CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN (WAY TO GO, COP GUY....)
Weena's 'home' address was well out of the way of the crime scene, and he was already running late, so..against his better judgement, Brass allowed Weena to tag along with him.
That, and the fact..he simply did not wish for her to leave him just yet.
"Now..remember." They were making their way through the early morning joggers walking the mall. Mostly older people, exercising in the air conditioned comfort of the facility. "Stay put, don't touch anything and I'll try to hurry this through, ok?"
"Ohhhh..look!" She tugged from his hand's hold, rushing over to the plate glass window with it's stylish display of...shoes. "I love these! Are they not pretty? I wish to purchase them!" She searched for the store hours. "I have bank cards, remember!"
"Weena?" The man called after her. "Crime scene??"
The pretty face clouded over but she rejoined the man with but one forlorn glance back to the high heels she so coveted.
"Did you hear what I said?" He doubted she had, for her attention was obviously for all the 'cool' stuff displayed in the shops they passed.
"I should not be a nuisance." She repeated dutifully. "I should stand very quietly, observing only..and most importantly...OHHH..they even have baked items here!" She pointed out the 'Cookie Barn'. "Does that not smell heavenly, Jim Brass?" She breathed in the aroma, closing her eyes to the moment. "It is so very wonderful a place!. I could spend many hours of blissful contentment here!"
Brass sighed mentally. Up ahead, he could see the police scene. Cops milled around, some taking statements from early morning shoppers, some making certain no one disturbed the area. Others marking off distances with odometers.
Jim noted the second and third floors above them. This new mall was gigantic. He could not even make a guess as to how many shops and vendors there might be. To say it was spacious was an understatement of the highest order.
Carlos Rivera was standing over a sheet-draped body, conferring with Matt Simpson and Tom Harligan. The men seemed engrossed in their conversation, their faces a study in serious contemplation.
Weena gasped, squealing her delight as she, once again..broke free from Brass' hold, running excitedly forward upon recognition of.. "MAJOR TOM!"
Tom Harligan looked over at the rather loud exclamation, his face registering shock, surprise, then..the trademark boyish grin, as he recognized the perpetrator of said..interruption.
He prepared himself for Weena's 'arrival'..steadying himself as she slammed into his embrace with the force of a small freight train.
"WHOAAA!" The man was rocked off his foundation, stepping one step back, laughing for such a boisterous greeting. "HEY, GIRL..." He squeezed her affectionately, then...pushed the slight body back, having felt the..bulge of her stomach, his features...astonished! "What the..." He took in her condition, his mouth agape. "HEY...I had NOTHING to do with THAT! NOTHING!...RIGHT?"
Weena's face fell, her mood seemingly...suddenly an abject one. "You..you said you would...love me..no matter what as..as long as I...put out for you!"
The Major looked hastily at Brass who was just now arriving on the scene having taken his time in the approach, observing the farce from afar.
"She's just kidding, Captain.." Harligan made a 'fuck you, woman' face to ..the woman. "Hell, I ALWAYS use the silk glove..you KNOW that, right? I mean..do I LOOK stupid?"
"Don't answer that, Captain..it was rhetorical." Rivera explained helpfully.
"Tell him you're kidding, you whack job!" The younger man implored. "What the hell? That's not EVEN funny!"
Weena disagreed, laughing gaily, dissolving into a fit of giggles, having grabbed hold of Harligan's arm for support. She..stopped suddenly, something confusing her. "...What is a 'silk glove'..Major?"
"Well, it 's for sure YOU wouldn't have a clue." Tom motioned to her 'condition'. "And I thought YOU were one of the smart ones..see, I missed the mark on THAT one by a mile!"
Weena scowled lightly. "It is certainly not MY fault." She shook her head woefully. "The proverbial ball was not in MY court." She cut her eyes to...Jim Brass..who ignored the entire exchange.
"Whatd'we got, Rivera?" He looked to the dead body, grappling for his notebook in the inside of his jacket pocket and the pen that fit nicely in a slot beside it. "What is so important about this guy that day shift could not handle it?"
"..Thought you'd better take a look at him first, Captain." Carlos threw back the sheet to reveal the DB's face. "John Stamos..not the actor..night watchman for the Security outfit that has the account for the Mall. Injuries suggest he was tossed off the third floor up there.." All glanced upward, to see his meaning. It was a long way up...Jim cringed inside at the thought of falling such a distance. He secretly hoped the guy was dead before the drop.
"The CSI's haven't confirmed..they are on their way..but," Carlos arose, having thrown the sheet back over the victim. "We think..his body has been drained of blood."
"What??" Brass was in no mood today, his tone saying as much.
"Sorry, Jim..." Carlos shrugged apologetically. "No blood trace to speak of up there..." He pointed upward. "A few drops here and there...and none when he hit. This guy's tank is running on empty. And of course..you noted the..." Carlos motioned to his neck, his index and middle fingers making a 'v'..as he poked at his jugular vein. "Puncture wounds on his neck."
"Our guy's back, Captain." Major Tom broke the bad news.
"Keeping in mind..the CSI lab is only seven blocks down Agnew out there." Carlos added to the pile. "Our 'dead' guy wandered down here for a snack...that's what I'm thinking."
"I've never met a real live Vampire..not that he's alive." Tom stated. "It gets a little confusing there, I gotta say."
"Vampires do not truly exist." Weena pointed out. "They are a myth."
"Tell that to the other dead guy here." Tom Harligan scoffed.
"There must be some logical explanation, other than..what you suggest." The woman scoffed right back.
"I don't want any of this shit getting out to the media...or any other venue!" Brass grated. "Do I make myself crystal clear...HARLIGAN?"
"Hey, Captain...my lips are sealed..you know that, it's just.." The man glanced around for an 'audiance' finding none. He leaned closer, lowering his voice all the same. "You and I both know...that McBain guy is a weird little puppy! I wouldn't put anything past him."
"The guy's dead, dumb ass...end of his story!" Brass put an end to any and all speculation on that particular subject. "And end of your career if I hear tell of..."
"Say no more, Captain." Harligan straightened hastily. "Guy's dead..these cases are definitely NOT connected..in any way, shape or form! No similarities what-so-ever! NONE!"
"Carlos..." Brass ..quietened. "Good call! Thanks for bringing me in first. Appreciate it."
"No problem, Bawana."
Jim smiled slightly. "Ok, you know the drill then. Keep me apprised of any progress made."
"I live to serve...and of course.." Carlos had to be truthful..it was his way. "For 'Friday Night Smack Down."
"That's a given." Brass 'understood'. "Call me when the CSIs have anything to share, right?"
Carlos nodded. "Weena..where the hell have you been? We've missed you, girl!"
"And I, you..Detective Carlos!" She smiled happily. "I am here to stay..if .." She cut her eyes to Jim Brass, who watched her contentedly. "All goes well."
"Well, I..for one..am happy as punch to see you back!" Carlos gave her a bear hug. "Who's the fortunate 'dad'?? Where did you meet him? When...will WE meet him?"
"You got to be kidding, right?" Harligan's face showed his perplexity. "Who do you thi..."
Carlos discretely elbowed his partner in the ribs none too gently.
"When are you due?" Carlos managed to recover somewhat placidly, having ignored Harligan completely. "What are you now...about..six months along? He is a small little fellow, isn't he. Why, my wife..the blood sucking leech? By four months she looked like a battle ship about to go under."
Brass drew his cool stare away from Tom Harligan..finally.
"Very soon now." Weena placed her hands on her stomach, her fingers spreading across her stomach absently. "It cannot be too soon for me, of course."
"Weena..it's a few months yet." Brass reminded. "We got some time."
"Time for what, Jim Brass?"
"Stop that..you know my name." He scolded, wondering where the 'jim brass' thing has cropped up from. He turned a little so only the woman was privy to his words. "You said it a few times last night in the ..heat of the moment, if I recall." The man turned knowledgeable eyes to the woman. "Right?"
Weena cleared her throat gently. "Time..for what?" She repeated.
"We'll discuss that later." He hoped she picked up that he meant..with no others about. She didn't.
"Well, what is wrong with discussing it now?" She wanted to know. "I do not enjoy waiting."
"Gee..that's too bad." Brass held his grin, walking over to the dead body again, stooping down, raising the sheet yet again. He studied the white pallor of the man's face. "Any time frame on the T.O.D.?" He glanced up to Carlos Rivera.
"Well, he clocked in at 11:06, Captain.." He had consulted his note pad. "There is a check in box at each end of the sections here." Harligan produced a map of the mall for perusal. "His route goes along this path. This is the box." Carlos pointed the spot out on the map. "That's about a fifteen minute jaunt if you're going at a normal walk, checking stores and the like."
"I walked it, Captain." Harligan had moved far away from Weena. As if being by her would immediately generate suspicion to his whereabouts on the night in question.. "He's an old guy so I walked really slow."
Jim shook his head. The night watchman was a few years younger than himself. Carlos Rivera dropped his head forward, sighing heavily for his partner's less than subtle remark.
"So...someone was in the mall. Waiting for the guy?" Brass moved on. "Which would mean the guy was here before the mall closed, waited around and did the deed or..."
"He somehow got past all the security devices and sneaked in somehow." Carlos concurred. "We're checking for possible entry sights..blind spots the cameras might not readily pick up."
"Good." Brass arose. "Start the background checks..friends, family..enemies..the usual."
"On it, Boss." Harligan stated. "What about the blood loss?"
"You think a vampire did this, Harligan?" Brass met the problem head on. "Run a few of them down. We'll need to know their whereabouts..what they were up to last night. Bring em in if they get a little pissy.. Don't forget to take a cross with you..and a couple of wooden stakes, just in case they don't want to come."
Weena chuckled appreciatively. Brass kinda liked when she got his humor.
"That was cold, Captain." Rivera chuckled at his friend's fallen expression. "I liked it..do it again! Give him hell!"
Brass cast a dark look at the younger man but other than that..let it go.
"Ok..I'm have to be somewhere." Brass checked his watch, the gold band fitting the thickness of his wrist perfectly. "I'll be in the office in about an hour. Check in with me, k?"
"Hopefully we will have something more concrete to share." Carlos 'hoped'. "Will do, Captain..Weena? Welcome back, sweety."
Weena kissed the man's cheek in open affection.
"Come on, Weena...we're running late." Brass held out his hand and the woman put her smaller one into it immediately, following his lead. He lead her out to the SUV, pulling up short at the door. He studied the woman for a long beat.
"I have something I have to tell you." And ..he did, against his better judgement. But, Jim knew..a lie was no way to start a relationship. He ..prepared himself, then..began. "...I have to go visit..a woman. She is in the hospital. It's ok.." She saw the alarm on the pretty features. "She's ok. She..has been held hostage for a few days by..a very bad man." He put it mildly.
"This...vampire man?" Weena was anything but slow on the uptake at times. Which, oft times..surprised Jim because..at other times she seemed inordinately...slow for some obscure reason.
"He isn't ..that. But, you know that." He dismissed. "He hurt a lot of women..and Haley..eh..the lady we are going to see? She helped stop him."
"That is a good thing."
He hesitated. This would be much more difficult. "Honey...when I ..thought you were gone..for good?" He checked with her to see how she was taking the narrative so far.
"Is she pretty?"
"What?" The question through him completely.
"Is she pretty?"
"...Yes but.."
"You like her." She sensed as much. "You...like her..very much."
"..Baby..I thought you were..."
"I know." She drew in a long breath, seeking the mountains in the distance.
"Let me explain before you.."
Weena took his hand, holding it close to her breast, clutched tightly, her eyes looking into his soul.
"...Do you wish to..be with this woman, Jim Brass??" She closed her eyes for a long beat then..opened them, a deep sadness within the creamy brown depths. "Please..do not allow the child to dictate your emotions in this. Please."
She smiled feebly at him, putting her fingers over his lips when he would have spoken his thoughts.
"Listen to me." She prompted. "All I ask..at this point? Is that..." She sought a way to say it. "You keep an open mind. Do not make any decision until...you have spent some time with me as well. It is only fair..that you allow yourself to become reacquainted with me before.."
"The child does dictate..everything, Weena!" He told the truth. "That and the fact...I .." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand gently. "..I think...I have always.." What if she did not want to hear the words? What if... he said them and she..had other thoughts on the matter.
She seemed to want a relationship but...she had not said what type as yet.
"Do you want me in the kid's life, Weena..." He asked point blank.
"I should love it if you wished to be, yes...but..." She did not want him to feel trapped..or..worse, obligated.
"Is there...some other guy you ..think you might want to..make your life with?"
"You are an inordinately intelligent human, Jim Brass." She watched him with soft eyes. "How then..can you be so very stupid at times?"
"I ask because...I hope there isn't." He felt more secure in moving forward finally. "Because..I kinda want to...be that guy, myself."
"You can not possibly know that at this time." She did not think so, at least. "I suspect you have had deep feelings for this...woman..this...Haley person." She pulled her hand from his grasp, unaware she had done so. Jim knew it though, feeling a coldness filter into his being for the fact.
"I do not wish to know." She held up a restraining hand. She took a moment. "But..if that is the case..then..those feelings will not disappear over night. I accept this." She had little choice. "I wish...I could simply..go. But, I cannot." She knew that as well. "My heart is with you. And..until you TELL me to go..I think, perhaps...I shall..remain." She lifted a sincere look. "I ask..that you not take too long to render your decision, however."
The woman sought the ground, studying the asphalt for a spell. "This...does not set well with me but..I will attempt to be understanding and...patient. I am simply not certain...how long this..feeling will last. I must be honest with you...yes?"
She sought his countenance
"I've already made my..."
"NO!" She shushed him. "...No...you must see her first. You must..speak with her. Only then..will you truly know."
The woman glanced around the empty parking lot, her emotions in turmoil. "I...will stay with Major Tom, I think..while you..do what it is you must do."
"I want you with me."
She shook her head. "I will wait...here...please."
He..relented. "...I'll take you back in."
"I can..go." She pulled the hoodie close, smiling once for him, then...began the walk back to the Mall entrance across the deserted lot. Jim watched her until the automatic doors closed behind her.
He felt like he had just lost his best friend.
Still..she had not been too pissed...it was worse somehow..that she seemed to accept everything. He determined to speak to Haley and...get back as fast as humanly possible. He felt many things for Haley Meadows. Weena had been right.
Still..when he had seen Weena last night...when he had made love to her...it had felt so..right. Not that making love to Haley had been wrong.
The man was totally confused and miserable.
He got in the SUV and...sat for a moment, getting his bearings. Then..he started the car and..headed across town to the hospital. His mind jumbled and full with a thousand thoughts.
He tried to sort them as he drove, hoping..by the time he had to confront Haley, that..some of the chaos would have been sorted through..