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“That would require the killer to think rationally,” Faith pointed out.
“Yeah,” Amy said. “I guess you’re right.”
“Any family?” Michael asked.
“None within three hundred miles,” Amy said. “Cops can tell you more, but from what I understand, everyone has an ironclad alibi. Chester here was close to a black sheep. Not quite despised but not quite loved. No money either, so no reason for family to come pay final respects. It’s sad, really. Then again, I guess he won’t know the difference.”
“No,” Faith said. “I guess not.”
They left the coroner’s office and headed for their hotel. It was after five in the morning, and the first rays of dawn were creeping over the horizon, so they weren’t going to get any sleep, but they could unpack and grab breakfast and coffee before they followed up on the court case Chester was assigned to.
Turk fell promptly asleep in the hotel room, and since Faith didn’t want to leave him alone, they ate breakfast in the room. The breakfast was a half-step up from the typical crap served at hotels, Faith noticed. Only a half-step, though. She wondered how much of the depression law enforcement agents suffered was a result of constant exposure to bad food and even worse coffee.
“Think our killer will strike again?” Michael asked.
“Hopefully, they won’t get the chance,” Faith said. “But if you’re asking, will they try? Yes, I think so. Distilling a medical-grade anesthetic and injecting someone in the neck then dressing him in comic book detective clothes and staging him on a bench in the second-busiest subway terminal in the largest city in America is about as serial killer as you can get.”
“He could have just had something against Chester personally.”
“Possibly,” Faith said, “but I doubt it. Either way, we should assume that he’ll strike again.”
“Wonderful,” Michael said. “I just love seeing killers stack bodies.”
“It’s the job we chose,” Faith said.
“Faith, sometimes you annoy me more than anyone else I’ve ever met.”
“You constantly annoy me more than anyone I’ve ever met,” Faith retorted. “So, I’m thinking we meet with the judge presiding over the Hornfeldt case and go from there.”
“Way ahead of you,” Michael said. “Justice Andrea Mullens. Her chambers open at seven a.m. I took the liberty of calling her secretary and getting us an appointment first thing.”
“How did you get a hold of her secretary?” Faith asked.
“Well, it’s the court secretary,” Michael said, “the overnight receptionist.”
“I’m impressed anyway,” Faith said.
“Well, thank you,” Michael said. “So, when are we going to talk about why you don’t like Ellie?”
Faith sighed. “We’re not going to talk about it, Michael. I’ve already told you it’s not my business. I don’t think she’s dangerous enough that I have to intervene to save your life. In fact, I don’t dislike her. I know you’re pissed about Turk’s behavior, and I really do feel bad about that, but at the end of the day, Michael, she’s your girlfriend, and even if she were a raging bitch, it’s not my place to say anything. So, can we just drop it?”
“Sure,” Michael said, “until the case is over. I do want an answer from you, though.”
“Well,” Faith said, standing and drinking the last of her coffee, “we’re on the case now, so let’s just leave that talk for later.”
“All right,” Michael said. “Where are you going though? It’s only six o’clock. We don’t need to leave for another forty minutes.”
“I’m going to shower,” she said. “Would you like to join me?”
Michael stared at her in shock, and she rolled her eyes. “Joking, Michael. That was a joke.”
“I can’t tell with you anymore,” he said.
Faith lingered in the shower, allowing the warm water to ease the tension in her body. Michael was going to be testy for the entire case, and Faith wasn’t looking forward to it. Their relationship had grown more and more strained over the past several months, and Ellie’s arrival had only further complicated things.
What could she do, though?Hey, Michael, I think your girlfriend is still fucking her ex-husband. Hey, Michael, I don’t think Ellie loves or even likes you that much. Hey, Michael, I’m not sure why, but Ellie’s using you.
Yeah, she could just hear that conversation.
