Soul Mate (The Mating Series) (31 page)

“Right, let’s assume that whatever information the police have the church also has.” Cho made a note on his pad.
I noticed he was left handed. I thought left handed people were more artistic. Cho based everything on logic.

“…and our personal information
,” Jimmy said. “He has all of that so then the church has it too.”

“That’s a huge connection,” Cho said. He wrote another note. He should have been a doctor not a lawyer. Cho had terrible hand writing.

“I was set up
,” Jimmy said.

“There’s nothing to suggest you were set up
,” Cho said. “You put yourself on the police radar the night you went looking for the second victim. You could be a convenient patsy, but there’s no evidence tampering or any kind of obstruction of justice in your case. I wish it was that easy.”

“What about Nessie’s testimony?” I
asked. “She told the police that she heard the killer’s footsteps and they weren’t Jimmy’s.”

“Nessie is an unreliable witness. She sustained a serious head injury
,” Cho said.

I frowned. I wanted Nessie to be right. “That’s what Ben said too.”

“Ben?” Jimmy questioned.

“Detective King
,” I said, shyly. I thought Ben was trust worthy. If not for this situation, I would be friends with Ben. Cho’s constant nagging about cops made me cautious, but Ben helped us.

“What about him?” Jimmy asked. “He’s been in Cassie’s business since the first victim. He likes her. Get rid of me, and he has her all to himself.”

“You’re looking at it too personal,” Cho said. “Don’t…”

“He’s on your
side,” I said. “He thinks you’re innocent.”

“That’s what he says to you.” Jimmy growled. Was
it normal male possessiveness or did Jimmy know something?

“He did give us a good defense. After reviewing the medical examiner’s reports on the victims
, it appears the killer is left handed,” Cho said. “It’s not a clear defense, it’s not like your left hand is lame or anything. There’s an argument you’re strong enough to kill someone with your left, but it is reasonable doubt.” I got a picture of Gregory Peck in
To Kill a Mockingbird
proving his client couldn’t move his left arm. “Right now, I’m not looking for defenses. I’m looking to solve this case,” Cho put his hand on my arm. “For Cassie’s safety.”

“Forget Nessie’s testimony
,” I said.

“No
,” Cho said. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying that her testimony wasn’t a cover up. She heard the killer walking.” Cho lit a cigarette. “The killer is heavier than Jimmy. He has some kind of leg or foot problem. He’s probably older.”

“Older like
you or old?” Jimmy said.

“Cho’s not old.” I scowled at Jimmy. Cho
tried to help and Jimmy acted like a smart ass.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” He laughed. “I meant older than me, like Cho’s age or senior citizen aged.”

“I’d guess,” Cho said, “late forties maybe early fifties, the age where joints like knees and hips bother you.” Cho dropped ashes and he made notes. “I could be wrong.”

“That describes most of the congregation at Holy Covenant
,” I said. “All of the picketers are around my dad’s age.”

“In my visions, the killer breathes heavy. He’s overweight
,” Jimmy said.

“Would you recognize his voice?” Cho asked.

“No, when he spoke it was garbled. I think he had something over his mouth.”

“Now, Mary Lazarus...” Cho continued on. “She knew, or thought she knew something. Cassie do you remember her saying anything when you last spoke?”

“No,” I said, “She was always suspicious of people, she didn’t like the protests, but she never came out and said anything. She tolerated them. One time, she said something about them expressing their right to free speech, and how it was their right.”

“She never mentioned this file?” Jimmy asked.

“Not until the e-mail.” I thought about it. “Once she mentioned trying to find out more about her daughter’s death. There are records about her in that file,” I said.

“Didn’t her daughter die from AIDS?” Jimmy asked.

“Mary hadn’t seen her daughter for years before she died. Wendy was found in an alley dead. Mary identified her body,” I said. “Wendy had AIDS. I assumed that’s what Wendy died of, but Mary never said either way. It was before I knew Mary, I never asked about Wendy’s death.”

“It’s not something you discuss with your boss
,” Cho said. “Let’s look at the file.”

Cho pulled out each page, read it, and passed it to me. I read each page and passed it to Jimmy. We had a system. It seemed like Cho did a quick glance more than actually read.
I read each word.

There were several newspaper clippings about murdered women. I found the one on Shannon Staten and read it closely. I assumed it was her father who killed her, but her murder
mirrored the recent murders. The article mentioned a big rock found near the body, possibly the murder weapon. I re-read the article.

“Did you find something?” Jimmy asked.

“This is about a girl I knew,” I said. “I thought someone else killed her, but she was killed the same way.” I handed him the paper. “Her sister was a resident at Mary House when Mary died.”

“Where is she now?” Cho asked.

“In jail, I think.” Tabitha would be safe in jail.

Jimmy read the article
, and then held it between his palms. I noticed he did it with all of the papers I passed him. His face went hard. He flinched. “Jimmy?” I questioned. Cho motioned for me to be silent. I watched Jimmy. His eyes were glassy. He looked in the distance at something I didn’t see.

“She’s was the first victim
,” he said. “The killer isn’t sure if he wants to do it. He approaches her, and asks for a cigarette. She knows him. He asks if she’s a working girl. She tells him not anymore, she’s clean. He holds out a bill.” Jimmy strained to see something. “It’s a hundred. She says no to him. He’s angry he wanted her to take the money. He calls her a whore. She tells him ‘he who is free of sin cast the first stone.’ She spits on him. He picks up a piece of broken concrete and hits her with it. He hits her several times.” Jimmy fell against the couch.

“When did that happen?” Cho asked.

“Shannon was there when I started at Mary house. She was the first one to die. She died my first year. I’ve been there four years.” I started at Mary house right out of college at twenty-two. Shannon was twenty-six or twenty-seven then.

“You’re bare
ly legal,” Cho said. “You’re what twenty-five?”

“Twenty-six
soon,” I answered, indignantly. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to ask a woman her age?”

“You’re not a woman.” Cho scoffed
, raising an eyebrow. Cho looked at Jimmy. “I thought she was your age. You’re robbing the cradle.”

“Cassie’s more or less my age
,” Jimmy said.

“She’s five years younger than you.” Cho shook his head. “Pedophile.”

“Dad’s seven years older than Mom,” Jimmy said.

“Yeah and he’s ancient. That’s why
Mom dictates over him.” Shin was forty when Jimmy was born. When Jimmy was little, Shin had a massive heart attack. That’s when the Kim family moved to the Midwest from California. Shin always seemed weakly and resolved to let Park Min dominate the family. I barely heard Jimmy’s father speak. He just smiled and nodded a lot.

“The killer started four years ago.” Jimmy said
, avoiding discussion about his parents. It was a touchy subject.

We continued passing pages to each other. Jimmy continued to hold the papers to read them. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“It’s called psychokinetic,” Jimmy said. “Sometimes I can pick up vibes from an object. When I work for the police, I’ll hold an article of clothing, or an item that’s important to the victim.”

“
Does it work?” I asked.

“Not always. I tried to do it when I found Mary Lazarus dead, but it didn’t work. I got nothing.”

“Is that why they found you kneeling over her body?” I asked.

“Yes
,” Jimmy said. “It was a stupid mistake.”

“You were trying to help
,” I said.

After hours of reading and taking notes
, we finished with the file. Some of the papers helped, but others didn’t. We had a clear understanding that Mary knew something, but she grasped at straws. It appeared that she knew less than we did.

“I give up
,” Cho said. “We know, from Jimmy, that the killer has been at this for about four years, and we now have about seven victims total.”

“Something has changed
,” I said. “He did this for sport, but recently he’s had a purpose.”

“Why do you say that?” Jimmy asked.

“He killed three prostitutes a year apart. Then nothing for a whole year, and now he’s killed four women in a matter of a month. Something has changed.”

“What’
s changed?” Jimmy asked.

“What does it have to do with the Holy Covenant of the
Apostle Church?” Cho asked.

“I don’t know.” I yawned.

“There’s something in this file the killer doesn’t want known,” Cho said. “Mary was killed over it, and that SUV showed up after you had the file.”

“Did you get a plate number?” Jimmy asked.

“No, I was too concerned with not getting hit.”

“We’
re on to something here, but I don’t know what.” Jimmy stretched. “Put this stuff up, and we’ll look at again tomorrow with fresh eyes.”

“I’
m going out on the balcony, I need some air,” Cho said.

“Are you going to bed?” I asked Jimmy.

“Yeah, are you coming?” he asked.

“I don’t know…” I teased. “Do you want me to?”

Jimmy kissed me. “What do you think?”

“
I’m out of here.” Cho rolled his eyes. “You guys make me sick.”

“You’ve made me sick plenty of times.” Jimmy said. Cho grew on me, but I couldn’t imagine
him dating or being married. Cho didn’t have Jimmy’s gentle nature. He seemed like a typical bachelor.

Jimmy and I got into bed. We weren’t in the mood for anything more than cuddling. My knees ached. I couldn’t get comfortable. We held each other close, kissing.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” Jimmy asked.

“Same as you...nothing
,” I said.

“I want to make dinner for you and Cho, tomorrow night
,” Jimmy said. “I’d like to take you guys out, but…” He rubbed the ankle bracelet against my leg.

“That sounds nice
,” I said. “You’ve never cooked for me before.”

“I want to show how much I appreciate the support from both of you.”

“Make a list and we’ll get the ingredients,” I said.

“Oh no.” Jimmy increased his grip on me. “
I’m not letting you out of my sight again. Cho can go alone.”

“No arguments from me.”
The SUV really scared me. I didn’t want to go out by myself, and not sure I wanted to leave the condo at all. It would have been worth it if we found something in that file. We didn’t get anything, but more questions.

CHAPTER 14

Jimmy sent Cho to buy ingredients for our dinner
. Cho returned in a huff. “Do you know how hard it was to find this stuff?” he asked. “At least in Chicago you know you can find it in China town.” I watched silently as Cho unloaded bags stuffed with exotic ingredients. “Oh and I picked up this for you too.” Cho held up a video game. “Since you’re stuck in the house.”

“Thanks.” Jimmy replied, rinsing a bunch of green grassy looking stuff.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Lemon Grass
,” Jimmy replied.

I pulled a stool to the island and watched Jimmy prepare our dinner.
Jimmy stood chopping lemon grass. He kept his long hair pulled back in a blue bandana. He wore a black shirt unbuttoned. “You look like a sexy iron chef,” I said, amazed at how quickly he chopped the lemon grass.