Title: Trouble comes in Twos - Part 8
I have to admit that being able to talk to other cops is easy for me. It's the witnesses and the family of deceased that I have a harder time with. So talking the two local cops into letting Nikki and I go with them to the Poirer's residence doesn't take much. The only promise I have to give is that Nikki won't be allowed inside the house. Once she readily agrees, we follow them out to the small house the brothers own on the river.
Of course, that means that Nikki just has to drive, and in the interest of fair play and because I still feel really guilty about her car, I let her.
If she wrecks my El Camino out of spite however...
"Stop it," she tells me as we turn onto a dirt road that is running beside the Little Tchefuncte River, the dust from the police car in front of us getting all over my nice, shiny black beauty.
"What?" I drag out the word, trying my best to sound innocent. Something that I know I'm terrible at.
"You're wondering if I'm going to ditch your car into the river. Admit it," Nikki accuses me teasingly.
Damnit, Woman. Since when could you read my mind?
"I am not," I pout, clenching the handrest tighter.
She drifts over towards the river-side edge of the lane to go around a particularly deep pot hole.
"Nikkkkiiii," I growl her name out.
"Shhh, I know you and water aren't on the best of terms right now, and I'm not ready to go for another dip after you," she assures me.
I let out a shuddering breath of anxiety. I've been trying not to think about that, but now that she mentioned it.
"Thank you for saving me," I say a bit quietly as a shudder rips through my body at the memory of that night.
Nikki takes a quick look over to me and then looks back at the road, "You're welcome. I'm just glad I was with you."
"And your car..." I grimace, remembering what Darius told me last night.
"It's just a car, Nora," she assures me quietly.
"Still, I owe you," I put a lot of feeling in that statement.
"It's OK. Really. Like I told you that night, you'll just have to get used to me driving your car for awhile," Nikki replies teasingly. I'm fully aware she's trying to change the subject to get my mind off the accident. "We're here it seems."
Nikki pulls my car up alongside the police vehicle and we get out. Looking at me over the hood of the car she states, "I'm going to check out the dock. I'll grab Newton to go with me."
"Sounds like a plan. Be careful," I tell her and walk up to Officer Harkins. "Nikki wants to check out the dock, while you and I check to see if they're home."
"That's fine," the older man looks at his partner, "Go with her, Bill."
"Yep, will do."
He seems pleased about the assignment. Too pleased. I eye him a moment, watching him walk up to my partner with a genial smile.
"Ma'am," he greets her.
Nikki looks over at me and surreptitiously gives me a wink, which I acknowledge with a wry grin. She sure attracts them, like bees to honey.
"Their trucks aren't here," Officer Harkins notes and goes up to the front door. The house is rather small, with probably only two bedrooms. The hunting decor hanging off the walls is rather... interesting. I don't think I've seen so many pelts and antlers on the inside of a house, let alone on the outside. Trying to peek in the window is a lesson in futility, since they're so dirty that I can barely see the threadbare curtains on the inside.
I stand behind him and off to the side. I put my badge on my hip, and my piece is on my left side. Even though I'm out of my jurisdiction, I've come prepared. I'd rather not get shot at by someone who thinks I'm trespassing.
"Folsom Police," Harkins barks out and knocks loud and hard enough that the door looks like it's about to break in half. He tries again a moment later, but there's no answer.
"Let's check the back," he comments and stomps back down the stairs.
The yard, if you can call it that, is a mess. An old washing machine and tons of other discards litter the ground, but there's a small overgrown path around the edge of the house. There's another larger building back here as well, an old garage by the looks of it.
Harkins starts to knock on the back door, but it swings open under his fist.
"Hello? Folsom Police department, anyone home?" He swings the door open carefully but doesn't go in.
Peering around him is hard, but from what I can see, it's a mess inside. Not a crime scene kind of mess, just what you might expect after seeing the grounds outside.
"Let's just take a look to make sure everyone's all right," I suggest hopefully.
"Just stay behind me," he mutters and walks inside carefully, announcing himself again. "This is Officer Harkins. We found the back door unlocked, we're coming in to make sure everyone is OK."
Going into a house without a search warrant can be a tricky thing. If someone had been inside and denied us access, that's one thing. But since there's no answer and the door wasn't shut properly, it's only prudent to check out the premises.
"Hmmm. Well isn't this interesting?" Officer Harkins says, catching my attention as we do a walk-through. Besides being a mess, the house looks empty, so I'm a bit more at ease when I walk back up to him. The small kitchen table is about as scratched up and scarred as I would have imagined. On top of it is an assortment of what I would only term... loot.
Watches. More than any one man, let alone three, could wear. Mens and ladies jewelry.
"Have any break-ins lately?"
"Yep. Last year or so, up and down the river," he answers back, a bit disgruntled. "Looks like we've finally found our culprits."
"The river makes for a good getaway. Lots of summer homes. Any resorts up here?"
"One or two of them. Nothing too fancy, but lots of cabins on the water. Every few weeks we get a call, responding to break-ins. Always when the folks have gone off and left for the day. The summer homes, those we don't get calls on for months at a time," he replies.
Having a minor crime spree on your home turf and not being able to catch the culprits is a bit hard on the ego, and I can hear it in his voice. Burglaries don't help the local tourist trade, that's for sure.
"I used to work Robbery in NOPD, if I can make a few calls for you... see if any of your guys have been seen in any of the local pawn shops, that might help," I offer a bit reluctantly, not wanting him to feel like I'm stepping on his turf. "I'm sure you have more contacts in Baton Rouge than I do since it's closer to Folsom."
He pushes his hat back a bit and looks at me for a moment before speaking, "I know you're only here to make sure your partner doesn't get into any trouble, but I'd be grateful for any help you can give."
Officer Harkins surprises me. Small town policemen don't usually appreciate big city cops, but he honestly seems willing to let me help out. Huh. I'll be damned. Maybe it's because Nola isn't really that far away? Baton Rouge is even closer. But even with the proximity to the large cities, his manpower probably doesn't hit double digits.
"Let me make a couple of calls. I'll see what I can turn up for you," I hand him one of my cards, prompting him to give me one of his. It will make it easier on him if the NOPD sends information straight to him, instead of through me. If he had to ask Robbery on his own, it would take weeks. With me bugging Dan for some help on Harkin's behalf, it should cut out a lot of time.
Damn. I'm probably going to have to tell Dan why, since I don't know what Nikki's Daddy told him.
"Let me go talk to my partner. See if they've found anything," I step out, letting him make some calls. He'll get a warrant for the premises easily, since everything we've found is out in the open.
I walk around the house and follow the path down to what has to be the river. Passing through some trees, I see Nikki and her escort in an open boat house squatting down. More of a dock with a rusted tin roof to keep the weather off the boat that's sitting there in the water.
I take a moment to admire the view as I make my way down. Nikki looks good today, but then she always looks good. She's wearing a dark loose dress shirt over black slacks, and a pair of black leather dress boots. The sight makes me crack a smile. Even out here in the country, she's wearing something with at least three inches of heel.
They both look up from whatever they're taking a close interest in, when they hear the sound of me joining them on the wooden dock.
Nikki greets me with a bright smile, which I automatically return, ignoring the stutter of my heart at her look. Officer Newton's look on the other hand, seems a bit distracted... dazed maybe.
Nikki Beaumont strikes again? I'm trying not to laugh outright at his puppy-dog eyes when he glances at my partner.
I don't think I quite got my reaction under control because Nikki only has eyes for me and smirks at me.
"Find anything?" Good job, Delaney. Straight to business.
Nikki stands up, dusting her hands off on her thighs as she does. "Looks like blood in the boat."
"Good. Harkins is calling in for a warrant right now. The back door was open. Looks like the Poirer boys have been running up and down the river collecting souvenirs." I keep my eyes on Nikki as I walk along the dock. It's longer than the one at her house, and less maintained. Nikki winks at me encouragingly while I do my best to ignore the creaks and groans of the weathered wood underneath me.
Newton moves over to let me look in the boat, and I try to keep my balance as three people make the docks shift under me. A hand reaches out and grasps my elbow. I don't need to look to know that it's Nikki.
"Well, lets go back up and tell your partner," I suggest and straighten up. We let the younger policeman walk in front of us, Nikki holding me back by my elbow. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was reluctant to let go of me.
"Just making sure you're all right," she whispers just loudly enough for me to hear.
I swear she's psychic, but I'm not arguing. I'm enjoying the warmth of her fingers on my arm.
Jerking my head forward towards Officer Newton I comment teasingly, "Did you break your newest conquest already? He hasn't said a word."
Chancing a quick look over at her as we step from the dock onto solid land, I stumble slightly. Nikki's fingers tighten a moment, then let me go since we're off the water. "Nah. He's just kind of shy," she answers, clearing her throat. I raise an eyebrow at the blush that rises up on her face.
"Shy?" I prompt.
"He was trying to ask me out for coffee, in a long, round-about, stuttering kind of way, when you walked up."
I stop in the middle of path and look at her with my mouth open in shock. "Nikki! You were only out there five minutes!" I hiss, half in utter surprise and half... OK, jealousy.
Nikki turns to me, looking me straight in the eye.
God I love her eyes.
"It's not my fault," she whines. "I didn't do anything." Nikki has an adorable pout and judging by the twinkle in her eyes, she knows it.
I step up close to her and waggle my finger at her, "I swear, I can't take you anywhere."
A big smiles lights up her face, white teeth flashing in the sun. "Well that's easily solved. I'll take you somewhere instead. Then we'll see how much trouble YOU can get into."
I swear she has an answer for everything. Arrgghh.
TBC