Fatal Flaw (25 page)

“Sounds like she’s feisty,” Lindsey said. “That’s a relief.”

“For sure,” Gonzo added. “Finding her like that scared the shit out of me.”

“What’ve we got here?” Cruz asked.

Gonzo brought him up to speed and outlined their dilemma about leaving the man’s widow alone in the house where he’d been found dead.

“My mom volunteers at a grief group at our church,” Freddie said. “I could give her a call and see if they can send someone over to be with Mrs. Lynch.”

“That’d be great,” Gonzo said. “Thanks.”

As Freddie stepped aside to make the call, Lindsey turned to Gonzo. “I’m going to head in to HQ and get going on the autopsy. I’ll let you know what I’ve got the minute I’m done.”

“Thanks for staying.”

“Anytime.” Lindsey headed for the curb and climbed into the back of the ME’s truck to accompany Mr. Lynch to the lab. She rapped on the window to give her guys the go-ahead. As the truck lurched forward, she studied the face of the man Amanda Lynch had loved with her whole heart. Lindsey wanted to know what that was like, to love so completely and to be loved the same way in return.

Without allowing herself another minute to ponder the implications or to consider all the reasons why making this call might be the worst thing she’d ever done, Lindsey found Terry’s number on her list of contacts and pressed Send.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said when he answered, making her smile.

“Hi, there.”

“Funny, I was just thinking about you.”

“What about me?”

“I was wondering if your legs are as long as they look. I hope I get the chance to find out.”

Even though the truck was kept cold in deference to the cargo, Lindsey was suddenly on fire. “I have a few more hours at work, but I was wondering if you might be free later.”

“I’ve got a few more hours to go, too, but I’ve got nothing going on later.”

“How about I give you a call when I’m done?”

“Sounds like a plan.” He paused for a long moment. “Lindsey?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad you called.”

While he waited for the crime scene detectives to finish their work at the Lynch house and for Cruz’s mom to show up—she’d insisted on coming herself—Gonzo took another look at his watch and realized he was going to be late. Again. Christina was awesome about stepping up to help with his baby son when he needed the assistance, but lately he knew he’d been taking advantage of her. He kept waiting for her to say enough already. With that in mind, he placed a call to her.

“Hi, hon.”

“Hey, where are you? Alex and I just got to your place.”

“Thanks for picking him up again. I really appreciate it.”

“I don’t mind. You know that.”

He closed his eyes and released a sigh of relief. “I keep waiting for you to tell me he isn’t your problem.”

“Why in the world would I do that?”

“Because, technically, he isn’t your problem.”

“I love him, Tommy, and I love you. I’m not going to suddenly get annoyed because you need me to help you with your son. I know your hours are crazy and unpredictable.”

“So are yours.” As Nick’s chief of staff, she put in long hours at the office and on the campaign trail.

“What you’re doing is more important.”

“I don’t know what I did to get so lucky to find you.”

“Well, it didn’t hurt that you’re hot.”

Gonzo smiled. “Back atcha, baby. I caught a homicide late in my tour.”

“In that case, I’ll feed Alex and give him a bath. Hopefully, you’ll be home in time to say good-night.”

“I hope so.” He lived for his evenings with her and his son.

“If not, I’ll wait up for you. Go do what you need to do, Tommy. It’s okay.”

“Love you.” He loved her so damned much he couldn’t recall how he’d ever lived without her. Freddie’s mom pulled up to the curb and got out of the car. “I’ve got to go, hon. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” Jamming his phone in his pocket, he crossed the lawn to meet Freddie and his mom.

“You remember Gonzo, right, Mom?” Freddie said.

“Of course. Good to see you again, Tommy.”

Gonzo shook her outstretched hand. “Thanks for coming, Mrs. Cruz.” He told her about Mrs. Lynch and her terrible loss.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.”

Gonzo knocked lightly on the front door and found Amanda Lynch right where they’d left her. He introduced her to Freddie and Juliette Cruz and asked if she’d be willing to speak with her for a couple of minutes.

“Is it about Jimmy’s case?” Amanda asked.

“No, ma’am. She’s here for you.” Thankfully, Juliette stepped forward and took over before Gonzo had to explain further.

Once the women were seated together talking, Gonzo and Cruz stepped outside again.

“Thanks a lot for getting her over here,” Gonzo said.

“No problem. Are you thinking this one is related to Trainer and Jeffries?”

“Hard to tell, but there are similarities. We’ve got a connection to Roosevelt High School with all three murders. Tomorrow we’ll dig a little deeper on that.”

“I spent all day interviewing Jed Trainer’s girlfriends. The guy was a total man whore. I can’t believe he only got caught once.”

“Anything pop?” Gonzo asked.

“Not a thing. They all have airtight alibis.”

Frustrated, Gonzo ran his hands through his hair. “What the hell is going on with all these low-key, well-liked people ending up dead? I don’t get it.”

“We don’t even know if they’re related in some way.”

“Sam got another card today that said something about being disappointed that there hasn’t been more media coverage of the letter-writing campaign.”

“You think the pen pal case is related to the three murders?”

“I don’t know what to think. Everything about all three of these cases feels off to me.”

“We need one of Sam’s threads to pull. Something to tie them together.”

“We’ll start digging in the a.m. As soon as crime scene is done, I’m going back to HQ to do the paperwork on this one before I head home.”

“I’ll to stick around here and wait for my mom, so go on ahead.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

“All right then,” Gonzo said. “See you in the morning.”

“If not before,” Cruz said, referring to the odd spate of murders that had struck their city in recent days.

“If not before.” Gonzo jogged to his car with renewed hope that he might get home in time to see his son before bed after all.

Sam trudged into the house and made a beeline for the kitchen. After she plugged her phone into the charger, she poured a glass of ice water and downed a big swallow.

“Go easy, tiger,” Tracy said. “Your stomach is totally empty.”

“I’m so thirsty.” She checked her text messages and saw a quick note from Jeannie expressing concern about Sam’s health and mentioning that she’d like to talk to Sam when she felt better. “I’ve got McBride looking into the Fitzgerald case.”

Tracy seemed shocked to hear that. “Why?”

“I know it bothers Dad that he was never able to solve it. I thought it was time for a fresh look.”

“Does he know that?”

“I decided to do it after he got sick. Why?”

“No reason.” Tracy got busy putting dishes away. “How about some toast or something? Remember how Mom always fed us cinnamon toast when we had the stomach bug?”

Sam hadn’t thought about that in a long time. “Yeah.” While her head was still pounding, they’d given her something that made her feel woozy and mellow. Whatever it was had taken the edge off the god-awful pain from earlier.

“So you want some?”

“I couldn’t keep it down.” She refilled her glass and leaned unsteadily against the counter. “I got a wedding card from her.”

Tracy looked up from the text message she was sending. “From who?”

“Mom.” Sam now had her sister’s full attention.

“What’d it say?”

“The usual stuff. She said we made for a beautiful bride and groom, and she’d love to meet Nick sometime.”

“Wow.”

“You ever hear from her?”

Tracy shrugged. “Here and there. Nothing regular.”

“You never told me that. I figured she didn’t bother with any of us.”

“Ang went to see her last fall.”

Sam stared at her sister. “Are you
kidding
me? Why didn’t she say anything?”

“We both know how you feel about her.”

“I thought you felt the same way. After what she put Dad through…”

“It wasn’t all her, Sam. He played a part in it too. You were too young to remember a lot of it.”

She had no idea what her sister was talking about. “A lot of what?”

“That’s a conversation for another time. Let’s get you upstairs to bed.”

Even though she wanted to finish the conversation, Sam’s legs were on the verge of collapse, so she let Tracy guide her upstairs. On the way, though, it occurred to her that she’d encouraged Freddie to make amends with his mother. Was it time for her to take her own advice? That would be something she’d have to think about once this case was closed. “I need a shower. I smell like puke.”

“Sit here for a minute,” Tracy said, guiding Sam to the bed. “I’ll get you some clothes and help you into the shower.”

“You must have stuff to do. I can take it from here.”

“I’m not leaving you alone. I signed a form that gave me custody of you, so you have to do what I say.”

“Oh jeez,” Sam said, shuddering. “Just like the old days.”

“You got it, little sister. Sit tight.”

Sam watched her sister leave the room and cross the hall to the bedroom that had been made into a closet.

Tracy stopped, raised her hands to her face and let out a shriek. “Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
”

Sam struggled to her feet and staggered to where her sister stood watch over the shredded remains of Sam’s clothes. At first, Sam couldn’t figure out what had happened, but then she took a closer look. Her eyes landed on the gorgeous wedding gown Vera Wang had made just for her, which lay in tatters on the floor next to the ice-blue gown she’d worn the night Nick proposed to her in the White House Rose Garden.

“Oh,” Sam said as a new wave of nausea demanded her full attention. She fought it back, reached for the weapon still holstered to her hip with one hand and grabbed her sister with the other hand. “Get out.” The headache began a new relentless tempo as she half dragged Tracy to the stairs. “Might still be in the house. Go. Now.”

“What about you?” Tracy whispered, her eyes wide with fear and shock.

“I’m coming too.” Under normal circumstances, Sam would do a full canvass herself to make sure the house was clear. But at the moment she couldn’t decide if she was going to puke or pass out, so getting her sister out of there was her top priority.

Ignoring the pounding pain in her brain, Sam steered Tracy downstairs and out the front door. “Call it in,” she said, breathing through the pain.

Tracy, who seemed frozen, fumbled with her phone and finally succeeded in calling 911. “What the fuck, Sam?” she asked when she ended the call. “Who would do that to you?”

“God only knows.”

“How’d they get in?”

“The alarm wasn’t on, so it wouldn’t have been all that difficult.” She couldn’t believe Nick had failed to set the alarm when he left. That wasn’t like him. If anyone were going to forget, it would usually be her. Scotty must’ve had him seriously distracted to miss that step. Thinking of how upset he’d be when he heard about what’d happened made her sad. He would blame himself, of course.

The idea of someone breaking into her house and shredding her clothes… Who could possibly hate her that much? A lot of people, she conceded, recalling the huge pile of folders containing all her case files. So many people had reason to hate her. How would they ever narrow it down to one suspect?

Dots danced before her eyes, returning her attention to the headache from hell. She must’ve stumbled because Tracy grabbed her arm.

“Sit,” she said, guiding Sam to the curb as the scream of sirens filled the early evening air.

Sam dropped her pounding head into her hands, trying not to think of her glorious wedding gown reduced to shreds. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wouldn’t allow her colleagues to find her bawling on the curb when they arrived. Right now she needed to be a cop. She could be a devastated recent bride later.

Nick sat across from Scotty at one of his favorite Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End. The boy’s face was slightly sunburned from the afternoon in Fenway Park’s Green Monster seats, his mouth was red from spaghetti sauce and his brown eyes still danced with excitement. Nick had enjoyed every minute of watching Scotty’s awe at flying for the first time and visiting Fenway Park—also for the first time. It had been quite a day for both of them.

“What was your favorite part of today?” Nick asked as he nursed a beer while Scotty devoured his second plate of spaghetti.

Scotty rolled his eyes. “Duh.”

Amused, Nick said, “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Scotty swallowed the huge mouthful of spaghetti and wiped his face, succeeding in better smearing the sauce on his face.

Nick leaned over and finished the job.

“Thanks,” Scotty said with a chagrinned smile. “Meeting Big Papi was the best part of the day. You still haven’t told me how you made that happen.”

“I’m friends with a senator from Massachusetts. He went to college with one of the team owners, and they helped me arrange it.”

“Seriously, I almost passed out when I realized we were going to meet him.”

Nick laughed. “I had to remind you to breathe, remember?”

“It was the coolest thing
ever.
I’ll never forget it.”

“Neither will I.” Nick had no doubt he’d always remember the awestruck expression on Scotty’s face when David Ortiz strolled toward them, and Scotty got that he was coming to talk to them. What was even more priceless was the worshipful expression he’d directed at Nick when he realized his friend had arranged the meeting in advance.

“So, listen,” Nick said. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.” He’d asked for a private corner in the restaurant so they wouldn’t be overheard.

Scotty put down his fork, and his entire demeanor changed. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, buddy. Of course not. It’s nothing bad.”

“Oh, good,” Scotty said, visibly relieved. “I would hate it if you didn’t want to be friends with me anymore.”

“Scotty…” Nick’s heart broke at the fear he heard in Scotty’s voice. “That’s not going to happen.” Nick reached out to put his hand on top of Scotty’s. “There is nothing you could ever do that would make me—or Sam—not want to be your friends anymore. Nothing.”

He looked up at Nick with big eyes. “Really?”

“Really. That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Here goes nothing,
Nick thought, suddenly as nervous as he’d ever been in his life.

“If it’s nothing bad, why do you look so freaked out?”

Nick laughed, which helped to defray the nerves a bit. “Because it’s not every day I ask a boy who has become my very best friend if he’d like to come and live with me and my wife.”

Scotty’s mouth fell open, and his eyes got even wider. “You…you guys want me to
live
with you? Like every day?”

Nick was besieged by a thousand different emotions that settled into a lump in his throat. Clearing it away, he nodded. “Sam and I love you very much. We’d like to make you part of our family—officially. Not just occasional weekend visits.”

Scotty took a full minute to process that. “So you want to like adopt me?”

“If you’ll have us.”

“And she wants me too?”

“Very much so. We talked about whether we should ask you together, but we decided I should talk to you about it when it was just us guys. But she wants you to know how much she loves you and wants you in her life—not just once in a while but all the time.”

“Wow,” Scotty said, seeming blown away. “It’s a lot to think about.”

“I know it is, and you should take your time and really think it over. We’d give you everything we have—and I don’t just mean money, but our time and attention and the love of a big, extended family.”