3 months ago

“You ready?” My partner Detective Greg Jeffries asked with a blinding white smile that was such a contrast to his smooth skin. We’d been partners since I joined the homicide division four years ago.

“Ready. The radio said a DV call was active at this address five minutes ago,” I replied. We stood on the other side of the door from where a suspect stood, armed and angry. Real time updates were coming in my ear as multiple cars made their way to our location. Multi-tasking was important on a day like this, that had the potential to turn deadly on a dime.

“Shit! Damn domestic violence calls,” Jeffries bit out. Every officer hated them because they were more volatile than drunks and junkies. The only thing more dangerous than these calls were traffic stops. “We should’ve gotten those tacos first, someone else could’ve handled this shit.”

“Well we’re here now Greg and we need to get in there. He’s got four guns registered and who knows how many else.”

Our search for suspects had turned up John Daly’s DNA on the victim. We needed this guy alive. “Backup is en route, but you heard him, we don’t have much time.” The man screamed and yelled at his wife who only seemed capable of whimpering and shouting in pain.

“Dammit Jaya,” he groaned, weapon drawn and aimed at the ground. “I guess we’re going in.” He gave another devastating smile because as much as he complained, Jeffries loved life as homicide detective in Miami as much as I did.

With a nod, I gave three sharp knocks on the door with my fist. “Mr. Daly this is Detective Martinson and we need you to drop your weapons and open the door.”

“No fucking way! I am not going to jail for some shit I didn’t do!”

These guys always thought they were in charge. He should have thought about jail while he was beating his wife and possibly murdering someone. But I couldn’t say any of that now. I needed to talk him off the proverbial ledge.

“You won’t go to jail if you let Maureen out unharmed. Right now we just want to talk to you. Invoke your rights now and you’ll get a lawyer who can get you off on whatever you might have done. If you hurt Maureen I’ll have no choice but to send you to jail.

A smack sounded and a woman cried out. “Fuck that! She’s my goddamn wife and I can do what I want with her.”

“You can’t hurt her Mr. Daly, so drop your weapon and open the door.” I turned to Jeffries’ intent stare and he nodded his approval. “Maureen, are you all right?”

“I’m not injured,” she answered but her voice shook with fear. “Just a little banged up.”

Though I was certain this wasn’t the first time she’d covered for her husband, this time I understood her motives. Armed and unhinged was not a good combination for her.

“That’s good. See John? She’s not hurt. Let her go and then you and me can talk.” A shuffling noise sounded and I turned back to my partner. “Can you get to the fire escape?” I whispered.

He nodded and stepped back. “Give me two minutes before going in,” he said and took off down the stairs. My eyes were glued to my watch the moment the door smacked shut, listening as the lock disengaged.

“Come on in, then,” he groused but I went in, my Smith & Wesson leading the way.

“John, I’m Jaya. Are we all good in here?” The apartment was a mess, vases in pieces on the floor, coffee table overturned and the sofa with fresh stains indicative of a fight.

“We’ll be right as rain if you go the fuck away.”

I kept my voice calm even though I really wanted to crack his head open with the butt of my gun. “You know I can’t do that while you have a gun to your wife’s head. Let her go and I’ll give you time to call your lawyer before we take you in.”

“I ain’t going jail bitch.” His anger was apparent but that voice came out icy cold, emotionless and threatening. His eyes were wide and glassy, pupils dilated as whatever drugs he was on took over.

“No one’s taking you to jail right now John. I just want to question you about Lila Stevenson, arriving during this was just a coincidence.” I had his attention now, and so I kept on talking. “If anyone thinks you’re dangerous they won’t hesitate to shoot, so let’s both lower our weapons as an act of trust, all right?”

He nodded and lowered his gun but his other arm gripped around Maureen’s throat tightened and she yelped. “I didn’t rape that chick either. Yeah, we had sex because I paid good money to screw her. Am I supposed to make sure every whore I screw gets home safe and sound?”

Yeah asshole you are, I thought but didn’t say that.

“Of course not John, but this is the first I’m hearing about her being a prostitute. Now you see why we need to talk to you? My job is to find her killer not deal with domestic disputes so please, don’t make this worse.” Finally, Jeffries smooth bald head appeared about a head taller than John Daly. “Care to tell me how she ended up beaten and strangled?” And left behind a dumpster but I held that back for later.

“Fuck no!” he shook his head and raised the gun again, squeezing his wife’s neck even tighter. “She blew me, I fucked her and I left. Maureen was making her delicious meatloaf and needed some barbecue sauce so I stopped at the store before coming home. Dumb bitch dried out the meatloaf, didn’t you?”

Maureen squeezed her eyes shut, ignoring the bruise forming on her left eye and nodded. “I did,” she squeaked out as tears leaked from her eyes.

“See? And I disciplined her. As is my right as her fucking husband! Check County Hospital records if you don’t believe me.”

Shit. He wouldn’t be the first guy whose alibi was another crime, but it was looking more and more like Daly wasn’t our guy. “Alright John, listen to me goddammit. We need to get your statement about Lila, but if Maureen doesn’t press charges you won’t be arrested. We’ll clear your alibi and this will all be over.” And I knew from years on the beat that Maureen would not press charges, and more importantly, Daly knew it too. He was thinking about it, considering giving up control momentarily in exchange for his freedom.

Then he started shaking his head and all the hairs on my body raised, a sure sign shit was about to go upside down.

“I can’t go in. I can’t! You fucking pigs’ll find a way to pin something on me. You always do.” His grip tightened and Maureen screamed at the same time Jeffries knocked over a flowerpot and drew Daly’s attention. “What the…?” Daly whirled around, grip still tight on Maureen and raised his gun.

“Jeffries down!” Shit, I didn’t have a clean shot without hitting Maureen.

Then the shot rang out. As loud as a cannon, and my partner collapsed on the metal grate. “Drop the gun!” I fired a shot in his leg and he went down just as Maureen came flying at me, eyes wide and screaming like a banshee.

“No, don’t shoot him!” As soon as I registered what was happening I put a bullet in her too, right in her chest dammit.

A shot hit my right shoulder and I spun, letting off another shot at Daly at the same time he did, sending another bullet into the same shoulder, about five inches apart. Blood spread around Daly’s stomach and I felt woozy, black spots forming on the outer edges of my vision. Staggering, I fell to my knees, hearing the uniform sound of the tactical team preparing to breach. “Officers down,” I yelled and then fell over before my whole world went dark.