Black Forest, Denver Cereal Volume 5 Read online

  Seth was picking her up after work.

  “Amelie!” A lab tech yelled over Rihanna’s ‘What’s my name?’ “AMELIE!”

  Looking up from the computer, Ava turned down the music.

  “You’re working the O’Malley’s case,” the technician said. “Right?”

  “Yeah,” Ava nodded. “Why?”

  “He’s been shot.”

  Shock and fear echoed through Ava’s body.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “Dispatch just announced it. O’Malley’s been shot,” the technician said. “They’re calling for CSU. The lead officer asked for you by name. They think they have the killer’s blood.”

  “Is…” Ava cleared her throat. “Is Detective O’Malley dead?”

  “Magic O’Malley? No way,” the technician said. “You want us to go with you?”

  Ava nodded. Finding her voice, she added, “Get ready but I’ll call CSU and see what they need. If the assholes haven’t trampled the scene we might get DNA. And…”

  “With DNA we make the case.” The technician smiled at Ava’s favorite saying.

  “Keep your fingers crossed,” Ava said.

  “Yes ma’am,” the lab technician left Ava’s lab.

  Ava stared into space for a moment before recovering herself. She made a quick telephone call to confirm where they needed to go. Setting the phone down, she pulled off her gloves and rubbed her face.

  “Amelie?” another lab technician asked. “We’re ready.”

  Ava nodded. She picked up her field case and followed them out to the Crime Scene Forensics SUV.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday night — 10:05 P.M.

  Sand Creek Greenway

  Lost in thought, Seth sat in the doorway of an ambulance with a blanket wrapped around him. He was cold and remarkably hungry. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear a melody begin to push forward. He looked up to see Delphie walking toward him. Her flowing flower covered skirt was wrinkled and sandy from their splash in the river. Someone had given her a thick blue jacket with Denver Police stenciled on the back. Noting his look, she gave him a bright smile. She carried a Styrofoam takeout container and three Styrofoam cups. She had clearly charmed someone into taking her to Sapp Brother’s for coffee. He wasn’t sure why he was surprised. That woman could talk a shark out of its last meal.

  “Are we expecting someone?” Seth asked.

  “My friend Ava is on her way,” Delphie said. “I thought she’d like some coffee. Her name is Amelie but I call her Ava. Have you met Amelie Vivian Alvin?”

  Delphie blinked at Seth. Shaking his head, he chuckled.

  “It’s not a secret or forbidden,” he said. “It’s just new. Best not to advertise.”

  She smiled at him and opened the takeout container.

  “Oh God, warm apple pie,” Seth said. “Bless you.”

  Delphie smiled.

  “How are you?” Delphie asked.

  “Not great,” Seth said. “I want bourbon. Lots. Like an ache in my soul. I haven’t felt like this since Bonita and…”

  He stopped talking to keep from tearing up.

  “A piano and a lovely young woman are waiting for you at the end of this night,” Delphie said. “In the light of day, we’ll sit down and go over everything.”

  With blank eyes, he looked up at her.

  “Eat your pie,” Delphie said.

  Delphie pushed a fork into his hand. She guided his hand into the takeout container. He took a bite and grunted. For the next few minutes, Seth was completely absorbed by the apple pie.

  “I have to do a briefing,” Seth moved to get up.

  “Finish your pie,” Delphie said. “They can wait.”

  Seth took a long drink of his coffee.

  “You restore me,” Seth said.

  “Everyone here thinks you were shot and magically survived,” Delphie said. “That’s why they’re avoiding you. They don’t know…”

  “What a klutz I am?” Seth laughed. “I have no ego investment here, Delphie. I don’t care if the world knows I slipped.”

  “Amelie?” Delphie waved. “Over here!”

  “Do you know her?” Seth asked.

  “And her parents,” Delphie said. “Sam and I go to all those ridiculous charity parties in the fall. We’ve sat with them a few times. They are pleasant enough. Her mother is a trip. You’d know that if you ever went.”

  “Good Lord,” Seth said. “I usually have seven or eight better things to do. Like solving murders or washing what’s left of my hair.”

  “Or writing Concertos,” Delphie smile. “Sandy thinks the new one is a masterpiece. Your agent is already making plans.”

  Seth grunted.

  “I’m excited to hear it,” Delphie said.

  Ava ran toward the ambulance. Delphie met her a few feet away. With her bright chatter and cup of coffee, Delphie kept the impulsive young woman from embarrassing herself. When Ava was calmer, they moved toward Seth.

  “We rushed to make the field briefing,” Ava said.

  “We’ll start in a few minutes,” Seth smiled at her. She blushed.

  “I heard you were shot,” Ava said.

  “Shot at,” Seth said. “We were making a big show in the middle of the river to draw the killer out and I slipped on a slimy rock. The bullet went right past me. CSU think they found it in a tree.”

  “You slipped?” Ava’s face brightened with laughter.

  “And fell in the river,” Seth said. “Delphie saved me from drowning. I’m sure I’ll have a huge purple bruise on my backside.”

  Ava opened her mouth to say something provocative but decided against it.

  “Ready O’Malley?” The SWAT team commander said.

  “Ready,” Seth said. “I’ll see my two favorite ladies later.”

  Delphie helped him stand. He smiled his thanks and followed the SWAT team commander to the briefing. Delphie snatched at the blanket and pulled it from Seth’s shoulders. He nodded to her. The filthy and exhausted uniformed police officers, SWAT teams and CSU applauded as he approached. He waited for them to settle down before starting.

  “I know you’re all exhausted,” Seth said. “So I’ll keep this to bullet points. We’ll fill in the details over the next week or so.

  “First and most importantly, a child lost his life tonight,” Seth said. “The coroner believes the child was dead prior to the phone call that originated our action tonight. Her immediate assessment is the same poison that killed the other boy. Before we move on, I’d like us to take a moment of silence for this young man. He would have been seventeen in a month. He had just committed to turning his life around. He’ll never have that chance now. Please. A moment.”

  The police officers’ heads bowed as they contemplated the life lost.

  “Thank you,” Seth said. “No matter what else happens, we need to never forget why we show up every day.

  “There are only three more items,” Seth held up a finger. “Even in the dark, our bomb team has found enough explosives to blow this entire region. The killer planned to take us all out tonight. Our SWAT team’s quick thinking and great eyes are the reason we’re not dead.”

  The crowd applauded for the SWAT team. The team pushed the man who ‘spotted’ the killer forward. He waved away their acclaim.

  “Next,” Seth held up another finger. “The perp watched us the entire time. He’d built what looks like a hunting platform to stand on. Evidence shows that he’d been there most of today. He had a dirt bike at the ready. SWAT shot the tank but he still managed to get away. We found the bike about a mile from here. There are vehicle tracks, possibly a truck or a van, leading away from the bike. We’ll know more as soon as it’s light.”

  “Third,” Seth held up a third finger. “Our SWAT team hit him at least once. We believe he might have been wearing body armor so was able to survive our fire. CSU believe they found droplets of wet blood on the platform and on the bike. We believe he took one, if not
two, bullets. We have teams at every local hospital waiting for him. We sent information to every medical center including the military bases. If the killer shows his face for treatment, we’ll catch him.”

  “A round of applause for each of you,” Seth said. “It takes a lot of guts to be out here in the middle of the night looking for a killer. I couldn’t work with finer people.”

  The police officers began to clap.

  “Did the perp shoot you?” a voice yelled from the back.

  “Shot at me,” Seth said. “In the melodrama with our SWAT Team Commander, I slipped and fell into the river.”

  The men and women laughed and cheered.

  “We have more work to do,” Seth said when they settled down. “Forensics is here to collect the blood. Let’s give them every assistance. Don’t fuck this up people. If we get DNA, we will have a case when we find this guy. And I promise you. We will find this guy. He’s killed twice. According to the Coroner’s extensive work, he will retreat for at least a month now. We need to work now and work hard. We have bodies to find. We have evidence to process. We have witnesses to interview. When this bastard returns, I expect us to be ready.

  “That’s all I have,” Seth said.

  He waved as they clapped and walked to Delphie. She met him and walked with him back to the ambulance. She touched Ava’s arm as they passed. Ava followed them back.

  “Ava?” Delphie asked. “Would you mind taking a look something?”

  “Not at all,” Ava said. “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll need a light,” Delphie said.

  She pointed to something on Seth’s body armor. Seth scowled at Delphie but Delphie gave him a firm look. Ava took out her head lamp to take a closer look.

  “Oh my God,” Ava said. “You were shot.”

  “I was?” Seth said.

  “Hit your vest. Look at the angle. Must have happened while you were falling,” Ava said. “Were you pushed?”

  “I don’t think so,” Seth said.

  “Don’t move,” Ava said. “I need to take it out here. We can’t risk it falling out.”

  Ava took a pair of forceps from her kit. She deftly extracted the bullet from the body armor and put it in an evidence bag. Holding it up, she smiled.

  “This is great,” she said. “A bullet, maybe two, to play with. With any luck, we’ll get a fingerprint.”

  “Amelie?” The lab technician yelled. “Our ride’s here!”

  “Got to go.” Unsure of how to say ‘good bye’, Ava raised a hand and ran after the lab technician.

  “She loves you,” Delphie said.

  “I know,” Seth said. “I should cut it off before she gets hurt.”

  “She’s a perfect match for you,” Delphie said. “Tough, smart, funny, independent…”

  “I know,” Seth said. “But she’d be a perfect match for anyone.”

  “You are an idiot,” Delphie said.

  “I know.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Monday night — 10:15 P.M.

  Outside Sandy’s Salon, Colfax Blvd, Denver, CO

  “What are we going to do to them?” Raz asked.

  Standing outside Sandy’s salon, Raz, Alex and Max watched the kids through the large glass windows. With her head on Teddy’s lap, Noelle was asleep. The boys were engrossed in the video game.

  “I don’t know,” Alex said.

  “On the one hand, they hacked a government satellite,” Raz said.

  “A very bad thing,” Alex said.

  “On the other hand, they saved at least a hundred uniformed police,” Max said.

  “How do you figure?” Raz asked.

  “If they hadn’t hacked the satellite, we wouldn’t have been watching,” Max said. “Kaboom!”

  “A very good thing,” Alex said.

  “Do we have to do anything to them?” Max asked.

  “We have to do something,” Alex said. “We can’t let them get away with stealing from us.”

  “We could scare the bejeezus out of them,” Max said.

  “They’re already terrified of me,” Alex said.

  “We have to do something,” Raz said.

  “What?” Max asked.

  “No idea,” Alex said. “Look at them. They’re just kids.”

  “Let’s sleep on it,” Raz said.

  “You’re right,” Max said. “We’ll know what to do in the morning.”

  Alex nodded. Raz put his arm around Alex and they walked back to their car.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY-ONE

  Swim

  Three weeks later

  Monday morning — 6:15 A.M.

  Naked, Ava slipped into the shallow end of the pool. Since falling into the river, Seth’s orthopedist had banned running until his bruised coccyx healed. Of course, Seth ignored the doctor’s advice until he almost couldn’t move.

  Not sure what to expect, Ava prepared for Seth to join the couch club. She imagined nights in the movie room with bowls of popcorn.

  That was before she knew he had a gorgeous Olympic sized lap pool with three lanes in what she’d thought was his carriage house. Turned out, Seth had installed the pool for his father. It stood empty after his father’s death. Maresol had the pool cleaned, repaired and filled in no time. Seth had been swimming every morning and every evening since then. Fifty-eight years old, injured, and she still could barely keep up with him. Seth continued swimming laps until he finished his workout. She thought he hadn’t seen her when he swam over to her.

  “Good morning,” Seth pulled off his goggles and cap. “I like this outfit.”

  He stroked her naked back. She smiled.

  “You worked late,” he said.

  “I’m meeting with a head detective on a big case today,” Ava said. “The lead forensics officer told me to have all my ducks in a row. This detective is smart and tough. It’s a big deal for someone as junior as me to meet with him.”

  “I’ve heard he’s an asshole,” Seth said.

  “Indeed,” she laughed. Gesturing to her naked body, she said, “I thought this outfit might ease the tension.”

  “Good thinking,” he said. “You definitely got my attention.”

  She smiled. He held her close and nuzzled her neck.

  “What’s happening today?” she asked.

  “I have a big meeting with a junior forensics officer in a few hours,” he said.

  “After that,” she said.

  “You mean the auction?”

  “The auction.”

  “Sandy’s cutting my hair around three,” Seth said. “The final fitting for my new tux is after that. Your dress will arrive at four with a couple of people to help you get ready. You know all of this.”

  “I’m nervous about tonight,” Ava said.

  “Why?” Seth asked. “I get dressed up, play the piano for a few hours, and then mingle with some famous people. It’s pretty easy.”

  “I heard that you…” Ava stopped talking. Her anxiety kept her from asking what she needed to ask.

  “You talked to your mother last night,” he said.

  “I’m going with them tonight,” Ava nodded

  “What did Vivian say?”

  “She said you like ‘animal sex’ after you play a piece for the first time,” Ava said the words in a rush. “She said your agent orders a dozen prostitutes for you to use when you’re done.”

  Seth laughed.

  “I don’t want to be with a guy who sees prostitutes,” Ava said.

  “Your mother is not the most reliable source of information.”

  “You dated a friend of hers.”

  “Who?” Seth asked.

  “Francine,” Ava said.

  Seth laughed.

  “It’s not funny,” Ava said.

  “I went to dinner with her ‘friend’ Francine,” Seth said. “With your parents. On a double date. They set the whole thing up. Francine was nice but a little too librarian for me. And seriously, unless something has changed, you
r mother can’t stand Francine.”

  “You went on a double date? With my parents?”

  “When your father worked for the DA,” Seth said. “We worked a couple of cases together.”

  “That was a long time ago,” Ava said. “Let’s get back to the prostitutes and animal sex.”

  Seth laughed.

  “I’m serious,” Ava crossed her arms and shrugged out of his embrace.

  “I’ve never even met a prostitute… except on the job, I guess,” Seth said. “Women hang around after I play like… groupies. I don’t know where the animal sex thing comes from. I’m pretty off after I play a new piece. My agent usually whisks me to the hotel room where I chill out, shower, whatever for an hour or so. They start the auction when I return.”

  “And the sex?”

  “I’ve had sex during that hour but I doubt it was animal sex. I’ve also eaten dinner, gone running, showered, watched television, lifted weights, slept… Sandy’s been with me a few times. Not for sex. I've never had sex with my Goddaughter, if that’s what you’re asking.” Seth shook his head. “I would never spend that hour with a stranger. Never. It’s kind of a sacred time for me.”

  Seth shrugged.

  “I’m not sure what you’re looking for,” Seth said.

  “I didn’t know my mom knew you,” Ava said. “It was weird. Made me feel stupid… childish.”

  “I know a lot of people, Ava,” Seth said.

  Unable to explain herself, she got out of the pool. He stood in the shallow end watching her.

  “You’re a confusing woman.”

  “I’m confused.”

  “You didn’t tell your parents about us.”

  “My mother went on and on. She… I…” Ava said. “I told her about my meeting with you today. It’s a big deal. The Coroner told me it was the first time a junior person has met with the lead detective on a case. My lab team was up with me all night. We’re very excited.”