Chapter Twenty-Three
Bhodi?
It’s been a strange forty-eight hours. After Summer’s outburst at the church, I gave her a couple of days of space. The hurt in her eyes was too much to handle, but she didn’t seem to understand the law, and as a detective, I can’t just arrest someone on a whim, no matter how guilty I know they truly are.
I know her emotions were running incredibly high and no matter what I said, I would have just sounded like a condescending prick trying to reason with her. It’s an argument I really didn’t want to have, and If I’d followed her, there would have been a good chance it would have continued.
“Grey, my office now!” The captain hangs his head out of the office door before heading back inside.
Sliding a report to the side, I rise from my chair. Getting ready for another ass-chewing, I head inside. Surprisingly, I’m met with Captain Dean and a familiar detective from another precinct.
Entering the office, I idle in the doorway for a moment before the captain gestures for me to sit.
“This is Detective Daly; he’s working a missing person case. A familiar name popped up in the investigation.” He begins.
I turn to shake Detective Daly’s hand before taking my seat.
“Sure.” I shrug.
“Harry Maine.” The captain speaks first.
“He’s Summer Harper’s former fiancé.” I say without hesitation.
“Did you know he’s here in the city?”
“I do. He flew in a day or so after Summer. He’s been harassing her, but for now, she’s just hoping he’ll go away.”
“And has he?”
“No, he’s visited Michael Harper’s apartment a couple of times, but she refused to let him in. She didn’t want him arrested; she wants no contact with him.” Looking between the two men, I finally ask the question. “What’s this about anyway?”
“I got a call a couple of days back.” Turning my attention to Detective Daly. “An Alex Crane was reported missing. He didn’t turn up for his shift at O’Reilly’s. When a colleague went to his place, it looked like a bloodbath, but no body.”
I slowly nod, not allowing my eyes to give away any recognition. I slowly inhale and exhale subtly so they won’t notice.
“Where does Harry Maine come into it?”
“Looks as though Alex called him just before Detective Strode was shot and then again around fifteen minutes after. There was a few back-and-forth phone calls for around an hour or so before all communication stopped, and no one has heard from Alex since. I managed to get to the bar and retrieve the security footage before it was wiped, it looks as though Alex grabbed Summer before she could leave. Within a minute, Strode comes in and pulls her away from the bar.”
“That confirms Strode’s version of events, too.” My eyes shoot to the captain. “He’s awake. I spoke to him an hour ago. He’s off for physio, but you can head over after this.”
I turn my attention back to the issue, running a hand over my mouth and contemplating my next move.
“And you don’t think it was a coincidence the guy that works at the bar where Strode was shot called Harry within that time, and that disappeared?” I say nonchalantly.
“Definitely not.”
“Did CSU find anything at Alex’s apartment?” I ask.
Detective Daly shakes his head before his brows pinch, and he shrugs.
“They tested the blood. It was pigs, not Alex’s.”
I paint a confused expression on my face, looking between the two men. My facial features manage to mirror the captains.
“Could it have been a warning?”
“Possibly, but we don’t know why. I’ve issued an arrest warrant for Harry Maine. But by the sounds, it may be best off sitting on Michael’s apartment for now if that’s where Summer is, he may turn up there.”
I blink a couple of times; I don’t like the idea of someone watching the building. Questions will be asked if they see me coming and going at different times, but that’s something I can mull over later.
“Makes sense, but you should know Harry was spotted twice with Luca Bernardi. I haven’t worked out their connection yet, but it’s just a heads up.”
Detective Daly pales slightly, swallowing hard. He looks between both the captain and me.
“Fuck sake.” He mutters before turning his attention towards the open office door.
“What is it?” The captain asks, as Daly stands up and closes the door.
Sitting back down, he gives one final look to anyone passing the office before lowering his voice.
“Apparently, an investigation started around twelve months ago. The PC had a team put together to investigate the potential that cops and detectives on the inside may have been working for Luca.”
“But this isn’t confirmed?” I ask.
“No, it’s only what I’ve heard from a confidential source at One PP.”
“Why has this only just started? Luca’s been around for years.”
“This is only a rumor.” Daly leans in closer. “The PC and a team reviewed all the case files related to Luca. They found that many previous associates that worked with Luca over a brace of years had all gone missing. Now don’t get me wrong, these people were scum but they just vanished without a trace.”
“The PC thinks some cops did this for Luca?” I ask, trying to understand why anyone would help that fucking bastard or how Daly has come to this pretty dumb conclusion.
“I find that hard to believe, son. Luca’s a killer and a rapist, I don’t see why anyone would help him.” As the captain interjects, I can see he’s not buying this shit either.
“Money.” Daly shrugs, leaning back in his chair. “If he’s willing to pay, sometimes the offer is hard to turn down.”
Briefly looking away, I feel a pang of anger rush through me. After seeing what Alex was willing to do for five grand from Harry, it’s now a little more believable that we could have dirty cops walking among us.
“Look, I get this could just be a rumor.” Daly raises his hands in defense. “I don’t want to believe anyone I work with could be taking backhanders from this guy, it’s just what I’ve heard. The PC may be just trying to protect the NYPD and trying to quash anything before something concrete could hit the press.”
“We think that Luca could have been the one who killed Michael Harper.” I look to the captain, surprised he even said anything. Especially after he told me to let it go.
“Any motive?” Daly asks.
I shake my head no in response.
“Just that Summer was attacked her first night here. Harry arrives a couple of days later, and each time he’s been seen, he’s been with Luca. No evidence, but it looks suspicious.”
“What do we know about Harry?” Daly turns to me.
“Not a lot. All his businesses with Eric Stanton are legit. No crim…”
“Eric Stanton? Daly jerks forward in his chair, alarmed.
“Yeah, Summer Harper’s Stepfather.”
“Shit, that can’t be a coincidence.” He mutters, lowering his gaze looks to the desk in front of him.
“You’ve heard of him before?” I ask.
Daly nods, swallowing hard. As though you can see the shiver running up his spine.
“About a year ago, a woman came into the precinct. Claimed they’d be raped and beaten by Eric Stanton. She went for a rape kit, but no DNA was recovered.” Daly lets out a low breath as he continues. “Six months after that, a different woman came in with the same story. Both said they’d been kidnapped from Mexico, drove for days, and then ended up at a party. They claim Eric purchased them for the night, repeatedly raped them, beat them, but they’d managed to escape.”
“What happened after that?” I ask, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“They just disappeared from their shelters. They had no papers, no passport, no money. Each within a few days of making the reports, they just vanished. Didn’t leave a note or ever try to contact the police again.”
“Did you ever speak with Eric about the accusation?”
“He went to his local precinct to make a statement back in L.A. But with no DNA, evidence, or record of him being in New York, there was little we could do.”
“Could it have been a setup?” I hate myself for asking; no one should go through such a traumatic ordeal, but something about the story just isn’t sitting well with me.
“Maybe, but without the two victims, it went cold. Plus, their legal status and the drugs in their system, they wouldn’t have been reliable.”
“Eric is here in the city. He was at Michael”s funeral yesterday along with his wife, Harry, and Luca.”
“What the hell? Why would they show up?” There’s a flicker of anger in Daly’s face, mirroring mine from Tuesday.
“Harry was there to torment Summer, But I’m not sure about the others.”
Daly looks around the office momentarily, his eyes almost looking past the walls as he contemplates his next question.
“What if we had a surveillance team watching them?”
“How would we swing that?”
“All three of them could be in business together. We have the complaints about Eric for rape and battery. There could be something bigger at play here?”
“That’s all circumstantial without the two victims. It just looks like a phishing expedition.” I say hastily.
“True.” Daly rises from his seat and straightens his suit before extending his hand to Captain Dean and myself. “If I hear anything, I’ll call you. If it’ll help put Luca behind bars for the rest of his life.”
Exiting the room, he closes the door behind him. An odd silence falls in the office as the captain, and I look at each other with the same suspicious look.
“Something on your mind Grey?” The captain quirks a brow at me, a small smug smile creeps across his face.
He knows all too well there’s something up with Detective Daly’s story, but I won’t accuse someone I hardly know of being a liar. Especially when I don’t know the reasons behind it or have the proof to back my theory up.
“I’m gonna head over to see Strode.” Pushing to my feet, captain nods before I head out of the office.
Luckily, the drive to the hospital isn’t long, but Detective Daly’s visit keeps me occupied. There are too many questions in my head right now, and luckily, the captain wasn’t buying it either. This guy must have thought I was fucking born yesterday; however, I do need to see those two reports first before I jump to conclusions.
I don’t knock, stepping into the hospital room. I raise an eyebrow at the bouquets scattered around the room. Raising a sarcastic eyebrow to Strode, he just shakes his head.
“Admirers Strode?” leaning into one of the bouquets, I smell the roses. “Red roses, fancy.”
“Give it a rest, kid. It’s too fucking early for your sarcasm.” He jokes, rising in his bed slightly.
Walking over, I prop a pillow behind his back and hand him a glass of water before taking a seat.
“Captain told you I was awake, huh?” he asks, placing the water back on the side.
“Yeah, he said you were off trying out for the Olympic team first.”
Both Strode and I break out into a hearty laughter, made even worse as his clutches his side in pain.
“Jesus fucking Christ, they throw you around. I don’t know what they were expecting from me, but shit! I think that was worse than being shot.” He jokes.
“Maggie been around?” I ask.
“Yeah, I told her to head home for some sleep. She looked tired, and I think we both needed some space from each other.” He smiles.
“Think she’ll stay this time?”
Strode gives me a small smile as he shrugs. The look in his eyes tells me he’s hopeful. But we both know what he’s like, and Maggie is a strong woman. She won’t put up with his shit.
“Who knows? She offered to stay a few weeks at the house.”
“That’s a good start.”
“Yeah.” The hopeful looks passes over Strode’s face, replaced with one of determination. “So, what’s happened?”
I let out a heavy sigh, neglecting to tell him about my part in Alex’s disappearance. I relay the story from earlier today with Detective Daly and the captain. As I do, his face pales, and an almost brooding look ghosts across his features. As I finish the story, he’s silent and looks away.
“What is it?”
Strode’s runs his hand across the white stubble on his chin. His shoulders sag slightly. He forgets he’s been my partner for so long, I can tell when something is bothering him, so I ask again.
“Strode.” His eyes finally meet mine. “What is it?”
I watch as his eyes flicker. Wetting his lips, he pulls himself a little higher in the bed, resting against the large pillow for support.
“Did you notice how Detective Daly was working sex crimes and now working missing persons?” He cocks his head to one side.
Sitting back in my seat, I mull over the question for a moment before answering with the most obvious answer.
“It’s not for everyone. Most detectives only stay a couple of years or so. It’s a tough gig.” I say.
“It is, but Daly was only there nine months at the most.”
My brow furrows, leaning forward in my chair. I eye Strode curiously.
“How do you know?”
“Cops talk, we both know that. I remember hearing about the case from a couple of buddies down at the bar one night. They thought it was odd: one detective catches both cases, both girls go missing, and it’s the same story?” He quirks a brow, giving me a knowing look before continuing. “Some of the ones with a darker sense of humor started calling him the strangler, implying he got rid of them.”
“But why would he do that?”
“Because people like to joke and assume the worst, but there was no proof, and it was all just an ugly rumor that spread across the precincts. Eventually, he was moved along to missing persons, but whether that was at his request of the brass, I’m not sure.” Strode shrugs.
“Something doesn’t feel right though, Strodey.”
“I always said you’re too good for this job, kid. You can spot something off a mile away.”
“Isn’t it a bit coincidental? Two women, same story, months apart, both go missing, and both...”
“Report the crime to the same detective that was on duty and accuse the same guy?” He interjects.
Blinking a couple of times, I slowly nod.
“Doesn’t seem right and he makes a sudden appearance whilst I’m looking into both Harry and Luca.”
“It doesn’t, but if the captain is suspicious too, then Daly isn’t as clever as he thinks he is.”
“What would you suggest?”
Strode exhales, crossing his arms over his chest for a moment. Looking ahead to the wall in front. I watch as the cogs turn in his mind, contemplating how he would handle this.
“It depends, really.” He finally says.
“Go on.”
“If you’re already suspicious of him, don’t fall into the trap. However, if you believe this surveillance may pan out, always wear a wire and always let someone know where you are at all times.”
“Just all seems a bit too convenient, you know?”
“I do, kid.” Strode nods.
“I need to see those reports.”
“Those reports will just confirm what you already think that it’s all a little too convenient.”
“Yeah, true. He wants to sit on Summer’s apartment too, see if Harry shows up.”
Strode raises a sarcastic brow towards me, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth as I shake my head.
“Really? That’s probably a little inconvenient for you.”
“Don’t start.”
“Kid, I’m not going to tell you what to do. I tried and it didn’t work. Just be careful, ok?” Strode offers me a warm fatherly smile, knowing all too well I wouldn’t have stayed away when he first told me to.