BURN IN BELL

by Jeremy Waldron

  Orville Boyd was the only suspect in the Pillow Strangler serial murder case six years ago. King was convinced it was him terrorizing the elderly. But the district attorney insisted they didn’t have enough evidence to bring charges. Then one day, the murders stopped and Orville Boyd quietly slipped under the radar. The case was shelved without ever being solved.

  “Someone like him just doesn’t stop,” King said, already planning how to track him down.

  Alvarez lifted his gaze over King’s left shoulder when King heard his name being called. He turned to find Angelina waving her arms above her head from behind the police line.

  He held up his finger and told her to wait, then turned back to Alvarez. “Boyd would know about Peggy. Hell, he probably thinks she’s my mother-in-law. He’d also know about my father.”

  Alvarez blew out a heavy breath. “Go talk to Angelina. I’ll see if the neighbor saw anyone who fits Boyd’s description—or at least what I remember of it.”

  Without another word, King ran to the police line. “It’s all right, Officer Morgan.”

  Officer Avery Morgan turned to King. “She says she’s the victim’s daughter.”

  “It’s because I am,” Angelina’s voice cracked, her eyes moist and heavy.

  “She’s with me,” King said, taking Angelina by the hand. “I’m so sorry,” he said, finding a quiet place to talk. “How are you holding up?”

  Angelina stared into his eyes with tears welling in the corners. She fell into his arms without warning and King caught her fall, embracing her inside his strong arms. He felt her familiar hands press into his sides and he was surprised to find himself clenching deeper into the familiar body he once loved so much.

  “Who would want my mother dead?” Angelina sobbed into his shoulder.

  “I don’t know—” Angelina tightened her squeeze. King could feel the confusion screaming through her temples. “But we’ll find whoever did this. I promise.”

  Angelina lifted her head and locked her eyes on his. “Can I see her?”

  King stared into her wistful eyes, debating how to phrase his next sentence without her losing his trust. “I’ll take you to the morgue,” he nodded, “but first I need to ask you where you were tonight.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I was up early the next day taking Cooper on a run through the Regis University campus. The future of Real Crime News kept cycling through my mind. Erin and I had to pin down what we wanted to accomplish.

  When I started blogging, it was a way to tell the rest of the story that didn’t get put into print. As the newspaper started to decline and the seismic shift in the industry rattled across the country, I thought it could be my way to survive in a profession I loved. But now that Walker was flirting with an offer to take what we’d built to the next level, I was scared of having to choose one or the other.

  Walker didn’t present it like that, but with as much money as he suggested he was willing to throw at the project, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do both.

  It was fifteen minutes before eight by the time I got back to the house. Allison Doyle, one of my dearest friends, was already inside and at the table with Mason.

  “Mom, Allison said she can help me make money online.” Mason was bright-eyed like he’d just been given a secret to tonight’s winning numbers.

  Allison looked to me and smiled. “Affiliate income.”

  “As long as you don’t quit your day job,” I said to my son.

  Mason bounced across the kitchen, talking about the car he would buy with the money he earned. I gave Allison a look and she just smiled.

  “You do remember the reason I’m here?” Allison gave me the once over, noticing I’d just come back from a run.

  “I do.”

  “And you’re ready to do it again?”

  I’d promised her I would join her on her walk through the park as a way to train for the marathon our friend Susan Young was organizing for little Katie Garcia who was battling leukemia. I didn’t mind going back out.

  A minute later we headed out the door, calling goodbye to Mason as we left. Allison immediately asked how my date with King was last night.

  My cheeks burned with the thought of it. “It wasn’t much of a date,” I said, explaining how we just went back to his place before he was called to work.

  “Sometimes that’s all a girl needs.” Allison rolled her eyes over to me. “To be held by her man.”

  As we crossed the street and entered the campus, I told her about our sudden dinner meeting with the Million Dollar Man and Walker’s offer to supply us with seed money to propel our newscast to the next level.

  Allison gave me a sideways glance. “You’re finally going to leave the paper.”

  Allison picked up the pace, pumping her arms. She’d lost a lot of weight since sticking to the exercise regimen the doctors suggested she get on after her health scare a couple months ago. I was proud of her for what she’d accomplished, and now to think Allison was about to briskly walk a marathon? I would have never seen it happening six months ago.

  “That’s just it; I don’t want to.” I shared my concerns, explained my fears. Allison listened to it all without placing judgement before I turned the table over to her.

  “Did I tell you my cousin Marty was released?”

  “That’s great news,” I said.

  Allison had told me the story of Marty Ray a time or two before, and I was surprised to hear he had been released from prison.

  Marty had been locked up for five years for a crime Allison—and a great deal of others—insisted he didn’t commit. I didn’t know the exact details to the case, but Allison convinced me Marty was just another example of how the justice system failed so many.

  Allison told me how she couldn’t wait to see him and surprised me by saying, “I’ve offered him to come work with me.”

  When I didn’t react, Allison asked me why. I turned to look her in the eye. “It’s a noble gesture, hun, but does he know anything about your business?”

  The rubber soles of Allison’s shoes scuffed across the concrete path as she came to an abrupt stop. Planting her hands on her hips, the crease between her brows deepened. “Someone has to believe in him. Why not me?”

  I hadn’t meant to offend. “It should totally be you, but I know how hard it is to run a successful business.”

  “What are you saying, Sam; I shouldn’t do it?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying at all.”

  “Then what are you saying?”

  Allison was short but had the attitude of a lioness protecting her young. It was the reason I loved her so much, but never enjoyed having her roars directed toward me.

  “What you do for a living requires a great deal of skill,” I said. “Skills even I don’t have.”

  Her dark eyebrows shot up her forehead. “You would if I trained you.”

  My cell started ringing. Screening the call, I saw that it was my editor with the Times, Ryan Dawson. “I’ve got to take this, it’s Dawson.”

  Allison stepped off the path and faced the mountains, wiping the sweat off her brow. I moved to a nearby tree and stood in the shade.

  “Dawson, what’s up?”

  “Rumor has it you’re shopping your podcast around looking for sponsors.”

  “And who did you hear that from?”

  “Is it true?”

  “Erin and I had dinner with someone.”

  “Someone who?” Dawson asked. “Never mind.” He was already making me feel guilty for even thinking about taking Walker’s offer. But then he let it go and said, “I need you in the newsroom ASAP. I caught wind of a story only you can tell.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Avery Morgan was staring out the bus window thinking about how it seemed like only yesterday she was graduating from the academy. The last six months had been a whirlwind introduction to her new life as a police officer and it was everything she imagined it would be.

  The brakes hissed and the bus r
olled to a stop. Avery removed her earbuds. Her music stopped long ago, and she’d since been lost in her thoughts as she stared out the window at the world outside.

  Of course, a lot of the reason she liked her job so much was because of Alex King making sure she was assigned the best training officer in the department—Officer Lester Smith.

  Smith was a veteran of twenty years and had served all of them inside the Denver Police Department. He loved working the streets, mingling with the citizens and people in his community. He was a wealth of information and Avery soaked up his wisdom like a sponge, determined to be the best policewoman on the force.

  With the bus still stopped, Avery peeked over the seat in front of her to see what the holdup was. Anxiously bouncing her knee, she still had an hour before she needed to be in for work, but Avery had a couple stops to make before then and couldn’t afford to waste another minute.

  “C’mon,” she mumbled as she watched a black man of about six-two discussing something with the driver. “Just get on or get off.”

  As if hearing her grumble, the man suddenly turned and made his way to the back of the bus. He approached Avery and she quickly made a profile, putting the skills she’d learned on the job to the test.

  A second later, she looked away and the bus started rolling.

  Staring out the window, she visualized the man inside her head. She noted the distinguishing features that caught her attention. How his bald head shined like a polished gymnasium floor. And how his muscles bulged beneath his bright white shirt that highlighted the dark ink of his jailhouse tattoos. When she thought she remembered it all, she turned and glanced at him once more. He dropped his duffle bag to the floor next to her.

  He nodded and smiled.

  She did the same as a text message came through on her phone. She read it.

  Thanks for helping with Mom. She’s coming for dinner tonight and we’d love for you to join. Let me know if you can make it.

  Avery messaged Alex King back, saying of course she’d love to have dinner. But only if you promise to run in Sunday’s marathon…

  …Still thinking about it.

  I can register for you…

  No thanks.

  Avery would do anything for King. He was like an uncle to her and someone she looked up to. But she still didn’t fully understand what happened last night and why he looked so emotionally distressed. Was it the look of a veteran detective having seen one too many homicides in his career? Avery didn’t know, but she hoped maybe tonight King could tell her why.

  “Are you running the marathon?”

  Avery turned to the stranger sitting across from, her wondering if he had spied on her text to King. She turned her screen face down on her thigh, deciding if this man deserved a response or not.

  “I saw your shoes.” The stranger pointed at her running shoes and Avery relaxed.

  Avery glanced down at her sneakers dangling off her backpack. “On my way to register now. What about you, will you be running?”

  He shook his head, a friendly glimmer lighting up his crinkled eyes. “I prefer the weight room to running. But my cousin, she’ll be joining the race.”

  Avery smiled, stealing glances his way.

  The man looked ahead. “God, it feels so good to be back.”

  Avery caught the man grinning before asking, “Are you from Denver?”

  The man nodded, continuing to stare out the front window as if breathing fresh air for the first time in a long time. Then he turned to look Avery in the eye. “But it’s been a while.”

  “This city has grown up, but it hasn’t changed all that much.”

  The man extended his large hand toward Avery. “I’m Marty.”

  “Avery.” Avery watched her hand get swallowed up by his.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Avery.”

  Their eyes locked.

  “Nice to meet you, Marty.”

  They both smiled as the bus bumped along.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I stood on my front porch with Cooper leaning his weight against my right leg as we watched Allison drive off into the distance. Panting, Cooper gave me the look like he was ready to take a rest. I couldn’t blame him. A run and a brisk walk were more than what we normally did on any given day. Plus, it was beginning to get hot.

  The door abruptly opened behind me and Mason came barreling out.

  “Where are you off to?” I asked.

  “Jamaal’s,” he called out, stuffing a basketball into his backpack before jumping on his bike.

  I said, “Keep me in the loop with your day.”

  Mason promised he would and was off to the races.

  I smiled, proud of the man he was becoming. He was looking more like Gavin by the day. A thick head of hair, inching his way past six feet, and an incredible smile when he wanted to put on the charm. Mason was working just as hard as his father did, too.

  Work hard, play harder, I could hear my deceased husband say as if his angel was watching over me now.

  When I entered the house, Erin was sitting at the kitchen table with my sister who’d recently moved to Denver from the East Coast to be closer to Mason and me while she studied to become a nurse. It seemed like the revolving door to my house was in full swing today. I appreciated the company.

  “Walter Walker?” My sister quirked a brow as soon as she caught sight of me. “That’s who you two had a date with last night?”

  “It wasn’t a date,” I said, opening the freezer and tossing several ice cubes into a glass before filling it with water.

  “You’re going to take his money, aren’t you?” Heather pressed further.

  I turned my attention to Erin, listening to Cooper make a mess at his water bowl. “You just had to tell her, didn’t you?”

  “How could I not?” Erin tucked her golden hair behind her ear. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

  Which was also the reason I was hesitating.

  “Oh my god. You’re actually thinking of declining it?” Heather’s lips parted.

  I hated how well she knew me sometimes. But she was right. I was.

  I said, “There is a lot to sift through.”

  “Samantha Bell.” Heather slapped her palm on her knee in an exact replica of what my mother would do when she didn’t like my decision. “Blow it up. Go big. Make your show legit.”

  I reminded Heather my career was already legit and our platform had always been real. “I don’t need Walter Walker’s recognition to prove my career is a success.”

  Erin said, “But maybe that is exactly what he needs to see.”

  We both rolled our eyes to Erin. Erin stared into mine, looking coy.

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  Shifting her weight around in the chair, Erin tipped her shoulders forward and said, “Don’t be mad, but I’ve invited Walker to shadow us today.”

  I cocked my jaw and felt the muscles strain in my head. I wasn’t sure that was such a great idea. Once again, I began questioning Walker’s true intentions. It felt to me like Walker was the rich kid playing superhero, and I wasn’t sold.

  “I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head.

  We didn’t need to complicate our lives and risk getting hurt—or worse, killed—because of his inexperience. I expressed all this to Erin and, though she had concerns herself, she thought it important for him to fully understand what we did before investing so much capital into our platform.

  “It will be fine, Sam. Besides, it’s not like we are in the middle of a big investigation.”

  Maybe Erin was right. Perhaps now was the best time to bring Walker along for a ride. But then I thought about what Dawson had waiting for me at the newsroom, and I reminded Erin I still had duties to the Times.

  “What’s Alex think about all this?” Heather asked.

  “Haven’t spoken to him about it.”

  “Maybe you should.” Her face shined with hope. “If anyone can open your eyes to what you’d be missing out o
n, it would be him.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  As soon as I was out of the shower, I tried King’s cellphone again. After several rings it clicked over to voicemail. This time I left him a message.

  “Alex, baby, it’s me. I’ve got some news to share.” I paused to swallow down the lump of concern I had growing inside of me. Where was he? Why wasn’t he answering my calls? “Call me as soon as you get this.”

  King had completely disappeared on me. I could still see the dull look of pain glazing over his incredible blue eyes on his way to whatever call he got last night. It was that look that had me worried for what he wasn’t sharing with me.

  I was about willing to do anything to not think about where he might be, but nothing I did could keep my thoughts from straying back to King.

  As I toweled my hair dry, I thought about how I’d only seen that look on him once before—when Gavin died. It was the shock-to-the-system kind of look that I would never forget. Something was up. I needed him to call me back before I went looking.

  “You ready yet?” Erin called from the front of the house.

  “Be out in a minute,” I hollered back, moving to my closet, rifling through my clothes, deciding what image I wanted to portray for Walker.

  I hadn’t completely written Walker off yet, no matter what I told Erin. I still wanted to get to know him better. If Erin insisted he shadow us for the day, then I would use the time to interview him and see if he truly was a good fit for us.

  “Careful what you wish for.” I laughed as I stepped into a pair of blue jeans, then pushing my head through a dark purple tank top.

  When I emerged on the other side, my phone was blinking and buzzing with incoming messages, but none were from the only person I wanted to hear from.

  Sitting on the edge of my bed, I thumbed through my phone and put a call in to Lieutenant Kent Baker’s desk. He picked up after the second ring and I told him who I was.