Attachment Strings (21 page)

Alex nodded and Sean grunted. He still didn’t know why he wasn’t allowed to go to school today. Maybe it was a good thing he wasn’t able to talk, because he couldn’t nag Alex about it. I felt myself blush at this thought and hastily left the house.

I walked to my car with a heavy heart, wishing I could stay. Foremost in my mind was the need to know if the threat to Sean’s life was for real or not. Aware that there was only one way to find out, I got into my car and pulled into traffic.

I
STOPPED
at Starbucks for Parker’s breakfast and got myself a large cup of coffee too. The past two nights’ cramped sleeping had taken its toll on me, which a little bit of caffeine should cure quickly.

Waving hello to some of our colleagues, I walked into the station and dumped Parker’s breakfast on his desk.

“Hallelujah! There’s my savior!” Parker exclaimed.

He almost inhaled his cinnamon roll, which led to laughter from one of our female coworkers. Parker merely shrugged, whereas something like that would have set off a serious tantrum a few days ago. I sat down on the edge of his desk, sipped my coffee, and observed him.

Around a mouthful of roll he asked, “What? Have you never seen a man eating?”

“You’re not eating; you’re
devouring
your food. How can you be this hungry after already having eaten breakfast?”

“It lacked sugar, I told you.”

I shook my head and hid my smile behind my big cup of coffee. Parker leaned back in his chair when he finished eating. Cradling his coffee in his hands, he smiled lazily at me. His face lacked the deep worry lines and altogether seemed to be more relaxed, somewhat younger. The difference was baffling. All that because of his new boyfriend? Either Parker was
really
easy or David was it for him.

“What? I can see you stewing.”

“I’m not stewing, I’m wondering.”

“About what?”

“Various things,” I replied evasively. I didn’t want to get into a conversation about his new relationship. Well, I did want, but naturally that would lead to a conversation about Alex and me, which I did
not
want to have.

“Forensics promised to have the results by noon,” Parker informed me.

“You said so on the phone.”

Parker rolled his eyes. “Well, I was trying to fill in the awkward silence since you didn’t seem to be inclined to explain about the
various things
.”

“You owe me five dollars.”

After eyeing me for maybe half a minute, Parker fumbled for his wallet. He slapped the bills in my hands, leaning forward a bit so he could whisper in my ear, “I want to hear the juicy details of last night as soon as we’re in the car.”

I couldn’t do anything against the blush that formed on my face. I slid down from the desk to throw away the empty coffee cup. Of course Parker had seen my face; the smug smirk on his face spoke volumes. In a low voice I said, “Shut up or I’ll inform a certain someone about your second breakfast.”

I had to give it to Parker, the wince was barely perceptible but it
was
there. With a fake smile plastered on his face, he replied, “You don’t even know how to reach that certain someone.”

“I’m a detective; I have ways of finding out.”

Parker’s gaze flickered around even though he schooled his face into impassiveness. It began to worry me. He looked more together, happier, but at the same time there was something about him, something secretive and shameful that set off my alarm bells. He walked over to me, his body language indicating barely contained anger, and growled, “There’s no need for that.”

He smiled at me, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. His next line had me gaping. “And you’d better not put your nose in my business. I’m sure you’re well aware how it would go down if anyone found out about you and Alex, right?”

What the hell had happened here? He had just threatened me because
he
felt threatened by me, I got that message, thank you. I didn’t get
why
. I believed we’d been amicably bickering around and he had suddenly brought out the big guns.

I rubbed my temples, hoping to prevent a headache from coming on. When did I enter the Twilight Zone?

“What?” Parker asked with a very surprised expression on his face.

“What do you mean by
that
?” I snapped back.

“What do you mean with when did you enter the Twilight Zone?”

“I said that out loud?” I asked. I definitely needed a better brain-to-mouth filter. Or maybe a muzzle. “Well, obviously I wondered why you got all pissy about my comment when you are not exactly known for the most tactful observations either. Threatening to expose me is really shitty behavior, something I don’t expect from my partner.”

Parker looked distinctly uncomfortable as he took a step back from me. “I wouldn’t do that. You know I mouth off from time to time.”

“For Christ’s sake, Parker! You’re supposed to be an adult. You’re in a job with big responsibilities and you think you just can get away with anything,” I hissed. “Get a grip on yourself. I can’t work with someone I can’t trust.”

My little speech hit straight home. Parker blanched and stuffed his clenched fists into his jeans pockets. I still wanted to slap or at least shake him, but the silent treatment was the only possibility right now.

“Does that mean you won’t reveal the juicy details?” Parker asked in a weak attempt at lightening the mood.

That went without saying in my book. “I’ll call the school to tell them we’ll come over around noon today. Where do the Hansons live again?”

“Fleming Avenue.”

I remembered that house. It had seen better times, but the meticulous care of the Hansons was still obvious. The husband had been very memorable too. Arms as thick as my thighs and well above average height. Mrs. Hanson wasn’t a small woman, but in contrast to him she looked delicate and tiny. Their boy, Connor, had looked like a toddler in the arms of his father, even though he was about eight years old.

“The father won’t be at home?”

Parker pulled a face. “I sincerely hope not.”

P
RECISELY
at ten o’clock we pulled into the driveway of the Hanson house. Parker and I hadn’t talked, mostly due to me blocking every attempt he made to have a conversation. He subsided into a sulky silence after the third try, which I thought served him well.

After getting out of the car, Parker snarled at me, “Are we ever going to talk again?”

Flatly, I replied, “Sure, as soon as I get over my trust issues with you.”

Silent and fuming, he followed me to the door. Snidely, I asked, “Are you capable of keeping your temper in check?”

His eyes blazed. They positively
blazed
. A devious grin spread over my face. “As much fun as it is baiting you, I think I’m done for today.”

Parker blinked at me, looking so bewildered that I added, “Stop looking stupid and do
not
ever threaten me again.”

“I won’t.” Parker sounded strangely subdued. More cheerful, he said, “You’re serious about Alex, huh?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Ouch.”

The front door opened as we climbed up the steps. Mrs. Hanson stood in the doorframe, an apron tied around her waist and a dishtowel slung over her shoulder. She could have sprung right out of a fifties advertisement for some cleaning product. I refrained from saying so and instead held out my hand for her to shake.

“Mrs. Hanson, thank you for calling us.”

“Hello, detectives, please come in.”

She ushered us into the house and further down the hall into the kitchen. Last time we were here, she had led us into the living room.

She sat us around a polished wooden table, the smell of freshly baking pie wafting in the air. Without asking, Mrs. Hanson set two expensive-looking coffee cups in front of us and filled them up. Smiling at us, she asked, “Sugar? Milk?”

Parker took both whereas I declined. Mrs. Hanson bustled around in the kitchen while Parker and I sipped our coffee. Overdosing on caffeine was becoming a real threat today.

After sitting there for five minutes and watching Mrs. Hanson stashing dishes in the dishwasher, wiping the counter clean, and putting away cutlery, I cleared my throat. “Mrs. Hanson? I believe you called us to tell us something important?”

Mrs. Hanson tensed up, clutching the dishcloth in her right hand tightly before she let out a breath. Somehow, the noise she made reminded me of a deflating balloon, the air swishing out in a long-drawn hiss. Exchanging a quick glance with Parker, I saw him frowning.

Mrs. Hanson rinsed out the washcloth before she turned around to us. She was very white in the face, and sharp lines showed around her eyes and mouth as she stared at us. Patiently, we waited while she fought an internal battle. Her posture slumped suddenly and tears pooled in her eyes. The change in her demeanor startled me.

“The other day you asked if we had received any kind of threatening letters. My husband believes this is all a bad joke, but I’m not sure and I don’t want to jeopardize Connor’s health. He’s got enough trouble as it is.” Sucking in a shaky breath, she went on, “We received four such letters altogether. The last one arrived a week ago.”

“Do you still have those letters?” Parker asked as he bent forward over the table. Tension and anticipation radiated from him in almost palpable waves.

“Only the last one. Gary, my husband, threw the other ones away.”

Mrs. Hanson made no move to retrieve the letter. I was just about to ask her to get it when she started anew, her voice trembling. “The older letters were scary and made me especially uneasy, but you could still dismiss them. That last letter… there is an ultimatum. It says that he’ll kill Connor on the fourteenth if we haven’t moved away by that time.”

I expected her to break down and cry inconsolably. From Parker’s stiff posture and wary expression, he clearly imagined the same scenario. Mrs. Hanson took in a shuddering breath, dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, and hastened out of the kitchen, saying, “I’ll get the letter.”

Parker and I stared at each other. Very softly, he admitted, “She’s kinda freaking me out. A little bit.”

Raising my eyebrows, I responded, “A little bit or a big bit?”

He stuck out his tongue at me.

“How very mature.”

“We already established I’m not acting mature, so why should I bother?”

I didn’t bother replying to his rhetorical question. Mrs. Hanson came back, strode to the table, and laid an envelope on it. Parker and I snapped gloves on our hands before we pulled the letter out of the envelope. The content was an exact copy of the one Alex had shown us, except for the “be-out-of-town-by” date.

Mrs. Hanson stood next to the table, her face impassive, waiting for us to comment on the letter. Carefully, I said, “Mrs. Hanson, we would like to do some tests on this letter. It might be possible to find out who the originator of it is.”

“You’re taking this seriously, aren’t you? I knew you would take it seriously! I told Gary that this isn’t something to be dismissed.
I told him
!”

Mrs. Hanson exploded into motion, surprising Parker and me. Pacing the kitchen, she rambled on and on about how she had told her husband. She stopped as suddenly as she had started and fixed us with a fierce look. “Will the police protect my son?”

“We’re taking this threat seriously, Mrs. Hanson, and—”

She cut Parker off. “Will the police protect my son? Can you guarantee the safety of my son if we stay here?”

“I’m sure we can arrange protection for several days.”

“Several days? What if whoever is threatening my son won’t take the risk of harming Connor with the police hanging around? What if he waits until you aren’t protecting Connor anymore?”

“Mrs. Hanson, the police—”

This time she cut me off. “No. You listen to me. I’m sure you’re going to do your best and I’m glad I showed you the letter, but you can’t guarantee the safety of my son. Hence, I’ll be packing and taking Connor up to my sister’s. I’m not putting him at risk. I almost lost him a few years ago; I won’t go through that again.”

All our attempts at soothing her fell on deaf ears. She ushered us out of her house, claiming she had to inform her husband about her plans. I wondered where the woman who had seemed so afraid of her husband yesterday had vanished to. We made her give us her sister’s name and address so we could reach her; then we let her walk us out.

“Wow,” Parker said as we strolled to the car. “She’s really protective, huh?”

“That she is. I’m curious whether she’ll be able to stand up to her husband. Maybe a patrol car should drive around here a few times today and tonight.”

“You think the husband will go ballistic?”

“I don’t know, but how would you react if your wife said she’d take your child and run away?”

We climbed into the car where Parker stuffed the letter into an evidence bag. “Thank God I’ll never be having that kind of trouble. We need to find a hint, anything. This could be very serious, Jeff. This is very likely only the tip of the iceberg.”