Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

A lot could happen in two hours.

I was surprised to see Martinez sitting on one of the barstools at the kitchen island when Lily and I resurfaced a couple of hours later. I was also surprised to see Jack, Cole, Sheldon, and Emmy Lu.

"Doesn't anyone work around here?" I asked, closing the lab door behind me and tossing the file folder with my findings in front of Martinez.

Lily went over to Cole and he gave her a quick kiss on the top of the head. He was dressed for court in black dress Wranglers, a white button-down shirt and a black-and-silver paisley tie. He was without his usual Stetson, but his dark-blond hair had been freshly cut.

I wasn't at the place yet where I could make eye contact with Jack, so I awkwardly made my way over to the coffeepot, looking him over out of my periphery. Jack was a couple of inches taller than Cole, and he commanded whatever room he was in. People were drawn to him, couldn't help but look at him, and I was no different. It didn't hurt that I knew exactly what his charcoal-gray suit was hiding underneath. But he looked as comfortable in a suit as he looked in uniform or jeans and a T-shirt.

I stared at the coffeepot for a few seconds, trying to remember why I'd come over, and then I remembered Sheldon hadn't brought us the coffee or donuts he'd promised.

"Your coffee got cold," Sheldon said, clearing his throat and pointing to the two cups in the middle of the island. "I got distracted so it took me longer to get back than I'd anticipated. Maybe I shouldn't have worn my coveralls. Leena was really impressed by them."

His face turned scarlet and I wondered what kind of horror story I was going to hear through the grapevine about Sheldon and the donut girl behind the counter.

"But here's your twenty dollars back because everything was on the house," he said, taking the crumpled money from his pocket.

I took the sweaty money and automatically handed it to Jack since I didn't have any pockets anyway.

"What about the donuts?" I asked, eyeing the box on the table.

"Well," Sheldon said, clearing his throat again. "Martinez got here before I made it back from the donut shop and then he ate all your donuts before I could bring them down to you. And then everyone else showed up and had donuts too. Did you know it's actually Canadians who consume the most donuts per capita?"

There was a moment of awkward silence as we all stared at Sheldon. Except for me. I was still staring at the empty donut box.

"Wow," Martinez said, giving Sheldon a look that promised retribution. "You mean to tell me that you gave us Doc's and Lily's donuts? That doesn't seem right. How could you do that to them? They're down there working their fingers to the bone and I'm up here eating their donuts and learning things about table saws and witchcraft I never asked about. That's cold, man."

"I, uh…" Sheldon stuttered.

"That must have been some encounter with the donut girl," I said. "Table saws and witchcraft and you haven't even gone on a first date yet."

"I'm surprised the funeral home is still standing," Jack said. "You know how Jaye gets when she's hangry."

"And she still hasn't had any coffee," Lily added, giving me a wink.

"Good Lord," Emmy Lu said, scurrying around the kitchen to make coffee. "It's a miracle we're all still alive."

Emmy Lu was a short, plump woman with a cheerful disposition, a biting sarcasm she saved for those closest to her, and rosy cheeks. She mothered everyone, including her own five boys, and grieving families loved her.

Everyone chuckled and then Martinez lifted up the napkin that had been covering his plate and revealed two glazed donuts.

"I saved them for you before whistleblower Durkus could eat them all," Martinez said, rolling his eyes. "You gotta take care of your partner."

"Especially when she's supposed to buy lunch," I said, winking at Martinez and grabbing my donut before it disappeared. Cops were wily about things like donuts. I took a bite and then covered my mouth with a napkin and asked, "Why are you guys here? How's court?"

"A dog and pony show," Jack said. "We're on lunch recess. But I should be finished after today. Cole is the lucky one. He gets to wear a tie all week."

"I only have one, so I hope they're not expecting a fashion show," Cole said, scowling. "Guy murders a bunch of people and the law-abiding citizens have to wear a jacket and tie as punishment. Talk about injustice."

"Will you be taking over as supervisor on this case once they cut you loose?" Martinez asked.

Jack arched a brow and nodded. "I already talked to Lieutenant Colburn. You can report directly to me, and I'll help with the legwork. It beats the hell out of court."

There was an undercurrent to the conversation that was confusing, and I wondered what was going on between Colburn and Martinez. Lieutenant Colburn had certainly had his ups and downs on the job, but as far as I knew he was well liked by most of the guys.

"Sounds like a plan," Martinez said. "It's good to be on the winning team. Besides, Doc's going to buy us lunch all week."

"Now you're just rubbing it in," Cole said.

"All week?" I asked. "I don't think so. I'm not made of money. How am I supposed to pay Emmy Lu and Lily and Sheldon if I'm buying you lunch every day? Your shoes cost more than my whole wardrobe."

Martinez looked me up and down with pity. "You do look like a hobo today. I'm going to have to insist you change before we go out in public together. I've got a reputation to uphold."

I shoved the rest of the donut in my mouth and growled.

"But I'll concede to you buying every other day," Martinez said. "You're married to Daddy Warbucks over there. That should count for something. Besides, all my funds are tied up at the moment while we're going through an acquisition. I'm living paycheck to paycheck."

Cole whistled and shook his head. "How are you even functioning, living like a commoner?"

"Seventy-eight percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck," Sheldon said.

"I believe it," Cole said. "Ahh, the American dream."

I caught Jack's gaze and froze, confused by the quick wink he gave me and wishing I was pulled close to him like Cole was holding Lily. I missed his touch. And I missed the conversation. Jack was my best friend. The last few days had felt like I was missing part of myself, and in reality, I was.

The spell was broken when Emmy Lu handed me a cup of coffee. I nodded thanks and then quickly looked down into the cup, trying to gather my thoughts.

I'd needed this break after the last two hours. I'd needed to have stupid conversation and eat donuts and pretend like things were normal. But the few minutes of mindless peace had to come to an end.

"If anyone is interested," I said. "We got an identity and cause of death for the victim."

"I figured you'd get around to it," Martinez said, tapping his finger on the manila envelope.

"Victim is twelve-year-old Evelyn Lidle," I said. "Evie to family and friends. Her prints weren't on file, but we were able to get a match with dental records. She is the daughter of Councilman Everett Lidle."

"Cause of death?" Martinez asked.

"Blunt force trauma to the head," I said. "I believe the strangulation was just a way to incapacitate. It's what happened between the strangulation and the killing blow to the skull that's hazy. The lack of fibers and the bruising pattern makes me think you're looking for something like an electrical cord."

"Sexual assault?" Jack asked.

"Yes," I said. "She had significant bruising and tearing. Last meal looked like chicken noodle soup and crackers, ingested a few hours before she died. She had traces of promethazine in her system, but nothing out of the ordinary."

"What's that?" Martinez asked.

"Anti-nausea medication," I answered. "It's prescription only. There were only traces in her system, so she could have ingested anywhere from twelve to twenty-four hours before her death."

"So Councilman Lidle's daughter had chicken noodle soup for dinner, was kidnapped, strangled, raped, beaten, and eventually killed with several violent blows to the head and her parents haven't reported her missing?" Martinez asked incredulously.

"Was she at school yesterday?" Jack asked.

"She's at one of those fancy boarding schools in DC with all the politicians' kids so they don't like to give out information. I had Chen call the mom and pretend to be from the school and checking on the kid. The mom said Evie was sick with a stomach virus."

"Which would explain the chicken noodle soup and the promethazine," Lily said.

"Sounds like you two need to go break the news to the parents of their daughter's death," Jack said. "Maybe they have an explanation for why they didn't report her missing."

"Any word on the creepy guy from the scene or the missing neighbor?" I asked. "What's his name? Kent O'Leary."

"Found the creepy guy on the door-to-doors," Martinez said. "Or at least Plank did. Lives on the other side of the park and said he's introduced himself to Edith Norton and Myrtle Sparrow at least a dozen times when he walks his dog in the park. Apparently they keep calling the cops on him. I found the records. Wachowski responded the last time and he finally had to tell Edith Norton she'd be charged with filing a false police report if she didn't stop calling in on the neighbor. That was about four months ago.

"Creepy neighbor's name is Joel Grainger," Martinez continued. "He works for a top-tier forensics lab in DC, so maybe that explains the creepy factor. He's got high-level security clearance, and he's alibied for the night in question. He said Edith Norton tried to kidnap his dog once."

"Gotta love neighbors," Cole said.

"Plank tracked down Kent O'Leary in Panama City Beach," Martinez continued. "He's been there since Friday for his brother's wedding. He's in the clear. Which leaves us with no one, so I'm anxious to talk to the family."

"Give me fifteen minutes to shower and change," I said.

I took my coffee and started heading toward the office and the small bathroom that was attached to it, but I did a detour and headed toward Jack instead. We both knew how important goodbyes were, especially in his line of work. Every goodbye could be the last.

He looked at me expectantly, his mouth curved in a small smile, and he leaned down to meet my lips. Jack wasn't the sort to hold grudges and he forgave easily, and I could feel the tension leave my body as our lips touched. Nothing had been resolved. But it was a start.