“Hello,” called a man. “Arlington County Police.”
“Back bedroom,” Stryker replied.
Two officers entered the room, their guns drawn. “Did you call for us?” asked one of them.
Stryker had been staring at April, but he couldn’t shake seeing his mom’s face. To his surprise, he was trembling. “Yeah, I did.”
“Sir, please step away from the bed.”
After he stood, he shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Please leave your hands where we can see them,” instructed the second officer.
Stryker dropped them by his sides. “Name’s Stryker Truman.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” The officers holstered their weapons.
“I own a nightclub in Arlington and April Peters is my head bartender.” The second officer stepped away to make a call. “According to my general manager, she was a no-show last night and tonight. When she didn’t return my GM’s calls, I checked on her.”
Two EMTs entered the room, pushing a gurney.
“Were you in a relationship with Ms. Peters?” asked the primary.
Here we go.“No, she was my employee.”
“Was she deceased when you arrived?” he asked while an EMT felt April’s carotid.
“Yes.”
“Did you move her?”
“No.”
The second officer returned. “Homicide has been called.”
After speaking quietly to the officer, the EMTs left, without April.
“I’m gonna kill the SOB who did this to her,” Stryker muttered.
“Mr. Truman, please don’t make statements like that.”
Stryker pulled two cards from his wallet. “I run Truman CyberSecurity in Reston and I own The Dungeon in Arlington. Have the detective call me. I gotta get some air.”
“We can’t let you leave, sir,” said the officer. “The homicide detective will want to question you.”
“I’ll be in the living room.” Without waiting for permission, Stryker left the bedroom, but the vivid memory of his mother’s lifeless eyes stayed with him.
He hadn’t been able to save her, either.
2
Detective Easton
Homicide Detective Emerson Easton heard “wedding gown” and high-tailed it to the crime scene. A fresh-faced officer she didn’t recognize met her in front of the low-rent apartment building. Patrol cars with their lights flashing had some neighbors milling around on the grass. Didn’t matter that it was after midnight. Curiosity never slept.
“What’s the word?” she asked, not slowing to chat.
“The vic is on the third floor.”
