Roll Away Your Stone 15/18
Series: Secret
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Give Them Up
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
Ch. 15 - Give Them Up
Nora steers the car where I direct her, right behind Tia’s E55 AMG. She puts the car in park, but doesn’t kill the engine. Instead she turns to me, pulling her right knee on to the seat between us and rests her right arm along the back of the seat.
She has that look, furrowed brow, slightly turned down mouth, tight jaw. This can’t be good.
“I’m callin’ a time out before we get in there,” she states.
I mirror her position and lay my left arm over hers, taking hold of her upper arm to caress. We rarely do this, but after a particularly nasty case about two years back, we had to come up with a way to interact on a personal level and shelve the case, if only to check in with each other as lovers and not as work partners.
Annie, bless her heart, gave us a technique her and Jill used in therapy. So far, it’s been useful, even if we don’t use it that often.
I nod and motion for her to speak.
“First, are you okay?” she asks me as her other hand reaches out to lie over my knee.
“Not really, but…” I worry my lower lip trying to explain. “It’s our job, ya know. I can’t just walk away from the case. I need to follow this through. Besides, coming from me, Tia may take it a bit better.”
Nora nods. “How long have you known them?”
“Logan, a while, God, since grade school. Tia, we meant in high school. They’ve been together since then.” I run a hand through my hair and shrug, a wan smile overcoming me. “They were…I was really nervous about coming out…Logan and Tia were the first people I actually told, introduced them to Erica.”
“Shocked?” Nora smiles.
“Hmm, I don’t know, they just sort of…they were sweet about all of it.”
She rests against the driver’s door and nods. “I’ve never met them because…?”
I shrug again. “They’re part of my life that you’ve never showed much interest in, Nora. We’re going to need to talk about that too. I just…Logan’s the last of the Walker clan…”
“New Orleans’s Madam C.J. Walker, the first black female millionaire?” Nora presses.
“Yeah, he took the reins of the family fortune when he was twenty-one…”
“So, I don’t get it, how is he involved with…” I cut Nora’s question off with an upturned hand.
Licking my lips, I draw in a breath and explain, “He sat on the board of the Tilton Endowment Program, which is part and parcel of the Tilton Auxiliary League, for about three years before I took it over. Daddy brought him in to help oversee the day to day functions. I kept him for those same reasons.”
“Nik, I know that…just what exactly is this program and why did you have to…?”
My finger’s drum off my right thigh. In the spirit of full disclosure, if they need to dig into any of his projects, the Tilton and Beaumont name will be all over most of it. If they look at his clients, which they - we - will then they’re going to get a peek at mine and Nora’s financials, which we’re going to have to come up with a story for - if need be. “I’m going to need two things from you, your patience and for you not to be angry,” I hold a hand up to still the words on the tip of her tongue, “I don’t think you will, well, I don’t know for sure, sugga, but can you give me that right now?”
My lover’s bright green eyes search me, looking for something, after a minute on their quest Nora nods.
“My mother’s maiden name is Tilton. Do you know anything about them?” I ask, hoping that she’ll give me a little something to work with.
Nora shrugs, “Uhm, I know that there’s the library and hall over at Tulane. Both are named after Frederick Tilton…some railroad guy back in the eighteen hundreds. Why?”
Good. That gives me a little. So she’ll understand. “Nora, that’s my family...my mother’s side of the family at least. Coming from that, there are obligations and stipulations to inheriting the family accounts, one of those is making sure the Tilton league and program will always be run by someone from our family. My daddy took over the responsibilities because he married into it and there wasn’t anyone else until I came of age and was ready.”
My Nora’s brow furrows and I can practically see the gears whirring in her head.
I press on, “So, there are investments that Logan’s made, I’ve needed him to help me with the league and the program as well to make sure that our money and our family is taken care of.”
“Wait,” Nora stops me and scratches her head. “What do you mean ‘our money’? Look, I know I’ve never asked too many questions, I know I’ve kinda stayed out of that part of your life, but…”
I roll my eyes and bite my tongue. I can’t stop the attitude from bubbling forth though, “Why do you think that our lives are so separate? Why do you act like that?”
“That’s not…Nik, don’t…”
“What? Don’t act like you not taking an active interest in my life isn’t important to me? Considering that we’re practically married…”
“Hey,” Nora barks, “now I didn’t...and don’t…”
“No, Nora, you didn’t. You don’t. Period.” I clench my jaw and take a deep breath, choosing my next words carefully, “You and I, Nora, we’re on the same page about so many things. But this is one that you won’t or can’t…I’m not looking for a ring on my finger. I’m not looking for an announcement in the Picayune. I don’t want that. I want you.” I poke her shoulder and punctuate my statement, “Forever.”
Her cheeks flush and she stammers, “I…Nikki, I’m not saying, I just...”
“Nora Marie, I love you. Married or not. That’s never really interested me much. What does is making sure that the woman I love, the family that I have, are taken care of. What that means to me is making sure you have access to everything I have if something were to happen to me.”
She grabs for my hand that was fidgeting with my pant leg. “I didn’t mean for that…I just don’t think…”
“You don’t think about what could happen,” I tell her softly.
She shakes her head. “I don’t. I just…I’ve just not given it much thought…don’t want to give it that much thought.”
“Well, I do, and I don’t mind that you haven’t, but one day, sugga, you’re going to see how much you mean to me.” I shake my head and bite back the tears. Reaching out with my left hand I cup her chin. “I think it’s one of the things I love about you the most, or perhaps it’s the most frustrating, you love unconditionally without thought of how the other person feels. It doesn’t seem to matter much to you. So,” I swallow the lump in my throat and push back the tears, “So, you never see how much you actually mean to people. How much people adore you.”
Her cheeks flush and she studies her lap. I pull her chin up to make sure she looks at me. “I know we’ve never talked marriage, we can’t,” I shrug, “But you have to know that what’s mine is yours. I’ve made sure that you’ll be taken care of if…”
“I don’t need taken care o…”
“You don’t,” I interrupt her quickly, “But you let me sometimes. I love it. I love knowing that I can. You are just going to have to accept that.” I send her the only smile in my arsenal that gets her to cave every single time. “So,” I say after I’m sure she’s melted a little more, “Is that you’re going to continue to hand over your tax documents so I can get them prepared and tonight, I’ll pull out all the paperwork so you know how much is in our accounts. All of them. So that if they dig into Logan’s clients and your name pops up it won’t be a surprise.”
“What do you mean all of them?” she wonders pulling my hand away from her chin.
“Well, sugga, let’s just say you’ve seen only three of the accounts that are linked directly to me.”
Her eyebrow arcs in response and I smile some more. “For now, I need you to be my colleague, so time out’s over.” I lean over and peck her cheek. “Love you, Delaney,” I manage before sliding out of the passenger door.
“Hey,” Nora calls out from inside the car still.
I poke my head back in and she shoots me a lopsided smile. “Forever’s good for me too.”
My chest tightens at her affirmation. That’s the most I could ever ask from her.
I hold my friend’s hand and let her compose herself. “I just knew…” she sniffles and brings a handkerchief to her eyes again. The inside of my cheek throbs from where I’ve had to bite it to keep my emotions in check.
Tia, even as a teenager, was always so composed. She was the epitome of rising above your upbringing. Much like Erica, which her and my Erica talked about and commiserated at length over, Tia’s home life wasn’t stellar. Her sister’s serving two consecutive life sentences, her brother was shot and killed during an altercation a decade ago involving the Grand Disciples and Three-N-G gangs.
Tia got a scholarship to our high school and put herself through college. Logan, I think, fell in love with her the moment he saw her. Really, with Tia’s smooth brown skin, big brown eyes and engaging smile, I can see why he did. She’s a little taller than I am with lean muscle, some would call it a runner’s body and that would fit for her. She was all-state in track and field.
“Is this…” Tia finally speaks and stops the question. Her chest rises and falls before she can continue, “With Erica…is this?”
I nod. “I knew when she didn’t come home. I’m sorry Tee.” I pull her to me and let her cry into my shoulder. I feel her shudder and shake underneath me. Cutting my gaze to Nora, my girl looks absolutely miserable.
“Tee, I know this is hard, but, do you think it would be okay if we let Det. Delaney go into Logan’s office so we can talk?” I ask gently.
“Nora, if you need anything come see us, but one of the maids will direct you to his office,” I direct her.
“Wait,” Tia interrupts us, “Why don’t…detective please stay and ask your questions.” My friend rights herself and brushes away the tears.
I look her over and ask, “Tia?”
She shakes off my concern. “I want whoever did this caught. That’s first. I can grieve when you leave.”
My left eyebrow hikes. Nora shoots me a look that matches what I’m feeling. “Tia,” I start, “You don’t have to…”
“Nikki, please, the sooner I answer your questions, the sooner you and your partner can start. Please?” my friend pleads.
I take the only path left to me and nod. “All right. Do you know what Logan was working on?”
“Mostly it was the startup of the Renaissance House. It was such a big project for the program that some days I didn’t know whether he was comin’ or goin’. Truth be told, I don’t know if he did either. We were working on the auction for the spring drive and he had his few close clients at the investment firm.” She bites her lip and shakes her head. “I’m sorry,” she finally says.
“When did you last speak to him?” Nora asks, still fidgeting in her seat.
Tia blinks and looks at her numbly. “Right before I went to bed…ten last night or there abouts. He was at the office, the firm’s offices and he said that he still had some work to do before leaving. Some big trade in…Sweeden, I think.”
That tracks with what was on the screens this morning.
“Have you two received any odd phone calls, messages of any type that are out of the ordinary or threatening communications?” Nora presses.
Tia shakes her head. “Nothing.” Her lips purse as she looks Nora over. “Detective, I understand that…there are assumptions about us, our family, but Logan doesn’t - didn’t - have an enemy. He was always kind, soft spoken, people liked him.”
I agree with Tia, “Nora, Logan was a good man. I can’t think of one person in the years I’ve known him that would say a bad word about him.”
“That helps,” Nora agrees.
“So what are the next steps? What do you need from me?” Tia asks the both of us.
“We’ll send over some tech’s to go through his office, see if there’s anything there that would be of interest once…”
“I thought you wanted Det. Delaney to go there…”
I pat her knee and admit, “It was just to give us some privacy, Tee.”
“Oh, if you’d like though, his office is open. The hard drive is encrypted, but I have all of the passwords if you need them,” Tia supplies. “Also, I’m sure you have, Logan was good about making sure you had access to whatever you needed, but for the firm and the league I have all of his user information.”
I nod. “I have everything for the league. He never did share his actual work information.”
Tia stands and motions us into the kitchen. We follow her through the den and stop short as she begins to rummage through her purse. She pulls out a Blackberry and begins to scroll through the menu. Without being asked, Nora provides Tia her case notebook and a pen.
“Thank you,” Tia says taking the offered items and begins to write the information the techs will need once they get the computer back to the station. She finally stops writing and hands the pen and book back to Nora. “That’s everything I think you’ll need.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Walker,” Nora says and slips the items into her back pocket.
Tia closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath. “You’re welcome.”
“I think, that will do for now. We do need to get back to the station,” Nora tries to excuse us.
“Of course,” Tia begins to lead us out towards the foyer and asks, “Nikki, how are things, by the way, I know that…are you still seeing that colleague you’ve kept under wraps?”
Nora gives a low squeak in surprise, but I deflect Tia’s interest, “Yes. I know you’ve been bugging me. With work…”
“So you’ve said,” Tia waves off my apology. “I just think it’s sweet. You bein’ so protective. I hope the woman knows how lucky she is. We’ve been after you for nearly three years to bring her around.”
I smile at Nora then look at my friend. “Maybe I can convince her sometime. I’m sure you two would get on well.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” Tia pulls the door open and Nora slips passed.
I drop my voice and ask, “Do you need anything?”
Shaking her head, my friend answers, “I have some phone calls to make. Arrangements and what not. I’ll call you later tonight or tomorrow?”
Nodding, I lean in and wrap my arms around her. “You call, for anything,” I whisper and leave her with a kiss on her damp cheek.
“Beaumont, Delaney, Armstrong, Barrett!” Dan bellows from his office doorway.
We literally just got back to the station. And does he have to be such a jerk about it?
Nora, Benny and Dom all give a collective eye roll. I just rub at the pulsating spot in the middle of my forehead. As if reaming the four of us for our self-reassignment is going to help matters.
I bring up the rear and close Dan’s office door behind me. The four of us fan out and take a stance in front of his cluttered desk. If his office could look any more cliché, I’d be amazed. Sometimes those cop shows get things all wrong, their C.S.I. units sometimes make me laugh, but on occasion, like how our desks look, they’re spot on.
It’s only mildly irritating.
“Someone better fucking explain to me why you four came in without your partners?” Dan barks. “You don’t break off like you weren’t given different goddamn assignments!”
“Nor, you weren’t with me when I got in?” Benny pops off.
Nora’s eyebrow arcs and she shrugs. “Thought I came in with you.”
“Ben cut the shit,” Dan growls.
“Hmm, could be ‘cause you think I’m so pretty,” Dom pipes up, “you love lookin’ at my ass Ben. I can see how you’d get me and Delaney confused.”
Dan stops his tight pace behind his desks and glares at the three of them.
“If we could…” I start
“Could what? You could tell me how you’re jeopardizing you job, detective?” Dan cuts in.
“Hey,” Nora protests
“Now, wait a…” Benny tries to interject.
“Yo!” Dom wins out for being the loudest out of the three. “There’s no need to threaten us when we were doing are goddamn jobs!” Dom’s usually not one to lose his head. My mouth drops open at his tirade, “Beaumont and I got the call. Being the good cop she is, she recognized the conflict and called Armstrong and Delaney in to take over if need be. Given that the vic was an old friend of hers, she did the best damn job she could. So don’t give her shit ‘cause she wanted to deliver the news personally. I told her to take Delaney. I told her Armstrong and I’d let you know - which we did. So if you’re gonna holler and fuss at anyone, direct your shit this way Harney!”
Dan’s jaw bunches as he stares Dom down. “You done?”
“No,” Dom spits right back and folds his arms over his chest, “This reassignment is bullshit! I like Beaumont well enough, but we ain’t suited to partner up. Her and Delaney work best together, just like Armstrong and me.” He jams his thumb in his chest for emphasis. “Just ‘cause some brass got their panties all knotted up ‘cause someone gunned for her don’t mean she’s partnered with the wrong detective. Bunch of fuckin’ sexist bullshit!”
Four sets of eyebrows hike in response to the outburst. I know for sure that if flies were swarming around us we’d all be spitting a few of them out right now. That was…
Unexpected.
“Now you done?” Dan asks this time a smirk tweaks the edges of his mouth before he drops a scowl overtop it.
Dom swallows; I think he’s a little surprised himself, and nods.
“Good, now since you two,” he points a finger between Benny and Dom, “have already felt the need to fill me in; ya’ll can leave. Nora too, Nikki you stay.”
Benny and Dom don’t need to be told twice, but Nora lingers in the doorway, looking between the two of us.
“Go Delaney or I’ll put your ass on the front desk for a month,” Dan snaps.
Nora doesn’t budge; instead she shuts the door and marches up to his desk. Her hands plant themselves in the files and papers, finding purchase amongst the chaos. She leans in and growls, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you bully my partner, my coworker and my girlfriend because we actually followed protocol. Whatever crawled up your ass this morning Dan, get it the fuck out and leave Nikki alone or we’re going to have some serious issues.”
I watch the two stare each other down. In the years I’ve been in S.C.U. I’ve seen them butt heads on more than one occasion. I’ve never seen them square off quite like this. It’s a Discovery channel moment if ever there was one.
Deciding to be the voice of reason in the department’s largest pissing contest I’ve ever witnessed, I reach out and place a hand on the small of Nora’s back.
This breaks both of them and they look at me. Dan mops his face with his right hand and breathes a sigh of relief…exasperation...? I can’t be sure which. “It would have been better if one of you had called me. I had Blanco, our governor, on the phone telling me that she wanted the killer found yesterday.” Dan’s left hand slips from his hips and he shakes his head. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Not right now,” Nora says with more edge to her voice than necessary.
Dan’s lips press together before he nods. “Nikki, you okay to actually work this from the periphery?”
I nod.
“You done being a jerk?” Nora snaps.
“You done being an overprotective bitch?” Dan snaps right back.
“Not even close,” Nora grounds out.
“Then go park your ass at your desk until you can act like a cop. I’m done with both of you.”
I watch Nora spin on her heel and storm out of the office. I look back at Dan, unable to read the emotions rippling under the surface. I shake my head and walk out of the office wondering when the hell things went so off course.
Next>>>
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Give Them Up
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
Ch. 15 - Give Them Up
Nora steers the car where I direct her, right behind Tia’s E55 AMG. She puts the car in park, but doesn’t kill the engine. Instead she turns to me, pulling her right knee on to the seat between us and rests her right arm along the back of the seat.
She has that look, furrowed brow, slightly turned down mouth, tight jaw. This can’t be good.
“I’m callin’ a time out before we get in there,” she states.
I mirror her position and lay my left arm over hers, taking hold of her upper arm to caress. We rarely do this, but after a particularly nasty case about two years back, we had to come up with a way to interact on a personal level and shelve the case, if only to check in with each other as lovers and not as work partners.
Annie, bless her heart, gave us a technique her and Jill used in therapy. So far, it’s been useful, even if we don’t use it that often.
I nod and motion for her to speak.
“First, are you okay?” she asks me as her other hand reaches out to lie over my knee.
“Not really, but…” I worry my lower lip trying to explain. “It’s our job, ya know. I can’t just walk away from the case. I need to follow this through. Besides, coming from me, Tia may take it a bit better.”
Nora nods. “How long have you known them?”
“Logan, a while, God, since grade school. Tia, we meant in high school. They’ve been together since then.” I run a hand through my hair and shrug, a wan smile overcoming me. “They were…I was really nervous about coming out…Logan and Tia were the first people I actually told, introduced them to Erica.”
“Shocked?” Nora smiles.
“Hmm, I don’t know, they just sort of…they were sweet about all of it.”
She rests against the driver’s door and nods. “I’ve never met them because…?”
I shrug again. “They’re part of my life that you’ve never showed much interest in, Nora. We’re going to need to talk about that too. I just…Logan’s the last of the Walker clan…”
“New Orleans’s Madam C.J. Walker, the first black female millionaire?” Nora presses.
“Yeah, he took the reins of the family fortune when he was twenty-one…”
“So, I don’t get it, how is he involved with…” I cut Nora’s question off with an upturned hand.
Licking my lips, I draw in a breath and explain, “He sat on the board of the Tilton Endowment Program, which is part and parcel of the Tilton Auxiliary League, for about three years before I took it over. Daddy brought him in to help oversee the day to day functions. I kept him for those same reasons.”
“Nik, I know that…just what exactly is this program and why did you have to…?”
My finger’s drum off my right thigh. In the spirit of full disclosure, if they need to dig into any of his projects, the Tilton and Beaumont name will be all over most of it. If they look at his clients, which they - we - will then they’re going to get a peek at mine and Nora’s financials, which we’re going to have to come up with a story for - if need be. “I’m going to need two things from you, your patience and for you not to be angry,” I hold a hand up to still the words on the tip of her tongue, “I don’t think you will, well, I don’t know for sure, sugga, but can you give me that right now?”
My lover’s bright green eyes search me, looking for something, after a minute on their quest Nora nods.
“My mother’s maiden name is Tilton. Do you know anything about them?” I ask, hoping that she’ll give me a little something to work with.
Nora shrugs, “Uhm, I know that there’s the library and hall over at Tulane. Both are named after Frederick Tilton…some railroad guy back in the eighteen hundreds. Why?”
Good. That gives me a little. So she’ll understand. “Nora, that’s my family...my mother’s side of the family at least. Coming from that, there are obligations and stipulations to inheriting the family accounts, one of those is making sure the Tilton league and program will always be run by someone from our family. My daddy took over the responsibilities because he married into it and there wasn’t anyone else until I came of age and was ready.”
My Nora’s brow furrows and I can practically see the gears whirring in her head.
I press on, “So, there are investments that Logan’s made, I’ve needed him to help me with the league and the program as well to make sure that our money and our family is taken care of.”
“Wait,” Nora stops me and scratches her head. “What do you mean ‘our money’? Look, I know I’ve never asked too many questions, I know I’ve kinda stayed out of that part of your life, but…”
I roll my eyes and bite my tongue. I can’t stop the attitude from bubbling forth though, “Why do you think that our lives are so separate? Why do you act like that?”
“That’s not…Nik, don’t…”
“What? Don’t act like you not taking an active interest in my life isn’t important to me? Considering that we’re practically married…”
“Hey,” Nora barks, “now I didn’t...and don’t…”
“No, Nora, you didn’t. You don’t. Period.” I clench my jaw and take a deep breath, choosing my next words carefully, “You and I, Nora, we’re on the same page about so many things. But this is one that you won’t or can’t…I’m not looking for a ring on my finger. I’m not looking for an announcement in the Picayune. I don’t want that. I want you.” I poke her shoulder and punctuate my statement, “Forever.”
Her cheeks flush and she stammers, “I…Nikki, I’m not saying, I just...”
“Nora Marie, I love you. Married or not. That’s never really interested me much. What does is making sure that the woman I love, the family that I have, are taken care of. What that means to me is making sure you have access to everything I have if something were to happen to me.”
She grabs for my hand that was fidgeting with my pant leg. “I didn’t mean for that…I just don’t think…”
“You don’t think about what could happen,” I tell her softly.
She shakes her head. “I don’t. I just…I’ve just not given it much thought…don’t want to give it that much thought.”
“Well, I do, and I don’t mind that you haven’t, but one day, sugga, you’re going to see how much you mean to me.” I shake my head and bite back the tears. Reaching out with my left hand I cup her chin. “I think it’s one of the things I love about you the most, or perhaps it’s the most frustrating, you love unconditionally without thought of how the other person feels. It doesn’t seem to matter much to you. So,” I swallow the lump in my throat and push back the tears, “So, you never see how much you actually mean to people. How much people adore you.”
Her cheeks flush and she studies her lap. I pull her chin up to make sure she looks at me. “I know we’ve never talked marriage, we can’t,” I shrug, “But you have to know that what’s mine is yours. I’ve made sure that you’ll be taken care of if…”
“I don’t need taken care o…”
“You don’t,” I interrupt her quickly, “But you let me sometimes. I love it. I love knowing that I can. You are just going to have to accept that.” I send her the only smile in my arsenal that gets her to cave every single time. “So,” I say after I’m sure she’s melted a little more, “Is that you’re going to continue to hand over your tax documents so I can get them prepared and tonight, I’ll pull out all the paperwork so you know how much is in our accounts. All of them. So that if they dig into Logan’s clients and your name pops up it won’t be a surprise.”
“What do you mean all of them?” she wonders pulling my hand away from her chin.
“Well, sugga, let’s just say you’ve seen only three of the accounts that are linked directly to me.”
Her eyebrow arcs in response and I smile some more. “For now, I need you to be my colleague, so time out’s over.” I lean over and peck her cheek. “Love you, Delaney,” I manage before sliding out of the passenger door.
“Hey,” Nora calls out from inside the car still.
I poke my head back in and she shoots me a lopsided smile. “Forever’s good for me too.”
My chest tightens at her affirmation. That’s the most I could ever ask from her.
I hold my friend’s hand and let her compose herself. “I just knew…” she sniffles and brings a handkerchief to her eyes again. The inside of my cheek throbs from where I’ve had to bite it to keep my emotions in check.
Tia, even as a teenager, was always so composed. She was the epitome of rising above your upbringing. Much like Erica, which her and my Erica talked about and commiserated at length over, Tia’s home life wasn’t stellar. Her sister’s serving two consecutive life sentences, her brother was shot and killed during an altercation a decade ago involving the Grand Disciples and Three-N-G gangs.
Tia got a scholarship to our high school and put herself through college. Logan, I think, fell in love with her the moment he saw her. Really, with Tia’s smooth brown skin, big brown eyes and engaging smile, I can see why he did. She’s a little taller than I am with lean muscle, some would call it a runner’s body and that would fit for her. She was all-state in track and field.
“Is this…” Tia finally speaks and stops the question. Her chest rises and falls before she can continue, “With Erica…is this?”
I nod. “I knew when she didn’t come home. I’m sorry Tee.” I pull her to me and let her cry into my shoulder. I feel her shudder and shake underneath me. Cutting my gaze to Nora, my girl looks absolutely miserable.
“Tee, I know this is hard, but, do you think it would be okay if we let Det. Delaney go into Logan’s office so we can talk?” I ask gently.
“Nora, if you need anything come see us, but one of the maids will direct you to his office,” I direct her.
“Wait,” Tia interrupts us, “Why don’t…detective please stay and ask your questions.” My friend rights herself and brushes away the tears.
I look her over and ask, “Tia?”
She shakes off my concern. “I want whoever did this caught. That’s first. I can grieve when you leave.”
My left eyebrow hikes. Nora shoots me a look that matches what I’m feeling. “Tia,” I start, “You don’t have to…”
“Nikki, please, the sooner I answer your questions, the sooner you and your partner can start. Please?” my friend pleads.
I take the only path left to me and nod. “All right. Do you know what Logan was working on?”
“Mostly it was the startup of the Renaissance House. It was such a big project for the program that some days I didn’t know whether he was comin’ or goin’. Truth be told, I don’t know if he did either. We were working on the auction for the spring drive and he had his few close clients at the investment firm.” She bites her lip and shakes her head. “I’m sorry,” she finally says.
“When did you last speak to him?” Nora asks, still fidgeting in her seat.
Tia blinks and looks at her numbly. “Right before I went to bed…ten last night or there abouts. He was at the office, the firm’s offices and he said that he still had some work to do before leaving. Some big trade in…Sweeden, I think.”
That tracks with what was on the screens this morning.
“Have you two received any odd phone calls, messages of any type that are out of the ordinary or threatening communications?” Nora presses.
Tia shakes her head. “Nothing.” Her lips purse as she looks Nora over. “Detective, I understand that…there are assumptions about us, our family, but Logan doesn’t - didn’t - have an enemy. He was always kind, soft spoken, people liked him.”
I agree with Tia, “Nora, Logan was a good man. I can’t think of one person in the years I’ve known him that would say a bad word about him.”
“That helps,” Nora agrees.
“So what are the next steps? What do you need from me?” Tia asks the both of us.
“We’ll send over some tech’s to go through his office, see if there’s anything there that would be of interest once…”
“I thought you wanted Det. Delaney to go there…”
I pat her knee and admit, “It was just to give us some privacy, Tee.”
“Oh, if you’d like though, his office is open. The hard drive is encrypted, but I have all of the passwords if you need them,” Tia supplies. “Also, I’m sure you have, Logan was good about making sure you had access to whatever you needed, but for the firm and the league I have all of his user information.”
I nod. “I have everything for the league. He never did share his actual work information.”
Tia stands and motions us into the kitchen. We follow her through the den and stop short as she begins to rummage through her purse. She pulls out a Blackberry and begins to scroll through the menu. Without being asked, Nora provides Tia her case notebook and a pen.
“Thank you,” Tia says taking the offered items and begins to write the information the techs will need once they get the computer back to the station. She finally stops writing and hands the pen and book back to Nora. “That’s everything I think you’ll need.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Walker,” Nora says and slips the items into her back pocket.
Tia closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath. “You’re welcome.”
“I think, that will do for now. We do need to get back to the station,” Nora tries to excuse us.
“Of course,” Tia begins to lead us out towards the foyer and asks, “Nikki, how are things, by the way, I know that…are you still seeing that colleague you’ve kept under wraps?”
Nora gives a low squeak in surprise, but I deflect Tia’s interest, “Yes. I know you’ve been bugging me. With work…”
“So you’ve said,” Tia waves off my apology. “I just think it’s sweet. You bein’ so protective. I hope the woman knows how lucky she is. We’ve been after you for nearly three years to bring her around.”
I smile at Nora then look at my friend. “Maybe I can convince her sometime. I’m sure you two would get on well.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” Tia pulls the door open and Nora slips passed.
I drop my voice and ask, “Do you need anything?”
Shaking her head, my friend answers, “I have some phone calls to make. Arrangements and what not. I’ll call you later tonight or tomorrow?”
Nodding, I lean in and wrap my arms around her. “You call, for anything,” I whisper and leave her with a kiss on her damp cheek.
“Beaumont, Delaney, Armstrong, Barrett!” Dan bellows from his office doorway.
We literally just got back to the station. And does he have to be such a jerk about it?
Nora, Benny and Dom all give a collective eye roll. I just rub at the pulsating spot in the middle of my forehead. As if reaming the four of us for our self-reassignment is going to help matters.
I bring up the rear and close Dan’s office door behind me. The four of us fan out and take a stance in front of his cluttered desk. If his office could look any more cliché, I’d be amazed. Sometimes those cop shows get things all wrong, their C.S.I. units sometimes make me laugh, but on occasion, like how our desks look, they’re spot on.
It’s only mildly irritating.
“Someone better fucking explain to me why you four came in without your partners?” Dan barks. “You don’t break off like you weren’t given different goddamn assignments!”
“Nor, you weren’t with me when I got in?” Benny pops off.
Nora’s eyebrow arcs and she shrugs. “Thought I came in with you.”
“Ben cut the shit,” Dan growls.
“Hmm, could be ‘cause you think I’m so pretty,” Dom pipes up, “you love lookin’ at my ass Ben. I can see how you’d get me and Delaney confused.”
Dan stops his tight pace behind his desks and glares at the three of them.
“If we could…” I start
“Could what? You could tell me how you’re jeopardizing you job, detective?” Dan cuts in.
“Hey,” Nora protests
“Now, wait a…” Benny tries to interject.
“Yo!” Dom wins out for being the loudest out of the three. “There’s no need to threaten us when we were doing are goddamn jobs!” Dom’s usually not one to lose his head. My mouth drops open at his tirade, “Beaumont and I got the call. Being the good cop she is, she recognized the conflict and called Armstrong and Delaney in to take over if need be. Given that the vic was an old friend of hers, she did the best damn job she could. So don’t give her shit ‘cause she wanted to deliver the news personally. I told her to take Delaney. I told her Armstrong and I’d let you know - which we did. So if you’re gonna holler and fuss at anyone, direct your shit this way Harney!”
Dan’s jaw bunches as he stares Dom down. “You done?”
“No,” Dom spits right back and folds his arms over his chest, “This reassignment is bullshit! I like Beaumont well enough, but we ain’t suited to partner up. Her and Delaney work best together, just like Armstrong and me.” He jams his thumb in his chest for emphasis. “Just ‘cause some brass got their panties all knotted up ‘cause someone gunned for her don’t mean she’s partnered with the wrong detective. Bunch of fuckin’ sexist bullshit!”
Four sets of eyebrows hike in response to the outburst. I know for sure that if flies were swarming around us we’d all be spitting a few of them out right now. That was…
Unexpected.
“Now you done?” Dan asks this time a smirk tweaks the edges of his mouth before he drops a scowl overtop it.
Dom swallows; I think he’s a little surprised himself, and nods.
“Good, now since you two,” he points a finger between Benny and Dom, “have already felt the need to fill me in; ya’ll can leave. Nora too, Nikki you stay.”
Benny and Dom don’t need to be told twice, but Nora lingers in the doorway, looking between the two of us.
“Go Delaney or I’ll put your ass on the front desk for a month,” Dan snaps.
Nora doesn’t budge; instead she shuts the door and marches up to his desk. Her hands plant themselves in the files and papers, finding purchase amongst the chaos. She leans in and growls, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you bully my partner, my coworker and my girlfriend because we actually followed protocol. Whatever crawled up your ass this morning Dan, get it the fuck out and leave Nikki alone or we’re going to have some serious issues.”
I watch the two stare each other down. In the years I’ve been in S.C.U. I’ve seen them butt heads on more than one occasion. I’ve never seen them square off quite like this. It’s a Discovery channel moment if ever there was one.
Deciding to be the voice of reason in the department’s largest pissing contest I’ve ever witnessed, I reach out and place a hand on the small of Nora’s back.
This breaks both of them and they look at me. Dan mops his face with his right hand and breathes a sigh of relief…exasperation...? I can’t be sure which. “It would have been better if one of you had called me. I had Blanco, our governor, on the phone telling me that she wanted the killer found yesterday.” Dan’s left hand slips from his hips and he shakes his head. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Not right now,” Nora says with more edge to her voice than necessary.
Dan’s lips press together before he nods. “Nikki, you okay to actually work this from the periphery?”
I nod.
“You done being a jerk?” Nora snaps.
“You done being an overprotective bitch?” Dan snaps right back.
“Not even close,” Nora grounds out.
“Then go park your ass at your desk until you can act like a cop. I’m done with both of you.”
I watch Nora spin on her heel and storm out of the office. I look back at Dan, unable to read the emotions rippling under the surface. I shake my head and walk out of the office wondering when the hell things went so off course.
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