THE NEXT CHAPTER

By tuna.dc

 

This story continues on with my series, the last story, written several years ago and was entitled Meant To Be.  If you’re unfamiliar with the series, you may want to go back and read or re-read them to both get a feel for where the storyline is and for my writing style.  As always, I hope you enjoy it.  The entire series of stories can be found at the websites listed at the end of this story.  My suggestion is that they be read in the order they were written.

 

The body was already beaten beyond any human recognition, but the woman insisted that this was to be a lesson for all of them.  On her order they had pummeled him until he gave up his last breath.  They all stood around wondering what she would do next, except for Matthew.  He knew what she expected and it was up to him to show the others what she wanted.  He had left the circle and when he returned he walked into the center of the circle, he stood over the body and carried what looked to be an oversized fire extinguisher of some sort, but it wasn’t an extinguisher, rather it was an igniter, a flame thrower, more commonly used in the construction of high rises.  He set the canister on the ground near the dead body and with the flip of a tiny switch, a large, hot flame shot out from the canister hose.  He aimed the flame at the body and charred it to a crisp.  In just a few seconds, he shut it off and stared at what he had done.

 

“I hope you all have learned from this, I run this little project we have going, you would all be wise to remember that,” the woman said from outside the circle.  “You know what I want, what I demand and you also know what you get in return.  And I won’t tolerate what Evan did.  Is that understood?”

 

Evan had gotten greedy and stupid, a lethal combination, he demanded more money from the construction scam they were all involved in and when the woman wouldn’t pay out, he threatened to go to the police with the whole story.  But the woman had friends everywhere, even on the police force, including the cop that Evan went to.  The cop met the woman later that day, took his envelope of cash from her, filled her in on Evan’s confession and calmly went back to work.  Her secret was still safe from the police.  The woman now had called her ‘harem’ in and had taken care of Evan once and for all.

 

The four men mumbled and nodded their response.  They were essentially powerless against this woman.  If they tried to get out now, they saw what the results would be, as it lay in a heap before them.  Getting out now would end the same way for them, and who wanted to end up dead?

 

“Take what’s left of that body and dump it in the ocean, I don’t want anyone finding it.”  She gave them all the blanket order.  “I’ll see you all at work tomorrow.”

 

She walked away leaving them standing to gaze over what they had done.  A small burning ember still glowed on the dead body, till Matthew took his right foot and stepped on the dead remains, snuffing it out.  “You heard her, let’s clean this up.”

 

The Lexus pulled away, kicking up dust.

______________________________________________________________________

 

The light coming from the kitchen could probably be seen for miles.  The rest of the house was dark and quiet.  It was the middle of the night.  Rita slumbered in the master bedroom, while Chris sat at the kitchen table and paged through a weathered law book reading and rereading as he began to study for the LSAT test, which would earn him the right to attend law school. He quietly mumbled as he read the book hoping that by doing so, the words would stick in his head.  A cold cup of coffee stood on the table, near the notebook where he was jotting down some notes.  Chris reached for the handle of the cup and unknowingly took a sip only to pucker up his face and spit the cold liquid back into the cup.  He thought he had just poured the coffee, but here it was ice cold.   He glanced at the clock on the microwave. 2:34am. He’d made the coffee well over 2 hours before.  He hadn’t realized he’d been sitting there studying for as long as he had been. 

 

Rita had.  She found herself tossing and turning in bed anytime now that Chris wasn’t beside her.  His presence next to her in bed during their first year of marriage had even started to eliminate some of the many nightmares she had suffered through during her life.  When he wasn’t around, her sleep reverted back to endless nights of restlessness.  Tonight wasn’t any different.  She woke up startled by some sort of a bad dream that she now couldn’t remember.  Wide-awake now, she looked at the cool green numbers on the digital clock beside the bed and sighed, and could tell even in the darkness that he wasn’t beside her.  2:30 in the morning.  Even though she hadn’t moved, she could tell his body wasn’t there to warm the bed beside her.  She reached out her hand and felt the cool, empty space.   She let out a little groan.  Chris had never come to bed yet.  She recalled how she had drifted off in her favorite chair in the living room, with the local news on the TV in the background at about 11pm and she remembered waking up enough to shuffle herself off to bed.  She stopped off in the kitchen to lure him to bed with her then, she even walked over to the kitchen table where he sat and reached down and gave him a warm, loving kiss, hoping that would be an invitation for him to join her.  She heard Chris say that he’d be coming along right after he finished the chapter he was on.  Nearly 3 hours later, he still hadn’t come to bed.  He couldn’t possibly still be awake.

 

She threw back the covers and grabbed her robe and slid it around her warm body.  At first, she thought she’d see him slumped over the kitchen table, snoring softly.  Rita remembered hearing him tell her that he felt he could study the best in the kitchen.  It reminded him of his younger school days.  When he told her he was interested in going back to law school, she’d offered to turn the spare room into a study for him, but he graciously said that she could turn it into whatever kind of room she wanted and that the kitchen table was good enough for him.  As she moved down the hall, she could see the bright light coming from the kitchen.  The closer she got, she could hear the pages of the book as they turned.  He was still awake!  She couldn’t help but smile at his fortitude.

 

As she stepped from the hallway to the kitchen, she stretched a little and released a powerful yawn.  “Are you coming to bed soon?” she lazily asked, as her still sleep-filled body leaned against the doorway for support. “I miss you.”  She ran her left hand up and down her right arm, as if she was warming up a chill.

 

Chris looked up from his reading and gave her a grin.  She looked so damn inviting standing there, her silky robe clung to her body in all the right spots, and her hair, unkempt enough just to fully frame her face, the way her hand was gliding up and down that silk covered arm of hers.  It took his breath away, if only for an instant.  He swallowed hard and felt his heart beat harder.  It was hard to ever resist her charm.  “Yeah, I’ll be there soon, I promise, I just want to finish this chapter.”

 

“It’s 2:30 in the morning Chris,” She managed to smile.  “You said that 3 hours ago Chris, that chapter can’t be that long?   I bet you’ve read a dozen more chapter’s since then.  I don’t want you to get sick, you need to get some sleep.  Come back to bed with me,” she softly pleaded, nodding toward the bedroom, and tucking some stray strands of her hair behind her ear.

 

“I’m not gonna get sick, and I’m not really tired,” he answered.  She wasn’t going to buy his explanation this time.  All she did was stand there and give him one of her ‘patented’ Rita Lee Lance looks.

 

Finally, she spoke to him after the look tore through him.  “You might not be now, but tomorrow at work will be another story,” she said, in a very ‘Mom’ like tone.

 

He pushed the book off to the side and grinned.  “You’re right, I guess that’s enough for tonight.”  He realized that she was right. He managed a laugh, deep in his throat.  It was time for him to go to bed.  The book would still be there tomorrow.  He was amazed himself at how interesting he found the material he had been studying to be.  He never realized that his possible career path might take him into law.  It was like the things he had learned and perfected as a police officer were now extended and formed a complete circle.  It fascinated him and he devoured all he could.  Now he found himself wanting to learn all that he could, but for right now at this moment, he realized he needed to sleep and he needed the peaceful comfort of his wife beside him.  He didn’t have to learn it all in one fell swoop.  He closed the heavy book and stood up, taking his cold cup of coffee to the sink to pour it down the drain.  He left the cup standing in the sink and then he walked over to Rita and gave her a passionate kiss.  He let his arms meander up and down the warmth of the silk robe she wore.  She felt so good.  He held her close as he could feel her totally loosing herself in the embrace.  He was so close to pushing the seductive garment off of her, but he held back, knowing it was late and they were both tired.  He let out gentle exhale, still holding her close, “I’m sorry, I know you hate sleeping without me, I didn’t mean to be inconsiderate Sam,” he said, using his index finger to gently rub her cheek, while his thumb gently swiped the warm skin of her chin.  He already had figured out for himself that her nightmares had subsided since they’d gotten married.  They even had talked about it a few months back.  “You didn’t have a bad dream did you?” he questioned her.

 

She told him a little white lie and nodded no and added, “I just can’t live without you for even a second,” she said half-jokingly, her lips leaned in and darted across his and she ran her nose along side his.

 

“I know I’m a handsome, worldly fellow aren’t I?” he kidded.

 

“Mmm, maybe, I just think you’re handsome,” she said with a little chuckle, followed by a tender kiss to his cheek.  “And maybe worldly too,” she murmured.  They walked down the hall arm in arm, both ready to sleep soundly the minute their heads hit the pillow.

 

They both crawled under the covers and Rita pushed herself tightly against his body.  He held her close and kissed her forehead.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to get up,” he said quietly.  He wanted to apologize again for what he thought was his inconsideration.  “I guess I’m getting caught up in all this studying.  I’m amazed at how interesting it all is.  It’s hard for me to put down.”

 

It pleased her to no end to hear the excitement in his voice.  “It’s ok, don’t worry about me.  I was sleeping most of the time, and then I woke up and realized you were still up.  I was just worried about you.  I hope you’re not burning yourself out.”

 

“It’s just till I take this test, then things will get back to normal,” Chris tried to explain.  “Then I can get back into the routine, I promise.”

 

Rita laughed softly.  “Who are you kidding?  After the test is when law school begins, remember?  You think it’s gonna get any easier?”  She ran her hand up and down his chest, trying to make up for the lost time and lost contact with him.  But she felt him tighten up against her.

 

Suddenly self-conscious about his career decision, he asked her, “Do you want me to do this or not?” he quietly asked, trying to look at her face in the darkness of the room.  Now his voice had an air of uncertainty about it.  She heard it in his tone and felt it in his body language.  As confident as Chris Lorenzo appeared to most people most of the time, when it came to this new phase of his life, he had some doubts when it came to whether or not he was doing the right thing, not only for himself, but for his wife.  Rita didn’t see this part of him often, but she loved the fact that he was able to share his fears with her as much as she loved the confident and self-assured Chris.  It really made her feel like she was truly as much a part of him as he was of her.  It’s what their love was all about, this total sharing.

 

She reached out with her hand and found one of his to hold and she gave it a squeeze and sought out his mouth and placed a soft kiss on his lips.  “Of course I want you to do this, I am behind you all the way. You,” she paused to give the ‘you’ an added emphasis, “will be a fantastic lawyer.  I’m so happy that you’ve found this, I see how excited you are about it, you’re not only smart enough to handle it, you’ve got the drive and the heart to make it a reality.”  She paused and again and added, “But if you have to study like this for the test just to get in, you have to know that school is going to be equally challenging.  And the end reward will be worth all the work.”  Rita supported him one hundred percent, but she also wanted him to realize it wouldn’t be a cake walk.

 

His mood lightened as he listened to Rita’s enthusiasm.  “You mean I won’t be able to sleep through the lectures or play hookey with my wife on a beautiful day?” he joked.

 

This isn’t high school, and you know that,” she lazily ran her hand along his stomach.  She was trying to reassure him.  “But hookey with your wife on a beautiful day sounds like fun.  Lucky for her she’s got a husband like you.”

 

He liked how that felt.  “I know it goes both ways,” he said in a low tone.  “The good thing is that if I can pass this test now, I can take two classes this summer and get a jump on things.  That’ll make it a bit easier for the fall term.”

 

“I think you’ll do just fine.  But I really don’t want to see you take on too much.  Work and school is going to be a real challenge.”

 

“Well, a lot of that depends on my supervisor.”

 

Rita turned on him right away, “speaking of your supervisor, have you talked to Cap about your career plans yet?”

 

“Not exactly,” he said, clearing his throat.  “I was hoping you might help soften the blow.”

 

“I am not telling Harry for you, I’m not your mother.”  She laughed at the mere suggestion.  “When do you think you might?  When you’re receiving your diploma?”

 

“That’s not a bad idea.  You know, ‘hey Cap, here’s an invitation to my graduation and my two weeks notice, I’m gonna be a lawyer.’”  He let out a ‘ha.’

 

“Seriously Chris, Harry does have a right to know.  He’s been very fair to you all along and he’s been super to us in general.  You know you have to tell him.  It should come from you.”

 

“I know, but you know how I hate telling him this stuff.  It’s like having to tell your parents you got caught cheating on a test or something equally embarrassing. I’m just waiting for the right time. I think he’ll try to talk me out of it.  You know how he feels about lawyers.”

 

“That’s only natural, we’re cops, we’re suppose to be adversaries, and you’re a great cop, I’m sure he doesn’t want to lose a detective.”

 

“Don’t tell that adversary part to Benny,” Chris laughed.

 

“Benny is an exception!”

 

“That’s for sure.”

 

“He was so excited when you told him about becoming a lawyer,” Rita said referring to the phone conversation that Chris and Benny had two weekends before.

 

Chris smiled thinking about the conversation with Benny.  He could actually hear the happiness in Benny’s voice.  “Next up is Anna.  She’ll be disappointed.  She hates lawyers almost as much as Harry does.”

 

“I think you’re being too critical here, why don’t you start with Harry and see what happens.  Maybe you’ll be surprised.  And besides your Mother was married to a lawyer.”

 

“The key word there is was.  That’s one of the reasons why they got divorced.  But I hope you’re right.”  Chris leaned over and kissed her soft lips, “goodnight Sam,” he added, “and sweet dreams, we both need some sleep.”

 

“Goodnight Chris, I love you.”

 

Just then the doorbell started ringing.  Chris shot up from the bed.  “Doggone it, I’m getting tired of these kids in this neighborhood, don’t they have parents?  It’s 3am!” He shouted as he headed toward the front door.  He got to the door and flipped on the outside porch light.  Halfway down the block he saw three teens running down the middle of the street.  He thought he saw one of them flip him off.  He shut off the light and went back to the bedroom.

 

“Who was it?” Rita asked, sitting up in bed, waiting for his return.

 

“I don’t know who, but I guarantee you, if I find out, I will do more than flip them off, don’t these kids have parents, parents who wonder where they are and what they’re doing at 3am?” Chris said, climbing under the covers.  “Man, if I ever have a kid that does something that stupid, I’ll,” he started and she interrupted.

 

“You’ll teach them not to ever disobey you or to do anything so foolish, because our children will be perfect,” she laughed, “now, let’s just go to sleep,  we’ll talk about our children another time, its really late,” Rita said, giving him another kiss.  “Goodnight Sam.”

____________________________________________________________________

 

“I’m done, I don’t want to do this anymore,” the man said.  “I love my wife. I don’t want to ruin what I have with her anymore.  And I’m making myself sick over all this.  You can have everything back, I swear.  I’ve already told her everything, she knows all about you, about everything.    She knows what I did too.  I want it to work for the two of us, me and her, this is over.  I can’t go through what I went through the other night.”

 

“Do you think it’s that easy?  Just saying you don’t want to do this anymore, doesn’t mean anything.  You’re done when I say you’re done, wife or not.  You know I can handle her anyway,” the woman took a step toward him and jabbed her finger into his chest.  “This is more than about you and me, you know that.  Did you hear anything I said the other night?   And what exactly do you mean that you’ve told your wife everything?”

 

He didn’t respond right away out of fear.  After months of this, he knew she was a powerful, controlling woman.  He regretted his involvement right from the start.  He saw what she had had done to Evan, it made him physically sick to see him become a human torch, and worse than seeing it, was knowing that he’d done it himself.  No amount of money was worth it anymore.  She was getting carried away.  Stealing, corruption and sex were one thing, but now he had murdered someone and he couldn’t continue on in this game of hers.  Things were accelerating and spiraling out of control.  He saw what they did to Evan on her command, how they beat him to death and he didn’t want to be one of her goons anymore, no matter how much money she promised him.  That’s why he wanted to break off from her.  He didn’t want to wind up the same way, even though she warned them what would happen if they crossed her.  And something told him if he continued down the path she was leading him that he would be.  It ate him up now, almost a week had gone by.  His nightmares and guilt forced him to make this decision.  He stood up to her.  “You don’t own me anymore,” he said, turning away from her in, picking up a small piece of wood from the ‘under construction’ home they were in.

 

“I may not ‘own’ you, but you know the agreement.  And I get very angry when my agreements get broken, remember Evan?” she answered him.  “This isn’t just about our affair.  There’s a lot more at stake, and besides the sex with you isn’t all that great.  We’ve got a good deal going here, we’re all happy with the monetary arrangement right?”   She walked behind him and twined her arms through his and tried to hug him close, as if a sexual romp would take away his guilt.  She felt him tense up.  Her controlling nature was overwhelming.

 

He spun around and pushed her off again.  “I don’t care about our agreement, it’s not worth it anymore, the sex, the money, none of it.  It’s wrong, all of it.  I don’t want to see you again and I’m through with all of this.  I helped kill Evan.  It makes me sick, I keep having nightmares.”  He paused and looked her square in the eye.   “Look, I’m not going to say anything to anyone, I’m getting out of Palm Beach, I’m taking my wife and starting over somewhere else.  You’ll never hear from us or see us again, and I won’t talk, I promise.  You do what you have to do.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s over, I’m through with you and I’m through with all this.  We’re leaving tomorrow.”

 

She wasn’t ready for his outburst.  “Matthew, you don’t mean that.  You are not going to be able to live with that decision.  You better think about that again.”

 

He threw the wood he held onto the floor.  “It’s over, finished, I’m done.”  And he walked out. 

 

She stood in the empty unfinished home.  “You are done, Matthew.”  She pulled out a cell phone.  “Matthew is out, take care of it,” was all she said.

______________________________________________________________________

 

Chris yawned all the way to work the next morning.  He still had about a month to prepare for the LSAT exam, but he was cramming every free moment he had.  On the drive in, Rita reminded him that he needed to talk to Harry today and to quit putting off the inevitable.

 

As they walked through the familiar palm tree doors, Rita headed for some coffee and Chris headed straight for Cap’s door.  It was open, but he politely knocked, waiting to enter until Cap gave his approval.  Harry looked up from the stack of files he was perusing and nodded at Chris.  “Yeah kid, what’s up?”

 

“Can I talk to you for a few minutes Cap, it’s personal,” Chris asked.

 

Harry closed up his files and scooted his chair closer to his desk.  “Yeah, yeah, come on in.”

 

From the doorway he said, “I’m just gonna grab a cup of coffee, would you like a cup?”

 

“Yeah, that would be great.” 

 

Chris headed over toward the coffee maker, where Rita stood putting the finishing touches on her own cup.  He leaned over and whispered, “Wish me luck Sam, I’m going in.”

 

Rita snickered, “I think you’ll be fine.  It’s not like it’s a covert operation.  Just tell him the truth.”

 

“No good luck or break a leg?”

 

“If you think it’ll help, break a leg!”  She raised her eyebrows and grinned.

 

“Thanks Sam,” he said as he carried the two cups back into the office.  He closed the door and set one cup in front of Harry.

 

 “So what’s on your mind kid?”

 

“Well,” Chris took a deep breath and a sip of his coffee.  “You know I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and soul searching about my future, well, my career future that is.”

 

Harry nodded.

 

Chris almost wanted him to say something, but there was only a perceived awkward silence between them.  Harry waited for Chris, he didn’t want to interrupt his ‘thunder.’  He shook his head a little and continued on.  “Almost two months ago I went and took one of these career interests’ tests down at the Workforce Development Center and I got the results back.”

 

“Good for you Lorenzo,” Harry interjected.  Harry Lipschitz was a lot of things, but he’d never consider standing in the way of any of his officer’s self-improvement.  He had learned that the hard way from having superior officers try to keep him from his own dreams.  He vowed years ago, that he’d never do that to one of his people if he ever was in a position to help them.

 

Chris was taken aback by Harry’s support.  Cap’s initial acceptance and quiet demeanor were throwing him for a loop. 

 

“So what did it tell you for a career choice?”  Harry was asking.  He realized he’d thrown Lorenzo an unexpected curve ball.  He grinned from ear to ear.

 

Chris sipped at his coffee and cleared his throat.  “It uh, it said that uh, um, it said I should look into becoming a lawyer.”   Nothing like blurting it out Lorenzo, he thought to himself, but there, he had set out all his cards on the table.  He waited for the Lipschitz fallout.

 

“A lawyer huh?  Like your old man.  That’s great Chris.  I’m sure you’ll be great at it.”  Harry gave him a reassuring smile and stood up and walked around the desk and gave Chris a sincere handshake and sat down on the edge of the desk.    His tone was altogether genuine.  “Just wonderful news, I’m glad you told me Chris.” Then he waited for Chris to say something.

 

Chris cleared his throat, “I guess I expected a little bit of a different reaction from you Cap.”

 

“Well, you know I’d love to keep you as a homicide cop forever, but if it’s not for you, it’s not for you.  You’re a helluva cop Chris.  But, everyone changes and grows, I wouldn’t dream of holding you back, ever.  I understand that.  I mean look Chris, if I still was in New York, I’d still be a street cop.  That was how the system was, there were certain people that were always gonna stand in my way.  I knew if I wanted something different, I had to be the one to make the change.  Because of that, I vowed a long time back never to stand in someone’s way, the way those people stood in mine.  Fortunately for me, by the time I realized I wanted to grow, I had friends and co-workers who were all really supportive and helped me find the opportunity down here.  I have to be that way too.  I just want what you want for yourself.  I want you to be happy.  That means more to me than what job you have.  I’ll still be here for you, no matter what your career is.”

 

“Thanks Harry,” Chris said sincerely as he had listened to Harry intently.  Harry Lipschitz didn’t always offer much in the way of background information about his life, but every now and again Chris would get a glimpse, and this was one of those times.  And it made Chris admire him all the more for what he had accomplished in his life.  He held eye contact for a long moment and then he had to turn away.  He felt some liquid forming in his eyes.  It was one of the few times that Chris actually called him by his first name, and he felt calling him Harry right then was appropriate, friend to friend, rather than subordinate to supervisor.   “That means a lot to me, that I have your support.”

 

Harry kept up the chat, so he wouldn’t get too emotional, as he loved Chris like he’d love his own son.  “Besides, just because you’re going to pursue a law degree, who knows what you’ll actually wind up doing, right?  Hec, you might still be hanging around here in some capacity.  The department’s always changing.  And even if we don’t work together, we’ll still be in touch right?”

 

“Absolutely Cap,” Chris nodded.

 

“Where do you go from here now?”  Cap asked.

 

“Ah, I’ve been studying my head off.  I have to take this test, it’s called the LSAT.   I guess it’s like the ACT or the SAT tests, an entrance exam I guess.  It’s where you find out if you’ll be accepted to law school.”

 

“When have you been doing that?”

 

“Mostly at night, usually at lunch time too.  Basically whenever I find some free time.  Benny sent me down some prep materials.”

 

“So that’s why you’ve been dragging lately.  I thought it was something else,” Cap said with a chuckle.

 

“What?” Chris asked clueless.

 

“I thought you and Rita were, you know,” Cap tried to lead him without saying the ‘S’ word.

 

Chris let out a ‘ha,’ “well, there is some of ‘you know’ going on, but mostly it’s from the other ‘S,’ studying, that is.  I was up till about 2:30 this morning.  I got so involved in it, I lost track of time.”

 

“You just let me know what you need and I’ll do whatever I can.  I want you to succeed Chris.”

 

“Thanks Cap, I appreciate that.  I have to take the test at the end of the month.  And then I’m hoping that I can get accepted into the program at the University of Miami.  They have a summer session that starts in June and if I can get things worked out, I’d like to take a few classes this summer and kind of ease back into the whole school thing.  And I’d like to keep working while I’m going to school, that’s the type of program it is.  It’s really quite flexible.  And actually, there is something you can do for me,” he started.  “I need a couple of reference letters to complete my application.  Could I impose on you to write me one?”

 

“I’ll work on it today, absolutely Chris.  Believe me, I’m honored you’d ask me.  I’m sure everything will work out.  Plus I don’t think getting in will be too hard, you’ve got excellent credentials as a Police Officer, and I bet your Dad and Donovan will be glad to pull a string or too, if it comes to that.”

 

“Well first I have to pass this test.”

 

“You’ll do it,” Cap said.  “Piece of cake for a smart guy like you.”

 

Rita knocked on the door and Cap waved her in.  “Hi guys, mind if I come in?”

 

“Not at all,” Harry said, waving her in, “Chris just told me what he’s been up to.  I think it’s great!”

 

“I do too,” Rita replied, giving Chris a loving smile.  “Can you imagine a cop and a lawyer under the same roof?”

 

Cap had to laugh.  “It can’t be any worse than a cop and a nurse.”

 

Chris stood up.  “I’ve got some reports to do before I head over to the courthouse.  Donovan has got me all paranoid about this case.”

 

“Is that the Libertini case?” Harry asked.

 

“Yeah, it’s been postponed seven times already.  I’m beginning to think it will never actually go to trial, but Donovan disagrees.”

 

“See what you’re getting yourself in for kid?”

 

“I know, I know.  But I can’t argue with fate now can I?”  He walked out of the office leaving Rita and Harry to continue their conversation.

 

“Rita, I had no idea,” were the first words that came out of Harry’s lips.

 

“Me either really.  I mean I knew that he’d been a bit restless, but the whole shift in careers,” she laughed, “that takes some getting used to.  He didn’t tell me till after he’d taken the job interest test too, so it was a complete surprise.   I know he’s gonna be a great attorney though.  He really cares.  And once he makes up his mind about something, he does it.”

 

“You’re absolutely right about that.”  Harry shuffled through some papers on his desk, attempting to look busy.  “Listen Rita, you’re not thinking of leaving too are you?”

 

“Me? No!  I know this is exactly where I belong.  I like the opportunities that I have.  I only wish they’d happen a bit quicker, but I love this work.  And I know that I am good at it.”

 

“Yes you are.  I’m just afraid you’ll take over my job someday soon.”

 

“That’s only when you get promoted to Chief, Cap.”

 

Harry smiled and laughed.  “I like the way you dream Lance, oops, Lorenzo.  Over a year and I still call ya that.”

 

Rita laughed at his blunder, “that’s ok Harry, I still do it myself.  Old habits die-hard.  I usually end up saying it when I’m introducing us on a case.  I’m just so ready to say, Lance and Lorenzo, it’s just automatic.  Sometimes I even forget that I’m a lieutenant and the sergeant comes slipping out.  I think Chris cringes every time I do it.”

 

“I suppose that would be a little strange,” Cap said.  “And how’s everything else going?”

 

“Great, work is great, marriage is great.  It’s all great, I don’t have anything to complain about at all.”

 

“I’m glad to hear that Rita.  We’ll have to have you guys over for dinner one of these nights again.  Franny is gonna plotz when she hears about Chris’ new career.  I think I’ll save it as a surprise.”

 

“That’s pretty mean, but I know you guys like to do that sort of thing to your wives.”

 

“Aw, we’re just having some fun, that’s all.”

 

“I know, that’s what I keep trying to tell myself,” she said with a smile.  “I better get back to work, I’ll talk to ya later.”

______________________________________________________________________

 

Chris was sitting in the courtroom when his beeper went off.  He had it on the vibrating mode, so it didn’t affect anyone else but him.  He pulled it off his waistband and looked at the number.  It was Rita and she had punched in 911 after her number.  He excused himself from the row of people he was sitting in and went out to the hallway.  He pulled the cell phone out of the inner pocket of his suit coat and dialed up Rita’s extension.

 

“Yeah Sam, what’s up?” he asked.  “And thanks for getting me out of there, this case is going to last the rest of my lifetime.  I’m bored out of my skull.  They’re turning a slam-dunk into a full-court stall.”

 

“Hey Chris, sorry to pull you out of court, but I’ve got a case that needs your attention.  Can you break away?”

 

Chris sighed and scanned the relatively empty courtroom hallway, “George is gonna have a fit, but yeah, I’d love to.  Where are Geoff and Tre?  Can’t they take it?”

 

“I’ve got them out on another one already.  This is the second body today,” her voice was almost pleading.

 

“Let me see if I can slip a note to Donovan, I’ll call ya right back alright?”

 

“Ok, that’ll be great, thanks Chris, I owe you big time.”

 

“I like how that sounds,” he chuckled, “see ya.”

 

Chris put the phone away and went back into the courtroom.  George turned around and noticed Chris’ absence right away.  Chris gave him a head motion and pulled out a note pad and started jotting down a note to give to George.  Donovan didn’t look too happy.  Chris handed the note to the bailiff and took an empty seat in the back of the courtroom.  George opened up the note and read it carefully.

 

George,

 

Rita just called.  She’s backed up.  Two db’s already this morning, she needs me to take the latest.  Do you need me today or can I head out?

 

Chris

 

George crumpled up the paper in his hand and tossed it into the garbage can under the table.  He paused for what seemed like an eternity, before he turned to make eye contact with Chris.  Then minutes went by again before he gave Chris any kind of clue.  Finally he nodded ever so slightly.  Donovan did not want to make this easy in any way shape or form.  Chris grinned and headed out as soon as he got the signal.

 

In his car now, he pulled out his cell phone and once again dialed up Rita.

 

“Hey Sam, I’m free, so where exactly am I heading now?”

 

“13142, Gull Shore Road.  I’m on my way too, so I’ll meet you there,” she said, “and what took you so long?”

 

Chris laughed.  “Donovan felt like playing the waiting game.  He can be a real pain sometimes.”

 

“I’ll remember you said that when you become a lawyer.”

 

“You do that Sam,” Chris said grinning from ear to ear.  “I’ll see ya there.”

 

13142 Gull Shore Road was under construction, but it was located in one of Palm Beach’s trendiest and newest housing developments for the rich.  This development had been in and out of the news for years, it was some sort of a fight over the land and the state, which claimed eminent domain, lost in a huge state Supreme Court battle.  All indications favored the state, and yet at the last hour, the court ruled in favor of the development company.  Now, several years later only a handful of the mansions were lived in.  The landscaping was patchy.  Most of the area was still under construction, including the house they were called to.

 

Rita waited, leaning against her car as Chris pulled up.

 

“Did you take the long way?” she asked.

 

“No, I got lost, I don’t know my way around these roads yet.  I ended up looking at a mound of dirt.  I figured I was going the wrong way.  Tell me again why we didn’t get a house out here?” he grinned, already know the 7 figure answer.  “So what have we got?”

 

“The body’s out back.  The foreman and another worker found it this morning.  Coroner says the guys probably been dead since last night.”  Rita began walking toward the body.

 

“Any ID?” Chris asked.

 

“Uh huh, Matthew Chegley, 26, he was part of the work crew and he’s a real mess.”

 

“Hmmm, interesting.  Could this just be an accident, you know, maybe he slipped while he was working?” Chris grinned.

 

“It could be, except right now the preliminary time of death is saying it didn’t happen during normal working hours, which in and of itself might rule that out, but we’ll have to see what the ME has to say, before we jump to any conclusions.” 

 

Both of them had arrived at the scene and they started looking over the body.  It appeared as if he had fallen into a pit and lumber and bricks had tumbled in on top of him.  His body was bruised and bloodied from head to toe.

 

“Is the foreman around?” Chris asked.

 

“Yeah, they’re working on the house next door.  I told him we’d find him when we were ready to talk to him.”

 

“I think we’re ready, let’s go,” Chris said.

 

“Are you the foreman?” Rita shouted to the man standing on the second floor.

 

“Yeah, whatta ya need?”

 

“We need to speak with you,” she yelled.

 

From their appearance, he tagged them as a couple interested in purchasing a house.  Some high-falutting, jet-setting couple who had too much money and just liked to buy things.  It happened all the time, rather than call the agent for a tour, these people would just march out to the site and want him to give them a tour.  It really drove him nuts and muddled up his work day.  “Listen, call the contractor or developer for an appointment if you’re interested in a model.  They can show you all the plans, all the models, and give you the tour,” the foreman called back, continuing to hammer.  “I’ve got work to do now if you’ll excuse me.”

 

“We’re from the Palm Beach Police Department,” Rita shouted back, waiting for him to see as she held out her badge prominently for him to see.

 

He finally stopped hammering and looked down at them.  Chris gave him a condescending grin and a wave.  “Yeah, ok, sorry, I’ll be right down.”  He proceeded to shimmy down a ladder.  “Sorry about that, I’m Jim Dawkins.”

 

“Mr. Dawkins, I’m Lieutenant Lorenzo, this is my partner Sergeant Lorenzo.”

 

“Brother and sister?” Dawkins said with a chuckle.

 

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Chris rolled his eyes, “She’s my wife,” he said snootily.

 

“Sorry again,” Dawkins said letting out a deep breath, he didn’t need to anger a cop.  “Uh, I found Cheg this morning.  Actually Toby spotted him and called me over.  It kind of surprised me.  He was one of the more reliable guys, you know?”

 

“No, we don’t know, that’s why we’re here,” Chris said, still slightly irritated by the brother/sister comment.

 

Dawkins was now getting irritated himself with these two, especially this guy who had no sense of humor and he wasn’t about to waste time joking with him or even trying to be nice.  He just wanted to get rid of them and get back to work.  “I figure he got drunk and showed up here and things just came crashing down around him, literally,” Dawkins said.  “This isn’t a play pen, a guy can get hurt out here if he doesn’t know what he’s doing.  Sometimes these guys buy a few cases of beer and sit around after quitting time you know?”

 

“Did Matthew drink a lot?” Rita asked, wondering about the ‘drunk’ comment.

 

“Not really, no more than any of the other guys, but hey I don’t really know at all, we weren’t buddies or anything, we just spotted the body and called.”  Dawkins glanced around the site, he decided to add some more info.  “But I heard this rumor about him going around.  I think he was having some problems with his wife and some money issues too.  He moved out about six months ago.  Maybe they finally broke up and it pushed him over the edge,” Dawkins theorized, “literally.”  “Or maybe she pushed him over the edge.  You guys should know all the crazy stuff that goes on in this city.”

 

“You don’t like women too much, do you Mr. Dawkins?” Rita asked, trying to find some insight into this guy. 

 

“I like ‘em alright,” Dawkins grinned, “I’ve even been known to love ‘em,” he eyed her up, much to the chagrin of Chris.  In his eyes, Dawkins was quickly shooting to the top of the suspect list.  “Like I said,” Dawkins began and Rita interrupted.

 

“We know, all you did was find the body.”  Dawkins gave her a toothy, smart-aleck grin, as she finished his sentence.

 

“Are you making this stuff up Dawkins or do you know any of this for sure?” Chris asked, taking notes.  “The wife and the money?”

 

“I’m not making anything up and I’m not really one for gossip, but since you asked, I have to tell you what I hear right?   Like I said, all I did was find him.  I thought it was an accident, I didn’t know homicide was going to show up and start asking all kinds of questions.  And I don’t know the story of his life.  When I saw his body under that rubble, I called the cops to report it, that’s all.  But I know, I didn’t do it, I didn’t touch him or move him or nothing.  In fact the less I know, the better I’ll be.”

 

“You’re a really stand up guy, Mr. Dawkins, I’m sure all your employees love the support you give them,” Rita said.  Dawkins sneered at her comment.

 

“It’s a job Detective, that’s all it is to me,” he responded.  “I come here and build houses, that’s it.”

 

“Do you know the name of his wife?” Chris asked.

 

“No,” Dawkins started, “I said I don’t get involved in people’s personal lives.”

 

“Ok Mr. Dawkins, if we need you, we’ll call you,” Rita said.  “You’ve been a huge help.”  She said with a tone of sarcasm in her voice.

 

Chris and Rita turned and started the short walk back to their cars.  “He was real helpful.”

 

“Let’s wait and see what the ME says before we pin the murder on Dawkins, maybe it was just an accident.  But, why don’t we go see the wife in the meantime?” Rita said.  “Maybe she can shed some light on Matthew Chegley, and tell us if about any money or relationship problems.” 

 

As they walked toward their cars Chris asked, “So Sam, what are Tre and Geoff working on?”

 

“A floater, the body washed up with the tide, way up on the north shore.  It was so close to the county line, it took an hour to figure out whose investigation it would be.  Our department won,” she said sarcastically.

 

“Lucky us,” Chris responded.  He got to his car and radioed in and got the address for Mrs. Trisha Chegley.  They drove over to her home. 

 

“Nice neighborhood for a construction hog?  I’m thinking no money problems,” Rita mentioned as they pulled up to the fancy home.  It wasn’t too far from the development that they had just been in.

 

“Mrs. Chegley?  I’m Sergeant Lorenzo, this is Lieutenant Lorenzo, from the Palm Beach Police Department, may we speak with you?” Chris began as he held up his id and badge for her to see.

 

Trisha Chegley was an average looking woman and the moment she saw Chris flash his badge, all emotion and coloring left her face.  “It’s Matthew isn’t it?” She said.

 

“May we come in Mrs. Chegley?” Rita asked.

 

Trisha turned and went into the house, leaving the front door open for them to follow her.  Without looking at them, she asked, “He’s dead isn’t he?”

 

“Yes, Mrs. Chegley, he is, I’m very sorry to have to tell you,” Rita said.

 

“Mrs. Chegley, it sounds as if you’ve been expecting the police?” Chris said.

 

She wiped her eyes of the obvious tears she had.  “Was it an accident?”

 

“We’re not sure yet, ma’am.  That’s why we’re here.  May we ask you a few questions?”  Rita said.

 

“It wasn’t an accident.  I can tell you that,” she replied with a cool tone to her voice.  She had seemed to collect her emotions very quickly.  Her tears, now shedded, were dry.

 

“Mrs. Chegley, how do you know?”  Chris asked.

 

“He was having an affair.  He finally admitted it to me.  I suspected it months ago, we split up when it first happened.  He never told me her name, I don’t know who she was, but she was totally controlling, that I do know.  It was like he lost every brain cell in his head.  He couldn’t think for himself.  It made me sick.  I told him to leave.”

 

“People don’t usually get murdered over having an affair Mrs. Chegley,” Chris interjected. “There’s got to be something more to it,” he tried to explain to her.  “Did she know that he told you?”

 

“Matthew told her it was over, I don’t know if he told her anything about me, I don’t know why that would matter anyway,” Trisha explained.  “She had some sort of power over him, I didn’t fully understand it, maybe it had something to do with his job, it always seemed like he was working.”

 

“So you think this woman had something to do with it?” Rita questioned.  “Blackmail maybe?”

 

“I certainly would start with her, if you can find her.  I tried following him a few times to see who she was, but she was very elusive, I thought I found her once, but it turned out to be nothing and I’m not sure what kind of power she had, but she had something over him,” Trisha said and paused.  “How did he die?”

 

“He was found at the construction site.  We don’t have all the facts yet.  It may have been an accident,” Chris explained.  “He may have fallen.  Mrs. Chegley, did your husband have a problem with alcohol?”

 

“He was murdered,” she spoke it as if it were already true.  “I think you should find that woman,” Trisha said.  “And of course he drank, it comes with the job, but he wasn’t a falling down drunk, and he certainly wouldn’t drink on the job or even at the site.  He was always very safe.  He grew up in the construction business.  He’d never jeopardize safety on the site.  How many times do I need to tell you that he was murdered?”

 

“Do you know her name, even a first name?” Rita asked, trying to avoid her last question.

 

“I don’t even know the color of her hair detective.  Matthew, told me about the affair, but that’s all he told me.  Part of me didn’t want to know who she was,” Trisha said.

 

“Mrs. Chegley, is there anyone else who may have wanted to see your husband dead?” Chris questioned.

 

She shook her head violently.  “Matthew may have cheated on me, but ask anyone that worked with him and they’ll tell you what an excellent employee or friend he was. Ask Jim Dawkins, they were good friends and co-workers, they knew everything about each other.   He was always going out of his way for everyone.  I think that’s how he met her, whoever she is.   He helped her out of something and she wouldn’t let him go.”

 

“Mrs. Chegley, if you can think of anything else, please give us a call,” Rita said, handing a card to her.

 

“I will and I hope you can find her, or whoever did this to Matthew,” Trisha answered.

 

Chris and Rita walked out of the Chegley house with more questions than they had going in.

 

“This whole thing is not making any sense Sam,” Rita said.

 

“You’re telling me,” Chris offered her a piece of gum, to which she declined, and he instead put it in his own mouth.  “We don’t even know if its murder yet and I say we’ve got at least 3 suspects in Dawkins, the wife and now this mystery chick.  And the Mrs. there seems awful certain that the mystery woman did in Matthew, what’s that about?”

 

“None of feels rights.  It’s like we’re only getting bits and pieces of the story, but we can’t see the big picture.  And I think Dawkins and Trisha both know more than they’re telling us.  I don’t like the feel of this one Chris.  I think his wife is lying and withholding some information.”

 

“I hear you Sam, I think Dawkins is doing the same thing too, and check out this place?” he said, spinning around, looking back at the house.  “How many construction guys can afford to live in this neighborhood?” he asked her.  “Chegley couldn’t have made more than we make, and can we afford a home like this?”

 

“Good point, maybe we can start with some bank records and see where that takes us, maybe Matthew was involved with some sort of construction money laundering scheme,” Rita said.  “You know, two men in the construction business in cahoots with a powerful, controlling woman with a lot of money and a steamy affair that comes to an end, now that’s a motive.  Maybe Dawkins and this mystery lady did him in.”

 

“And, let’s see what the ME says, before we let our feelings run away, maybe it’s just a slam dunk accidental death.”

 

As the two of them pulled away from the house, the woman sat across the street in her Lexus and watched them leave.  “How interesting,” she commented as she saw them each get into separate cars.  When they were out of sight, she got out of her car and knocked on Trisha Chegley’s door.

 

Trisha came and opened it, expecting it was the two detectives again, needing to ask her another question.  She dabbed at the tears in her eyes and nearly jumped back as she saw the woman standing on her porch.  Trisha didn’t need to ask who she was.

 

The woman didn’t say anything at first, she merely walked inside, pushed her way past Trisha and closed the door behind her.  “What did you do to him?” Trisha screamed at her.

 

“Ah, so you know who I am?” The woman calmly walked into the living area, as if she owned the place.  She disregarded whatever Trisha was shouting about and started in on her own conversation.  “This really is a lovely home that I bought for you and Matthew.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Trisha said, “You can’t just come her and,” Trisha was interrupted by the woman.

 

“Yes, I can Trisha, you know that.  Matthew said you knew all about everything.  Tell me what you know, and I’ll tell you what I know about you.”  Trisha didn’t respond.  “The police were here already huh Trisha?” She said, making it sound like a question but obviously already knowing the answer.  “You know why I’m here Trisha, I know how much you love this house.  And I want you to keep it.  So let’s go over a few things, ok?”  She grabbed her by the arm and led her down to the white sofa and sat down beside her, talking to her like they were two old and dear friends.

______________________________________________________________________