Roll Away Your Stone 14/18
Jun. 30th, 2011 05:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistSeries: Secret
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Are My Desires
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
A/N: Had a small celebration last weekend as I polished off the last chapter of this story, it was good times. Now, I’m looking forward to the next arc and uh, I’m still not sure what the hell I’m going to do. I have the roughest outline in my head, but nothing concrete…kinda like when you’re in the middle of a semi-dense fog and there’s stuff out there, but you can’t quite figure it out…that’s where I’m at…It’ll firm up, I’m sure…
On more relevant information, there’s a teensy bit of smut at the beginning of this chapter…so this is your warning. And you know you’ve been watching too much Criminal Minds, when you want to copy Garcia and say “1SB out.” Yeah I’m off for some more coffee. Take care all.
Ch. 14 – Are My Desires
An involuntary wince pinches my face as I flush the toilet. Stilling my movements, I cock my head to the side trying to hear if I woke Nora.
The only think I manage to pick up is Reba scratching in her litter box.
Satisfied, I move to the sink and wash my hands. Another wince appears as I look in the mirror. Despite the sublimely early hour, my hair doesn’t look too bad. Although it may be time for a touch up at the salon, a few persistent silver roots stand out against the dark brown of my hair.
I turn the water off and use the hand towel next to the sink to dry my hands then poke at the scar on my scalp. The graze’s scab came off last week, leading to a surprisingly straight, white line that is boarded by small white dots where the stitches were. All in, considering the mess I got myself into, I got off pretty light. A few scars and a patch of missing hair that is taking it’s time to grow back. Admittedly, the missing hair is a sticking point; I still can’t help but feel that…
I swallow and meet my own gaze this time.
No, I know, that Nora suffered far more for my rash decisions than I did. Even if I’d have died, she would have borne the brunt of my actions.
I don’t know how I’m going to make it up to her.
I don’t think I can.
Sighing, my reflection purses her lips and offers me a scowl.
Unsatisfied, but wanting to get back to Nora, I grab her new favorite toy, pad in to the bedroom and slip it on. The straps are snug as I lock her favorite dildo into position.
Mister is lying on his bed next to the closet, but pokes his head up when I walk into the room. He gives me this look that I can only interpret to mean that I look ridiculous, but then he thumps his tail before laying his head back down. Really, you can’t help but feel a little silly in this thing, but…
She loves it. I love using it.
I’ll take looking a little foolish for the gift it provides in helping enhance my ability to satisfy Nora this way.
I’m also thankful that we left her bedside lamp on. I stand at the foot of the bed and take a moment to just admire her sleeping. The soft maroon sheets cover her to just above the small of her back. Her head is turned towards my side of the bed, her right hand reaching out just so, ending to about right where I normally would be sleeping.
Her hair hides her beautiful face from me, but I plan to remedy that soon enough. Reaching out, I gather a handful of the sheets in my right hand and give them a gentle tug. They slip down and reveal the rest of her. Slowly and ever so softly, I raise a knee to rest on the bed and lean forward.
My nose barely grazes the flesh of her toned left calf allowing me to inhale the scent that is pure Nora Delaney. My lips brush against warm skin and work their way north. Her muscles twitch underneath my touch, underneath the kisses that I leave along her leg.
Her right leg lifts and begins to rub against any part of my body it can touch. The involuntary action causes me to smile. My girl’s awake. I reach the swell of her left cheek and rub the side of my face along its curve.
“Hmm,” Nora mumbles above me.
“Shhhh,” I whisper and shift my position so that I’m between her legs sitting on my calves, running my hands over the swell of her hips and in to move up her back. I lean forward to press my hips against her body and lean down. Kissing her shoulder, I move her hair and kiss my way up the back of her neck.
She presses up and moans, “You’re too happy to see me this morning.”
I can’t prevent the chuckle that bubbles up and ruffles her hair. “I am,” I mumble. Her hips give another little wiggle and she chuckles burying her face in her pillow.
My breasts press in to her back and I rest my weight along her length. I feel her try to shift so I prop myself on my hands. She turns around and wraps her legs around my waist. Her center presses along the shaft, which press against my clit.
She’s evil.
“Morning,” she purrs as she reaches up to brush my hair away from my face.
I grin and lean down, capturing her lips. Seeking more contact I open my mouth letting her follow my lead. Her tongue slides against mine, along my bottom lip and then along the top of my bottom teeth. Her hips rock, my eyes cross behind closed lids and I match pace with her.
Nora pulls away and groans, “Need you.”
“You can’t be near wet enough, sugga,” I mumble against her lips, wanting to resume the slow exploration of her mouth.
She seems to have other ideas as she shakes her head and pulls my left hand off the mattress. Guiding it between our bodies, she stills her hips and presses my hand between her legs. I feel the moisture run hot and slick against my fingers.
She may be more ready than I thought.
My middle finger reaches out, slips inside of her before I pull it back to bring up to my lips. She watches as I suck it into my mouth reveling in pure Nora. “Hmmm, in deed you are,” I lean down and purr.
I feel her grab hold of the head of the strap-on and guide it towards her entrance. I reach out, smooth her hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Satisfied that I’ll be able to see her face, I plant both hands on either side of her head to give me a little more stability.
Dark green eyes lock with mine and she breathes, “I love you, Nikki.”
I smile and push forward, sink into her and watch my phone light up and vibrate on top of my night stand.
Oh, for hell’s sake!
Nora flops back on to the bed and hisses, “Mother fucker,” before reaching for it and looking at the display. “It’s your partner,” she snips.
Well if that just doesn’t kill the mood. Pulling out of her, I rest against her lower half; take the phone and answer, “Beaumont.”
“Got called in. Need you at the cross street’s Perdido and Ferret. Some office building. Walker something or other,” he says, “I’d have more, but sorry, I left the notes in the living room. I was just getting ready when the call came through dispatch.”
I look down at Nora and resist the urge to kiss away the frown until the name Walker registers.
“Nikki?” Dom asks.
“Yeah, sorry. You have anything on the vic?” I ask and begin to worry my lower lip.
“Don’t have much on the vic. Just that a body was discovered about an hour ago at Walker Investments, I think that’s the name of the place.” he fills in.
Shit.
I bite my lower lip. I really hope I’m wrong.
“I’m getting ready now. Look, you need to pick up Benny. I’ll grab Nora and meet you at the scene,” I direct him.
“What? Why?” Dom asks.
“’Cause I know the owner of Walker Investments personally. We may not be able to take the case. We’ll meet you two over there. I need to finish getting ready and grab Nora. See you in twenty.” I don’t give him time to question anything else as I end the call and try to figure out a way to tell Nora. I mean I’m not even sure yet. I want to be wrong, but…
And it’s not like I’ve intentionally kept this from her. She’s just never really been that into the charity work that I do.
“You’re meeting Benny at a scene. I may need you two there in case I can’t work the case,” I look down at her and toss my phone next to her head.
“Why?” she asks sitting up.
“Because there was a body discovered at a friend’s office building,” I answer her and begin to untangle from her. We need to get a move on.
“Is it…”
“I don’t know.” I climb off the bed and unbuckle the harness, letting it drop to the floor before picking it up and carrying it to the bathroom. I call after her, “Now come on. We have twenty minutes to make it over by Poydras and Ferret. Dispatch gave Dom bad directions.”
“I love her,” Nora declares as she kills the engine on her new car. I watch as she affectionately pats the dashboard and smiles at me.
I return her grin and say, “I’m sorry about…”
“Duty calls, but you owe me,” she lets me off for this morning’s interruption.
“I know you have this whole, talking-bonding thing you do with your cars, sugga, but you put a name to this bad boy yet?” I ask teasingly. We went for a drive last night and I quit looking at the speedometer once it crested above a hundred-ten miles an hour. Sometimes it’s better to not know.
Nora shrugs. “We’ve been talking. She’s not a girly car…”
“’Cause June Lee was?” I tease.
“No, but, that’s what she told me her name was. Now, this girl here, we were talking on our drive last night, her name’s Francis. She likes Frankie for short.” Nora winks at me and I shake my head.
We’re pulled out of our little world by a rap against the window. Benny’s face is pressed against the glass of my window. He’s all grins and wiggling eyebrows.
I look at Nora and hook a finger in the man’s direction, “We ready for this?”
Nora shrugs. “No, probably not. Let’s go.”
I give a nod and open the door shoving Benny out of the way.
“Hot damn, Delaney!” Benny wolf whistles. “This is like…fuck. You gotta let me take her for a spin.”
Nora’s eyebrows hike up and she shakes her head. “Pull your head out of your ass, Benny, the only one that can drive her is me.”
His face falls and he starts this pout.
I clap a hand on his shoulder and steer him away from Frankie and a scowling, protective Nora. “Benny, don’t. Give it up.”
“It’s about damn time!” Dom yells from the doorway causing a few passer-bys and uniforms to shoot him a look. “And nice Delaney. I knew I liked you.” He smiles at my Nora and wags a finger in her direction.
Not wanting to prolong this anymore or listen to the posturing both males are doing, I say, “We have an I.D. on the vic?”
Dom nods. “Logan Walker was found by the janitorial staff. Come on up.”
Just…fuck.
“Wait,” I say holding a hand up and motion for the three other detectives to step off to the side to talk a bit more privately. As they gather around me, I start to speak quietly, “I know the victim. Logan Walker sits on the board of my…” I run a hand through my hair and shoot a look to Nora, hoping she’ll understand, “…Logan Walker sits on the board of my organization.”
“Your what?” three equally surprised voices hiss at me.
“Nora,” I direct my attention to her as she is the most important, “Remember when I told you that my dad was stepping down as president of the Tilton Endowment Program?” Nora nods and I carry on, “Well, I stepped in as the rightful chairperson. It was my mother’s. I took the reins in Oh-three when my dad couldn’t juggle it anymore. Logan was my right hand in the transition as well as overseeing the program’s day to day functions.”
I bite my lower lip and will her to get the implied. When the transition happened, I was barely home on the week nights. If she’s smart she’ll remember.
“Oh,” she finally says. “Right, uhm,” she licks her lips and shrugs.
“So what?” Benny and Dom both ask.
“I can’t work this case. It’s too personal. I haven’t even processed the fact that a good friend is dead four stories above us. Nora, you and Benny are going to have take the lead,” I reply.
“No way is Dan gonna let four of his six D’s work a single homicide,” Benny says, stuffing his hands in his slacks’ pockets.
I shake my head. He’s really going to not have a choice. “Look, we don’t have much of an option. His wife knows what my day job is. She’s going to want me involved. I think you two take lead, Dom and I will do next of kin notification and I’ll handle press, if there is any until Dan directs otherwise.”
“Georgia’s gonna be pissed,” Dom whistles and grins.
“Yeah, she hates when Dan favors you for the affluent victims,” Benny agrees.
Nora rolls her eyes.
“I don’t care,” I snip. I think Georgia is a dear, but she wants to engage me in these pissing contests on occasion that just have a tendency to irritate the living hell out of me. “We have a dead body and grieving family to consider. It is far more prudent that I handle that aspect of the investigation considering. I’ve known Logan since I was in grade school.”
“So Walker, he any relation to the Madam?” Benny asks as we turn towards the office building.
“Yes,” I say and slip through the door being help open by Dom. “Before we get into that, let’s work the scene. We can meet up later and go over victimology, ladies.”
Both men protest uniformly, “Who you callin’ a lady, woman?”
This causes Nora to snicker and I just shake my head. Dom steps forward and tries to direct us, but I stop his actions. “I know exactly where his office is.”
“Right,” he says, “sorry.”
I shake it off and try to prepare myself for this. Logan is – was – a good man. He did a lot of good and he was smart about how the program’s money was spent. Tia, his wife, is going to be devastated. They were high school sweethearts. Went to Tulane together, graduated together.
A few techs mill along the office’s hallway as we step off the elevator. I lead my co-workers and Nora back towards Logan’s office. The chatter quiets down as we approach the door.
There are too many things happening. My mind’s immediately on the program and what we’re going to have to do to have it continue to run in his absence, then there’s the idea that he was most likely, without having seen the scene just yet, murdered.
Logan Walker just doesn’t have those types of enemies.
Period.
Everything he’s done has been above reproach and for this to happen…
It doesn’t make sense.
What am I going to tell to Tia?
How am I going to tell Tia?
I feel Nora brush against me, her hand lingers on my right hip as we stop at Logan’s office doors and snap some gloves on. I hear Charlie directing two techs inside.
I gather strength from the all too brief contact and move forward. This is what we do and I need to focus.
I always appreciated Walker’s style. Always classy, understated…generally, there was usually one thing on him or in his home that held a certain flair, a levity in him that just couldn’t be contained. For instance as I pass the threshold into his office I can’t help but appreciate the soft reds and browns, it’s comfortable here. Over stuffed leather couch and two sitting chairs. The desk is a dark cherry oak, the flair is found on his desk pad, understated and some would find the leather print of Giacomo Balla’s Street Light off, but it was very much Logan. The left wall is mostly built in bookshelves and a wet bar in its center.
The back of the office is windows, the shades are drawn I note. The right wall is a set of five fifty-two inch flat panel screens. Those are hooked up to the stock market, domestic and international. A constant stream of data and information is displayed on all five. I note the markets that are up currently in the center, Euro Stoxx, FTSE 1000, CAC 40, DAX, IBEX 35, FTSE MIB, AEX-Index, Stockholm and Swiss Markets. He was looking at the European, African and Mid East exchanges…
He usually doesn’t trade internationally.
At least not that I knew of.
My lips purse as I head towards the screens, Charlie, Nora, the boys and Logan. Careful of where I step, I stand over the body. Logan lies on his stomach, his head turned to the left, one arm stretched and pinned underneath him. His left arm lies against his side. Blood soaks his left flank. It’s spread up his shirt and sleeve, down his shirt and pools around his body.
Sometimes a little bit of blood can look like a lot.
This time, it’s just a lot of blood.
“Good morning, detectives,” Charlie says in that happy-go-lucky way of his. “What warrants the four of ya’ll comin’ down?”
“Nik and Dom got called in, but our Ms. Beaumont knows the vic, so we tagged along,” Nora answers Charlie.
I ignore the rest of the exchange and focus on Logan. I drop to my haunches and examine him. The attack was to his left side, there’re no defensive wounds, nothing to indicate that he put up any type of struggle. That tells me a lot. He knew his killer. It was unexpected and swift.
“Charlie, I’d like to see the wound can we cut away the shirt?” I ask.
“Uh, yeah, I’ve done pretty much what I needed to. I was waitin’ on ya’ll to get here before I moved the bod…” he trails off and looks down at me. “Uh, you know him real well?”
“Logan Walker is an old friend and business associate. I was part of his wedding party,” I answer numbly.
“Oh, I’m sorry Nikki,” the doctor says sincerely. “I can clear the room if you want a minute?”
I look around at the last lingering techs and nod. “Why don’t you do that? Dom, Benny, and Nora, you three can stay. Start poking around a little?” I ask the three other detectives.
They all nod and Charlie takes action. “All right folks, let’s clear out a minute and give the detectives a little bit of space.” He makes some shooing motions with his hands. The techs get the idea and file out of the room. Once they’re gone, Charlie produces a pair of medic-scissors and begins to cut away the shirt Logan wears. Nora and Benny help him remove it; he rolls it up and places it in an evidence bag.
We maneuver the body so we can all get a good look at the injury. All of them are concentrated in an area approximately five inches above his waist line. I’m counting six stab marks, with a medium size blade. Some of the cuts overlap, so the total count may be higher.
Benny and Dom start whispering quietly as Nora takes her place across from me. Her posture and position mirror my own. Her left eyebrow raises and I nod. She’s worried about me.
I’m fine. I think. I try to convey this with a look. Not that I don’t like Dom and Benny, but…
I’m a cop; there are certain expectations that need to be maintained. I don’t need this damaging the work I’ve done. It’s taken me years to make my coworkers get passed the idea that I’m not just a stuck-up socialite slumming it or trying to piss daddy off with mixing with the commoners.
Not like my daddy’s really like that, but there’s a perception about the NOLA elite, unfortunately most of it’s true.
I go back to staring at the wounds. The position, the type…if we weren’t in an office…this almost looks like a prison style shanking. My jaw muscles flex.
Just what the hell did you get yourself into Logan?
I shake it off and ask, “You guys find anything?”
“Nope,” Dom answer from behind me.
“Nadda,” Benny answers as well. I look over my shoulder and see him sitting at Logan’s desk rifling through the desk drawers.
“All right, I’d like to do next of kin notification…”
“Dom and I want Nora to go with you,” Benny interrupts me. “We can hang, clear the scene and head to the station to fill in Dan.”
“He won’t like me going with her,” Nora reminds us all.
“Dan can suck my…” Benny starts, but trails off, “Look, we all know that Nik gettin’ shot up was hard. I can see why he’d want you two to get some distance, but right now, I’d be way more comfortable working this with Dom. We want to make sure all our bases are covered.” He smiles at Nora and offers a wink. “Not to say you ain’t stellar or eye candy for my work day Delaney, but it’s all our asses on the line and we all know that I do my best work when I can give Dom shit.”
“Fuck you, Armstrong,” Dom snips playfully from his spot by the bookshelf.
“Later, sweetums, let’s let the girls go do their thing.” Benny chuckles as Dom flushes. “Why don’t you two get a move on? Give me or Dom a buzz when you’re done and we’ll meet up.”
I nod and rise. Nora follows me and we let Charlie back into the scene. I stop him as we pass and ask, “How long for the post?”
“A day, maybe two at the earliest,” he answers.
I place a hand on his arm and ask, “You’d be a real sweetheart if you could speed things up. He was a friend Charlie, I want this over quickly.”
He offers me a curt nod and, “Why don’t ya’ll call later today, can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what we can do.”
“Thank you,” I say and squeeze his arm.
Next>>>
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Are My Desires
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
A/N: Had a small celebration last weekend as I polished off the last chapter of this story, it was good times. Now, I’m looking forward to the next arc and uh, I’m still not sure what the hell I’m going to do. I have the roughest outline in my head, but nothing concrete…kinda like when you’re in the middle of a semi-dense fog and there’s stuff out there, but you can’t quite figure it out…that’s where I’m at…It’ll firm up, I’m sure…
On more relevant information, there’s a teensy bit of smut at the beginning of this chapter…so this is your warning. And you know you’ve been watching too much Criminal Minds, when you want to copy Garcia and say “1SB out.” Yeah I’m off for some more coffee. Take care all.
An involuntary wince pinches my face as I flush the toilet. Stilling my movements, I cock my head to the side trying to hear if I woke Nora.
The only think I manage to pick up is Reba scratching in her litter box.
Satisfied, I move to the sink and wash my hands. Another wince appears as I look in the mirror. Despite the sublimely early hour, my hair doesn’t look too bad. Although it may be time for a touch up at the salon, a few persistent silver roots stand out against the dark brown of my hair.
I turn the water off and use the hand towel next to the sink to dry my hands then poke at the scar on my scalp. The graze’s scab came off last week, leading to a surprisingly straight, white line that is boarded by small white dots where the stitches were. All in, considering the mess I got myself into, I got off pretty light. A few scars and a patch of missing hair that is taking it’s time to grow back. Admittedly, the missing hair is a sticking point; I still can’t help but feel that…
I swallow and meet my own gaze this time.
No, I know, that Nora suffered far more for my rash decisions than I did. Even if I’d have died, she would have borne the brunt of my actions.
I don’t know how I’m going to make it up to her.
I don’t think I can.
Sighing, my reflection purses her lips and offers me a scowl.
Unsatisfied, but wanting to get back to Nora, I grab her new favorite toy, pad in to the bedroom and slip it on. The straps are snug as I lock her favorite dildo into position.
Mister is lying on his bed next to the closet, but pokes his head up when I walk into the room. He gives me this look that I can only interpret to mean that I look ridiculous, but then he thumps his tail before laying his head back down. Really, you can’t help but feel a little silly in this thing, but…
She loves it. I love using it.
I’ll take looking a little foolish for the gift it provides in helping enhance my ability to satisfy Nora this way.
I’m also thankful that we left her bedside lamp on. I stand at the foot of the bed and take a moment to just admire her sleeping. The soft maroon sheets cover her to just above the small of her back. Her head is turned towards my side of the bed, her right hand reaching out just so, ending to about right where I normally would be sleeping.
Her hair hides her beautiful face from me, but I plan to remedy that soon enough. Reaching out, I gather a handful of the sheets in my right hand and give them a gentle tug. They slip down and reveal the rest of her. Slowly and ever so softly, I raise a knee to rest on the bed and lean forward.
My nose barely grazes the flesh of her toned left calf allowing me to inhale the scent that is pure Nora Delaney. My lips brush against warm skin and work their way north. Her muscles twitch underneath my touch, underneath the kisses that I leave along her leg.
Her right leg lifts and begins to rub against any part of my body it can touch. The involuntary action causes me to smile. My girl’s awake. I reach the swell of her left cheek and rub the side of my face along its curve.
“Hmm,” Nora mumbles above me.
“Shhhh,” I whisper and shift my position so that I’m between her legs sitting on my calves, running my hands over the swell of her hips and in to move up her back. I lean forward to press my hips against her body and lean down. Kissing her shoulder, I move her hair and kiss my way up the back of her neck.
She presses up and moans, “You’re too happy to see me this morning.”
I can’t prevent the chuckle that bubbles up and ruffles her hair. “I am,” I mumble. Her hips give another little wiggle and she chuckles burying her face in her pillow.
My breasts press in to her back and I rest my weight along her length. I feel her try to shift so I prop myself on my hands. She turns around and wraps her legs around my waist. Her center presses along the shaft, which press against my clit.
She’s evil.
“Morning,” she purrs as she reaches up to brush my hair away from my face.
I grin and lean down, capturing her lips. Seeking more contact I open my mouth letting her follow my lead. Her tongue slides against mine, along my bottom lip and then along the top of my bottom teeth. Her hips rock, my eyes cross behind closed lids and I match pace with her.
Nora pulls away and groans, “Need you.”
“You can’t be near wet enough, sugga,” I mumble against her lips, wanting to resume the slow exploration of her mouth.
She seems to have other ideas as she shakes her head and pulls my left hand off the mattress. Guiding it between our bodies, she stills her hips and presses my hand between her legs. I feel the moisture run hot and slick against my fingers.
She may be more ready than I thought.
My middle finger reaches out, slips inside of her before I pull it back to bring up to my lips. She watches as I suck it into my mouth reveling in pure Nora. “Hmmm, in deed you are,” I lean down and purr.
I feel her grab hold of the head of the strap-on and guide it towards her entrance. I reach out, smooth her hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Satisfied that I’ll be able to see her face, I plant both hands on either side of her head to give me a little more stability.
Dark green eyes lock with mine and she breathes, “I love you, Nikki.”
I smile and push forward, sink into her and watch my phone light up and vibrate on top of my night stand.
Oh, for hell’s sake!
Nora flops back on to the bed and hisses, “Mother fucker,” before reaching for it and looking at the display. “It’s your partner,” she snips.
Well if that just doesn’t kill the mood. Pulling out of her, I rest against her lower half; take the phone and answer, “Beaumont.”
“Got called in. Need you at the cross street’s Perdido and Ferret. Some office building. Walker something or other,” he says, “I’d have more, but sorry, I left the notes in the living room. I was just getting ready when the call came through dispatch.”
I look down at Nora and resist the urge to kiss away the frown until the name Walker registers.
“Nikki?” Dom asks.
“Yeah, sorry. You have anything on the vic?” I ask and begin to worry my lower lip.
“Don’t have much on the vic. Just that a body was discovered about an hour ago at Walker Investments, I think that’s the name of the place.” he fills in.
Shit.
I bite my lower lip. I really hope I’m wrong.
“I’m getting ready now. Look, you need to pick up Benny. I’ll grab Nora and meet you at the scene,” I direct him.
“What? Why?” Dom asks.
“’Cause I know the owner of Walker Investments personally. We may not be able to take the case. We’ll meet you two over there. I need to finish getting ready and grab Nora. See you in twenty.” I don’t give him time to question anything else as I end the call and try to figure out a way to tell Nora. I mean I’m not even sure yet. I want to be wrong, but…
And it’s not like I’ve intentionally kept this from her. She’s just never really been that into the charity work that I do.
“You’re meeting Benny at a scene. I may need you two there in case I can’t work the case,” I look down at her and toss my phone next to her head.
“Why?” she asks sitting up.
“Because there was a body discovered at a friend’s office building,” I answer her and begin to untangle from her. We need to get a move on.
“Is it…”
“I don’t know.” I climb off the bed and unbuckle the harness, letting it drop to the floor before picking it up and carrying it to the bathroom. I call after her, “Now come on. We have twenty minutes to make it over by Poydras and Ferret. Dispatch gave Dom bad directions.”
“I love her,” Nora declares as she kills the engine on her new car. I watch as she affectionately pats the dashboard and smiles at me.
I return her grin and say, “I’m sorry about…”
“Duty calls, but you owe me,” she lets me off for this morning’s interruption.
“I know you have this whole, talking-bonding thing you do with your cars, sugga, but you put a name to this bad boy yet?” I ask teasingly. We went for a drive last night and I quit looking at the speedometer once it crested above a hundred-ten miles an hour. Sometimes it’s better to not know.
Nora shrugs. “We’ve been talking. She’s not a girly car…”
“’Cause June Lee was?” I tease.
“No, but, that’s what she told me her name was. Now, this girl here, we were talking on our drive last night, her name’s Francis. She likes Frankie for short.” Nora winks at me and I shake my head.
We’re pulled out of our little world by a rap against the window. Benny’s face is pressed against the glass of my window. He’s all grins and wiggling eyebrows.
I look at Nora and hook a finger in the man’s direction, “We ready for this?”
Nora shrugs. “No, probably not. Let’s go.”
I give a nod and open the door shoving Benny out of the way.
“Hot damn, Delaney!” Benny wolf whistles. “This is like…fuck. You gotta let me take her for a spin.”
Nora’s eyebrows hike up and she shakes her head. “Pull your head out of your ass, Benny, the only one that can drive her is me.”
His face falls and he starts this pout.
I clap a hand on his shoulder and steer him away from Frankie and a scowling, protective Nora. “Benny, don’t. Give it up.”
“It’s about damn time!” Dom yells from the doorway causing a few passer-bys and uniforms to shoot him a look. “And nice Delaney. I knew I liked you.” He smiles at my Nora and wags a finger in her direction.
Not wanting to prolong this anymore or listen to the posturing both males are doing, I say, “We have an I.D. on the vic?”
Dom nods. “Logan Walker was found by the janitorial staff. Come on up.”
Just…fuck.
“Wait,” I say holding a hand up and motion for the three other detectives to step off to the side to talk a bit more privately. As they gather around me, I start to speak quietly, “I know the victim. Logan Walker sits on the board of my…” I run a hand through my hair and shoot a look to Nora, hoping she’ll understand, “…Logan Walker sits on the board of my organization.”
“Your what?” three equally surprised voices hiss at me.
“Nora,” I direct my attention to her as she is the most important, “Remember when I told you that my dad was stepping down as president of the Tilton Endowment Program?” Nora nods and I carry on, “Well, I stepped in as the rightful chairperson. It was my mother’s. I took the reins in Oh-three when my dad couldn’t juggle it anymore. Logan was my right hand in the transition as well as overseeing the program’s day to day functions.”
I bite my lower lip and will her to get the implied. When the transition happened, I was barely home on the week nights. If she’s smart she’ll remember.
“Oh,” she finally says. “Right, uhm,” she licks her lips and shrugs.
“So what?” Benny and Dom both ask.
“I can’t work this case. It’s too personal. I haven’t even processed the fact that a good friend is dead four stories above us. Nora, you and Benny are going to have take the lead,” I reply.
“No way is Dan gonna let four of his six D’s work a single homicide,” Benny says, stuffing his hands in his slacks’ pockets.
I shake my head. He’s really going to not have a choice. “Look, we don’t have much of an option. His wife knows what my day job is. She’s going to want me involved. I think you two take lead, Dom and I will do next of kin notification and I’ll handle press, if there is any until Dan directs otherwise.”
“Georgia’s gonna be pissed,” Dom whistles and grins.
“Yeah, she hates when Dan favors you for the affluent victims,” Benny agrees.
Nora rolls her eyes.
“I don’t care,” I snip. I think Georgia is a dear, but she wants to engage me in these pissing contests on occasion that just have a tendency to irritate the living hell out of me. “We have a dead body and grieving family to consider. It is far more prudent that I handle that aspect of the investigation considering. I’ve known Logan since I was in grade school.”
“So Walker, he any relation to the Madam?” Benny asks as we turn towards the office building.
“Yes,” I say and slip through the door being help open by Dom. “Before we get into that, let’s work the scene. We can meet up later and go over victimology, ladies.”
Both men protest uniformly, “Who you callin’ a lady, woman?”
This causes Nora to snicker and I just shake my head. Dom steps forward and tries to direct us, but I stop his actions. “I know exactly where his office is.”
“Right,” he says, “sorry.”
I shake it off and try to prepare myself for this. Logan is – was – a good man. He did a lot of good and he was smart about how the program’s money was spent. Tia, his wife, is going to be devastated. They were high school sweethearts. Went to Tulane together, graduated together.
A few techs mill along the office’s hallway as we step off the elevator. I lead my co-workers and Nora back towards Logan’s office. The chatter quiets down as we approach the door.
There are too many things happening. My mind’s immediately on the program and what we’re going to have to do to have it continue to run in his absence, then there’s the idea that he was most likely, without having seen the scene just yet, murdered.
Logan Walker just doesn’t have those types of enemies.
Period.
Everything he’s done has been above reproach and for this to happen…
It doesn’t make sense.
What am I going to tell to Tia?
How am I going to tell Tia?
I feel Nora brush against me, her hand lingers on my right hip as we stop at Logan’s office doors and snap some gloves on. I hear Charlie directing two techs inside.
I gather strength from the all too brief contact and move forward. This is what we do and I need to focus.
I always appreciated Walker’s style. Always classy, understated…generally, there was usually one thing on him or in his home that held a certain flair, a levity in him that just couldn’t be contained. For instance as I pass the threshold into his office I can’t help but appreciate the soft reds and browns, it’s comfortable here. Over stuffed leather couch and two sitting chairs. The desk is a dark cherry oak, the flair is found on his desk pad, understated and some would find the leather print of Giacomo Balla’s Street Light off, but it was very much Logan. The left wall is mostly built in bookshelves and a wet bar in its center.
The back of the office is windows, the shades are drawn I note. The right wall is a set of five fifty-two inch flat panel screens. Those are hooked up to the stock market, domestic and international. A constant stream of data and information is displayed on all five. I note the markets that are up currently in the center, Euro Stoxx, FTSE 1000, CAC 40, DAX, IBEX 35, FTSE MIB, AEX-Index, Stockholm and Swiss Markets. He was looking at the European, African and Mid East exchanges…
He usually doesn’t trade internationally.
At least not that I knew of.
My lips purse as I head towards the screens, Charlie, Nora, the boys and Logan. Careful of where I step, I stand over the body. Logan lies on his stomach, his head turned to the left, one arm stretched and pinned underneath him. His left arm lies against his side. Blood soaks his left flank. It’s spread up his shirt and sleeve, down his shirt and pools around his body.
Sometimes a little bit of blood can look like a lot.
This time, it’s just a lot of blood.
“Good morning, detectives,” Charlie says in that happy-go-lucky way of his. “What warrants the four of ya’ll comin’ down?”
“Nik and Dom got called in, but our Ms. Beaumont knows the vic, so we tagged along,” Nora answers Charlie.
I ignore the rest of the exchange and focus on Logan. I drop to my haunches and examine him. The attack was to his left side, there’re no defensive wounds, nothing to indicate that he put up any type of struggle. That tells me a lot. He knew his killer. It was unexpected and swift.
“Charlie, I’d like to see the wound can we cut away the shirt?” I ask.
“Uh, yeah, I’ve done pretty much what I needed to. I was waitin’ on ya’ll to get here before I moved the bod…” he trails off and looks down at me. “Uh, you know him real well?”
“Logan Walker is an old friend and business associate. I was part of his wedding party,” I answer numbly.
“Oh, I’m sorry Nikki,” the doctor says sincerely. “I can clear the room if you want a minute?”
I look around at the last lingering techs and nod. “Why don’t you do that? Dom, Benny, and Nora, you three can stay. Start poking around a little?” I ask the three other detectives.
They all nod and Charlie takes action. “All right folks, let’s clear out a minute and give the detectives a little bit of space.” He makes some shooing motions with his hands. The techs get the idea and file out of the room. Once they’re gone, Charlie produces a pair of medic-scissors and begins to cut away the shirt Logan wears. Nora and Benny help him remove it; he rolls it up and places it in an evidence bag.
We maneuver the body so we can all get a good look at the injury. All of them are concentrated in an area approximately five inches above his waist line. I’m counting six stab marks, with a medium size blade. Some of the cuts overlap, so the total count may be higher.
Benny and Dom start whispering quietly as Nora takes her place across from me. Her posture and position mirror my own. Her left eyebrow raises and I nod. She’s worried about me.
I’m fine. I think. I try to convey this with a look. Not that I don’t like Dom and Benny, but…
I’m a cop; there are certain expectations that need to be maintained. I don’t need this damaging the work I’ve done. It’s taken me years to make my coworkers get passed the idea that I’m not just a stuck-up socialite slumming it or trying to piss daddy off with mixing with the commoners.
Not like my daddy’s really like that, but there’s a perception about the NOLA elite, unfortunately most of it’s true.
I go back to staring at the wounds. The position, the type…if we weren’t in an office…this almost looks like a prison style shanking. My jaw muscles flex.
Just what the hell did you get yourself into Logan?
I shake it off and ask, “You guys find anything?”
“Nope,” Dom answer from behind me.
“Nadda,” Benny answers as well. I look over my shoulder and see him sitting at Logan’s desk rifling through the desk drawers.
“All right, I’d like to do next of kin notification…”
“Dom and I want Nora to go with you,” Benny interrupts me. “We can hang, clear the scene and head to the station to fill in Dan.”
“He won’t like me going with her,” Nora reminds us all.
“Dan can suck my…” Benny starts, but trails off, “Look, we all know that Nik gettin’ shot up was hard. I can see why he’d want you two to get some distance, but right now, I’d be way more comfortable working this with Dom. We want to make sure all our bases are covered.” He smiles at Nora and offers a wink. “Not to say you ain’t stellar or eye candy for my work day Delaney, but it’s all our asses on the line and we all know that I do my best work when I can give Dom shit.”
“Fuck you, Armstrong,” Dom snips playfully from his spot by the bookshelf.
“Later, sweetums, let’s let the girls go do their thing.” Benny chuckles as Dom flushes. “Why don’t you two get a move on? Give me or Dom a buzz when you’re done and we’ll meet up.”
I nod and rise. Nora follows me and we let Charlie back into the scene. I stop him as we pass and ask, “How long for the post?”
“A day, maybe two at the earliest,” he answers.
I place a hand on his arm and ask, “You’d be a real sweetheart if you could speed things up. He was a friend Charlie, I want this over quickly.”
He offers me a curt nod and, “Why don’t ya’ll call later today, can’t make any promises, but I’ll see what we can do.”
“Thank you,” I say and squeeze his arm.
Next>>>
