Joe got into his Jeep and headed to the Parker Center. The shy, mysterious woman he'd met didn't seem capable of cold blooded murder but then people have a way of doing the unexpected. He didn't know her name until today and it wasn't because he didn't care. It just didn't seem important. He drove to her hoping to get to get answers to questions he didn't have.
Panic and fear swirled at the edges of reality as he walked through Parker Center. It wasn't for himself but for a woman he didn't really know. The former cop was charged with murder last year and had experienced life from the other side of the iron bars until he escaped. Of all the people he'd killed it seemed ironic to be charged with a murder he didn't commit. One would say it was karma but Pike knew it was simply the evil that hid in the heart of men. Sometimes it was a dark, cruel place where only revenge lived.
Alyse sat behind the table wearing an ill fitting jail house jump suit being comforted by a public defender who didn't look old enough to drink. Alyse turned away when he entered the room. Joe sat down in the chair next to her and placed his hand under her chin turning her to face him. She didn't protest or pull away from his touch. The right side of her face was swollen. She'd obviously been choked, finger marks had blossomed like ugly purple flowers on pale, delicate skin. How could a man do that to a woman he loved or a father to his child? Rage roared like waves crashing on the beach drowning out all thought or reason. He was too angry to ask the questions that needed answers. Joe emptied his mind and became clam like a tidal pool, isolated away from the chaos of anger. He took off his glasses and looked into her eyes.
Alyse stared into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Blue like a pure glacial lake, inviting her to get lost in its depths. She forgot briefly about the pain and chaos and enjoyed the calm she felt in his presence.
"Did you do this?" He asked already knowing the answer.
"No," she said, her eyes never leaving his.
"How much is bail?" He asked the lawyer never taking his eyes off her.
"One million cash or bond. But the government has frozen all their assets."
"There's no way I can raise that. Since I filed for divorce I've had to sell everything I own. I don't even have a place to stay," she said. Her head dropped back down and he saw the tears slide down her cheek.
"I'll take care of it." Later that day she was in his Jeep and they were on the way to his condo.
"Can you tell me exactly what happened?"
"Tom called me two days ago and said he had papers I needed to sign. He's been dragging our divorce out for months. He told me to meet him at the house and when I got there he was drunk and angry. He said his life was going to hell and he was going to take me with him." She stopped and stared out the window. Pike could see how ashamed she was of what happened. He had seen that look on his mother's face many times before. He reached over and took her hand. She licked her lips and continued.
"I tried to get out but he grabbed me and hit me a couple times. I don't remember anything after that." She stopped again and brushed away a tear. "I woke up and called the police. There was blood in the living room and in my car. I don't know how it got there, any of it. I swear I never laid a hand on him."
Pike thought for a moment she hardly seemed capable of disposing of a body all by herself. If she had killed him she could have claimed self defense and from the looks of the beating she took, she had a strong case. Why had the feds frozen their assets?
"Why are the feds involved?"
"I don't know. I wasn't part of his business. I had a substantial inheritance when my father died several years ago. Tom said he could get me a better return than any bank so I gave it to him. I had plans to set up a charity with about half of the proceeds. When I had everything in place and asked for the money I got excuse after excuse until I stopped asking. Tom had been on edge the last year, angry. So I left. Our accounts were cleaned out. Luckily I had some jewelry in a safety deposit box, that's kept me going."
Joe got the feeling there was more to the story than she was telling him but he didn't push her. There'd be time for the hard questions later. She'd been through enough
"Where are we?" She asked as they pulled up to the condo.
"My place." Joe turned and stuck out his hand. "Joe Pike," he said. Her hand was soft and warm and he got the same feeling he did every time he touched her.
"Thank you, Joe Pike. I'm Alyse Winters."
Joe led her inside. He felt uneasy knowing the kind of money she had come from but he'd never cared about money or creature comforts.
Alyse smiled as she looked around his condo. His home was Spartan, earthy and masculine like him.
"It suits you," she said smiling.
"This will be like heaven. I've spent the last two weeks sleeping in my car trying to out run the repo man." She turned to face him. "I'm sorry I guess I've reached a point where if I don't laugh about it I'll cry and I really don't want to do that."
Joe led her into the bedroom. "You can sleep here. There's a lock on the door. I'll give you the key."
Alyse reached out her hand and touched his arm. Staring into the glasses that hid the pain he wanted no one to see. "If you were going to hurt me you could have done that on the pier. Besides I don't think that door would stop you."
Joe's mouth twitched. He put his hand on hers and squeezed gently. "No. it wouldn't."
"I'll take the couch. I can't take your only bed." Alyse insisted.
"I've slept on worse. If they've released your house as a crime scene we can pick up some things for you."
"He was very angry. I imagine whatever of mine was left, he threw out. "
Joe looked at her, she was wearing baggy sweat pants and a T-shirt that had LAPD written on it. He'd worn a shirt like that a lifetime ago.
Alyse noticed him staring and shrugged. "There was blood on my clothes so they took them as evidence. My car too."
"You look fine," he said in a reassuring tone. Joe wondered if the blood had been his or hers and felt the anger stirring once again.
"Yeah right," Alyse rolled her eyes.
"Help yourself to anything you need. There are clean towels in the bathroom. I've got some errands to run. I'll bring home dinner. This is my cell phone number. Will you be all right alone for a while? "
Alyse nodded and smiled.
He wrote his number on a note pad next to the phone. "I'll set the alarm so don't go out and don't open the door to anyone. If you need anything you call me."
Joe got in his Jeep and headed for Cole's. He left his condo perplexed by the events of the last week. Even though he was a man who could think on his feet he still found comfort in strategy and order. Today he had posted a million dollar bond for a stranger and brought her into his home. How could explain his actions to Cole when he didn't understand it himself. There were too many unanswered questions taking away the clarity of thought he found so comforting. He walked up to Cole's front door and punched his number on speed dial.
"Yo," Cole answered.
"You going to be home for awhile?" He asked as he knocked on the door.
"Yeah, hang on someone's at the door."
