Echo's Crusade Part 12

Kelly grinned and shook her head. "Nope, I'm sorry you know that group...they're always on time. What kind of sandwich do you want? I can recommend the roast beef today."

Roan groaned inwardly at the temptation of her favorite meat. "That sounds good. Thanks."

Echo felt her lips twitch, but she didn't laugh. They entered her office and Echo sat in one of the two comfortable armchairs and waited for Roan to do the same. At first, she didn't. "Will I need to requisition a new carpet?" She watched Roan's pacing.

Shamefaced, Roan dropped into the chair opposite Echo.

"Nice office. You must be well thought of here."

"I am. Stan asked me earlier to consider going into partnership. It was always in the cards...Karen and I taking over when he retired, but I wasn't sure once she'd gone," she answered softly.

Roan heard the self-doubt in Echo's voice. "Is it what you've worked toward and want?"

Echo stared at Roan and their glances caught. Again, for her at least, she felt the world stop, then restart with just her and Roan as the pa.s.sengers.

"Is it?" Roan felt her heart beat more rapidly than normal as she held Echo's eyes.

"I thought that once...now I'm not so sure. We were a team, Karen and I. Now that she's gone, it's hard to think about the same kind of goals." Echo looked up and saw Kelly standing in the doorway with her lunch. "Come on in, Kelly."

"Roast beef for your guest...and your chicken salad is on your desk, Echo. I've made a pot of coffee." Kelly quickly placed the sandwiches and coffee on the table.

Echo smiled her thanks. "Kelly, this is Lieutenant Keating."

Kelly blushed as she gave the officer a second look. "You're Lieutenant Keating. Ah, right, well, enjoy your lunch, Lieutenant. I'll stall the Johnson group for as long as you need in the conference room, Echo." She slid out of the office and shut the door behind her.

"Did I grow two heads or something?" Roan asked as she bit down on the sandwich. She let a smile crack the corners of her mouth. "This is really good."

Echo chuckled as she poured them coffee. "Kelly's a great girl, but there's going to be intense speculation, of course."

Frowning, Roan inclined her head. "Why?"

There was silence as they chewed their sandwiches. Echo gave Roan a piercing look and made a decision. "Because you're beautiful and she'll be wondering if this is a social call."

Pondering that for a few seconds, Roan gave Echo a questioning look.

For a moment, Echo almost lost her original bravado. Then she quickly said, "I'm a lesbian, and you're a very beautiful woman. Although I doubt I had to inform you of that pertinent point of my life...you probably had me checked out down to the brand of coffee I buy in the supermarket."

There wasn't any outrage or shying away from the subject. Instead, Roan devoured the remains of her sandwich. "You don't buy from the supermarket and you go to the international coffee shop on Seventh. As for the other..." Roan shrugged. "It's your life to live the way you want...it wouldn't have been any of my business. And yes, I did check you out but only for any police record."

Echo felt deflated at the nonchalant way Roan was taking her admission. Before she could say anything further, Roan's cell went off as it normally did whenever they hit a sensitive subject. If Echo didn't know better, she'd swear the woman had rigged her phone. Echo gave a small smile and indicated Roan should take the call. Standing, she walked over to her desk to pick up her notes for the meeting.

"Keating...Yeah, they did? Great. Who else knows about this? There was a soft chuckle as Roan replied, "You learn fast, Detective Painter. Maybe I'll keep you around. I'll see you at the lab in fifteen."

Echo wondered if Painter was a man or woman, then berated herself for the self-inflicted pain of her wandering mind and the fact that she had unashamedly listened to the one-sided conversation.

"I have to go," Roan said apologetically.

"Perfect, so do I." Echo tried to sound nonchalant, but even she knew she failed.

Roan heard the inflection of pain in the Echo's voice and wondered why. "It's a new lead. You never told me why you called me earlier."

Shrugging, Echo smiled. "Maybe I just wanted to catch up."

"Okay," Roan said as she made her way to the door. Then she turned and collided with Echo. Roan's arms automatically went around her, and they looked into each other's eyes. A habit that Roan decided she enjoyed-maybe too much. Although with Echo's last admission, another aspect was added to the mix of what she was feeling. "Look, we do need to catch up, what about this evening? I'll take you out to dinner...just you and me this time."

A kernel of hope popped inside Echo's mind. "I might have a late night, can I call you?"

"Sure. Look, I have to go." Roan dropped her hands and they both left the office.

Echo called out as she moved past Kelly's cubicle, "Roan." Roan spun on her heel.

"Yes?"

She hesitated for a second, then smiled. "I'll call you later...it might not be so late."

Kelly smiled broadly.

With a brief smile, Roan nodded and was in the elevator before Echo could walk two more steps.

"That's Lieutenant Keating? She's a stunning lady," Kelly said.

Echo frowned. "Not what you're thinking. Now tell me, does the Johnson group look happy or upset?"

Chapter Eighteen.

Danny Painter watched Keating's grim face as she learned the details about the fingerprints they found on Greystoke's body. "This is big, Lieutenant. Shouldn't we inform the captain?"

Roan didn't register the man's words. All she saw was the police chief's logo all over the details of the fingerprint's owner. "It can't be," she whispered.

"Lieutenant, should I call Captain Renaldo?"

"No!" she barked in frustration. "Stake out the chief's office and have someone go to the residence. I'll talk with Renaldo personally." Roan had always felt something was wrong, but this...never in her life would she have thought this.

"You got it, Lieutenant," Painter said as he began to leave. "Detective," Roan said. When the man turned around, she said, "Tell them it's a security matter...we don't want anyone spooked." Roan turned back to the picture on the screen and closed her eyes. Then she heaved a heavy sigh, waved her thanks to the technician, and left the room on her way to the captain's office.

Ten minutes later, she was standing in Renaldo's office stiffly as the angry features of her superior bore down on her.

"I gave you an order, Keating, which you disobeyed. I could have you suspended for that."

"You could, but I'm technically on leave, Captain."

Renaldo poked a warning finger in Roan's direction. "Don't get smart with me, Keating."

Roan gave a bland expression. "Just stating the facts, ma'am."

"Well, by all means, tell me exactly why you're here and not Detective Painter." Renaldo sat back at her desk and let out a snort of disgust.

After concisely describing what she and Painter found, complete with the fingerprint a.n.a.lysis, Roan waited for the reaction.

"That can't be!"

Roan, not wanting to admit she had the same reaction, remained quiet.

"What have you done with this information, Lieutenant?" Renaldo knew Roan would already have set a plan in motion; it was one of her better qualities.

"Painter is watching the chief's office, and he's organized a unit to sit tight on the residence. I figured it was best to advise you. The next logical step will be your decision."

"We both know what that is, Keating. Your uncle has gone to the church. Do you want the pleasure of bringing him in?" Renaldo pulled her gun from a drawer and strapped it in place.

This time, Roan felt a c.h.i.n.k show in her armor. "No, it wouldn't be right."

Renaldo gave her a hard stare and nodded. "Never a truer word spoken, Keating, I'm not sure I'm up for it, either. I've known Declan Mahoney for a long time. He used to be my captain when I was a rookie." The reminiscent words reverberated around the room. "Okay, let's get this over with."

Surrounding the street outside the building were indigents who were standing behind the area the police cordoned off. Rumors surfaced that a killing happened at the church. Two officers were guarding the entrance when Roan and Renaldo arrived. Once out of their vehicle, they moved toward the building. A slightly overweight officer held up the crime scene tape for them and they pa.s.sed under it.

Roan glanced around and didn't see Mahoney's vehicle as her mind worked overtime on where he might go next. She drew a blank. "His vehicle isn't here."

Renaldo heard the softly spoken words and didn't need clarification. She knew Keating was talking about the chief. She motioned one of the cops to join them. "Is Mahoney here?"

The cop shook his head. "Haven't seen him, Captain."

They entered the church and walked rapidly toward the officer inside with the forensics team. "Has Chief Mahoney been and gone?"

"Sorry, Captain...we haven't seen the chief...was he due here?"

Roan sighed inwardly and closed her eyes for a second.

"Roan, do you have any idea where he would go if not home?" Renald asked.

"No."

Renaldo stared hard at the young woman debating if she was telling the truth. "I know this is hard. He's family. Are you absolutely sure?"

Roan's expression was featureless as she clearly said, "Yes."

"Fine, I'll put out an APB for the chief's car and the man himself." Renaldo shook her head and headed toward the exit.

Roan remained where she was. The pain in her chest had been gradually wearing her down for the last hour and she'd forgotten to take her Vicodin that morning. If Echo knew, she would have made her take one at lunch. Roan let a small smile escape. Thinking of Echo made her feel better. How weird is that? "At least you're not involved in this, Echo. G.o.d knows it's a d.a.m.n mess right now." She thought about the situation again and smiled tightly. "The irony is you made this mess, Echo."

Renaldo shouted from the exit, "Are you going to stand there all day talking to yourself, Lieutenant?"

Roan wanted to answer, "Disobeying my superior more than once in a day? No way," but instead replied, "Be right there, Captain."

The afternoon meeting had been successful. The Johnson group wanted to sign up for another year if Echo spearheaded the campaign. Echo agreed and saw joyful satisfaction on Stan's face when he heard. Now she was committed to another year, and in a way, once she saw Roan at lunchtime, she'd made her mind up not to go. If her admission hadn't fazed Roan, perhaps she had a chance for she knew Roan wasn't immune to her.

"Echo, a guy named Douglas called and said the appointment would have to be earlier than planned and you should call him when you came back in the office. It sounded urgent," Kelly said.

"Thanks. Looks like I'm going to have to leave early. If anyone wants me, I'll have my cell with me. I'd love a coffee before I go," Echo, partially preoccupied with the call from the police chief's a.s.sistant, said.

Checking her contact list, she dialed Douglas's number and waited for him to respond.

Seconds later, he said, "Robert Douglas, how may I help you?"

"h.e.l.lo, this is Echo Radar. You called me earlier, Mr. Douglas, about the meeting."

A shuffle of papers was heard before the man responded. "Chief Mahoney is interested in what you have to say and asked that you meet him away from the office no later than five. Can you do this?"

Echo looked at her watch. It was almost four. "Where should I meet him?"

"Are you familiar with Coney Avenue?"

"I know of the place. Are you sure that's where he said to meet? It isn't the most respectable part of town." Echo frowned. Coney Avenue was a known haunt of prost.i.tutes and drug dealers. Scribbling the address he gave her on her pad, she said, "I'll be there," then ended the call.

"c.r.a.p! Why would he want us to meet there of all places?" She picked up her cell and dialed Roan's number. When Kelly came in with the coffee, she mouthed a thank you. For what seemed like an age, Roan's phone rang before it went to voice mail.

"Hi, Roan, it's Echo. Look, I did need to speak with you. It's about your uncle. I've arranged a meeting with him, and if you can, I'd like you to be there. Probably won't be possible, but in case it is, the address is 78 Coney Avenue. I hope I see you there. I'm leaving the office for the meeting now."

Taking a sip of the hot coffee, she opened her drawer and pulled out the file with the photos and notes that Karen left for her. "Karen, I hope wherever you are that you're looking out for me because I have a funny feeling that things aren't what they appear to be. Maybe I should wait for Roan to call. Darn it, I'm a big girl, and it's only her uncle, so how much trouble can I get into?" Gulping down the rest of her coffee, she collected her belongings and left the office.

"Will you switch that infernal phone off, Keating?" Renaldo growled in frustration. Roan's cell had interrupted three of the last four conversations.

Roan curled her lip contentiously and swiftly glanced at the caller ID. It was Echo. s.h.i.t, we seem to be playing telephone tag today. Obediently, she switched the phone to vibrate and put it in her jacket pocket.

"You were saying?"

Renaldo glared at Roan. "I know you're a smart cookie, Lieutenant, but watch that mouth of yours or it will get you in big trouble. Police pedigree or not, this isn't looking good for your uncle or your family name."

Roan nodded. "You make my family sound like a pack of dogs."

Renaldo frowned heavily and was about to say more when the phone rang. "Renaldo."

Seconds later, she hung up and turned to the woman across from her. "Apparently, the chief's vehicle is back in the parking lot without the chief. Painter is talking to the driver now."

Roan was about to leave when an authoritative voice asked, "Where are you going, Lieutenant?"

"To speak with the driver, I know him. Painter is a rookie and you don't need me here."