Love and hate crimes, p.10
Love & Hate Crimes, page 10
“Yeah.” His tone sounded far away, and his gaze drifted back to the screaming little boy. “Um… what’ve we got, Sasha?”
He was vaguely aware that he’d raised his voice to be heard over the screaming.
“A married couple according to the family pics throughout the house. Wife was DOA. The husband had a very weak pulse, but the medics called it right before you arrived.”
Isaac glanced around at the scene. “That’s a lot of blood.”
“Yeah, they were both stabbed from what I can tell. But we also found this near the husband.” Sasha held up a sealed evidence bag with a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic 9mm in it. “Along with one spent shell.”
Isaac stared at the gun. In his head he could hear the gunshots from his nightmare going off again.
“There were two shots.”
“Sir?” Sasha looked at him in that there-goes-spooky-Ike-Taylor-again way.
He didn’t care. He knew he was right.
“It was fired twice. So you should find a second casing around here somewhere.”
“Ike, how do you…” Sasha let that question drop, along with her eyes. Then she nodded and met his gaze again. “Okay, Sarge. If it’s here, we’ll find it. I’ll also do a check of hospitals, clinics, and drug stores for anyone who came in needing some first aid or supplies. Maybe Dad got a lucky shot off.”
“Good idea.” Isaac nodded. He appreciated the fact that she was trusting his word. He glanced over at the little boy again. “The kid?”
“That’s actually why we called you out, sir. Lynn and I have both tried, as well as the neighbor girl, but the boy won’t be consoled. He just keeps screaming. And he keeps running back to Mom’s body whenever we try to pull him away.”
“Social services?”
“We’ve got a call into children’s services, but they’re all backed up. They can’t get to him until morning. We need to know what to do with him until then.”
Isaac nodded and looked at the boy again. It was difficult to look at him and not be overwhelmed by the terrifying emotions. But he couldn’t stand it. The mournful wails were heartbreaking.
Without thinking, he stepped away from Sasha and walked over to the child. Carefully, he knelt down beside him and reached out to touch the child’s back.
“Hey little man.”
The boy turned and looked at him. Light blue eyes that seemed to be rimmed with green pierced Isaac somewhere in the vicinity of his heart.
The next thing he knew, the boy launched himself into Isaac’s arms.
Isaac froze.
Just for a second.
Then he wrapped his arms around the child and stood, picking him up. The boy clawed at Isaac’s shirt, his tiny chubby fingers digging in like a frightened kitten’s claws. Isaac stiffened until he realized that the boy wasn’t touching his skin. Then he remembered that his niece, Isla didn’t hurt him whenever her skin touched his. Nothing this young and innocent could.
He relaxed and let the child settle in his arms.
“It’s okay, little one,” he whispered, rubbing the boy’s back. “You’re okay.”
The boy laid his head against Isaac’s chest and stuck his thumb in his mouth, but the other tiny hand had a death grip on Isaac’s shirt. His whole body was shaking, but for the moment he had stopped crying.
The confusing swirling mass of chaotic emotions were still running rampant inside the little guy, and it only made Isaac hold him tighter.
“You’re going to be okay, little man. I promise.”
Isaac felt completely and totally out of his depth here for so many reasons.
Firstly, he knew absolutely nothing about babies. And sure, this little guy wasn’t exactly a baby, but he was close enough. He did enjoy being around baby Isla on occasion. She was cute and sweet and he could make her laugh and not worry about flinching when she touched his skin. But that was the extent of his knowledge.
And secondly, he knew absolutely nothing about being in charge. He realized that Sasha Palmer was waiting on him to give her a response about what to do with this kid for the night until children’s services could get to them later in the day, but he had zero clue what to tell her.
He took a deep breath and let his gaze wander around the room. He couldn’t help taking everything in. It was just what he did at a crime scene. Second nature.
His gaze lit on a grouping of photos across the room on the wall. He meandered over that way to get a closer look.
He studied a wedding photo of the dead couple. In the photo they looked happy.
He moved on to a larger frame. This one read, First Five Years across the top. It had six openings for pictures, but only three of those openings were occupied by a photo.
The first was a picture of a newborn. The second was labeled 1 Year Old and the third said 2 Years Old. The other non-occupied spots were labeled accordingly. In the center of the photo spots it read, Greer Thomas Buckley.
Isaac studied the pictures and then glanced down to the little boy in his arms. The boy was earnestly sucking his thumb, but his eyes were wide open and every so often a ripple of shakes would still wrack his little body.
“Well, look at that.” Isaac still spoke softly to him. “Are you Greer Thomas? Is that your name? Because if it is, then you and I have something unfortunate in common.”
He rubbed the boy’s back and leaned in like he was sharing a secret with him.
“See, that’s my name too. How about that? I’m Isaac Greer Taylor. You don’t meet a Greer every day. Trust me, I know.” He smiled down at the boy. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
Isaac turned and looked over the crime scene once more, studying it. And it struck him for the first time since he’d entered the premises that they were an interracial couple. The woman was Black, with medium brown skin and lots of curly hair. The man was white with blond hair and a chiseled jawline.
With the hate crime murders fresh in his mind, Isaac couldn’t help wondering if this crime was maybe related in some way. He was about to say something to that effect when Detective Lynn Driscoll came into the house.
“I took a thorough statement from our witness and told her to stay available in case we need to speak to her again.”
She glanced over at Isaac and her eyes registered mild shock.
“Oh, wow, Sarge. How’d you do that?” She gestured to little Greer Thomas, who was still clinging to him and sucking his thumb.
A small sliver of nerves ran through Isaac. “Uh, I’m not entirely sure, but I’m not questioning it right now. Who’s the witness?”
Lynn started flipping through her notes. “Name’s Sylvia Neald. A neighbor who lives across the street. At around two am, she was just getting home from work at the Emergency Vet Clinic. Said she exited her car and heard the kid screaming. She looked around and saw him standing in the driveway all alone. She crossed the street to him and picked him up asking where his mommy was.”
Little Greer shivered in his arms, as though he understood every word she was saying, and Isaac rubbed his back while Lynn continued.
“The kid pointed to the house, and that’s when she noticed the front door was standing wide open. Lights were on. She rushed over and got a look at the horrors inside and called 911. She claims the kid practically leapt out of her arms to go running back to his mom’s body.” Lynn closed her notes and looked at Isaac again. “That’s where we found him when we got on scene approximately ten minutes later.”
“Was the witness friends with this couple?” Isaac asked, still rubbing Greer’s back.
“Friendly,” Lynn replied. “She said she’d talk to the wife, Cara Buckley, whenever she saw her outside. Apparently Cara liked to put the little guy in the stroller and go for walks around the neighborhood.”
Isaac nodded, mentally cataloguing all the information. “And the husband?”
“Shane Buckley. Computer programmer. According to Sylvia, he worked for some firm downtown. Worked a lot, but she says it was obvious when you saw them together that Cara and Shane were very much in love. And they both doted on the little guy.” Lynn gestured to Greer again.
“So no chance this is a lover’s quarrel gone very wrong?” Sasha asked her partner.
Lynn shook her head. “Not likely according to Sylvia.”
“Did she mention any enemies the Buckley’s might’ve had?” Isaac asked.
“No, sir. But she admits that she didn’t know them well.”
Isaac sighed. “All right. I want you two to do a thorough dive into both parents. Pay particular attention to any problems either may have had with hate groups lately.”
Sasha frowned at him. “You thinking this is related to the recent hate crime spree, Sarge?”
“Not really. But it can’t hurt to check that angle since they are an interracial pair.”
“Good thinking.” Lynn made a note in her notebook.
“In the meantime,” Isaac continued, “Sidney and I did recently complete the paperwork and the home inspection process to become foster parents, so we’ll take little Greer Thomas for the night. I’ll call our contact at the foster agency to deal with children’s services.”
He heard the words come out of his mouth, but for the life of him, he had no idea why. He hadn’t even been thinking about it. But it seemed like the logical solution to the temporary problem.
“Are you sure, Sarge?”
“Yeah. It’s just for a night.” The strangest sensation stirred in his stomach when those words left his mouth. But he wasn’t ready to examine that just yet so he pushed it aside and focused on the matter at hand.
“Okay, what else do you need from me?” he asked them.
“That’s it, sir,” Sasha said. “Just a decision on what to do about the boy. Thanks for your help.”
Isaac nodded. “Keep me looped in on this one.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sure thing.”
Sasha and Lynn answered in unison.
“Oh, and do a thorough canvas of the Buckley’s neighbors. Maybe somebody heard an argument before the gunshots went off.” Isaac’s mind was spinning, spinning, spinning with what next steps he would take if this were his case. “And check for any door cams on the street too. We might get lucky.”
“We got it, Sarge.” Sasha’s smile was an indulgent one, and it stopped Isaac’s runaway thoughts in their tracks.
“What? You’ve done this job before?” Isaac rolled his eyes at himself.
Sasha and Lynn both smiled at him, but they didn’t say anything.
“Sorry,” Isaac said, feeling foolish. What was it Gavin’s note had said? “First time in charge. Gotta learn to trust my detectives. Guess I need to keep asking myself what would Hayes do?”
“You’re doing great, sir,” Lynn said.
It still felt weird having his fellow detectives call him sir. Sarge he didn’t mind at all, but sir made him feel like an imposter. “Thanks.”
With Greer in his arms he headed for the door.
15
Isaac stepped out of the house and took a minute or two to remove the shoe coverings from his shoes. Still holding Greer in his arms, he fished his cellphone from his pocket and placed a call. He felt bad about the hour, but then again this was the job, wasn’t it?
The phone rang four times before anyone answered.
“Hello?” The voice was muffled with sleep.
“Ms. Hunter? This is Detective Sgt. Ike Taylor.”
“Sergeant Taylor?”
She repeated the name, but Isaac wasn’t certain she was comprehending.
“Yes, I’m sorry for calling in the middle of the night, but it’s extremely important. It’s about a child who needs immediate help. Can you meet me at the University Hospital’s ER?”
“Now?”
“Yes, right now.”
There was a tired sigh. “Yes, of course. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thank you.”
He disconnected the call and then glanced around the front yard. The place was still swarming with police lights and uniforms. Isaac spotted the same young patrolman that had greeted him on his way in. He was standing by the tree in the yard, talking with another uniform.
Isaac took a few steps toward him and pointed. “I need your assistance.”
The officer snapped to, eager to please. “Yes, sir. How can I help, Detective Sergeant?”
Isaac held up his car keys. “I need you to drive my car to the nearest hospital so that I can hold the baby.”
The officer frowned. “Um, wouldn’t it be simpler if I hold the baby?”
Isaac stared him in the eyes. “Can you take him from me without touching my exposed skin or without making him start screaming again?”
The officer gave him a weird look that slowly morphed into understanding.
“I’ll drive, sir.” He held out his hand and Isaac dropped his keys into the man’s palm and headed off toward the car.
He slid in on the passenger side and adjusted the seat for his long legs. When the officer started it up he glanced over.
“You should know this is my personal car and I don’t want any scratches.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Also, I’m not strapped in and we don’t have a car seat, so just be careful, okay?”
The officer nodded vigorously, and Isaac could see the nervousness on the guy’s face as he pulled out onto the street.
Isaac held onto Greer and thought about how this poor little boy’s whole world had just been blown up. He was deep in his thoughts when the officer softly cleared his throat.
“Um, may I just say that it’s an honor to work with you, sir.”
Isaac glanced over at him again, but he didn’t respond to that.
“You’re like a legend at the third,” the young officer said, referring to the third precinct. “Even down in the patrol section the guys talk about your psychic… um… I mean, your special skills.”
The guy was quick to correct himself, and Isaac suddenly wondered if word was going around that he didn’t like to be referred to as psychic. He took in a deep breath and then sighed. He had to address this. Maybe if he did, the word would spread.
“What’s your name, patrolman?”
“Sykes, sir. Brad Sykes.”
“Nice to meet you, Sykes.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“But you should know that I don’t particularly enjoy talking about my special skills. Especially with strangers.”
“Yes, sir.” Sykes blanched. “I meant no disrespect, sir.”
“None taken.” Isaac fished his cellphone from his pocket once more as it dawned on him that he’d neglected a very important step. He placed a call and waited. It only rang twice.
“Isaac?”
He could hear the sleep in her voice, but he also heard the concern.
“Baby is everything okay?”
“Sid, I need you to listen carefully.” He kept his voice clear and steady. He needed for her to understand him. “Everything is fine. But I need you to meet me at the University Hospital ER.”
“What?” Panic flooded her tone. “Are you okay? Were you shot?”
Of course her first thoughts would go to him being shot, especially after what had just happened to Pete.
“No one has been shot, Sid. I’m fine. But I’m taking a very traumatized little boy to the hospital right now. A very traumatized little boy.”
He took great care to emphasize those last words, and he could almost see the moment it clicked for her. Even over the phone.
“Oh, my God, Ike. Your vision? It’s happening now?”
“Right now. And I need you.”
“Okay. I’ll throw on some sweats and be right there.”
“Drive carefully, Sidney. Everyone is all right. There’s no need to speed and possibly get into an accident.”
“Okay. I’m on my way.”
Isaac disconnected the call and felt Greer shudder yet again. He tightened his arms around him.
“It’s going to be all right, little one. I promise.”
“It’s a real shame what happened to the kid’s folks,” Officer Sykes said.
“Yeah, it is. But we’re going to find out who did this and make them pay.” He was replying to Sykes, but it almost felt like a promise he was making to Greer Thomas.
“Hey, it’s just too bad the kid can’t tell us what really happened, huh?”
Isaac thought about that. “Yeah,” he mumbled, but his mind was already off and wondering what exactly the poor boy had seen. And he wondered if he could possibly use his abilities to touch the boy and ‘see’ what he saw. He wondered if that was something Sterling could help him do.
They pulled into the ER parking lot and Isaac motioned for him to drive to the entrance.
“Let me out at the door, then park it and bring my keys inside. I’m going to need you to wait for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Isaac got out of the car and rushed inside. The ER was dotted with a few people waiting to be seen, but it wasn’t one of those crazy nights of mass confusion. That was good.
He rushed up to the desk. “Excuse me, we need some help.”
The nurse looked up and her eyes popped like balloons at the sight of the bloody baby.
“Oh, my God.” She jumped to her feet and ran around the desk, calling out, “Dr. Westin, over here!”
She quickly ushered Isaac and Greer into the nearest empty cubicle. The doctor sprinted in two seconds later.
“Where is he injured?”
“No, no. I don’t believe he’s injured at all. I’m Detective Ike Taylor.” He flashed them his shield as best he could with the baby in his arms. “The child is the only survivor in an attack that killed both his parents. He’s extremely traumatized, but I just wanted to bring him here to make sure he’s physically okay.”
The nurse put a hand to her own chest, heaving a sigh of relief. “Oh, my Lord. I saw all that blood and I thought—”
“I understand,” Isaac nodded. And it dawned on him that this was the second time in as many days that he’d ended up covered in someone else’s blood.
“I’ll look him over. Just set him here on the gurney,” the doctor said.
