Chapter 15 Kobe
Kobe
“It’s useless,” Rue said as we grabbed coffee at a drive-through.
Her instant assessment rubbed me the wrong way, even if she was probably right.
“All it does is support what we already know about Jesse,” she continued.
“Never mind then. I thought it was worth mentioning. It could tie into this.”
“Doubt it.”
“You’re still mad.”
“I’m focused, Haven. You should be too. On the present issue, not something we can’t validate that is more than three years old.”
Rue thought it was a stretch to believe Yates’s unfiled report had anything to do with our current murders. I saw her point, to a degree, but if Jesse had raped once, it was easy to believe he’d done it again.
Ford Carrigan and Navid Kordestani’s involvement skewed the picture.
Could they have been the other two assailants?
Ford, maybe, but not Navid. The girl would have mentioned someone significantly older, and the doctor had over two decades on Jesse and Ford.
Plus, we had yet to find evidence that connected Navid to the other two.
According to Ford’s parents, he had dropped out of his accounting program at the end of January 2023.
Apparently, his mental health had been spiraling for some time.
Ford had been living at home with his parents.
After leaving school, his illness got worse.
Over the following year, he spent every day locked in his room, barely getting out of bed to shower or eat.
On his mother’s insistence, Ford had attended therapy and started taking antidepressant medication around Christmas of 2023.
By the following April, he had improved enough to make his way into the work field.
Ford had shown no interest in returning to school.
With a partial degree, he’d gotten an entry-level job at Scotiabank and seemed happy.
So far as his parents understood, he had not rekindled any friendships from his school days.
Until the day he was killed, Ford had remained extremely introverted and rarely dated.
I tried one last time. “All I’m saying is, we shouldn’t outright dismiss it. According to Yates’s report, we have two unknown alleged rapists. Ford and Navid could—”
“It’s not a report, Haven.”
“Can you listen? Ford didn’t leave school until four months after these girls talked to Yates.
It’s possible he was with Jesse that night, and this whole thing revolves around these girls.
We know Jesse and Ford were friends. According to a few of the women we’ve talked to, Ford was part of Jesse’s party group. ”
“Yeah, three years ago. No one is waiting three years to enact revenge, if that is what you’re suggesting.”
“Why not?”
Rue turned into the parking lot of the main administration building on campus, left the car idling, and turned to face me. “And how the hell is Navid part of this? Where does he fit in? I have a hard time believing he associated with Ford and Jesse or attended campus parties.”
“I don’t know.”
“Focus, Haven.”
“I am focused. I’m mulling over theories.”
“We need facts to support them.” She snapped a case file from the dashboard and shook it in my face. “We need proof.”
I batted the folder away. “I know how the job works.”
“Sometimes I wonder.”
Our next appointment was with Laurent St. Pierre, the head of student affairs and the person who had handled Jesse Vargas’s expulsion.
Before we headed inside, Rue said she wanted to call the sergeant and update her about our meeting with Ford Carrigan’s parents, so she could get the ball rolling on the press conference.
“I’ll wait by the door.” I left my partner in the heated vehicle while I wandered to the building, muscles tense and with irritation prickling my spine.
The sun shone unfairly bright considering the frigid temperature, and I curled into the warmth of my jacket.
Again, I thought of Dominique and his easy acceptance of my uncouth opinions the previous night.
He wouldn’t brush me off. He would listen to my theories.
They weren’t unreasonable. I debated sending him a quick text to tell him I was still thinking about that kiss, but when I checked the time and realized it was nearly nine thirty, I figured he would be elbows-deep in an autopsy.
I tapped out a message regardless, knowing he’d get it when he was done, and maybe it would bring out that strained half-smile I saw on occasion.
I can’t stop thinking about your mouth. It’s making it hard to concentrate on my case.
The text landed, and within seconds, before I could pocket my phone, it rang. Dominique’s name filled the screen. I swiped to answer, grinning ear to ear.
“Dr. Chevalier. Shouldn’t you be working?”
“Shouldn’t you?”
I glanced at the patrol car. “I’m waiting for Rue to get off the phone. She’s updating the boss before we head into another interview. How’s my DB? Did he have anything to say?”
“Well, I’m training two students this morning, and they’re down the hall in radiology taking care of his beauty shots, so I haven’t been able to strike up a conversation with the guy yet. I fear he may be… tight-lipped.”
I chuckled. “Gotta love mortuary humor. You’re a funny guy, Doc.”
“If I didn’t joke every now and again, I would have quit years ago. Most people don’t appreciate my wit.”
“I’m not most people.”
“No. You aren’t. I take it you won’t be joining us in the autopsy theater this morning.”
“Can’t. I eagerly await your report, though. I’ve got my fingers crossed that our dear dead Mr. Carrigan will bring all the answers.”
“Don’t hold your breath. I don’t anticipate finding anything new.”
“Figures.” I glanced at my partner, but she was still chatting. “I mentioned to Rue I wanted to escape for a bit around the dinner hour. She didn’t seem to mind. She’ll need a break from me by then, I’m sure. Did you have a preferred time?”
“I feed Cosette at six thirty, but we don’t have to eat with her. Any time after that. I can reheat our portions if I have to.”
“Sounds good. I’ll keep you posted.”
A weighted silence bled through the line.
Even when we weren’t standing in front of one another, the pull toward Dominique was undeniable.
I wanted to reach through the phone and touch him.
I wanted to press my body to his, conquer his mental resistance, and savor that blissful moment when he surrendered.
I lowered my voice. “I wasn’t lying.”
A pause. “I’m confused. About?”
“Your mouth. I can’t stop thinking about it. You taste good, Doc. I think I’m already addicted.”
I had replayed the kiss so many times that it had followed me into my dreams the previous night. I woke at dawn on fire and with a heavy need pulsing under the surface of my skin. It had taken a cold shower and a quick wank to settle things.
“Perhaps…” Dominique’s voice came out thick and husky, “we can revisit it later.”
“I’d like that.”
“Me too.”
“Is it too forward to ask what time Cosette goes to bed?”
He chuckled. “Early.”
“Maybe we could—”
“Haven!” Rue’s sharp tone snapped in the cold air, effectively dousing the flames licking through the phone line. “Let’s go.”
“Goddammit,” I muttered under my breath. “Mother calls. I gotta run. I’ll text you when I know better what time I’m coming over.”
“Take care, Kobe.”
We hung up. A text landed on my phone. Maybe we could. A full sentence in response to my unfinished one from a moment ago.
I couldn’t temper my smile, and Rue noticed.
She yanked open the door and ushered me inside. “You’re like a lovesick teenager. No wonder you can’t focus.”
“For the last time. I am focused. Quit saying I’m not.”
“I saw you two ogling each other last night. I assume it’s going well with the doctor?”
“It is. Very well, but since we are completely case-oriented today, we aren’t talking about my budding love life.” Besides, I jealously wanted to protect the newness of my and Dominique’s relationship and wasn’t in the mood to share my happiness with my partner.