“That would be great.”
“ARE YOU SURE HE’S HERE?”
Jack had never been to the park Brian led him toward and he was feeling out of sorts. In the back of his head, he was familiar with the property, but only in passing.
“That’s what the caller said,” Brian replied, his eyes narrow as he scanned the park in question.
“But ... do you believe this caller?” Jack was bewildered as to why Marvin Martin would possibly want to come to a park that was geared toward small children.
“It was Beverly Calhoun.”
Jack waited for his partner to expand. When he didn’t, the younger detective prodded him. “I don’t know who that is.”
“She runs the hair place right over there.” Brian pointed toward the business street on the other side of the park. “Don’t you ever come over here?”
Honestly, Jack couldn’t ever remember spending time in this part of town. “This is where all the girly shops are,” he said after a beat, earning a scathing look from his partner. “What? I’m not the person who laid out this part of town. That’s on ... whoever makes those decisions.”
“How is this the girly part of town?” Brian queried.
Jack extended his finger and started ticking off the businesses. “Hat shop. Beauty shop. Shoe shop. And, my personal favorite, the silky robe store. No men go into those stores unless they’re forced to at gunpoint.”
Brian wanted to argue but he sort of agreed. “Yes, well, this is also the park where the little kids play. The other park caters toward middle school and high school kids — what with the ball diamonds and basketball courts — and parents like a quiet place to bring the little ones.”
Jack had to admit, the park was charming. There were swings, a small slide, a fort building with wooden walkways, and a trio of ducks that kids could sit on and rock back and forth.
Brian arched an eyebrow as he regarded his partner. “Let me guess, you’re picturing yourself with a little girl. She’s got brown hair — no pink streaks at her age — and blue eyes. I bet she’s wearing one of those twirly dresses, too. You see yourself pushing her on the swings, don’t you?”
Jack was sheepish. “Actually, I was picturing myself on the ducks.”
“Those things are dangerous,” Brian countered. “They’re old ... and the springs are rusty.”
“They remind me of the sort of things we had at parks when I was a kid.”
“Yeah, they’re historic,” Brian agreed. “That’s the only reason they’re still here.” He clapped his partner on the shoulder, amused despite himself. “You and Ivy are going to be great parents.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. It’s not happening today, though. Right now we need to focus on Marvin.”
“I don’t think he’s here,” Jack said, his eyes drifting to a bench underneath the shade of a huge Weeping Willow. “Unless ... is that him?”
Brian followed his partner’s finger and grimly nodded. “That would be him. Let’s try not to scare him, huh? You circle around back and I’ll approach from the front. If he tries to run, it’s on you to stop him.”
“I think I can handle that.”
Brian was calm as he approached the disheveled man on the bench. He didn’t draw his weapon, instead holding his hands out as a show of peace. Marvin was lost in his own little world and didn’t look up until Brian was practically on top of him.
“Are you here to arrest me?” Marvin asked blankly.
Brian was taken aback by the man’s greeting. He expected him to fly off the handle, start proclaiming his innocence, or at least start spouting nonsense as a defense. Instead, Marvin looked tired ... and defeated.
“That wouldn’t be my first choice.” Brian met Jack’s gaze over Marvin’s shoulder, sending a silent message, and then sat in the open spot next to the man. “Some people are concerned, Marvin.”
“Who? Nobody has cared about me since my mother ... and she’s long gone.”
“I thought you were raised by your grandmother.”
If Marvin questioned why Brian knew so much about him, he didn’t show it. “My grandmother only took care of me because it was her duty.”
Sympathy began to build inside Brian. “Did she tell you that?”
“It was her Christian duty,” Marvin replied, bobbing his head solemnly. “She said she had to take care of me even though I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot,” Brian reassured him quickly. “You’re just ... confused. Have you ever considered letting a doctor take a look at you?”
Marvin’s eyebrows drew together. “I’ve seen doctors before. They stick you with needles.”
“Not that type of doctor. I’m talking about the sort of doctor who sits with you, talks, and maybe sorts out some of the voices you hear in your head.” Brian delivered the statement in such a manner there could be no argument that it wasn’t fact.
“I’m not supposed to talk about the voices,” Marvin said on a whisper. “They’re bad. People will do things to me if they find out. The government.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Brian promised, studying the broken man’s face. He had a hard time believing he was a killer. Stranger things had happened, though. “Did you know Sasha Carmichael?”
Marvin tilted his head, considering. “The dead girl. You’re talking about the dead girl.”
“I am talking about the dead girl. You mentioned her at community service yesterday.”
“Community service?” Marvin twisted his face in such a manner Brian worried he would disappear down a mental rabbit hole and never return again. “You mean the court thing. I’m supposed to pick up garbage because I was bad.”
“You were confused,” Brian corrected again. “We’re going to help you with that confusion. I can’t guarantee things will be perfect, but I can guarantee they’ll get better ... at least in some measure.” He licked his lips. “I need to talk to you about Sasha, though. You mentioned her to a woman you were working with yesterday.”
“You mean the girl with the pink hair.” Marvin made a
