“Just let me finish,” he said defensively.
“Okay, go on.”
“They met that night and left for his house.”
“How do you know that?” the detective asked.
“I was on duty that night; I wanted to know the girl better. I didn’t know she was a nut case. She looked beautiful,” the bartender interjected.
“She said she was with a friend that night.”
“She was lying or maybe she killed him, and then left to be with her friend. The friend could be an accomplice in the crime.”
“I cannot work with speculations. I need proof that she indeed killed your friend. I’m sorry. I can’t listen to this any longer.”
“You are just ignoring the fact that I’m right. Do your job as an officer, arrest her or do something.”
“We need proof and a warrant. We can’t just make accusations based on speculations.”
“I really don’t understand how this type of law works. You have the wrong person in custody and you’re telling me that I’m just speculating? I have proof. I have a witness. Isn’t that enough to get a warrant? The murderer is on the loose and you’re here talking about speculations.”
“I have a family and they need me to keep my job as an officer. There’s nothing more I can do.”
He put a bill on the table and left.
Jenna watched him disappear, and then slipped out of her hiding spot. Her eyes grew wide. Seems like they were arguing, she thought. I wish I could read lips.
Chapter Four
The local news channel was focusing on the two random murders that had recently occurred. Joan Blake, well known for her humor and cut throat investigative journalism, was on air, bashing and accusing the police for their flimsy investigations. As Jenna watched the news, she felt as if her world was crumbling around her, even though she knew no evidence would be found linking her to the murders. Her boss had once told her, when she asked about the contents of the syringe, that it left no traces that could lead to her. She flipped through the channels, but most of the local channels were discussing the murders. Jenna sighed. She didn’t want to hear more about the murders.
She dropped her head back on the pillow, and flipped to CNN. There was nothing new for them to say. It was Saturday evening now, and the killer may have been found. If Mike can disappear, then the police will never want to look deeper into the case. They assume they already have the killer.
There was a knock on the door. She glanced up. She knew Rick had just arrived. Jenna rushed to the door and opened it. Rick was standing there, holding a bottle of wine and he was smiling.
“Come in.” She showed him in.
“Now will you tell me what happened? Why is Mike suspecting you?”
She walked to the kitchen; he followed her. He knew his way around the kitchen. He removed the chopping board and placed it on the kitchen table. Rick was my accomplice or partner, he taught me all I knew in this business, Jenna thought. He was my mentor, my boss, and my lover from time to time. It was never serious but he was an awesome lay.
“Can I ask you a question?” he began as he diced the juicy potatoes. “What’s your favorite dish?”
“Grilled meat,” she responded immediately and her mouth watered at the thought of the char grilled meat.
“You wouldn’t want to eat grilled meat every single day, would you?”
“Of course not,” she replied, while shredding the fresh ginger into the small bowl he had given her.
“Why not?” he continued. His eyes were still on the tomatoes.
“Well, I suppose if I eat it on a daily basis, then it wouldn’t be special. I’d get tired of it. All good things are good in moderation, don’t you agree?”
“Yes I do,” he replied emphatically. “And you’ve just brought me around to a very important point.
“Which is?”
“Monogamy is like food. If you eat the same meal every day, you get tired of it. Variety is the spice of life. It seems you like it.”
“Well,” she paused, picking her words more carefully. “I thought we were talking about grilled meat. I never realized that my response was going to be taken out of context.”
She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to continue.
“You do understand what I’m trying to say? Whether you eat the food or love the same person, you always get tired of it. It becomes too familiar and too predictable and boring.”
“So you are referring to monogamy as monotony?”
“Now you’ve got it,” he said with an approving chuckle. “My point exactly.”
“I love it when you talk dirty...”
He laughed playfully, reaching out towards her in a feigned attempt to grope her chest. She laughed, but wasn’t sure if her giggles were in response to his offbeat humor or if they were born of the nervous butterflies that filled her stomach. Did he mean to seduce her? Was her partner in crime now seeing her as a piece of raw meat, one that he might like to mold and stuff or bake in a smoldering oven of intense passion? She asked herself inwardly, and the idea seemed to have merit.
“How about a glass of wine?” he offered, pouring two goblets of merlot before she said anything.
He wanted to ply her with liquor just enough to lower her inhibition and then forge ahead with his culinary seduction. She took a rather large swig; she steeled herself for the possibility of venturing forward tonight. The fact that disturbed at that particular moment was whether Rick wanted her as much as he seemed to want her. They had been friends for a long time. He was handsome, sexy, talented, and funny, she had to admit that. He was the only man she knew who knew his way around the kitchen and cooked for her often.
“Another?” he asked, tilting the bottle over her now empty glass.
Jenna nodded, and she inhaled the grape infused fumes as she swished another mouthful of wine through her teeth and swallowed. The moment seemed right. With the food simmering on the stove top, they were able to sneak off to the den and make themselves more comfortable. She decided to take the lead, leaving nothing to chance.
“So tonight, if you were to sample grilled meat and oysters, I’d be the grilled meat?” Jenna asked.
“You could be anything you wanted to be. As long as you let me taste you,” he replied.
Again the seductive lift to his voice made her stomach lurch forward. She set her glass of wine on the end table and slid forward in her seat. He dropped to his knees; he placed his trembling hands on her thighs. They gazed at each other just long enough to extend their mutual and unspoken permission to go ahead.
Rick’s intrepid fingers slid beneath the hem of her skirt and he finally found her, anxious and waiting. Her hips slid to the very edge of her seat, rocking forward so that he might feel the heat emanating from her and so he might sense her growing urgency.
“Taste me,” she whispered, granting him what seemed to be so strong, her desires. She slid her skirt up, an unquestionable invitation.
“I love the grilled meat,” he remarked to break the awkward silence.
“I loved the chef,” she said.
“This is just the beginning, there’s more to come.”
Chapter Five
His investigative instinct led Mike outside Jenna’s house. He was careful to remain invisible, lest some nosy neighbor or worried girl saw him crouching outside Jenna’s house. He watched as a strange man arrived at Jenna’s house carrying a bottle of wine. He had his camera in hand and made sure to take photos of the strange man. He knew this would help with the investigation, but so many thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to figure out what relationship Jenna and Tommy had, if it was indeed one that led to his death.
Mike and Tommy had known each other since they had first met in college. He reminisced about the first day he met Tommy. He was the only one who didn’t have a lab partner and they were paired together. Tommy was an A student, a member of the science club, and spent his Sunday
s in church. Tommy was a quiet person who was neither popular nor unpopular. The only time that Mike was popular was when he won class president, and that was only because he was the only one running. Mike won employee of the year in the two years he worked at the company, the reason being that he came early and was always diligent and loyal to his manager. Tommy, on the other hand, just kept to himself, not taking a job or running for president. On the day of the prom, he thought, I had to force my sister to be his date. As all these thoughts ran through his mind, he wondered out loud… “Why would such a beautiful woman want Tommy?”
The night he died, he had spoken to Tommy; he was excited about his date.
“This is the night, Mike, I am finally going to make a move.” Those were his last words until Mike found Tommy lying lifeless on the floor of his apartment. As he drove back home, he noticed a police car parked near his apartment block. His actions and whereabouts were being monitored “I bet Cole wants to keep me close,” Mike muttered under his breath.
******
As he sat on his desk, Detective Cole looked through the files, praying for a break. The phone rang twice before he grabbed it. Though exhausted, he hadn’t been sleeping well. Instinctively, he switched on the record button. The recording was later played a thousand times.
Cole: “Hello.”
Voice: “Is this detective Cole?”
Cole: “It is, may I know who is calling?”
Voice: “That’s not important, what is important is that I know the killer.”
Cole: “I need to know your name.”
Voice: “Forget it Cole, you wanna talk about Arnold?”
Cole: “Go ahead.”
Voice: “I saw him arguing with his neighbor.”
Cole: “Which neighbor?”
Voice: “Come on, detective, you know very well who I’m talking about. I saw him kill Arnold.”
The line went dead. The call was traced to a pay phone at an all-night convenient store, and the trail ended there. Detective Cole never heard of any rumors that the two neighbors argued. He stared at the phone, and then removed the tape. He drove to the police department, made a pot of coffee, and listened to the tape again. He was elated, and could not wait to share the news with his investigating team. Everything seemed to fit but all the neighbors swore that Arnold was a good neighbor. He had to convince himself that they had the man. And then the case would finally be closed.
****
Mr. Chandler’s lawyer entered the police station, went to the reception desk, and inquired about his client. Steve Richmond was the best criminal lawyer in town. He had brushed detective Cole the wrong way one too many times. Detective Cole was a great detective who never left evidence to chance. But in a murder trial two years back, something had gone wrong. In short, Detective Cole hated his guts; the feeling was mutual. At one point, in the courtroom under oath with the detective on the stand, Steve Richmond accused Cole of lying. The case was about the death of a rich woman who stood to inherit billions from her family. She was married to Peter Mason, who was alleged to be the main suspect. All evidence collected at the crime scene pointed towards Peter. Steve was the defendant’s lawyer. He interrogated detective Cole and, to be perfectly frank, made it seem like the detective had no concrete evidence. This led to a bitter exchange which landed both of them in contempt of court. In the end, Steve Richmond won the case, and Peter Mason was set free, with all charges dropped. From that day on, the two lawmen were nemesis.
Steve made his way to Cole’s office. In a sarcastic voice, he demanded the release of Mr. Chandler. “Now let’s end this right here and now. Let my client go, you have no evidence against the guy. May I remind you that by keeping him here you are violating his rights?”
Cole stood up from his seat as if about to hit him, though he replied calmly, “He was at the crime scene.”
“Do we now arrest the person who calls the police? You know what, this is crap. I am getting my client out of here unless you have concrete evidence.”
Steve walked out of the office and went directly to the interrogation room. A few minutes later, he walked out with his client. This wasn’t exactly proper procedure, but as far as Steve was concerned, neither was holding a suspect without concrete evidence.
As he left, Cole was left in his office furious at Steve for once again interfering with his case. But he knew the repercussions of holding a suspect without concrete evidence. Cole could do nothing. He stood in his office looking out the window, trying to figure out the connection between Arnold and Tommy, other than the fact that they were both obviously dead.
Chapter Six
Jenna opened her eyes and glanced around. Where was Rick? After the night of lovemaking, she just wanted to hold him and feel the warmth of his body beside hers. He wasn’t there beside her, and she felt a sense of panic. Why would she be feeling that way about a guy who was her friend’s fiancée, and more importantly, when she had more pressing matters, like Mike, to deal with. She was soon preoccupied with thoughts of how to convince Mike to lower his guard long enough for her to strike a fatal blow. As the thought of dropping him off a bridge filled her mind, Rick showed up stark naked carrying a tray of food.
“Sleepy head… dinner is served.”
Jenna took a long, hard look at his body and for some unknown reason, something animalistic awoke in her. She got off the bed and walked over to him. He put the tray down, touched her slowly, and leaned in for a kiss, and everything else was lost to her.
“About that guy you want to eliminate, what will you do about him now that he’s getting close to finding out the truth?” he interrupted.
“I don’t know what to do, but I want to kill him and make it look like he committed suicide.”
She smiled at him. She couldn’t let Mike find out the truth. Jenna wanted all this to stop, and killing him was the only way to do so. She never wanted things to get this far, but it was now unavoidable.
“You know it’s getting late, you need to act fast and by fast I mean tonight,” he suggested.
She looked at him with surprise evident on her face. She never expected to need to act so soon.
“I don’t think tonight will work out. The police are all over the crime scene and if I make any small mistake we’ll all go down.”
“You’re right, but I don’t think we have much time left. We will go down anyways.” Rick’s voice was sad.
“Don’t tell me that you’ve given up now. I’m smart and I’m not new at this. I need your trust.”
She forced herself to smile at him. Why was he such a pessimist? Deep down, she was nervous; things were spiraling out of control. She had never failed any assignment. Jenna wondered what went wrong, and finally concluded that Mike was the problem. Everything would have been fine if it weren’t for him.
Jenna knew that she could handle Mike all alone, but would her charms work with him? She knew convincing him to trust her would be difficult since his friend had been hitting on her. And she had been on a date with him the night Tommy was murdered. He was so loyal to his friend and he was risking his life trying to find out what happened. Too bad his neck really was on the line.
“We have to wipe out anyone who gets too close to finding out. We can’t take any risks. I have a lot to lose, just like my fiancée,” Rick said.
What he said made her heart and head hurt. She thought what they did made her special. More important than the best friend that was his fiancée. Jenna felt lost and offended. How could he choose his fiancé over her? She kept quiet for a while as she stared at him. He never noticed the pain or the turmoil inside her, and instead went on and on about how he couldn’t stand losing his fiancé or her finding out what kind of job he did.
Rick knew that she had hidden feelings for him and whatever he was saying was hurting her. But it was for the best, wasn’t it?
“I get your point, I’ll do my part.” Jenna snapped.
“No, you don’t get it;
this is my life, everything that I’ve worked for. I have a lot more to lose than you,” he insisted.
She controlled the tears that sprang from her eyes. She felt like screaming, but she didn’t want to be unprofessional. Jenna knew what she was getting herself into last night. Yet now, she felt like killing her friend. He was hers or no one else’s. Jenna decided that she was going to take care of her after she completed the tasks ahead of her. He leaned closer to kiss her, but she turned her face the other way.
You are the best and that’s why I chose you to do something about Mike.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist as she tried to move away.
“I am good at what I do, but not good enough for you; I can’t win your heart.” She said.
“You are the best and I like you in a special way. But you know I’m getting married to your best friend.”
She nodded as she tried to stop tears from rolling down her cheeks.
*******
Mr. Chandler came home to a confused Mrs. Chandler. Rosie almost stopped breathing when she saw her husband, Richard.
Mr. Chandler tried to explain what had happened to her, but she was anxious and tired. She had not slept a wink; she was so worried about her husband. He spent the night by her side, trying to keep her calm as she slept. Thoughts of Arnold’s murder ran through his mind, as he lay awake, trying to figure out why such a good guy would be murdered in such a way. They had become acquainted with Arnold when he first moved into the neighborhood. He was younger then, and lived a quiet life compared to other folks his age. Arnold was an engineer who worked with one of the leading construction companies. Who would want to kill such a good man?
Rosie was very happy to see Richard back home. The entire neighborhood would be happy to see him tomorrow; they were praying for him. Some had even lied that they were with him the day that Tommy was killed. He was happy to be back home to take care of his wife Rosie. Memories of how they met flooded through his mind.
Promised Box Set Page 96
