Part 12 (2/2)
aThis came for you a little while ago, Lieutenant,a he said as he handed Brodie a small manila envelope.
aThanks,a Brodie said with a smile and flipped her cell closed. Looking down the hall, she muttered to herself, aWhatas taking him so long? And where the h.e.l.l is Maggie?a Absently, she tore open the end of the envelope and looked inside.
aOh, f.u.c.k,a she breathed as Nicholls finally walked up beside her.
aWhat is it, RB?a he asked.
Brodie looked at him as she dumped the contents of the envelope onto her desk.
aWhere the h.e.l.l did that come from?a Nicholls asked as he stared at the religious medallion.
aSomeone left it here for me. The f.u.c.ker was right here in the station!a Brodie exclaimed, moving quickly to the front desk and trying to remain calm. When the desk officer saw her, he smiled,a Whatas up, Loo?a aWere you at the desk when this envelope was left for me?a Brodie asked.
aYeah. I would have gotten it to you sooner, but it was left at the same time a patrol unit brought a guy in for booking,a the officer answered.
aCan you describe the person who left it?a aI think so, but I wasnat paying total attention. It was a man, probably in his late twenties or early thirties,a the officer started.
aFive ten, around 180 pounds with blue eyes and short black hair?a Brodie continued for him.
aYeah,a the officer smiled, athat sounds about right.a aThen I guess,a Brodie seethed as she reached onto the counter and grabbed a copy of their APB, ayou didnat notice that he matched this description of a triple murderer weare looking for?a as.h.i.+t!a the desk officer hissed.
aHow long ago did he leave the envelope?a aTen or fifteen minutes ago. Iam sorry, Lieutenant.a aDid you notice whether he was in a vehicle?a aSorry, he just asked that I get it to you and left,a the officer apologized. aHe was only here less than a minute.a aOkay,a Brodie sighed.
aHeas playing with us,a Nicholls said.
aAnd heas winning,a Brodie retorted, walking toward the front entrance of the station.
Nicholls followed her and they both stepped outside and looked up and down the street.
aHe could be anywhere,a Nicholls sighed, placing his hands on his hips and squinting up into the sun.
aDo the reports on him tell us anything about his habits, likes and dislikes?a Brodie asked.
aNot much. Except for Karen Dietrick he seems to have pretty much been a loner.a As Brodie turned to reenter the station, her cell phone chirped. Pulling it out of its holster, she flipped it open. aBrodie!a she barked.
aLieutenant Brodie, this is Sheriff Cantrell.a aWhatas up, Sheriff?a aIam over here at your house. We received an anonymous phone call about twenty minutes ago that a crime had been committed. Thereas a boda,a the Sheriff started.
aNo!a she shouted as she bolted down the steps and raced toward her car, fumbling to get the keys out of her pocket.
aBrodie!a Nicholls called as he ran after her. By the time he reached her car and jerked the pa.s.senger door open, the Camaro was already in reverse. Just as she threw the gear into drive, he managed to jump in.
aWhat the h.e.l.las going on?a aHeas been in my house,a she said through gritted teeth. aMaggie was there when I left for work.a Glancing from side to side at intersections, she gunned the engine and flew through red lights, barely avoiding other vehicles that had the right of way. Turning sharply to the right, the Camaro sailed over a rise on the road leading to her home ten miles outside Cedar Springs. Five minutes later, she slowed as she approached the driveway of the house. Maggieas Subaru was parked in front of the detached garage.
She skidded to a stop and flew out of the vehicle, Nicholls close behind her. She ran toward the front porch, but was stopped by a Sheriffas Deputy.
aGet out of my way,a she growled menacingly.
aThis is my house.a aItas a crime scene and youall have to wait out here until weare finished and the body is removed,a the deputy said.
Brodie shoved the deputy away and started for the front door again. He grabbed her and spun her around, just in time to take the full force of her fist.
aCedar Springs Police,a Nicholls yelled, flas.h.i.+ng his badge.
aLet them through, Doyle,a the Sheriff called out from the porch.
Brodieas legs felt like melting Jell-O as she made her way up the front steps. She looked numbly at Sheriff Cantrell, not sure what to say. He placed a big hand on her shoulder. aItas ugly in there, Brodie. Maybe you should wait outside. Weare waiting for your forensic people to arrive.a She shook her head and stepped into the living room. Nothing looked disturbed as she walked slowly through the front rooms. Turning down the hallway she stopped in front of the bathroom, the room where she had last seen Maggie. Her heart stopped as she looked into the room. A pool of blood surrounded the black body on the white tiled floor. She blinked back tears as she saw smeared blood on the floor leading out of the room.
She stepped back and looked at Nicholls. Her eyes s.h.i.+fted toward the room at the end of the hallway, her bedroom, the scene of so much joy just a few hours earlier. She could see b.l.o.o.d.y footprints leading to it. Nicholls moved ahead of her and glanced into the bedroom. Four sets of eyes turned toward him, momentarily stopping their work. Nicholls swallowed hard before facing Brodie to prevent her from seeing the scene.
aNo! No! No! No!a Brodie screamed as she tried to push past him. aMaggie! Oh, G.o.d! Maggie! Please!a aBrodie!a Nicholls yelled as he grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her to keep her out of the room. She fought against him, but grief had sapped the energy out of her and she collapsed to the floor, rubbing her face and burying her head in her hands. She sobbed uncontrollably and barely heard Nicholls calling Donaldson. As he slipped his cell phone back into his pocket he knelt next to Brodie and helped her to her feet, guiding her down the hallway toward the living room.
BRODIE STARED AT the wall in her living room without acknowledging the activity around her. Frank Cardona and his men walked past her without their usual banter. Just a few short hours ago Maggie had been vibrantly alive in her arms, laughing. Now she was gone, her laughter silencedaforever. She drew a shaky breath as tears burned down her cheeks unnoticed.
aBrodie?a She looked up into the eyes of Fred Donaldson. aCan I get you anything?a She shook her head and closed her eyes, forcing more wetness onto her face. aHave they found anything useful?a she asked.
aIt doesnat matter. Iam taking you off the case,a he said quietly.
aNo!a she said forcefully, anger and hatred flas.h.i.+ng in her eyes. aHeas mine.a aYou canataa he started.
aIall work it on my own even I have to resign to do it!a She stood and walked down the hallway on wobbly legs. When she entered her bedroom, Nicholls was at her side in an instant to turn her around. aYou donat want to see this, RB,a he said quietly.
aI have to,a she said grimly. Pus.h.i.+ng past him, she took a deep breath and inhaled the unwelcome scent of death around her. As she approached the bed, she patted Frank on the back. He turned away from the body on her bed and stared at her.
aJesus, Brodie! You shouldnat be in here.a aItas okay, Frank. I just need a minute,a she said.
aYou got an extra pair of gloves?a As she pulled the gloves on, she forced herself to look at the body. The womanas pale body had begun to take on a gray, ashen look. Slowly scanning the victim, her eyes traveled up well defined legs, over the auburn mound of her crotch, and along the flat abdomen. The b.r.e.a.s.t.s had large bruises and bite marks resembling those on Karen Dietrickas body. She shuddered involuntarily at the pain Maggie had endured. Standing to the side of the bed, she looked at the disfigured face, partially covered by auburn hair. She used her gloved fingers to tenderly lift the hair away from the ruined face. Bending over slightly, she saw the gold hoop of a pierced earring resting against the womanas neck. Standing up, she pulled the gloves from her hands and tossed them in the wastebasket next to the bed. aThanks, Frank,a she said, turning to leave the room quickly.
In the hallway she stopped and let her body slide down the wall. Resting her elbows on her bent knees she covered her face with her hands as the tears began flowing once again. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Nichollsa worried eyes.
aItasaitas not Maggie,a she managed.
aHow the h.e.l.l can you know that? Without a faceaa He stopped and said, aIam sorry, RB.a aItas not Maggie, Nicholls. Maggie doesnat have pierced ears,a she said tersely.
aJesus,a Nicholls breathed. aThen whoas in there?a aHer name is Kara. I donat know her last name. Kara might not be her first name. I only met her once, but it was enough to cause her death.a aWhat?a aShe was a call girl I met.a Nicholls frowned. aYouare a sick b.i.t.c.h, Brodie.a Brodie held her hand out and Nicholls pulled her up. aHave they removed my dog yet?a she asked.
aYeah, they took him away a little while ago.a She walked into the bathroom, avoiding the pool of blood, and closed the door before she turned and vomited into the toilet. She was overcome with fear. Chambers had to have followed her to know about Kara. But that had been weeks ago. She splashed water on her face and slowly dried her hands and face before stepping out of the bathroom.
aWhat are you going to do now, Brodie?a Donaldson asked as soon as she joined him and Nicholls in the living room.
aTry to think,a she said as she walked onto the front porch. She slipped on her sungla.s.ses and looked around her yard which was now full of police cars and vehicles from the crime lab. She caught something out of the corner of her eyes and said, aHeas got Maggie!a
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