“Just one more thing.” Andi was already stepping away from Tina, in the direction of their car. “How did you know where Izzy was found? I know the information about a serial killer was leaked, and that there was a connection to House Cusabo, but not where the bodies had been found.”
George froze, as did Geena. He hadn’t even thought about that. Meeting Tina here had just felt so natural.
Tina fidgeted. Then she took a deep breath. “Izzy said the dead were hiding from the apocalypse. It wasn’t hard to deduce she was talking about a prepper bunker, and I may have overheard somewhere that a large number of CPD ATVs had been sent here.”
“You’re a smart woman, Tina. Be careful.” Andi started walking.
“Don’t we want to question her about how she managed to ‘overhear’ the dispatch of members of the police force?” Geena asked, hurrying after them.
George shook his head. “No. Shireen loves a good puzzle.”
“She’s going to kill you.” Geena fell in step beside them.
“Nah. She’s just going to sic her newbies on it. Besides, Tina was helpful, wasn’t she?”
“By insinuating her sister was psychic? I’m not sure that’s what I’d call helpful. Then again, it’s probably right uphisalley, isn’t it?” She gestured at Andi. If her tone had in any way been threatening or malicious, George would have put her in her place. As it was, Geena sounded more intrigued than unbelieving.
“Let’s just say we’ve seen our share of interesting witnesses, and Tina Whitewall doesn’t make the top five.” George wasn’t sure if she managed the top ten. He knew his number one were silverfish, because their interpretation of the world relied on different aspects, while moths, for example, as useful as their perception of pheromones was, provided a rather one-dimensional picture of events. And he couldn’t believe he was actually thinking along those lines without getting hysterical. Life with Andi did toughen one up.
“She said Izzy was treated for schizophrenia. The others were either bipolar, depressive, or suffered from PTSD. Perhaps finding out why the killer chose her could help to find him?” Andi’s voice still had a monotone quality, meaning he was receiving. George made a point of walking closer to him, in case he tried to use a leg he didn’t have. It rarely happened when he was still lucid enough to form entire sentences, but George liked to err on the side of caution.
“So far we assumed he chose his victims because of their specific mental illnesses. Perhaps he had another criterium we aren’t aware of because it’s not that obvious?”
“I love him. I’m going to take him with me when this case is done.” Geena made grabby hands in Andi’s direction.
George laughed and batted at her like she was a pesky fly. “He’s all mine. Hands off.”
“Fine. Be a spoilsport.” She pouted. “Let’s see if things have calmed down at the precinct. Perhaps Luke can adjust his profile of the killer. I’d also like to talk to Tina’s parents, just to get their view on things. And we need to talk to Thomas LeClerk again. I’d leave him to you and take the parents if that’s okay for you?”
“More than okay. You sure you don’t want to go back to House Cusabo?” George didn’t want Geena to think they were hogging the main suspects and leaving her to do the legwork, even if she had suggested it herself. Good relations between different agencies were all about the balance.
“To be honest, that house gives me the creeps. I gladly leave it to you. And sometimes cases are cracked wide-open by witnesses that were deemed unimportant. I’m counting on that.”
“More power to you.” They had reached the Escalade, and George unlocked it with his fob. “Let’s see how things are at the precinct.”
IT WASthe sixth circle of hell, as depicted in Dante’sDivine Comedy. Or at least that’s how George imagined it. Not that there were any flaming hot tombs around, but the atmosphere had a decidedly burning quality, and everybody was holed up at their desks, trying to not draw attention to themselves. George suspected the chief had been lying in wait for them, because their attempt at getting to their desks was foiled the moment they reached the bullpen.
“Donovan, Hayes, in here!”
Geena looked longingly at their desks but moved to accompany them. George gently shoved her away. “I admire your bravery. Or pity your stupidity. Can’t say for sure. Run while you can.”
“You’re such a gentleman. Next round of coffee is on me.”
“Deal.”
Andi entered the chief’s office first, not bothering to sit down. George remained standing as well, close enough to his partner to keep him from doing something stupid. The chief slammed the door shut, turning on them even before the echo of the bang faded.
“Do you have the killer yet?”
“Uh, no. Obviously not. We have a few suspects but no credible evidence yet.” Two could play this game of being rude as fuck.
“Then hurry. The mayor is hounding me, and with this leak, the press is going to be all over us. More than already. And make no mistake, I have absolutely no qualms putting all the blame at your feet. In fact, it would be my pleasure.” The malicious glint in Norris’s eyes was all George needed to know that they had left civil far behind them. Next to him, Andi tensed, getting ready for a fight they couldn’t engage in right now because they had a killer to catch. He put his arm on Andi’s lower back, a gesture not missed by the chief, as evidenced by the narrowing of her eyes. He hoped she would choke on her own aspirations.
“You better not keep us from work, then. I doubt the killer is going to just walk into the precinct.” He ushered Andi toward the door, keeping himself between his partner and the chief. It seemed the shorter their meetings got, the more unpleasant they became.
“Don’t forget you’re on a schedule!” the chief yelled after them when he closed the door. She always wanted to have the last word.
“Can we kill her now?” Andi’s hands were balled into fists.
