by Rita Karnopp
“I didn’t share shit with my ex-wife.”
“It’s impossible that Megan Reynolds used her imagination and just happened to have described three murder scenes damn nearly to perfection. Nobody here is stupid.”
“Facts don’t lie and you should know that better than anyone.” Fortune’s stare encompassed them both.
Cooper clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his temper in-check.
“Not all of us believe you would be foolish enough to have shared confidential case files with your wife … ex-wife.” Bicsak pulled his fingers through his silver hair and walked across the room. “And although taking case files home is frowned on by many agencies, it’s not uncommon. Your captain here has confirmed you did this regularly.”
“Keep in mind, your success rate hasn’t escaped us, Reynolds. You and Arnott are one of this precinct’s best teams. We get it, and hope for your sake we can clear this up without any embarrassment to the department. You’re too good a cop to lose.” Fortune jotted a comment in her notebook.
Cooper nearly laughed at the switching back-and-forth comments of the IA team. Who did they really think they were fooling? “Thank you,” Cooper forced down the need to be sarcastic. “I realize this investigation involves me, but I don’t understand why you called Josh in here.”
“He’s your partner,” Fortune leaned forward. “Partners rarely hold any kind of information from each other.”
“Meaning?” Cooper asked.
“Meaning, if you’re found guilty, maybe Arnott is guilty, too.”
“Just one damn minute here. I resent the assumption Cooper is guilty before you even start the investigation. It’s bullshit. And, I’ll be damned if I’ll sit back here and listen while you two yahoos turn those accusations at me. You IA bast—“
“Josh, let them investigate. I’m telling you right now, it’s going to be a relief when you prove that bitch is a snake in the grass. Investigate – the media will eat it up and her ratings or whatever the hell you call them will drop like the stock market.”
“You have an ax to grind with your ex-wife, Reynolds?”
“Hell, what man doesn’t have an ax to grind with an ex-wife?” It seemed even the IA team laughed at his comment. Cooper released a deep breath and shook his head. “She’s a piece of work, but you’ll find that out for yourself. I don’t know where she got her information. You can be sure of one thing, not once did I discuss or allow her to view, read, or look-over any of my case files.”
“We’ll see about that,” Fortune snapped her notebook shut and zipped it closed.
“Until you have proof, you can stay out of our way,” Josh headed for the door. “Coming, Reynolds?”
“We’d like to be put on the LeAnn Haffer investigation team,” Cooper said, looking over at Captain Gulchinski. “We were lead on the original case and know more about it than anyone. Clarence Stevenson is familiar with us and he may have some insight.”
“You don’t have to sell me, boys. You both were requested for the team and I’ve already assigned you.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Bicsak pulled on his overcoat. “Conflict of interest and all that.”
“Art, I’ll run my department and you run yours.” Gulchinski rose with impending authority. “Reynolds and Arnott are on this investigation until you can prove why they shouldn’t be. Do I make myself clear?”
Cooper didn’t miss the underlying dislike between the men. They no doubt had a history. “Thanks, Captain.” He glanced at Dallas Fortune and found her smile unsettling. “Don’t take too long in proving my innocence.” Cooper reached the door, then turned back and added, “Just so you can say I warned you … Megan Reynolds has claws … very sharp claws.”
CHAPTER THREE
Megan dialed Cooper’s number for the umpteenth time. It rang … and rang … before turning over to the answering machine. She jammed a long, acrylic nail into the END button … again.
She scrolled through her contacts and pressed the number. Drumming her fingertips on the backside of the phone, her patience edged anger.
“Great Falls Police Department, is this an emergency?”
“Um, I want to talk to Detective Cooper Reynolds.”
“One moment while I transfer you.”
Megan waited, unsure what she’d say to him. No doubt he hated her more than ever. She hadn’t faced him since her book came out. Her book! A twinge of uneasiness washed over her. She shook it off. She owed him nothing. He’d asked for the divorce, not her. She was willing to give their marriage another try. So … she had an affair. Big deal. It meant nothing and she told him it was over before he found out. Of course that wasn’t exactly the truth. She swallowed.
“Officer Oats, may I help you?”
“I … need to speak with Officer Reynolds.”
“He’s tied up right now. Wait, it looks like he’s out of his meeting. Who is calling?”
“His ex-wife,” she answered, without thinking.
“Hey Reynolds, your ex is on the phone … line one.”
“Tell her not to call me here.”
Megan heard his comment and drew in a long, annoyed breath. “Tell him it’s urgent.”
“She says it’s urgent.”
“Urgent my ass,” he shouted, reaching for the nearest phone. “What do you want?”
“You don’t have to sound so angry.” She struggled to sound soft and sweet.
“If it’s not about Tina or Tucker, I don’t give a shit.”
“Coop, we need to talk. I know you’re angry with me, but we have to put our differences aside, at least until this murder thing passes.”
“Murder thing passes! Shit, Megan, you can’t be serious. It’s not possible to put our differences aside. I don’t give a fuck how much deep water you’re in. Fact is, LeAnn Haffer was hideously murdered, and it’s your fault.”
“Don’t you dare blame me for that, Cooper Reynolds. I can’t take it.” She dragged out a pitiful sob, then added, “I never meant for this to happen….” She paused to include a few sniffles, “I … can’t we meet for dinner and talk? I know you’re angry with—“
“Angry? Shit, Megan, I’m beyond angry. There’s a fine line between love and hate … and woman, if it wasn’t a crime, I’d kill you myself.”
“I don’t blame you, Coop. I truly don’t. But, you must understand that I did it for the twins.”
“What? Did you say you did it for the twins? You stole everything I shared with you about writing a book, and you wrote it from under me. You claimed the story idea and now you’re eating up the limelight and the money. Tell me exactly how I’m supposed to believe you did this for the twins? I’m just dying to hear this one!”
Megan took a deep breath, her mind reeling ahead, struggling to think of a way to convince Cooper to meet with her. “Coop, I needed to find a way to support them. To give them the kind of life they deserve. I didn’t think writing this book would be so awful. I mean, you have hundreds of cases you can draw on for your books. I just used three of them.”
“Just used three? And where the hell did you get the information for those three, Megan? Who is your source because both you and I know it’s not me. Don’t begin to tell me—“
“Let’s not argue on the phone, Coop. Let’s meet and talk.”
“Talk about what, Megan? I have nothing to say to you.”
“But … but, I … what will you say on Kari Winslow’s talk show tomorrow?
“What the shit are you talking about?”
“You know. Don’t try and deny it. You can’t because Kari announced you are her guest tomorrow. I know because I was there on the show, so don’t lie to me. I just want to know what you’re going to say. I mean … what … well, I … don’t ruin this for me, Coop. I’ve worked too hard to get here and—“
“You’re quite the number, aren’t you? I owe you no explanations. It seems you have good reasons to worry what I might have to say about your book. I’d be worried
if I were you, too.”
A dial tone was all that remained of their conversation. She stared at the phone, uneasiness filled her. What would Coop say? Maybe she should stop by his apartment and talk to him face-to-face. Could she convince him to keep quiet?
* * *
For the first time during the conversation, Cooper looked up. The entire department was staring back at him. “Ex-wives are a pain in the ass.” Several laughed and even more clapped their hands. They had no idea how much their support meant to him. This could have happened to any one of them. They all understood how hard this job was on a relationship and especially on a marriage.
“Josh, you know anything about my being a guest on the Kari Winslow show?”
“Hey, I heard that,” Oats interrupted. “My wife gave me a call about an hour ago and said Kari announced you were her guest tomorrow. I nearly shit my pants. You have a stack of messages on your desk, and I noticed most of them are from Kari Winslow. Are you going to do it?”
“Megan called all worried about what I was going to say. That was the first I heard of it.”
“I can just imagine what IA would have to say about you appearing on national TV.” Josh sat at his desk and propped his feet up.
“What right do they have in telling me I can’t?”
“I’d do it just to crank their tractor.” Oats headed for the coffee pot.
“I don’t know if it’s such a good idea,” Josh picked up Cooper’s stack of messages. “It could backfire. That Winslow broad is a tricky lady. She could get you admitting you’d walked on the moon without your realizing it.”
“I can handle myself. I’ve had plenty of practice dealing with a manipulative woman. Maybe I ought to give Miss Winslow a call back after all. This could prove to be interesting.” He snatched the messages out of Josh’s hand and headed for a phone.
CHAPTER FOUR
Cooper led the way up the walk; as usual his partner followed close behind. He nodded to the policeman holding up the crime scene tape and quickly ducked under and clear. “How’s the mood of the crowd, Dennis?”
“Stunned and quiet. I’ve been studying them, like you asked. I’ll have pictures and my comments on your desk before I head home.”
“Thanks, knew I could count on you. Been having strange vibes from Candy, she okay?” He moved slowly toward the back of the house, flashing a light around the perimeter, looking for any sign of forced entry.
“I hate it when you two do this shit. Twins are strange, man. She’s fine, been having false contractions and said she’s been worrying about you, that’s all.”
“Tell her not to worry. It’ll all work out in time. I’ll stop over when I can.”
“Make it soon or she’ll drive me nuts until you do.”
He nodded and motioned for Josh to follow. Cooper slowly moved up the cement steps, inched open the screen door and stepped inside. “You get a feeling we’ve done this once before?”
“Shit, I was thinking the same thing.” He added in a whisper, “This is giving me the willies.”
“Know what you mean. I’ll wager a month’s pay that’s a heart boiling and entrails frying.”
“Christ! I can’t believe it.” Josh turned away from the cooking human remains.
Cooper retrieved rubber gloves from his pocket and snapped them into place. “Take notes, Josh, we’re doing this one by the book. Slow and easy with no mistakes. I want everything photographed and videotaped. Get a sketch artist in here.”
Josh glanced at the white-faced officer standing near the back door. “Better get Sparks and Weaver to case the neighborhood. Have them concentrate on racial, ethnic, and social data.” He paused, then shook his head. “Now, what the hell you waiting for?”
“Good, they were in charge of that on the previous case, we’ll have them do a comparison.” Cooper stepped over a large pool of blood, then moved toward the living room. He dreaded what he knew he’d find.
“Christ, it’s just like before.” Josh stood unmoving in the middle of the room.
Cooper studied the body of a young woman hanging from the rafters of the open beam ceiling. As in the first case, the killer had shoved the back of her neck through the hook of a butcher’s gambrel. Her legs were fastened open. She’d been slit from neck to pelvic, dressed out like a deer carcass.
Cooper swallowed hard, his mouth went dry. “Have them check if the wounds are post-mortem. Sixteen I’ll bet.” His thoughts drifted to Megan’s book … she’d described it exactly like this. Had she given this killer a blueprint for murder, or had she awakened the real killer? “Well, LeAnn Haffer, what can you tell us?”
Cooper turned to observe the rest of the room. As expected, drawn in blood, an arrow pointed down the hallway. “Well, Josh, looks like you lead the way.”
“Not this time. I still have nightmares about that night. Shit, I’m ready to piss my pants right now. This is damn spooky. It’s time to call in Bicsak and Fortune to back up everything we see and find. I don’t want to give IA one damn excuse to come down on us.”
“I know what you mean. But, we have to follow this through. We asked to be on this team and we’re going to get to the bottom of this case. Now I want you to follow that arrow like last time. Observe everything and write it all down. We’re going to do some comparisons, and damn it, Josh, there is no way a killer could duplicate the entire scene unless he committed both crimes.” Cooper snapped his glove and motioned toward the hall. Crime scenes like this one were never easy, but to have to go through then twice was mind-fucking.
“When you’re right, you’re right. Let’s get it over with.”
Cooper nodded, then followed Josh down the hall. The second blood arrow pointed to the bathroom. Cooper placed his palm on Josh’s shoulder. He came to an abrupt stop.
“What?”
“Do you remember a second arrow before?”
“Can’t say I do.”
“Me either. Be careful, it could be booby trapped.” Cooper pulled his Beretta from the holster under his arm and step-by-step followed Josh into the small room.
“Just like before. God damn.”
Cooper leaned over the bathtub and took a mental note of the victim’s organs. “He gutted and rinsed her body right here. Have them take pictures from all angles. It seems I remember each organ was placed in a specific place. I don’t recall that being mentioned in Megan’s book.”
“Shit, you sure? I don’t remember that. You have it in your notes, Coop?”
“I don’t have my notes. They’ve conveniently disappeared.”
“Damn, you never told me that. Is that where Megan got her information from?”
“I’ve suspected she might have taken the notebook or at least read it and taken her own notes. But there were a few things I jotted down in my notes that she never mentioned. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced she never saw my notebook. She must have gotten her information from someone else. I find her informant and I’m cleared.”
“I get your point. Let’s hurry up and get out of here, it’s giving me the creeps.”
Cooper couldn’t help noticing his partner seemed uncharacteristically shaken by this repeat crime scene. Maybe it brought back too many memories of him sliding on the floor and falling into the tub with Lisa Helm’s organs. “Listen, I’ll finish up in here. Go ahead and check out the bedroom.”
“You got it.”
After Josh’s quick retreat, Cooper stood still and observed everything around him. The sink was covered in blood. The toilet cover was once again propped up. Dropping the lid, Cooper was surprised to find a full hand print in blood. He’d forgotten all about that. Was the handprint in the pictures from the first case? He didn’t remember seeing it. They would have run prints, it might not have been in the database or there might not have been a match … but they would have run prints. Again, he just couldn’t remember the results. Did they ever follow-up on it? There was no doubt he had jotted the bloody print down in his notes. Yet, th
is was another important piece of evidence Megan hadn’t put in her book.
Using his pen, Cooper lifted the lid back into its original position. Glancing down, a pair of eyeballs floated in the blue water. “So, you’re watching our asses, are you?” Cooper hated this psychopathic shit. He’d always had a knack for understanding or at least guessing the bizarre meanings.
“Find anything?” Josh asked from the doorway.
“Same shit, different case. Anything in the bedroom?”
“Clean as a whistle. But, I’ll bet if we check the sheets of the immaculately made bed we’ll find he had sex with her before and after he killed her.”
“We’ll have it checked out. I hate to bring it up, Josh, but when you slipped in here last time, didn’t you step on an eyeball?”
“Don’t remind me. Worst experience of my life. Got plenty of attention, but not the kind I wanted. This case was the beginning of our climb to the big cases. You think that has anything to do what’s going on?”
Cooper followed Josh down the hallway, back toward the living room. “Guess you could say this was the beginning of our climb. But we earned our promotions.”
“All I’m saying is this was our first big case. I knew I’d make a great investigator. I took a lot of shit from the guys at school. Then we solved this case … my first big case … it showed them what I’m made of. I’m sure they were piss green with envy.”
“No doubt you’re right. I just wish we could have proved ourselves on a less tragic case. And I’m not completely convinced we locked up the right guy.”
“Stop talking that shit again. We wouldn’t be where we are right now if it hadn’t been for this case and I’m convinced Clarence Stevenson is the right guy. We solve this case a second time and we’ll both probably make captain.”
“Don’t be so sure. I’m afraid this entire fiasco is going to prove we were wrong the first time.”
