PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (15 page)

Soloman. I don’t like seeing you unhappy.” He walked back to his friends.

A loud knock at the door sent the kids scrambling for their text books, except for Chris that is. He leaned back in his chair with

his hands folded behind his head.

“Yes?”

Principal Mason stepped inside. “I’m sorry to do this, but it seems that we have a bit of a problem.”

She stood up cautiously. “Problem?”

“Yes, seems Carol’s parents came home today from their vacation. They saw her face and demanded to know what happened.

So they called me and the police. We need to settle this now.” He addressed everyone in the room.

Madison watched Chris’s jaw clench. She knew what he was thinking. He was about to get the finger pointed at him. “It’s okay

everyone,” she spoke to the class, but looked at him. He nodded firmly.

“The six of you I want on this side of the room and behave yourself,” Mason said.

Carol walked in huddled by her parents. They brought her to the other side of the classroom. Mike, his parents, a man Madison

had no doubt was a lawyer judging by his expensive three piece suit, and several of the boys Chris liked to call “preppy”

walked in.

“Please have a seat,” Mason said.

The lawyer gestured for his clients to go to the end of the room. “I’m sorry this should be cleared up soon.” Mason glanced at

Chris.

This could not get any worse. Correction, it could. Ephraim strolled into the room looking very much like a man not to cross

seconds later.

*********

him, but he did. He never missed anyone. He’d outlived his family and every friend he ever made and never once thought of

them once they were gone, except for Marc. He missed his brother when he allowed himself any emotion.

It was the way things were supposed to be. He understood it and accepted it. Everyone’s time would come, except his. Hers

would come, too. He would have to deal with that one day. His chest tightened every time he thought about that. This woman

was killing him.

He sat behind her desk and leaned back looking relaxed. His eyes slowly ran over everyone in the room. He knew a few of the

boys to his left. They were good kids, troublemakers but good. The last two on that side he would guess were bookworms. His

eyes met Chris’s for a mere second before moving on.

The football players in the back had his attention, but he wouldn’t show it. With less than a half hour after his call they

lawyered up. He did a quick search before he left his office and found several domestic violence calls that went nowhere.

There was talk about the boy. His eyes passed over the computer screen on her desk quickly before fixing on the young lady

who looked like she went nine rounds with Tyson.

His jaw clenched as he looked back at Madison’s computer. It seemed he wasn’t the only one that did his research today.

Without taking his eyes off the group he clicked the back button to see what else she’d discovered.

What he found didn’t make him happy. It only added to his temper. She knew. He knew it had been a mistake to write his full

name on that note. He clicked again and sat up straight.

“Hey, can we get this over with I have practice,” Mike, one of his suspects, said.

“Shut it,” Ephraim said. He forced himself to relax as he got up. He strolled over to Madison, giving his back to the room.

“You’ve been busy,” he said softly.

She swallowed loudly. “Yes, you wouldn’t answer my questions.”

“Print the pictures for me would you?” he asked softly.

“Are you going to answer my questions?”

He groaned.

“Hey, I have practice!” his main suspect complained.

Ephraim looked over his shoulder in time to see Mike being pulled back down by his father. The little shit thought he was

going to walk out on him, did he? Interesting. “Get out of that seat again and I’m hauling you in for questioning.”

“Don’t move,” his father whispered harshly. “And shut your mouth.”

Ephraim looked back at Madison. “Well?”

“What do you mean, well?”

“Will you do it?”

“What’s in it for me?”

His eyes dropped to her lips. “Whatever you want.”

“Tonight, we talk for two hours and you answer my questions.”

His eyebrows arched. “Two hours?” He could do a great deal in two hours preferably with her beneath him. Shit. He had to

stop thinking about her.

She nodded. “Two hours, and I’ll have those pictures blown up for you.”

“Okay,” he said slowly.

“Hey, should we have a lawyer too?” a boy asked.

Ephraim turned around. It was Chris. A funny laid back kid who found his way under arrest every now and then for petty shit.

Mostly for beating his mother’s boyfriends after they laid a hand on him or for defending himself on the street. Three years ago

the kid caught his attention and he’d made it a special point to keep an eye on him.

“No, right now no one is under arrest. I have a few questions to ask. Since your parents aren’t here I’ve asked Mr. Mason and

Miss. Soloman to stand in to make sure that your rights are not trampled. Is that choice fine with you?”

Chris shot a look at Madison. The boy trusted her. Good. He was smart. “If I feel I need to question you further after this then

we will make sure your parents are involved. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” Chris said. He was the clear leader of his group. The other boys looked at him expectantly.

“This is bullshit,” Mike said. “I’ll miss practice.”

“Yes, you’ve said as much,” Ephraim said dryly. He looked over at the young girl. She refused to go to the hospital until after

this was settled, but she wouldn’t name anyone. That was interesting too.

“I’m going to ask you again before I talk to these boys. Who hit you?” He’d rather ask her in private again, but her parents

demanded they do it this way. They expected their daughter to be strong and do the right thing. They obviously didn’t

understand real fear.

She shook her head.

“That’s what I thought.”

Mike shot to his feet. “See, this is a waste of time. I’m going to practice.” He ripped his arm away from his father’s grip and

stalked down the aisle towards Ephraim.

The boy was six feet tall, large and obviously an asshole. Ephraim was used to dealing with assholes. With his jaw set tightly

he walked forward. Mike paused, unsure what to do. He probably wasn’t used to people staying in his war path.

Ephraim stalked forward, pointing towards the boy’s parents. “I am not going to tell you again to sit your ass down.” Mike

crossed his arms over his chest in an act of defiance. “Now!” Ephraim snapped. Mike jumped and scrambled back to his seat.

“Don’t move again.”

Principal Mason stood next to the football players. He was clearly showing who he was supporting. Not smart. Ephraim found

Madison leaning against the wall next to Chris and his friends. She was whispering something to him. Chris looked tensed for a

fight, but nodded. He heard what she was saying and she knew he that did.

He stopped himself from grinning. She told Chris he was a nice guy and to trust him. He already knew Chris was innocent. He

knew the moment he stepped into the school and saw Mike. The scent of the girl’s blood was permeated in the boy’s skin. The

little shit liked to hit girls.

“Detective Williams, if I could be of service?” Mason said.

This should be good. “Please do,” Ephraim said as he leaned against Madison’s desk.

“These are fine boys.” He gestured to the football players. “Not one of them has a black mark on their files and they’ve never

been in trouble otherwise.”

“What the hell are you saying, Mason?” Chris demanded. Madison put a hand on his shoulder. If that boy hurt her, Ephraim

would kill him. The boy looked up at Madison and nodded before he sat back down.

Mason held up his hands. “I’m not trying to point fingers here. I am just pointing out that these boys,” the football players, “are

not involved in this. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

Ephraim leveled his eyes on Mason. The man obviously wanted to get in good with Mike’s parents. They were wealthy and

connected. If memory served him correctly they were also on the school board. He was being led around by his wallet.

Chris jumped to his feet. “Look at her face! You call that a misunderstanding? He beat the shit out of her!”

“Sit down this instant!” Mason snapped, giving Chris a look of disgust.

“No! You’re talking about her like she’s nothing. Look what he did to her!” Chris yelled.

Ephraim ignored the little drama and focused on Mike’s reaction. He was chuckling and grinning like an idiot. His buddies

were dumb enough to clap him on the back in front of Ephraim. That gave him an idea.

“Carol, I know you’re upset and you don’t feel comfortable telling me who did this. I have a favor to ask that won’t force you

on the issue. Is that okay?”

She cast a look at her parents and nodded. “Good.” He looked at Chris. “Come here and sit in the front.” Chris looked to

Madison. She encouraged him to go. Smart.

He looked back at Carol and pointed at Chris’ friends. “Now, from what I understand these five gentlemen became involved

this morning. Do you mind if I allow them to leave? If one of them is involved just say no and you don’t have to say who it is.

I’ll keep them here until I figure it out.”

“No,” the word came out on a rasp. She cleared her throat. “They can go.”

The boys noticeably relaxed and filed out of the room, wishing Chris luck. The football players stood up expectantly. “So, we

can go too?”

“No,” Ephraim said flatly.

“What? That’s not fair.”

“Life isn’t fair. Get over it.” He looked back at Chris. “Chris, if memory serves me correctly you’re sixteen years old,

correct?”

“Yeah.”

Ephraim nodded. He looked over the football players. They were all seniors. “Are any of you boys under the age of eighteen?”

They shook their heads. “Good. Come up here and sit down, you too, Mike. You’re eighteen, right?”

He nodded. “Carol, unless you are going to tell me what I want to know now you and your parents will wait in the hall.”

“But we want to stay,” her mother protested.

“I’m sorry, but you need to leave.” When the mother opened her mouth to protest he held up his hand. “I’m sorry, but I want her

out of here for a reason. I also have paperwork in the hall that I need you to fill out. Please,” he gestured towards the door.

With a nudge from her husband they left.

Ephraim watched the boys intensely as he continued. “Mr. Mason, unless you are planning on staying on behalf of Chris who is

the minor in the room I have to ask you to leave.”

“I’ll stay.” Mr. Mason moved to stand next to Madison.

“Miss. Soloman, I’m assuming you’re staying for Chris as well?”

“She doesn’t need to, I’ll handle this,” Mason said. Of course he would want her out of the room. She was the only one there to

protect Chris.

“She stays,” Chris said firmly.

“I agree.” Ephraim nodded.

“Mike, your parents can leave. You are of age and I do not need them to question you. However, if you feel you need your

lawyer then he can stay.”

“He stays,” Mike said firmly.

“Fine.”

Mike’s parents left without a protest. They trusted Mason and the lawyer to keep him out of trouble.

Ephraim casually made his way back to Madison’s chair. He sat down and watched the boys for several long moments. Chris

looked pissed and kept staring at Mike like he wanted to attack the boy. Mike looked cocky and carefree. His friends looked a

little anxious, but seemed to think that this was a joke.

“Miss. Soloman, would you please see if the officer in the hallway has some papers for me?” Ephraim asked. His eyes never

left the boys.

“Sure.” She stepped out into the hall and returned a minute later holding a file. She brought the file to him.

“Thank you,” he murmured as he took the file. His fingers ran over hers, sending heat up her arm before he pulled the file away.

She went back to the wall, but not before he opened the file on the desk. It held several blank pieces of paper, but no one

would see that unless they were standing in front of the desk.

He made a show of looking down and nodding at the papers. “Good. They signed,” he said quietly.

“Who signed what?” Chris asked.

“Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin signed the release form for a rape exam,” Ephraim said, focusing his eyes on Mike. Mike fidgeted,

twice. The girl was underage so he really didn't need her parent’s permission, but if it helped this to move along he would play

it up.

“What?” one of the football players asked stunned.

Ephraim nodded. “Let’s cut the shit, gentlemen. I already know what we’re going to find. She confided in her mother that this

was not just an assault, but a rape. In one hour I will have her on a table and examined and an hour after that I will have a

warrant with all of your names on it.”

“You will be brought to the emergency room under custody where your mouths will be swabbed for DNA.” He paused to run

his eyes over the boys. “In twenty four hours I will have a match. I will also have several accessories if my hunch is correct.”

“What do you mean?” another football player asked. He looked like he was about to cry.