Chapter Four
"I know cracked ribs are painful, but I've dealt with worse," smiled Charlie.
Detective Seever drove them to the crime scene in West Hollywood. She covered for Charlie for one day. A husband came home and found his wife dead. She had been beaten to death in the kitchen. The crime scene team had just arrived, as Seever pulled up in front of the house. Two black ad whites were outside of the house.
"Just don't get yourself hurt, Crews. Tidwell would have both our heads if he knew you had cracked ribs and didn't go to the hospital for them," Seever said to him.
"I won't hurt, or should I say I won't get any more hurt than I am," he said.
Seever got out of the car and Charlie followed her. It was a pleasant little home in what seemed like a quiet neighborhood, though these neighborhoods were deceptive. The husband was in a five hundred dollar grey suit that didn't compare well with Charlie's two thousand dollar grey suit. He looked to be upset more than distraught. Charlie let Seever take the lead.
"Mr. Hurst, when did you find your wife like this?" she asked.
"About twenty-five minutes ago," he answered. "I called you guys right away."
He sat at the kitchen table staring at the body of his dead wife. Charlie took a good look at him. The husband didn't have that look of sadness that Charlie had seen in those who regretted killing someone they loved. He had more of a look of despair, a fear of getting caught. Charlie then looked at the wife. It looked like the wife had been beaten with a pan, probably a frying pan. He noticed that there was a frying pan sitting in some soapy water.
"I came home to surprise her, you know, have lunch together," he said.
Charlie noticed bread was out and some lunchmeat. They were still on the counter. She had made him a sandwich. He looked and saw that it was a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich. Seever continued to talk to the husband as Charlie realized that the husband had killed the wife. He was sure of it.
"Lunch. I'm hungry. I haven't had lunch yet," Charlie spoke up. "Have you had lunch yet, Seever?"
"Crews?" Seever said wondering if her partner had lost her mind.
"Do you know lunch is an important meal? I like fruit with my meal. I like fruit with every meal. Do you?" he asked the husband.
"No, not really," he said.
"I love a good sandwich, too. For years, I couldn't get a good sandwich. I mean wonder bread is just not a good sandwich for a ham and cheese sandwich. What did you have for lunch? A turkey and American cheese?" asked Charlie.
"Swiss cheese," the husband said.
"A turkey and Swiss cheese," Charlie smiled. "She made you a turkey and Swiss cheese before you argued then hit her with the frying pan, isn't that right?"
The man looked at Charlie and knew he was caught. His body deflated.
"She kept nagging me and accusing me of having an affair. I'm not having an affair. I wouldn't," he said without emotion.
Seever looked at Crews and shook her head. Charlie pointed at the counter where the bread and lunchmeat were still out.
LIFE
Crews and Seever came into the squad room after locking up their sidearms. Charlie tried not to look over at Dani, who was in Tidwell's office, but he couldn't help himself. She was like a magnet he was being pulled constantly towards, a brunette, dark eyed magnet with sensuous lips and defiant jaw.
"You miss Reese as a partner, Crews?" Seever asked him.
He pulled his eyes away from Dani and looked at his new partner. She deserved his attention, just like Dani deserved happiness and a chance of not being hurt.
"You are my partner now, Detective Seever," he smiled.
Inside Tidwell's office, Tidwell talked and Dani listened.
"How about Thai food tonight? We could have a romantic dinner, some spicy Thai food, and then go back to your place," he suggested.
"My mother is now living at Crews' mansion," Dani said then closed her eyes regretting she mentioned it.
"Really? Why?" he asked.
"She is fighting my father," she said.
"But why Charlie Crews, babe?" he asked. "I mean he's not family."
She shuddered hearing the word babe. Dani was regretting more and more her relationship with Captain Kevin Tidwell. For a while there seeing him was dangerous and comforting, but now it was confining and missing something. What was it missing, she thought. Love? Why was she even thinking like that? She didn't need or want love.
"Drop the subject," she demanded.
"I'm just being curious, babe," he said. "Why would your mother choose to live with Charlie Crews?"
"You know what you have Thai food tonight. I'm going home and having whatever I can scrounge up in my refrigerator," she said then walked out of his office.
Tidwell was left sitting there wondering what he had done wrong, as Dani returned to her desk. She sat down and found herself staring at Crews' back. Willing him to turn around, she continued to stare, but he wouldn't turn around.
"It's almost five, do you mind if I leave?" Mann said to her.
"Go," growled Dani.
Detective Mann packed up his things and left. Dani didn't care. Her mind was on someone else. She watched as Crews stood up and left.
LIFE
When Charlie entered his home, the smells of just cooked food filled the house. It brought a smile to his face. After taking off his suit jacket, he walked to the kitchen and entered to see Rachel helping Daria cook.
"You are home, Charlie," Daria said.
"Yes, I am home," he said.
"I am making Persian food for dinner," said Daria. "Rachel and I went shopping. She used your credit card."
"You gave it to me," added Rachel happily.
"I think I can afford it," Charlie replied.
"I made lamb kebab, saffron rice, a salad with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and black olives with olive oil and salt and pepper," Daria told him, "and hummus, pita bread, and for dessert baklava. And it is all homemade."
"You didn't have to go to all the trouble," said Charlie.
"I am a guest and I wanted to show my appreciation," Daria said.
"Yeah, and it was fun making all this food," said Rachel.
"Where's Ted and Olivia?" asked Charlie.
"They went out for dinner and a movie," said Rachel. "Though, Ted did ask for a doggie bag when he got home."
Rachel laughed at this.
"Rachel, go set the table and we will eat like civilized people at the dining room table," said Daria.
"How can I help?" asked Charlie.
"Go get washed up and changed for dinner," said Daria.
"Your wish is my command," he smiled and took off to go up to his room.
Slightly amused at the situation, Charlie did as he was told by Daria. He washed up in his private bathroom then changed into pair of jeans and a black Hugo Boss dress shirt. When he got back to the dining room table, the food was laid out and ready to be eaten. Rachel and Daria were seated already. He sat down.
"I'm a starved," he smiled.
Rachel started to shovel rice then lamb, salad, and hummus on her plate. Charlie looked at how happy she seemed. It had been a long time since Rachel had a mother around her telling her what to do and showing her things. Daria was filling a hole that was in Rachel's life for a very long time.
"Rachel told me she is going to take classes at UCLA. I approve," said Daria.
"I do, too," nodded Charlie, as he took the food from Rachel and started to fill his plate with it.
Daria handed them each a loaf of pita bread. Charlie's front doorbell rang. He started to get up, but Rachel beat him to it.
"Try the food, Charlie; I'll get the door," Rachel said.
She ran off to get the door. Charlie sampled the food. His face lit up in a giant smile.
"Now this is better than takeout food," he said.
"You cannot survive on fruit and Chinese food," said Daria, who blessed herself then started to eat.
Charlie shook his head. His life seem to have a mind of its own. All he wanted right now was to pursue revenge, but life kept getting in the way.
"Hey, everyone, it's Detective Reese," said Rachel, who had Dani in tow. "I told her it was dinner time and she should join us."
"Come, Dani, I'll get you a plate," said Daria. "Sit beside Charlie."
"Ma, I came to get you," said Dani.
"I am going nowhere, Dani. Charlie has accepted me here and I belong here right now," Daria told her. "I will get you a plate so sit."
Dani reluctantly sat down to the right of Charlie. He smiled at her. She went from looking at him to the food on the table. Her mother made the food she loved the most, which meant she was happy her. She couldn't understand why she'd be happy here with Charlie.
"Oh, Charlie, you need a beer, don't you?" said Rachel. "I'll get diet Pepsi for me and Dani. Is that okay, Dani?"
"Sure," answered Dani.
Rachel got up and ran off to the kitchen.
"Rachel likes having people around," he said.
"What about you, Crews?" asked Dani. "Do you like having people around?"
"Yeah, I do," he said softly.
"Why is my mother here, Crews?" asked Dani.
"Because she wants to be, Reese," he answered.
Daria returned with a plate and flatware for Dani. She placed them down in front of her then kissed the top of her head.
"Dooset daram," she said to Dani.
"Dooset daram," replied Dani.
"Now eat," said Daria.
As Rachel returned with drinks, Dani filled up her plate and sampled the food. She looked at her mother.
"Ghaza kheili khosh mazas," Dani said to her mother, who smiled.
The rest of the meal was enjoyed along with pleasant conversation. Mainly, Rachel asked Daria a million questions about her life and Daria answered her and instructed her at the same time. Under heavy eyelids, Dani kept glancing over at Charlie. There was part of her that wanted to get him alone and talk to him, while another part of her wanted to rip his shirt off and sexually savage him. Either way, she felt uncomfortable in his presence. Yet, he seemed completely unaware.
"So, Charlie, why are you no longer my Dani's partner?" asked Daria.
"That was up to the police department," he said.
"Did you fight to get her back?" she asked.
"Ma, don't ask questions like that. Crews can't force them to give him the partner he wants," said Dani.
"I don't know, Dani. Something tells me that Charlie can do more than people think he can and definitely more than they fear he can. I think that is why you father fears most about him," Daria said.
"Jack fears Crews?" asked Dani.
"I have seen your father fear only two men: Charlie and Mickey Rayborn," said Daria.
"You know Mickey Rayborn?" asked Charlie suddenly very interested.
"I have met him many times," she answered. "Who is he to you, Charlie?"
"My enemy," he answered with a dead smile.
"Mickey Rayborn used to come to our house for Sunday cookouts. He used to leer at me and say suggestive things to me. Any other man and Jack would have killed him, but Mickey he left alone," said Daria.
"What was Jack's relationship to Mickey?" asked Charlie.
"He was afraid of him. I think if Mickey asked him to do something he would do it out of fear," said Daria. "He wouldn't talk to me about him."
Charlie nodded his head. Dani could see that her former partner's mind was churning away. He wanted to take Mickey Rayborn down. Charlie took his napkin from his lap and wiped his mouth.
"Dinner was delicious," he said then stood up.
"Do you want coffee and dessert?" asked Daria.
"Not right now. I have something to do," he said.
Within five minutes, he was locked up in his walk-in master bedroom closet staring at his wall of conspiracy. Mickey Rayborn was the top of the pyramid, but Jack Reese was near the top. He had a recording of a voice threatening Jack Reese, which he needed to find out who it was. His best guess was that it was one of his old SWAT Team members who went bad but never gave the Bank of LA money away to charity like Jack did.
He needed to put each little piece together until he had a complete picture then he'd know who to deal with Mickey Rayborn. Piece by piece, little by little, he was going to put it together. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on his door followed by a familiar voice.
"Crews, let me in," growled Dani.
"Hold on," he said.
He turned off the light in his closet then walked to the door unlocked and stepped out in a way that wouldn't allow Dani a way to step into his closet. He then locked it again.
"What do you keep in there pornography?" she asked him.
"Nay, I left that at Pelican Bay," he smiled.
She actually felt herself blush. She didn't blush because of a man.
"I need to talk to you about my mother. I want her to come home with me," she said.
"She's free to go, Reese. I'm not stopping her," he said.
"Make her feel unwelcomed so she goes," said Dani.
"No," he replied.
"What do you mean no?" she growled. "She is my mother."
She stood no higher than his shoulder and looked like she was ready to do violence to him. He had faced many a large man, sometimes more than one at a time, looking to do violence on him, but they never sent a chill up his spine like she did.
"She can stay here as long as she likes, Reese. She is my guest and Rachel likes having her here and she treats Rachel in a way that is good for her. I won't kick her out," he said.
"Crews, she is my mother," Dani demanded.
Charlie stood so close that there wasn't even room for the Holy Spirit between them then he looked down into dark brown eyes.
"You're welcome to visit her anytime you want, Reese. You're welcome here anytime," he said softly, almost sounding like a growling animal.
Dani found herself getting hot. She backed away from him.
"I'll be back this weekend to talk some sense into her," Dani said.
"Anytime, Reese," said Charlie.
Reese turned to leave and Charlie added, "Bring Tidwell. We can have a cookout by the pool."
Dani turned and looked at him with fury in her eyes, "I will."
She stormed away. Charlie smiled.