

  We walked closer. My steps slowed when I saw the campaign signs.

  This was a rally for Rex Harrison.

  Of course.

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, I had to admit that the man was charismatic. I’d give him that. And he made my brother sound like the devil. Rex made all sorts of promises that seemed impossible to carry through with. Most politicians did. But did he actually believe his own lies?

  The crowd around him obviously did. They cheered and clapped and chanted his name, even.

  “I’m so tempted to vote for this guy,” Jamie muttered. She stood with her arms crossed, absorbing the scene, maybe even with a touch of awe.

  I gasped, partly in shock, partly in mock drama. “Really? You’d vote against my brother.”

  “You see, that’s the problem. If Rex were running against anyone else, this man would totally have my vote. But I like your family too much to not support Ralph, even if I do trash-talk him sometimes.”

  I’d heard the debates between Jamie and Ralph before. Jamie wasn’t one to back down from an argument. She let you know how she felt and when she felt that way. But she was loyal, and I was thankful for that.