CHAPTER 60 - Rita

CHAPTER 60RitaIWAS IN COURT YESTERDAY AND ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO THE STATION and get back to work on the Bradley case. Unfortunately, I got tangled up in one thing after another, as sometimes happens, and Friday was a bust. So I came in this morning, hoping to make up for my unfruitful day yesterday.Joe came in after noon and worked in the conference room for a while. We all feel a sense of urgency over the Robb-Bradley case, but a certain malaise too—looking at each other for something, anything that’ll move the investigation along. Nothing much has happened all day, and I collect my things to go home.Joe pops his head in my office. “Want to go for a drink, Rita? Saturday night, after all.”“Sounds good. Let me clean up my desk first.” I’ve got papers everywhere, my notebook open. Joe walks in and peruses my work, runs a finger over a sketch of Mrs. Bradley.“What’s with all the drawings?”“I like to doodle. Helps me think.” Seems to me he asked me that the last time we worked together.Noise comes from the squad room, and we head out in the hall to investigate. Chase is leading a man toward the interview rooms. Joe and I follow.Chase meets us in the hall, having deposited the man inside. “Who’s that?” I ask.“I found him lurking around Mrs. Bradley’s house.”“And you were there why?”He shrugs. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drive by. I’ve been doing that on occasion,” he adds quietly.“So who is he?”“You want to talk to him with me?”“Sure.” I glance at Joe.“I’ll let you two handle it, unless you need me.”“We’ve got it,” I say.The man is thirty-something, shaved head, skinny jeans, and a leather jacket. He slouches in his chair as though we’re a big pain in his ass.I introduce myself and we sit. “And you are?”“Brian Fleck.”Chase says, “I found Mr. Fleck standing across the street from the Bradley residence. Then I saw him on her porch, looking in the windows.”“I told you I was trying to contact Mrs. Bradley.”“For what purpose?” I ask.“Look, I didn’t do anything illegal, okay? I agreed to come in and talk so we can clear this up.”“All right. Good deal. So answer the question.”He sits up and purses his lips. “I would like to ask Mrs. Bradley if she’d be interested in collaborating on a book.”“You’re a writer then?”He sets his backpack on the floor and fishes out his wallet, hands me a business card. It’s decorated with red splotches that are supposed to look like blood. He apparently writes for a crime e-magazine.“Yes. I write articles on current crimes and old interesting cases. But I think Mrs. Bradley’s story warrants a book, and I thought I’d be a good candidate to write it.”“Okay.” I glance at Chase.“He said he’s been in the area for a couple of weeks.”“Have you called Mrs. Bradley?” I ask.“I tried a couple of times, but she hasn’t answered. That’s why I’ve been trying to catch her at home.”Chase huffs out a breath. “Haven’t been harassing her, have you?”“No, of course not.”“She might not see it that way,” I say.He leans toward us, the eager reporter. “Someone’s going to write a book about her, and I think I’m the best person to do that. I feel for the woman. She’s been through hell—”“You got that right,” Chase says.“She could make some big-time money on this too.” He slouches back in his chair. “She might need it, now that she’s a widow.”“Okay.”“Look, I haven’t done anything illegal. I’m trying to do the decent thing by talking to you guys. I don’t want to be bothered again for doing my job.”“Then don’t bother Mrs. Bradley,” Chase says, voice slightly raised. I nudge him with my knee.“Just don’t push her, Mr. Fleck,” I say. “Stay within the letter of the law. If she wants to talk to you, she will. If not, leave her alone, and we’ll leave you alone. But if your attention turns to harassment, that’s a different beast.”He stands, slings his backpack over his shoulder. “Fair enough.”Chase heads home, and I walk into the conference room where Joe works, bent over his laptop. I scoop my freshly dyed hair over my shoulders and take a deep breath. Joe being here, us working together again, has brought some of those old feelings to the surface. But damn, I like my life the way it is. I sigh. Maybe I’m just being a coward. In any case, I can’t think about my personal life right now. Lauren walks by, and I tap her shoulder. “Want to head over to Mac’s with Joe and me?”