Life in Death (9 page)

“Your poor car,” she said.

“It’s just a car.” He shrugged. “That’s what insurance is for.”

“Right.” She sat back on the couch and Nicolet joined her. He grabbed his mug on the way.

“So, how would you characterize your relationship with Mina?” he asked in what Kari perceived as a more conversational tone.

“Honest.”

“What do you mean by that?” He took a sip and placed his mug back on the coffee table.

“We didn’t have any secrets from each other.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.” She grew irritated. “Look, Detective Nicolet—”

“Please, call me Rance.”

“Rance, I loved her and I’ll miss her, but I didn’t kill her. That’s totally preposterous.”

The lights flickered off. The only source of illumination came from the fireplace. She could barely make out Nicolet’s silhouette. Lightning flashed and thunder followed with a loud boom. She jumped.

“Oh, great,” she said.

Tucker barked.

“It’s okay, Tucker. Shhh.” Kari wanted to comfort him. He didn’t like storms either. But Tucker continued to bark.

“Do you have any flashlights?” Nicolet asked.

“In the kitchen.”

“Let’s get them.” Nicolet stood.

He placed his hand on her shoulder. The warmth of his palm scorched through her shirt.

They made their way into the kitchen, much like two blind mice. She rummaged through the drawers for a flashlight. The wind picked up outside and howled.

“I really like that you’re here. This kind of weather scares me.” She moved closer to him.

“Why?”

“Because it can’t be controlled.”

He leaned in, his breath caressed her ear. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”

She didn’t know how to respond, so she continued to search in the drawer.

“Found it.” Relief flooded her when she pulled the flashlight out of the drawer and turned it on. He leaned in for a kiss. She swayed uncontrollably from lightheadedness and leaned into his arms.

Damn it.

If she didn’t have bad timing, she wouldn’t have any.

“C’mon, let’s get you seated.” He led her back into the living room and helped her sit down on the sofa. He snuggled in beside her and laid his hand atop hers. Delicious bolts of electricity shot through her.

“I’m concerned about you.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’m very resilient.”

“Yes, I see that. That’s one of the things I like about you.”

He leaned in again. That’s when the lights came back on. Nicolet smiled. “You’ll be fine now.”

“I’ll keep this flashlight with me, just in case.” She smiled back.

“Remember, I’m a phone call away if you need anything.”

He grabbed his suit jacket and left. She felt his departure more than she wanted to. He’d made her feel comfortable, safe, and wanted. She’d almost forgotten she could feel that way and it was wonderful.

CHAPTER 16

“As you can see, she’s been burned beyond recognition thanks to the accelerant dumped on her.” Dr. Chiba waved a gloved hand up and down the length of the cadaver. “I ran the victim’s fingerprints. Since Mina Steele is a government employee, her data would be in the system, but no match to Jane Doe here.”

“You don’t think this is Mina Steele’s body?” Cobb asked. “Then who the hell is she?”

The doctor shook his head. “We’ve got to wait for dental records.”

Cobb threw his arms up. “For how long?”

Nicolet glared at him.

“Be of good faith, Detective.”

“What else can you tell us?” Cobb forced a more congenial tone.

Dr. Chiba held up the victim’s arm and made a circular motion above the wrist. “There are ligature marks on her wrists and ankles.”

“They tied her down?” Nicolet asked.

“No doubt about it.” The doctor lowered her arm, then turned her head and pointed to the back of her skull. “Also, there’s significant blunt force trauma here.”

Dr. Chiba turned her head back and pulled off his gloves. “That’s not what killed her though. The fire did.”

“Fuck.” Cobb shook his head. Nobody should go that way.

“One more thing,” Dr. Chiba said. “You guys gave me Mina Steele’s info, but the details don’t match. You said Mina’s father told you she broke her left arm at six. There’s no sign this woman has ever broken any bones. I’d say this isn’t Mina Steele.”

“So where is Mina?” Nicolet asked. “And who’s this?”

“And why would someone want us to believe this is Mina?”

“Don’t know, boys. That’s for you to find out.” The doctor covered the cadaver, then left the room.

“No shit, Sherlock,” Cobb glared at Dr. Chiba’s back.

***

Nicolet pulled up to the driveway and parked.

“Why are we here?” Cobb asked.

“I talked to some of Mina Steele’s neighbors, and they all directed me to the same busybody, Mrs. Margaret Reynolds, who just happens to be here with her daughter.”

“Nice work.”

Cobb didn’t often give out compliments, so Nicolet would take what he could get.

Melanie Roberts showed them into the living room, where Mrs. Reynolds sat, a grey cat perched in her lap. The 63-year-old had sun kissed skin, shoulder length blonde hair, and blue eyes. As soon as she noticed the detectives, she stood, her hands smoothed over her black slacks.

“Who do we have here, dear?” Mrs. Reynolds asked her daughter.

“Detective Cobb and Detective Nicolet are here to see you.”

Mrs. Reynolds extended her hand to both men. She lingered a little longer with Cobb.

Melanie gestured for them to sit in the wingback chairs adjacent to the sofa her mother sat on, and then excused herself. Mrs. Reynolds squirmed in her seat and angled her body toward Cobb.

Nicolet held back a laugh. He’d never seen a woman take an interest in Cobb until now. Probably because Cobb chased women far younger than himself.

“Mrs. Reynolds, we need to ask you some questions,” Cobb said.

“Of course, Detective,” she replied and batted her eyes at him.

Cobb cleared his throat. “We’ve reviewed your statement. We just have a few more questions.”

Mrs. Reynolds’ cat rubbed itself against Cobb’s leg. He used his foot to push the cat away, but the cat wouldn’t stop.
Even cats love him.
Nicolet stifled another laugh.

“I’m sorry, Detective. Let me get her.” Mrs. Reynolds scooped her cat up into her arms.

“Thanks.”

“He’s a very handsome man, isn’t he, Violet?” she said to her cat, then flashed Cobb a smile.

Cobb ignored her.
He doesn’t even know how to take a compliment.

“Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt Mina?” Cobb asked.

“I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“Can you help us re-create that day? When did you first see her?” Nicolet asked. He wanted to get Cobb off the proverbial hot seat.

“I heard Mina’s door slam shut around seven. I didn’t actually see her, but she was a creature of habit and ran every morning at seven.” She stared at Cobb with love-sick eyes.

“When did you actually
see
her?” Nicolet continued.

“Around one in the afternoon. A delivery boy brought her flowers to me when she wasn’t home, so I left her a note to come over when she got back.”

Cobb took out his notebook and pen. “Who were the flowers from?”

“I don’t know. She never told me.”

Cobb smiled. “That doesn’t mean you don’t know…. ”

She crossed her legs and bounced them up and down. “Why should I know, Detective? The card didn’t say…. ” She covered her mouth with her hand.

Nicolet chuckled. “What did the card say?”

She sighed. “I love you more and more each day.”

Cobb rolled his eyes. “What man would say that?”

“I doubt seriously the flowers were from a man. They were probably from her girlfriend, Veta.”

Cobb grunted his acknowledgement.

“What kind of flowers were they?” Nicolet asked.

“Roses, of course. Red roses. Mina didn’t like the card or the roses—not one bit. She looked disgusted. She tore the card up and told me to keep the flowers. I assumed she and Veta had fought."

“Where’d the flowers come from? What store?”

“Chandler Florists.”

Cobb scribbled notes.

Mrs. Reynolds leaned forward. “I can’t say I’m surprised by all this. Mina was different. She had weird stuff in her apartment, and men and women came and went from her place all hours of the night. I didn’t know what to make of it. A sweet girl to be sure, but definitely strange, and she may have been loose, too.” She rolled her eyes.

Cobb and Nicolet looked at each other.

“You said her apartment was strange…. ” Nicolet prompted.

“Oh, yes, all those hideous African masks on the wall—atrocious. There was one thing she really loved. It was a horrible little statue of a man in ropes with feathers on his head. The eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went. Scary.” She shifted in her seat. “Can I offer you some refreshments before you go?”

Nicolet let Cobb answer for them. “Sorry, ma’am, we really have to go.”

“Please don’t call me ma’am. It makes me feel so old.” She lightly touched his arm.

Cobb jerked away from her, turned on his heels, and left the room.

“I’m sorry about my partner. He’s not really a people person.”

Her shoulders slouched. “So I gathered.”

Nicolet shook her hand and thanked her for her time.

“If your partner ever does become more receptive, have him call me.” She winked.

“I certainly will.”

Nicolet went out to the car, where Cobb waited.

“She likes you, man. Why don’t you go for it?” Nicolet playfully punched Cobb in the arm.

“Who?” Cobb raised his eyebrows.

“Your girlfriend, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Fuck you. I don’t date old women. I got standards.”

“Which is why you won’t get laid anytime soon.”

CHAPTER 17

Kari's fingers played nervously on the phone. Her heart fluttered with the anticipation of hearing his voice again.

“I have to leave town,” she said as soon as she heard his voice.

Silence.
Nice. Very smooth.

“Hello?” She checked to see if their call was disconnected.

“I’m here,” Nicolet said in an icy tone.

“You said to call if I ever have to leave town… so I am. My son has gotten into some trouble and I have to go get him.” She fiddled with her watch clip, opening and closing it. The call from her ex had come as a surprise, and though she regreted the reasonf or the call, she was just grateful her son would be coming home.

“You have a son?”

“Yes, I do. Some detective you are,” she said in an effort to lighten his mood.

“You don’t exactly have a room that screams
a boy lives here
.”

“That’s because he doesn’t. Erik’s lived with his father this last year, but the arrangement doesn’t work anymore, so I have to pick him up and bring him back here with me.”

“He must be real excited about that.”

“Actually, he wants to come back.”

“When do you go?”

“Wednesday. I’ll be back on Monday.”

“Will you have your cell phone with you just in case I need to reach you?”

“Yes.”

“You said you and Mina became friends in college. Is that how you bonded?”

This was a strange segway to a different subject.

“No, Mina and I both lost a parent when we were twelve. She lost her mom and I lost my dad. We bonded over that.” Kari didn’t care that she sounded irritated. One minute they were fine and the next, they weren’t. He had some crazy mood swings, enough to drive a woman mad.

“Okay, I got it now. Check in with me when you get back.” He hung up.

Oh, yeah, you’ll be the first person I call when I get back.
She didn’t have time for his head games. She deserved better.

***

For Kari, there were no fond memories of home. She and her older sister, Morgan, were shuttled back and forth between their parents’ homes for years. The family was all but destitute after their dad died. Kari’s mother, Sonora, worked menial jobs to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Kari and Morgan drifted apart after their dad died and constantly bickered over trivial things. Their dad showered them with love and affection, was attentive, and present in their daily lives. Sonora, on the other hand, proved to be quite the opposite: cold and distant, a bit of a recluse, and sometimes verbally abusive. She only attended major events in their lives like their high school and college graduations, weddings, and the birth of their children.