Hunter's Way

by Gerri Hill

  “Thanks, Paul.”

  Tori watched the exchange silently, noting the friendly smile Samantha gave Stanton. Well, they definitely had different methods. She nodded as Sam headed off. She went in the opposite direction, to the Dumpster.

  “What do we have?” she asked as she peered inside.

  “What you see is what you get, Hunter.”

  Tori glanced up quickly, then took a step forward. “I see what I see. I asked what you had?” she said quietly, her piercing stare pinning him in place.

  “Working girl, most likely. Teenager. Dumped last night, probably. The guy in the bookstore found her when he was taking out trash.”

  “Why do you think she was dumped last night?”

  He shrugged.

  “Who’s here from the Medical Examiner?”

  “Spencer.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Back in the van,” he said.

  Tori walked over to the van and knocked once on the outside panel. The back door swung open and Rita Spencer stepped out. Their eyes met and there was an uncomfortable silence. There was always an uncomfortable silence, ever since the one night they’d spent together nearly a year ago. Tori shoved her hands in her pockets and waited for Rita to speak.

  “Figured this was your case, Hunter. Sara said you’d been raising hell at the lab yesterday over the other one.”

  Tori nodded. “How are you?”

  “Great. You?”

  “Wonderful,” Tori said dryly. “What you got?”

  “Appears to be the same MO. The only bruising I can see is around the neck. We’ll have to wait until we open her up, of course. But I’d say you’ve got a serial.”

  “Yeah. Wonderful.”

  Rita motioned with her head to Samantha as she walked toward them. “Who’s your partner?”

  Tori waited just a second until Samantha joined them. “Sam Kennedy. Rita Spencer,” she said.

  “It’s Samantha,” she said, shaking hands with the other woman. “Same as before?”

  “Most likely.”

  Samantha nodded, then looked at Tori. “Mrs. Perez says her name is Crystal. Says she comes into the bakery every morning when they open. Seven,” she said in response to Tori’s raised eyebrows. “She doesn’t know where she lives. She walks north when she leaves.”

  Tori nodded. They had nothing. Well, except the fact that the girl wasn’t dumped last night. Tori had seen her at one. She turned without a word and walked away.

  Chapter Five

  Tori drove through the city, all four windows of her Explorer down. The air was cool. Once the sun had set, the springlike temperatures had disappeared. She didn’t care. She was too damn tired. She bypassed her small apartment in South Dallas and headed to Fort Worth. She needed to rest. She’d had only a few hours’ sleep each night for the past week. Taking the Loop, she headed west, out of town, toward Eagle Mountain Lake. She hadn’t been to her boat in three weeks, since the first murder. But tonight, she needed the peace and quiet that the lake offered.

  The marina was deserted by the time she got there. She punched in her code and walked through the gate, her footsteps quiet as the water rippled silently around the piers. She walked to the end, where her boat was docked, pausing to stare up at the twinkling stars before boarding. Flipping on the pier light, she slid open the glass door, leaving it cracked to let in fresh air. She grabbed a beer, drinking nearly half before heading to the tiny shower. She stood under the slow stream of hot water and closing her eyes, she tried to relax.

  Later, she pulled a lawn chair out on the deck and sat, watching the stars overhead and listening as the water splashed gently against her boat. She reached for the bottle of wine that sat next to her chair and she refilled her glass, setting it back down without looking.

  Two dead girls. No clues. She tipped her head back. Probably going to be more dead girls. Hell of a way for her new partner to get her feet wet.

  She lifted one corner of her mouth in a smile. Samantha Kennedy. Well, she was definitely the prettiest partner she’d ever had. And after two days, Tori knew she wasn’t going to run her off. Probably just as well. She’d had a lot worse. At least the woman was willing to follow her lead and not buck her at every turn. Again she grinned. Well, it wasn’t like she’d given her a choice. She did, however, suspect that Samantha Kennedy had a temper. That could be fun.

  “I’m just tired, Robert. I’m sorry,” Samantha murmured as she rolled onto her side. She just didn’t have the energy to make love. She’d barely made it through dinner.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s just that we haven’t seen much of each other this week. I miss you.”

  “Me, too. We’ll have the weekend, Robert.”

  She felt him nod, and she closed her eyes. Sleep claimed her immediately.

  Chapter Six

  Tori sipped her coffee and watched as Sam made her way through the squad room. Pressed navy pants today, she noted. Matching blazer. It made her green eyes look blue.

  “Exactly what time do you get to work?” Samantha asked. She tossed her purse on her desk and grabbed her coffee cup.

  “Early.”

  “It’s seven-thirty,” she said as she walked away.

  “Earlier than that,” Tori murmured.

  Samantha came back and pulled out her chair, grimacing at the taste of the coffee. She should have stopped on the way.

  “Please tell me you didn’t drive around the streets again last night,” Samantha said.

  “No. I was tired,” Tori said. She snatched up the phone. “It’s Hunter. Jackson in yet?” She stared at Sam, then nodded. “We’ll be over at nine.”

  “They already have lab results?”

  “They will.”

  “Are you thinking serial?”

  “Yes. This girl, Crystal, I spoke with her the night she died,” Tori said quietly.

  “You what?”

  “I saw her on the street. It was nearly two. I showed her our Jane Doe. She knew her as Lorraine.”

  “Why are you just now sharing this?” Samantha demanded.

  “What difference does it make?”

  Samantha slammed her fist on her desk, causing the papers to fly around her. “We’re partners,” she said slowly. “I know you don’t know the definition of that word, Hunter. You can’t just drop information like that in casual conversation. They think she was dumped during the night. You knew all along that wasn’t true,” she accused. “I spent half the day trying to find out who she was with before midnight!”

  “I’m sure the ME will give a time of death. And it’ll be after two.”

  Samantha stared at Tori with flashing green eyes.

  “Morning, ladies.”

  Tori turned to Malone, away from the angry green eyes of her partner.

  “Morning, Lieutenant.”

  Samantha shoved her chair away, walking purposefully behind Lieutenant Malone, following him into his office.

  “Kennedy? What’s up?” he asked as he hung his jacket on the coat rack.

  “She’s impossible,” Samantha said, slamming the door behind her. “Impossible!”

  “Ah. Third day. You’ve done good. I expected you in here yesterday,” he said. “Sit. What’s the problem?”

  “What’s the problem? She’s insane,” she said. “Psychotic.”

  He nodded.

  “She keeps things from me, she goes out at all hours of the night, she barely speaks to me.”

  He nodded again.

  “She’s impossible to work with. No wonder Kaplan jumped. I’d have jumped, too.”

  Malone laughed, then stifled it as angry green eyes shot his way.

  “Please tell me it’ll get better,” Samantha said quietly. “It’s almost as if she doesn’t want anyone to like her, Lieutenant. She goes out of her way to antagonize people. And one minute she’s nice, the next a total bitch. It’s like we almost connect, then she goes off and does something to intentionally piss me off!”

 
“Calm down, Kennedy.”

  “I am calm!”

  “Look, I told you she was… difficult. She has her own rules. But they are effective. Would I like six detectives like her? No, of course not. And if not for departmental rules, I’d let her work alone. She can handle herself out there. She knows the streets. I don’t envy you, Detective. But like it or not, she’s your partner.”

  “Why doesn’t she want anyone to like her?” Samantha asked quietly.

  Malone stared at her. Samantha Kennedy had been with Hunter two days and had already figured out what the others hadn’t in years. Tori Hunter was abrasive. Not by nature, he knew. But by design. It had taken him four years to figure that out. And one night in a quiet downtown bar, Tori Hunter had bared her soul to him. He hadn’t been able to look at her the same since.

  Malone glanced out his windows, finding Tori’s chair empty. It really wasn’t his place to tell Samantha Kennedy about Tori’s past, but he thought this time, maybe he’d found someone who could stick by Tori. Samantha Kennedy wasn’t in competition with Tori, unlike other partners.

  “What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room, Detective,” he said.

  Samantha nodded.

  “Tori’s father was on the force. A detective, too. When she was twelve, one night at dinnertime, a man broke in. He tied them all to chairs in their dining room. Mother, father, two brothers and a sister. And her. One by one, he killed them. Tori was the last alive. He held the gun to her head but didn’t shoot. He never spoke a word. He just left. Left her tied to her chair with her dead family all around her. The case was never solved.”

  “Oh my God,” Samantha whispered.

  “She has all the files, all the old data. She still works the case, I’m sure, although she won’t admit to it. It eats at her. She doesn’t have anyone in her life, Kennedy. No family, no friends that I know of. Just this job and old memories. And she’s reckless beyond words because deep down, she doesn’t care if she lives or dies. So she makes her own rules and lives by them.”

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

  “She’s angry, Samantha. Angry at life. So if she takes it out on you, it’s not personal.”

  Samantha nodded. Jesus, now what? How could she possibly be annoyed at the woman?

  “If she ever finds out I told you that, it’ll be hell to pay. No one knows. That was twenty-five years ago.”

  “How did she survive? I mean, mentally?”

  Malone smiled. “Some would say she didn’t. She’s a very strong woman. Apparently, she was a very strong girl. She lived with her aunt down in Houston after that. Came back up here after college. She’s managed. She’s a good cop. I think that’s why she won’t let a case rest until it’s solved. I’ve seen her work twenty-four hours straight on numerous occasions. But then, I don’t think she sleeps much, anyway. She said she still has nightmares.”

  “I can’t believe she opened up that much to you. She barely speaks to me and then, only when I ask questions.”

  He nodded. “I got her drunk one night in a downtown dive. I think she was embarrassed by it. She wouldn’t speak to me for a week afterward.”

  “I won’t ever bring it up, Lieutenant. But thank you for telling me. Her… attitude at least makes more sense now.”

  Samantha was still visibly shaken as she walked back to her desk. She couldn’t even begin to comprehend the pain a twelveyear-old girl felt after seeing her family murdered. After nearly being a victim herself, only to be left behind, alone.

  Tori Hunter’s chair was empty and Samantha noticed the scribbled note on her own desk.

  “Gone to lab.”

  “Great,” she murmured.

  “Good morning, Detective Kennedy.”

  Samantha turned as John Sikes made his way over to her. His light blue shirt accented his eyes and he flashed her a charming smile. For some reason, it did nothing for her.

  “Morning, Sikes.”

  “Where’s your partner?”

  “She went to the lab.”

  “Taking off without you already? Get used to it.” He again sat on the corner of her desk and sipped from his coffee. “So, has she hit on you yet?” he asked casually.

  “Excuse me?”

  “As pretty as you are, I figured she’d try the first day. Donaldson said she’d wait a week, at least.”

  “What are you talking about, Sikes?”

  “Come on. She’s a lesbo. A dyke.” He bent closer to her. “I told her you were way out of her league, though. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Samantha leaned back, away from him. She didn’t know what to say. Actually, the thought that Tori might be a lesbian had not even crossed her mind. She’d been too busy being angry with her to be curious about her personal life. But then, so much more made sense now. The guys didn’t just hate her because she was a woman. It was because she was a gay woman. An attractive gay woman who wouldn’t give them the time of day.

  “Sikes, why do I get the feeling that you’re the one hitting on me? I mean, I thought you were the one who was gay,” she said with a smile.

  He jumped off the desk, nearly spilling his coffee.

  “What the hell? I’m not a goddamn fag! Where’d you get that?”

  She smiled at him. “There’s nothing wrong with it if you are,” she said.

  “Well, I’m not!”

  She shrugged. “It’s just the way you dress, you know. So neat. Everything matching perfectly.”

  His retort died as Malone stuck his head out of his office.

  “Sikes, Ramirez, got a domestic over near Fair Park. Murder-suicide. A detective from Family Violence is already on the scene.”

  “Yes, sir. Right on it,” Ramirez said. “Come on, Sikes.”

  John looked back at Samantha. “We’ll finish this later.”

  “Sure.”

  Samantha was left alone in the squad room with Donaldson and Adams. Neither of them looked her way. She noticed that theirs were the only two desks that didn’t butt up against each other. Instead, they sat at an angle. Most likely, so they wouldn’t have to stare at each other all day. She shook her head. Talk about a dysfunctional squad, this was it. She found it amazing they were as successful as they were. She had never heard rumors that there were problems in Homicide. In fact, she’d heard nothing but praise for the division and Lieutenant Malone. Of course, they probably kept everything in-house. Once they left the building, everyone put on happy faces and worked as a team. And wasn’t that how it was with Hunter? Both days, out in public, she’d treated her as her partner. Well, sort of. At least she hadn’t totally ignored her.

  It was only a short time later that Hunter walked in, strode past their desks without speaking and went for coffee. Samantha sighed. She got up and followed Tori.

  “Want some?”

  “No thanks. Did you find out anything?”

  “Got a semen match. Of course, little good it does us. We already figured it was the same perp.”

  “So, we need to find out who Crystal worked for,” Samantha said.

  “She worked for Ramon Blackmon. I’ll go out tonight and see if I can find some of his girls. See if I can find him,” she said.

  “We’ll go out,” Samantha corrected.

  Tori stared at her and shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She moved to walk away, but Samantha grabbed her arm.

  “Can we talk?”

  “Sure.”

  “In private?”

  Tori looked around, then motioned toward the ladies’ room. Samantha followed.

  “What’s up?” Tori asked when the door had shut.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what? That I was going to the lab? You were in with the Lieutenant. I figured you were requesting a new partner, anyway.”

  “No. Why didn’t you tell me that you’re gay,” she said.

  Tori smiled. “Why would I tell you? I don’t recall you telling me you were straight,” she said. “Besides, are you blind
?” she asked, pointing to herself.

  “It just never occurred to me. I wouldn’t want to just assume… because you look…”

  “What? Butch?”

  “I wasn’t going to say that,” Samantha murmured. She looked at Tori, really looked at her for the first time. She was attractive, in an androgynous sort of way. Her dark hair was short, neat. High cheekbones, smooth tan skin, full lips, long eyelashes that framed dark, intense eyes. Eyelashes that most women would envy. No, she would never use butch to describe this woman. But she was powerful. Tall, fit. No wonder the guys felt threatened by her.

  “Look, you’re not a homophobe, are you? I’ve already worked with my quota,” Tori said.

  “I just think you could have told me so I didn’t have to hear it from Sikes.”

  “It’s not really your business, is it? I don’t bring my personal life into the squad room. I would hope you’d do the same and not subject me to stories about you and your boyfriend.”

  “Don’t you think we could work together better as partners if we shared a little about our lives and attempted to be friends?” Samantha asked, ignoring her comment.

  “I’m not your friend. And you’re not mine. We work together. After that, you go home to your boyfriend and you have another life. It’s separate from this.”

  “Who do you go home to?” Samantha asked quietly.

  “I don’t go home.”

  They stared facing each other, dark eyes locked on green.

  “Why is it so hard for you to talk to me? Why won’t you even attempt to have a friendly relationship with me?”

  “You ever think that maybe I don’t like you? Maybe I don’t want to have a friendly relationship with you. We work together. That’s it. And when you go home at night, you’ll be glad to be rid of me.”

  Tori turned and walked away, leaving a seething Samantha Kennedy staring after her.

  “Yeah. I’m glad to be rid of you, all right,” she said loudly as the door closed. “Bitch,” she murmured through clenched teeth.

  She looked at herself in the floor-length mirror, then raised her leg, executing the best sidekick she’d ever done.