Part 16 (1/2)

”I hear you, trust me,” O'Malley said. ”But in a case like this, I'm willing to overlook her direct opposition of my orders, seeing as how she managed to do in one day what our entire department could not-bring in this guy. Now...he's being questioned and we've got a small Forensics team scouring his house for other proof. As of about ten minutes ago, we've also discovered several scattered bones buried in his backyard but they are almost certainly the remains of a large dog.”

”Are we still lacking evidence to point towards the use of humans in his little experiments?” Avery asked.

”So far, yes. And d.a.m.n it, Black...don't you dare go doubting me on this. You nailed this b.a.s.t.a.r.d and I've put you back on task. Don't b.u.t.t heads with me on this.”

”Yes sir,” she said reluctantly.

O'Malley sighed and placed his hands on his hips. ”For the sake of argument, Black, what are your concerns?”

”My concerns are that if he is our guy, he wasn't burning human bodies in his home. Torching a cat in a cooler is one thing. But you're not going to be able to burn a human body in a cooler, sir. If this is our guy, he's got another location somewhere and I think we should be putting our time and resources into finding it.”

O'Malley nodded in an appreciative way. ”I want a team on that right now,” he said, looking around the table. ”But as of right now, all signs are pointing this being our guy. Further digging shows that he also tried getting jobs at two other crematoriums in the city. He also attempted to take cla.s.ses at the community college dealing with human anatomy but failed out after one semester. There were trace amounts of gasoline in the lining of those coolers, which shows he has no problem keeping the necessary materials on hand. Two plus two equals four, people. Sometimes we get lucky and it all matches up. d.a.m.n good work, Black. You too, Ramirez.”

More eye rolls and a brief smattering of reluctant applause filled the room. Avery looked to Ramirez, who gave her a sly little grin.

”That's it,” O'Malley said. ”It's late and we need to get feelers out for a second location this creep was using. Break, people! Get to work.”

The small crowd got up from the conference room table and disbanded. As Avery tried to do the same, Connelly stepped in front of her. ”One second, Black.”

She stepped to the side as the last of the attendees filed out. Ramirez hung behind, remaining in his seat. ”Do I need to go?” he asked.

”No, you're her partner,” O'Malley said, joining Connelly. ”You should probably hear this, too.”

He closed the door and took a seat at the conference room table. Connelly joined him and the two men shared a brief glance that Avery could not read. A thick and uncomfortable silence filled the room, making Avery feel like she was on trial for something.

”Here's the deal, Black,” O'Malley said. ”Yes, you disobeyed me yet again today. But you also managed to get stellar results without anyone's help. We understand that Ramirez came to your side, which technically puts him on my s.h.i.+t list but I'm willing to overlook it. Black...I don't even know what to do with you. The results you bring in time and time again can't be ignored. And the fact that you were on your own today and got more done than our entire department shows that you don't mind going it alone. And Ramirez...you complement her well. You could have taken full credit for finding Bailey today but gave credit where it was due. There aren't many men on the force that would do that.”

Again, silence fell over the room. Avery was starting to wonder if they were looking for an apology out of her. If that were the case, they were going to be sorely disappointed.

Instead, O'Malley said something that floored her-something she had not been expecting.

”When this one is all over, and the last of the paperwork is filed away and Phillip Bailey is behind bars, we want to talk to you about a promotion to sergeant.”

She was speechless. Words literally would not form on her tongue. Did I hear him right?

”Black?” Connelly asked.

”Thank you,” she said. ”But...I guess I just don't understand.”

”You deserve it,” Connelly said.

”More than that, I think you'd be a great sergeant,” O'Malley said. ”If you can bring the same results you produce as a detective to the position, it could be a great fit.”

”Can I think about it?” Avery asked, still astounded.

”Yes,” O'Malley said. ”Think it over. We'll start the actual discussion on this when Bailey's case is done.”

”And it is just about done,” Connelly said. ”Do you understand that, Black? This is our guy. Unless someone comes to the front door of the A1 with a confession that says otherwise, Phillip Bailey is our killer. So don't go digging this hole any deeper.”

But what if we need to go deeper?

It was an alluring thought but she kept it to herself. In the wake of the totally unexpected conversation they had just had, it seemed foolish to stir up the hornet's nest.

”Again,” O'Malley said, ”good work today, you two. Now both of you go home and get some sleep.”

With this comment made, Avery saw a thin smile touch the corners of Connelly's mouth. He definitely suspects there's something going on with me and Ramirez, she thought. So much for keeping it a secret.

O'Malley and Connelly left the room, closing the door behind them. Ramirez gave her a grin from across the table and shrugged. ”Going home to get some sleep,” he said. ”Sounds like a pretty good idea, huh?”

”Maybe.”

”We could go together,” he said. ”Maybe end up in the same bed.”

”I don't think there would be much sleeping involved if we did that,” Avery said.

Ramirez nodded, as if she had just made a very good point. ”Still...I guess it doesn't matter,” he said. ”I've seen this look on your face before. You're not sure Bailey is the guy, are you?”

”There are some lingering doubts, yes.”

”So you're working a late night, huh?”

She nodded. ”Ramirez...the other night was great. It was better than great, actually. But I can't let that define our working relations.h.i.+p, too. And right now, until this case is really over, I don't know that I'd be able to draw a line between the two.”

”I got it,” he said. ”You do your thing, Black. I'm going back to my little corner of the building and see what I can do to help wrap up the paperwork on this. If you need me, let me know.”

She got the clear impression that this was his way of giving her a second chance-to come back home with him when she was done for the night.

”I will,” she said. ”Thanks, Ramirez.”

He got up from his chair and gave her a light and rea.s.suring squeeze on the shoulder as he pa.s.sed her and made his exit. Avery was left alone at the table. She stared into s.p.a.ce, feeling the sense of uncertainty wash over her.

If Bailey was not their guy, the killer was still out there. And if he had showed them anything so far, it was that he moved quickly-almost as quickly as the fire he used to kill his victims.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

He stared out of the pa.s.senger side window of the car, looking at the two-story house beside him. It was a nice house, complete with a pool in the backyard. The neighborhood wasn't a particularly nice one, but this woman lived on the nicer cul-de-sac. It was easily one of the nicest houses in the subdivision.

He had never met the woman but knew a good deal about her. Her name was Sophia Lesbrook. She was able to live in the house because her husband had worked as a very successful real estate broker. Her husband, though, had died two months ago. He had been able to get her address by calling the flower shop that had taken the bulk of orders from family and friends when her husband had pa.s.sed away and placing his own fake order which he later cancelled.

Sophia had been a tough one to get. With the others, he had studied their movements and schedules. But Sophia had not gotten out much after her husband had died. She was fifty-two years old. They had never had any kids so she was living in this nice house by herself, visited only by a sister that stopped by once or twice a week. He knew this because this was not the first time he had parked across from her house. In fact, he'd done it six different times.

He was going to have to take some risks tonight if he wanted to procure her. He was pretty sure there were no electrical alarms or security systems within the house. He also knew where the spare key was; he had seen the sister take it from beneath one of the six flower pots that lined the porch.