by Kay Bigelow
Focusing on the case was clearly not working. Being both stubborn and determined, she forced her mind back to the murder of Sarah. The bottom line is that it had to be someone Sarah knew and/or someone who had a key to her apartment. Who had keys to her apartment? Her parents? Possibly. ShaTin? Possibly. The problem with those three is that they all have alibis. Who else had a key? Another, as yet unknown, boyfriend? Possibly, but unlikely. One of her girlfriends would have known. She might have given a key to a girlfriend. Possibly. Come on, Leah. Think outside the box. Think like Peony. There has to be a master key. Is there more than one master? Who would kill Sarah if she let him into her home? An unwanted suitor? Possibly. Was there an unwanted suitor? Possibly.
She mentally slapped her hand to her forehead and said, “Drude! Of course! There might be someone who wanted her, but she was way out of his league.”
She got out of her chair and walked down the hallway to Peony’s office. She stood watching Peony for a second. The kid was bobbing her head in rhythm with whatever tune was coming through her over-sized headphones. Leah could hear the noise from across the room. How could Peony think with that cacophony bouncing around in her head? Peony must have sensed someone watching because she looked up from what she was doing and grinned at Leah.
As she removed her headphones, she said over the noise, “Sorry, Boss, I didn’t see you there.”
The music continued to shriek through the headset. I must be getting old. That doesn’t even sound like music. After Peony turned off the music, Leah asked, “Do you have a minute?”
“For you, Boss, I have nothing but time.”
Leah laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Listen, I’ve got an idea I want to run by you about Sarah. I’ve been thinking about people with the means to kill Sarah. What if Sarah had an unwanted suitor? Some guy she may have mentioned to her friends once, maybe twice, and then not again? Do you remember if any of her friends mentioned such a guy?”
Peony sat, thinking. She reached across her desk for a book she carried with her all the time. Leah had seen her writing notes in it on several occasions.
“Yes, here it is,” Peony said.
“What?”
“Both Sioux and Lotus mentioned that Sarah had said something about her father’s boyfriend being a real phuc head. Neither knew his name and Sarah only mentioned him once.”
“Meet me in my office in five,” Leah said. “And bring Cots.”
Five minutes later, both her partners walked into her office.
“What’s up?” Cots asked.
“I think I’ve got something. We’ve been looking for someone Sarah knew because the police said there was no break-in. So someone either had a key or it was someone she knew. We immediately dove into her family and friends. But what if it wasn’t someone she knew well? What if it was someone she’d met a couple of times when that someone was in the company of a person she trusted?”
“That makes sense. Do you suspect someone who meets those criteria?”
“What do we know about Lionel’s boyfriend?”
Cots and Peony looked at each other.
“How did you get to him?” Cots asked.
“I didn’t. Peony did. She made a note about Sarah telling two of her friends about the boyfriend being a real ‘phuc head.’ It might mean just that the boyfriend is a real shit who thinks more highly of himself than being Lionel’s boy toy warrants. Or, it could mean he tried to push Sarah around. We don’t know yet. Let’s check out that kid you found a few days ago, Cots. What was his name? Longsmith? No. Long-something? Have you had time to run him?”
“No, I haven’t. And his name is Rodrigo Longhouse. Can’t you call Lionel and ask him?” Cots asked.
“No. I don’t want Lionel to know yet. I don’t want him going all vigilante on us and killing someone whose only crime is that he’s a phuc head.”
“I’ve got searches running as we speak, but I don’t think I included phuc head. I doubt there’s anyone whose mother named her son phuc head,” Peony said.
Her colleagues laughed and agreed with her.
“I’ll see if I can get a name for you without alerting either Lionel or phuc head,” Cots told Peony.
After Cots left Leah’s office, Peony hung back.
“I really screwed up, didn’t I, Boss?”
“No, you didn’t. I’m not sure I would have put him on the list of suspects based on one mention of him by friends of Sarah’s. There’s no way we could have put a no-name on the list of suspects. We didn’t even know the name of Bensington’s boyfriend at the time you got that tidbit of information.”
“I should have at least mentioned him earlier, though.”
“Listen, kid, neither Cots nor I would have mentioned him either, so stop beating yourself up and go find us some info to either pursue him or dismiss him.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“And stop calling me ‘Boss.’”
Leah checked the time. It was nowhere near time to leave for the SpacePort. She sat at her desk and again turned to watch the swans on the lake. What should I do when I see her? Hug her? Shake her hand? No, definitely not a handshake, but a hug may be too much. What do I wear? Should I run home and change into something casual or stay suited up? Maybe I’ll stay in my suit, but unbutton a couple of buttons on my blouse. Oh, for God’s sake, Leah, you’re just going to meet her shuttle. Yes, but…
Chapter Twenty-three
“Leah, it’s time we head out,” Cots said as he walked into Leah’s office.
“Okay. Give me a few minutes.”
“Do you want me to follow you so I can rescue your sorry asses again?” Peony asked as she joined them.
“No, that’s okay. We’re not walking into the lion’s den this time,” Leah told her with a smile.
“Just the lionesses’ den,” Cots murmured.
Leah glared at him, but then wondered if that wasn’t exactly what she was about to do.
Cots had them at the SpacePort in record time partly due to a paucity of traffic on this Sunday evening and partly because he drove, as usual, like a mad man.
“How do you want to play this?” he asked as he parked the car.
“It depends. If she’s alone, you can leave. If she’s not, I’ll let you know.”
“Understood.”
Cots got them to Jardain’s gate just as the passengers came through the airlocks of the ship. Jardain came out of the chute first, followed closely by Juaarez. After clearing the gate, they hugged and Juaarez hurried away.
“I don’t think lovers would hug and go their separate ways,” Cots said.
“See you tomorrow morning at the office,” Leah told him.
“I’ll make sure you have a ride home.”
“Thanks.”
Leah hurried to catch up with Jardain. She fell into step with her. It took Jardain a few moments to figure out someone was keeping pace with her. She stopped and turned to confront the person.
“Hi,” Leah said. “Good trip?”
“My God, you are a sight for sore eyes. What are you doing here? How long have you been here?” Jardain said and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
Leah guessed Jardain wanted to see if Leah had seen her with Juaarez.
“I came to meet your shuttle, but I arrived later than I expected.”
“I’m really pleased to see you. I kept having the feeling you were pulling away from me and were going to use this trip to make a break,” Jardain said.
“And yet, here I am.”
“Please tell me you’re not going to break up with me here in the SpacePort. I’d hate to have all these people watch me lying on the floor weeping in desolation.”
“You do have a flair for the dramatic,” Leah said, smiling.
“True. Please tell me you’ve got transportation.”
“I don’t. I had Cots drop me off on his way home.”
“The SpacePort isn’t on the way to anywhere but off-world.”
“Didn’t you drive here?�
� Leah asked.
“I had a friend bring me.”
“I hope you don’t have a lot of luggage because it’s going to be a long walk home.”
“Yeah. I figure we should be there around midnight,” Jardain said, pulling her phone from her pocket. Three minutes later, she had a car and driver on their way to take them wherever they wanted to go.
As they neared the carousel assigned to her flight, a man stepped toward them. Leah was ready to take the man down, but before she could do harm, he said, “Dr. Bensington? Good evening, I’ll be your driver this evening.”
“Thank you, Luke,” Jardain said.
The luggage from the flight was already making its way down the chute. Leah saw Juaarez across the carousel from Jardain. She watched the smile spread across Juaarez’s face and the slight shake of Jardain’s head as she warned the other woman off. Behind Juaarez, Leah saw Cots at the next carousel, looking as if he was waiting for his luggage to appear.
When Jardain’s luggage rolled by, she grabbed the hover bag from the moving conveyor belt. Luke took it from her, and led the way out the doors to the waiting car. Cots trailed behind them a couple of steps, not wanting Juaarez to realize he was with them.
After they were settled in the car and moving away from the curb, Jardain leaned over and kissed Leah hard.
“I am so turned on right now. I would be willing to take you right here, right now.”
“But?” Leah asked.
“But I’m starving.”
“Let’s go to Wildwood, then,” Leah said, naming the restaurant where they’d had their first real date.
“Thank the Spirit you’re willing to do that for me. I haven’t eaten since six o’clock this morning.”
“Didn’t they feed you on your flight?”
“I slept most of the flight.”
Jardain’s phone buzzed softly. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out, glanced at it and put it back.
Almost immediately, Leah’s phone vibrated. She pulled it from her pocket.
“Jardain got a text saying ‘Guess plans changed. Call when you can. See you.’ From Juaarez.”
“Trouble?” Jardain asked.
“No. It’s Cots giving me an update.”
Jardain didn’t ask about an update on who or what. Perhaps she already knew.
Leah didn’t know what to think about Juaarez. Is it possible they’re still a couple? Or maybe they’re exes with privileges? God, I hope not.
Chapter Twenty-four
On their way to the restaurant, Jardain called to see if they would be able to get a table. She was, of course, assured it would be ready for her. They sat at the same table as they had the first time they’d eaten there. A waiter was immediately there to take their order.
While they waited for their meals, Jardain asked, “How did you know what flight I was on? Why were you really at the SpacePort?”
“Who is Hermione Juaarez?” Leah asked in spite of promising herself not to ask that question.
Jardain looked at Leah as if she were trying to decide what to tell her. She took a deep breath, and said, “I’m not even going to ask you how you know Juaarez. She is an ex from years ago.”
“And today?” Leah asked.
“Today, she’s my co-author on a book we’ve written about forensic psychology. We worked on it for a couple of years. We’ve got a publisher and are in the editing stage. We were both on the speaker’s tour of Tazmania so we worked on the book. Anything else?”
“Of course. But not tonight.”
“Good. I’d rather talk about you than her.”
“Did I mess with your plans for this evening when I showed up?”
“You did. But I rather be spending the evening with you than with her. What have you been doing to keep busy while I’ve been gone?”
“Investigating a murder.”
“And that investigation led you to Juaarez?”
“Why do you call her by her last name?”
“If your parents named you Hermione after a fictional character from some two hundred years ago, wouldn’t you want to be called by your last name?”
“Why not just change your name or use your middle name?”
“Look, I’ll introduce you to her and you can ask her all the questions you want.”
“Okay.”
“Answer my question.”
“As we do with every case, we run searches on all the principals including the victim or victims. You’re a principal in this case. There was a reference to Juaarez in one of the reports so we followed up.”
“So you’re not spying on me?”
“No. Should I be? Is there something you don’t want me to find out about you?”
“There’s plenty I don’t want you to know about me yet. Someday I’ll tell you about my sordid youthful indiscretions.”
“I look forward to it.”
“I bet you do.”
“She was at the SpacePort. Why didn’t you introduce us?”
“While you know about her, and probably more than I know, she knows nothing about you.”
“So?”
“To be honest, I don’t know how to introduce you. I don’t know what we are to one another. I’m not even sure we’re dating. The only thing I know for sure is that we’re not lovers.”
“I need to know you better before I leap into bed with you.”
“Really? Why?”
“I told you. I want more from you than being notch number seven thousand two hundred eighty-three on your bedpost.”
“What more do you want from me? Wait. Do you really think I’ve slept with, what was that number? Seven thousand women?”
“I want more than a one-night stand. What do you want from me other than one night of fantastic fucking? I have no idea how many women you’ve slept with. I just made the number up.”
Before Jardain could formulate an answer to Leah’s question, their dinners arrived. Leah wasn’t sure whether Jardain would have answered the question. When the waiter left their table, they spent the next several minutes eating. While they finished their dinners at a more dignified pace, they kept the conversation light.
“You know, Leah, it’s been a while since I knowingly spent time with someone like you.”
“Like me how? A private investigator? An ex-cop?”
“Someone who knows themselves well enough to know what they want from life and love, and won’t compromise their principles to get it. When did you learn to do all that?”
“I spent many of my younger years fucking around. Even though I told myself I was happy doing so, I finally admitted I wanted more out of life than one-night stands. After I stopped fucking for sport, I had to figure out what I really wanted.”
“How old were you when you stopped to smell the roses?”
“I was twenty-six, and I’d been a cop for two years by then. Then it took me two more years to figure out what I wanted and needed, and another two years to make it all happen.”
“Are you telling me you won’t sleep with me if I have less than honorable intentions toward you?”
“Are you telling me you’ll only sleep with me if all I want is a one-night stand?” Leah asked.
“Are you attracted to me?”
“You know I am. What are you really asking?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re refusing to sleep with me.”
“I’m not refusing to sleep with you. I told you, I want more than one night with you.”
“That sounds so incredibly old-fashioned and prudish.”
“Wow. You really know how to charm a girl,” Leah said, laughing.
“I guess I’m not sure how to act.”
“I’m guessing you’re confused because you’ve not had anyone turn you down. Ever.”
“Well, there was Johanna in eighth grade…”
Leah laughed.
“And even Johanna gave in before the summer was over.”
“Who knows, maybe I’ll give in befo
re summer is over, too.”
“Does that mean you want to bed me?” Jardain asked.
“Talk about being old-fashioned. Of course I want to bed you.”
“So you want to sleep with me, but won’t because you’re not sure of my intentions.”
“That’s it in a nutshell.”
“What if I say I don’t want to date?”
“I’ll kiss you on the cheek, shed a tear or two, and walk away,” Leah said.
“Well, damn. You are really tough-minded.”
“I’ve learned it’s best to be tough-minded when it comes to my heart.”
“Why?”
“When I fall in love, I fall hard. My heart breaks easily.”
“So you’ve trained yourself not to fall in love?” Jardain asked, putting her hand on Leah’s arm.
Leah could feel the heat of Jardain’s hand through her suit jacket. “No, but I have trained myself to be cautious when I’m around someone with whom I could fall in love.”
Well, that put a name to the elephant in the room. I wonder how long before she runs for the door. I’ll give her a maximum of fifteen minutes before she calls it an evening.
“Me, for instance?” Jardain asked, keeping her hand on Leah’s arm.
“Yes.”
Jardain’s phone buzzed. She removed her hand from Leah’s arm. Leah noticed the lack of warmth where her hand had rested.
With an apologetic look, she pulled her cell from her pocket and answered it. She listened for a minute, then said, “All right. I’ll be there as fast as I can. I’m so very sorry, Leah. There’s an emergency at the hospital. I need to go.”
“I understand. Why don’t you go on? I’ll pay our bill and grab a taxi.”
“Are you sure? You don’t mind?”
“No, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you,” Jardain said as she rose from her chair. She kissed Leah on the cheek, and turned and left the restaurant.
Leah pulled her phone from her pocket and looked at the time. Six minutes was all it took for Jardain to run. With a long sigh, Leah punched a number into her phone.
“Are you, by chance, nearby?” Leah asked.
“I’m right across the street,” Cots said.
“Can you give me a ride home? My date made a run for it.”
