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“Can I ask how he died?” I couldn’t help but question. Let’s be honest, most people in my position would have. Humanity lived for salacious details.
“A drug dispute turned fatal. Happens a lot among those kinds of people.”
I heard the weariness in his tone. As a society, we tended to only see a fraction of the bad in the world. Cops, though, they dealt with it every single day.
“I guess he won’t be hurting anyone else then.” Perhaps a little tarter than the situation warranted, but I refused to feel sorry for that fucker, Joey. The world would be better off without him.
“No, he certainly won’t be causing problems no more. On another note, sorry if no one’s come by yet to take your statement. Staffing cuts have made it difficult for us to deal with the small crimes.”
“I’d hardly call a hospitalization for my beatingsmall.”
“I agree. But, well, the higher-ups, they don’t want us wasting time on druggie-related offenses because it never goes nowhere and just clogs up the courts.”
“Because of the revolving door. Yeah, I get it.” Why investigate a crime and go through the effort if the system would only release the perp, claiming mental health and addiction? I did almost mention that Brayden had been working my case, only to suddenly wonder… Maybe he wasn’t supposed to be. From the start, his interest in me had seemed odd. A detective assigned to a robbery? And from the OPP, which usually dealt in provincial matters, not local affairs. That was usually the Ottawa police.
If Brayden were doing his own thing, then saying something might get him into trouble. What if I changed my mind and decided to date him again? Perhaps I’d been too harsh. After all, the man wanted to help me cover up a murder. He obviously liked me a lot. But I had to wonder about some of the stuff he’d claimed.
These cops didn’t act as if I were a murder suspect. Could be they acted a part, maybe hoping I’d inadvertently reveal something during their casual conversation about the dead guy. They could try all they liked; I knew nothing.
“Thank you for bringing me the news and the keys.” I held out my hand, but the cop shook his head.
“Sorry, we gotta hold on to them until we know for sure they won’t be needed.”
“I thought it was an open-and-shut case.” I acted innocent.
“Just crossing all the Ts and dotting the Is, ma’am.”
I wanted to grimace at thema’am; however, I’d reached an age where miss did not apply.
“Oh, that’s fine. It’s not like I need them.” I offered a false smile.
“Did you want us to take your statement now about the robbery and assault?”
“Seems kind of pointless with my assailants dead.”
Too late, I realized my slipup. By admitting that both of my attackers were dead, I’d given them a link to two bodies. Yikes.
Before the cops could pounce, the walkie at the woman’s waist went off with a crackle. She and some crackly voice tossed off some numbers that ended with the woman jerking her head. “We got a call over in Carp we gotta run to.”
The fellow tucked his thumbs in his belt loops. “We have to go.”
“Sure. Yes, important things to do. Fighting crime and all that. Best of luck.” I laid it on too thick in my nervousness.
“Feel free to pop by the station if you want to submit a report.”
Like fuck would I waste my time on that.
The cops left, and I cursed Mahoney and that damned bike. Somehow, I just knew they were to blame.
Despite it only being midday on a Friday, I closed the gates and locked them. I didn’t want to be disturbed.
I returned to my house and moped with my dog. Well,Imoped, he napped on the couch, meaning I had to sit on the floor since I refused to be crushed under his body.
How had my life become so complicated? I’d gone from being a boring forty-something divorcee to being linked to a string of murders. Now, my detective ex-boyfriend thought I was a killer, the only other guy of interest didn’t have an actual body, my bike had a taste for blood, and I kind of missed my boring Friday night pizza with The Jerk.
There had to be a way to fix this mess.
Let’s see. The problem with Brayden seemed the easiest to fix. I wouldn’t talk to him anymore.
