Page 11 of Into the Rain


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“Sorry,” she apologized. “That was out of line.” She backed away, swiping a hand under her nose. “I’m keeping you from your duties.”

He was about to argue that it was part of a police officer’s duties to offer comfort when it was needed, when the sound of a revving car engine caught both of their attention.

A car screeched to a halt outside the cottage and a young man leaped out, wild-eyed and breathless. “Where’s Rania?”

Nico took two strides and held up his hands to stop the man rushing straight in through the gate.

“Slow down,” he commanded, but the man tried to push past him.

“Herb called me. He said Rania was hurt.” The guy searched the gathered crowd and the elderly next-door neighbor stepped forward, his sniffling wife still tucked under one arm.

“That’s right, I did.” Herb’s eyes crinkled up in sorrow. “I thought he needed to be told. Karim is Rania’s boyfriend,” he added by way of explanation to Nico. “But, oh Lord, my boy, I’m so sorry.”

The young man’s face drained of all color as he stared at Herb. Nico still rested one restraining hand on Karim’s arm.

“What are you saying, Herb? What’s happened?”

Nico drew in a breath. It was up to him to deliver this news. It was part of the job. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that Rania is dead.” It was always better to do it quick and clean. Drawing it out did no one any good.

“No.” The man’s dark eyes went crazy with panic and pain. “No, that’s not possible. She was still asleep in bed when I left. No. No. Noooo.” Karim pulled free from Nico’s grasp and looked around him, as if Rania might suddenly appear miraculously from behind the hedges. “Rania. Where are you?”

“Come with me,” Nico said, using his most conciliatory voice, taking the young man by the arm. “Come and sit down.” Karim didn’t resist, even though he continued to call out his girlfriend’s name.

As Nico led Karim to the curb and helped him sit down, he exchanged a knowing glance with Lacey. She seemed to realize exactly what he was thinking. If this was the boyfriend, he needed careful examination. Thirty percent of homicide victims were killed by someone they knew. This distraught man could be merely putting on a show. Making it look like he was innocent, when in fact he knew exactly what’d happened. It may well turn out this was a crime of passion. Perhaps he hadn’t meant to kill her, but in a fit of rage…And then he’d calmly gone off to work and left her to die.

Nico crouched down next to the boyfriend, patting him gently on the shoulder. Charles had already told Nico he was the primary on this case and it was now Nico’s top priority. Anything to do with the serial killer was to be put on the back burner. This was his crime scene now, and he needed to think strategically. Needed to put Lacey out of his mind and open his intellect to take in all the clues and all the possible scenarios surrounding this murder instead.

But against his will, his gaze kept drifting to the forlorn figure huddled next to the hedge.

* * *

It was late, but that didn’t stop Nico from knocking on the door of the Kombi van. He needed to see how Lacey was coping. And a light still gleamed from inside, so she must be awake. It was almost midnight, and it’d been a long, long day for him, as it had for everyone else involved in the investigation.

“It’s open,” she called, and he yanked on the sliding door to reveal a bright interior.

She was tucked beneath a blanket on the couch, a small heater warming the van, making the space cozy and inviting. Smudge was curled up on the floor and wagged his tail a little sheepishly in welcome, but didn’t budge from his warm spot. “Come in.” She beckoned him inside. “And close the door, will you?”

He did as he was asked and then took a position on the couch as Lacey drew in her feet leaving him just enough room.

“Rough day, huh?” she asked as her gaze settled on his face. Was it that obvious?

“For everyone,” he agreed. He noticed her face was pale and drawn, her mouth pinched in a tight pucker, and knew she was just as affected as he was.

“Can I get you a drink?” She held up a glass that contained a good measure of golden liquid.

“That might be the best offer I’ve had all day,” he said. “Stay there,” he added as she began to rise. “Just point me in the right direction and I’ll get it.” There couldn’t be too many places to hide booze in this tiny abode.

She directed him to a small, partially hidden cupboard beneath the countertop where he found a bottle of whiskey and held it up to the light, having to duck his head as he moved around the van. “Sheep Dog,” he said, reading the name aloud. “Peanut Butter Whiskey. What is that?” he asked, screwing up his nose.

“It’s delicious. Try it,” she replied with a hint of a smile.

He found a glass in a rack above the countertop and poured himself a generous amount, then took a dubious sip. The alcohol slipped down his throat and he immediately welcomed the burn deep in his stomach. It was slightly sweeter than a normal whiskey, with a definite hint of peanut butter. But he had to admit, it wasn’t bad. He maneuvered himself back onto the couch and raised his glass in a salute. “To Rania,” he said simply.

“To Rania,” she agreed, a slight wobble to her voice, and they clinked their glasses in the memory of a woman whose life had been taken too early. They sat in silence for a minute, both contemplating the events from this morning.

“I’m not even going to ask how your day went,” Lacey spoke as he took another sip. The stuff was growing on him.

With her experience in the force, she’d probably have a good idea how things had gone. Gathering a squad of professionals he trusted to be part of his team. Setting up a murder board in one of the two situation rooms at the Burnie Police Station. Briefing his team on the details they had to hand so far. Organizing Tyrell and another officer to do a round of door knocking through Boat Harbour Beach to gather any pertinent information or take witness statements from people who might’ve seen something but hadn’t yet come forward. Investigating friends and acquaintances of the young couple, Rania and Karim, trying to piece together a picture of their life with each other. Coordinating with a liaison from forensics and another from homicide in Hobart. The endless interviews he’d conducted. Having to deal with Rania’s family, who’d flown from Hobart, still shocked and disbelieving, wanting answers that Nico couldn’t give them. Not yet. He’d also had to deal with the boyfriend’s family, who lived in Devonport, less than an hour’s drive away. Karim’s devastation had morphed, and he’d become increasingly troublesome as the day drew on, as he slowly became aware that he could be suspect number one in this case. The family had called in a lawyer and Karim had clammed up. They’d closed ranks around him and taken him back to a hotel in Burnie to be secluded with them, much to the shock of Rania’s family, who thought they would have an ally in their time of need. But instead, Karim’s family had withdrawn, probably to protect themselves and their son against the growing media attention and questions that’d inevitably arise.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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