B-Side by Janis Jones

Author:Janis Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2018-05-10T13:40:43+00:00

Chapter 31

Not Possible

Derek and Mara, still on duty, take a quick break at a Mexican Restaurant for tacos and cold drinks. It’s been a scorching day in L.A. and it’s just beginning to cool off. They sit at an outside table, jackets off, enjoying a slight breeze.

“I have to take the file back, before Phil starts asking questions. You finished with it?”

Derek nods slowly.

“What? What is it?”

“What is what?”

“Come on, you think I don’t know you by now? You’ve got one of your ‘I-think-I’ve-cracked-the-case’ looks on your face.” Mara raised her eyebrows and waited for him to catch up and tumble.

“No. I don’t.” Was she trying to fake him out or did she actually pick up on something? Her instincts were uncanny.

“Yes, you do. What, you want me to call the waitress over and ask her? Because you know I will.”

“No, it’s not like…”

“Hey, waitress! Can you tell me if my partner is holding out on me or if I have to...”

Under the table, Mara steps on Derek’s feet, first his right, then his left. He gives her a look.

“Mars Bar. What are you doing?”

“What?” She could play dumb too. Blink, blink.

“Stop stepping on my good shoes!”

“They aren’t that good.”

“If that’s supposed to be ‘Footsies’, you suck at it.” Ha, finally got a laugh out of Ms. Deadpan. She had blinked first.

“Not me. I just don’t know whether to speed you up or slow you down. Is the right one the gas? And this one…?”

“Ow, damn! First you punch me…”

“Yeah, to save you from yourself.”

“… and now you’re kicking me.”

Derek raises his hand to surrender.

“Alright, okay. But it’s nothing. Really.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Derek hauls his little black leather notebook out of his coat pocket.

“Okay, so I’m going through the file, while… while I’m up late, and the whole thing with Jeff is going through my head. Then it occurs to me…”

“Go on.”

“Why piss on someone? I mean, that’s such a… personal thing. You really gotta hate someone to do that.”

“How can it be personal? What, you’re thinking it’s an ex-boyfriend or some guy she wouldn’t go out with? Not possible. Trust me.”

Why was she saying ‘boyfriend’? Casey had told her she knew she was gay when she was five, so no real boyfriends, except guys she went to obligatory high school events with. But brutal attacks were almost exclusively by male perpetrators.

“I don’t know… maybe some guy was torqued off and followed her home from her bar?”

“Casey is the nicest, sweetest, kindest person I know. But it’s real. I can’t imagine anyone ever being angry enough to want to…”

“See, I told you. It’s probably nothing. The file is in my car. You go ahead and take it. I’m done.”

“I’m sorry, D. I don’t mean to… I mean your instincts are impeccable. I’ll talk to Casey later and see if she can remember anything.”

“Just go easy with her. She’s been through a lot.”

“Aw, you’re the best. You really are.”

“Come on, let’s hang it up.

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