All the Deadly Lies Page 15

  “This is ridiculous, Sergeant…”

  “It’s Mike, Mia. I know it’s crazy, but let’s go with the old saying, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’d bet Jake’s on his way to Hartford right this minute. Let’s give him a call and tell him everything’s okay.”

  “All right, but what happens if I see her on the highway on my way home?”

  “I’m sure she watched us pull in. Could she see you at the window?”

  “I figure the answer is yes, if I could see her in her car.”

  “You’re probably right. This is the second incident. Do you want to file a complaint? Next time, we’ll use the picture you took to file a restraining order. Make sure to keep documenting the car every time you see it and try to get the license plate in all the pictures. It will make your complaint stronger.” He let go of her hand.

  Rubbing her temples to ease the throbbing in her head, Mia nodded at him.

  “I can follow you home, if you like.” Mike’s partner had stayed silent throughout the exchange. He stood at the window as he scanned the parking lot. It unnerved Mia.

  “No, thanks, I’m going to Jake’s house after work. I’m sure she won’t be stupid enough to follow me there.”

  “I’ll write down my personal cell phone number on the back of my business card for when you’re in Hartford. Don’t hesitate to call me.”

  “Thank you for your kindness, Mike, I appreciate it.”

  “It’s nothing. Jake and I go way back. Nobody stalks a cop’s family.”

  She didn’t correct him. She didn’t know what Jake had told him about them and didn’t care as long as it kept that nut away from her. She’d planned to change at work. After the cops left, she decided to change at Jake’s house.

  The day couldn’t end soon enough for her.

  * * * *

  Jake got Mia’s phone call right after he and Louie left Pilarki’s house. He strung together a good array of curses.

  “Hey, Jake, slow down, Mike will take care of her.”

  “That crazy bitch decided to stalk Mia instead of me. And Mia’s coming over tonight to talk. I wonder what she’s decided now that she picked up a stalker,” he said, temper rising out of his frustration.

  “I’m not going to guess what her verdict is and neither should you. You’ll have to wait until she gets there to find out. If you want, I’ll drive,” Louie slipped in.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Well, I’m not. Nor is that the old woman crossing the street over there. You took ten years off her life when she jumped out of your way. That’ll teach her to try to cross the street with a green light.”

  “Funny, Louie.” Though he didn’t feel like laughing.

  “What else is bothering you?”

  “Everything. I feel we’re almost there on the Wagner case, on the brink of something, if only we could unearth one piece of evidence that would swing us toward a suspect. We have to be missing something big, something right in front of our faces. Then there’s Chloe and her antics. The Adams kids ripped my heart out yesterday, plus Spaulding’s possible release. Now the trouble with Mia… It’s piling up on me. How long am I going to have to pay for one indiscretion?”

  It wasn’t normal for Jake to give up. Louie didn’t answer right away. He searched for the right words.

  A block before they got to the station, Louie said, “Jake you can’t control the actions of others. If Mia doesn’t understand or won’t accept it, then she’s looking for an excuse not to be with you. No matter who you meet, she’ll always be concerned you’re a cop. Sophia still wonders if she made the right choice every time she hears a report of a cop being shot. The cases are the cases. Most times we solve them. You’re the one who told me patience is a virtue. It’s time to take your own advice. We’ll keep working methodically and in time we’ll get there.”

  “Wow, your logic impresses me. No, seriously, thanks. Chloe got me so angry. If anything ever happened to Mia, because of someone I dated, I wouldn’t be able to handle it again.”

  And there it is. Jake always blames himself for Eva, Louie thought. “Jake, nothing’s going to happen, chill out. And God forbid if something did, it wouldn’t be your fault.”

  * * * *

  Mia cancelled her other appointments and left before lunch. She also made an appointment with both her boss and personnel to discuss how her job and the hours had changed. After doing it for a couple of years, she realized it had led away from her life goals. She called Jake and told him she was leaving early. She liked how he rearranged his schedule to be there when she’d arrived. How he understood the seriousness of the threat. More than anything, even with the Wagner woman in the picture, she couldn’t wait to see him. Though nothing had been resolved, she still got excited at the thought of him.

  * * * *

  Jake’s cell phone started to ring as he packed up his briefcase. “Jake, the Wagner woman’s sitting outside the school. Did Mia leave?”

  “Yeah, Mike, she left about forty minutes ago.” It was a good call on Mia’s part to leave early it seemed. He owed Mike a bottle of good scotch.

  He knew Mike would take care of Chloe. Before he left the station, Jake apologized to Louie, asked him to find his own ride home. He wanted to be there when Mia arrived at his house. As soon as her car turned into his street he hit the remote in his hand to open the extra bay for her to pull right in. Was he destined to put every woman he loved in harm’s way? Deep down it was the reason he had avoided serious relationships in the past. He waited for her at the top of the short staircase leading into the house. As soon as she reached the top step, he took her into his arms and held her close. The afternoon’s incident had frightened them both. Jake lifted her chin and studied her pale face. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m a little shaken. If you don’t mind, I’m going to lie down for a few minutes in the spare room. It’s been a tough day all around and I need to make some decisions.”

  He’d seen that expression many times in his career. The dazed, confused blank-eye look of a victim peered out at him. And he’d put her in the situation that caused it.

  Jake watched her walk down the hall to the spare bedroom. He checked on her a half hour later when she hadn’t come out of the room. She’d fallen asleep, curled up in the fetal position. Two hours later he heard the shower running. Reaching into the fridge, he pulled out the white wine, uncorked it and let it breathe while he waited for her to join him in the kitchen.

  Training taught him how to handle a victim. Did he handle Mia as one? Should he coddle her or come at the problem head on? Did he allow his emotions to get in the way of Mia’s safety? He fought to appear casual as he leaned against the kitchen counter with his legs crossed at the ankles, sipping the cup of coffee he didn’t want, as he waited for Mia to come out. Jake loathed Chloe for her vindictiveness. Every time he thought about it, his anger pulsated through him. He couldn’t let Mia see the helplessness he felt. It wasn’t what she needed right now—she was the one who needed comfort, not him.

  “Hi,” Mia said, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

  “Hey,” he said, letting the silence fill the air, waiting for her to speak first.

  “It’s too early for dinner,” she said.

  “I have coffee ready if you want some, or wine.” He fisted his hands at his side though he wanted to go to her and take her in his arms.

  “No, the wine’s good.”

  They were acting like strangers, each feeling the other out, the day’s stress getting to both of them. He walked across the kitchen and kissed her to break the ice. He pulled back, looked down into her eyes as he traced his fingers over her brow, her nose, and her lips. The terror in her eyes when she had first arrived ripped a huge hole in his heart. For that alone, he could kill Chloe.

  “It’s nice out, why don’t you sit outside and I’ll bring out t
he wine. And, Mia, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

  “We have a lot to talk about.”

  * * * *

  She hesitated by the door, not wanting to go out by herself. It pissed her off how this Chloe person could scare the wits out her. A woman she didn’t even know. Mia pushed her fear away and stepped outside, instead of waiting for Jake.

  Handing her a glass of wine when he walked out, he placed some cheese and crackers on the table by her side. She gave him the once-over and liked what she saw. She felt warm and on edge every time she was around him.

  “I don’t know where to start.” He stopped, searching for the right words before he continued.

  She cut him off. “We need to talk about Monday night and Chloe. Is Chloe a side effect of your job? Or is it personal?”

  “A combination, Mia, I’ll explain.”

  * * * *

  Jake thought that was a good starting place. After a lengthy time of back and forth conversation, he felt they had a better understanding of each other and their personalities, jobs, and what to expect from each other moving forward. The issue with Chloe was a wait and see. He couldn’t predict Chloe’s actions, even though Mia wanted some indication of what she’d do next. “Do you always analyze everything?”

  “Guilty. It’s the reason I’m a psychologist. My inquisitive mind never stops questioning.”

  “This is the only answer I have to everything that’s been going on with us. I do know if you don’t take chances in life and run with it, you lose all around. You’ll miss out on what could be the most gratifying experience of your life.”

  She looked deep into his green eyes. “And if you lose?”

  “You learn more when you lose. Life’s an adventure. You gain knowledge and experience emotions—what more can you ask for?” He smiled.

  “You’re deep. What about the other factors, which will no doubt interfere with the experience?”

  “It’s called life, Mia. You deal with it or you turn away. What’s your choice?”

  “Let’s discuss that nut. The woman frightens me. You never know when she’ll lose it completely. And Monday night, I waited over an hour for you…then poof, you’re gone. I understand it’s your job but how often am I going to have to put up with your disappearing act?” While he contemplated his response, she let the silence fill the space between them.

  “Mia, if I could control all the nuts in the world, I wouldn’t have a job. As for my responsibilities, when I’m on duty the job comes first. Dating a cop is tough with the weird hours. On-call duty assignments screw with your plans. I’m a cop. I’ll always be a cop. I don’t know anything else, nor do I want to.”

  He stopped, giving her a chance to jump in, to voice her opinion, but the silence dragged on. Jake thought he’d lost her by the faraway look in her eyes, until she spoke.

  “Jake, I’m spoiled, even self-centered. Growing up I always got whatever I wanted and never questioned my demands on other people. As I got older, I realized it’s not how the world works for everyone else. I started to look inside myself and make decisions that would help me survive. You don’t know anything about me, where I come from, who I am, or who my family is.”

  “I don’t want to know everything about you today, or even tomorrow, Mia. I want to discover it all over time. Who your family is isn’t important to me unless they’re criminals.” He gave her the fisheye.

  For the first time since she arrived, Jake watched the tension drain from her body.

  “No, they’re not nor am I, though I do have a few outstanding parking tickets.” She tugged his hands to her and raised them to her lips.

  His stomach unclenched. “Are you hungry? I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

  “Yeah, I could eat.”

  Jake served burgers with a side salad. After dinner, Mia helped him clean up. He washed the dishes. She dried them. As she wiped the last the plate, she turned toward him.

  “Do you have plans for Saturday night?”

  “No.”

  “Would you like to come to my house for dinner and dessert?” With a coy smile, she lowered her lashes.

  “Boy would I, and…we don’t need food,” he answered, smiling.

  “Yes, we do.”

  Happy with the way the evening turned out, he couldn’t wait for dinner on Saturday.

  Especially dessert.

  Chapter 14

  Severe thunderstorms kept Jake awake most of the night. Up early, he brewed the coffee extra strong, almost equal to the consistency of mud. Tasting it, he was satisfied it would keep him from nodding off at his desk. He loaded up a thermos and headed into the precinct. At his desk, he decided to tackle his reports, including writing up the latest episode with Chloe, when Louie walked into his office, whistling. “What’s up, Louie?” Jake asked.

  “All manner of things, my boy, all manner of things, but I digress. I reviewed Meryl Drake’s first interview again, compared it to ours. I didn’t like her tone when she answered some of those questions about her relationship with Shanna. It was all over the board.

  “First soft, then hard, and then back to soft. She got real nasty when Kraus asked if she and Shanna fought. Her attitude hardened again and never softened when she spoke of Chloe. Something’s off with her. She hates Chloe. I got the impression Meryl would like to see her go down for this. Another interview is certainly called for,” Louie said as he finished up.

  “It’s worth a second look. Before we talk to her, I want to talk with Kraus and Brown on it and make sure they verified if she did or didn’t see Shanna the week she disappeared. We looked at her but there wasn’t anything there.”

  “Okay, I want—”

  Katrina, the squad secretary, buzzed in. “Jake, there’s a call for you on line three. It’s JC’s Pawn Shop on Lakeview Road. Do you want to take it?”

  Jake picked up the phone. He could hear Jessie Cerone, the owner of JC’s, yelling at someone in the background.

  “How’s it going, Jessie?”

  “It goes, Jake, you know,” Jessie said.

  “Yeah, I know. What’s up?” Jake asked, before Jessie could go into one of his long spiels on the human race.

  “You sent over a picture last week of an emerald ring. You said you were doing a follow-up, remember?” Jessie got to things in his own time. Jake waited.

  “Yeah, I remember.”

  “Jake, this guy came in five minutes ago trying to hock it. I got it on my cameras. You want me to try to email you a picture?”

  “You have cameras now?”

  “Yeah, I got hit too many times last year. I now have surveillance 24/7.”

  “Good idea. Does this guy know you’re calling me?”

  “No, one of my clerks is still working with him. He called me up front to appraise the ring. I recognized it from your fax. I told him I needed to look up something in my gem book and walked back to my office, and called you. Don’t worry, I played it cool.”

  “Can you stall him? We can be there in about fifteen minutes, if we don’t hit traffic.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Don’t make it obvious, Jessie. If he wants to leave, let him. Did he give you a name?”

  “He didn’t give a last name. His first one is Joe. Real original, huh?” Jessie laughed and hung up.

  “What’s going on?” Louie asked.

  “Get your jacket. We’re heading out to JC’s.” Louie walked to his desk to get his jacket. Jake followed. “Someone’s trying to hock Shanna Wagner’s emerald ring.”

  “Sometimes it just clicks.”

  Jake felt the buzz. Maybe they’d give the Wagners closure and get Chloe off his back at the same time.

  “Oh, by the way, I’ll need a ride home today. If you can find it in your heart to stop by the vet’s I need to pick up Houston. Poor
thing had to spend the night and Sophia’s car is still in the shop.”

  “No problem,” Jake said.

  * * * *

  Jake’s jaw dropped when he walked into JC’s. The guy called Joe—turned out to be Joe Wagner, Shanna’s father. He’d aged since Shanna’s murder.

  “Joe.”

  “Sergeant.” Joe Wagner avoided making eye contact with him.

  “It’s Lieutenant now,” Jake said. “You remember Detective Romanelli?”

  “Detective.” Wagner looked down at his hands.

  “Mr. Wagner?” Louie moved to Wagner’s left side by tacit agreement. Jake walked to his right.

  “Hey, Jessie,” Jake said. “Can we use your back room for a couple of minutes?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  “Mr. Wagner…Joe, can you come with us for a minute?” Jake asked.

  “Why? I’ve done nothing wrong!” His voice almost squeaked.

  “It’s either here in the back room or downtown at the station, Joe. Which do you prefer?” Jake asked.

  “I guess here.” Wagner’s shoulders slumped as he pushed away from the counter.

  Joe followed Jake down the hallway to the office. Louie boxed him in from behind. All of them crammed into a minuscule room designed to hold no more than two people at any given time. A desk, a small round table with two chairs, and a bookcase loaded with books narrowed the space even more. He pulled a chair out for Joe and stared at him until he sat. Jake saw a defeated man who’d lost everything, including his will to live. Wagner’s hands were in constant motion—he was nervous and Jake wanted to know why.

  “What has you so wound up, Joe?”

  “I don’t know what you want, Lieutenant.”

  “Yes, you do.” Jake stared into Joe’s eyes.

  “I don’t.”

  “Where’d you get Shanna’s ring?” Jake asked.

  “We found it in her room. We started to clean the room out in hopes it would help my wife move on. I’m glad I discovered it and not Anna. It would’ve killed her. I hid it from her. I figured I’d get rid of it before she found out,” Joe said.