To Protect And Serve Part 4

task force if you can get past your first run-in with her. Besides, that turned out all right in the end."

"I don't think she'd agree with you. She still seems pretty angry."

Alex chose not to tell Beth that Keri Morgan was virtually on the project already. She needed more information about the young of cer before nally adding her name to the short list. Maybe with just the right piece of intel she could talk the chief out of a personnel a.s.signment that could only prove disruptive and unproductive for the entire team.

"Give her some slack," Beth said. "She doesn't know all the facts about that incident three years ago and you do."

"I don't have time to baby-sit on this one. Councilman Chambers is already climbing the chief's a.s.s about Stacey's death. She was a great kid, but her father can be a pain in the b.u.t.t. I don't blame him, though.

I'd be doing the same thing if she was my daughter."

Beth stopped halfway up the building steps. "Is this really just about Morgan sulking over past history? Or is there something else?"

Her sideways smile told Alex she liked the young of cer's potential and looks.

"I'm afraid she's a time bomb waiting to go off, and I don't need to be dealing with anybody's issues in addition to..." Alex felt her insides tighten.

"In addition to what?" Beth eyed her with concern.

Alex hesitated, knowing her friend's reaction would be immediate and strong. "Layton PD is in on this."

"Oh, h.e.l.l no. Who do I have to talk to? Ain't no f.u.c.king way this is happening. You know Callahan will try to make you look bad and take over the case. And you can bet your sweet a.s.s that she'll try to get you in bed again-that's a given."

"It's a done deal, Beth. I've just got to work with it. I want this guy bad, and if he had anything to do with Stacey's death, I'll nd out and bury him. Besides, there's a promotion waiting for me." Just the thought of it quickened her pulse.

"One more promotion won't change anything in this s.h.i.thole of male ego and favoritism, and I don't think it's worth the fresh h.e.l.l of dealing with Callahan again. Besides, it's not like you do it for the money."

"No, I don't. So will you come by tomorrow and look over some names with me?"

* 46 *

"Sure." Beth checked her wrist.w.a.tch. "Want to work out now?

It's still early."

"No, let's skip it tonight," Alex said. "I've got to get some rest so I can get this task force rolling in the next few days."

"That's right, go to your old home with your old things and think about this old problem that's getting ready to be brand new. Take it from me, nix this thing quick, Lieutenant. You don't need Helen Callahan in your life again." Beth's tone was teasing, but Alex knew she was very serious.

She was also dead right. The last thing Alex needed was another round in the ring with the only woman who had ever made her wonder if life was worth living.

* 47 *

* 48 *

CHAPTER FOUR.

The next morning during their warm-up at the running trail, Pat's inquisition began. "Who was that gorgeous auburn-haired vixen last night in the parking lot? The way that gym suit clung to her body made me want to run interference. Do you know her? Is she single? Can I meet her?"

Keri bit down on her lower lip. She could tell Pat was nowhere near nished with this topic.

"Did you get a load of how she was looking at us?" Pat sighed. "It was like she was trying to decide between calling the re department to hose us down, the vice squad to arrest us for indecent conduct, or just joining us. It made me h.o.r.n.y, watching her watching us."

Keri's heart raced uncharacteristically. Thinking of Alex Troy as anything other than her nemesis was unsettling. A tingle of physical uneasiness rippled through her body. Alex had given them a scathing look, but Keri interpreted it as her usual disapproval.

Pat nally noticed Keri's silence. "What? Are you going to hook me up? That's what friends are for."

"That was Alex Troy."

"The Lieutenant Troy? d.a.m.n, she's hot."

"She was hot, all right, but not in a good way. If looks could kill, I'd have been dead when she crossed that lot last night."

"Okay, so I'm letting my hormones get the best of me-again."

Pat focused unnecessary attention on her shoelaces.

Keri thought again about the look Alex gave her and Pat last night and wondered why it felt so personal. Maybe she was too focused on * 49 *

the past. She just needed to do her job and let her performance speak for itself.

"It probably wasn't personal," Pat mused. "The senior staff is the same at the hospital. Always worrying about the department's reputation. What are the chances you're going to have to deal with Troy, anyway? You're not even in the same division."

"Are we running today or talking?" Keri took off at a sprint.

"Hey, wait up. I didn't mean to p.i.s.s you off." Pat huffed, trying to catch up.

Keri slowed her pace. "You just hit a sore spot." Another of many where this woman was concerned. "She's going to be handling the Narcotics task force I told you about last night."

Pat stopped and caught her breath. "You've always wanted to be in Narcotics."

"Exactly. And now it looks like my chances are shot to h.e.l.l.

Whoever gets on this team is pretty much a.s.sured a permanent slot in Narcotics."

"Is there anybody who can help you?"

Keri understood what she was getting at. Politics would be pretty much the same in a hospital or a police department. Nothing was ever beyond favoritism, bribery, or blackmail. "Even if I could pull some strings, I'm not working with this woman. I just can't, Pat. After the way she's treated me, I could never expect a fair shake. End of story.

Let's change the subject."

Pat easily converted to her default topic of choice: s.e.x. "Great. So when are we going trolling again? There's nothing so wrong that can't be xed by a hot, anonymous f.u.c.k."

Keri smiled at the ease with which her friend talked about, and through the years, engaged in s.e.x. Pat's philosophy about relationships was simple-do your best until one of you gets over it, then move on. Keri had begun to wonder if there was something wrong with her physically. She enjoyed s.e.x but had never experienced the all-consuming pa.s.sion people raved about. Perhaps it would be different if she were in love with someone.

"I guess I could handle a little stranger s.e.x," she said. "It couldn't hurt my frustration level."

Pat threw up her hands. "s.e.x isn't to be 'handled.' You need to * 50 *

jump in with both feet and go wild. How many times have I told you that you don't have to love everybody you sleep with, despite what you read in the lesbian handbook."

Keri smiled. "Don't get me wrong. I enjoy s.e.x, at least the physical part. It's the lack of emotional connection I have a hard time with."

She slowed her pace, then stopped, taking in the gla.s.sy stillness of the lake. Pat stood behind her and wrapped her arms around Keri. Her warmth and compa.s.sion lled Keri with a deeper longing. She craved such intimacy with a lover. Why did it seem so hard to nd?

"This is what I'm talking about." She leaned back into Pat. "I've never felt this level of intimacy with anyone I've slept with. When someone holds me, it's usually for s.e.x. But I want a friend and a lover.

Maybe I'm asking too much."

"You just haven't met the right woman," Pat said. "Believe me, when you do, all the loose ends will connect just ne. Meantime, don't sell yourself short for anyone. You deserve to have exactly what you want."

Keri nudged Pat and nodded toward the track. "Thanks. Let's go."

Making the turn at their halfway mark, Keri was ready for a change of focus. "So what about you, my wise friend?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, don't play dumb with me. How's your love life?"

Pat jogged several minutes before responding. "Same old, same old for me. I'm basically the opposite of you. I fall for anything in a skirt, love them as long as it lasts, and move on. They never seem to love me back anyway, so it's just as well."

Keri was touched by the sincerity in Pat's voice. "What did you just tell me? You haven't met the right woman yet, either. And when you do, she'll see the same great person I do and she'll love you back."

"We're so good for each other's egos. Why haven't we ever slept together?"

Racing her friend to the end of the trail, Keri called back, "Because it's just s.e.x to you, and I want to fall in love. What a perfect way to end a good friendship."

v * 51 *

Being summoned to the chief's of ce before start of business was never a good sign. The long hallway leading from the back stairway to the executive suites lacked the usual din of the workday, but Alex heard urgent voices echoing as she approached the partially opened door. She tapped lightly and immediately understood the chief's tense expression when he waved her in.

"You know Councilman Byron Chambers," Lancaster said. "We're just discussing the investigation."

"Councilman Chambers, I'm so very sorry for your loss. Stacey was a wonderful young woman. She'll be missed."

The man in front of the chief's desk shook hands with her, tears pooling in his eyes. Even with the obvious differences, Alex could have picked him out of a lineup as Stacey's father. His reed-thin frame was more angular where hers had been curvy and soft, but they both had the same intense blue eyes. Stacey's had always shone with laughter and promise. His mirrored the anguish so apparent in his defeated posture and pale features. He cleared his throat and said, "So, Chief Lancaster tells me you'll be leading the investigation."

The chief motioned for them to be seated. "Alex is heading the drug task force aspect of the case. The homicide squad is handling the death investigation, but Alex has been read into the speci cs. You have my word-"

Councilman Chambers raised his hand to stop the chief. "No disrespect, Rudy, but I want someone on my daughter's case who knew her. I don't want this handled like any other case. I want them to care what happened to her. And she always spoke so highly of Lieutenant Troy."

Alex started to speak, but Lancaster replied, "Byron, I can a.s.sure you that none of our death cases are considered routine."

"I'm sure, but you'd want the same thing if she were your daughter."

The comment stopped Rudy Lancaster. Alex knew it touched his heart as a father. After a beat, he said, "I'll make sure everyone knows Alex has the lead."

Seeming satis ed with the chief's answer, Chambers returned his attention to Alex, asking, "What can you tell me?"

"At this point, the team is still being a.s.sembled that will look into the drug-related aspect of the case. It would be helpful if you could * 52 *

give me a list of the people Stacey a.s.sociated with, professionally and personally. I know she went into counseling after graduation but we hadn't had a chance to talk about it much."

The knowledge that they never would saddened Alex to her core.

Why hadn't she kept in closer touch?

"I'll give you anything you need. But please keep me in the loop."

Byron Chambers took a notepad the chief offered and wrote furiously for several minutes. "This is everyone I can think of. I'll check with her mother and see if she can add anything."

Chief Lancaster stood and moved around his desk toward the door.

"We should probably be going, Councilman. The press conference starts in ve minutes. Hopefully someone will come forward after we've made the appeal. Alex will keep us both informed every step of the way."

Alex knew the chief's last statement was not just a rea.s.suring comment for Byron Chambers's bene t but an indirect order to her.

After shaking hands with both men, she headed back to her of ce and poured a fresh cup of coffee. As she sipped she went over the names on the councilman's list. Stacey Chambers was obviously a very popular and well-connected woman. Her register of contacts resembled a who's who of Granville politics and society. It would take an entire team of of cers weeks to interview everyone. She decided to let the homicide glory boys handle the legwork and her guys would take any really promising leads.

Unfortunately, no one on the list stood out. Her next hope was that someone Stacey worked with or counseled at the Granville Drug Rehab Clinic would have some worthwhile information. Once she had the names from every other statement, she could cross-reference them with known a.s.sociates of the other victims. Maybe there would be a connection. And just maybe, if they were really lucky, someone would respond to the councilman's appeal for information.

v Alex's desk phone buzzed and Shirley's sharp tone reverberated against the predominately bare walls in her makeshift of ce. "Lieuten-ant?" She pulled the word out like hot taffy. "Sergeant Price is here.

You remember her, don't you?"

* 53 *

"I'm not sure. Refresh my memory." Her secretary knew she and Beth had attended recruit school together and remained best friends.

Beth opened Alex's door and shot her the bird. "Does this refresh your memory?"

"I'll take it from here, Shirley," Alex said into the speaker. "And hold my calls for a while. We've got a lot of work to do."

Beth closed the of ce door and dragged a worn fabric armchair next to Alex's. "I'd know that tone of voice anywhere. You've already gotten a call from the soul-sucking b.i.t.c.h. Right?"

"She left a message on my machine last night, but I didn't listen to it."

"I told you, Alex. It's not going to work. Helen's not a team player.

She'll either try to take over or she'll blow the whole case with her petty power plays. Just remember what she put you through on that other task force, and there wasn't nearly as much at stake." Beth shook her head. "She's just aching to ride you down that dark road again."