Something To Die For (Sam Leroy Book 1) Read online

  Leroy spoke softly. ‘What exactly happened, Roman? What the hell were they doing up in North Hollywood? I spoke to Liza around midday and she said she was off to see someone at the Rape Crisis Center. And that’s in UCLA.’

  Perez shook his head slowly. ‘I don’t know at this time, Sam. They went to the Center. Liza spoke to a rape victim there. That took about an hour, according to the Center manager.’

  ‘Any record of a call they might have received? What about the GPS record for their car?’

  There was a weary tone in Perez’s voice. ‘It’s all been passed to the Major Crimes Division. Captain’s orders.’

  Leroy shrugged. ‘Standard procedure.’

  ‘That’s right. So they will be looking at those questions. The captain wants us to focus on our own enquiries and let the MCD guys do their job.’

  ‘What about the officers who found them?’

  ‘The captain and I spoke to them. They’ve made statements. The captain sent them home; they were both pretty shaken up.’

  ‘Did you…?’

  Perez nodded. ‘Nothing had been moved when the captain and I arrived, though the crime scene guy was there. They were both sitting upright in the car, though Domingo had leaned slightly to the left so she was almost resting her head on Connor’s shoulder.’

  ‘Connor was driving?’

  ‘Mm. He had entry and exit wounds on either temple; she had one right here.’ He pointed to the centre of his forehead.

  ‘Almost like an execution.’

  ‘Possibly. That’ll be part of the investigation. One line of enquiry out of many.’

  ‘Any idea who’s going to be dealing with it? From the Major Crimes Division, I mean.’

  ‘Not yet. But, I repeat: the captain wants us all to let them do their job without any assistance from us. He was quite insistent. You won’t be playing out of the box on this, will you?’

  ‘Don’t worry. I get the message.’ Leroy stood up to go. ‘You’ll let us know about the funeral, any memorial, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course I will, Sam. Liza was Catholic, so I guess there’ll be a wake, a big affair. She was single, wasn’t she?’

  ‘She was, as far as I know. But Connor – Jesus, Roman: he had a family.’

  ‘I know. I’m just off to see his wife.’

  Leroy said nothing. The expression on his face said it all.

  Perez stood up and walked round the desk. He touched Leroy’s arm. ‘You go home, Sam. Get some rest. See you in the morning.’ He opened his office door and slowly walked out. Leroy watched him walk down the corridor.

  Deep down, now he was glad he didn’t get that promotion after all.

  THIRTY-THREE

  For every Police Headquarters building, somewhere within a two block radius, there will be a bar, used almost exclusively by the men and women from the Area.

  Martha’s was no exception. Situated on Iowa Avenue, between Colby and Butler, Martha’s had been an established watering hole since the early eighties. Martha herself, the granddaughter of an émigré from Germany between the two World Wars, had retired to Palm Springs seven years back and the bar was now run by her son Kenny. Since Martha had left, nothing had changed: Kenny had retained his mother’s name for the bar, the food was just as bad, and the same clientele visited.

  Kenny passed another beer to Sam Leroy, who leaned forward and took a mouthful. Once Lieutenant Perez had told him to go home, Leroy did not need telling twice. He cleared up his desk, logged off, and walked down to the bar. Always mindful of how much he could drink without going DUI, he planned on only staying half an hour or so. Then he would drive home and get really smashed. Hold that thought – he had arranged to see Julia that night. He contemplated calling her and cancelling, but decided not to. He felt he needed to talk.

  Kenny noticed Leroy deep in contemplation, and stepped over. Kenny could always be seen with a red dish towel over his left shoulder. He leaned forward and wiped the bar top in front of Leroy. ‘Penny for them, Sam?’

  Leroy looked up. ‘Huh?’

  ‘You were deep in thought. Bad day at the office?’ This was Kenny’s stock phrase if one of his customers had had a rough day.

  ‘Yeah, you could say that.’ He looked up at Kenny. ‘Liza Domingo got hit today.’

  Eyes wide open, Kenny stopped wiping. ‘No way. You mean…?’

  ‘Her and her partner.’

  ‘Who was her partner again?’

  ‘Guy called Connor.’

  ‘They both…?’

  Leroy nodded.

  ‘Jesus, man,’ said Kenny. ‘I’m so sorry, Sam. How did it happen?’

  Leroy shook his head. ‘Not sure yet. Seems to be a professional job. By that I mean a clean hit. They were both still in their car. Pop pop.’

  ‘I didn’t know Connor,’ said Kenny.

  ‘He had only been with her a short while. Had a wife and family.’

  ‘Fuck me. Make sure you get the sons of bitches, Sam.’

  Leroy finished his beer. ‘Don’t worry, Kenny. We will.’ He stood up to leave.

  ‘You going already, Sam? Want something to eat?’

  ‘Nah. Need to get home. Meeting up with a lady friend. Having a bite to eat with her, then have a few more of these.’

  ‘Alrighty. Take care then, buddy. See you soon.’

  ‘You too, Kenny.’

  Leroy straightened up and left the bar. As he got out onto the street, turning left to walk back to the parking lot, he bumped into Captain Patterson. The captain had finished his shift; now wearing an open-necked shirt, he was on his way into Martha’s. He and Leroy stopped and faced each other.

  ‘Sam,’ said Patterson.

  ‘Captain,’ Leroy replied.

  ‘I take it you heard about Detectives Domingo and Connor,’ said the captain.

  Leroy said nothing, just nodded.

  ‘Terrible business. Terrible,’ muttered the captain, almost as if he was talking to himself.

  ‘Lieutenant Perez says it’s being investigated by the MCD. Is that right?’

  ‘Yes, it is.’ Patterson seemed taken slightly aback by the fact that Leroy knew this. ‘I think it’s best. A complete and objective enquiry.’

  ‘Objective?’

  ‘To avoid the danger of some of their former colleagues being out for revenge.’

  ‘You’re not saying…?’

  ‘No, I’m not. I am merely ensuring that we can get a conviction. Don’t want them to get off on a technicality. Do you agree, Detective?’

  Leroy nodded. ‘Do you know who at the MCD is dealing?’

  ‘No, not as yet. Why? Do you know anybody there?’

  Leroy shook his head. ‘No. Just curious, that’s all.’

  Patterson paused a moment, then said, ‘Well, goodnight, Sam. See you tomorrow.’

  ‘Night, Captain.’

  Patterson pushed open the bar door and Leroy resumed his walk back to the car. He rubbed his temple as he walked back: maybe it was him, but recently all of his conversations with the captain tended to have a surreal feel.

  Once back at HQ, he stepped inside for a restroom stop. Inside, the atmosphere was still subdued. Leroy had no wish to linger; he went straight back out to the car.

  He checked his watch as he got back home: despite the detour to Martha’s, he still had plenty of time to freshen up and get over to Julia’s. Their plan was to head for the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, have a meal, and take in a movie. He stepped in and out of the shower, put on a fresh set of clothes, and got back into his car. The journey to Julia’s place took just over five minutes; he parked in one of the spaces in front of her building, and briskly walked to the intercom. Pressed her buzzer and waited for her voice.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘It’s me.’

  ‘Hey, Sam. I’m nearly ready. Come on up.’

  There was a click from the entrance doors; Leroy pushed them open, and climbed up to Julia’s door. She was standing in the doorway, her auburn
hair down, and wearing a short black dress. She was barefoot.

  ‘Come on in,’ she said, holding the door open. She reached up and kissed him as he stepped in. ‘I’m almost there,’ she called out from the bedroom as he wandered into her kitchen. ‘How was your day?’

  Leroy got himself a glass of water and stood in the kitchen. He looked over at Julia as she stood in the doorway, now also wearing a pair of black shoes. ‘Well?’ she asked.

  He put the glass down. ‘Very nice.’

  She smoothed down her dress. ‘Thanks. But I meant how was your day?’

  He wiped his mouth. ‘You don’t want to know.’

  ‘Oh, that bad?’

  ‘Worse,’ he said.

  Julia raised her eyebrows. ‘Mm?’

  ‘I lost a partner today.’

  ‘Lost? You mean…?’

  Leroy nodded.

  She put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh my God, Sam. I’m so sorry, Sam. What happened?’

  Leroy proceeded to relate to her what had happened; as he did so she stood in the kitchen doorway, nodding, still with a shocked look on her face. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said again, when he had finished.

  ‘Thing is,’ he continued, ‘I’ve lost partners and fellow officers before - not that many, but it still doesn’t get any easier.’

  ‘Nor should it. God, it’s awful. I don’t know how you can deal with it. How long had you known them for?’

  ‘I’d only met Connor a few times, didn’t know him that well. He was fairly new. Had a family.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Julia.

  ‘But Liza, I’d known for a few years. We were partners for a time a while back, and she was partnering me temporarily until this morning when we got pulled off the enquiry. Connor was her actual partner.’

  ‘Oh, that’s right; you told me the other night. Your partner’s on vacation.’

  ‘Honeymoon. Due back any time now.’ He paused a moment, then stood up. ‘Come on, we won’t have time for the movie.’

  Julia stood up too. ‘Be honest, Sam; do you really feel like going out? I can fix us something.’

  Leroy took a deep breath. ‘Okay,’ he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

  Julia took two steps forward and looked up at him. ‘You shouldn’t be alone tonight,’ she said, reaching up and putting her hand on his cheek.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Sam Leroy lay back, his head resting on a soft pillow. He noticed that an image of a teddy bear was embroidered on the edge of the pillow case. He looked around the bedroom; all of the furnishings: two small chairs, a dressing table and a closet, even the pictures hung on the wall, spelt feminine. So did the smell of the room, of the bedclothes, of Julia herself. He leaned over and picked up the watch he had left on the small bedside table forty minutes ago and squinted to pick out the time in the moonlight coming through the drapes. 12:20AM.

  He looked up at Julia as she returned from the bathroom. They had left a light on in the lounge, and her naked body was silhouetted in the doorway. ‘I thought you had gone to sleep,’ she said quietly, as she returned to the bed.

  He shook his head. ‘No. Just lying here.’

  Rather than walking round the bed to get to her side, she climbed over him, stopping and lying on top of him. ‘You’re not going to go home, are you?’ she asked, running her hand through his hair.

  ‘Hadn’t planned to,’ he replied. ‘I’ll bet you make a nice breakfast.’ He smiled briefly, the smile leaving his face as the mention of breakfast reminded him of Domingo.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked.

  ‘Just a flashback from yesterday. I’m okay.’ He ran his hand down her hair, he shoulders and arm.

  She kissed him tenderly on his lips. ‘Anything I can do?’ she asked.

  ‘Not really, other than what you’re doing now.’

  ‘Pleased to be of service,’ she said, as she began to brush her lips against his chin, then down his neck and his chest, pausing to run her tongue over his nipples. Then down his chest, sweeping her mouth through the vertical line of hair on his stomach. Soon he was ready for her once more. Her gaze remained fixed on his as she sat up, reached over to the drawer her side of the bed. Momentarily, she was manoeuvring herself onto him, slowly sliding down until her butt cheeks were resting on his legs. For a moment she remained still, then began to move up and down slowly, leaning forward to rest her hands on his shoulders. He raised his head slightly to kiss her.

  She sat back up again and rocked and rocked back and forth. Leroy lay back and looked up at the ceiling. Then he suddenly gasped, putting one hand to his temple.

  Julia stopped. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I just had a thought.’

  ‘And…?’

  ‘It’s nothing. Sorry. Carry on. God, that sounded so dumb.’

  ‘You said it, Detective,’ Julia said, and resumed rocking, this time also pushing down with her hands on his stomach.

  *****

  Once again, Leroy lay back on Julia’s scented pillow, looking up at the ceiling. Totally spent, she collapsed beside him. She wriggled down and lay on her side, one leg across his, and one arm across his chest. She kissed him on the shoulder. ‘What was up earlier?’

  He looked down at her face. ‘It was nothing. Sorry.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘A thought just flashed through my head. About work. Sorry, bad timing.’

  She lifted her head up and rested her chin on his shoulder. ‘Maybe you have a point about the timing, but it’s not wrong to think during sex.’

  ‘Yeah, but…’

  ‘If I wanted to have sex with someone who doesn’t think, I’d have gone to the stores and bought a cucumber.’

  He looked down at her and laughed.

  ‘A slicing one, of course,’ she added.

  ‘Of course,’ he repeated.

  She lifted herself up so she was resting on his chest. ‘That’s the first time you’ve laughed tonight.’

  ‘Is it?’ he replied, sounding surprised.

  ‘It’s okay to laugh, even when something bad’s happened.’

  Leroy nodded, thinking. Then asked her, ‘Do you have a laptop here?’

  ‘Why, yes. Do you need to use it? Now?’

  He sat up slightly, gently easing her off his chest. ‘If I can, if that’s okay with you.’

  She climbed out of bed, and went into the living room, returning momentarily with a black case. She sat back down on the bed, and pulled a laptop out of the bag. Leroy, in the meantime, had switched on a bedside light, and sat up in bed. She switched on the laptop, logged on, and passed it to him.

  ‘Do you do this often?’ she asked.

  He gave her a puzzled look.

  ‘I mean get flashes of inspiration during sex, with an urgent need to go online?’

  He laughed. ‘Sorry, Julia, but the answer’s yes. To the second part, that is. Not a problem normally, living alone. I had this thought, and if I don’t do this now, I’ll never get back to sleep. It won’t take long.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Happens to me sometimes. Normally concerning unruly kids. Want a drink? Tea or something?’

  ‘No, I’ll be okay, thanks.’

  ‘I’m going to have one.’

  ‘Well, if you’re boiling the kettle, yes, I’ll have one.’ He feverishly typed into the laptop.

  ‘Cream? Sugar?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Your tea. Cream or sugar? Same as your coffee?’

  ‘Oh, milk, please.’

  Julia left him to it, as he started to search Google. When she returned ten minutes later, she found him sitting up in bed, his head resting against the wall, with a satisfied look on his face. ‘Finished?’ she asked, handing him his cup. She walked round to the other side of the bed and joined him.

  ‘Yes. Much appreciated.’ He sipped the tea. ‘As is this.’

  ‘No problem.’ She sipped hers. ‘Did you find what you were looking for?’

  ‘I think so. Assuming I know what
I’m looking for.’

  ‘Sam, in English, please.’

  He sat back again, his gaze fixed across the room, where the wall met the ceiling. ‘You remember Donald Rumsfeld?’

  ‘The former Secretary of State for Defence?’ She looked puzzled.

  ‘Yeah. He was famous for weird quotes he used to come out with.’

  ‘A bit like Bush?’

  ‘That sort of thing, yeah. But the one which sticks in my mind is one which goes something like, “There are known knowns. There are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns.” Something like that.’

  Julia said slowly, ‘I think I know where you’re coming from.’

  ‘What I mean is, in my line of work, we have to dig around and around in the course of an investigation, but we don’t really know what we’re looking for. But when we find it, we know we’ve found it.’ He looked across at her and saw she was smirking. ‘I’m not making much sense, am I?’

  She laughed. ‘I think you’re just verbalising it badly. I know what you mean.’

  ‘How would you verbalise it then? You’re the school teacher.’

  ‘Sam, believe it or not, the life and sayings of Donald Rumsfeld isn’t in the curriculum of the average fourth grader.’ She finished her tea, and continued, ‘So what does all this have to do with what you were looking for?’ She checked the time. ‘At one in the morning?’

  ‘At this time, the feeling is that Domingo and Connor were killed because of one of their cases.’

  ‘The feeling? That’s a bit vague, isn’t it?’

  ‘Bad verbalising again. Basically, as far as my department’s concerned, the prime suspect would be someone who they had put away. Or someone connected with a felon they had dealt with.’

  ‘I get it. You mean like a relative who’s doing time after they arrested them?’

  ‘Yes, although, it could be that only one of them was the intended victim, the other taken out because they were there at the time.’

  ‘I see. Take out one cop, you might as well take out two?’

  ‘Yeah. Also, we must be talking some major crime. After all, you wouldn’t risk killing a cop in revenge for booking you for jaywalking. Not normally anyway.’