Chapter Fifteen
“Polly, I’ve been callin’ you, but you haven’t answered. What’s goin’ on?”
With a sigh, Aggie hung up the phone. She was getting nervous. When she’d gotten up, she tried getting in touch with Polly once again. Most days Polly got out of bed before sunrise, so she should’ve answered.
Aggie had called yesterday, trying both the office and her home, but she’d only gotten voice mail. Polly had tried to get in touch, too, but they’d never connected. Only now, they weren’t playing phone tag, and Aggie was the only one calling.
Something about this picture wasn’t right, and a terrible sense of foreboding settled over her. Aggie told herself she was just rattled by the situation and she shouldn’t read too much into it, but her instincts were screaming at her.
“What’s wrong?” Ten asked.
A few minutes ago, he’d walked into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee and feed Smokey a can of food.
“I haven’t heard from Polly.” She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to calm down, but it wasn’t working. The tips of her fingers were icy cold, and she had trouble catching her breath.
Aggie had the urge to get in her car and head over to the office. If Polly wasn’t there, she’d try her home.
He studied her a moment. “You’re worried.”
“Yes, I think something’s wrong.”
“Tell you what, let’s pour our coffee into to-go cups, and we’ll head over to check on her. Okay?”
“Yes, let’s go.” She was out the door in a matter of seconds.
As soon as he parked the car, Aggie jetted into the office building, taking the stairs two at a time and then rushing down the hallway. Her heart pounded, thudding against her rib cage. When she got to the office door, it was slightly ajar.
Oh no, please let me be wrong about this.
With a trembling hand, Aggie pushed the door open, and it made a creaking, wailing sound. She shut her eyes and bargained with any deity who might be listening, to spare Polly’s life.
And then she found Polly laying on the floor.
“No!” Aggie howled, a mixture of agony and pure blind rage.
Polly was on her side with glassy, fixed eyes. One arm reached out toward her cell phone which lay in pieces a few feet away. The screen was shattered as though someone had stomped on it.
A pool of blood had formed around her body. Not only that, dried blood streaked her neck and shirt. That’s when Aggie noticed a small screwdriver sticking out of her carotid artery. She would’ve bled out in minutes, maybe seconds.
This was different than her mother’s death. Aggie had been with her, holding her hand. There had been drugs to kill the pain, and there was peace as Melinda had slipped away from life with a sigh. This had been about terror and suffering. Most likely, Polly had died screaming.
“Damn you!” Aggie shouted, falling to her knees.
How long had she been lying there like that?
Someone grasped her arm and Aggie flailed.
“Shh, it’s me, it’s just me.” Ten pulled Aggie to her feet.
She flung her arms around him, holding him close, snuffling into his shirt. Aggie hadn’t even heard him come in the room.
“This is all my fault. It should’ve been me. I should be the one who’s dead, not her.” Aggie had no doubt who’d killed Polly, and Santiago would pay for this, one way or another.
Eventually, Ten released Aggie and then examined the wound.
“There are marks around her neck, too. It looks as though someone tightened a garrote, cutting off her air. The room is a mess, so she must’ve given him one hell of a fight.” Ten walked around the office, as though reconstructing the crime scene in his own mind.
She noticed the desk for the first time. It was askew and papers were strewn around the floor. Ten was calm and efficient, and she was grateful he was here. At least one of them was firing on all cylinders. She felt scattered, raw. Every time she tried to focus, her thoughts went winging back to Polly’s body on the floor.
“My guess is he had to use the screwdriver in a pinch. He’d intended to choke her to death, but she nearly got away from the killer.” He hmphed. “Tough old bird, wasn’t she?”
Her vision blurred. “Yeah, she was. She’d been retired a few years, and she had so much planned. Polly was gonna go to Europe with her husband. Oh God, Coop! What about Coop?”
“Tell you what, I’ll have a friend of mine check on him, but I want you to prepare yourself.”
“You think he’s dead.”
He sighed. “Most likely.”
Aggie appreciated his honesty, even though it was brutal. Not one, but two people had been murdered because of her hubris. It was more than she could stand.
Ten grabbed his cell phone and spoke to somebody named Rebel. Aggie had trouble following the conversation because she was so distracted. She couldn’t stop staring at Polly, and playing every single stupid decision she’d made that led to this situation over and over in a loop.
“I don’t care what your plans are. Get your ass over there and tell me what’s goin’ on.” Ten glanced at Aggie. “Can you give me her address?”
She rattled off the street number and name. After relaying the information, he hung up.
“Who’s Rebel?”
“Someone I work with, but don’t worry about it. He’ll do exactly what I say and keep his mouth shut.”
It was probably a fool’s errand. Santiago had told her what would happen and the man was true to his word.
“This is all my fault. She told me not to take the case, and I did it anyway. It’s almost like I killed Polly myself.”
“No, it ain’t your fault. Santiago did this, not you. Put the blame where it belongs.” Ten squeezed her hand. “I know this isn’t much, but she’ll be avenged. We’ll see to it.”
Aggie nodded. It was a cold comfort at best, but at least it was something.
“Now you’ve gotta make some decisions. Do you wanna call the police and give them a version of events they can handle? Or do you want me to take care of this?”
“What are you sayin’?” It was hard to hear anything with the guilt and panic swelling inside her.
“I’m sayin’ this wouldn’t be the first body I’ve made disappear.”
Aggie knew he didn’t mean to be insensitive. In his own way, Ten was trying to help.
“No, we gotta call the cops and do everythin’ right by her.” She couldn’t stand to think of Polly being buried in an anonymous grave somewhere, tossed away like an animal.
Aggie didn’t know what kind of crazy ass story she’d have to tell the police, but she’d figure something out, and she’d better do it right quick. Not that it would do her much good. She had a feeling Frost wouldn’t believe her.
And then she heard a loud knock.
Before she could open it, the door was kicked open. “Police! Get your hands up.”
When she swiveled around, Aggie saw Detective Frost standing in the doorway pointing a gun at her. It’s almost as if she’d summoned him, by thinking about his reaction.
She lifted her hands and Ten did the same.
He didn’t seriously think she’d murdered Polly?
Then again they were both standing around her body, and they hadn’t called the police. She had blood on her jeans, too.
“How did you know?” Aggie asked, gesturing to the body. They hadn’t called the police, so how did they know about Polly?
“We’ll get to that eventually. Do you have any weapons?” Frost asked.
Aggie nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a gun on my right side, beneath my arm.” There was a deputy with him, and the man reached beneath her jacket and took the gun, before tucking it into his own belt.
“What about you?” Frost asked, turning to Ten.
“I’m armed,” Ten said. “You’ll find a pistol in a holster around my ankle, another under my arm, and one more at the small of my back.”
“You always travel with a personal arsenal?” Frost grabbed the guns one by one, and then handed them off to the deputy.
Ten smirked. “Yes.”
“Put your hands behind your back.”
“You’re arrestin’ us?” Ten asked.
“Yeah, since you’re both lyin’ your asses off. I’m gonna hold you until we can sort this out.”
No! What about the auction?
“Please don’t do this.” Aggie turned beseeching eyes on the detective, even as the deputy cuffed her. “I don’t have time.”
Frost raised a blond brow. “Why? You gotta be somewhere?”
Ten shook his head, and she glanced away.
“No.”
Frost stood in her line of vision once more. “Are you sure? You seem pretty worked up.”
“I’m fine.”
A uniformed officer relayed some information over his radio, and more cops came running down the hall. They knelt by Polly, taking pictures and gathering further evidence.
Somehow, Aggie doubted they’d find much. Whoever did this had been a professional.
“Come on, you’re ridin’ with me.” Frost led Aggie out of the room with a hand on her shoulder. Ten was perp-walked down the hall behind her. They were pushed into separate squad cars.
Aggie couldn’t believe her friend had been murdered and she was being charged with the crime.
This can’t be happening.
***
“Let’s get this over with,” Ten said to his own reflection.
Ten sat handcuffed in an interrogation room, and he glared at the two-way mirror. Being tethered brought back a flood of unwanted memories and he ruthlessly shoved them away.
The entire room was designed to intimidate—the cuffs, a mirror where others could observe him in secret, the door directly behind his back. Ten made it a point to never leave his flank unguarded. Anytime he felt trapped, it triggered his flight or fight response, but he was no longer a scared little boy. Instead, it made him vicious.
He was already in a foul mood, and he wanted to punish someone for causing Aggie’s anguish. Seeing her distress had wounded him. He still couldn’t understand his connection to her, although Ten didn’t want to fight it. And yet, she did. If he didn’t want her so much, he might’ve been offended.
“Come on! I ain’t got all day.” He rattled his chains.
This wasn’t his first time being questioned by the police, and it wouldn’t be the last. It was old hat, so he wasn’t afraid, but Ten was annoyed.
He had a lot to accomplish before the auction tomorrow, and this nuisance was eating into his schedule. Ten hoped this would go off without a hitch, but he had to prepare for the worst, which required a lot of equipment and some of it wouldn’t be easy to procure.
Finally, the door slammed open behind him.
“How are you mixed up in this?” Frost asked, forgoing any pleasantries.
“Take the cuffs off.” He lifted his hands.
They’d crossed paths before and didn’t like each other at all. Then again, cops and criminals weren’t supposed to be friendly.
“No.” He sneered. “Why? Do they bother you?”
“I ain’t mixed up in anythin’.” Ten answered Frost’s first question, instead of the second.
“Is that right?”
“Yep.”
Ten had to play the situation carefully. He had no idea what story Aggie would give the cops, and he didn’t want to contradict her version of events. If the police caught them lying, they could charge them with obstruction of justice, and by then it would be too late to help the girls.
“You’re what…? An innocent bystander?”
“I was simply escortin’ a friend of mine to work and we found Polly on the floor.” The lie tripped off his tongue easily. “I don’t know a damn thing.”
“Escortin’ her? Is Aggie in need of protection?”
“Why, yes, she is.”
Frost leaned forward. “From who?”
He shrugged. “It never hurts to be careful. She’s taken photos of more than one unfaithful husband in a compromisin’ position.”
Frost swore under his breath. “I ain’t gonna play games with you. We both know you’re a mobster.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you work with Byron Beauregard and his boys. And I don’t like your kind in this county, but I don’t have any say in the matter. So, until the Feds cart your asses off, I’ll bide my time and accept my limitations. But you need to understand, I’ll do whatever I need to, in order to keep people safe.” His features hardened. “For the last time, will you level with me about what’s going on?”
Ten jangled the cuffs. “Release me, I’ve told you everythin’ I know.”
Frost snorted. “If I can’t get anythin’ out of you, I’ll talk to Aggie. Maybe she’ll be more cooperative.”
I doubt it. “You’re welcome to try.”
“Anything else you wanna say?”
Ten sat back in his chair. “I have the right to remain silent, so I’m done yappin’.”
Frost slammed the door shut behind him when he left.
***
One short car ride later, Aggie was back in the same damn interrogation room.
They’d placed Ten in a separate one. No doubt the police wanted to question them both and compare stories, which made things a bit difficult. They hadn’t settled on a version of events.
After he’d handcuffed Aggie to the table, Frost had disappeared. They’d taken her possessions and placed them in a plastic bag, so Aggie had no idea what time it was or how long she’d been cooling her heels.
She tugged at the restraints. It was futile though, the steel wasn’t coming off, but they made a satisfying jingling noise. She just needed to get out of here as soon as possible.
Aggie wanted this thing with Santiago over with, regardless of how it ended. This had been about freeing the children, but now she wanted to face the man, make him pay for what he’d done to Polly.
And she was itching to get started.
“Aggie, we meet again.” Frost walked into the room.
He had two cups of coffee and unfastened one of her hands, so she could drink it. He provided cream and sugar packets, so she doctored it up, but it was still lukewarm. Aggie drank it anyway because she needed the caffeine.
Frost sat across from her with a manila folder. She thought it was supposed to be scary, as though he had information on her, but other than a few speeding and parking tickets, she’d never broken the law. He couldn’t possibly know anything about her.
“At the risk of repeatin’ myself, do you wanna tell me what the hell happened?”
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
“Oh? Your friend and partner was murdered at your place of business, as well as her husband.”
Aggie winced. “You found Coop’s body?”
“Yeah, and we noticed similar marks around his neck, although the killer finished him off with a gun.” Evidently, both Polly and Coop fought back. “Oh, and one more thing, your other friend, Ten, sent a flunky over there and we found him with Coop’s body.”
“Ten didn’t do anythin’.”
“Spare me the lies. I came in here with a peace offering, and I hoped you’d open up to me, show me a little professional courtesy.” He gestured to the coffee. “I’m not an idiot. I know something’s goin’ on here, something big. Tell me, and let me help you.”
For a split second, Polly wanted to take him up on the offer.
“Why? You don’t know me.”
“The way I figure it, you and I are on the same side of the law. Despite what it looked like earlier, I know you didn’t kill them.”
“You’re right. I didn’t hurt Polly, I love…loved her.” She swallowed, and tears burned in her eyes. “We weren’t just partners, Polly and Coop were the only family I have left.”
“Then help me catch whoever did this.”
Aggie said nothing.
He sighed. “Ask me how I knew about the crime.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. How do you know?”
“We got an anonymous tip this mornin’ about a body at your office.”
“Any idea who might’ve sent it?” Aggie already knew the answer, but she wanted to see how far the cops had gotten in their investigation.
Santiago had tried to set her up. Evidently, he didn’t want her interfering with his payday, or maybe this was just payback for killing his cousin.
“None. The call came from a burner phone, and we’ve been pingin’ cell phone towers, but it up and disappeared on us. However, I think you already know who tipped us off. Maybe I should take you into protective custody for your own good?”
No!
Aggie bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn’t react in any way, or he might just detain her out of spite.
“I don’t need your protection.”
“We both know you do.” His eyes narrowed. “If you ask me, this looks like a hit. And whoever it was, sent you a clear message.”
“And what’s that?”
“Back off.”
And what if she did let it go? That would mean Polly and Coop died in vain and it had all been for nothing.
“Whatever you’re into, I know you’re way over your head.”
Aggie hated lying to him, but she didn’t have a choice.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry, detective, but I don’t know anything.”