Loves Redemption (20 page)

led him a few feet to the marked place where the victims had been found. “This is where they were found.” He pointed to the two hollowed spots where the bodies had been excavated.

“From the report it says Allison was killed after the male victim. Is this the grave where

her body was found?” he asked pointing down to the grave in question.

“Yes, we found the male in the first grave, and Allison in this one next to it.”

“Detective Halstan if you don’t mind, I would like to be left alone.” His silver gaze asked Mark
not
to ask him why.

There was something strange about the agent. Whatever it was, Mark knew it was the

reason for his unusual quiet demeanor, and the way he silently observed everything around him.

“No problem. While you’re here, I’m going to head back down to the car and check in

with Jordan to find out if there’s anything new happening. Take your time. Whenever you’re

done, meet me back at the car.”

“Thanks I would appreciate it,” he said.

Nicolai waited until the detective was out of sight before turning back to the shallow, dug out graves.

Hunching down low, he allowed his arms to reach out and lightly brush back and forth

over the nearest grave. As he was brushing his hands over the dirt mound he closed his eyes with his head bent low, and took deep measured breaths.

As his breathing became regulated, his chest rose and fell, taking on the appearance of

one sleeping. With eyes closed, he began to go into a deep concentration, centering his focus inward on the far away pinpoint of light that was becoming larger, as though it were coming from some far away distance.

As the light became brighter and larger, muted sounds began to filter into his

consciousness.

The sounds were at first full of static, as though he was trying to find a clear station on the dial of an old AM/FM radio. Nicolai’s breathing slowed down even more as he concentrated on his goal, and his hand stilled on the first hollow grave. His concentration became pure and focused, until the first audible sounds filtered into his mind …

“I asked you to stop laughing at me; you should have stopped laughing. I wanted to go

home but you wouldn’t let me, and now you’re the one who won’t be going home,” the soft high
voice sounded out of breath.

There were harsh grunting sounds. “Lay off the donuts, big boy. You’re definitely a lot
heavier than you look. Okay now let’s get to the fun part. Do you want to party? Yes, let’s have a
party. Isn’t that what you asked me? ‘Don’t you wanna party, little girl?’ Sure I want to party.”

There were rustling sounds. “Now this won’t hurt a bit. Just be quiet and it will be over
before you know it. If you relax, you might like it.” The soft voice took on a different cadence,
uttering a low demented laugh before stopping. “There yes, just like that. See--doesn’t it feel
good? Oh yes it feels
really
good
.”
Coarse sounds of satisfaction were uttered for long moments
before they came to an abrupt halt.

“Hey where did ya go? I think ah musta fell asleep for a minute. Shit ahm sorry. I don’t
usually do that. Did ya have to piss or something? Where the hell are you?” A different voice
slurred, the words blending together.

“Oh damn it why didn’t she keep her drunk ass knocked out? What do I do now? What do

I do now? Damn!” The soft-pitched voice muttered the question to no one in particular.

“Hey who are you?” A rustling sound with a barely audible expletive indicated the

newcomer’s stumble. The closer the footsteps came, the more clearly the second feminine voice
was.

“Oh hell no. I’m not into this freaky shit. No more threesomes for me thank ya very much.

Been there, done that, got a freakin’ badge. As a matter of fact this is it for me. No more johns.

I’m cleaning up my act. I promised my sister,” the woman mumbled.

“Unfortunately for you, sweetheart, it’s too late. You’ve interrupted something that was
none of your business and I cannot allow you to leave here.”

“Oh my God. What are you doing?” Hasty footsteps were heard, and the muffled sounds

of two shots from a silenced weapon. An agonized whooshing sound indicated the connection
between bullet and flesh.

The sound of heartfelt tears filled the air. “I’m so sorry, sister. I had to do it. You would
have told and I couldn’t let that happen. I’ve only begun. I have a lot more work to do. If you
told then all of my fun would be over. I’m not ready for my fun to be over.” There was a brief
pause.

“Oh what’s this? I remember these necklaces. Someone out there shares your heart, huh?

Isn’t that sweet? Who has the other piece, little sister?” A snapping noise indicated the break of
a chain. “Well now. I don’t think you’ll miss this. Why don’t I keep it for you--hmm? It’s time to
hide you both away now. It’s getting late and I have an early day tomorrow.”

The once sad voice sounded happy and normal, virtually upbeat, as though the anger,

sadness, and heart-wrenching tears had never transpired.

Humming lightly, the only other sound was of a shovel steadily digging up dirt, the sound
becoming more and more distant until if faded away completely…

Nicolai’s heart began to beat at a faster pace. His heart reached its normal speed, and he

lifted his chin from where it rested on his chest, rotating his head from side to side. He opened his eyes, and as they came into focus, he clenched them closed tight and grabbed both sides of his head in anguish.

The predictable pain hit strong and true, not giving him a chance to prepare. He blindly

reached inside his jacket pocket and located the small bottle of pills, only to have it fall from his limp hands.

Before he could feel around for them, the cap was opened, and the pills were shaken out

into his palm.

* * * *

Mark had completed his phone calls and had made follow up calls before looking at the

clock on the dashboard. Thinking the agent had been given enough time to do whatever it was he was doing, he’d headed back to the scene.

When he had first caught site of Agent Montgomery, he’d thought the man had fallen

down. As he rushed over, he noticed he was kneeling with his head low on his chest, eyes closed.

On closer inspection, he noticed his eyes were moving rapidly back and forth behind closed lids, as though he were sleeping.

Not sure what to do, Mark stood indecisively observing him, as Nicolai’s eyes opened.

His eyes looked strange and out of focus, giving them an opaque appearance Mark had

never seen on anyone. He watched as the agent clenched them shut and clutched his head.

When Mark saw him reach inside his jacket to pull out the small bottle, he went to his

side in time to catch them. After opening the cap, Mark reached down to open the agent’s palm and shook out several of the pills.

“Thank you,” Nicolai knew who’d given him the pills without opening his eyes.

“Hey, why don’t you sit down for a minute? Look, let me give you a hand up. There’s a

tree over there you can rest against until you feel better.” Mark reached down to take the silent man’s arm and guided him the short distance to the tree, bearing much of his weight as he did so.

Once there he allowed the agent to slide down the tree and watched as he leaned his head

back against the thick trunk with his eyes remaining closed.

Mark turned and walked a few paces away to try and the agent time to regain his

composure. Several minutes later, he cleared his throat. Turning back Mark looked over the

small distance at the relaxed figure.

“Thanks.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what that was all about?” Mark asked as he looked down

at the agent.

“If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you,” Nicolai replied with a half smile showing nothing but teeth, giving his face an even more predatory look than ever.

Although he’d said the oft-joked phrase with a grimace he was passing off as a smile,

Mark noticed a strange gleam enter his eyes that made him wonder how much the man was

joking. Shaking off the notion he walked over to extend his hand.

“Thank you, but I can manage this time,” he declined. Mark shrugged his shoulders and

walked away when Montgomery reached for his arm.

“Thank you. I sometimes suffer from migraine headaches, and when they hit me, I can’t

seem to function. But it passes. I have a prescription so I’m usually prepared for them. This one, well, it caught me by surprise,” he offered by way of explanation.

Mark nodded his head. “No problem. Glad I was here to help.” And the two went down

the incline toward their vehicle. Once he was behind the driver’s seat, Mark gave the agent his full attention. “Are you up to checking out another scene? You still look a little green around the gills.”

“I’m fine. Let’s go to the next scene Detective.” Nicolai assured him.

“Okay, if you say so.” Mark pulled away from the roadside and headed for the second

crime scene designation.

As he drove, Mark glanced over at the silent agent, wondering what had happened to

wipe him out.

He didn’t think he looked ready to go over another scene or do much of anything else. It

looked like he could use as a nice soft bed to lie down in.

* * * *

“Maya, I have good news,” Dalia said as she ventured into her office.

“Yes and what is that?” Maya asked as she continued to peruse an open file lying on her

desk. Pausing in her reading, she looked up at Dalia as she pushed the small wire frames closer to her eyes.

“When you were in your meeting this morning with the detectives, we received a phone

call from a graduate student who would like to start an internship with us this summer. Not only is he willing, but would prefer to do his hours in the evening and weekends. Except for Fridays.

He said Fridays would not work for him,” Dalia told her with an excited look planted on her face.

“Oh that’s great, Dalia. Does he have his paperwork from the intern office and from Dr.

Tomas?”

“He says he has everything. Dr. Tomas signed his paperwork before he left for vacation

and the student....” she looked down at the notebook in her hand before continuing. “James

Smith. Yes his name is James Smith. James will be coming on Sunday if it is okay with you? He wanted to come in as soon as possible.”

“Yes of course Sunday will be fine, preferably in the morning, Dalia. Arlinda and I are

working on the fundraiser in the afternoon.”

“I will call him back and set the time for Sunday then,” Dalia answered as she left the

office. As she was leaving, Maya’s direct line rang. Motioning that she’d answer, Maya picked up the phone.

“Imani House this is Dr. Richardson,” she answered as she glanced over the file in her

hand.

“Hello there Dr. Richardson, this is Detective Halstan. How are you today, sweetheart?”

Maya set the file aside and spun around in her chair to face the open window. A smile

automatically creased her face. “Hello back at you. I’m fine, busy but fine. How’s it going for you?” she asked as she twirled the pencil she held between two fingers.

“Fine. It’s calm around here for once. Agent Montgomery and I finished with the crime

scenes a few hours ago. Right now I’m catching up on some paperwork.”

“How did it go? At the crime scenes,” she clarified before continuing. “Did he have a

chance to look over the scene where Ally was found?” she asked with a slight hitch in her voice.

“Yeah, sweetheart, he did. He didn’t say anything particularly about it. It was pretty odd

what did happen, but I’ll tell you about it when I see you.”

“Okay,” she took a deep breath and continued on a lighter note. “Are you going to be

here for dinner? Jorge is making quesadilla and rice,” she stretched out the last word, tempting him with Jorge’s cooking.

In the weeks Mark had been coming on Fridays he’d often eaten dinner with her at the

House.

She would tease in front of Jorge that his cooking was the real reason for Mark’s Friday

visits. A red flush would stain Jorge’s dark cheeks before he would laughingly agree and say although he loved her, the poor detective would starve if he waited for the
bonita doctura
to cook for him.

The majority of the residents had grown used to Mark’s presence around Imani House

too. This was an added bonus. Most of the residents had been nervous and reluctant in the

company of the police due to past encounters.

However they trusted and respected Mark as they too had taken to teasing Maya about

him. She took it all in stride, happy they welcomed and trusted Mark, allowing her to feel

comfortable incorporating a relationship with her life’s work.

“I’m wrapping everything up as we speak,” Mark said with relish, the sound of papers

rattling, discernible through the telephone.

Maya laughed before turning back around in her chair to face her desk. “Okay I’ll see

you later then.” She returned to her work with renewed energy.

* * * *

“Lieutenant, have you seen Jordan?” Mark asked as Lieutenant Hernandez walked into

the open bay and went directly toward the coffee pot.

Unlike Mark, the lieutenant drank coffee around the clock, saying it took mass quantities

to affect him.

“He’s been in and out most of the afternoon following up on some leads. Did you need

something, Detective?” The lieutenant asked as he took a bracing swallow of the thick brew.